Final Portfolio and Self Assessment

Upload the Following projects to your Blog. Each project should be in it's own post. save the projects as a jpg before uploading. 
Projects
Descriptive Text using Grids
Magic Realism Using Scale
Photoshop text Effects
Illustrator Drawing
Graphic Abstraction - Logo Design Case Study
Posterized Illustrator portrait
Typographic Compositions

Self Assessment Questions
In each project's post briefly describe the project (look in the class blog for details) and answer the following questions:
What did I do to fulfill the creative requirements of the project? What software and tools did you use?
What was important about what I did?
Have I used this skill before? Are there areas in my life I could use them again?
Did I follow a certain routine with this project? Is there a pattern in how I completed the project? Do I usually make the same mistakes or use the same solutions?
What are 2-3 things you are proud of? Explain why? What is something you could improve upon? How?

Typographic Compositions

Consider letters as shapes....do not think of them as symbols for sounds.

Create a series (9) of abstract typographic compositions in Photoshop.

Consider the elements of design as you compose. Balance-Contrast-Scale-Repetition-Rhythm-Unity-Positive/Negative Space

Size and resolution: 11x11 inches 300 dp - Black and White Fonts only

3 should use a single font and Letter. Example: Univers Bold, Letter B

3 should use a single Font Family and up to 3 Letters. Example Bodoni font family, A, M, V

3 Should be free form. Use any font family and any letters.

Complete Stationery Design and Continue Posterized Portrait

Today is an in-class work day.
You should be wrapping up your stationery design and posting the logo case study on your blog. Many of you have begun and are working your Ilustrator portrait.

Please don't forget to send me your blog address.

Finalizing Your Logo

At this point you should be creating multiple variations of your logo (in Illustrator). Experiment with color, typography, and layout.

Make sure you write down the color choices in hexadecimal colors and the typeface that you used.

Arrange at least 10 versions and choose your favorite.

Scan and trace your logo

Today you will scan your logo and begin tracing it into Illustrator.

At this point trace your logo using only black and white.

We will have a critique on the digitized artwork next Wednesday, November 6.

Critique - Wednesday, October 30

We will have a critique this Wednesday. 

You will display:

10 refined logo sketches from your best initial thumbnails

Integrate typography into at least 5 of those designs

Logo Design - Working with Typography

Typography Exercise - Your Name and Personality in Text
Type your first and last name in a variety of ways, arriving finally at five designs that visually convey your personality.
This exercise will help you integrate creative use of typography with your logo sketches.
After you have completed this assignment begin using these ideas into your logo ideas.
 

1. Using Adobe PhotoShop, on one page create an 8.5x11 inch layout in which your name (first and last, with middle name optional) is displayed 30 times, each time using a different typeface (font), sizing each at 16-24 points.
 

2. On a second page record three to five adjectives or brief phrases that describe your personality. Using the rest of the same page, make five designs for your name using typefaces that express your personality or spirit especially well.  

Give careful consideration to the positive and negative shapes within and between the letters. Make the proportions, textures, values, and directions of the letters important to each design. You are free to alter the look of your name by varying typefaces, weights, color, pattern, background color or texture, direction of the letters, and different sizes -- within any line of text.

3. On a third page create 3 design ideas that you could use in your logo.

Graphic Abstraction Critique

We will have an in class critique of your initial graphic abstractions next class, Thursday, October 17.

You will need to produce 10 abstractions of at least 2 different photographic images

Graphic Abstraction

This exercise will be the first part of a personal logo design project. Through the method of Simplification, you will abstract a chosen object down to its basic two dimensional parts exploring line and shapes. You will look for both the lines and shapes that make up your object as well as the lines and shapes created by the light and shadows falling on the object. Working through the design process (thumbnails, roughs, and creating a comp), you will draw your object first from different points of view, then create a series of thumbnails, refine those thumbnails into rough drafts, and finally scan them and draw a comp in Illustrator.

This exercise is all about observation. Observing lines and shapes and simplifying those down to their most basic parts. Observe where lines and shapes start and stop, how they are placed next to one another, how the object naturally divides negative space, etc. Simplification means understanding how to change what your seeing to a basic, easily understandable, representation of your object. You will also hone your skills at working through the design process, and understanding how to use Adobe Illustrator to create a vector graphic.

Scanning and Tracing your own drawing

Today we will complete the Scanning and Tracing exercise.

Make sure you:

Are using layers
Are using color
keep the scanned image on it's own layer
Can identify and use the Selection tool, the Direct Selection tool, and the Pen Tool

Copy your project to the SCANNING AND TRACING FOLDER on hs2design when you are finished. Be sure to include your name in the title of the file.

Using the Epson scanner

Today I will give an in class demonstration of our scanner. We have 4 of them and you can check them out and use them at anytime during the school day, from 7:30 to 3:30.

Intro to Adobe Illustrator

Today we'll begin working with adobe Illustrator. Illustrator is a Vector Based graphics program. So far we have worked only with a Bitmap based graphics program, Photoshop.

For a discussion on the difference between the two programs click the link below:
Vector and Bitmap Images

Here is an example of the same image in both formats. The Vector graphic is on top, the Bitmap graphic is on bottom. Notice that as the Vector graphic is enlarged the edges stay smooth, whereas the bitmap graphic becomes pixelated.


Today we will learn about the some of the basic tools in Illustrator and do a brief exercise using these tools.

Selection Tool
Direct Selection Tool
Pen Tool
Layers Pallette

Photoshop Text Effects Project is due today

The Photoshop Text Effects project is due today at the end of class. After I present the next project this morning you can finish it up.

Photoshop Exercise – Magical Realism Using Scale

Using the provided images plus at least one of your own, (either from the web or a photos you have taken), create a magical realist composition using exaggerated scale. You may select, crop, and place the elements in the composition in any way that presents them in an incongruous, unusual or “super normal” manner.

Activities/Skills/Followed Directions:

Set up document at stated size and resolution.                                                           5/________

Photoshop Skills 

Made precise selections                                                                                                               5/________

Used Transform-scale tool to change at least one selection/layer.                           5/________

Used move tool to move selections from one document to another.                

5/________

Used Multiple Layers                                                                                                                     5/________

Named Layers                                                                                                                                   5/________

Include at least 1 additional image to the composition                                               5/________  

                                                                                     

Creativity

Met requirements for concept: Magical Realism using scale                                       5/________

                                                                                                                               

Helvetica - the Documentary

The class recently watched the documentary Helvetica, a "film about typography, graphic design, and global visual culture." The students were then asked to review the PBS study guide and respond to questions 1 and 9 plus two others of their choice.

1. How does a typeface create a mood, feeling or image? Can

you describe an occasion when you had a particular reaction to

something in print, not because of the content, but because of the

typeface?

2. In HELVETICA, design writer Richard Poynor says, “The designer

has an enormous responsibility” as the person who is “putting

wires into our heads.” What does he mean? How would you define

that responsibility?

3. Think of the font you most commonly use when working on your

computer. Which one is it and why do you use that one?

4. American designer David Carson says, “Don’t confuse legibility

with communication.” What does he mean? What’s the difference

between them?

5. How is design an expression of the times? How does politics

affect the art of design?

6. What is your reaction to the grunge style of type and design? Why

do you think you respond to it that way?

7. Imagine that the post office, your local bank or other government

or corporate entity whose signage is familiar to you started using

a different typeface. How would that change their image or your

feeling about that business or organization?

8. What might you take away from this film in terms of possible

effects on your work or other aspects of your daily life?

9. What changes, if any, has this film made in how you think about

print and graphic design? 

The responses are in the comment sections below.

Welcome to Graphic Design!!

This will be our class blog for the semester. Today we'll go over the basics of using Blogger and set up our own blog.

Here is a link to a brief video about the Bauhaus.
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