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Final Blog Post

I cannot believe this is my last post in this class. It is bittersweet. I will definitely missed being challenged and having fun projects to complete. I really enjoyed this class and have learned so much while in the Arts school. The process book was an incredible journey, and I truly enjoyed the opportunity to gather all my design class work into one cohesive space. As I reflect on the swift passage of this semester, I’m struck by the realization that it marks the culmination of my college career—an exciting milestone indeed. This course has been particularly rewarding, providing ample time for project development and allowing me to refine my skills. It’s been a transformative experience, fostering not only confidence in my abilities but also pushing me to explore innovative approaches beyond conventional boundaries.

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Blog Post 12

This week, we turned in our portfolio to get it printed. I really wish we had more time to focus on this project, just like we did with the other ones. I get that printing takes time, but maybe we could have less time for the other assignments. Putting together my process book was fun; it's awesome to see all your work in one spot. Plus, I like that we have to print it because then we can appreciate all our hard work on the computer in printed form. 

The text discusses the challenges faced by typographic education due to technological advancements and the increasing role of visual and media-based communication in society. It emphasizes the importance of nurturing sensitivity to typographic form and communication in designers. The assignments presented aim to provide an overview of contemporary typographic design education, focusing on perceptual and conceptual development, technical training, and problem-solving skills necessary for effective and innovative typographic design practice. Something I noticed was that one of the assignments in the text was actually an assignment given in ARTS 245. I think it so interesting to see what the textbook says about the assignment and how it helps improve your design skills. Selected letters of the alphabet were combined with images of flowers that have been reduced into visually simplified forms. Each letter is coupled with a flower whose name begins with the chosen letter. A primary objective of this project is to achieve a harmonious synthesis between type and image, and in the process create a new visual configuration. It is essential that both the letterform and the flower be recognizable in this hybrid form. This project is also concerned with exploring the dynamic relationship between positive and negative space. The focus of this project is to make students aware of the properties that bring unity to any typographic system. These include stroke weight and direction, stress, form repetition, and intersection.

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Blog Post 11

This week, I focused on updating my process journal. I dedicated time to sorting out my work from ARTS 245 and ARTS 246. My starting point for this project is my process journal from ARTS 102. I aim to improve it by making various adjustments, blending it seamlessly with my recent projects. For instance, I'm tweaking the page colors to match those of my current projects. I've already made some changes to a few spreads and got some helpful feedback from my teacher. He mentioned that the foundation of my process journal is solid but suggested making it even better. My next steps involve adding words and projects to each page and then organizing the information to create a journal that flows well and looks appealing.

As I focused on updating my process journal this week, I found parallels between my journey and the typographic design challenges discussed in the textbook's case studies. Just as professional designers encounter various problems in their practice, such as integrating type and image effectively or establishing cohesive visual systems, I am faced with the task of blending my past and present projects seamlessly. The complexities outlined in the case studies resonate with my efforts to improve my journal by making adjustments and tweaking details, like matching page colors to my current projects. With feedback from my teacher emphasizing the solidity of my journal's foundation and the opportunity for further enhancement, I'm reminded of the aim of the textbook's case studies: to showcase the complexity of applied problem-solving in design. As I proceed to add words and projects to each page and organize the information for flow and appeal, I draw inspiration from the depth and diversity of design challenges explored in the textbook.

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Blog Post 10

This week we submitted our poster to the UCDA Student Poster Design Initiative. My poster changed tremendously throughout this whole process. I came up with two different designs before finally settling on my final iteration. I drew inspiration for this design from the quote, "Immerse yourself in life and embrace every moment," which I discovered on Pinterest. This quote stood out to me because it encapsulates the essence of living fully and appreciating the present moment, which resonates deeply with the theme and message I wanted to convey through my poster design. Sometimes, we get too caught up in thinking about the future that we forget to enjoy the here and now. That's happening to me right now as I search for a job. I'm so focused on finding work that I'm not making the most of my last few months of college. That's why this quote is important to me. It reminds me to cherish every moment. 

From the start of this project, I was set on making typography the main feature of my design, and I stuck to that idea in my final version. The text is actually an image of water, which holds a special meaning for me. It's a video I took while studying abroad, a time when I felt fully engaged in life and appreciated every moment. As for the augmented reality part of the poster, it's a video showing waves crashing. I'm really pleased with my final submission because it holds personal significance for me.

This week's chapter on Typography in Time and Motion, the text discusses the power of dynamic typography to communicate messages with behaviors or actions, enhancing the narrative and engaging viewers. Just as my poster design aimed to convey a message of embracing life's moments, dynamic typography allows designers to control time, sequence, pace, and even sound to achieve different results, enriching the storytelling process and captivating the audience's attention. Through both my poster design and the principles of dynamic typography, I've been reminded of the importance of cherishing every moment and expressing it creatively.

We were also assigned our final project this week, which is a process book. The process book is supposed to be a creative publication that uses a clear and concise grid with consistent styles throughout employing longform text and showcasing image selections from both typography courses this year: ARTS 245 and ARTS 246. I am going to use the design and format of my process book from my very first design class and improve it. 

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Blog Post 9

This week, I dedicated my efforts to refining my poster, a process that involved a thorough exploration of various design concepts. Initially, I felt that my initial design lacked complexity, prompting me to venture into a completely different artistic direction. In this new iteration, I incorporated letters and integrated an augmented reality feature, where a meaningful phrase would dynamically appear.

Seeking guidance, I asked for feedback from my professor, given the significant departure from my original approach. His assessment praised the graphic and typographic elements, yet highlighted a crucial aspect: the poster's ability to captivate on its own merit was lacking—a point with which I concurred.

In response, I revisited my original design, opting to enhance its impact by repeating the letters to occupy the entire canvas. Presently, I am contemplating further enhancements, such as integrating an inverse color scheme for the augmented reality component, perhaps black on red, or exploring interactive elements where the letters align upon interaction.

The reading material this week resonates deeply with my current project focus. As I delve into refining my poster design, I find myself grappling with the intricate balance between typographic integrity and visual appeal, particularly within the realm of on-screen presentation.

Just as the reading emphasizes the importance of preserving typographic quality in on-screen environments, I too recognize the necessity of ensuring that my poster effectively translates across digital platforms. The discussion on adapting type sizing methodologies, such as pixels, ems, and percentages, aligns closely with my considerations for optimizing readability and visual hierarchy within my design.

Moreover, the cautionary advice against simply mimicking printed page aesthetics echoes the feedback I received from my professor. While embracing new artistic directions and technological possibilities, I must remain mindful of maintaining the poster's inherent ability to engage and communicate effectively.

In light of this, I am revisiting my design approach, seeking to strike a harmonious balance between innovation and practicality. By incorporating strategic typographic elements and contemplating interactive enhancements, I aim to elevate the poster's impact while staying true to its communicative intent.

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Blog Post 8

This week, I dedicated my efforts to crafting the poster design for the UCDA Student Poster Design Initiative. The project has presented unique challenges due to the absence of specific guidelines. Seeking inspiration, I explored various ideas on Pinterest, and one concept caught my attention.

I'm particularly drawn to the idea of emphasizing typography in this project. The central theme of my poster revolves around manipulating the placement of words, creating a dynamic effect, much like the concept of aligned, filled-in letters forming the word 'immersed.' This design conjures thoughts of a lock, where manipulating the digits aligns to unlock it.

However, while writing this blog post, a new and exciting idea emerged. Given my love for puzzles, I am envisioning a puzzle that has one piece missing. I forgot to mention in my previous blog post that the poster must include augmented reality. So, the augmented reality aspect of the poster could unfold as the final puzzle piece slots perfectly into place. It's a concept I'm eager to explore further.

I'll experiment with both designs – the one inspired by the lock mechanism and the puzzle-inspired concept. I am going to see which concept resonates with me more.

The reading this week, delving into the Evolution of Typographic Technology, establishes a crucial link to our ongoing poster design project. Our task involves the incorporation of augmented reality, a cutting-edge aspect that represents the forefront of innovation in the design world. In parallel with the rapid development discussed in the reading, where typographic media continues to evolve, our project demands a forward-thinking approach. As designers, we must keep pace with the latest innovations and ensure that our integration of augmented reality into the poster is not just a technological addition but a harmonious enhancement that reflects a nuanced understanding of its capabilities. This synthesis of traditional typographic principles and cutting-edge technology is integral to achieving the desired quality of typographic communication in our poster design.

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Blog Post 7

This week marked the completion of Project 1, and I am happy with the outcome. During the final stages of refining my poster and merchandise, I made a thoughtful decision to refine my logo. The initial tilted design felt incongruent, so I opted for a more polished and straightforward look. Additionally, I incorporated the location and date into the logo, envisioning a versatile design that could seamlessly adapt for future festivals by simply adjusting the date and logo elements. 

Our new project is the UCDA Student Poster Design Initiative. This year the theme is immerse. Students are invited to explore the limitless possibilities of immersive design. This student poster design contest helps promote positive thinking by enabling students to design an original post for print or online. The only requirements for the project is a print 12 by 18 and digital motion 1920 by 1080. I know I am going to struggle with this project because there's not really any guidelines. I like when an assignment has some guidance and more requirements. I just don’t even know where to begin. I started with looking up what is an immersive design. Immersive design also known as experimental design, describes design work which ranges in levels of interaction and leads users to be fully absorbed in an experience. I then looked up some examples on Pinterest and created a mood board. I want to create a poster that includes a lot of typography. 

In approaching the UCDA Student Poster Design Initiative with the theme of "Immerse," I can draw inspiration from the transformative power of early twentieth-century typography. The text explores the dynamic and revolutionary nature of typographic communication, emphasizing its ability to strengthen the message when read aloud. By infusing designs with elements from free typography and embracing the intersection of technology, movement, and emotion, I can create innovative and immersive posters that capture the essence of the theme. For example, the text highlights  the concrete poem "ping pong," where the repetition of words visually and verbally signifies the sound of a bouncing ping-pong ball.

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Blog Post 6

This week, our focus was on finalizing the elements of our project, encompassing the poster, social media content, and merchandise. While crafting the social media post and merch designs, I grappled with the positioning of the logo, particularly its slant. Interestingly, this challenge didn't arise during the poster creation, but it became a notable consideration for the social media and merch components.

In an effort to find the most fitting version, I experimented with three variations of the merch, torn between the slanted and straight versions of the logo. Seeking collaborative input, I presented these options during critique day, inviting valuable insights from my peers. After careful consideration, I am inclined to proceed with the straight version. This choice not only resonates with me aesthetically but also serves as a clever way to incorporate the date and year seamlessly.

The primary logo, "River Roads," is complemented by the additional details of the location and year, allowing for easy adaptation in case of an annual recurrence of the music festival. This adaptability adds a layer of versatility to the logo, accommodating potential changes in location and year while maintaining its integrity.

Looking ahead, I plan to elevate the creativity in our social media posts, acknowledging the feedback received during critique day that emphasized a desire for more complexity. Despite this,  I find beauty in simplicity, and I believe it resonates with the essence of our project. Thus, I am committed to maintaining a clean and straightforward design, aligning with both my personal style and the project's vision.

The reading this week is about syntax and communication. Drawing inspiration from the text, I can apply several design principles to enhance my current project, which involves finalizing elements for a music festival, including a poster, social media content, and merchandise. Similar to the discussion on form and counter form relationships in individual letterforms, I can carefully consider the positioning and alignment of key visual elements, such as the festival logo. The importance of visual harmony, as mentioned in the textbook, resonates with my commitment to maintaining a clean and straightforward design.Additionally, the emphasis on internal patterns within words and the use of contrast and repetition in typography offers valuable insights that I can leverage to enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of my social media posts while ensuring they remain in harmony with the project's essence.

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Blog Post 5

This week we worked on finalizing our posters and started working on social media and merch. Last week, I was thinking that I was going to completely start over with poster, but I did not. I messed with the type, and tried to convey the date and location in a different way.  I am happy with how my poster turned out. I received some feedback from my teacher that the logo should be bigger and the River Roads on the left, above Savannah, is a little bit repetitive. I am trying to work on moving the location to under the logo, but it looks so odd. I am playing around with the logo to try to incorporate the date into it. I also started working on merch. I wanted to choose merch that I would actually buy if I was at the festival, so I decided on a hat. I also wanted merch that you didn’t have to buy and came with the purchase of the ticket, so I chose a lanyard. I need to work on the hat and adding more pizzaz. I chose to have the logo be made of the river from the original photo. Again, I am struggling about where to put the date and location. 

This weeks reading was about grids. I actually love using grids because it keeps me organized and makes my design look better, which is why I love InDesign because it is all about layout. What I learned from this week's reading was when to use a modular grid versus a columnar grid. A modular grid offers more opportunities to present more complex information with a high degree of accuracy and clarity. So basically when there are too many elements for the columnar grid, use the modular grid. I used a modular grid to make my festival poster.

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Blog Post 4

This week, our primary focus was on finalizing our poster, a task that initially seemed straightforward to me. However, as I delved into this stage of the project, I encountered unexpected challenges. The complexity arises from the multitude of specific requirements we must adhere to. Firstly, the design calls for three distinct columns of text, each dedicated to a specific day. Secondly, these columns must showcase one headlining band and four additional bands. Furthermore, the poster necessitates the use of an abstracted original photo captured by you. Lastly, the poster must show the use of a grid.

The most significant hurdle I am currently facing revolves around the last requirement. Transforming my photo into an abstract image that resonates with the vibrant atmosphere of a music festival is proving to be more challenging than anticipated. As it stands, the current iteration of my poster unintentionally exudes a more formal, business conference aesthetic rather than the dynamic and energetic feel intended for a music festival.

Recognizing the need for a fresh perspective, I am contemplating starting afresh and taking the design in a different direction to better align with the essence of a music festival. This decision, though requiring additional effort, will ensure that my final poster successfully captures the spirit of the event and meets all specified requirements.

The reading this week was about legibility. Legibility is achieved by controlling the qualities and attributes inherent in typography that make type readable. While reading the chapter, I learned that if text is entirely capitalized it suffers a loss of legibility and the reader is placed at a significant disadvantage and it takes up a greater amount of space. I also learned that a variety of letter shapes, ascenders, and descenders provides rich contrast that assure satisfactory perception. Lastly, I learned that space between letters and words should be proportional to the width of the letters. With experience and practice comes an understanding of the spacing that is suitable to a particular design project. I will definitely be using the things I learned in this chapter when creating my poster. 

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Blog Post 3

In the process of finalizing the logo for the music festival "River Roads," I grappled with the typographic intricacies inherent in visual design. The challenge of separating the words "river" and "roads" in the logo without creating an unintended visual amalgamation led me to consider the nuances of typography. The need for distinct lines and the careful capitalization of "R's" reflected the importance of letterforms and their visual characteristics. As I delved into the design process, I found myself exploring the flow of lines to integrate the essence of a river into the logo. This creative endeavor echoed the historical evolution of typography discussed in the reading where the markings of brush, reed pen, and stone engraver's chisel influenced the early alphabet. The consideration of stroke patterns, proportions, and legibility in my logo design resonates with the transition from rudimentary marks to letterforms with graphic clarity and precision discussed in the exploration of typography's origins. Both experiences underscore the intricate dance between visual elements and their historical evolution in the world of design.

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Blog Post 2

This week marked the start of Project 1, which is focused on orchestrating a remarkable music festival. To set the creative tone, our initial step involved crafting a captivating mood board that visually articulated our vision. My emphasis leaned towards warm tones, creating a palette that radiates comfort, and inclusivity, with a singular vibrant hue commanding attention. Delving into the musical aspect, I selected folk-pop as the genre, envisioning it as the perfect soundtrack for our festival. The chosen locale, Savannah, Georgia, inspired this musical journey. Known as "the Hostess City," Savannah exudes warmth and hospitality, making warm colors a natural choice to convey a homey and inviting ambiance. The festival, aptly named "RiverRoads," draws its inspiration from Savannah's geographical charm. Situated along the river, the city's prominent River Street serves as a muse. The choice of "roads" in the name pays homage to the iconic River Street, adorned with a tapestry of shops, historic landmarks, and a picturesque view of the flowing river. "RiverRoads" captures not only the essence of our music festival but also the spirit of Savannah itself.

During our class sessions, we immersed ourselves in a series of enlightening tutorials led by renowned creatives, James Victore and Aaron Draplin, unveiling the intricate process of logo design. Their insightful videos conveyed a powerful message - the genesis of a brilliant idea is merely a few minutes away. Armed with only a marker or pencil, tracing paper, and a sketchbook, we delved into the realm of creativity. The instructors emphasized the efficiency of this minimalist toolkit in fostering innovative logo concepts. The key was to utilize tracing paper, allowing the exploration of diverse possibilities for the logo. Inspired by their guidance, I embarked on the journey of crafting my logo, which are seen below. 

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Blog Post #1

Reflecting on my college design journey, I've grappled with self-doubt and a fear of not being creative enough. However, as I approach my final design class, I realize the significant growth I've achieved. Overcoming these doubts has been a personal triumph, and my journey resonates with this  blog post assignment focused on Christoph Niemman's podcast, 'How to Overcome the 3 Fears Every Creative Faces.'

In the podcast, Niemman addresses common fears: the fear of not being good enough, the fear of work becoming irrelevant, and the fear of running out of ideas. His solutions, such as emphasizing practice, creating a focused work environment, and embracing the act of creating itself, provide valuable insights. As I delve into ARTS 246, I plan to apply these lessons, particularly focusing on honing my skills, maintaining a dedicated workspace, and cultivating a mindset that values the creative process over anxieties. This approach aligns with my journey of learning to push aside negative thoughts and embrace the challenges that come with creativity.

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Final Blog Post

Wow this semester has gone by so fast. I have learned so many design skills from this class. Mrs. Wanco is the best teacher and I am really going to miss going to her class. I have to say at the beginning of the year I did not enjoy the class because the first three projects felt like arts and crafts. However, I have come to realize those first three projects pushed me outside of my comfort zone, taught me patience when things don't workout how you want them to, and reinforced how much attention to detail you must have to ensure a successful outcome. Project four and five were way more up my alley than the first three projects. This class really pushed me to think creatively and taught me how to receive constructive criticism. I loved how we got to put up our work and get feedback from the class before we turned in our final project. Although project 5 was a lot of work, it was my favorite project. It felt good to see how much progress I made from the beginning to the end of the project. I also enjoyed putting together a final presentation and seeing it all come together. When I was putting together the presentation, I realized how important it is to be intentional about why you designed something the way you do. I liked how we had to present it to the class because it gave me real world experience to how you may pitch your design to a client. The project I chose to redo at the end of the year was Project 4: Remaking Language. The feedback I received was to make sure the theme of the two letters were separate. Also, I needed to add more design elements to hold the reader's gaze. Some easy mistakes I fixed was spelling, labelling the anatomy of the new letters, and stating why I chose to combine each letter to make the 27th letter. Overall, I have enjoyed this class so much and I am really going to miss it.

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Project 5: R+D and Moodboard

Pan Am was founded in December 1927. The airline was around for 64 years. At its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, Pan Am was often referred to as the "World's Most Experienced Airline" due to its pioneering efforts in developing international air travel. It was the first airline to operate transatlantic and transpacific flights, making it a symbol of aviation innovation and adventure. The airline carried 6.7 million passengers in 1966. By 1968, its 50 jets flew to 86 countries in the 6 major continents. Pan Am was known for its extensive global network and "Pan Am Clippers," which were flying boats that provided long-distance international flights. Pan Am was famous for providing a luxurious and elegant travel experience. Passengers enjoyed fine dining, spacious seating, and exceptional in-flight service. The airline's flight attendants, known as "stewardesses" at the time, were celebrated for their style and professionalism. Pan Am was featured in numerous movies and TV shows, which further cemented its status as an iconic brand. It was associated with a glamorous, jet-setting lifestyle and the excitement of international travel. Despite its historic success, Pan Am faced financial difficulties in the 1980s and ultimately declared bankruptcy in 1991. Its name and assets were sold to other airlines. The brand, however, lives on as a symbol of the golden age of aviation and the romance of international travel. In summary, the Pan Am Airlines brand was characterized by its pioneering spirit, international reach, iconic logo, luxury, and elegance. It remains a symbol of the early days of commercial aviation and the allure of traveling the world.

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Blog Post #8

Wow, it has been quite the week. Unfortunately, I have been sick this week so I have not gotten the chance to have my project critiqued. However, there are some things I have changed about project 4 since my last post. I did not change much on the first spread besides making the smaller circles on the first page bottom aligned and adding specifics about how to recreate the letter. The second spread changed a little bit too. Before, 2019 was sideways and it just didn't look right so I made it so it reads up and down. I also changed the circle sizes to correlate with the different typeface weights so that light is the smallest and black is the biggest. I also changed the location of the text on the first page of the second spread. It did not make sense that the text had its own section in the top right. On the second page of the second spread I changed the text so it was aligned with the word, "Heavy." I also changed the word, "Avenir" to lowercase so the two spreads matched. Lastly, I aligned the word, "light" to the text on the first page of the second spread. The third spread did not change much because this spread was my favorite. On the first page of the third spread I made the text left aligned to make the page flow better. This was the only change I made to the third spread.

This weeks reading is about dashes, spaces, and punctuation. This reading was very helpful because it tells you about the shortcuts on the keyboard when using dashes, spaces, and punctuation. I can never remember what to hit on the keyboard to type out different types of dashes, like em-dash, en-dash, standard hyphen or discretionary hyphen, so this section is a perfect cheat sheet. Not only does it give the keyboard shortcut for dashes, but also punctuation and other marks. Further down in the section is a refresher on grammar rules, which is no necessary in design.

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Blog Post #7

The images above show where I am at on Project 4. I feel like I have made a lot of progress and I am loving my design so far. My favorite page is the Ophelia page because of the design in background and the 3D Letter. I think I need to spice up the page next to Ophelia because it is looking a little bland. When I look at the typeface, Operetta 32, I think sleek, clean, minimalistic. However, I don't want people to think as the typeface as just this, which is why I included circles. When I think of circles I think of bubbly and all over the place, basically the opposite of clean and sleek. I want people to look at the typeface/letter and think wow it can be minimalistic but also fun. My reasoning for the rectangles that decorate the pages with Avenir is pretty similar to my Operetta 32 reasoning but the opposite. When I look at my letter, I think bubbly, fun, and unusual. However, I want the typeface/letter to also be used for sleek and clean looks. I think of rectangles as being sleek, clean, and minimalist so I want to show that the letter can also show these qualities.

The reading this week is about hierarchy. This is relevant to this project and future projects because you need hierarchy to show what is the most important and what you want people to look at first. As stated in the reading, "a typographic hierarchy expresses an organizational system for content, emphasizing some data and diminishing others." A hierarchy helps readers scan a text and know where to begin and leave. As you can see in my spreads above, I want the readers eye to go to the letter I created first, then the name and the pronunciation. In the pages about the font, I want the readers eye to go to the name of the typeface first.