The Barrel of Crackers

Entry 7, Due 10.23.2014
Terra System
Mars Galaxy
Star Command, Get Me My Doritos

In this design entry we will be discussing the design and layout of the Cracker Barrel restaurant, which is synonymous with "heaven on Earth."

What is so brilliant about the design and layout of the Cracker Barrel restaurants? Well, first and foremost, they suck you right in as soon as you step foot out of your car? What's that, you're tired? Here, sit on our rocking chairs for free. You can buy one if you want, they're pretty cool. Nothing says country like wooden rocking chairs. Secondly, once you step in the restaurant, they have you. Boom. You walk into a paradise of old school foods and candies, home-made items, and good ol' country things. This is obviously deliberate - the designer was brilliant to place a store at the front of the restaurant. Moreover, the store is also where you check out. So while you're checking out you can see all those wonderful goodies that you should probably buy (which is exactly what happens!). Thirdly, the whole atmosphere lends credence to the claim "Good country cookin'." The food smells as amazing as it tastes, the staff is polite, and the design of the dining room is so country. The tables are made of wood, there are old-school peg games on each table, the walls are brick or wood and plastered with old timey portraits and items. 

Don't act like you don't want some.

So all in all, they really raise the bar for atmosphere and quality. Cracker Barrel has done a good job of making it a desirable place to be thanks to its layout and design - I mean seriously, having a store where you check out is incredibly savvy-  among other things. Plus people want to use it to shop and eat, and voila, you have a great restaurant on our chain. The only negative for Cracker Barrel, in my opinion, is that they don't deliver. I would be their #1 customer. Cracker Barrel, if you're reading this, please deliver.

SALSA OM NOM NOM

Entry 6, Due 10.16.2014
Terra System
Hershey's Galaxy
Star Command Fite me IRL

Today's discussion item is inspired by its presence on my desk at the moment. I'm talkin' 'bout salsa containers, yo!

Bask in its glory!

Yes, the famous salsa container utilized by Tostitos (makers of heavenly tortilla chips that always fall short of restaurant quality but always help my wallet feel great). These things are super useful and are a dominant feature in many "chip" aisles in grocery stores. What makes them so desirable and useful? Firstly, they hit a key demographic of users - those who like their chips with salsa! That's a lot of people (thanks John Madden!). Secondly, the portion sizes seem to be just right. These containers are not too big nor too small - I always feel like I have plenty of salsa when I buy just one container, and that's a good thing. Thirdly, the shape and texture of the containers (plus the top) plays a key part in their reusability. The container is not big and fits perfectly into the door-handle containers (in layman's terms, the parts on the door of your refrigerator). The allows the user to store more items in the fridge. Additionally, the top comes off super easily and the fact that the container is made of glass means that items inside are preserved pretty well, especially if refrigerated.

However, I cannot come to terms with the fact that salsa must be refrigerated. I hate having to reheat things. Why can't I just leave the salsa in the pantry?! It seems to be frowned upon. I digress though - the only problem I can find with the salsa containers is that they help me run out of chips quickly :(

The Frozen Logo

Entry 5, Due 10.9.2014
Terra System
Twix Galaxy
Star Command, Who Can't Even FaZe Clan

Alright, so this entry is inspired by the current jam "Let It Go." But not the version by Idina Menzel; rather, it's a rock cover I found on YouTube, and it's amazing. Anyways, I digress. Our topic will be the Frozen Logo.

The famous logo

Look at it in all its glory. This thing is a masterpiece. What makes it so great? My first impression is "Wow, that looks cold." So the logo is giving the right reaction - the theme of the movie is ice and snow related, so the logo should be heavily related to that. The text itself has a lot of pointed edges, especially near the "F" and the "E." If I were an English major I'd state something like "they symbolize the delicacy and jaggedness of Elsa's self-esteem." Alas, I am not; I am here to critique and compliment the design. Those two letters specifically remind us of icicles, objects we're all familiar with from childhood. They're very dangerous but very impressive works of nature. Moreover, I love the color gradient on the letters themselves. It lends contrast to the background, yet at the same time makes you feel like you're staring at an ice sheet from above. Relatedly, the background gradient is perhaps my favorite part of the whole thing. The light emanating from the center gives off an aura of calm and awe, as if to say "admire from a distance." Plus, like I said before, it really makes you feel like you're staring at a sheet of ice. Where are the fishies though? Finally, the semi-transparent snow/ice-flake in the background is the finishing touch to a work of art. It seems perfectly symmetrical, giving us a feeling of completeness. Weird, because that's what the movie gives me too!

So what is bad about this design? I really don't know, since I'm not a graphic designer. I'm not qualified to make color or lighting critiques. However, my basic critique has been the same one I've had with all Disney logos - the damn "D" in the front. I thought that was a reverse "G" until I was 8 or so, and kept wondering why Disney did that. I was a smart child overall, but that was not a highlight. The color gradient up top, too, looks a little darker than it does on the bottom, but that may just be me nitpicking. I think that it adds a depth to it, but others may not. The beauty of opinion! (Mine's better than yours)