Sophomore Portfolio Review

This is where my critical assessment and links to individual portfolio posts are located.

Critical Assessment 

In my time at St. Edward’s University I have grown, and learned a lot from the Graphic Design Department. Not only have my technical skills continued to develop, but I have also found a style that I like to design with and embraced it. In my first year at St. Edward’s I had previously had some experience with illustrator and indesign but now as I near the end of my second year I realize how much I have learned since I started taking design classes.  The two assignments that I believe best illustrate my growth are the Truism Zine and Cognitive Decision Map.

I created the Zine about my Personal Truism “Love Don’t Judge” in my Image Methodology class. In this class we studied a bit about the printing which conducted before computers, and the way display type was printed to create beautiful posters. I found that understanding the roots of a display type helped me to create my own in my Truism Zine. The aspect of the zine that I belive best shows my technical growth is the Display Type. I spent many hours meticulously adjusting angles and points with in the fount to create the final product. I also believe that the final product, as a whole, was very cohesive, and created a feeling that fit with my truism. When I completed my first assignment in a graphic design course last year, I did not realize that the way to make work look sophisticated is in the details, but as I have continued through my graphic design course, I can see that my work is starting to become more and more refined.

 

The Cognitive Decision Map is the next piece of work I am most proud of. When Designing this map I often came up against mental designblocks, and found it difficult to move forward. However I did not let this affect me, I continued to push forward even when I did not know how to design something or what data to use. I have grown from my first year in the design program because I was able to follow through with my design even when the solution what immediately at my fingertips. In the end I think the Cognitive Map is one of my favorite designs I have created. By pushing through I was able to solve my mental roadblock and create a successful design.

 

However, in both these pieces there is room for improvement in the details, such as making sure a line meet up perfectly with another, making sure angles are smooth and natural. As I continue with the graphic design courses at St. Edward’s, I hope to improve on my attention to detail. My goal is to continue to refine the my work as I move on to new assignments.       

Advanced Typography
Weather Report