On the Lighter Side.
For the youth and the youthful.
I didn’t get many assignments for children. Now that we are cooped-up in the house, I am trying to stay on the light side, which brings three assignments to mind.
1972 – 1973 Neo-Mull-Soy
This was fun! While working on this product for Klemptner Casey, I felt that the soy formula was a great product and I could design ducks. The design of the duck (and color choices) came to be as the tall carton with slanted type was being designed. The walking duck was at the bottom. An insert for the carton was this punch-out mobile with 2 of the ducks. As a gift for a child, I was asked to construct a 3‑D duck that could be punched out of one sheet of stiff paper – to be printed with yellow, orange, green and (for the duck’s eyes) black. I made the pattern and constructed the duck as samples at two sizes but this was never taken to the finished printed piece. The gift for the child became the little “plush toy” duck. I felt that a child would have more appreciation and learn constructing skills with my paper 3‑D Duck.
1980 to 1985 Cutter Biological
I still have seventeen copies of the publication, “ECHO” (Education and Communication for Hemophiliacs and Others) in which I was assigned the design and illustration of the center spread. All was accomplished with the basic line work and colored with markers. The two pages were titled, “Just For Fun” – directed to the children with hemophilia.
My assignments were from Ketchum Advertising / San Francisco Technology Unit. My involvement lasted from February 1980 to March 1985 – – with a gap in between.
At one period of time, I was not receiving the regular timed requests for my contribution. The last issue that I had submitted was for the May1982 issue. There had been no warning to me that the client had moved the publication to New York City, to be prepared by Gross Townsend Frank, Inc.! I found a June 1983 issue. Then, it wasn’t until May of 1984 that I was contacted to carry-on as previous for the June 1984 ECHO. My favorite challenge was again back on my drawing board until March 1985.
I was rewarded when a letter to “ECHO” was published. It was a thank-you from a parent in behalf of their child who enjoyed having “his own pages”.
1998 – 1999 Humongous Entertainment
Do you remember the early Netscape? Beginning in 1994, Netscape Navigator wasn’t the very first, but the earliest widely used browser. This was the only job I had to be found on Netscape at that time. Here is the art of series of ten ‘Mad-Libs” Weather Reports designed for Humongous Entertainment.
The art was a single background scene, of a front yard. All of the other illustrations had to fit onto this “stage”. You can see an overlay plan for ”Wind”. Then: SUN, RAIN, RAINING CATS & DOGS, RAINING HATS & HOGS, RAINING ICE CREAM CONES, RAINING SPAGHETTI, RAINING TOMATOES, SNOW, THUNDER & LIGHTNING, WIND.
As an example of the “Wacky Worldwide Weather Report”, it is played (A) by first making a list, typing in the words required. Then (B) by pressing a button that said: “Make Headlines!” and then Pajama Sam immediately wove your words into the story. You may notice the pixel background pattern that was showing on my computer as I took screen shots.
I’m hoping that all who see this are safe and healthy. Maybe this collection will bring a smile – – and from your other family members, too.
Ann Thompson