C. Casey GardinerTheCraziestArtist@yahoo.com( 2 4 8 ) – 9 4 3 – 2 7 8 9

A showcase of client commissions and personal creative endeavors in graphic design, print and digital layouts.

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THE WOODS OF ARCADY ARE DEAD

and over is their antique joy...

When Yeats penned these words in The Song of the Happy Shepherd, the world of humanity and civilization was undergoing the traumatic birth-pangs of the next century's Industrial Revolution. Now, some one hundred and twenty five years later, as we struggle to find new relevance in post-modern, post-industrial post-society, the same words can still give pause, as we must ask ourselves, “Great Scott! Is the old boy right?”Well, maybe in 1866 that's how'd we say it – Nowadaysthe whole question might be ignored altogether when propped up next to our high-definition lives.

As it stands, the terrible secret of the world is this:Nobody cares.

At least, that's what we tell ourselves when faced with the myriad supertasks we must perform in our day-to-day existence, with an ever-increasing amount of superhuman efficiency, lest we lose our own security, for ourselves and those we care about. The well-oiled machinery of the past century is beginning to break down – No machine lasts forever – And in it's place, what? Where are we headed now? What great pantheon of innovators will propel us out of these economic and apathetic doldrums? Who's steering this thing?

Well, we all are, if we want it. Are you ready to take the wheel? I am.

Feel free to join me.

-C. Casey Gardiner

One of the good, timeless tricks to logo design is this: It should believe in itself. That is to say, a decent logo behaves as if it has every right in the world to be where it is. If it looks like it has always been around, people will treat it that way.

Example: this sticker design for Blue Rabbit Games behaves like a vintage label from the late seventies and early eighties, the “golden age” of tabletop games, but in fact it's brand spanking new.

Similarly, the brand image for this bicycle company startup aspires to compete with the likes of GM and Ford.Will it succeed?

Only time and reason will tell.

WHEN OLD BECOMES NEW,

NEW BECOMES OLD

Above:Not a logo, but this custom spinner for the board game Pazuzu: Secret of the Wind exudes the thrill of exploration and the terror of getting lost, two very strong and timeless themes in its Lovecraftian-style gameplay.

One of the world's universal themes is the fall of man from grace. Centuries of

artistic, scientific and martial pursuits have been

to restore humanity's dignity and bring back a more

idyllic time. If we can just find the Holy Grail, balance

the budget, and discover cold fusion, we reason,

everything will be perfect.

This universal pursuit of a more lasting treasure is

what inspired Hunters and Haunts, a semi-abstract board game where not

even Death will stop you from reaching your goal.

WE CAN REACH PARADISE,IF WE JUST TRY A LITTLE HARDER

Opposite:Sketches of the game's Hunter, Haunt, Defender and Treasure piece designs.

In the semiotics concept of tacity, every manmade object has a primary purpose, to store and communicate an idea. Once that idea is understood, only then does the object become useful, because people can understand its use.

In this light, typography can be understood as a pseudo-language, something that augments a message to bolster itself against other messages. Swirly script alludes to elegance and femininity, bold lettering invokes power and authority. Within their assumed context, we learn to trust certain letterforms and shun others, because they do not communicate to our beliefs.

In truth, they're nothing more than a placeholder, a sort of shorthand for times and ideals of different places and eras. To use a certain china pattern over another means that one has bought into and finds emotional reassurance in its borrowed message of prestige. In the end, no matter how it's packaged, it's just plates and cups.

Tacity teaches us that buildings and cookware and propaganda posters and Helvetica are all fundamentally the same in their first purpose. The world is a book, and if we can pay attention, we will know how to read it, and perhaps even re-write it.

THE LANGUAGE OF TYPOGRAPHY IS UNIVERSAL, AND UNIVERSALLY

MISUNDERSTOOD

Nostalgia is a powerful force that can alter memories and affections. Was Kansas the best band of its generation? Did the Volkswagen vans really live up to their owners' transcendental dreams? Which was the better movie – Revenge of the Sith or Matrix Revolutions?To say these are irrelevant questions is to miss the point entirely.

Hindsight may not always be 20/20, but it is always a complete circle.

When we look fondly on old games and hobbies, it's part of a never-ending cycle of returning to halcyon days, and finding new diversionsto occupy ourselves with.

The world of advertising understands this, and they depend on it. Sell us something that reminds us of how happy we were when we had it, and we'll confuse that happiness with the product itself.

Oldest trick in the industry.

NOSTALGIA WILL NEVER LOVE YOU BACK, BUT IT'LL LET YOU

PLAY WITH POWER

Above:This pixel art piece (shown at over four times its original size) serves as a small tribute to an irreplaceable American innovator.

A testimony for the depth of his influence is that he doesn't even have to be named to be recognized -- The apples do it for him. The man is synonymous with his brand.

Above:Zelda and the Unibrows' Blissful Cessation is exactly what it looks like, a cheerful song about death and endngs. The unexpected juxtaposition of the two themes are what inspired this radiant album cover design, loaded with covert death imagery. As an obscure reference to Weird Al Yankovic, the group retains a small obsession with the number 27. This motif has been hidden in the illustration a grand total of 18 times.

--R E S U M E--

Computer Software knowledge: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Quark XPress,

Adobe Pagemaker, MS FrontPage, MS Publisher, MS Office Suite

Commercial andCinematic Storyboarding

Typographic Design and Layout

Screen Printing Experience

Camera skills as well as digital restoration of images

EDUCATION:

Macomb Community College – June, 2008 to PresentMedia and Communication Arts Major with Concentration in Art for Advertising, coursework including advertising art, typography and spatial development, digital layout and design courses.

Oakland Community College – Associates Degree in General Studies - June, 2006Concentration in Business andGraphic Arts

EMPLOYMENT:

Art for a Cause – 2007 to 2009As artist for Birmingham, Michigan company, did production painting and designed graphics for publication and packaging.

Goofy Face Caricatures – 2006 to 2008 Worked in a fast-paced environment creating original caricatures in pencil, ink and pastels.

Fine Lines Graphics – 2005 to 2007 As Production Apprentice for Royal Oak, Michigan graphics design studio and sign shop, assisted with the design and production of many different vehicle and store graphics, including vehicle wraps, wall menus and hydroplane decals.

Holcomb's Knowplace – 2005 to 2006As Keyholder for Troy, Michigan educational supply company, performed customer service, cashiering, and management duties.

Hollywood Video – 2003 to 2005As Guest Service Representative for Royal Oak, Michigan movie rental and retail store, performed customer service, cashiering, and open/closing duties.

Caesarland Enterprises – 2002 to 2003As Customer Service Representative for Clawson, Michigan children's entertainment center and pizzeria,performed customer service, cashiering, food preparation, fixing machines and managed the prize counter.

EVERYTHING THAT HAS AN ENDINGALSO HAS A CONCLUSION

Thanks for looking!

C. Casey GardinerTheCraziestArtist@yahoo.com( 2 4 8 ) - 9 4 3 - 2 7 8 9