Pixel Lava Interactive
  • Home
  • Websites
    • New Websites
    • Website Redesigns
    • Website Portfolio
    • Website Tune Ups
    • Website Updates
    • Zoom
  • Graphic Design
    • Logo design and brand identity
    • Business Cards
    • Postcards, flyers, ads and more
    • Illustration & Infographics
  • Marketing
    • Seasonal Website Promos
    • Video Holiday Cards​
    • Video & Motion Graphics
  • Training
    • Online Event Hosting
    • Web Lab Kits
    • Webinars
    • 1-to-1 Trainings
    • Weebly Training
    • Digital Summer Camp
    • Training FAQs
  • About
    • Blog
    • Client List
    • Good Vibes
    • Review Me
    • Recommendations
    • Partner Program  🔸
      • Partner Portal
    • Pixel Lava Unplugged
    • Art Barn Shop
    • Happy Holidays
    • Happy Halloween
    • Remembering Bob
    • Remembering Mary
  • Contact
    • Support
    • Make a Payment
    • Video & Motion Graphics BU

Field Notes Blog

News and thoughts on UI/UX, web design, and more.

Sea Dragons and Sea Turtles Swim Out for the 3rd San Diego Blood Bank T-shirt Design

6/18/2021

0 Comments

 
San Diego Blood Bank illustration
Meet Seymour Sea Dragon and Santiago Sea Turtle! You can see Santiago brightly swimming around town on the 3rd t-shirt illustration in the San Diego Blood Bank's 70th anniversary series. After the Dulce, Diego and Duke Dolphin "Celebrated the Past" and Octavia Octopus "Embraced the Present", we needed a cheerful representative to "Improve the Future". Sea Dragons are amazing creatures that have a cool connection to San Diego. While they are native only to Australian waters, our own Birch Aquarium has a world-renown sea dragon breeding program and from the first time I saw them there, I was mesmerized. Although I had already started a sea turtle design, when Michael at the Blood Bank suggested a sea dragon, I was hooked. So how did the third t-shirt design turn out to be Santiago the Sea Turtle then? And where is Seymour now?

Reference photo - color patterns.
Reference photo - body.
Early draft - badge layout.
Early draft.
Click images to view larger.
Once we decided to go with the sea dragon I spent many happy hours studying photos of them and sketching in Affinity Draw on my iPad while listening to Krill Radio. 
But then, in early testing, we found that people didn't recognize what animal the design was showing. With their brilliant colors and seaweedy bodies, sea dragons truly look like make-believe creatures and they are not yet widely known. After some thought we decided that the world wasn't ready for Seymour so I went back to the drawing board (yuk yuk!) and my initial sea turtle sketches.
Green Sea Turtle Reference photo.
Reference photo - lighting.
Reference photo - face details.
Early draft with orange color and bubble text.
Draft with other sea life.
Final version.
Click images to view larger. The Green Sea Turtle is native to San Diego and many people have seen them while kayaking in the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve in La Jolla. While I've never seen an adult swimming up close, I did hold a baby while visiting a breeding program in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. One night, a big tropical storm blew in and I watched lightning arc across the sea for hours. While walking the beach the next morning,  I saw people excitedly tending bathtubs. The baby sea turtles had hatched in the night! The rain makes their trip from the warm sands down to the ocean easier. However, volunteers had collected the hatchlings to feed them and keep them safe until they are large enough to fend for themselves. Holding that baby sea turtle was amazing! As anyone who watched "Finding Nemo" will know, sea turtles migrate long distances. Considering this, it was clear that Santiago was a great name and he met with immediate recognizability. Who doesn't love sea turtles? Can you see how Seymour's layout carried over to Santiago's design? 

You never know when Santiago might swim by on a t-shirt while in a grocery store or walking down the street so keep an eye out. Hopefully he'll remind you to make a blood donation at the San Diego Blood Bank! If you can't donate blood you can support this vital community resource by donating money or time. In the meantime, Seymour is still swimming about, waiting for his day in the spotlight. If you have an idea for him, let me know in the comments below! 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Blog

    Ame Stanko, San Diego Web Designer

    About the author

    As the owner of Pixel Lava Interactive I've helped hundreds of small businesses and nonprofits with websites, graphic design and more. I hope you'll find this blog full of useful information.
    ~ Ame Stanko
    Mailing List Sign Up
    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Announcements
    Community
    Digital Summer Camp
    DIY
    DIY Marketing
    Email Marketing
    Featured Projects
    For Nonprofits
    Fun Stuff
    Happy Holidays
    How Tos
    HTML Is Not So Scary
    Industry Musings
    Interwebs 101
    LGBT Business
    Marketing Ideas
    Monday Motivation
    New Products
    Newsletters
    Nonprofit Marketing
    Online Marketing
    Partner Program
    Pixel Lava Unplugged
    Product Updates
    Promo Ideas
    Reviews
    Scam Alerts
    Small Business Inspiration
    Small Business Marketing
    Social Media Marketing
    Tips & Tricks
    Training
    UI/UX
    Webinars
    Web Labs
    Website Workshops

    Archives

    June 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    December 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    July 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    September 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010
    October 2010
    December 2009
    October 2009
    February 2009
    December 2008
    December 2007
    December 2006
    December 2005

Home  |  Websites  |  Graphic Design  |  Marketing  |  Training  |  About  |  Shop  |  Contact

©2005-2019 Pixel Lava Interactive. All rights reserved. 🚀

  • Home
  • Websites
    • New Websites
    • Website Redesigns
    • Website Portfolio
    • Website Tune Ups
    • Website Updates
    • Zoom
  • Graphic Design
    • Logo design and brand identity
    • Business Cards
    • Postcards, flyers, ads and more
    • Illustration & Infographics
  • Marketing
    • Seasonal Website Promos
    • Video Holiday Cards​
    • Video & Motion Graphics
  • Training
    • Online Event Hosting
    • Web Lab Kits
    • Webinars
    • 1-to-1 Trainings
    • Weebly Training
    • Digital Summer Camp
    • Training FAQs
  • About
    • Blog
    • Client List
    • Good Vibes
    • Review Me
    • Recommendations
    • Partner Program  🔸
      • Partner Portal
    • Pixel Lava Unplugged
    • Art Barn Shop
    • Happy Holidays
    • Happy Halloween
    • Remembering Bob
    • Remembering Mary
  • Contact
    • Support
    • Make a Payment
    • Video & Motion Graphics BU