Dial 911 for Designer !

Hi Peoples! How're we doing today? I really wanna know. 

For me, I'm doing awesome! Cleaned up the blog a bit (more like a LOT), added a New 'Portfolio' tab (gosh! That thing can take years if you don't know what you are doing), and added a 3-D tag cloud (on the right). Looks good, don't it? A pat on the back for me! I'd have to reach over and pat myself though - and that can be uncomfortable. 

Quick story: about a year ago, a friend of mine had come up with this great idea to make an android app for our school community in which students who needed books could contact other students who had the books directly, and could buy the books from them. And we needed it - the bookstore was committing daylight robbery everyday! The dude is a genius. So he had written all the codes and done everything necessary, and the app was running! Cool stuff, right? The next step was advertising the app. 

What do you think?

Now, most engineers I know have this god-complex - they think they can do everything, and the world cannot run without them. #NotJudging - I have no problem with it. My friend happened to be among the class of engineers described above (I did say he was a genius, didn't I?), and naturally, he designed this flyer to advertise his app on facebook as well as all over campus:

Well, it wasn't a bad attempt. Let's not fool ourselves though - you wouldn't read this even if you were bored! Now, the deadline for the ads was 6pm. Time now is 4:58pm. 

Phone Rings...loudly

Me: [groggily] Hellurr...

Friend: Hey man. I'd like your opinion on something.

[Oh He got my attention good...Who doesn't want to feel like they're an expert on something?]

Me: Cool. 

Friend: Sending it to your skype now.

10 minutes later...

Me: Wait, what is this for again?

Friend explains again in a hurry.

Me: Dude, I can't even see the text - are you kidding me? Who designed this?

Friend: Me. I just pulled together on MS publisher - we needed something really fast.

Me: Wow. My opinion? The text is non-visible. background is not catchy. The picture is OK, but the whole thing is...I don't know mehn.

Friend: Give it to me straight.

Me: Its NOT good. Emphasis on the 'NOT'

Friend:  What can you do?

Me: Nothing! Its due @ 6, and its 5:28 now. I'd have to change the whole concept, start from scratch. Can't do anything.

Friend: Come on - you gotta help me out man! I need this!

Me: I can do something, but its gonna be late...

Friend: Anything you do is fine - just make it look pretty - PLEASE!

Me:     Ok... Gimme 20-25 minutes.

So, I'm there, looking at this picture above, wondering what to do, and as I open the file (it was a .pub file), the idea just dropped in my spirit #GBAM! Ain't the HolySpirit beautiful?

Personally, I wanted to take out the whole Middle row of text.
In my Opinion, Less is more when designing.

He wasn't grateful...NOT! He was super grateful! I was glad to be of help. And it was on time - he beat the deadline!

Well, what do you think? I managed to retain as many of the original elements as I could, while revamping the theme. Could it have been better? I think so. Under 25 minutes? Well...what do you think? What could I have done to make it better? Your opinion is highly valued!

Till next time, have a kolor-full life!

Yours truly.

P.S:     @KingObi, I'm talking about you! 

P.P.S: Also, I told the story as I remembered it. In reality, he may not have begged as much....lol.

Learn a lot, earn a lot...or not!

Hey There! How've you been?

So, This blog was meant to be a portfolio, right? There's a story behind each of my designs, and I want you to share that with me. I'll be showcasing the graphics and the process for getting to the finished product - plus you'll get to see how I've grown as a graphic artist!

Study Bucks [...first flyer I ever did]

Learn a lot; earn a lot...or not!

Back in 2009, during my stint as a Resident Assistant, I was required to organize 2 programs every month for my residents/students. Sounds easy, right? Add to that the pressure of dealing with several students daily, keeping your grades up and sourcing for funding for your program. Changes the whole game, doesn't it? 

Anyway, I got the inspiration for the program from a picture on the wall of one of the Halls, and decided to work at it. Worked on this flyer from 11pm to 5am on a Tuesday. I was trying to get everything right (of course forgetting I had class in 4 hours). I thought, "If the flyer looks good, a lot of people are gonna participate." Right? Well, guess what happened?

...........................

My Program was canceled for being too 'expensive'! What can I say, people? I think big; I roll deep...

Pilot !

Hey There!

You're prolly wondering who I am? Well, this is my official foray into the world of blogging (aka blogsville), so let me introduce myself. The name's Bond. James Bond.

LOL - kiddin! The name's Chijioke Nweke. Pronounced [chee-jee-oh-kay] [n-way-kay]. If you find that a mouthful, no problem - I go by C.J. as well, or on this beautiful blogosphere, @ceejaynweke. I'm a student presently @ Morgan State University, studying Biology; thinking of minoring in Graphic Design. Always known I got a thing for art, but I think I found out late that I have a thing for graphics. I thank The Holy Spirit for that - because I never knew I had it in me! He helped me bring it out. Before I go into that, a little about me (as much as I can remember now).

I love colors. I love blending them and mixing them, and making them into something beautiful. I pay attention to details - a lot! I'm the guy who'll see you and , out of your whole outfit, compliment you on your socks or tie or your hair - even with a hat on. I love fashion - not a lot to go crazy over it, but I love it! I like to dress nice. Feels good to dress like a king everyday. I'm especially into ties. I'm gonna have a tie store someday. I love using those colors and making them into something attractive. I love designing stuff, and pushing myself to do more. I love doing stuff, basically. Let's find out more stuff that I love...Cool?

Music. OMG! So, I have this cool grand plan of running a record label - I love beats! I haven't started making them yet, but there are so many ideas swirling around in this cranium of mine, and you'll get to hear some of them one day. I love music a lot. Presently, I have over 20 gigabytes of music - all gospel, beautiful stuff. Hit me up if U want me to DJ ur party and U in the Baltimore area...lol. And You must know that I have favorite musicians. Well, they change from time to time, but for the last 2 years, my favorite musician has been @FrankEdwards. The Dude is Simply Awesome! He makes music that makes you want to dance, or lift your hands in worship, or just sing along and move your body to the rhythm. And his tunes are different, and unique. Man! Simply Amazing. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore all members of the LoveWorld Music Ministry. T-Sharp, Chris Shalom (one of my faves right now), Ada Dasings (another one of my faves), Joe Praize (his 'The Presence' Video was HOT! ), Evangelist Kathy (amazing and beautiful woman of God), Ralph the saxophonist (powerful minister, I tell you), Isaiah Samson, ObiShine, and my own Aunty @Sinach! Sinach is such an anointed Singer, and a powerful minister of God - she has sung lame people out of their wheelchairs! Lest I forget, Me Pastor est aussi chanteur bien! Who can forget the 'Moments of Worship with Pastor Chris' series? Yes! Also, TB1, PD, Osh (one of the best producers on the planet), J-Treash, Kasid, Samsong, and so many more. These are just musicians in Believers' LoveWorld that I know. However, I know and respect so many other musicians out there that are doing good music. In case you don;t know, I'm a fan of Gospel Rap/Hip-Hop. Big Time. And if you know me, you'll know of my love for peeps like Lecrae, Trip Lee, The Ambassador, Tedashii, J-Son, K-Drama, FLAME, D-Maub, PRo, Sho Baraka, Da' Truth, and the like. Bottom line: I love gospel music, gospel musicians, and I’m a gospel musician myself. Code name: Tha Evangelist. LOL! (Fo real tho).

Cuisines. I love cuisines. Different national dishes. I like trying out new foods – really interesting stuff. In fact, lemme tell you a mini-story. On the 4^th of July, 2010, I and my friends went downtown Baltimore to hang out for the Independence Day Celebration. We decided to have dinner at a Lebanese restaurant close by. Big ups to @BibiKay for the hook-up. [Make sure to follow her, by the way]. I tried reading the menu so I could place an order. I might as well have been reading Sanskrit or deciphering Hieroglyphs . We all had no idea what we were about to order. I could make out ‘lamb’ on one of the lines of the menu, so I pointed to that when the waiter came around. Guess what? I LOVED IT! Was so amazing! Still have no idea what it was to this day. My friend, @KingObi, was not so fortunate in his gamble – he could barely eat half of what he ordered. Too Bad. Next time I’m thinking of going out, I might try Lebanese one more time. I’m definitely gonna need help from the HolySpirit though!

People. I love people. Honestly. It pains my heart to see someone who doesn’t have as much as I do, and that compassion, that love, drives me to do things to help them. I love people – taking care of them, seeing to their wellbeing, making sure they are OK. Maybe that’s why I want to be a Medical Doctor. Who knows? @stburnish recently called me a cool name, #TheRealCareBear. I think I am a carebear. Thing is, I don’t want to get too overbearing that people don’t want to see me anymore. You know, that’s the reason why you don’t parent everyone. 

Jesus. Most of all, I love Jesus. And He Loves Me too. He loves me so much, he gave me his love to love him back with, and to love others too. Maybe that’s why I love people so much – I see them with the same value and worth that God sees them, and I cannot wait to share the good news of Jesus’ salvation with them. And this part of me is the most important part of all. 

Speaking of sharing the good news, I’m about to go for ROR ReachOut at a Train Station with my BLW Baltimore Family! #ExcitedMuch! Gonna make  a change in people’s lives. See you when I get back! 

Till then, keep living in an atmosphere of miracles. God Bless you. Have fun!!

Picture of me sampling one of my cuisines recently.
Have no idea what I ordered - again! LOL
Yes, those are 3-D glasses. What??

Frank Edwards doing his thing in his latest video, 'Oya'. Even the way the music changes rhythms tells you he is top notch. Enjoy!