Element Sequence

For my image methodology class I went out and took images of the elements of design. This was one of my first times using a DSLR camera and it was a little challenging to figure out how to get the camera settings correct for the different images. I then compiled them images in a short video in after effects.

Instructional Design

 

 

 

 

 

photo photo (1)

photo (2)

 

 

photo 1photo 3 photo 2

 

For my graphic design II class we were required to go out and experience something new to us in Austin. I chose going to a ramen restaurant and eating “traditional” ramen for the first time. Before going to Michi Ramen my only familiarity with Ramen involved a dorm room and a microwave. My second experience was going to get a piercing. While I have several piercings, I have never gotten pierced in Austin, so this too was a new experience. The placement of my piercing was also something different for me. After our experiences we were asked to write out instructions for our experience so someone else could have the same experience as we did. Our instructions were supposed to evoke a specific emotion, not only through the experience, but also through the writing. The emotions we could choose from were wonder, joy, delight, solitude, and surprise. I initially thought that the writing would be the easiest part of the project, but it turned out to be the most challenging aspect. After several drafts of overly narrative and specific instructions, I managed to come up with clear, more concise directions.

I chose to create buttons as mementos for the ramen experience and a temporary tattoo for the piercing experience. The concept behind the ramen buttons is that you choose your ramen and then the additional three buttons are possible toppings. The restaurant has eight varieties of ramen and over fifteen toppings, so I chose my favorite of each. I chose to create a pin cushion inspired temporary tattoo for my piercing experience because when I was younger I was often warned that if I kept getting so many piercings that I would look like a pin cushion. I was also inspired by the Tim Burton poem, Pin Cushion Queen, which resonated with me on a deep level.

I drew both of my mementos by hand which is something I am very happy that I was able to do. I am always looking for more ways to combine my artistic skills into my graphic design.

 

Weather Report

I created a weather report that supplied the viewer with the weather forecast for a three day weekend in the near future in four different cities. I created storyboards in illustrated and then animated them using after effects. I utilized three of the LATCH systems in this weather report. First time, then location, and finally category. This animation would be ideal for someone trying to decide where to take a vacation because the weather forecast for each city is supplied to the viewer in three different ways. I chose the four cities that I have visited the most, Dallas, New York, Biloxi, and San Francisco, so this animation would definitely be relevant and useful for me.

I tried to elevate my design above the stereotypical weather forecast. I strayed away from color coding temperatures to indicate the high and low temperatures. I wanted my design to be playful, so I chose with a colorful but subdued color scheme. The intention of my introduction was supposed to simulate someone using the weather program and calling out which cities that they would like to be told about. Overall, I felt that my animation smoothly transitioned from one LATCH structure to the next and clearly presented the information, so I felt that it was successful.

Adventure Bag

poster for jimmy copy

 

For my GDES II class we were tasked with packing a bag for an adventure. We were not informed as to what the adventure would be, so we had to pack what we felt we would need for a variety of adventures. This project explored what a person’s personal items that they carry with them says about who they are. I am a practical person who thinks ahead (note the water bottles, advil, and lip ointment) but I am not an over packer in my opinion. This exercise tested our photoshop skills, particularly our selection skills. I initially struggled with my project because in my first version of this project I did not have my camera on the correct settings, so my images were dark. After a reshoot, the problems were all resolved. I had never thought about how a person’s belonging can define who they are which I think is a truly interesting concept that I would be interested in exploring more.

LATCH Exercise

Location

Alphabet

Time

Category

Hierarchy

I created a video for each LATCH structure for my Advanced Typography class. Each structure organizes information in a different way, either by location, alphabet, time, category, or hierarchy. This project helped me to understand that depending on what information you have, certain latch structures will be more effective than others. For example, it makes more sense to organize Holidays based on time rather than alphabet. These videos served as a refresher for Adobe After effects for me. I hadn’t used after effects in almost a year so I was happy to have the opportunity to remind myself of the different components of the program. This project also helped me with brainstorming. I created different storyboards for each project which helped me visually map out what I wanted the videos to look like.

 

Metamorphosis of a Butterfly

For my Image Methodology class I was required to make an animation that showed a process. The process that I chose to animate was the metamorphosis of a butterfly. I decided to hand draw all of the elements of this animation as a challenge to myself as I have always been interested in integrating my graphic design work with my fine arts work. This project required a lot of work and it is amazing to think that it took me a month to complete now that I am significantly more proficient at adobe after effects. When I made this video it was a real challenge for me to get the elements of my animation to move exactly how I wanted them to, but I am happy with the overall finished product. It is nice to watch this now and see how far my understand of not only after effects, but also Illustrator has come. I really enjoyed creating this animation and feel that it was definitely my strongest project from my Image Methodology class.

Cognitive Map

Cognitive Map

I designed a cognitive decision map that was focused on the decision of which pet suits a person the best. This map was made by asking the viewer a series of questions. Based on their answers they are directed to a pet or an additional question. I tried to include questions that I felt would be relevant to most people, like time management, maintenance, preferences, living situations, etc. I put a great deal of time and effort into designing individual icons for each animal that I featured. I felt that having an icon for each pet rather than a symbol that represented a blanket type of animal (such as reptiles for example) gave my project more depth and elevated it to another level of sophistication. While I could’ve resolved the organization a bit further, I am still very happy with how this project turned out. I believe that a decision making process is often haphazard and unpredictable and I felt that I did an acceptable job of organizing it.

Perceptual Map

Sensory Map

 

We were required to create a sensory map that deconstructed the sensory experience of eating a meal. I chose a meal from the Clay Pit, which is one of my favorite restaurants. I felt that Indian food would be good to use for a sensory map due to the use of spices, color, and flavor in Indian cuisine. Eating at the Clay Pit excites many senses which is what I was attempting to convey with this sensory map. The circles of the map represent the various courses of the meal. From the center out, Naan, Calamari, Vegetable Ayam, and Tikka Masala. I was inspired by the circular design of a Mandala for this design, which was relevant to my overall theme of the design. The inner most meal has the lowest flavor intensity while the outer most circle has the most. Basmati rice is the base for all Indian meals, so that is why it is the base of my sensory mandala. Four of the major five senses are represented in this map and divided into four quadrants. I depicted the ingredients that impact each sense the most in each respective wheel section.

Artifact Map

Route To School

 

For my Graphic Design I class we created a series of three maps and this was the first in the series. This is a literal map of my route to and from school. When I first moved to Austin I used to find my way around by landmarks, particularly different apartment complexes. In this project, I tried to highlight and accurately depict the apartment complexes. While I believe this was a good idea in theory, I definitely could’ve executed it in a more effective way. This project was my first time experimenting with the 3D effect and had difficulty creating accurate perspective within the map. In hindsight, it may have been more effective to find a way to create the map in a bird’s eye view while still maintaining the visual individuality of each apartment complex. I was very pleased with my design of my apartment and my car. I feel that those elements were the most successful.

 

Russian Constructivism

For my Image Methodology class I created a short animation inspired by Russian propaganda posters. First, I separated the image into many different layers in photoshop. Then using Adobe After Effects, I animated the objects and characters until a complete poster arrived. When I created this it was very difficult for me. I struggled with mastering after effects for the entirety of that course, but this assignment definitely helped me learn more about the program. I really enjoyed doing a project that involved posters from the Russian constructivism period. I thought they were great inspiration and designs from an era that I had never looked at previously.