Acro.net – Technology Rants & Raves by Acroplex®

My good friend and former co-worker, Justin Alt is an accomplished video editor with a work portfolio that includes video editing for the Barack Obama presidential campaign. Having moved to New York after leaving behind the sunny Florida skies, Justin has found his true element in the heart of America’s melting pot, where creativity is rewarded and the sky’s the limit.

Creating a video that actually means something, that delivers a soft message touching other people via its visuals – that’s a hard task nowadays. And yet, in a little over three and a half minutes, Justin’s video entry for Coldplay’s competition for their song, “Lost”, appears to have reached viral status, with over 20,000 views in two days.

Shot and edited by Justin in black and white, the video gently but clearly emits melancholic signals of nostalgia over childhood; pokes fun at super heroes and observes the world, via the eyes of a young child who’s searching for his lost puppy. Throughout the scenes, the little boy discovers elements of the world, inspects his surroundings with a curious eye, attempts to – and succeeds – in flying; up and above the world of the grown-ups, that somehow do not seem to understand his quest for his lost friend.

The end result is a video that you cannot watch just once; a nicely synchronized scrapbook of animated memories, playing alongside the melodic, acoustic version of “Lost” by Coldplay.  You too, need to watch it.

As a graphics designer, I am attracted to the visual elements that constitute effective delivery of a message. Generally speaking, I seek a clear, distinct and spacious method that is also bold and concise in its typography.

Enter, the 2008 political campaigns of the two candidates.

The John McCain camp opted for a rather traditional look and feel, with the use of conservative colors with no intermediate hues: bold blues and reds, populated by serif fonts and video footage that promoted John McCain’s military past. When it came down to brochures and pamphlets – and I received many in the US mail, as my former gf is a registered  Republican – the elements consisted of ominous displays of authority: judges, soldiers, politicians – along with stock photography that had rather melancholic and overly serious overtones.

Meanwhile, the Barack Obama campaign camp opted for something on the opposite side of the design spectrum: full-fledged branding.

First, the message about “Change” was selected, along with the corresponding color palette: various hues of blue, red, orange and intermediate colors that constitute a full range of warm, “feel good” colors. The sans-serif fonts with their rounded, bold typeface delivered the message loud and clear; and yet, not aggressively or in an overbearing manner. The use of glows, soft gradients and cloudy effects against a blue background sky, created their intended  atmosphere quite well, generating emotions that deliver hope, comfort, progress.

But it goes beyond that: Obama’s campaign focused almost entirely into delivering the positive elements of Obama’s positions and plans, offering well-placed images and graphics that helped voters and visitors alike navigate and explore an environment that they could learn from about the candidate. John McCain’s campaign attempted to deliver warnings, stern messages about the opposition, spread false rumors and partial truths; in a dark, cluttered and unimaginative way. The smear campaign of 2004 against John Kerry was attempted once again; the problem is, times change and progress is inevitable. The Republican campaign has been visually an extension of the “gloom and doom” sensation created by current president, George W. Bush and his eight years of fear-induced politics.

Obama is heading towards a landslide victory on November 4th and a great deal of his anticipated success is owed to the well-thought and expertly delivered visuals of his campaign. A friend of mine had the opportunity to work on video footage for the Obama camp and he is one of the best in his field.

I have no doubt that if one wants to lead they must possess a method of offering not just plain strategy and verbal promises, but also deliver a vision and hope to the eyes and the soul as well.

With less than 48 hours remaining before Election Day, it is evident that all along there has only been one candidate in this race. Having watched all of the debates and having followed the campaign analysis closely, I believe that I am not the only one who has seen the stark differences between Barack Obama and John McCain.

Frankly, I don’t need a 72 year old to dictate my life’s future, regardless of his – dubious – military past and veteran status. While I have great respect towards war veterans, John McCain seems to be an artificial idol that did not earn the POW title by means of fighting like thousands of other Americans. The true POW veterans delivered Europe free from the Nazis and liberated nations with their sacrifice. John McCain simply came in and out of Vietnam as a career choice owed to his high military official father.

But enough of John McCain, whose most flexible body part seems to be his eyebrows. In all the televised debates, Barack Obama maintained a relaxed stance, a non pretentious attitude and an honest “in your eyes” stare. He held his spouse, Michelle, and kissed her in public showing his true emotions; those of a family man that aimed for the American Dream and is about to conquer it and write history while doing so.

This election will determine whether America moves forward, into the 21st century as a nation with a common dream: to raise from its 9-11 ashes like an eagle soaring into the skies. The fear, self-pity and hostility towards America from foes and former allies alike, will end once a respected man assumes the top spot in the country’s leadership. The statue of Liberty is the icon of freedom across the globe, signifying the land of opportunity and success. The youth of America must live in a country where they can pursue their dreams and hopes and aspirations; not in a country that rests in its own muddy shadow of a glorious past.

Unification of the two major parties towards a common goal, towards success, towards hope, towards restitution of America cannot occur under John McCain. Barack Obama is the suitable choice and he is a man of integrity, culture and honesty. And as such, he can lift up America and lead it towards its leading place among the other nations of the world.