Profile on a Creative Master...

Phil Tippet is a legend in the visual effects industry. He's created or been apart of most of the films that formed my childhood (Star Wars, Robocop, Jurassic Park). I guess with the new Star Wars release, outlets like Vice are getting nostalgic and revisiting the filmmakers that help create the original franchise. I love profiles like this. They're like windows into their genius. More importantly it humanizes and simplifies a creative processes that can sometime seem so mystical and impossible to attain. Watching this, I appreciate Phil so much more as a creative. You really get a sense of the things that scare and inspire him. You also get to explore how he's evolved in his creative and personal approach. Ultimately, we find that much of the magic on screen comes through hard work and grit, both of which we all have access to. 

Composition: The Mathmatic wizardry of "The Golden Ratio"

As a visual creative, often so much of our "craft" is wrongly assumed as a intuitive knowledge, acquired through good luck and voodoo sacrifices. Truth is, more often than not, this knowledge is gained through practice and research. For myself, I've found it's always easier to master a concept if I can name it and understand it. Like a tasty bowl of Ramen, I find I can more fully appreciate the dish if I know all of the ingredients and where they come from. Only then Can I riff the individual parts into something new yet familiar.  With that said, I've been trying to firm up my sense of composition by revisiting the ancient concept of "The Golden Ratio". This concept is a MUST READ for any designer, or any person who wants to understand the foundation of what makes something beautiful. This article by the people at Creative Bloq, goes in-depth with both exercises and examples for the seasoned vet and beginner.

http://www.creativebloq.com/design/designers-guide-golden-ratio-12121546

Huge has got it down.

15 years of making things people love. http://www.hugeinc.com

For the past few years I've been following a killer digital agency in NYC that has been lighting it up in the motion design world. Their branding is creative and unique. It's the kinda work that you look  at and go "Damn" I wish I could work on something like this.