Creative Mastermind for Week 3/24: Animators and Producers of "Bambi"

Good morning and Happy Tuesday everybody! Hopefully you enjoyed the weekend and I hope that your work-week kicked off to a great start. As you know, it's the beginning of a new week which means it's time for a new Creative Mastermind to be announced. Last week in celebration of the arrival of Spring, I decided to dig out one of my favorite animated films, Walt Disney's "Bambi". Now from my personal experience, Bambi is one of those movies that I think gets swept under the rug sometimes. There's isn't much to offer in the way of dialogue, a plot, or in character development. Instead, Bambi is one of those movies that plays off of emotion which in this case I think is a lot more powerful than any of the traditional film elements we're used to. Before I get to far into this post, I want to say that I'm approaching the film from the perspective of art, and animation versus looking at the movie for story development. I find the creativity in Bambi solely in it's artwork and animation which is why I'm placing the animators and producers of Bambi as this week's Creative Mastermind(s).

So if you've never seen Bambi, then I'm sorry to say you're really missing out a great classic! The picture above is just one of several theatrical posters from Walt Disney that was released when Bambi hit the theaters in 1942. It notes that Bambi is "A Great Love Story" which yeah there's a little bit of romance, but the term love is referring to the love of nature. There's a lot of bonding love between Bambi and his mother in the first half of the movie, and then throughout the whole film there's a since of love between each of the animals in the forest as they build friendships. Like I said earlier, Bambi plays off of your emotions- especially when "man" is involved in certain scenes throughout the film. Yeah, SPOILER ALERT, it's a tear dropping film.

From the artistic viewpoint, the production and artwork of Bambi is stunning and easily one of Disney's best films when you look at just the animation alone. The entire film was created using oil paints on various canvases and backgrounds to give each scene a rich and brilliant look. Before computer and digital animation was developed, most animated features were either hand drawn or painted depending on how the look of the characters and scenes were supposed to be visioned. While Disney went on to create many other films that featured sensational painted backdrops, Bambi's style is most recognized because of the "layers" of animation. Check out the clip to see what first hand the "layers" style. (The first minute and 20 seconds consists of the opening song and credits, after that you can see the layered animation design.)

Beautiful, right? The Disney animators used a "multi-camera" technique which would feature different layers of the animation and then the camera could pan and focus wherever needed. This allowed for the audience to have a more in-depth experience with the film and it gave Bambi the feel of 3D animation for the time period that it was released. The camera was set up to take shots of different layers of glass where each layer consisted of an animated scene: one layer being the furthest shot of forest trees, next layer would be closer trees, a final layer of trees inserted in front of the first two, and then a layer with the drawn/painted animation of our moving characters. I can't recall any other Disney film practicing this technique, at least not in this much detail, which is why I firmly believe Bambi sticks out as one of the best animated films. 

The illustration and development of the characters is highly praised among artists and movie lovers too. During the production of the film, Walt Disney brought in several of the forest animals to the studio for the animators to study. For Bambi, Walt wanted to have more realistic looking characters and his animators were inspired to create fun, yet real looking animals by observing their movements and behaviors first hand. 

I think that's another aspect that makes this film so unique- the characters, while still cartoons, actually look like real animals. I think Disney was trying to show the animals through a true and realistic design compared to the clumsy animation style in movies like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Not that I'm bashing that movie, which I love, but seriously compare the two deer for a moment:

So which one actually looks like a real deer to you? Granted these movies were animated in two very different styles and at different time periods- but c'mon at least Bambi looks like he's got some bones and limbs! But I digress, it's going back to the appreciation and creativity in the animation that makes this film stand out. I often praise Walt Disney himself for the work and dedication he put into creating these beautifully made films, but this time I want to give exclusive credit to the animators, designers, and producers of Bambi. 

I wish I could name every single person on those teams. The entire collaboration of artists and animators paid off giving Bambi a reputation as a household name. While critics overall didn't praise Bambi at it's initial release, and it didn't make the money needed at the box office, Bambi today is recognized as a classic! It's also preserved in the Library of Congress as a film that promotes the Preservation of Nature (another great creative message to share). 

So there you have it my friends! A great way to help ring in the Spring season by watching a vibrant and colorful film like Walt Disney's "Bambi". I can appreciate this film from the artistic view point as it is what I believe the most well-animated films from Disney. Movies today just aren't made like this any more and even when Bambi II was released in 2006, I was grossly disappointed because it lost the beauty of the art that was displayed in the first film. Bambi is a true creative treasure and should be respected for it's message, art, talent, and beautiful production. 

If you have a suggestion for a Creative Mastermind, I always invite readers to submit their ideas to The Creative Cabana. Leave your suggestions by either commenting on this post, leave comments on our Facebook page, or tweet to @CreativeCabana. Creativity knows no limits so go ahead and explore! Enjoy the rest of your day and I'll see you back here soon for more creative energy to share. 

*I do not own Bambi, Bambi II, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney, or The Walt Disney Company. All films mentionned belong to The Walt Disney Company and have ownership to those rights. Images used in this post were collected from Google Images Search Results. I do not own these pictures, covers, or share rights with their credited owners. The video clip provided in this post is from YouTube and shows only the opening sequence of the film under the Fair Use law. This clip is provided by another YouTube user. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

The Basics of Web Design: Part 4

TGIF and Hello Spring!!!! Greetings once again my friends and welcome to The Creative Cabana's fourth installment of our Web Design series. I have to make this one a bit on the short side seeing as how I've been scheduled for work today and I'm running short on time, but I can't send you off into the weekend without some more tips for your web projects.

Today I'm going to briefly discuss content with you. Content is the information that you will display on your page. This can range from pictures to videos, sound clips, articles, and even downloaded files. The content you place on your site is vital because it gives visitors an instant visual attraction to your site- "putting a face to the name" in a way. Besides designing your templates, this is my favorite part of the web design process because it's the heart of your site. Especially if you're creating a site to promote yourself or services then this a chance to display work samples, testimonials, products, etc. Without having visual content your page is simply a site with dozens of words.

What you want to do in this step is think of different multimedia elements that you can use to provide visual elements to your site. As a media student in college, my priority for my site was to give visitors access to some of my best work from previous experiences in Radio and TV producing. If you visit the "My Media" page of my website, which you can see by clicking here, you'll see where I have videos, sound clips, pictures, and links for The Creative Cabana all under one page. I also made sure to include images on the other pages too in order to maintain visual interest. The last thing you want to do is bore your site visitors with tons of text and no visual or interactive pieces to break it up.

So if you're at this stage in your web designing adventure then here's what you need to do. Spend some time gathering the content that your want to publish on your website. Share important and professional items like major research you've performed, internship projects, products that you've sold, etc. The content you create and share will vary depending on what your site is used for. If you're creating this site as an online portfolio then fill it up with samples of your work, a visual copy of your resume, and background information related to your education and experience. If you're using this site for product-selling or promotional services then share the details of those services. You can create graphics for prices, illustrations of the services offered, give video testimonials from previous customers, there really is no limit. Just be sure to keep everything your share clean and professional. Don't post the videos from YouTube of stupid people doing stupid things. Share videos of reviews or tips for your products. It's all in the creativity and promotion! Just remember the main rule if you're not sure whether or not to share something through your content: When it doubt, leave it out. Use your common sense and ask questions (even to me if you need advice!)

If you're still working on choosing and designing a template for your site, step back and take a break! Focus your attention on a different aspect of web design, the content. Gather all of the visual information you want to share and work on getting it ready to share on your site. Spend some time putting your creative and artistic skills to good use and create some logos or illustrations you can use for your pages. Don't be afraid to get creative and think outside of the box!

That's all I've got for right now folks. Please feel free to send me your ideas, suggestions, or creations to The Creative Cabana by commenting on these posts, write to us on the Facebook page, or tweet to @CreativeCabana. Enjoy these first few days of Spring, Enjoy the Weekend, and Enjoy expanding your creative horizons! So long for now everybody!

*Images used in this post were collected from Google Images Search Results. I do not own these pictures and I hereby give full credit and establish ownership to their respective creators. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

Creative Mastermind for Week 3/17: Lilly Pulitzer

Top of the morning to you folks! I hope you had the happiest of St. Patrick's Day and celebrated the day (safely) with fun, food, and hopefully the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! I apologize for putting this post up later today than I had planned to, but I was constantly struggling with finding a good Creative Mastermind for this week. This is why I enjoy receiving the input from you, the readers, for ideas on different creative masterminds that need to be recognized. I try to be broad when searching for different masterminds changing it up from artists to photographers to movies, or other areas of creative development.

This week's creative mastermind came as a suggestion from a personal friend of mine. At first, I didn't really think too much about a creative emphasis on this suggestion, but after giving it some thought, I've decided to move forward with it and announce this week's Creative Mastermind: Lilly Pulitzer.

                                     

Now, for this particular Creative Mastermind I'm viewing her products from a different angle in terms of design, art, and even crafting. Lilly Pulitzer's products are centered around the "preppy" and "socialite" image which personally I'm not involved in, however I think of it more as sophisticated "trendsetters". If you're not familiar with the Lilly Pulitzer brand, allow me to educate you! Lillian Pulitzer Rousseau was a elite social lady of New York City who became famous for her bright and colorful dress designs. A true fashionista, she set the bar high for the well-dressed woman in the 60s. Her designs were worn by many influential women of the time including Jackie Kennedy. 

Many of her designs include beautiful bright colors and often times prints including floral styles or unique shapes. Lilly continued her business up until the mid-80s, and then it was revived in 1993. Since then Lilly Pulitzer maintains over 70 stores nationwide and also collaborates with high-end retailers to sell products with other major department stores. Today the Lilly Pulitzer company designs more than fancy dresses; they've expanded their products to include jewelry, accessories, bags, and even a special line of products for sororities. 

I actually had never heard of Lilly Pulitzer until they released a special design print for my sorority, Phi Mu, back in 2012. I instantly fell in love with Phi Mu print and out of curiosity I decided to check out the other products offered by Lilly. My first thought of the dresses was that while they were all beautiful in design, they also reminded me of some of the dresses I used to put on my Barbie dolls.  It could be that perhaps I'm not from an elite background that follows into such trends, but overall I think the designs definitely show class and sophistication to any woman who utilizes the Lilly Pulitzer brand.

So getting back to why Lilly Pulitzer fits the title of Creative Mastermind. I find a certain artistic beauty in her designs that aren't just creative and stylish, but they're also unique. Some people might compare these prints to other designers like Vera Bradley- fair enough. However, the styles are obviously different, colors differ in the patterns, and the Lilly brand has a different attractive vibe to fashion that is different from any other designer brand. In the artistic and graphic sense, I appreciate how there's an illustrated look to these prints. When I first looked at the Phi Mu print, I loved how it had the appearance of watercolor art and sketching.  Having the appreciation for art as I do, I like how these prints have the "drawing look" to them rather than a more realistic design. One final creative element to mention about Lilly Pulitzer is the inspiration factor. Among many crafting design projects I find, the one I constantly see is the Lilly Pulitzer print used for decorative pieces like jewelry boxes, frames, coolers, and so many other ideas. Any type of designer who can have that much of an influence of their fans is truly an inspiration. If you want to see examples of how people take these prints and give them their own flare, I suggest checking out sites like Tumblr or Pinterest. 

So there you have it my friends! With Spring just around the corner, what better to way to brighten it up than with the colorful and beautiful designs of the late Lilly Pulitzer. She passed away just last year, but her legacy of style and fashion will never fade. Her creative styles and designs live on through her company and will continue to be the trendsetter for women. If you know of someone or something that should be recognized as a Creative Mastermind, please share your ideas by commenting on this post or you can let us know on Facebook or Twitter. Be sure to follow The Creative Cabana on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for more creative fun! Have a great day everyone and enjoy the rest of your day!

*I do not own the Lilly Pulitzer brands, prints, logo or the company. I have no affiliation with Lilly Pulitzer or any of the company associates. All designs, logos, and products are the sole property of the respective owners. Images used in this post were collected from Google Images search results. These images belong to their respective owners and photographers. No Copyright Infringement Intended. 

The Basics of Web Design: Part 3

TGIF and welcome to The Creative Cabana for the third installment of our Web Design series! The weekend is just around the corner my friends and if you find yourself not having anything to do this weekend, try this fun portion of our web design project.

Today the focus is on design templates. For those of you who are new to this experience, a template is basically like a model which gives you a visual design of how your page could be set up. Templates are extremely useful in planning how you want your page to look. It gives you a map or guideline as to how you could layout your page. There really is no universal design as to how webpages are setup, but there are some universal pieces that you'll want to include on your site: name, logo (if applicable), images, tabs for other pages, and contact information. You may only have one page for your site, or you might have a few pages, but either way you'll want to maintain consistency throughout your site. This includes things font, logo images, names, etc. The last thing you want is for your visitors to become confused and disoriented when reading your information. A template can help you keep track of those details so that you won't be lost in web limbo.

To help walk you through this process, I'm going to demonstrate the effectiveness of templates using my own online portfolio. To view my online portfolio live click here and a new window will open. I've also provided screen shots in this post to help with this tutorial as well. As mentionned in part 2 when I discussed domain and hosting sites, I talked a little bit about my portfolio site being available through Wix.com. Below is a comparison of the template I selected when I first created the site. On the left is the original template example, and on the right is my finished site (up to this point).

So as you can see I stuck with the basic layout, but did make changes to some features like the background image and font. I chose this particular template because at the time I wanted something bold, but yet simple. I wanted my site to reflect the concept of me being a media professional, so I wanted a sleek but technical look. The graphic next to my picture is an image I designed with the intent of being a logo, however it isn't simplified. Still though I really liked the image and decided to leave it on the site anyway because it illustrates the areas I'm most experienced in: video, audio, computers, and photography. What I want to do now is give my portfolio a fresh new look that makes a statement. I'm still keeping my site on Wix so the templates I'll be show are coming from Wix. Don't let me scare you away from places like WordPress, Blogger, or any other domain hosting site. This is simply my choice for my portfolio; other sites offer great tools and templates that may be more aligned with what you want. So don't think I'm pulling you in a certain direction.

After doing some browsing there's four different template designs that I'm leaning towards, but I wanted to share these with you so you can see the differences in design. You can click on each of the titles of these templates to see a full view as well. Who knows, maybe you'll find one that speaks to you and would be a perfect fit for your professional needs!

1. Media Marketing Website Template

First off, I have to admit that my favorite color is pink. I was instantly attracted to the dramatic pink in this template and how it makes a statement against the sleek black background. I also like this template because it's very similar to my current site right now being simple. There's isn't a lot of fancy graphics or special images placed into the template (unless you individually add those yourself). This would be a great template to follow if you're wanting to stick with something innovative, but simple. Don't worry if pink isn't your color either, you can change that as well.

2. Curriculum Vitae Website Template

What strikes me about this template is how reminds of a profile. If you have a Facebook account think about it for a moment. You go to your profile page and see your picture, photos, about me, and other related tabs of interest. That's sort of what this template feels like to me and it might be the most familiar format to everyday users. Rather than search around on your site for information, they can read this as a profile view and gather organized information. The structure of this template is perfect for online resumes or simply creating a small private service site. If you want to market yourself as a DJ, Babysitter, Tutor, or another private service provider then I think this site would be a great template for you.

3. Creative Events Website Template

With this template there's immediately a lot of attraction and opportunity for action words right on the homepage. I'm going to call this concept the "attention grabber". Think back to when you first learned about writing resumes and cover letters. Something you probably heard was how you want to grab your readers attention and draw them into your work using strong, action words. This particular design gives you that ability through the use of text, symbols, and pictures. I think it also has a more modern and professional look to it, in comparison to the other templates. It's still a simple concept, but you do have more material and options to give it some life. With the Creative Events template, I can easily picture smaller businesses using this format to help promote products and services. There's a lot of great customization options with this template that can appeal to anyone.

4. PR Blog Website Template

Not going to lie on this one, this template is really cool! I love how it's setup in the format of a blog/website. This is great for people who want to combine their blogging lifestyle into their website. It has a great front page where visitors can read your posts, and there's sections devoted to other aspects you want to share on your site such as a bio, your resume, or other samples of your work. One thing I've noticed since my graduation, is that I'm seeing more of professionals blogging in relation with their careers. Some of my college friends blog about their teaching experiences and that's a great way for people (or potential employers) to see first-hand how their real-world experiences are influencing their professional careers. Collaboration between blogs and online portfolios go hand in hand sometimes because the blog is evidence of how you are using those skills to develop your career. I'm a creative/media professional, hence why I started The Creative Cabana. This template is great for business professionals as well because it gives visitors a different perspective of shopping and products. Rather than jumping right into shopping, you can have people read about a specific product in a blog post and then redirect to the sales page. A little out of the ordinary? Perhaps, but again it's a different perspective.

Alright my friends, here is your weekend assignment: visit the different host domain sites, research and experiment with templates you like, and start setting up your first webpage (generally the home page). Many of the hosting sites give you step-by-step instructions on customization options and tips on ways to make your site look incredible. I know I'm going to have fun re-imagining my portfolio site and I hope you have fun with your site too. If you ever have any questions, concerns, or suggestions please share them by commenting on these posts. DON'T FORGET! Make sure you are following The Creative Cabana on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for more creative fun. Have a great weekend and I'll see you all on Monday for our next Creative Mastermind reveal!

*Image used for the Template outline layout at the beginning of this post was found on Google Images as a search result. This image is being used for educational purposes only. Other images shown in this post are screenshots taken by myself of template examples and my own portfolio, all which are from Wix.com. I do not own Wix.com or have any affliation to its owners. No Copyright Infringement Intended. 

Basics of Web Design: Part 2

Greetings everyone and I'm very sorry about the extended delay in our series. As you probably already know, technology doesn't always work the way we want it to. I originally had this post scheduled for this past Friday and it never came up, I was out all day Saturday, internet was out on Sunday, so I come to find Monday that it wasn't online which put me behind schedule! Ugh, I think I have a love-hate relationship with technology. This is a good lesson to learn though for our Web Design series. Any content you want to share through your site or social media pages, ALWAYS BACK UP! You never know what could happen, so it's always best to back up all info: documents, music, photos, video, and other misc. files that are important to you. Mobility is also another great lesson from this. While I have limited mobile access to The Creative Cabana on my phone, it would be nice to have a backup device such as a tablet in order to upload posts in a more efficient method in case of an emergency. Don't worry, we'll talk about mobile access to your sites later on in the series.

Today, I want to take sometime to educate you about domains. Domain is the foundation site where you want to house your website. If you check many popular websites you'll notice something like powered by "XYZ Media" or developed by "XYZ Net Look" (just for example). That's because many businesses and corporations pay for their space on the internet. Every website has to have a domain site in order to exist. Think of it like your home. Your house or apartment has to be on a property, in a city in order for it to be considered a residence. You don't live in the clouds or in the atmosphere, so this ensures that you have a place for your site to remain. When it comes to choosing a good domain site you have to consider how much flexibility you want in terms of showcasing your site. In other words, how do you want to present your site to viewers?

When I created my online portfolio back in 2012, I wanted my design to have more the "website look" with different pages you could go to, rather than stick everything on one page. Some people prefer to have all content on just one page and that's fine as long as you can keep that page clean looking. It's easy throw readers off quickly if you have too much information in one spot, which is why I set mine up with four different pages- Home Page, About Me, My Media (Samples of my Work), and Contact Info. Naturally you can set yours up based on your needs, this is just an idea. But back to the domains portion of the series. I have a few suggestions for good legitmate and FREE places where you can create your own website, and online presence.

1. Wix

Wix is the site I used to publish my online portfolio. I like Wix because they provide innovative tools to give your site the fresh and update look of HTML5- the latest internet coding structure for websites. Wix is extremely easy to use and they walk you through each of the steps when customizing your pages, offering tips and directions when designing your pages. When I first joined Wix, I was impressed with the user-friendly access to the programs, despite not being an technology guru. Because I don't have a computer science background, many aspects of web coding are very confusing to me. With Wix, I don't have to worry about it because the coding is done behind the scenes. I have the control to place text, images, and page transitions wherever I want without messing up my site's coding sequence. Wix also has some really cool looking templates for you to choose from as well. You can select any of their templates offered and then customize those designs to whatever you'd like. Efficiency, User-Friendly, and Innovative Designs are excellent options when choosing your domain. If you'd like to see an example of a Wix designed website, check out my online portfolio: http://danielleslone2012.wix.com/onlineportfolio

2. WordPress

WordPress is a very intriguing site, and is growing in popularity between common users, educators, and professionals.  I think many people associate WordPress with sites like Blogger where you can maintain an blog or online journal. That's true, but many people also use WordPress for creating virtual resumes, product reviews, or they use it for an actual company website. Sony Music for example uses WordPress for their official website which you can see here. When I was first developing The Creative Cabana my original intent was to host it on WordPress. At the time I was looking to expand my social media skills and wanted to try WordPress for the first time since I had already used Blogger for previous projects. However, when it came to organizing the pages how I wanted them WordPress couldn't fix the arrangement of how I wanted certain posts to appear in certain sections (for example this post is labeled Graphic Design, so I want it to be available on the Graphic Design page- couldn't do it.) This might have been a formatting bug at the time, so don't be discouraged by my experience. WordPress is great with efficiency and giving users a clean-cut professional design. One of my dear friends and previous Creative Mastermind, Jamie Neal, hosts her blog "A Single Girls Journey to a Life of No Regrets" on WordPress. One of things you'll notice on her page, which I love about WordPress, is you can see instant feed from apps like Twitter and Instagram. If you plan on sharing social media sites with your site, then this is a great way to attract attention to your social media pages from your official page (and vice versa). Integrating those options can help maximize traffic and give your site extra content to display. Remember, WordPress gives you a lot of room to organize and arrange content based on your desired look so take advantage of those features that might not otherwise be available on other sites.

3. Blogger

Ok this one needs no introduction! If you're reading this post then you know you are on Blogger. Blogger, formerly known as Blogspot, is probably the most well-known blogging site on the net. It's been around for several years and because it's owned by Google you see it EVERYWHERE! I think many people gravitate towards Blogger because they're most familiar with it and how it works. When you first create your site, they walk you through each step from the name to template to colors to page setup. Blogger is very thorough and at the same time very user friendly. It's also the easiest site to share without really trying... you can share it through Google+, Facebook, Twitter at the touch of a button practically. Blogger is perfect for people who want a site they can update regularly and control it with a "blog look". For example, if you are someone who is a freelance artist, you can use Blogger not only to share your works with viewers, but you also have the ability to write posts about materials used, art concepts, and organize each post by label as I have done for The Creative Cabana. I also admire Blogger for their ability to monitor traffic to your site. They give you the demographics of where your site reaches and how many views it receives over a period of time. This can be especially helpful for businesses who monitor traffic flow.

Please keep in mind these are only my recommendations, based on my previous experiences. There are literally dozens of excellent places that can give you the freedom to develop your own website and/or blog. Between now and the next episode post, do some research on the various places where you can host your proposed site. Read reviews, and check out the pages from different users and businesses to see which web host fits your needs the best. In the next post, we'll start talking about designing your site using text, multimedia content, photos, and incorporating social media applications. I'm working on giving my online portfolio a major update, so you can follow along with me as I work bring my site up to speed. For now, Happy Researching and Stay Tuned for more Web Design fun!

*I do not own Blogger, WordPress, or Wix. All sites mentioned in this post were for suggestion and educational purposes- not endorsement or for purpose of profit. The bitstrips image used from the Facebook application: Bitstrips, which I do not own and is the property of the respective owners and developers. Other images used in this blog post were gathered from Google Images search results. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

Creative Mastermind for Week 3/10: Polyvore

Good day and Happy Tuesday to you all from The Creative Cabana! I hope the time change hasn't screwed with you too much so far. The last few days have been a little interesting as far updating the site goes. I initially had a post ready for publishing on Friday, but it never showed up online, then my Internet went out, so I spent much of the yesterday getting caught up on fixing blog site issues. I have some tweaks left to do and then I'll have the next post up later for you on our Web Design series. To help with the wait, I've decided to go ahead and share with you this week's chosen Creative Mastermind.

This week's Creative Mastermind is loosely based on the field of Graphic Design. It's a website that allows you to create collages of images with the ability to create your own fashion outfits and interior designs. I figured with Spring approaching us, many people look for ways to reorganize and re-do their closets, wardrobes, and living spaces. This website is a great and fun tool that can be used to give you the inspiration for those design challenges. What's the name? Polyvore.

Now chances are, you may not have ever heard of Polyvore, but you might have seen their services online through popular sites like Pinterest. If you've ever seen outfit images like this one, then you're looking at a creation from a user at Polyvore. What Polyvore does is provide cataloged images of fashion, accessories, home decor items, and other items from various retailers. You can view each of items individually to see where the product comes from and how much it costs. From there you can create your designs based on the products you see. Most users create themed outfits ranging from occasions to work clothes to seasonal clothes. They also give you the ability to create room designs. Select carpet, curtains, furniture, etc. and create the room of your dreams. It's a perfect concept for people who are moving into a new home or looking for that perfect outfit for that special event.

So it's a bit of stretch compared to what I usually look for in my Creative Masterminds, but this website struck me as a unique feature. I've been using it for only a few months, and I find it very creative and useful when planning ways to redecorate my room and update my wardrobe. Polyvore makes this sort of like an activity or a craft if you will. They provide an easy and free access to visualize ideas you may have. Plus if you find products you like, they give you information on where you can find that particular item and how much it costs. In a way, it's basically eCommerce and creativity coming together like a game. You pick the pieces to put together and then you can share your designs on Facebook, Twitter, and especially Pinterest. 

This is very similar to a previous Creative Mastermind I discussed a few weeks ago, Mood Media (click to read post), where this gives you an opportunity to enhance your shopping experience. Although at Polyvore you're not exactly shopping, businesses see this as an opportunity to market their products to consumers in an online community. You're not buying anything you find and you do not have to pay to use this site's services, but retailers still receive your business from the views they get on their products- down the road views turn into dollars. The creativity in this comes from the idea of how retailers use Polyvore to market themselves to users and how the users can put their creative skills to the test and share their ideas with others. This is the first website I've come across in awhile that gives you full customization and options when developing your own virtual designs. Personally, even while having fun online, I don't like being limited on options. Polyvore gives you plenty of flexibility to create whatever outfit, furnishings, or room designs you'd like. As this site continues to grow, I can wait to see what other possibilities are in store for Polyvore.

Go ahead and give them a try! You can visit my personal page and follow it if you'd like, just click here. While you are at it, don't forget to check out The Creative Cabana on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter for even more creative goodness! Next post should be up later today after I finish a few final touches so stay tuned for that. Until then, happy creating!!!

*I do not own Polyvore or Mood Media. Both compaines are the property of their respective owners and shareholders. The purpose of this post is intended to give readers insight on a popular creative website and is not intended for use of profit. Images used in this post were gathered from search results on Google Images. Those images belong to their respective photographers and designers. No Copyright Infringement Intended. 

Creative Mastermind for Week 3/3: Associated Staff for Disney's "The Princess and the Frog"

Greetings and a fabulous Wednesday to you all my Creative Cabana readers! I hope the first half of the week has treated you well. Of course, hopefully you're not hungover or too tired from all the Mardi Gras celebrations and/or Oscar movie parties. Personally, I've never been to either of those events. No body that I know has ever hosted an Oscars party and I've never really had the opportunity to celebrate Mardi Gras. I find both events somewhat ironic though when it comes to creativity because both offer a celebration of talent, success, and excitement. Mardi Gras (although commonly referred to as a big party) exhibits examples of colorful and artistic designs ranging from costumes, to art, to music, and even in food! While the Oscars focus on the production and talent side of the art in movies. Since both events occurred this week, I thought it would only be fitting to have a mastermind that incorporates movies and mardi gras. So after doing some brainstorming and research, here is my selection for this week's creative mastermind:

Now before you judge, hear me out to make my case for this film. When I think of Mardi Gras in the movies there's only two movies (that I've seen) which come to my mind: Princess and the Frog AND All Dogs Go to Heaven. Both movies take place in New Orleans right around the time of Mardi Gras and gives children a "sense" of what Mardi Gras is. In All Dogs Go to Heaven there isn't much of a vibe of Mardi Gras except in a few scenes- plus the plot of the movie doesn't involve the celebration in comparison to The Princess and the Frog. For those of you who have never seen either movie, watch them! They're pretty good and entertaining, although All Dogs Go to Heaven addresses some issues that might be a bit odd for children: gambling, murder, stealing, and dogs running businesses. With The Princess and the Frog the whole movie screams Mardi Gras: music, characters, events, even the presence of voo-doo magic which is often associated with New Orleans. The celebration of Mardi Gras is fairly important in this story because it plays in connection to each of the characters and their roles in the movie. 

The film starts with us meeting Tiana a young waitress saving up to open her own restaurant and her rich friend Charlotte who dreams of marrying a handsome prince. When Prince Naveen from overseas comes to visit New Orleans he wants to marry Charlotte so he can be rich again (oh yeah, he's a partying prince and now he's broke). On his way to meet Charlotte he meets a voo-doo man named Dr. Facilier who tricks Naveen and turns him into... you guessed it! A FROG. Naveen mistakes Tiana for a princess and gets her to kiss him which turns her into a frog too. Together they look for a way to become human again and stop Dr. Facilier from using his magic to destroy the people of New Orleans. Throughout the film Mardi Gras is used in many references and becomes a vital part of the solution when Naveen and Tiana use Charlotte, who is the Princess of Mardi Gras, to break their spell. I won't spoil other parts of the movie for those haven't seen it, but I have to say this is one of the better movies to come out of Disney for quite some time.

Disney Animation hit a BOOM during the late 80s into the 90s with films like The Little Mermaid, Lion King, Aladdin, and of course Beauty and the Beast. However, over the course of the next decade the quality in the Disney began to lack some of the magic many Disney fans love. Animation was changing too as 2D animation was changing into 3D films and computer generated films like Cars, and Finding Nemo. When Disney released The Princess and the Frog I think a lot of people were slightly skeptical about it afraid that it was going to be a flop like Home on the Range (no offense to people who love that movie!). However, the response proved to be very good. The film was highly praised for animation, plot, characters, and the music by Randy Newman who also wrote the music for the Toy Story films.

Getting back to film itself, there's a lot of creative moves in The Princess and the Frog that I think is just too cool not to go un-noticed. First, this was a bold move on Disney's part to show a colored princess- which I think is AWESOME! Please note the era which the movie takes place- 20s-30s, they were very careful in portraying the life of the richer citizens in comparison to the poor workers of that time. So Disney good job on your historical sensitivity to that. Finally, has anyone ever noticed the little hidden signs of other Disney movies that show up in Princess and the Frog? If you watch close enough you'll see cameo appearances
of other Disney characters and references to other Disney movies. I know a few them off the top of my head, but watch the movie for yourself and see how many references you can find.

Overall what I find so creative about The Princess and the Frog is that it is not your everyday fairytale story. The prince is not so Mr. Perfect and he's actually a bit of a snob. The first kiss doesn't work to break the spell and the leading lady of our story isn't really the "rags to riches" type of person- she works hard for her money (and you better treat her right!- Sorry for the Donna Summer reference there). One thing holds true though, this movie does follow the standard ONLY ONE PARENT formula. In the beginning of the film we do see both of Tiana's parents, but when she grows up we learn that her father died, possibly in a war. So that part still remains in tact. I guess I'm fond of the amount of creative production put into this film after spending years of watching Disney create films that weren't quite up to industry standards. The Princess and the Frog proved to the public that they can still make good movies and 2D animation is not dead yet! Way to go for that Disney!

I wish I could name every individual who had a hand in creating this wonderful Mardi Gras themed movie! However because there are too many names to list, I'm just going to say Excellent Job to all credited individuals listed in the movie. The creativity and hard work you've put into this movie does not go un-noticed! I always want to give you readers a chance to voice your opinion on the Creative Masterminds! If you would like to nominate someone for a Creative Mastermind, please share your ideas with The Creative Cabana either by commenting on our posts, share your message on our Facebook page, or tweet to us @CreativeCabana. Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday everyone!

* The Princess and the Frog, Finding Nemo, Cars, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Aladdin, and  Beauty and the Beast are all the property of Walt Disney Pictures. I do not own any of these films, nor do I have relation to any of filmakers or actors related to these films. All Dogs Go to Heaven is the property of MGM studios and I have no ownership over the film as well. "She Works Hard for the Money" is owned by Donna Summer and the respective songwriters/producers. All images used in this post were collected from Google Images Search Results. All subjects used in this post are for discussion only and not intended for profit use, criticize/endorsement, or other suggestions. No Copyright Infringement Intended.