hello mr. eric!

My collection of favourite pieces of work when I was designing layouts for the various iterations of my blog (tragic hero, metro log, resistance) in my early years of blogging and web design. Mostly blog layouts, some graphic works and also a few Flash layouts. I never had any actual training with the programs (Photoshop, Fireworks, Flash) I used, so everything was really just experimentation and luck.

Layout: Tragic Hero 17
Van Tomiko, Singer

This was the 17th version of my blog. Yeah, it’s not a typo, there were actually 16 layouts I did before this one. I went through a few different blog name changes; Scattered…, Speak Like a Child, True Imitation and then Tragic Hero. I really like the image and the colours.

Layout: Metro Log 2
Stefanie Sun, Singer

I don’t think I actually used this layout, I used a similar version with the samge image, but I actually like this one more. I think I couldn’t get the actual blog to match with the image, that’s probably why I didn’t use it.

Layout: Metro Log 3
Utada Hikaru, Singer

This was probably one of the most complicated layouts I’ve done. There was a mouseover on each image and each seperate page had the actual full image of the image that was clicked. Images were taken from her Deep River album, which I think were quite artistic.

Layout: Metro Log 5
Jay Chou, Singer

I realized I rarely use a non-female image for my layouts. It’s a very summer sort of scheme and the hexagons are pretty cool, if I do say so myself. I think this was one of the earlier layouts where I really experimented with the colours and constrast of the original image.

Layout: Resistance May 2003
Domo-Kun, NHK Mascot

Domo-kun is too cool! I still have those short videos of him and I do watch them from time to time. This was a fun layout. Solid colours and big text.

Layout: Resistance Summer 2003 (June 2003?)
Boa, Singer

I loved this really cute image of Boa. I also like the angle and shape of the navigation bar, it’s a lot more interesting than just the usual straight and flat.

Layout: Resistance July 2003
Uehara Takako, Singer

It was a very clean layout, a bright, bold pink and white combination. It’s a pretty sexy image for her.

Layout: Resistance September 2003
Jun Ji Hyun, Actress

I never used this layout because this was already during the time where I got really lazy with designing and blogging in general. I really liked her after I saw My Sassy Girl. It’s a really elegant design.

Layout: Resistance January 2004
Mika Nakashima, Singer

Another unused layout (I think). I liked the blue gradient background. If I remember correctly it took me a while to get that right with the coding. I like the framing effect around the image.

Graphics: Mika Nakashima, Singer

I used a scan from her LOVE album. After experimenting with the contrast and colours, it almost looks like an illustration. I especially like how the dress looks, with all the layers.

Graphics: Uehara Takako, Singer

Graphics: Jun Ji Hyun, Actress

Graphics: Samurai Champoloo, Anime

From the same creator as one of my favourite anime series, Cowboy Bebop. I also enjoyed this series a lot. It was very refreshing mix of hip hop and period Japan. The characters had their distinct personalities and it can be seen through the colours and patterns used for those images.