Indian Tarry Out

Hello,

Doing these series of ad boards was so fun. I got inspired early on and throughout the project. We were to concept and produce a series of ad boards in different sizes for display ad billboards, bus cards, taxi cards and shelter signs. There were specific size ratios to follow for each kind of display. We had to choose a theme and concept along the lines making people aware of the restaurant. I chose the tasty East Indian carry out theme. The color scheme was the easiest part. Which elements to keep or lose were the most challenging.

Researching for this project was amusing. The Indian culture uses a lot of musical elements to express their background like dancing and performing. They have a colorful and playful way to dress as well design. Their food consists of a lot of Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruits. They practice vegetarianism in this culture. Vegetarianism is a plant-based diet with or without eggs, dairy or meat (red meat, poultry and seafood). They’re very environmental, they don’t believe in eating any animal products including eggs, dairy or honey. Semi-vegetarian diets consist largely of vegetarian foods but may include fish or poultry

Got Milk?

Hello,

My digital photography instructor gave the class some very valuable photography tips. One of the best times to shoot a photograph outside is in the morning. Never point your camera towards the sun because it causes over-exposure. Always move in close for a close-up picture. It’s more interesting to see an odd number of objects in a picture. The further back you get brings the background into clearer focus. Look for texture such as the side of a building or dirt to add more quality to your photo.

The composition introduced is my People in Advertising Photography project. We were to create our own Got Milk Ad using photography shot by ourselves. The young lady in the photo, Cerayia Masheka Etheredge is my neighbor. I placed whip cream above her lip to illustrate a milk mustache. Another one of my neighbors, Candice Foulks was my assistant for taking this photo. Candice used a board to help position the sun on my subject. This photo was actually shot in the trunk area of her truck. My tripod allowed me to get a good focus on Cerayia and blur out the background. I played around with the text a couple of times, keeping Cerayia the main focal point. I wanted some text but not to overpower the photo. The text placement was the most challenging on this layout.

The Last Resort

Hello,

This newsletter layout was done in Digital Prepress class. We had to create a composition as a two-sided tabloid (11X17) document. One of our tasks was to use four to six images. I had fun with this project because I felt like that was my breaking out of my shell time and start designing how I wanted to. The color scheme was easy but the tracking/leading part had its difficult moments. Doing this layout helped me understand grids and the structure of a layout better. This assignment also made me understand what preflight meant better. The preflight will tell a reader whether all production issues have been taken care of and the document is ready for print production. Always have given you client a PDF version of the work along with the other mechanical elements.

Classy Couture Coupon

Hello,

I had an English instructor that made my class develop our own informational cheat sheet about plagiarism. My sheet states copy & paste is the number one type of plagiarism. Taking a sentence and changing one or two words around is word switch plagiarism. Style plagiarism occurs when you use another author’s rhythm and words. Metaphor plagiarism is copying another author’s creative style. Taking a thought from a source without attributing to the author is idea plagiarism. Try to avoid intentional plagiarism, which is when a writer knowingly copies the work of another author without acknowledgement.

The photo you see is my clutch purse I made in 3-D Fundamentals class. I used Sharpie markers, a Bristol pad, and a pair of old jeans and a glue gun. I love fashion so I had fun doing this project. I was browsing through some Coach Ad(s) on the Internet and felt inspired in Portfolio I class. I wanted the “C” pattern from the clutch to be emphasized on the background of the layout but I didn’t want to use Coach wallpaper. I created my own and called it Classy Couture. With my understanding of copyright laws, the shoe and solid blue wallet belongs to Coach, however I did change the color of the shoe and added a woven pattern. The placements of the objects were the most challenging, things being too big or too small. I didn’t have permission to use the shoe or wallet so this project is used as a promotional piece and not financial.

Repo

Hello,

My art direction instructor gave this project. We were to work in teams of two and create a poster that satirizes a popular film title, its characters and their appearance. My partner picked the movie Rio. I remember sitting in class, trying to think of what the concept would be then it hits me, Repo! The color scheme was the easiest part on this layout. The placement of the characters and debating on which to use was the most challenging.

I enjoyed this project because had one of the best partners you would want to work with. We collaborated very well together. No one was unheard or misunderstood. Every opinion counted throughout the project. This experience made appreciate how helpful having a partner can be. I know everyone wants to have their opinion stick out the most but if you stop and listen to others, the composition will be better than you could ever imagine it to be.

Hotelito Desconcido

Hello,

The picture shown is the stationery for a hotel resort in Mexico. This assignment was given in my Corporate ID and Branding class. We were to research the hotel provided by the instructor. My hotel name was Hotelito Desconcido, which means Unknown Hotel in English. Hotelito Desconcido is located in a marine turtle sanctuary and sea bird habitat. They are very eco-friendly (runs on solar power by day and candlelight by night). I wanted the concept to be simple and elegant. I did not want the design to be too busy by adding all the aspects the hotel has to offer into one piece. I used the top of the palafito (houses built over wood pillars by the sea) for the texture on the background. The hotel consists of twenty-four palafitos for their guests. I wanted the color scheme to have an earthy and beach theme.

I’m always the one up for traveling but somewhere that doesn’t have electricity might not be the place for me. I understand why people would consider going somewhere remote, to get away from it all but I’m just afraid I get out there and I can’t get back. There probably ways to get off the island if you want to but the fact I can’t call anybody from home and see how things are going would bother me. From the pictures, it looked beautiful and fun-filled but I would still be hesitant. This would probably be one of my bucket list options. The only thing stopping and scaring me is myself. One day I’ll probably will go on a remote island stay for about a week or so, no longer than that though.

Shakespeare in the Park

Hello,

This was another project that took a lot of tidy time completing. We were supposed to be on teams but it was only seven of us and I was left alone. Even though, I can work with other people, I prefer to have my own task and complete it on my time. Create and produce a poster highlighting a Shakespeare play performance in Central Park what we were to do. The illustration could have been made with magazine and other scrap cut & pasted in montage style. I picked Anthony and Cleopatra. I’ve always admired Cleopatra’s style so that fueled me through this assignment.

I skimmed through some pictures on the Internet, trying to find one that would fit into the layout and then it hits me, I’m going to make my images out scraps. Cleopatra and Antony was made from print paper w/color on it, magazines, and colorful card stock paper, construction paper and grayscale paper. The font size and placement was the hardest for this one. At first it was too big then too small. The informational text was too close together then too far apart. You would think once you the main focus of a layout done it would be smooth sailing. What should stand out the most? What, When, Where and Who.

Rose Ad

Hello,

My digital photography instructor gave the class some very valuable photography tips. One of the best times to shoot a photograph outside is in the morning. Never point your camera towards the sun because it causes over-exposure. Always move in close for a close-up picture. It’s more interesting to see an odd number of objects in a picture. The further back you get brings the background into clearer focus. Look for texture such as the side of a building or dirt to add more quality to your photo.

The layout presented is my Rose Ad. This assignment was given in one of my favorite classes at my school, Digital Photography. We were to recreate an ad supplied by the instructor, re-shoot the photography and make it own with the text. I had fun doing this project. I shot this picture in the morning hours. I used the natural light from the door being opened and the artificial light from a bare light bulb to get the exact lighting to enhance the photo. The tripod gave me a chance to experiment with the steadiness of my camera. The macro setting on my camera helped me get a good close-up of the rose causing a great depth of field around it. I like how the flower is the main attraction for this piece.

Self-Portrait

Hello,

I wanted to take an eccentric approach to this project. I’ve drawn myself by hand many times but I haven’t ever done it on a computer. Again, using what I have always done since I was a little girl, coloring things into the style I like. I’ve always been the odd one out the bunch. I love taking something that inspired me and putting my own spin on it; that’s what makes an excellent graphic designer. A person who’s able to communicate to an audience with the elements of design and principles of composition demonstrated.

This was another assignment given in Digital Illustration class. We were to do a self-portrait illustration that was the size of a square. We had to add color (CMYK + spot color) but I was so pumped to start the project while it was being given out, I didn’t hear that part so my whole color scheme end up being made solely of spot colors. I learned a valuable lesson always listen to all the directions before starting. I didn’t tell the teacher and I got a good grade. Even though, I got away with it, I don’t advise anyone to attempt something like this. It’s always good to be honest and forth right. That aspect of the color scheme was the most challenging throughout this project. Although the actual colors weren’t hard to figure out with my obsession for the color purple, I knew that was going to be one of the colors and went from there.

Poetry for the Soul CD Cover

Hello,

This layout is my CD jacket made in Package Design class. We were to design a CD jacket using the CD templates from our program’s database. At first, I could not decide what to place on the cover but then it hits me. I went to a poetry reading last year with my aunt who is on the CD jacket and she won a CD from one of the poets that were present. She is a poet herself so I figured I would make a poetry CD highlighting her talent. I created the patterns myself that is how I came up with the color scheme. She sent me a photo that had this burgundy transparent effect that tied in nicely. I wanted the theme to be elegant and semi-playful at the same time. The fonts were not too challenging because I do not like to use too many display fonts. When laying out large amounts of text, always use a readable serif or sans serif typeface to avoid taking away from the written material.

I was delighted to work on this project because it showed me the client presence and attitude affects your daily grind. I’m not the best people’s person but I pleasant enough to get what needs to be done without any hassle or drama. Always remember you’re going to have all kinds of clients (mean, unknowledgeable, loud or rude), just keep in my mind to have a level head when dealing with them and you should make it out okay. When I’m the customer or client, I always try to put myself in the working person place and treat them with the same respect that I would want back.

Straight Out of a Book

Hello again,

I enjoyed doing this project. I’ve always had a love for drawing and coloring pictures to the style I wanted them to be. I like illustrating but it’s very time-consuming. Making sure every spot is colored correctly and every line is to perfection takes time and patience. I am a hands on type of person so trying to mimic what’s on my paper to what’s on the computer screen was kind of difficult for me. I think this would be part of my dream job not the main task because I couldn’t see myself just doing this day in and day out for the rest of my life.

The objective of this project given by my Digital Illustration teacher was to remake a page out of a children’s book. I picked Rapunzel because I used to love this book while growing up. I was really excited about completing this composition, I even printed out the story word for word and watched the remake movie Tangled to get inspiration. I took aspects from both the book and movie. The hardest thing about this assignment believe it or not was the clouds and stars. I wanted it to look like a clear, starry night. I didn’t really plan my color scheme, it kind of just happened. Although I wouldn’t advise this method to fellow graphic designers, it’s always a good rule-of-thumb to sketch first so you know where you’re going with the layout. I’m very pleased with the results.

MODART Magazine

Hello everyone!

I’m in my last quarter (which is like a semester at traditional schools) of completing a bachelor’s in graphic design so anything that will help me get good input and stay on the right track, I’ll try. South University, a non-traditional school in Columbia, South Carolina is where I attend college currently. It is a good school for the pace of getting you in and out. My plan is to further my education and get a master’s degree.

Years ago, I never thought I would be what I am today, a rising graphic designer. I really could see myself doing this thirty years from now and still happy. I like the major graphic design because it is so broad. You do not have to settle on just one thing! Even though you might not be good in one category, you may be in another. I feel as if I have some more learning to do but I enjoy photography, ad layouts and making 3-D objects (flowers, pocketbooks, radios, etc.) with my hands just to name a few.

The three pictures you see are my interruption of what ModArt Magazine cover, features page and two-page spread would look like. I liked this assignment. It was given in my Typography II class. We were to take a known but unknown magazine masthead, remake it and apply it to our own, original cover design. All the content (articles, headlines, subheads, captions, etc.) had to come from the original publication. We could use any photography, illustration or font we wanted to enhance our project.

When I read this portion of the assignment, the quote “less is more” popped in my head. I wanted the spread to be simple because the cover and features page was so busy. I continued the circle effect a little to combine the spread with rest of the magazine. I added another tone of green to the layout to enhance the comparison as well. Now, if I could design the whole magazine, not all the pages and spreads would consist of the green as boldly. Although would remain in a similar shade of green because it is one of the headline articles on the features page. I was happy with the results because I feel its balance, clean, neat and straight to the point. I consider that my design style.

I admired Rick Chapman’s photography offered on our program’s database. I wanted to incorporate them some kind of way. When I hear the word art, instinctively photography or an abstract piece comes to mind. The color scheme was easy once I had my layout format complete. I always thought purple, yellow and green made good contrast with gray. Both pictures had plenty of tones and shades of gray. The font was the most challenging part. Trying to find a serif or sans serif that would combine with the photography and lines within the composition flawlessly was tough.