mariel olivo

I thought I was getting the better end of the deal when I left snowy Syracuse for Brooklyn, but it looks like the joke’s on me! Though I’m mostly unscathed (with the exception of a few rogue snowflakes evading my glasses and hitting me right in the eye), I was still delighted to find this animation in my inbox. Made by British studio Crush, it features the Sara Bareilles track “Winter Song,” and is just what I need to keep my spririts up while I’m snowed-in at home.

I love the old-timey feel and how the animation perfectly compliments the song…and anyone can relate to the story, about two friends trying to make due in the cold weather. I cringe just a little bit to say something like ‘heartwarming,’ but that’s what it is. Shout out to my own best friend who, though far from home right now, hasn’t been forgotten. So, watch it watch it watch it!! I think it’s the video equivalent of a big mug of hot chocolate.

I pride myself on being very detailed-oriented, which is why design suits me so well (or so I’d like to think!). Perfect kerning makes me inexplicably happy, and sometimes the delicate swash of the letter makes me lose my train of thought. Behold Cameron Moll, a Utah man with a godly attention to detail.

Basically, this poster makes me drool. Click on the photos for oh-so-necessary close-ups of this typographic representation of the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This thing is handcrafted and apparently took over 100 hours to make. ONE HUNDRED HOURS?!?! Makes my all-nighters at the graphics lab seem like child’s play. But 100 hours seems to be an okay price to pay if THIS is the final product.

Excuse me, I think I’m gonna need a minute. If you want to check out some more super sexy detail shots of this piece, click here. It’s definitely worth your time.

So I recently decided that I don’t know a thing about graphic design–which is kind of unfortunate seeing as this is my intended career path. In an attempt to correct my ignorance, I’ve started reading a bunch of design blogs/sites.

During my web travels I came across Sycamore Street Press, a Columbus, OH stationery outfit that hand-prints their cards on a vintage letterpress. I know, right? That’s devotion. The cards are beautifully made, and I dig the muted/earthy color palate, but the clincher here are the messages. I’m one of those people who would rather show up to a party empty-handed than with one of those ‘normal’ birthday cards, so I was instantly drawn to these.

Also see: “Spoiler Alert: Someone got you a toaster” and “I expect a thank you note for this thank you note.”

I think I know where I’m doing my shopping from now on.

Hi everyone!

My name’s Mariel, I’m a graphic design major at Syracuse University, and this is my portfolio Web site. Feel free to look around and learn a little bit more about me and my work. Definitely keep coming back, though, to check out the new work I put up!

Click here for a multimedia presentation of my portfolio. You can also find individual versions under the “Portfolio” section of this site.