The goal here was to use as many Photoshop filters and effects as possible, without regard for aesthetic beauty... But I still wanted to create something that didn't offend the eye :)
The brief asked us to come up with a magazine related to any theme, and create a cover it. I had to ask myself, what do I like the most. Some of the possibilities were healthy eating, herbs or environment, but the topic that truly excites me is travel! Here it is, a magazine about travel, Nomadic.
Semester 1: Language and Systems of Communication, taught by Rob Tossen
Last Friday we discussed the recent "Australia Walkabout" campaign. Huddled around the teacher's desk in a darkened class room, we watched the moving images on the screen. The students in the class were mostly Australian-born, and it was interesting to hear their response to the advertisements.
American version
Shanghai version
At first everyone was taken away by the feelings and magic of the videos. Then, after closer examination, some interesting issues were brought up through discussions.
For example, did you notice that the boy is Aboriginal? Do Australians advertise Aboriginal culture when it is convenient? Do the students associate with the Dream culture, and do they feel like it's part of their history? The response from the class was a universal "no" ...
Another argument was that the ads portray Australia to the world as this beautiful land, where all that people do is swim in lakes and climb the trees. In reality, Sydney life is as urban as New York, and people deal with same issues of being overworked and stressed.
However, no one said that they dislike the ads, or feel offended by them. They are effective, captivating and magical. Maybe we are city dwellers in Sydney, but we are also fortunate. These beautiful places are within a close reach.
