Be an Activist!

"A Leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done." - Ralph Nadar
There are many instances in life where a person can feel voiceless, a cause is going unnoticed, or an event is taking place that needs to be stopped. In these situations you can make a difference by standing up for what you believe in. When you are passionate about something you should speak your mind and find ways to help others in need. If you come forward and offer someone help or when you speak out against some wrongdoing you are being an activist.

What are you passionate about? Are there any causes, movements, or issues that you are interested in and would like to learn more about? Current events and causes that interest you can inspire many new ideas for your designs. For your next assignment you are going to create an Activist Poster. Check out the handout to learn more.

Image designed by Jess Sand

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.