So, The Sky Isn’t Falling After All?

Well, the dreaded Rapture has passed and it seems we’ve all survived with our limbs still attached (or have we?..dun dun dunnn!). But what would’ve happened if worldwide doom, really came to pass? Would fire fall from the sky–well shit let’s hope not, but maybe there’s one thing we can all look forward to. That’s right, I’m talking about Zombie Babes.

The Artist: Chloe Roques

French web and graphics designer, Chloe Roques, has got me flipping the pages of the nearest zombie manual for her pinup style, “Zombabes.” Googoorama is the site which showcases these busty maneaters from original vector art, to sketches, and merchandise.

So, what does a Zombabe do in a post-apocalyptic world? She gets her fill of BRraAAIIInNNssSS of course…..eh, too much? Oh alright……ANYWHO my fav–zombabe, has got to be the chick munching on eyeballs, probably watching a marathon of Resident Evil.

….At least, that’s what I’d be doing. So, who’s your fav Zombabe? Subscribe and Comment below!

Gallery Of Zombabes

Keep It Sexy Sugas (K.I.S.S.)

Resources

• Chloe Roques – Official Website and Portfolio at XPZ Design
• Googoorama – Official Site For Zombabes

Tip #1: Provocative, Not Pornographic

(image source via Fotolia) – Add the concept of sexy without the T&A

People often misunderstand the concept of adding sexual appeal to their design. The results usually become designs which are overly sexual for a product or service which has nothing to do with sex. How many times have you seen a babe in a bikini to sell a poker site? Stick to stock photos which are instead, “provocative.”

“Provocative: arousing sexual desire, interest, or controversy, especially deliberately.”

Many things can be provocative from articles to photography so be open to this concept. Choose photos that are sexy based on body language instead of body position. You should always know how far of a line you can cross before your audience dismisses a provocative photo for a semi-pornographic one.

Tip #2: Not All Stock Photography Is Equal

(image source via Fotolia) Make sure the photo matches the design concept. This emotes great relaxation for a Spa Ad.

Stock photography sites, especially free ones, can be a mixture of professional and amateur photography. Therefore, depending on what’s available for your project and budget, you are always at risk for work with low quality photography.

Another point to consider is how well the provocative concept you need is executed. Nothing can beat the perfect photograph for your design, but beware of concepts which are forced or not believable. The photographer may have wanted to take a shot of a happy secretary at her desk, but if her face reads sad or contrived, your audience won’t believe it.

Tip #3: It’s All In The Eyes

(image source via Fotolia) - Grab your audience with a single look!

Body language is always important, but our eyes are especially capable of evoking such great and diverse emotion. Sometimes all you need for an alluring photo is a great pair of eyes staring  right back at your audience.

Based on our primal instincts, our eyes are one of the best ways to evoke sexuality naturally. As humans, when we are aroused our pupils dilate. Our pupils also dilate in low lighting, which is commonly referred to as “bedroom eyes.” In other words, very dark eyes or photography which makes them look dark  and mysterious will always be naturally sensual.

Tip #4: Racial And Gender Ambiguity

(image source via Fotolia) - Black and white photos add to racial/gender ambiguity

How to choose which race or gender should be responsible for capturing the message of your design is often a tough choice for designers. If you’re truly having a difficult time with this concept then I suggest choosing stock photography with racial or gender ambiguity. What this means is that the subject in the photo will have appeal across the board no matter the race or gender of the subjects because the audience won’t be able to tell what they are.  Racial ambiguity is useful in many markets while gender ambiguity is best for fashion and such.

The beauty of black and white photography is that it’s easier to get away with racial ambiguity when you eliminate color photography.  You can see this kind of use in the Reebok Easytone Ads, where all the audience can focus on is the great pair of legs and perfect product placement.

Conclusion

Alluring stock photos are easy to find when you know what to look for. Pay attention to key elements like body language and overall concept to pair the right photo to your design needs. What are your tips for finding alluring stock photography?

Resources

All photos provided by:

• Fotolia – Royalty Free Stock Photos

DeviantART’s Goldmine of Inspiration

I just love getting lost on DeviantART. I usually go there to check my own profile and for a quick browse, but that quick browse quickly turns into hours of “oooing” and “ahhing” in front of my screen.  So many talented artists call it a home for their best work, and have gone onto much bigger opportunities because of its supportive community.

Type “Disney” into their search bar and you’re bound to find thousands of creative works from people all around the world. One particular gem I came across is this gorgeous series of Disney princesses digitally painted with an incredible sense of realism.

The Artist: Claire Lena

Claire, also known as meirou on DA, is a young artist currently living in the United Kingdom. She makes beautiful fantasy paintings using Photoshop as her medium.

Claire paints with a sense of “semi-realism” to get the realistic effect that she wants. Her paintings have such a wonderfully dreamy quality about them that they really take the viewer to the place she illustrates. Like many artists, she uses photo references to create her characters and was often inspired by the awesome work of photographers to paint from.

The Disney Princess series includes portraits of Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, and Ariel.My favorite by far is, Ariel with her little flounder nearby, what’s yours?

Gallery of Claire Lena’s Disney Princesses

Keep It Sexy Sugas (K.I.S.S.)

Resources

• Claire Lena (meirou) – Official DeviantART
• Claire Lena – Official Blog

Check out all the new features to SexiDesign’s new and improved look!

New Banner

I’ve always wanted to customize this theme since I installed it, but it was only recently, like literally the other day, that a design concept came to my mind. The new banner illustrates scribblings on a blackboard, much like the one you would see in any teacher’s classroom. You see, SexiDesign is all about educating it’s readers to the nitty gritty of what sells in design. From understanding your audience’s experience to utilizing the science of sexy, these articles are gateways to our instincts.

The new banner includes: love formulas, the dopamine formula, and miscellaneous diagrams/charts.

New Logo

I’ll be writing a future post on this topic, but in many ways I have “de-sexed” SexiDesign. The original logo highlighted only the letters “sex” in relation to the site’s overall theme. Now a sleek new font goes with the logo and new tagline, “lessons in design’s aphrodisiac.”

Read more about “Design’s Aphrodisiac…”

Revised Rating System

The SexiDesign Rating System helps readers discover the best posts for their surfing preferences. Over 70% of SexiDesign’s posts are actually in the standard “Work and Wife Safe” category. And now there are just three distinct categories to choose from!

The new rating systems includes:

• Green – Work and Wife Safe. No Nudity.
• Yellow – Mild Content & Language. Minimal Nudity.
• Orange – Mature Content. Nudity.

Wibiya Toolbar

Share your favorite SexiDesign posts with friends on Twitter and Facebook with a breeze using the new Wibiya Toolbar. This toolbar is also your direct access to SexiDesign’s Official Facebook Fan Page for updates and community discussion.

View My All New Personal Blog Site!

SexiDesign is just the second redesign that I’ve done in the last two weeks, agh! The first, is my all new personal portfolio and blog site, MelodyNieves.com. There I will be sharing the process for my digital artwork, as well as tips and tutorials for fellow designers. Subscribe to the RSS Feed for updates on new posts!

Stay Tuned For New Posts From SexiDesign

With the redesign finished, I feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I look forward to new posts and topics for my loyal readers! What do you think of the new look? Let me know in the comments!

Keep It Sexy Sugas! (K.I.S.S.)

SexiDesign Loves Body Art

I’m always amazed at how artists are capable of using the human form as their canvas. Whether the artist is creating beautiful zodiac inspired art or insane optical illusions, they never fail to awe and inspire.  Emma Hack is another body artist whose attention to detail leaves her audience wondering about what they’re truly looking at.

The Artist: Emma Hack

For Emma Hack, the human form was always a canvas for inspiration. As a makeup and children’s face paint artist, she developed her craft, exploring the potential of what new mediums had to offer. She’s traveled all over the world showcasing her beautiful collections as both installations and photography.

Looking at her work you can tell that Emma has an immense attention to detail in order to pull of her optical illusions seamlessly. She, like many illusionists, take pictures from afar during a piece’s development process in order to track her progress. This also helps to ensure the design lines up correctly as she sees fit.

In all, Emma’s work reflects the true discipline of an artist.  So what do you find inspiring about the human body? Feel free to comment and share your opinions below…

Gallery of Emma Hack Camouflage Body Art

Keep It Sexy Sugas (K.I.S.S.)

Resources

• Emma Hack Biography – Official Website
• Emma Hack Collections – Official Gallery

I <3 Pinups!

As you may already know from delving into my mischievous list of 100 sexy facts about me,  I absolutely adore vintage pinup attire.  So while perusing the pages of my favorite vixenish guru, V.V., I fell in love with the beautiful pinup work from her dear friend, Derek Santiago. Learn more about the gorgeous and bold artwork from this remarkable artist…

The Artist: Derek Santiago

Aptly named “Santiago” (don’t you just love one named artists), Santiago’s work is a provocative blend of vintage pinups, urban art influences, and every other deliciously exotic mash-up you could add to the sultry melting pot. Like many artists, his work has been an expression of himself since even early childhood.

Color Color Color!

I am probably most taken aback by the illustrious use of color to convey powerful passion behind his pieces. It’s as though he has taken the sensuous housewife circa 1952 and propelled her into a whirlwind of futuristic glamor.

Enjoy more from Santiago’s collection below, and feel free to share and comment!

Gallery of Derek Santiago Pinup Art

Keep It Sexy Sugas (K.I.S.S.)

Resources

• Derek Santiago Bio - Official Website
• Derek Santiago Pinup Art Gallery – Official Website

Happy Birthday to SexiDesign…

One Year Ago…

…was the official launch of SexiDesign, a titillating collection of design articles to intrigue and investigate the influence of sex in design.

The Birth of SexiDesign

Many ideas come from those great “aha” moments we all have and SexiDesign is no different. I remember wanting to explore the topic of the influence of YouTube’s early web design on the porn industry.  However, such a topic can turn into a mouthful of NSFW remarks; a little inappropriate for my small personal blog at the time.

S00n the idea would birth a list of potential subjects you could only raise a devilish brow to.  But as fun as this blog has become for me, it has also brought great insight into topics I love like art, design, marketing, and body language.

And though some minor technical difficulties have brought a brief hiatus, I’m glad to put on my sexy investigator hat (sounds like a great halloween costume) and get back to new and exciting content here at SexiDesign.

Melody’s Favorite Posts

My favorite posts dive into the appeal of “sexy” in popular marketing campaigns. Learn why “bigger is better,” well pupils that is, and how body language mind-humps your audience to buy buy buy!

The Power of Fake Ad Campaigns – Learn the power of great press and publicity through the use of controversial advertisements.

Decoding Sexy Design: Megan Fox – Discover why reworking your own image amplifies your market appeal tenfold!

Sexy Chicolate Ad Campaign – Sometimes the most sinful delights come in sweet, delicious, packages…

Barbie’s Erotic Origins – Nostalgic childhood icon, or adult plaything? You decide…

Become A Fan of SexiDesign

Whether your new or one of the regular readers I’ve grown to love (xoxoxo’s to all) satisfy your daily quota for all things sexy and smart by following SexiDesign:

• Become a Fan of SexiDesign on Facebook - The latest news in sexy design, artwork, and marketing.
• Follow @SexiDesign on Twitter – Introduce yourself or say hello! Enjoy some sexy banter with the creator, @MelodyNieves.

To Another Year of Sexy!

Here’s hoping to another year of great, sexy content! Cheers! And feel free to share your feelings and comment below!

Keep It Sexy Sugas! (K.I.S.S.)

Resources

• Birthday Candle Image Source  – Shutterstock

Link Love for the week of September 6-10, 2010

This week was an in depth look into some of the most popular marketing techniques around. Learn subliminal Photoshopping tricks from the pros and what makes innocent slogans go naughty.

Check out the link love from this week…

Popular Posts This Week from SexiDesign

When Sexy Meets Cuddly Design: The Snuggie Sutra – Learn the not-so-ancient art of Snuggie Sutra, “erotic fun for your blanket with sleeves.”

Recommended Reading From Around The Web

• (article via @Nenuno) Interview: Melody Nieves of SexiDesign
• (article via @oneextrapixel) 69 Sexy and Explicit Advertisements: See It Creatively
• (article via @designerdepot) Stop Designing Aesthetics, Start Designing Emotions

Sexy Tweeples

This week’s awesome Tweeples from around the web. Tweet them a hello courtesy of SexiDesign. Want to be featured in next week’s round of sexy tweeples? Let me know @SexiDesign!

• @MelodyNieves (me!)
• @Eckstatic
• @NebulaArts
• @JThompsondesign
• @badlvillemojo
• @alvinthethird
• @pablolarah
• @writer_sheri

Keep It Sexy Sugas…

Discover why some of your favorite PS tricks result in $$$…

Bloated Pupils

Image: Go from “Average Jane,” to hot mama!

Filter->Liquify->Bloat, and drag the cursor over your subject’s pupil. Begin bloating it slightly for a subtle effect. This creates “bedroom eyes”–the look often associated when you’re getting ready for some dimly lit snuggle time right before bed. Also the body’s natural indicator for arousal, this bloated effect ignites a subconscious acknowledgment of naughty times to come.
Add this subtle effect to your campaign photos and your potential customers will be drawn into your product or service by oh so seductive eyes.

Push That Fat

Image: Thin is the new black.

Cleverly manipulate not-so-lovely love handles utilizing the Pucker and Forward Warp tools. Modern western ideology interprets thinner silhouettes as the industry standard for fashion and related industries.  However, it’s actually natural for us to prefer “thinner” bodies (thin, as in weight lower than your modern day average citizen). In nature, healthy bodies illustrate potential partners ready for conception and are therefore seen as perfect mates by the opposite sex.

The controversy, however, often lies in the unfortunate discretion of the art direction to determine the public’s perception of health and vitality. The design community is not foreign to examples of botched Photoshopped ads, but it’s important for designers to understand the sociological impact of design upon the standards of the public.

Warped Expressions

Image: Manipulate expressions for customer appeal.

A “genuine” smile occurs when there is furrowing of the corner of the eyes to create crows feet. Extensive wrinkling around the eyes can even be a sign of a life filled with joyful emotions. Obviously, a designer can’t leave or create additional wrinkles for a major magazine spread, but they can slightly manipulate the skin in the area to an angle by creating a subtle corner squint.

Also emphasize the approachability of your subject by bringing the corners of their lips upward. The slightest smile can prove wonders for a friendly marketing campaign.

Say Cheese, or not!

Image: Is a smile costing your product’s success?

Can the basis of success weigh in the aesthetic attributes of a smile? According to a national survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, participants judged intelligence, status, and overall success on a smile alone:

“74% of adults feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for career success.” -American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

Whether it’s a section of white set to “overlay” or clone stamping a pristine set of teeth nearby, realize that an attractive smile can make or break a design.

No Such Thing As Ethical Design

If people are individually bombarded with hundreds of advertisements daily, designers can’t afford to lose reach by neglecting certain aesthetics in design. The audience’s intrigue in an attractive spokesperson ultimately leads to the intrigue of the product.

Whether it’s superficial or morally wrong is a matter of opinion, and that consideration doesn’t sell products, manipulation does. Can you think of a national campaign which has stirred public opinion?

Resources

• The Definitive Book of Body Language
• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Press Release
• Obesity – Wikipedia
• Pupils – Wikipedia
• Original Artwork By Melody Nieves
  

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Beauty Distortion

In a world with Hollywood cookie cutter types, a nip and tuck here and there is as common as a handshake. But with the risks of any major surgery, results may vary–to say the least. Emerge from the doctor’s as statuesque as Barbie, or make your habitat amongst the wildebeest. Either way, enter this terrifying realm of beauty at your own risk.

The Artist: Burcu Büyükünal

Burcu Büyükünal is a turkish jewelry designer who graduated from the Istanbul Technical University in 2003. Driven by the conventions of history and it’s affect on societies perception of beauty she created “Terrifying Beauty.”

Terrifying Beauty is a collection of four pieces of jewelry which distort the face in an unlikely way. It reflects Burcu’s feelings towards trends in plastic surgery today while playing with the traditional function of jewelry. Each piece is crafted in brass metal and designed to pull the face in a way similar to botched procedures.

In an effort to bring about questions on the convention of beauty, Burcu hopes that her work will shock and inspire some. What do you think about her work’s purpose?

Face Jewelry vs. Plastic Surgery

Here are side by side comparisons of Burcu’s face jewelry and some unfortunate cosmetic results.  Notice how the jewelry emphasizes aspects of the face that are modified by popular cosmetic procedures. The jewelry may look painful, but not as painful as these permanent reminders.

Not Exactly Wearable Jewelry…

Now I don’t expect (nor recommend) you run out and surprise your hunny with a piece from this collection, but it definitely stirs some questions. Has plastic surgery warped society’s perspective on beauty?

Resources

• Burcu Büyükünal – Official Website
• Terrifying Beauty – Gallery
• Terrifying Beauty – Information