In Conclusion...

Overall, I've taken a lot away from this class. I've learned a lot of useful skills about the different softwares, tools, etc. The most valuable thing I have taken, however, was learning how important it is to manage time and monitor productivity in that time. I still haven't harnessed the skill of being productive (or efficient), but I feel that I will get there. This class taught me a lot about pleasing the client and meeting deadlines. Sometimes it almost took me to my breaking point, but it also made me push myself to do better and try my hardest, which isn't something that I always have to do...

I have chosen to switch my major, not because I don't like design, but because juggling two majors is just too much for me right now. I will take this knowledge that I have gained from this course and apply it to my Communication major somewhere down the road. I'm very glad that I took this course because it will be nice to tell a future employer that I not only have skills in Journalism and Communications, but I have also had a hand in Layout and Graphic Design. It's nice to be well-rounded. :)

Final Portfolio - Proficiency Photoshop

As far as Photoshop goes, I feel that this piece turned out pretty well! I used this tool a lot in high school as Layout and Design editor, so I was extremely excited that we got to use it in this class as well. Since I was familiar with this tool going into the assignment, I found it to be particularly easy, but I ran into complications with his hand. I couldn't find the right shades to go with certain parts and made funny matching mistakes, but I still think that project turned out nicely. I like using the stamping tool, so this was a good project for me. And, besides, it's my little brother - I love that guy!

Final Portfolio - Proficiency Illustrator

I used the sunglasses for my Illustrator project because in my opinion, they turned out perfectly. Now... that's not a word I throw around too often, but I loved these glasses. I spent hours upon hours on them and was so excited to get them turned in finally. These were extremely difficult because of all the little pieces and intricate details, but they are awesome! I honestly could not be more proud of any other project I have done this semester!

Final Portfolio - Proficiency InDesign

I chose the Indie poster for my Proficiency in InDesign because it was my best work. While it's simple and to the point, I think that it makes a statement. I really like the violin head, made from the clipping path. I also loveee the overlapping words as the title. I took a lot of suggestions that we made in class and applied them to this piece. I think that it is one of the best projects I have done all year and I could not be happier with it!

Final Portfolio - Creative Concept

I chose my Batman Convention poster as my creative concept piece because it was one of the only projects all year that fully allowed me to design something at my own will. I wrote the copy, designed the car and logo, and found a way to piece it all together without any restrictions or limits. I think that if I had spent more time on the layout, I would have liked it better, but I am pleased with the overall turnout of the Ride Poster. I love my Batmobile!

Final Portfolio - Typography / Typesetting

I chose the Indie poster for my typography/typesetting portfolio insert because I really liked this poster. Of all of the InDesign projects I have done, this was by far my favorite. I really liked how I fit in the words "Wanted", "Indie", and "Violin." I loved the overlap of the words and how they made the poster work. I really enjoyed working on this piece!

Final Portfolio - Design

I chose to use the Marceline pamphlet at my design choice because I feel that this was one of my better marker comps. I spend a lot of time on this comp and think that it turned out pretty well. I wish that I had used more color in the design, but, overall, I was pleased with it. The product came out almost exactly as I had planned it! Woo!

Final Portfolio - Traditional Copyfitting

It took me HOURS upon HOURS to figure out the copy-fitting on this project. I was stressed out beyond believe and swore that I was going to quit and just forget about everything. In the end, I would thoroughly pleased with how the copy fit. It looked great on the page and was very presentable. I just wish copy fitting wasn't such a pain!

Final Portfolio - Marker Comp.

I chose this marker comp. because it was the most outstanding of the marker comps I have completed. I put a lot of thought into the design and was fairly pleased with the outcome of it. Again, I wish I would have taken more time to think about the design (what I could add, more color, layout ideas, etc). I wish that the piece had more color because right now, it is very bleak. I will be sure to take advantage of the color privilege next time around.

Final Portfolio - Thumbnails

I chose these thumbnails because they were the most fun to do. While it was hard to come up with FIFTEEN different design concepts, I liked the overall product. One weakness that I found in working on my thumbnails is that I always put them off until the very last minute, which does not help get the creative juices flowing. I feel that if I would have allowed myself more time to work on these sketches, I would have been much happier with the overall product.

Chili. Eat it.

The letters flow well with the piece because of the overlap onto the bowl. The white shadow casted on the "CHILI" leaves just enough contrast for the word to stand out in the poster. There needs to be more space around the edges to rid of the bleed the designer has used in the comp. Overall, the piece is simple and to-the-point, which works very well in this case. Great comp!

Helvetica

In watching the movie "Helvetica", I was surprised to see how much effort and concentration is put into creating new letters. Before, I never looked at letters as complex instruments, but there is so much more involved than I had known. While the movie was rather... dull, I enjoyed learning the intricacies of creating letters. So much history plays a role in each font and I find that extremely interesting.

And I really enjoyed writing a piece on Helvetica in Arial font. :)

Old School Batmobile

So... Not only is Batman the coolest hero of all heroes, but he also has the coolest car! This is the classic Batmobile. I chose this car for a few reasons: A) I don't think that anybody else would have chosen this car and B) I've never seen the old Batmobile and thought it was the coolest thing ever. I had a LOT of trouble with the coils. If I were to guess, I'd say that I spent about three to five hours on the coils, alone. They were very difficult for me to get done. I think that they turned out okay, but they're still not my favorite... I'm happy with the piece as a whole, but still feel that there are some things I could have done differently (and more efficiently). I love the Batmobile :)

Stunna Shades

Of every project we have done thus far, the sunglasses were my biggest challenge (even to the car)! Maybe it was because I was just learning the new tricks of Illustrator, but, man, did I HATEEE these glasses. I complained for days and, honestly, hated the class for a minute, but I think that this may be one of the best, if not THE best project I've done this semester. I had some difficulties matching colors, but other than that, just getting the job done was my biggest obstacle... The glasses turned out great and I could not be happier with them! Woo!

Bro-Bro Retouch

This picture is of my little brother, Danny. I used this picture because, oddly enough, it is my favorite of him (don't you just love his smiling face?) The fold in the corner needed a touch-up, so I chose to do this in Photoshop. I think that, overall, it turned out very well. I had some difficulty fixing the colors in his hand, which you can vaguely see if you look closely. I'm pleased with the turnout of this retouch.

Indie Violin Wanted

I chose to use my Indie poster because, of all my InDesign projects, this one was my favorite. I liked using the clipping path and I think that it turned out very well. I used tips from class to redo the design I used before and I think it worked out to my advantage. It was, however, difficult not to use a bleed! Oh, well... Hope you like it! :)

You May Say I'm a Dreamer...

This image was created in Photoshop. The design uses a magazine clip, black and white image, color image, and a line drawing. I re-did this piece to put the use what I have learned over the semester so far. I really liked what I've done with this and I also loveee the quote that I tied in! John Lennon is the best!