Chicago Field Museum Branding: Nature animal illustration design branding advertising marketing campaign logo identity design

This project is both an illustration showcase and branding concept. I created all of the illustrations, logo design, and overall branding. The group, “Artists at the Field” gather weekly to illustrate the animals and artifacts at the Chicago Field Museum. With strategic implementation, this brand concept could transform an informal group into a valuable asset and an additional attraction for museum goers. The brand has a diverse color palette that can be used throughout the brands touch points.

The logo lettering is based off of Gotham bold, it’s simplistic structure accentuates the T-rex silhouette in the “E” to reveal one of the main attractions of the Museum, Sue the T-rex. Finally, I added bold paint brush strokes behind the logo to convey the artistic aspect of the group. I illustrated all of the artwork using pencil, color pencil, and water color. The result is a bold and colorful brand that helps refresh the museum, establish a talented group of artists, and ushers a traditional industry into the modern era.

The Green Leefs cd package design: Illustration and Logo design- redemption cover art

 This is the final package design I created for the excellent hip hop reggae band - The Green Leefs. I created illustrations for both the cd cover and cd traycard back. I also created the brand identity for the band with an iconic logo graphic that incorporates a grunge texture and green leef plant. This was a fun art project to work on, the client gave me creative freedom to develop the illustrations and I was inspired by the music when creating the cd graphics. The music style is a hybrid of hip hop and reggae with a very natural and melodic feel, so I used natural textures and organic elements in the design.

Reflective Rope Icon Logo Graphic- SecureLine Package Rebranding design

This is a logo I created for SecureLine rope product packaging rebranding. This graphic is part of a larger rebranding of the entire line of rope packaging design. This logo graphic illustrates the uniqueness and benefits of this particular product, the rope is made with reflective tracers in it so that it's visible at night, it's really a very cool product. I created the graphic illustrations using both illustrator and photoshop digital design software.  Visiflect is trademarked exclusively for this product.

Redefining The Fall cd cover design- Texas based Christian Rock band

I created this cd cover art for a Christian Rock band based in Texas. The cover concept is- when all else is falling apart and destruction surrounds you- one thing stands amidst the wreckage. This band at first just wanted me to design the cd cover art but once they saw the cover design they decided to have me create the rest of the cd packaging including the inside panels, traycard, and disc art.

Midtown pub and grill restaurant logo design- Aurora, IL graphic designer

I created this logo for a new pub and grill restaurant located in downtown Aurora, IL. This client wanted a logo graphic design that conveyed class, a welcoming atmosphere, and something that just felt "home town". I started by sketching a few ideas and presenting him with some options- once he saw the logo design concept sketches he instantly gravitated to the logo design seen above- it was a hole in one. The building sketch in the logo design is the historic Leland Tower in Aurora, IL. Midtown pub is located on the first floor of this building. He now has the logo on all his employee t-shirts, window decals, menus, and other promotional material. I also created the logo design below that wasn't used but I thought it was pretty nice.
The food is great, I recommend the Hawaiian pineapple burger- actually I think I'll go there for lunch today. You can view their facebook page here

Indonesian Indie pop/punk band: cd cover design

The name of this band is Lunno which means beauty. This band from Indonesia wanted a cd cover with a photo of the band combined with a steam punk styled design. I gave it a vintage look by overlaying aged textures and a yellow tint, however I kept the yellow tint bright and saturated in order to maintain a level of modernity. I superimposed several gears in the background and on the borders I overlaid blueprint drawings of a locomotive steam engine. The collection of design elements came together well to create this organized mess and most importantly the band was happy with the final design.

Alt Rock cd cover design- Third Law of Motion

For this cd cover design I created a geometric symbol logo to represent the band. The band can reuse this emblem on other promotional material such as tshirts, stickers, and maybe even tattoos. I first sketched out a general idea for the logo, I then created it digitally using adobe illustrator, once I had the look I wanted I created a 3D view of it to give some depth, lastly I brought it into Adobe Photoshop to add the stone texture and colors. I overlaid several textures atop the logo to give some tangibility and make it look aged. I also overlaid a golden sepia color tone over the whole thing to help bring it together. Below you can see the traycard design in which I incorporated a photo of the band members with the track list above them and the logo structure in the background.
Below are some images of the design sources before their completion phase.
As you can see I cut the background out and desaturated the colors, I also adjusted the lighting by tinkering with the levels and deepening the dark's and lights. You also see the black logo before being rendered into it's 3D state, along with another unused logo design. Hope you enjoyed the insight- check back soon for more design blog posts.

Geared Under- rock cd design: band photo art

This is the front side of a 4 panel cd insert, which is the cover (on the right) and the inside cover (on the left). The band wanted a design that reflected the album release name- "Road to Nowhere" so I created the scene from a collection of photo sources and added rain with photoshop. The tornado was actually not part of the original concept, at first there was a city scape back there and menacing clouds only, but I felt it lacked dramatic effect- so then I tried the tornado in the background and it worked perfectly. I later started adding objects in the air around the tornado like cows, tractors, houses and other random debris- but it made it look to comical so I toned it down a bit and only kept the blurry debris.
For the band photo on the left- i cut the band members out adjusted the levels on the photo to enhance the light and dark values- this gives it a more dramatic effect, and makes the photo look more rugged. I also added the worn out rock texture on the background along with the bands name painted graffiti style on the wall.

DVD Cover Design: chess dvd package graphic designer

DVD Cover and disc design. The dvd package design goal for this project was to create a look that would appeal to a younger demographic.
I implemented bright colors and active illustrations. The client was very happy with the final product- and it successfully achieved the goal of appealing to a younger crowd- as he is now selling many dvd copy's- thanks to a certain dvd graphic designer.

DVD Cover Design: dvd package graphic designer

DVD Cover Design for an independent film. I designed the dvd slip cover design of a movie I wrote, directed, and appeared in. As a graphic designer I always enjoy working on personal projects such as this one- it was a lot of fun. I took photographs of all four campers and placed them on the cover similar to poplar movie poster designs. I added some grungy fonts and organic textures to portray the environment we were in.. the woods. This DVD cover design was a big hit with my friends- they all got a signed copy and according to the cover design accolades we won an oscar!

I design for print products, including dvd slip cover designs, cd cover designs, book cover design, and more. Visit www.fernandocreative.com for more work.

I am based in Aurora, IL 60505. However I work with clients all throught the world including North and South America, Europe, Asia, and more. Chicago graphic designer, Aurora, IL graphic designer artist.

Country Music CD Cover Design- CD Album package graphic designer

Country music cd packaging art for artist name "Doug Muchmore". The nashville country music package design reflects the feel and sound of the music. I worked closely with the musician to achieve a design the reflected his goals for the design. We went through a few different cover designs before settling on this cover design- I then applied the cd cover design theme to rest of the packaging.

Fernando Medina, fernando creative © 2009. Graphic designer and illustrator. Country music cd design, cover design. Nashville, TX.

Hip Hop CD Design- Ghetto Gangsta Rap CD cover design- Downbottom

This design was for a hip hop cd release where the artist wanted a movie like design per his narrative music. I designed a text box shaped like a bullet to enclose the "Volume One" text. And chose a script font on the lower half to convey the feeling of authenticity and "personal story". The city scape conveys the setting of the stories- where they take place and where he's coming from. Fernando Medina.

Fernando Medina, Graphic Design, Illustration, Art, Cover Art, Album Art, CD Art, Aurora, IL Artist, Chicago Artist, Illinois Artist, Graphic Design 60505, Illustrator 60504, Designer, cd design.

Virtual Reality Ghetto Rap CD Cover Design

Above is a cd cover design I composed using various photo's and design elements. The idea is to convey a "matrix" like feel to the illustrated environment. The left side is a corporate skyscraper and to the right a decrepit ghetto alley.

Above are some photographs I utilized to compose this design.

Fernando Medina, Graphic Design, Illustration, Art, Cover Art, Album Art, CD Art, Aurora, IL Artist, Chicago Artist, Illinois Artist, Graphic Design 60505, Illustrator 60504, Designer, cd design.

CD Cover Design Illustration- Housewife Broadway Musical Art

Since this album is titled "Not just a Housewife" I thought it fitting that it should not be just a design- so I approached this project as an illustration. Since the artist did not want her photo on the cover I had to come up with a conceptual cover design that embodied all the songs on here cd release. The artist's name is Marilyn Mathis- she's a multi-talented actress and broadway singer. I came up with the idea of her living a double life as a stepford wife and as a superstar in the spotlight at the same time. I went for a retro 1950's style of housewife, I added the floral pattern on the curtains to compliment the simplistic illustration style. View more illustration and graphic design work at my website www.fernandocreative.com

Below is the revised illustration per the customers request- it's only the black and white drawing so far, I'll post the completed work when it's ready.
This is the latest illustration project to grace the desk of Fernando Creative, all the while Fernando Medina is working on graphic design, illustration, and photography projects. Fernando creative is based in Aurora, Illinois 60505, I also do work for the surrounding chicago suburbs, including Chicago, North Aurora, Oswego, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Naperville, Plano, Elgin, Crystal Lake, DeKalb, Sycamore, Maple Park, Montgomery, and more. I also do work for international clients including, Europe, Asia, and all throughout North and South America. These services include graphic design, illustration, photography, and more recently video and animation. These trades are applied to create everything from book cover illustations to page designs to logo designs to business card designs- I take interest an any process that entails creativity.

© 2008 Fernando Medina. All rights reserved. Fernando Creative. Aurora, IL 60505.

Graphic Designer Illustrator CD Cover Design Heavy Metal Rock

Check out this photo I converted into a cement statue- I used a few textures and filters in photoshop to create this effect. It took me a little over an hour to do. Basically I cut out the angel from the photo, grayscaled her, cleared out her eyes to make them look a solid color, applied some cement/granite textures over her and set the layer to multiply or overlay- i don't remember which one exactly, then applied the rusted/aged cement orange in select areas, added the column on which she sits, and a falling feather to insinuate she recently was real or will become real very soon, and finally added some breaks and cracks to give it an aged effect- vuala! you got your self a c-ment angel.

I welcome any questions or critiques- thanks for stopping by.

Graphic Designer © 2009 Fernando Medina, Fernando Creatice art. cd designer, cd design, cd album cover art, Graphic Design 60505, Illustrator, illustration, Photoshop illustration, Rock and Roll CD cover art design, rock cd design, angel design

Logo Designer: Corporate Identity for Graphic Designer Fern Logo

This is a logo I was working on for myself- Fernando Creative. It's still not finished but I'm pretty happy with it so far- I might ad some other design elements and patterns, etc. The green tint was a happy accident- I intended it to be blue and gold- it'll probably end up that color in the end. I used a combination of adobe illustrator and photoshop to create it. I like the logo because it has a real presence and you can almost feel the weight of the block letter- it looks dense and insinuates how Fernando Creative can be a real presence in helping others through creative services i.e. illustration, graphic design, etc. I welcome any compliments or criticisms.

© 2009 Fernando Medina. Photoshop illustration, logo designer, logo design, logo, graphic design, Graphic Design 60504, graphic designer, Chicago Graphic designer, chicago suburb graphic designer, corporate identity.

Christian Music CD Design- Graphic Designer: Christian Rock

The name of this album is "View from Hear", there's a play on words so I tried to do the same visually- the client and I went through various drafts before deciding on this design. The genre of music is Christian Rock, the goal was to not hit people over the head with Christian symbolism so I approached it with a neutral design first and then sprinkled subtle spirituality through out- Vuala. Below are a collection of stock photo's I used to create this piece.Also below are other cover designs created for this project that didn't make the cut. They were all created using photoshop. As you can see they all use a similar color palette which was specified by the client- I think that they're all very nice but of course I have a bias. Greatness!
© 2009 Fernando Medina- Graphic Designer and Illustrator. CD Design- Christian Rock.

Tattoo Artist- Body Art: Flower Tatoo Designer

I got this tattoo while I was locked up- serving time for ripping the tags off of bed mattresses (it's against the law you know). Just kidding- I've never broken a law in my life.
Graphic Designer & Illustrator. Chicago, IL, Suburb Artist, graphic artist. Fernando Medina © 2009.

CD Cover Illustration: CD Design Cover Art- Star Wars

CD cover illustration design for a hip hop rap artist based in New York. This cd cover illustrates a character representing the rap artist' persona. A custom cd cover illustration takes considerably longer than a cd design based on the musicians photographs because it requires composeing the cd package design entirely from scratch. I completed the illustration for this star wars/hip hop cd cover. I used adobe illustrator for the color and line work, and added some texture in photoshop. The client was very happy with it. I've never really illustrated anything in this particular style- but I'm pretty proud of how it turned out. It's another notch in my arsenal of styles. Notice the Darth Vador silhouette in the background.

Once upon a time... in a Galaxy far far away, there was an illustrator who dared to combine the forces of Star Wars and Hip hop. This is a fun illustration I've been working on. Below is a preliminary pencil sketch for an album cover playing off the theme of Lucas' Celestial Opera- as you can see he's reaching for his mic which is his "light saber", getting ready to slash somebody creeping up behind him- he's also sporting a jedi cape and in the background a little green dude (Yoda) is rocking the turntables. I'll be posting the updated artwork soon- stay tuned.

© 2009 Fernando Medina. book illustrator, cd cover design, cd design, cd designer, cd illustration, chicago graphic design, children's book illustrator, cover design, gangsta rap cd design, graphic designer, hip hop art, Hip Hop Rap CD Design, Illustrator, Rap CD design.

Logo Designer- company identity Graphic Designer Midway

Graphic designer: Logo designer is a title not easily relegated to any designer, there is a lot of corporate identity research involved. I created this logo for an Midwest IL Electric Company (formerly owned by the late Ernesto Pacheco Sr.) I liked my initial idea so I went a head with it- I'm pretty happy with the final outcome. The logo was used for business card designs, letterhead designs, company vehicles, and printed/embroidered onto employee uniforms, it was also printed on a soccer jersey because "Midway" was one of the sponsors. Rest in peace Ernesto Pacheco Sr. You can see their website here.

Graphic Designer and illustrator © 2009 Fernando Creative, Fernando Medina. Logo Designer/Corporate Identity.