Something.oUt oF nothing,

graphic design

Richard R. Grant

PHOTO : Mireya Herrera

“The value of idenTiT y of course is ThaT so ofTen wiTh iT comes purpose.”

RAINDESCRIP T ION

Logotype and package design for a non-caustic line of car wash products made with naturally-derived ingredients. Rain’s philosophy is that a consumer does not have to choose between products that work and eco-consciousness. Rain’s line of products are effective in 1. cleaning, 2. nourishing and 3. optimizing car finishes and interiors while remaining safe for the environment.

logotype & packaging

RAINlogotype & packaging

CONCEP T

Target audience included auto aficionados who clean and maintain their vehicles. The majority of personal car wash products were not biodegrad-able. Consumers surveyed stated they were open to trying a product that was better for the environment, but were concerned that it would not be as effective as their current brand.

The Rain brand needed to instantly convey its effectiveness and environ-mental stance and at once stand out from its competitors. The logotype and packaging were designed with this in mind... recognizable, clean, easy on the environment but tough.

DESIGN PROCESS

3 - D RENDERING : Greg Frank

SHANGRI-LADESCRIP T ION

Logotype design for a hotel in Santa Monica, CA. The hotel is located on the beach-front in an upscale stretch of Ocean Avenue.

hand-lettered logotype

CONCEP T

A free-form, hand-lettered approach was used to create flowing flourishes that bring the eye back to the center. As an added detail the letter g and L were combined.

The Paradox of Let t ing Go, pos ter

Author Unknown

“You c an break mY heart, but don’t break mY l itho stone.”

Asked what could be inferred about the work of the creator from a study of his works,

the British scientist J.B.S. Haldane is reported to have replied, “an inor-dinate fondness for beetles.” Some people say that Haldane never uttered these words, but no one can argue with the truth they contain. We live in the Age of Beetles. Beetles, or C o l e o p t e r a , as they are known in scientif ic circles, inhabit nearly every biological niche, from the nar-row fringes of polar ice caps to the broad, unexplored expanse of rain forest canopy. By the most conserva-tive estimate, approximately 350,000 species of beetles have been described since 1758. That’s an average of slightly more than four per day.

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paussine carabidaristotle described beetles as insects that have wing cases and thus named them Coleoptera, from the Greek koleon, “sheath,” and pteron, “wing.” the first pair of flight wings are thickened, protecting the delicate membraneous hind wings and the abdomen below.

INSECTADESCRIP T ION

A quarterly magazine dedicated to spreading a fascination for insects, whose primary goal is to educate even the extreme insect-phobe. It draws all readers (from novice to expert) into the beauty and amazing qualities of insects.

magazine

8.25” x 10.5”

INSECTAmagazine

CONCEP T

Insecta magazine brings insects alive with beautiful photography, informative illustrations and fascinating articles; not just on the anatomy of insects but on the many other areas wherein insects have served as inspiration—from jewelry to robotics. Because the readership is of a curious nature, the design needed to pay close attention to the details... even the tiniest of them.

8.25” x 10.5”

PHOTOGRAPHY: The photographs of the Beetle on the first spread and of the three blue weevils on the second spread were taken at the Annual Insect Fair of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, where children and adult enthusiasts unite to share their passion for insects and arachnids.

the word w e e v i l is Germanic in origin, derived from the word webila, which denotes movement back and forth, flickering, swarming, or teeming. at one time wibel was used to refer to all beetles, but this term was eventu-

ally replaced by Käfer. today, the english word “weevil” still persists and generally refers to the snout beetles.

A Question of numbers

Beetles, the largest group of insects, representing a fifth of all living

organisms and a fourth of all animals, epitomize diversity. Nearly every biologi-cal strategy used by terrestrial animal life is represented in this remarkable group of animals that arose during the lower Permian period, about 240 mil-lion years ago. Since that time beetles have evolved into nature’s single most astounding array of color and form. Their diversity, which eloquently extends beyond the physical, encompass-ing strategies of behavior, defense, repro-duction, and adaptation, has been appre-ciated since the time of the Pharaohs.

Using sheer numbers of species as a cri-terion for success, beetles are the most successful animals on Earth. If single examples of every plant and animal spe-cies were placed in a row, every fifth spe-cies would be a beetle, every tenth species a w e e v i l (one type of beetle). No other group of animals exhibits such a range of size, color, and form. Some beetles are giants; others can crawl through the eye of a needle. Many tropical species are armed with conspicuous horns and claws

or resemble jewels and make no attempt to hide themselves;

SiZe MatterS

the smaller males of the bearded weevil, rhinostomus barbirostris, avoid the aggressive behavior of their larger brothers and cousins by capitalizing on their diminutive size. they have been observed to dart past larger, more distracted males who may be jousting one another, to inseminate the female who inspired the combative behavior of the larger males, thus ensuring their contribution to the gene pool.

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others try to be as inconspicuous as pos-sible, disguising themselves as innocuous materials such as dead leaves or caterpil-lar feces.

Beetles consume everything—plants, animals, and their remains. Larvae and adults are found in the soil, where they function as tiny recycling machines that return organic materials to the soil, making them available again for use by plants and other animals. The teeming multitudes of beetles reflect the degree of their contribution to the health of the biosphere. In turn, beetles themselves are recycled, consumed by many animals, including humans, and occasionally by insectivorous plants.

theme And VAriAtions

The armored bodies of adult beetles make them conspicuous. They are

easily recognized, even by the casual observer. Yet the diversity in beetle form is mind-boggling. The smallest beetles Na N o S e l l a f u N G i , known as feath-er-winged beetles, or ptiliids, are 0.035 millimeters long and could comfortably undergo their entire life cycle within the head capsule of one of the largest cerambycid beetles, the Ca l l i p o G o N

a r M i l l at u S or the Titanus giganteus, which can grow as long as 200 millime-ters (~8 inches). The colors of beetles exceed the palette of the most avant garde of painters.

Despite their diversity, beetle bodies share common characteristics that clearly iden-tify them as beetles. These physical attri-butes serve as a template for our scheme of classification, which strives to reveal the evolutionary relationships of beetles.

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Nanosella fungi [0.035 mm]

Callipogon armillatus [actual size]

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the body of the beetle consists of three main segments: head, thorax and abdomen. viewed from above, adult beetles show three prominent features: head, prothorax, and elytra (the thick wings). the head bears the eyes, antennae, and

chewing mouthparts, which are present on almost all beetles. although, as in other insects, the prothorax is connected to the remaining two thoracic segments, the mesothorax and the metathorax, in beetles these last two thoracic segments are

covered by the elytra. the fundamental thoracic and abdominal segments consist of four sclerites arranged in a ring, the dorsal tergum (tergites), two lateral pleura (pleurites), and the ventral sternum (sternites). Segmented appendages manifest themselves as mouthparts, legs, wings, copulatory and egg-laying organs. all beetles have this basic body plan; only the

details vary.

dressed for success

Beetles have systematically been placed among the arthropods in

part because they are contained within a highly modified external cylinder, the exoskeleton. The exoskeleton is one of the primary organ systems, functioning as both protection (like skin) and struc-ture (like a skeleton). Each of its many layers consists primarily of chitin and protein.

Chitin, first identified in 1823, is fibrous and makes the exoskeleton tough, yet flexible—not unlike fiberglass. The outer layers of the exoskeleton are collectively called the cuticle.

In adult and larval beetles the outer sur-face of the exoskeleton may be covered with spines, or setae or of various func-tions and configurations, or coated with waxy secretions. These adornments may function in a sensory capacity, transmit-ting tactile or environmental information to the nervous system, or they may help protect against predators, abrasion, and desiccation.

The ironclad beetle, Asbolms verruco-sus, a tenebrionid that inhabits the drier portions of some North American des-erts, also possesses a tough exoskeleton. Its roughened cuticle, which resembles

I I I

the impenetrable metallic exterior of the infamous metal warships of the American Civil War, help the ironclad beetle live up to its name. The pri-mary purpose of this beetle’s hardened cuticle is to protect against loss of the most precious of all desert commodi-ties, water. A bluish gray waxy substance secreted by glands that have ducts at the tip of knob-like projections on the elytra, coats the ironclad beetle’s exoskeleton. The thickened cuticle and waxy film combine to form something like a deep-sea diving suit in reverse, designed to retain moisture rather than keep moisture out. The light color of the wax also reflects more sunlight than the surrounding darker cuticle, helping to keep the body cool.

To facilitate flexibility, the exoskeleton consists of a series of segments that are subdivided into individual plates, called sclerites. Sclerites are separated from one another by a thin, flexible groove in the exoskeleton or by a membrane of pure chitin. The sclerites themselves contain chitin and are impregnated with a protein called sclerotin. The cross linkage between the molecular chains of chitin and sclerotin give the thin, light sclerites amazing strength.

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a disarticulated male Megasoma actaeon reveals the intricate and segmented nature of the beetle body. the horned bears the eyes, antennae, and mouthparts. the armored prothorax serves as an anchor to the powerful front legs. the meso-and metathorax house powerful wing muscles internally and serves as points of attachment for the elytra, flight wings, and remaining two pairs of legs. the abdomen encloses much of the of beetleís organ systems, includ-ing the male reproductive organs shown here.

M e S ot h o r a x

M e tat h o r a x

L a b i u m

h e a d

ta r s u s

t i b i a

f e m u r

t r o c h a n t e r

e Ly t r a

h i n d w i n g

m i d d L e L e g

h i n d L e g

m a x i L L a

m a n d i b L e

a n t e n na

p r ot h o r a x

a b d o m e n

g e n i ta L i a

transparent overlay diagram

IDEO / KPDESCRIP T ION

Swatch cards containing the compilation of research and discovery by Kaiser Nurses and IDEO in finding new methods to cre-ate a positive and efficient workflow for Kaiser patients, their families and nurses.

swatch cardsCONCEP T

The cards needed to be portable, easily accessible, durable, contained and inspirational. The Kaiser Nurse Principles are color-coded and organized by location for easy look-up. As a special acknowledgement for Kaiser’s spirited participation, each team member’s photo was placed on the cover.

3.875” x 5.5”

HENRY CHINASKI Charles Bukowski

“ If you’re goIng to try, go all the way. otherwIse don’t even start. thIs could mean

losIng gIrlfrIends, wIves, rel atIves, jobs. and maybe your mInd. It could mean not

eatIng for three or four days. It could mean freezIng on a park bench. It could mean

jaIl . It could mean derIsIon. It could mean mockery, Isol atIon. Isol atIon Is the gIft.

all the others are a test of your endur ance. of how much you really want to do It.

and you’ll do It, despIte rejec tIon In the worst odds. and It wIll be bet ter than any-

thIng else you c an ImagIne. If you’re goIng to try, go all the way. there Is no other

feel Ing l Ike that. you wIll be alone wIth the gods. and the nIghts wIll fl ame wIth

fIre . you wIll r Ide l Ife str aIght to perfec t l aughter . It ’s the only good f Ight there Is .

Bi l l ie Hol iday Por tra i t , acr y l i c wash over graphite

STRANGE FRUITDESCRIP T ION

A visual book on Billie Holiday’s song “Strange Fruit” about the lynchings that took place in the South.

hand-bound book CONCEP T

The book leads you visually through the lyrics. There is a certain amount of subtlety until the end. The composition and juxta-position of images parallels the lyrics in “Strange Fruit,” while maintaining a quiet turmoil. The photographs were taken from historical books about Southern lynchings. The illustrations are done in watercolor, ink and acrylic. The book material is kept simple and raw; black ink on craft paper.

3.5”x 7.5”

INS

PIR

ATI

ON

GRATITUDE

nAtURe

CULtURe

L AngUAge

ChiLDRen

PhotogR APhY

R AnDom SoUnDS

ARChiteC tURe

CoRReSPonDenCe

PoP CULtURe

PeoPLe WAtChing

UnDeRDogS

ConVeRSAtionS

emotionS

hiStoRY

L iteR AtURe

hUmAnit Y

PASSion

SKetChing

URBAnit Y

LeARning

mUSiC

SPACe

FAShion

BooKS

FiLm

CoLoRS

L iStS

ARt

. . .

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to Robert Lenne and IDEO for reviewing my portfolio. Your time and insight is truly appreciated.

E D U C A T I O N Art Center College of Design, Pasadena CAB.F.A., Graphic Design and PackagingPhotography & Illustration electivesArt Center Portfolio Scholarship [2000-2003]

Sep. 2000 –Aug. 2003

University of California Extension, Los Angeles, CAComputer Graphics and Graphic Design combined

Sep. 1996 –Sep. 1999

University of La Verne, La Verne, CAAbnormal PsychologyDepartmental Honors and President’s Scholarship [1989]

Sep. 1987 –Jun. 1989

University of California, Irvine, CAB.A., Criminology, Law and Society w/ English minor

Sep. 1989 –Dec. 1992

Freelance graphic design for the following creative agencies:Artisan Creative, Los Angeles, CA e talent agency, llc., Los Angeles, CA Whicker + Berliant, Los Angeles, CA

Mar. 2000 –Jun. 2002

Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ), Century City, CAGraphics Department Supervisor & Graphic ArtistResponsible for managing the five employee in-house graphics department of international investment bank.

Aug. 1996 –Mar. 1999

Vrontikis Design Office, Los Angeles, CAPaid Internship – Print and Web DesignAssisted in the design for a broad range of clients including: a chocolate shop in Tokyo, a large pharmaceutical company, a yoga studio, and a top fashion & design school.

Jan. 2002 –Mar. 2002

C O M P U T E R K N O W L E D G E

fluent in Spanishcompetent in Frenchbasic Mandarin

S P E C I A L S K I L L S

arthropods (insects & arachnids)photography & illustrationforeign & independent filmworld culture & travelnature (form & function)etymology & languageblues musicwriting...

I N T E R E S T S

In-DesignQuarkIllustratorPhotoshopAcrobatSuitcase

g r a p h i c d e s i g n

E M P L O Y M E N T Phi Design, Berkeley, CA + Brooklyn, NYOwner | Graphic design studio with emphasis on strong concept driven design for diverse clients and industries.

Dec 2005 –Present

Brook lyn, NY 310.428.4656 mireya @ phi-design.org

Zande+Newman Design, New Orleans, LAGraphic Designer – Environmental and Graphic Design Firm Worked in print, environmental and web design for a variety of clients in the following areas: restaurant, spa service, healthcare, education, and logistics.

Apr. 2004 –Sep. 2004

MIREYA HERRERA

CL I ENTS

FASHION INSTITUTE

OF DESIGN AND

MERCHANDISING

(FIDM) • IDEO •

INFINITI • MERVYNS

• KAISER • TULANE

UNIVERSITY • AIGA

• THE MURPHY

INSTITUTE • SHINE

DAY SPA • VONAGE

• WAMU • FOOTE,

CONE & BELDING •

THE JEWISH AMERICAN

FOUNDATION • DLJ •

VETERANS AFFAIRS •

INTERMARINE • KEY

CURRICULUM PRESS

• ANDELUNA WINE

CELLARS • TAJIMA

CREATIVE

“ i BeLieVe in eVeRYthing, eVeRYthing iS SACReD.”nothing iS SACReD. i BeLieVe in nothing, Even Cowgirls Get The Blues, Tom Robbins