Semester Reflection

Over This Semester..

We did a variety of projects in order to learn multiple sets of skills that would help us in the graphic design industry.


Homecoming Infographic
Our first project of the year was to design the homecoming poster for our school and the other materials that came along with it . It was a pretty quick timeframe because we had to get them in the first couple weeks of September in order to prepare for the actual dance on the 23rd. For this project we had to team up and make a cohesive poster and the materials together which I found challenging at times because I felt as though my ideas were not translated into the final product which also had to with timeframe as well. I had to design the infographic showing all the events happening during homecoming week and some of the challenges I faced were that I found it difficult to fit all of the events in a nice and organized way without it looking too unevenly spread out.  I learned how to incorporate little details that made the information easier to see and read on something that has a lot of information on it. Some of the feedback I was given along the way was to change the color scheme because we had originally chosen a blue tone that did not create enough contrast for the words on the page so we decided to try and more purple tint that still gave the illusion of the sky. I was satisfied with outcome because it had come a long way from the original poster, the only thing I wish we could have had time for was to manipulate the fonts.

Hand Typography Greeting Card

Then, our next project was all about manipulating type. We had to design a greeting card that would be in stores like hallmark using a font that we had manipulated and we made in the span of a month. One of the things that I feel I struggle the most on is learning how to manipulate the type which was the whole basis of this project which made all of it seem challenging. Once I had finally gotten my text to the way I wanted it and decided to lay it out on the card I started to think about color scheme  I wanted, since mine was a birthday card I wanted to incorporate more of a rainbow theme to it but felt it ended up kind of distracting so I decided to settle with a bright blue with colorful balloons for the details. Like I said, this project was extremely based on manipulating the type so I was not completely satisfied with outcome and wish I could have done more with it.

Company Branding

The last project we finished this semester was our company branding where we had to use four random materials-an animal, number, mineral, and two initials- in order to create and brand a made up business. We had to initially start with creating the logos, then moving onto the stationary and other merchandise for the store which took about two months. In this project I found it challenging to make everything blend together in a cohesive way and I ended up realizing that not every single item that went with it had to be designed do intricately. I was given the feedback of changing the color of the logo to a more relaxing color because I originally had to started with warm orange color because my business was suppose to be located in Hawaii. I feel as though my final product was very simple but it fit with the theme that I was going for my spa.

Time In Class

At the beginning of the school year I felt I did not do well at coming back into a productive environment, I was easily distracted and had a hard time not getting lost in conversation. As it came more apparent that this was impacting the end product of my projects I started to try to become more focused on the project at hand. If I ever had free time when I was finished on a project I used that time in order to get outside projects that I was currently working on finished. More recently I have started to work on my project for e-magine this year whenever I have had some free time aside from work and school. I tend to find myself looking up several tutorials and different little detailed videos on youtube to see what tips and tricks I can use towards my next project and I have also decided to work my handwritten lettering when I have the time.

Strengths and Weakness

I feel as though one of my strengths is that I try my best to plan out the concept of what I want my design to look like but I also feel like my weakness is trying to be a perfectionist and not willing to bend the idea that I already have in order to make it look better. 

Summary

Something I really enjoyed about this semester was that I really was able to get out of my comfort zone and find out skills that I need to work on if I want to have a career in graphic design. If  I could do anything differently it would be to stretch myself more and find out what I can really do because I felt though this semester there was some things that I struggled on but did not do enough to help have the best outcome that I could have. The goal that I want to set for next semester is that I want to do what I did not do in this first semester and expand my skills as well as push myself further in the ones I already have.