Response>>Portfolio Sharing

In our capstone class on Tuesday half of the students brought in all of the design work they had done since high school. We went around and critiqued pieces we liked and what we thought should be used for their portfolio but could use some work. It was really exciting to see and made me proud to be in a class with such highly skilled, creative people. I think it was important because not only does it give the person whose work is critique feedback, but it helps us figure out what works and what doesn't when we see other people's designs, especially when we can grow attached to our own work, not able to separate the good and the bad. 

While the skill levels vary, what stayed the same throughout the work we saw was creativity and personality. You get such a feel for people's design style. I think figuring that out is an important part of branding our portfolio's and finding that unique design edge we have and being able to portray that to future employers. I will be showing some of my work tomorrow and will post some of my oldie but goodie designs next week as well as what my colleagues loved and hated in the work I have accomplished so far.

You Can't Miss>>Design Sponge

This site was featured on the site I follow designers-who-blog.com. Design sponge was named the most influential design blog by a site called Home Rejuvenation. Being that I LOVE interior design I thought I would share this site with all of you since many of the same decisions regarding texture, color, and layering apply to designing on a computer. Also, I thought since they share recipes, home furnishings, and home rejuvenation tips it could be helpful for our Meredith projects. Here is some of the stuff from their site: http://www.designspongeonline.com/

This is an organizer placed on the door to store all of the things you need to grab in the morning. The frantic search is over! 

Week Five

Ahh, week five already. 

CRITIQUE:

This week at Vox I designed my department page which will be published tomorrow. It was really frustrating actually, because my main image wasn't a normal picture but a clipping mask. I was also trying so hard to fit all of the text, too, which was impossible, but I tried! Also I came up with a little illustration for a piece about a home and garden expo being held at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo which was focusing on how to make your house green when renovating. The idea behind this is the house is the flower pot, and it is so green in grew a flower. Haha, a bit cute/corny, but I think it represents what the expo is about very well. 

Also this past week I presented my cover ideas for the "Best Time to Do Things Issue," for Vox. I mainly stuck with the sticky note idea and also did something with an hourglass which I really thought was cool, but it didn't go as well with the story as the sticky note design. Anyway, the first design was chosen to be the cover. I am reworking it currently to adjust it and work on making the main cover line dominant. 

 

 

This week I also worked on a cover for the publication Global Journalist. It's a magazine produced by students at Mizzou but written by journalists all over the world. It focuses on democracy and journalism. The publication tends to be more traditional when it comes to design, so the first cover I developed was what a typical Global Journalist cover looks like. Then, I had a little fun. The third cover is actually the one I like the most. The idea behind it is that this man in the photo (Ben Ali-president of Tunisia) has been president for decades. While he has brought the country economic success, freedom of speech is not allowed nor are journalists allowed any freedom to tell the truth and not speak highly of the country and its president. So, the piece was about getting that deeper look at this leader so I thought the illustration conveyed that well...He is blurry, but through the lens, who he is becomes very clear. Let me know if it makes sense to you all, since you have not read the story.

 

 

And finally, early this week I presented my ideas for a new website for the magazine CountryHome. I really struggled with this on how to incorporate what was visually appealing and what was technologically feasible as well as how to better organize the site. I was proud of my finished project even though it wasn't chosen. It was a bit of learning experience and I know it will continue to be that way as we make a working website with my colleague Kristin's design. The first page is the home page, the second is a department page, and the third is how a feature would look. 

 

 

WHAT'S NEXT:

My spring fashion photo shoot got pushed back until next Wednesday, hooray!, so I will be working on that for the rest of the week and weekend. I will also be making the adjustments to my sticky note cover that was chosen, working on my personal website and portfolio, and getting started on the web project with Meredith. 

Week Four

Critique:

This past week I spent some time designing Valentine's day stuff for the boyfriend. It was just a chance to have some fun and play with photoshop. A bit corny, I know. 

I also came up with an illustration for the art department of Vox about an exhibit put on by the True/False Festival (a film festival in Columbia) called "Altered Realities." I did it without having the text or knowing much about the exhibit except the title, so the editors decided it didn't fit well. But I'm going to try to come up with something that does. 

 

What's Next:

I am also currently working on my web designs for a living magazine in based in Des Moines, Iowa. It's been quite a challenge and after meeting with Jan I have a tad bit more direction. I will be working on that over the weekend, so I will post the final product next week. In addition to developing a mock page for that magazine I will be working on developing my own professional site with all of my best design work.

In addition to working on the art department this week I will be designing three covers for "The Best Time To..." issue.

And finally (me taking a deep breath) I will be spending the weekend shopping & styling outfits for a 6 page spring fashion spread in the April issue of Inside Columbia. I've been gathering inspiration from InStyle and Lucky...I have a few themes I'm playing with..I will be sure to show you the final project!

Response>>Design Dump

As part of our design class I am working with some teammates on redesigning a website and creating a new "personality" for a living magazine. Never having designed for web before I've been having a really hard time even knowing how to approach it. For anyone else struggling with their first attempt at web design, this article by Todd Bertsch, President of E-volve Creative Group, was helpful and motivating. He spoke of the challenges graphic designers often face at their first attempt on the web and offered a few solutions...

1. In web design we must be aware of USABILITY.

ex. You wouldn't design a business card with contact info on the back, it's just not useful or normal. The same goes when designing a site. 

2. Unless of course your designing a site for someone of the creative sort, like a photographer or musician, you may have some more freedom to break the rules because your audience is much smaller.

3. Don't miss out on what your audience wants and expects when designing a site, don't get caught in trying to make it "so different," from all of the other sites--they look like that for a reason.

4. Find out who your audience is-age, how much web knowledge and experience, what they are looking to gain from your site, etc.

5. You don't have to necessarily agree with usability guidelines like the logo in the left, navigation panels on the top or left of the page, hyperlinks in blue...but you should still use them. They are like that for a reason. 

If you have a moment you can check out the full article at: www.designdump.com/webdesignarticle1.aspx

You Can't Miss>>Illustrationmundo.com

It seems as though I am always trying my hand at illustrator, but never seeing the results I'm hoping for. If anyone else is feeling the frustration that can come when trying to master a program, or a little inspiration to revert back to "old school" art of drawing, painting, etc., here is a little inspiration to continue increasing your skill and become awesome at illustration. Here was one of my favorites by Joey Chou. The site carries tons of different work by multiple illustrators. Check it out! http://www.illustrationmundo.com/audio_index.php

Response>>History Presentations

I'll be posting my presentation about the look and design of Esquire in the 1960's after a little tweaking. But, I wanted to respond to some of the presentations in class.

I think it was a really interesting assignment. Looking back at old magazines is a little inspiring, seeing how far we have come. I think our ability to think simply amongst all of the technology we have and all of our font options, etc., is really important. Some of the older versions of Esquire used new fonts just because they were new, not because they were content driven. I tend to go crazy with fonts, or use them as a quick fix. It's a reminder that font is not everything in design.

But, it's also inspiring because they did some really cool things graphically back in the day, that took so much time. It makes me want to do something vintage feeling for a design and maybe even draw an illustration myself (gasp!) I think practicing my artistic skills is important--it may come in handy one day, who knows.

Finally, I think this assignment really gave us a feel for the identity of the magazines that we studied and how important it is to stay true to it. I think Esquire has stuck with their edgy, pushing the envelope essence. However, I think it would be great to see more covers like those of George Lois...not just slapping a celeb on the cover, but having a content drive reason behind it.

YOU Can't Miss>>Photojojo.com

I found this site from the blog I follow, designers-who-blog.com. I think this site is important to check out after our photo assignment. They take this really creative look at photography and come up with really awesome ideas to USE photography. Also, using your flickr account you can set up this thing called time capsule...Photojojo will send you an email with photos from the past year. Sign up and it may be just what you need when your looking for some design inspiration!

Here's a link to the site directly: photojojo.com

Like our graffiti assignment:

A chance to use your photography creatively:

Week Three

While I wasn't slated to hand anything in for Vox this week, I worked on my redesign for the economy feature back during week 1.

CRITIQUE:

 I still need to work on something for the sidebar, but this gives you my first spread and overall concept. I decided to go with a super-hero theme. I thought it would make a story about the economy more fun and focus on the profiles of the two men. I know that the whole super-hero thing can tend to be overdone, but it did give me practice in photoshop and illustrator (yay!) I was just really trying to go in a completely different direction, so let me know what you think!

First design:

Here's the new one:

Here's the work I did in photoshop for the photos:

I worked at Inside Columbia a lot over the past week, here are some of the images from the photo shoot. We decided to go with this photo I set up at the shoot instead of the individual images of the items that we took. We usually do separate images, so this was something new for me to play with. After getting the image I clipped it in photoshop--I had some difficulties with getting around the scarf, but I learned a new tool with fading the background to make it easier on me next time. Next I placed the image on the page, picked headline and deck colors, etc. I will have the designed page up soon!

WHAT'S NEXT:

This next week I'll be finishing my economy feature redesign...as well as working on my art department images for Vox. I'm trying to come up with illustrative ideas for the department art instead of the typical event image. There is one piece about an apron exhibit..and another about a home and garden exhibition...think, think, think!

Internship Work>>Inside Columbia

I started interning for Inside Columbia magazine in May 2008 and never left! I started out as a design and editorial intern. I wrote a big piece about skin care, worked on designing the dining guide they produce, and did a few spec-ads. Then I started on a big fashion project towards the end of the 2008 summer--a big fall fashion preview. Now I've basically taken the fashion department over! I do the "Look of the Month," each month I come up with a concept, find an outfit, a model, style the shoot and write the editorial. I also do the "Shopping Page," every month which incorporates the same steps, however I design that page. When I find the time we will start incorporating a shopping page with items for the home. Here is my LOM from February's issue that was just published. Let me know what you think!

You Can't Miss>>Crowdspring.com

On the blog I'm following, designers-who-blog.com, and interesting post popped up I wanted to share. While the blogger was complaining about this article published on Forbes.com recently it's an exciting opportunity for freelancers (us!)

The article in Forbes talks about a new website/company called Crowspring.com...they allow businesses who need some type of graphic designing done--a logo, a business card, a t-shirt, a website, etc.--to post the jobs they need and challenge people who know how to design to compete. Read it here >> http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0216/062.html

Designers post what they come up with on this site and can see what everyone else has posted, too. The designer usually only gets a few $100, but what an accomplishment for an aspiring designer. The companies also post their responses to your work on the site, so there is little or no waiting involved. Here is a look at something someone did for a logo for a vegan message board.

And here's a screen shot of their home page--where you can start looking for a project you want to design for and see how much you could potentially be paid!

The business started out of the design need by companies at a cheaper cost. So while it's exciting now we may be sharing the same feelings as the professionals on designers-who-blog.com. Read their reactions >>http://www.designers-who-blog.com/

Response>>The movie Helvetica

Honestly, that movie really through me for a loop. Even as a graphic designer you never really think of the time and thought that goes into font. It's so easy for us to go to a website and find a font to fit our need or style. 

I also had never thought about the way one simple font, Helvetica, could say so many things. A typographer in the movie said something along the lines of helvetica simply says everything. It's a universal font that isn't specific to looking Christmasey or Fallish. It made me think question are use of so many fonts. Are fancy fonts an easy fix for a lazy designer?

I don't think I've taken my position on either side of the fence just yet. Some types just give a piece personality. They say something in themselves. So, I guess the big question is does "I hate you," in helvetica have the same meaning as some angry, bold font? Well in a literal sense of course. But in the magazine world, what is going to get a reader to read that word or sentence? What's going to draw them in and give them a visual representation or aid to what they are reading? 

I'm not quite sure that Helvetica is the be-all end-all of the font world. But, I'm going to explore it much more in my design.

Week Two at Vox>>Spring Cover

This week at Vox I was re-designing my spring cover from the weekend, which was:

I think I came a long way and am actually really proud of my new covers. One of my biggest critiques was that the original looked fallish. I think I definitely made the new covers springy. The editor also wanted some of the sell lines incorporated into our designs which I also did and liked the way it turned out. It came a long way with only a weekend to design. 

I do think the covers are maybe a little too busy. I could play with color more perhaps, of instead of using swirls for the tree use fully colored in circles to make it more concrete. A small note is I need to change the color of the apostrophe in the second cover, its still black--Oh, the difference of detail. 

I made all of the covers in Illustrator which is becoming a favorite of mine--except I don't know how to do as much as I would like to know. But, every design I do in Illustrator I learn a teeny bit more. 

FUTURE PLANS:

This week is my "Inside Columbia" (the local city magazine) week. I handle the fashion department and so I've been running around town coming up with ideas for the shopping page and look of the month. The shopping page shoot is tomorrow (which I get to "direct") and then I will photoshop the images and design the page. For look of the month I find a model and an outfit and help direct that too and that will be Friday--but I'm awaiting spring shipments at the boutiques. 

I will also be working on my redesign of my Faces of the Economy feature over the weekend and just redesigned the music cover. Here it is:

My idea was from this photo I took during the photo journal:

So originally I had more of a flyer looking design but couldn't figure out how to place it on the cover page. So then I decided to have it look like they wrote it on the pavement in chalk..a lot of small bands do that in Columbia around campus. I know I need to find a new font to love (I used that one in both the spring cover and this cover). I also want to find a pavement that is just concrete instead of the rocky texture of my current one. However, I like the overall concept. I'm having a little bit of a creative draught, so If you have any tips I'd appreciate it. Here is a look at the flyer like image I created:

Graffiti Assignment

My idea hit me when I was wandering downtown...There are a lot of things that are part of a downtown that are well, ugly. Even the trees don't look pretty--just dull and muted, intermixed with traffic lights and cigarette butts. So I used these elements to create contrast--the word beauty, ugly. 

then I had some fun in photoshop:

Photo Journal>>Day 7

Not the most interesting I know, just a look at reminder to look at pattern, texture and color.

Photo Journal>>Day 7

I took this photo tonight when I was really lacking for some inspiration. I was busy looking all day for something extraordinary to photograph and obviously found nothing. A simple lesson in that all things can look interesting, it just depends on the way you look at them. With my camera angle close and my flash on I created a neat view of some jewelry in a case on my wall and played with light/reflection. This photo gives design inspiration to me beyond the interesting light and angle to the idea that sometimes you just need to look at something in a different way--whether thats a spread or just a design element. 

Photo Journal>>Day 6

I took this photo on my drive home yesterday along rock quarry. I like it because of the light captured and the way it gives that illusionary affect... but more so I like it because of the idea of contrast behind it. The foreground is this pretty country setting almost the trees and the tall grass, but that leads your eye to the background which are telephone poles and city lights. For me it captures the idea of "this and that" of dualism, of opposites working together side by side.

Photo Journal>>Day 5

I took this photo to capture the wetness feel of the ground because of the melting snow. You feel like you can reach out and touch this. I never think of my designs having a "feel," but this photo is evident that a design could very well reach that human sense and seem tangible. 

Photo Journal>>Day 4

I took these in Des Moines, Iowa at the Meredith Corporation. I was just shooting every day objects in a more interesting way. The forks and pans focus on reflection, the vases and paper rolls on color, and the desk and keep area clean on the way black and white and their other shades work together. 

 

Photo Journal>>Day 3

Both of these photos have awesome texture and light. Layers upon layers of glass through what is broken and even the lines created by the glass not fully broken but bulging. These photos remind me of the importance of lines, shape and texture. The color here is completely muted and dull--a reminder that a great design doesn't have to be dependent solely on color.