Delight
3/28/15 – Assignment has not been assigned yet.
Weather Report
31/3/15 – Currently not in Advance Type.
Conference Booklet
31/3/15 – Currently not taking Advance Type.
Desire
31/3/15 – This project is currently in the works.
Rules
In this module in Graphic Design II, we discussed the idea of rules, and how we are constructed by its boundaries. By playing games, we learnt that rules were only limits to what your potential could be; however, we had the ability to manipulate them and expand upon them. This led to our directional section of the module, where we first focused on audio podcasts to give directions, starting with Deep Eddy pool. As I’m a fan of podcasts already, this was my favorite part of the module. Based of the podcast we listened to, it changed the experience that we had while we walked. Next, our assignment was to create our own podcast, giving directions from one direction to another. Using the app Audacity, I created a podcast directing listeners from Sorin Oak to the top of the Parking Garage. In the podcast, I talked a lot about fear and how it can penetrate us to do things we wouldn’t usually do.
Finally, the last section of the module was to create a two packages of buttons representing two landscapes in Austin. The buttons were to present experiences in the locations, based off a description the buttons came along with. Choosing to focusing both of mine on wellness spots (Town Lake Trail and Zilker Park), I wanted to emphasize the feeling your body felt while you were running or doing yoga in their respected place. All the buttons fit together and could be interchangeable with a similar palette and style. My Illustrator skills I learnt in Graphic Design I were heavily used in this section of the module to create logos/icons that could represent a feeling of a place.
Semester Reflection for Graphic Design I
Expert hours:
This semester, I had set the goal of obtaining at least 100 expert hours this semester. To come up with this number, I decided I wanted to do at least an hour of design work a day, whether that be through graphics, photography, editing, or looking at design websites. This would add to my current 1500+ hours I had from my high school art classes, plus my 365 day project I did back in 2010. Though I could have distributed them out more throughly throughout the semester (which I will talk about later), I believe that I obtained more than my 100 hour goal with around 130 hours tracked. I hope to next semester, to increase my hours, is attend more talks and galleries. I went to the Chicago Institute of Art during this semester as well, so I did get a lot from such a vast museum. Exposing myself to current designers as well will help me grow.
Social/Emotional Development:
I believe that I am always growing socially and emotionally. I think that going into this semester, I thought I knew a lot about design already. It’s fair to say that I was naive, and I still have so much to go. Though I kid around with Tuan a lot, I think I have grown a lot as a person throughout this semester, becoming more independent than before. To improve on this more, I want to put more of my personality and emotion into my work, to show parts of me in it. It’s sometimes difficult to do so with “just a symbol”, but if I put more of “me” into it, then I think my work will become more individual.
Sophistication of work:
Even in my drawings, paintings, and photographs, my sophistication of work has remained constant and adaptable throughout mediums. After looking at many different designs off Pinterest, I think I have a set idea about what kinds of design I like. With that, I don’t try to make anything too flamboyant, or something I would not like if I saw it online. My sophistication would probably be medium-high.
My map2 was full of data and showed a lot of sophistication. Check it out.
Use of feedback:
One thing I would agree upon that I need to work on more is my use of feedback. Though I do consider every suggestion I receive, I need to learn more about making changes with it instead of hearing it out. For example, even though my symbols in my symbols project weren’t very abstract, I still kept them the same because it was what I knew. To become a better designer, I agree I need to listen to others more as well as myself. Distinguishing when to listen to myself and when to listen to others in my creative pursues is important. My rating is probably “useful”.
Level of challenge to myself:
This semester of graphic design had challenging myself and how I saw design. With each assignment, I tried to figure out the best way to do something, even though I was completely out of my element. This can be seen in my navigational map. It was totally experimental, as I kept the points very minimalistic. Though I’m not sure how much I like it, I do appreciate it for what it is. Later on, I hope to go back and work on it more and improve it. I would say my level of challenge was medium-intense.
visual of map1.
Contribution to climate:
I took very seriously the idea that we as a class are dependent on each other. And with that, apart from the week I was in Chicago, I did not miss any classes. I hope that my energy in the morning helped perk people up, and my feedback to others was helpful. I believe my contribution was “warm”.
Use of Practice Time:
Like mentioned above, I took advantage of class time constantly, as well as outside time in the lab. Throughout the semester, I could see my practice time had gone from sporadic to a more consistent practice. Rather than leaving the final decision map to the last day, I spread it out evenly throughout the week. It was a good thing I did as well, because I underestimated how much time I was going to take. I’m glad I did so, though, because it taught me how to be a better, consistent designer – like tea!
See my map3 here.
Change:
As a GDES minor, not major, I did not think I would become so dedicated to a class that wasn’t even my major. I saw shifts in me this semester that made me begin to appreciate things not only in design but in people as well. I improved dramatically in Illustrator, and I hope to continue to learn more in GDESII next semester. The rubric fails to mention anything about giving feedback. I thought that I was fairly strong at giving my opinion to other classmates during crits. I wasn’t afraid to talk and speak my mind, in a nice matter, off course. Because of my work in the class and having a presence, I believe my work this semester is worth an A.
Mapping Project: Cognitive Map
Our final map was probably my favorite project thus far in Graphic Design I: making a decision map. An avid fan of these, logic is what makes them work. The website Buzzfeed has many of these maps that I enjoy working through in my spare time.
The reason why I chose to do which city you should move to was because I am in this predicament. By the time I was eight, I had lived in three different continents, and by the time I graduated high school, I had lived in eleven different houses. Thus, after I graduate from St. Edward’s, I need to figure out what is next in my path.
Again, I used Excel to do my researching, looking up education systems in each city, living costs, job availability, etc. I enjoyed this project immensely because I got to play around with the characteristics of each city, trying to find icons and fonts that would best describe them. I had the woody, dark greens of Portland, but also the jazzy purples of New Orleans. My skills on Illustrator were improved dramatically with this, as I had to use tools such as Pathfinder to create all the icons. It was a fun, light-hearted design that matches with the mood I was aiming for.
Mapping Project: Information Map
The second map directed our focus not onto a literal, artifactual map, but rather a map which contained information. Choosing to do mine on the Study Abroad program here at St. Edward’s, I contacted the Office of International Education to get some information and data from them. As this was supposed to fit onto a tabloid and be foldable, I made sure to have a distinct line for folding.
One of the key components of this project was to use Excel to create data and design it from there. Knowing this, I used both a line-graph as well as a pie chart. The way I further enhanced its design features was by 1) adding a plane icon onto the line graph, showing a “take off” of students studying abroad, and 2) splitting the pie chart into greater detail, making a pie of a pie chart. The accent of red and the percentage of people studying abroad in certain countries changed its opacity. Combined with a neutral grey background, the red seems to stand out in the design.
mid-term reflection – gdes1
Now that we are halfway into the semester, I feel like I have developed myself as a person so much these past seven weeks, both as an artist as a person. I’m currently living in my first apartment on my own, paying bills and buying groceries, so I’ve been having a lot more independence. However, I’m still a student so I remain not completely “in the real world” yet, but this is a stepping-stone towards being okay when I am. This has helped me in my social/emotional development; although I am not completely mature yet, I am much more so than I was coming into this semester as I have to play an adult in many situations where I don’t feel like I am ready to be one yet. I am still a student, but not immature. As I learnt once in my leadership program, a leader can only lead if one listens to others. I hope to contribute a warm environment to my peers, where I give them constructive criticism without them feeling too intimate by my voice. Maturity plays a role. On that note of being mature, I definitely feel that I make use of the feedback in my work that is given to me. I am constantly wanting to improve myself, as an artist, leader, and human. I take feedback and try to use it to improve myself in the long run, increasing my level of challenge to myself. However, I still need to strive to continuously better and challenge myself, since I may falter. Making use of my practice time is needed. When I design or edit photographs, I usually set aside a time to do them all in one go; I should try to keep it consistent throughout my week instead of sporadically doing it when inspired. When I work, I hope to have a sense of sophistication to my work. Personality is very important. Awareness of who I am as an artist is important as I hope to show flow and suaveness in the methods and products of work.
My goal for my expert hours this semester was 100 hours, or around an hour a day. Because graphic design is my minor and I am taking 18 credit hours as well as a job, I wanted to be realistic about how much time I could dedicate to design. As of now, I have around 55 hours completed at the halfway point, which is showing a very promising end to my goal. The quality of the outcome is fairly accurate to what I’ve been putting in. I hope to make my hours more spread out throughout the week rather than having one day where I end up doing a lot of design.
The “delta” in me is changing a lot. I came into this semester very ambitious about what potential I could make with a new major and a new mindset (a mindset that took the whole summer to prepare for). I am happy, and I can really appreciate life a lot. Even though school is very busy, for the first time in a long time I’ve been putting myself over anyone else and it has been refreshing to do so. I do things because I want to do them, not because anyone tells me to, and happiness has come with it. To reach my potential, I know I have to continue working on myself first so I can start making an impact on others, which is what I hope to do the rest of my life.
Mapping Project: Artifact Map
The first of three maps, the purpose was to display the literal use of a map and showcase a certain artifact; in this case, restaurants. Layers had to be incorporated in this piece to show complexity of the map; if one layer were taken off, would the map be as effective? I chose to use South Congress’ food options for my map, due to its proximity and variety. But since there are so many options to choose form, I used data analytics to determine which restaurants ranked higher than others. Using resources like Yelp, I rated the restaurants based off: 1) variety/uniqueness, 2) Yelp reviews, 3) price, 4) vegetarian choices, and 5) options available. With those, I was able to determine which restaurants ranked.
Design-wise, I kept the map very minimal, using only a black line to display South Congress, with a few side streets, including South First St. By keeping it minimal, this allows the viewers to focus more on the options of restaurants available to them. This would be a great option for students here at St. Edward’s, who are looking to try off-campus dining options with near proximity but know the area fairly well.