Intermediate Computing for Design // Making the Brand CDs

The fifth and final project for Intermediate Computing for Design was to create a band name, band logo, and CD package design based on a classmate. They all drew names out of a bowl, and then interviewed that classmate to gain insight about their tastes in music and more. Then the designer student had to research that person’s favorite bands and genres to get an idea of how logos and CDs look for inspiration. The student could choose to implement original photography and/or illustration with or without an image of the person they were basing their designs on. All students used online templates to design, print, and piece together their packaging inside a clear jewel CD case, and learned how to print on printable CDs. They were allowed to use Placeholder Text (aka Dummy Text) for large amounts of copy such as lyrics. The more realistic they built this project, the better the outcome. It was a big challenge! This was their first project involving logo development, “client” experience, and packaging design. They worked very hard on this extensive project.

Below are photographs of CD packages that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!

* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.

by Bethany Smith // based on Connor Booth

by Cara Moore // based on Darby Taylor

by Carly Bond // based on Gerald Wicks

by Connor Booth // based on Stephen Latham

by Darby Taylor // based on Cameron Colemon

by Gerald Wicks // based on Imani Smith

by Imani Smith // based on Bethany Smith

by Kate Webb // based on Trent Furr

by Laura Leigh Hicks // based on Sarah Ferguson

by Ques Nevels // based on Cara Moore

by Sarah Ferguson // based on Carly Bond

by Stephen Latham // based on Kate Webb

by Taylor Knight // based on Laura Leigh Hicks

by Trent Furr // based on Taylor Knight

And our end-of-the-semester class pictures together by a student’s request. (I should have made this a regular activity every semester for all my classes.)

My dog Bailee was a critique day guest 🙂

Intro to Computing // Simple Logo & Resumé

For Intro to Computing’s final project, they built simple personal logos (in Illustrator if necessary) and constructed resumes in InDesign. This project was meant to create an awareness of how much or how little they have accomplished during their first years of college, as well as give them a little experience with logo development and InDesign. Many of the students had not typed a resumé before, and they found this project useful as they prepare to apply for part-time jobs and post-graduate jobs.  The layout needed to be organized, easy to read, and fluid with a sense of style. Creating hierarchy with text was a new challenge for most of them, as they have not taken any typography courses.

In addition to the course project, we appreciated the resumé presentation given by Ryan Colvin of Mississippi State University’s Career Center.

Below are some resume examples that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was pleased with their results at this level of their education.

* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website. Contact info is purposely fake for their protection.

by Carson Brantley

by Elizabeth Gammill

by Julia Thompson

by Madison Wigginton

by Whitney White, page 1

by Whitney White, page 2

Intro to Computing // Pen & Pixel

My students’ next Photoshop project was entitled “Pen & Pixel,” in which they had to construct a self portrait. It was a requirement to scan in textures, drawings, paintings, or items they could edit to become a part of the image. Many students demonstrated impressive concepts about themselves. Below are some examples that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!

* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.

by Carson Brantley

by Elizabeth Gammill

by Grayson Brown

by Joseph Macgown

by Julia Thompson

by Madison Wigginton

by Whitney White

by Mary Hannah Ruff

Intro to Computing // Creature Cartoon GIF

As an added continuation of their first Creature Cartoon project done in Adobe Illustrator, I challenged my students to turn it into a GIF after we started learning Photoshop. There are many ways to make a GIF, but in my research I found it was best to form their creature in Illustrator, and pull the file into Photoshop to put it into action.

I posted my own Part I and Part II tutorial YouTube videos demonstrating the steps on my laptop screen so students could reference them outside of class to produce their own GIF.

Students had to implement at least 3 actions in their GIF to receive full credit– for example eyes blinking, arms moving, and feet tapping. The number of frames they incorporated depended on their actions and how many they personally needed to see the actions to smooth completion.

It was so fun seeing these little guys and gals come to life!

Below are some GIFs that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results.

* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.

by Carson Brantley: anxious, fly, antlers ^

by Elizabeth Gammill:  crawl, giggly, long tail ^

by Shannon Shepherd: big feet, running, sad ^

by Grayson Brown: mellow, shell, exercise ^

by Whitney White: afraid, mane, sleeping ^

by Madison Wigginton: calm, short legs, smell flower ^

by Mary Hannah Ruff: long arms, upside down, bashful ^

by Caylee Hubbard: squishy cheeks, happy, climbing ^

 

Intro to Computing // Impossible Reality

For my students’ first Photoshop project, I wanted them to think outside the box and create an “Impossible Reality”. They had to gather their original photography and make new photos as needed to compose their surreal image. The main artist of inspiration was Eric Johansson. He is an incredible Photoshop artist, but also kind enough to post photos and videos to demonstrate his entire process, which is great for beginners to see. Like Eric, they needed to produce an image that tricks the eye to appear realistic.

Below are some examples that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!

* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.

by Carson Brantley

by Elizabeth Gammill

by Hunter Smith

by Tori Mullins

by Julia Thompson

by Shannon Shepherd

by Whitney White

Intermediate Computing for Design // Nature Posters + Blufish Visit

The fourth project for Intermediate Computing for Design class was to create two poster designs for a fictional lecture called “Nature as Design.” One had to be done using Illustrator, and the other using Photoshop and InDesign. The challenge was to design two posters that have a cohesive, complimentary style and will catch the public’s eye. Using different software to create the same effect for different posters also helped inform the students the differences between the programs’ capabilities.

This project was their first project dealing with typography. Students were also required to print their designs on special textural and/or colored paper ordered online. Most students chose to order from Neenah or French. As this was their first time printing on paper other than Epson, they had to make adjustments in relation to image color and contrast.

Below are photographs of posters that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!

* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.

by Laura Leigh Hicks, cream paper

by Laura Leigh Hicks, cream paper

by Connor Booth, white dimpled paper

by Connor Booth, white dimpled paper

by Gerald Wicks, cream speckle-toned paper

by Gerald Wicks, cream speckle-toned paper

by Bethany Smith, pink speckle-toned paper

by Bethany Smith, pink speckle-toned paper

by Kate Webb, silvery pearl paper

by Cara Moore, cream linen paper

by Cara Moore, cream linen paper

by Carly Bond, cream dimpled paper

by Carly Bond, cream dimpled paper

by Trent Furr, green speckle-toned paper

by Trent Furr, blue speckle-toned paper

Also a big thanks to Blufish design studio in Starkville, MS for allowing my class to tour their firm, learn about their business, what to expect in the workplace outside of school, and ask questions. It was a delightful, informative visit!

Intro to Computing Art // OMG American Gods

For students to refine their skills using Adobe Illustrator’s Pen Tool, my students accepted the challenge of the OMG project, as in “Oh my gosh, this is so challenging and time consuming!” But the effort is well worth the outcome.

The theme was to recreate a god or goddess in modern society. Students researched Greek, Roman, and Aztec mythological figures to learn about their core characteristics, and brainstormed how to apply them in our current culture.

They photographed themselves, friends, or family as their models. Then they used that photo as a template to make a vector illustration in Adobe Illustrator.  Tiny solid shapes make up the entirety of the photo to make a realistic representation.  They spent about three weeks on the project. The process is like creating a digital painting! Below are some examples that were turned in. I also included the outline imagery of a couple illustrations to show the number of shapes that were created to make up the compositions. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results! These illustrations are sure to blow your mind!

* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.

Aditi by Madison Wigginton

(Outline of shapes)

Hera by Carson Brantley

Venus by Caylee Hubbard

Apollo by Darren Cheairs

Hecate by Elizabeth Gammill

Athena by Grayson Brown

Loki by Rebecca Bailey

Apollo by Whitney White

Intermediate Computing for Design // Reinterpret a Cliché

The third project for Intermediate Computing for Design class was called Reinterpret a Cliché. Imagery seen too frequently is often not seen at all. This is the case with overused design symbols and everyday objects. Overuse renders them ineffective, and they lose their power to communicate. It is the function of the designer to revitalize these clichéd symbols and objects by interpreting them in individual and personal ways.

Students picked 6 of the following 12 examples of typically clichéd objects to be reinterpreted:

1. Heart
2. Key
3. Apple
4. Sun
5. Stars
6. Mouth
7. Light Bulb
8. Tree
9. Cloud
10. Eye
11. Rose
12. Nuts & Bolts

Then they chose a theme all 6 illustrations would have in common. Not only were they to work stylistically, but conceptually, as well. The final product had to be black & white. They scanned their sketchbook designs into Photoshop or Illustrator to continue rendering them to completion, either using the Pen Tool or Live Trace option.

Below are some designs that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!

* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.

by Bethany Smith; insects

by Cara Moore; flowers

by Carly Bond; fairy-tales

by Connor Booth; under the sea

by Gerald Wicks; Harry Potter

by Imani Smith; dancers

by Ques Nevels; fighters

by Sarah Ferguson; fruits & veggies

by Stephen Latham; bit-syle Mario characters

by Taylor Knight; stereotypes

by Laura Leigh Hicks; facial hair

Intro to Computing // Creature Cartoon

In Intro to Computing, students learn the basics of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. This Spring semester, I teach one section of the class. During the Fall it is primarily students who are trying out for the graphic design program in November, but during the Spring it is mostly fine art students who are taking the class as an elective.

This is the second semester I have implemented this project as an introduction to Adobe Illustrator. For Creature Cartoon, each student pulled words out of separate bags– one for a physical trait, one for an action, and one for an emotion. The end goal is to illustrate a unique creature that accompanies all these traits successfully in Illustrator.

After receiving their words, students brainstormed and submitted a series of thumbnails of their ideas, which were then narrowed down to their top three when I visited them in class one-on-one. Those three were turned into well-drawn comps that were drawn with Sharpies and Micron pens, and critiqued by their entire class. The best drawing was scanned into Illustrator, and vector shapes were placed on top. The focus of this Illustrator project was learning the Pen Tool and conducting organized layer management.

For even MORE fun, my students will turn their illustrations into animated GIFs when we start the Photoshop segment. Stay tuned to see those later this semester!

Below are some illustrations that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!

* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.

by Carson Brantley: anxious, fly, antlers

by Elizabeth Gammill: crawl, giggly, long tail

by Grayson Brown: mellow, shell, exercise

by Jacquelyn Mullins: bored, whiskers, jumping

by Shannon Shepherd: big feet, running, sad

by Whitney White: afraid, mane, asleep

UPDATE: See GIFs created later during the semester here.

Personal Logo Update

After 6 years, it was time to give my original logo that I built my senior year in undergrad a facelift.  The more I design and teach, the more I learn and grow in my understanding of great design. It was time to reflect that in my personal logo!