FINAL PAPER REQUIREMENTS

Your Final paper will be handed in on the exam block along with your completed final projects.
Type up a storm!

Final Paper

Your final paper is a reflection on the process of creating a self-promotion package. You are to think about what you went through from the first brainstorming days to completing the project. You are to write a paper that uses thought and analysis of what the process entailed for you. I want you to think about the choices you made for the piece and then analyze why you made these choices.

The following format will help guide your paper. Write a 1-2 page, typed essay. Each paragraph should have a minimum of three sentences describing the question. Answer the following questions in your paper. You must include an introductory and concluding paragraph.

1). Introduce you final project

2). What was the theme to your design? What are you promoting about yourself? Who is the piece for? What job, or college?

3). How do the images and color scheme of the design work with the theme?

4). What is the process that the client will go through as they investigate your design? Where will they start and how will they end up? What is the big “prize in your design? How would you want them to react to the piece?

5). How have you used typography in your design? Discuss how the font, size, placement, color and even the information work with the theme?

6). What were some of your favorite software “tricks” used in the piece?

7). What is the best part of your design?

8). Conclusion

Design Templates

Check out these design Templates. They may help in your final project designs and give some new inspiration in the development and planing stages.

POPSOP
IDEEM
GINKOPRESS

. . . and try out these key words in a google image search: Package Design Portfolio, Package Design Templates

Final Design Time!!!

Well, it's that time of year to start up your final exams. You are going to be using your software skills you have been developing over the semester to design and produce a unique object. The object or "package" should meet a series of goals.
1) It should represent YOU.
2) It presents information about you to a client - in words, colors and in pictures.
3) It involves the client in discovering the information - they must do something to get the message - keeping them involved is important.
4) It should be able to hold a CD of your work from the semester.
5) Everything about it works with the overall theme.

Begin by Brainstorming. What possible designs, objects, packages would you like to make? Possible ideas are: Pop-up Card or Book, Accordion Book, Puzzle, Mystery Box, Organic Shape, Geometric Shape, CD case, Unfolding Poster, Unfolding Shape, Origami, Wearable Object, ETC.

Make sure to follow your handout and to stay on task. There are many important steps and requirements to fill so look at the checklist provided.

Link to check out for creative ideas are:

Drexel University Student Portfolio

www.aiga.org
www.commarts.com
www.jenstark.com
Colin Huggard
Smashing Magazine
Paper Objects search

Image from Hajime Himeno.

CD's Rock! So Design the look of one!

Designers have the power to transform the listening experience into a visual form that best represents what you hear. CD and Record design is a great form of expression where you can listen to song lyrics, bass lines and compositions and develop a package that will hold this information.
Your job is to design the CD's artwork from start to finish. Check out Storm Thorgerson, Rune Mortensen, Tappin Gofton and Jacob Escobedo. Also the sites Inspiredology.com and Smashingmagazine.com have some great examples.

Check out the Handout below.

Creepy Self-Portraits

The Weird and Wild side of Photoshop

45 Strange and Funny Photoshop Manipulations – A weird combination!!

Check out this link for some more inspiration in your designs. Photoshop can give you the opportunity to make technically sound designs as well as visually appealing artwork. Think of different ways to manipulate photographs into new and creative ways. Go HERE!

Image by: Christophe Huet Check out the link to his work HERE.

Surrealist Designs

Surreal:

1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of surrealism; surrealistic.

2.having the disorienting, hallucinatory quality of a dream; unreal; fantastic
Surrealism:

A movement in art and literature that flourished in the early twentieth century. Surrealism aimed at expressing imaginative dreams and visions free from conscious rational control.

Working in a Surrealist style is a great and fun way to learn new techniques in Photoshop. Surrealist artists create artworks that "propose to express, either verbally, in writing, or by any other manner, the real functioning of thought. Dictation of thought in the absence of all control exercised by reason, outside of all aesthetic and moral preoccupation."
The work that was being produced by these artists had characteristics of dreams and as if the work was held in a dreamlike state. The artists were strongly influenced by Freud's dream analysis and the hidden unconscious.

Photoshop allows the designer to juxtapose images in a way that challenge the perceptions of reality. Let your mind wonder through a series of images and create a surrealist dreamlike scene.

Check out the site Graphic Mania for some inspirtation. You can get to cool Surrealist Photoshop works HERE.

Take a look at the Handout for Guidelines:

Crazy Examples of the Possibilities of Using Photoshop

The website Ants Magazine: Best of Design and Technology, is a great resource for inspiration as well as links to designers work and tutorials. I came across the article, "Daily Inspiration #2 Amazing Photoshop Works!" and was "amazed" by the designs. Check out the article HERE and also take a look at the site for more ideas that could help your designs.

This design was created by adnrey. Check out his deviant site here.

- PHOTOSHOP -

Well it's that time. We have been working with Adobe Illustrator for the first quarter and now we are going to begin working with Adobe Photoshop. As you learn more about the program you will notice many benefits and new techniques that it has to offer. Your thought process will change a bit when planning out designs as you will be using more of your own photographs. Think of interesting ways to include your own images and continue to push beyond the first solution and towards more complex problem solving.

Questions to think about for the quarter:
1. In what way can the use of photography enhance your work?
2. What inspires you?
3. How can you take this inspiration and turn it into a visual form?
4. What messages would you like to state in your work?
5. How could you possibly use these new computer art skills in the future?
6. What possible projects would you like to do while in Electronic Design?

Monday April 25 Assignment

Creativity Exercise

You will be working in Illustrator for the next assignment. Set up your document to 8.5x11.
Try out this exercise using the Pathfinder tool (Divide) in Illustrator.....
Here are samples and the handout.

Taken from Mr. Powers at:WAWACDESIGN

Matt Cusick - Painter/Collage

I stumbled across the artist Matt Cusick the other day that has mind blowing collages. He uses maps as the primary source of imagery. Think about how in design you can go beyond using the computer and incorporate mixed media and hand drawn elements into your designs. There are many possibilities to creating designs. Go beyond the first solution and try new and innovative approaches to your work.

Take a look at his site HERE.

Evgeny Kiselev

I stumbled across Evgeny Kiselev recently who creates some beautiful abstract designs.
Lets take a look to see more of his work for inspiration. Check it HERE.

Josh LaFayette

JOSH LAFAYETTE
Check out this designer I came across. He has a really cool style and a sense of sarcasm in his work. Here is his Bio taken from his website:

"Josh LaFayette is the name. Mind the capital F. I am 25 years old; I have no idea who I am. Nevertheless, here's some "official" info and a photo:
In December 2008, I graduated from Auburn University with a BFA in Graphic Design. My professional experience is defined by a summer internship at Alphabet Arm Design in 2008, a spot as the sole graphic designer at Mammoth Printshop in '08 and '09, and a hefty amount of freelance design. In the summer of '09, I left Mammoth for a move to Florence, Italy with Lou. I spent six months in Florence developing my skills as a human.I have a deep love for all things hand-rendered, and I love creating in general. I am available for freelance design and illustration, and I am always down with a collaboration."

You can get to his site HERE.

Who's That Designer?!

Learning more about Graphic Designers will not only introduce you to new styles of design, but give you the opportunity to learn more about contemporary practices in design. Is there a particular style you like? Are you drawn to poster or CD designs? Do you like activist, voting or political posters?
Each designer holds a personal style. What is it about their style that you like? Is the use of clean lines and typography or photomontages and specific imagery to portray a message?

Your job is to research a graphic designer and create a 13x19 poster that represents them.
Requirements for the poster are:
1) 13x19
2) Provide background info.
3) Show and describe a design of theirs.
4) Include at least 4 (credited) images.
5) The poster should be made in the style of the designer.

These links may help you start your search for designers.

http://www.designtalkboard.com/design-articles/famous-designers.php
http://designreviver.com/inspiration/30-inspiring-poster-designs/
http://www.commarts.com/creative
http://www.graphicdesignblog.org/us-graphic-designers/

What's your Favorite Food?? - Minimalist Package Design

Design in the early 21^st century has taken on a very minimalist look with clean lines and easily readable font selection. Designers showcase the particular object or food through specific imagery that is relevant to the object. The font, color selections and overall shape of the container are crucial in emitting the feeling of the object inside.

For the next assignment you are going to create a minimalist package design to celebrate your favorite food. Take a look at the handout to learn more about the assignment.

Take a look at 50 Beautiful and Effective Package Designs for some great examples. For more examples check out 36 Beautiful Packaging Designs for Inspiration.

For Package Design Templates go to: ForDesigners.com, Ginkopress.com

Blog It Up Dogg!

For today's post we are going to make a slideshow of your designs to put on your blog. This way you can show off your work to the viewers and it also add as a nice look to your blogs.

The Second part of the blog posting today is to upload your Kick Butt's Poster and Quote Designs. For the Quote Design answer the 3 Questions from Handouts tab of the class blog.

How we Make a Slideshow:
1) Go to the website: Picasa Web Albums
2) Sign in or make an account. Your sign-in will be the user name and password you use for your blog. - If making an account, make sure you write down your user name and password to remember.
3) The top of the next page will show the tabs: HOME - MY PHOTOS - EXPLORE
Next to Explore says upload. Click on upload.
4) Title the album and set the visibility to Public on the Web. Click Continue.
5) Click: Choose Photos to Upload.
6) Upload your jpeg or gif files of your work.
7) When done click OK on the bottom right of the screen.

8) Sign into your blog and go to the DESIGN tab.
9) On the right hand side will be a link that says ADD A GADGET. Click that.
10) Scroll down to Slide Show and add that.
11) Title it whatever you want.
SOURCE: should be Picasa Web Album.
OPTION: Album.
USERNAME: Enter your user name.
ALBUM: Select the album you just made.
Set the SPEED and OPTIONS then click OK.

There you go!!!

Concert Posters That Will Melt Your Face Off!!

Concert Posters Rock! There are so many styles of concert posters out there that it is hard to choose a style that you may like best. The images, font selection, colors, etc. are chosen to represent the band, venue and genre the best.

We are going to look at a series of different concert posters for inspiration. From this you will develop you own poster from information you gather online from different events, topics etc.

You can check out the sites http://www.gigposters.com/ and http://www.concertposters.com/ for some more inspiration.

Let's take a look at the handout below to learn more about the assignment.

Four Black Squares

This is going to serve as an ongoing filler project. If you finish your work ahead of others I would like you to work hard on this assignment.

The Four Black Square assignment is a classic assignment in graphic design which helps you learn a number of great skills in making new and exciting works of art. It will give you the chance to experiment with simple shapes through developing creative compositions.

Take a closer look at the handout to learn the objectives to the assignment:


assignment from:http://www.burlington.mec.edu/~Ratkevich/FOV1-0001C3BB/FOV1-00022693/?OpenItemURL=S012A1FE7

AIGA

AIGA is a great site to learn about the most current practices, articles, designers, and videos in graphic design.
"AIGA, the professional association for design, stimulates thinking about design, demonstrates the value of design and empowers the success of designers at each stage of their careers. AIGA’s mission is to advance designing as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force. Founded in 1914, AIGA remains the oldest and largest professional membership organization for design, and is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational institution." - taken from AIGA About page.
Definitely take a look at the site. We will frequent this site as a source of inspiration and to check out some of the cool videos of graphic designers such as Stefan Sagmeister.

Blog Posting for Friday March 18th

Hi Everyone.

On Friday I want you to make a blog posting that is different from your previous ones. For the posting you should go online and find a cool graphic designer that you like. It can be an individual person or a design firm.
You should:
1) Upload a picture of the persons/firms designs.
2) Include a link to their website.
3) Include 3-4 sentences describing the designers style, what you like about it and why I should check it out. (i.e. what makes it cool)

Can ya Digg??! Now go for it!

A good example of this was by a former student of mine, Nicole. Here is her post.

GRAPHIC DESIGNS

I really like this image. This image was done by Luisa Bernardes. It looks like the background is a regular photograph and then she added mixed media by using graphic design and adding to the picture. I really like the giant skateboard that was enlarged and all the bright colors. Click here for a link to a website that shows some more of her really cool works of art. Google images has some more bright images by her as well. Click here.

Turn Text Into A Clipping Mask

There are endless ways to manipulate text. You can stretch text, warp text, add colors, cut the text into many pieces, apply a brush stroke, etc. With all of these possibilities try also turning text into a clipping mask over an image. When you do this, only the parts of the picture where there is text overlapping will show segments of the image. This can provide you with some really fun results that you can then add onto. Try it out with your Quote Posters as well as with any future projects.
Check out the link in the Helpful Tips section of the blog to see a handout on how to do this. Or your can click HERE.

Fonts Fonts Fonts!

There are so many fonts that can be used in creating a design that it can be overwhelming at times. So how do you choose? Think about the message you are trying to send. Do you want the information to be read clearly as if on a street sign? or do you want to show a more formal look to your work as if designing an invitation to an event? The font you select makes a huge difference in the way the viewer looks at the design. To access important information on a document you want to make sure that it is easily legible. So what are some fonts that most designers are using today you ask?? Well check out the article "Top 7 Fonts Used by Professionals in Graphic Design."
Here you will see what the practicing designers are using and it should provide you with some new thoughts about your selection of font.
Image taken from: http://justcreativedesign.com/2008/09/23/top-7-fonts-used-by-professionals-in-graphic-design-2/

Black & White Typography - Wonders of Graphic Design - Charlie B. johnson

Check out the article Black & White Typography–Wonders of Graphic Design, by Charlie B. Johnson, from the site GraphicDesignBlog.Org.

There are some really cool examples of using text as a primary source of visual information. Here the artists work almost completely in black and white. How can this influence your work? Would you do anything differently?

Kick Butts Day Poster Contest

Want to help bring to light the dangers of cigarette smoking? Do you know someone who smokes and you want them to quit? Well now is your chance to share your concerns about cigarette smoking and win a prize too!

On March 23, 2011, thousands of youth in every state and around the world will STAND OUT ... SPEAK UP ... and SEIZE CONTROL AGAINST BIG TOBACCO. Check out the site http://www.kickbuttsday.org/ to learn more about this important day.

Your job is to design a poster for Kick Butts Day to bring awareness of the dangers of smoking.
On the poster include:
1) The slogan: Stand out ... Speak Up ... and Seize Control Against Big Tobacco.
2) The date: March 23, 2011
3) Specific imagery that relates to the cause.

Start by looking at the website to learn more about Kick Butts Day. Then develop a 13x19 poster using good design skill on Illustrator. Your voice can make a difference!

Historical Figures - Quote Design

Learning without thought is labor lost ~ Confucius
Quotes can provide people with hope, inspiration, understanding, curiosity, enlightenment, or any other fulfillment that one is looking for. As you read famous quotes, how do you feel? What images come into your head? What do you think a quote would look like if it could be turned into a design?

Your task is to find a famous historical quote that you find interesting in some way. From this quote you will research its origins and how it relates to a time period, movement, body of work (books, artwork, etc), or event. From this information you gathered you will draw out a series of designs and choose one that will be made into a small poster using Illustrator.

Take a Look at "20 Examples of Beautiful Typography" and "25 Beautiful Examples of Typography Portraits" for inspiration.

For the requirements and expectations go to the handout Below:

Why are you so emotional?! Vent through text.

The variety of lines or compositional choices you make in your designs make a strong impact on your work. If you draw a line in a particular fashion it can express a mood or an emotion you are experiencing.

Expressive Lines: Convey emotion based on their character and weight. This type of line is often found in Abstract Expressionist works, but expressive lines can also be used to punctuate an idea or emotion in representational works.

Think about an emotion you have experienced. What did it feel like? Does it fill you with RAGE or with a deep sense of calm. Are you relaxed with no worries in the world or feel really anxious and need to get away quickly? How could these feelings be represented in line form? What would an Angry line look like? What would a happy line look like?
Try to use the variety of lines in all of your designs and specifically whenever you are trying to have the viewer feel something from and be moved my your work.

Check out the Handout for the assignment Below.

20 Awesome Examples of Typography

Here are some great examples of how to use text in interesting ways. Text can be used to fill in objects or to take the shape of a particular object that you are trying to represent. The variety of fonts and use of textures being overlayed on them can produce some great results. When you make designs try to think over alternative ways to use text in your designs.

Take a look at "20 Examples of Beautiful Typography Graphic Design" for some ideas.

Image taken from http://philosdesign.deviantart.com/art/TypoGraphy-101654436

Get Negative!

How an artist activates the negative space in their designs is very important. It can add a strong aesthetic component to the design as well as to balance out or enhance the overall message.

"Negative Space is the space between an object, around an object, but is not part of the actual object itself. It is the opposite of an identifiable object which can at the same time be used to help define the boundaries of positive space." - taken from David Leggett.

Consider the negative space and how you can fill in the space through the use of textured elements, or how you can take positive space and place the objects in a way that intentional negative space designs are being formed.

For more information check out Enhancing Your Art with Negative Space by David Leggett.

Blog Posting

Requirements for each week:

• Upload at least one image. It can be a work in progress or a completed work.

• Answer the following questions:
  
• 1) Describe the artwork created (Include the Elements and Principles of Design that influenced your work).
  
• 2) What was the assignment for the design and how did you make it your own?
  
• 3) Describe the creative process you went through in designing the artwork (Planning, Choice of images, How it is original, etc.).

Negative Space Logo Design

Logos have the power to make people remember a product and are made for immediate recognition by the consumer or audience. When logos are made, designers can use subtle hidden imagery to enhance the logos meaning. This hidden imagery can be exploited by how effectively the designer uses the negative space. The next class objective is to create a logo that uses negative space as its primary design function in defining a product, band, restaurant, etc.

First take a look at the article, "35 Logos Brilliantly using Negative Space: Negative is Positive", by Charles Johnson. This article shows some great examples of logos that use negative space. Think about them and how they are/aren't effective in representing the product. Are they using the negative space effectively? Are the designs interesting and make you want to learn more about the product? Do the logos leave an impression on your mind so you will remember the product?

And for more Inspiration before starting your logo design check out "25 Logos with Hidden Messages - Amazing Design Tricks", by Charles Johnson.

Take all of these things into account when designing your own logos. Click on the handout to see the guidelines for the assignment.

Four Design Book Construction

Construction Time!

1) Cut two pieces of Mat Board 9 1/2 x 6 1/2
2) Cut a piece of the 18 x 24 paper in half lengthwise giving you one piece of paper that is 9 x 24.
3) Fold the 9 x 24 paper into four different panels (6 inches wide each) accordian style.
4) Glue your four designs onto the different pages.
5) Glue your mat Board pieces on the back side of the first and last page.
6) Glue your cover image onto the front of the mat board.

Your final result should look like this:

Friday = Blogging

Time to Blog! Can you Digg?!

Today we are going to set up your own blogs. This entails naming, choosing a template, uploading your first image, and writing a few comments on it. Check out the Handout to learn more.

Design Books - Color Design

For your 4th and final design for your Design Books, you will be creating a Color Design. The idea is to use any of techniques you have learned so far and to incorporate color to create depth and visual interest.

First we will look at a series of abstract artists to learn more about color. With this information you will move on to your final design and make sure you consider these final questions:
Color: Have you used color to create depth and visual interest?
Design: Does your image display the elements of - Activated Edges, Negative Space, Shapes, Movement, and Focal Point?
Creativity: Have you gone beyond your first solution to the assignment - tried other designs, placement of objects, colors, etc.?

Image by Sarah Morris

Get Inspired

There is this great website devoted to Graphic Design called ABDUZEEDO. It can provide you with inspirations for designs as well as a further knowledge of the graphic design field.

ABDUZEEDO is “a blog about design. There are all sorts of articles for those who want to look for inspiration. Also you will find very useful tutorials for the most used applications out there, with a special selection of Photoshop Tutorials and Illustrator Tutorials. Of course there are other softwares compiled like Pixelmator, Fireworks, and web design tutorials.

One of the goals of Abduzeedo is to be an open channel to the design community, encouraging feedback. The Daily Inspiration is a proof of that, everybody can send images that inspired them so we can share with the community. Taken from Abduzeedo.com About Us page.

Check out ABDUZEEDO HERE.

Image taken from from GisMullr’s blog

Patterns

A pattern, from the French patron, is a type of theme of recurring events or objects, sometimes referred to as elements of a set. These elements repeat in a predictable manner. It can be a template or model which can be used to generate things or parts of a thing, especially if the things that are created have enough in common for the underlying pattern to be inferred, in which case the things are said to exhibit the unique pattern. Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern

We are incorporating Patterns into your next page of 4 Design Books. Think about repetition and how you can use the skills of Line and Gradient in creating new patterns.

Check out more examples of Patterns from DESIGNM.AG here.

The Rule of Thirds

The Rule of Thirds is a way to organize images on a page to make interesting and more powerful compositions. When you develop a good understanding of the Rule of Thirds your images will have more life to them and a strong sense of balance.

Let's take a look at the site: PIXIQ.com to learn more about the Rule of Thirds.

Design Books

Four Design Books

This is the first major project of the semester. The idea behind the Four Design Book project is to 1) Create four grey-scale designs using Adobe Illustrator, 2) Each design is based on a drawing tool, 3) Each design demonstrates good design and creates an illusion of depth and space, 4) Create a separate 5th design that focuses on color, 5) Make a cover page using any skills you have previously learned, 6) Print and assemble the designs into an accordion book.

During the project you will be learning the basics of Illustrator and begin to understand how to create new and interesting designs.

So let’s do it!