editorial

promotions

books

packaging

david robinsonPORTFOLIO

Designers should not just try for good design,

but also to design for good.

—Milton Glaser

table of contents

dangerous book for boys

nayland blake

I am a designer.

I love using the visual language to communicate ideas and enjoy the problem solving that comes with creative design. I have a firm belief in the power of design to motivate people, and am convinced that visual expression is a more direct and engaging way of transmitting messages than words alone. I try to listen to the people with whom I’m working on any project so that the design can best serve their needs. With a background in illustration and photography, I like to bring all my skills to bear in a holistic approach to understanding how the design can create an elegant solution.

I strive to create thought-provoking messages. Design is most meaningful for me when it is more than simply attractive, when it has lasting impact and positive applications. I try whenever possible to engage in work that is both worthwhile and socially relevant.

masterworks dvd case

mao beer

jenny’s story

artifactual literacies

bbdo action words

vagina monologues

quiet lights

m&m’s toolkit

concrete

intersect

individual/community

raw

intersect magazine

An internationally-attuned magazine aimed at highlighting urban life, focusing on the design, art and cultural of great global cities.

intersect feature opener and jump

intersect departments

concrete magazine

This project actually evolved out of intersect magazine since I was intrigued by exploring different aspects of the city and this bolder, more aggresive approach took those ideas in a different direction. Concrete expresses a slightly more gritty, street-level view of urban life while still holding onto the notion that cities are dynamic and vital places.

concrete feature openers and jumps

individual/community monograph

A thesis book that visually examines the connection between an individual and their surrounding community. Using the world around me as a case study, I surveyed the people in my life in an attempt to learn more about their interests, background and definitions of community. This data drove a series of infographics, illustrations and photographs, with accompanying text, that explored these relationships in an attempt to better understand how the community influences self-identity.

This hand-bound edition was accordion-folded and includes gatefolds and vellum inserts.

individual/community spreads

individual/community double gatefold spread

individual/community city section spreads

individual/community spreads

individual/community type studies

individual/community promotional poster

Promotional poster designed to raise awareness of the ideas presented in the thesis project.

where will you find your self?

dangerous book for boys poster

This poster was part of the main marketing campaign for the bestselling Dangerous Book for Boys and Daring Book for Girls series. The headlines, photography and illustrations were all designed to reflect the nostalgic tone of the books.

m&m’s toolkit

Branding and style guide for M&M’s. Mars wanted to create an entertaining brand guide to reinforce the company’s motto of colorful, chocolate, fun. Using the colors and “spokescandies” as a departure point, we developed five books and four DVD features to keep international divisions on brand message in a playful way. Both the books and DVD case used a spot aqueous coating to highlight the lentils.

m&m’s toolkit dvd case and spreads

BBDO action words posters

A set of 25 posters developed for BBDO’s largest clients. I was asked to create an on-brand visual representation of words that were selected to best reflect the brand outlook of each client. These posters were hung outside the office of the president of BBDO and were also turned into a look-book to help attract new buisness.

vagina monologues poster

3-color screenprint for a New York production of the play. The client wanted something understated but still evocative.

quiet lights series

A trio of posters for the Brooklyn-based band. As they are starting to get more recognition and headline shows, a series to highlight the energy and pieces of a rock band seemed appropriate.

quiet lights posters

masterworks dvd case

A set of three illustrated interlocking boxes held together by a die-cut slip case. The box set of DVDs highlights the work of three iconic New York filmmakers—Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee and Woody Allen. The illustrations and colors for each box are designed to reflect the different strata of New York the directors worked within.

masterworks case dvd case and spreads

mao beer

Packaging design for a revolutionary beer. The eight-pack container—as eight is an auspicious number in China—pays homage to Mao’s Long March and the shape of the handle reflects the roof of Tian’an Men gate.

Cover design for an academic book that follows the story of a child who doesn’t fit into the mold of a large urban school. A friend suggested that to get closer to a childlike aesthetic, I should draw everything with my weaker left hand.

jenny’s story

artifactual literacies cover

Cover design for a book about how we think, learn and tell stories. The book follows the lives of five immigrant families and how the seemingly random objects they carried with them contain personal stories. Luckily I had an old suitcase that seemed to fit the bill perfectly.

raw magazine

An oversized magazine that focuses on alternative politics and contemporary culture. Due to the sensitive and subversive nature of the content, each issue is sealed by a belly-band at the point of purchase, making the first interaction of opening the magazine a violent one.

raw cover detail and insert

nayland blake poster

3-color screenprint for the artist’s lecture. The poster was designed to reference the bleak, stark nature of the artist’s work.

1 year

2 years

david robinsonRESUME

347.579.8579add.ink@gmail.comadd-ink.com

OBERLIN COLLEGE

Oberlin, OHBA in Biologyminor in Studio ArtGPA: 3.71

SVA

New York, NYClasses in graphic and editoral design.

BBDO

freelance designerNew York, NYPitch work, design and mechanical work for all of BBDO’s clients.

Rings represent 1 year.

Radii of circles corelate to duration of employment.

HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS

designer in ad/promo departmentNew York, NYDesigned and illustrated advertisements, catalogs and promotional pieces for all imprints of the publisher.

UNITED POWER PACKAGING

graphic designerBeijing, ChinaCreated packaging, brochures and branding for Chinese and foreign fashion and food related companies.

SHANXI AGRICULTURALUNIVERSITY

teacherTaigu, Shanxi Prov., ChinaTaught English to students in rural China as part of a two-year fellowship.

OBERLIN SHANSI

special events and communications coordinator

Oberlin, OHCreated the organizations

website, annual reports and collateral materials for its

centennial celebration.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY

graphic designerBronx, NYExhibit design, sinage and wayfi nding for all the New York zoos and aquarium.

3 years

4 years

5 years

6 years

7 years

8 years