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Trouble-Free Color Palettes: Bounce
Action, verve, energy, oomph, kick 
June 2008
We dig tunes—so let the design jam session begin. Crank that dial to the right, pump up the sound on your next project and get bodies moving with a palette of popping pastels in near-neon shades.

Design enigma A.k.A is inspired by a “massive variety of sources, ranging from everything from The Beatles to the Foo Fighters, The Chemical Brothers to Unkle, Mozart to Jimi Hendrix.” A.k.A’s work infuses high-energy colors and a musical theme, drawing from a vast collection of musical influences.

Visually, though, A.k.A is drawn toward mediums such as pen and ink and even oil painting: “I enjoy the endless possibilities that a computer can bring to all mediums, enabling you to melt together photography, drawing, 3D models and scans of weird and wonderful things.”

This may explain why, as a general rule “99 percent of the time” A.k.A will start off the design by “sketching stuff out and see how it fits together.” A.k.A says, “Next I’ll go to the computer, draw more stuff, start scanning in. Sometimes I’ll paint, and sometimes I’ll make 3D models. Then, generally, I’ll rip it apart in Photoshop, and I’ll just start messing with it. My studio is always a mess!”

A.k.A recommends you always have fun with your design and enjoy your work: “Never stop experimenting, and never be afraid to try new stuff out. Don’t rely on the technology to guide you. Always make sure you’re steering your work where you want it to go.”


Rock star
The above illustration by A.k.A (www.aka-illos.com) appeared in an article titled “Jammin’” in U.K.-based Computer Music magazine. A.k.A’s designs often have a high-energy theme: “Energy is important to me in my work. It’s important to put our best into every piece of work.”

Pepped up type
Consume some caffeine with Astigma (kick). Revitalize with Energy Dimension (dynamism). Strap on headphones with Feedback Loud (zing) and Pulse Sans (pizzazz). All are available free at www.dafont.com.
Bigger than ...
“My best review,” explains A.k.A, “said that my work was the visual equivalent to The Beatles. To me, that was THE biggest compliment ever!” Image 10002308, Photos.com, www.jiunlimited.com
Rockin' style
A.k.A’s style is selfdescribed as “freeflowing, psychedelic, 1960s, and also modern, artful and elegant.” A.k.A enjoys employing color schemes that fundamentally are going to catch the eye and also “subtle shades mixed in with strong, vibrant colors.” Image 5093638, liquidlibrary, www.jiunlimited.com (download free images at www.dynamicgraphics.com/downloads)

PALETTE: Bounce

PALETTE: Combinations

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