Semester Reflection

What did we do?

This semester in Graphic Design we had a Name Typography project, Rebranding project, and are now working on designing menus for restaurants.

Name Typography

         In this project we were to take characteristics/interests of ourselves and put it into a clear representation in our name, through manipulating fonts. This project took about 3-4 weeks, as it was the first one. We took a few days to sketch, then about a week to find and manipulate fonts, then a day to critique our work, and another couple of days to clean up our project. Once everything was how we wanted it to look, we mounted our work, and published our designs onto Behance. Some challenges I faced during this project were, not quite knowing how to manipulate fonts, and bringing in images to image trace them. When I figured out how to do these things the project became much easier. I learned how to manipulate fonts, image trace and expand images in Illustrator. Some feedback I was given was to not focus so much on a graphic in my project but the type, and making it flow better. Something I changed was that I didn’t put as many graphics on my project and I used more type manipulations. My overall opinion on this process and project was that it really helped me branch out more into typography and I learned a lot about type and manipulating type.

Rebranding

         In this project we were to seek out a company that did not have a well designed logo, re-design it, and then create more appealing packaging for that company. This project in total took around 8 weeks. We needed to start with sketches, then move to working it out on the computer in black and white, then add color, make multiple concepts, critiques, editing from critiques, labels, putting the labels on the bottles, photography of the bottles, and finally putting the project up on Behance. Some challenges I faced making this project would be making the label. I don’t feel that before this project that I was good at labels so making my own was difficult. On the way, I learned to look at lots of different labels online for inspiration. It is much harder without inspiration. Some feedback given to me was to change the white bottle labels I had, to black. This, I think, added a much more professional feel and look to my final product. I did end up changing the labels to black and I also changed some positions of words on my labels. Overall, I think the design process was really well formatted. I think it was good to go in steps, like we did. I am pretty confident in my final product and I think this was a fun project.

Menus

         This project we just started. We are creating a nice menu for a restaurant that either does not have one or their menu does not look good. We have been working on it for 2 weeks now. The biggest challenge for me in this project is that we are working in InDesign and I am not familiar with this program. I am however learning how to use it. It’s hard but I’m learning it. I don’t enjoy this project as much as the others because I don’t like the program we are using and I am not as good at it. So far, I have done my sketches, made a paper grid, and finished one out of the two concepts we are doing.

Time Management

            In class I believe I used my time productively. There were times that it was easy to be distracted and off task, as well. I used the time in class to work on all the computer things because I don’t have that access at home but I can sketch at home. Staying productive when I finished early was harder for me because I didn’t really know what I could’ve been working on. Sometime I would ask a friend or two if they thought I could do anything to make my work better. Other times I would work on my Behance and make sure it is cleaned up. Outside of class I do not have much time to work on graphic design. Although sometimes I do come in before school starts to get a head start or to catch up on a project.

Strengths and Improvements

            My areas of strength in graphic design are finding inspiration, turning things in on time, and giving feedback when someone asks me. To maximize these strengths, I help people when they need help and I know how to help, and I also make sure I know the deadlines so that I can have my work in and ready to go. An area of improvement for me would be getting out of my comfort zone and asking for feedback for myself, and focusing on graphic design in my extra time. To improve this, I can go to someone else in the room for feedback, and I can listen to music so that I am not as easily distracted.

Summary

         What I loved most about this semester is the rebranding project. I thought it was a lot of fun and a good challenge. It wasn’t too easy or too hard. Also, making new friends in this class. Something I would change or do differently would be making an effort to stay on task better so that I can get the most done that I can. Overall, I think I learned a lot about the processes that come with graphic design and the steps involved in making a successful product. A goal I would set for next semester would be to find a project or something to do when my class work is all finished. I think graphic design in my most fun class and I enjoy it!

Name Typography

     The scope of this project was to portray the use of typography to represent a piece of our personality.

     The first step in this process was to make a list of different characteristics about myself. Once a list was written up, the next step was to sketch up 36 or more sketches. There was to be 12 total aspects when finished. During the process of actually creating the type we used Adobe Illustrator. We used fonts that we downloaded and manipulated them to make them original. For a lot of fonts we pulled in graphics and image traced them to incorporate the graphics to the type. After each of the 12 designs were complete it was time to print them off for critiques. We got our feedback and went back into Illustrator to clean up our work. When we had our final work done we made a final print. Once it was printed we cut them out and mounted them on a cut out piece of matboard.

     Technically speaking, I learned a lot about typography and how to make it more appealing than the default fonts. Also, I learned how to merge a graphic into a piece of the font. For collaboration, I learned the I need to branch out a bit more to get inspiration or feedback from classmates. It is also very easy to get behind if the deadlines are not met. Something I would do different is maybe come in outside of class to improve the softball design because it does not meet up with the standard I had for the other designs. I would continue to incorporate graphics into the letters of the designs because I think that helps tell what I'm trying to get across. To enhance my next project I will get up and ask more people for their opinion and critic rather than stay at my own computer.

     Overall, I think this project was very fun and I learned a lot about typography that I did not know. Also, I learned to make sure to be on time with the deadlines and not to fall behind in my work.

EOY Reflection

            I learned how to use Maya and Adobe After Effects. Those programs have a lot more to them then just the things we did in them. We learned the walk cycle, editing with the green screen, and making 3D objects. What I will do with what I’ve learned is probably find a way to apply it to graphic design. I feel that would be appropriate considering that is the stand I will be focusing on next year.
             We learned some of these techniques through different tutorials and step by step with the teacher. For certain effects that I did not know how to do, I looked it up on Google.  Trial and error is a big part of animation because you won’t get anything finished if you don’t try new things. This is important because it teaches us new ways of learning how to do simple movements and effects. Also, it is important for getting into any job in this field of work. For example, you can’t be an animator if you don’t know the basics. That is why this is important.            
          My strengths in this class would be getting my work completely finished, helping others on their projects, and staying on task. My weaknesses are having time to go back and fix projects that were not improved. I have improved by making time outside of class to work on projects such as the UFO in our video.
             The only thing I would change in animation class is how fast we go through a walkthrough of a project. Sometimes we go too fast and it is hard to keep up. Other than that this class is pretty good.             
          Overall, this class has taught me a lot about animation and how to use the software. I have learned lots of basic techniques that I would not have a clue how to do without this class.