Semester Reflection
This semester I have learned a lot about graphic design. I have
improved technical skills as well as my understanding of the concepts and rule
of design.
The first project we did this year was a typography project
where we took a characteristic of ourselves or something you liked and made
your name represent that. This project lasted about three weeks. First we made
a list of words or phrases that we wanted to use. Then we made three or four
sketches for each. We then took the sketches into the computer and designed
them. Next we critiqued our work and redesigned. During critiques I learned
that I was the fonts I was using were too similar. One challenged I faced we
trying to make all my designs unique and represent what I wanted without using
graphics. Both the feedback and the challenges made me modify my work by removing
excess graphics and finding more unique fonts. During this project I learned
that typography is about putting meaning into the design of the words with as
little outside help as possible. Overall, I believe that this project gave me a
good look into typography but if I did it again I would make sure to have
better designs from the sketching phase.
An outside project I was working on simultaneously was the
powder puff shirts for the junior class. Junior Committee put together a design
committee consisting of me, Mackenzie, and Emily. We got together after school to
brainstorm and sketch. We decided to use hand typography, made by Emily, for
the shirts. After Emily created her design I fixed it in illustrator. We then decided,
with input from some other peers, that we needed to added some extra text,
saying Olathe Northwest. This project took us about two weeks however, Junior Committee
wanted it done in one, which was an extra challenge. From this project I learned
that clients don’t understand the design process and you have to try and work
within their expectations. Even though this project was rushed, I liked the end
product, however I wish that the words on the front had printed on smaller and
on front left hand side instead of large across the whole front. 
The next in class project we did was creating a card with
hand typography. Fist we sketched and then we critiqued and chose a sketch. After
that, we took the design and drew a rough draft, then we used a light table and
went over it multiple times, using a ruler and black marker, until it was very
clean. Then we pulled it into in illustrator and cleaned it up. We then
reevaluated the design and made any last minuet changes. During critiques we
decided that the card should say ‘Valentine’s Day’ instead of just ‘Valentines’,
so I had to sketch out extra letters and move them into the computer. This project
was about three and a half weeks, about a week and a half was reserved for sketching.
A major challenge I faced on this project is that hand typography in not one of
my strengths. I learned that you have to use rulers as much as possible. This
project helped me learn design skills but it also helped me learn that my strength
is not in this area of design. Although I am happy with the outcome this is not
the area of design that I want to focus on.
For this project Becca and I were tasked with making posters
for Raven 50 that gave the student body a way to sign up to see teacher and a sticker
to go in their planers. This project took us about two weeks. First we made a design
outside of school, however we quickly realized that it was not up to our design
standards. We restarted and this time we tried to brand Raven 50. We then came
up with posters that we tweaked slightly. From this project I learned to make
sure you go away from your design and look back at it with fresh eyes. I
enjoyed this projects, I feel like it helped me learn a lot about poster
design, I am happy with the final product and how far I came.
This project took us about a month to complete. We began by
getting four slips, one with an animal, one with two letters, another with a mineral,
and another with a number. We then had to combined these four things into one
coherent company. I got a parakeet, tungsten, the letters H and I, and the
number 27. I descried to make a company a sailing company out of Australia,
since both tungsten and parakeets come from there. My company is called Halcyon
(meaning calm and peaceful) Sailing. We then sketched out logo concepts, chose
six, and designed them. Then we had critiques and fixed those six and chose a
final design. From there we made stationary, products, a storefront, an app,
and a uniform. A challenge I faced during this project was trying to find good
mockups for my company. I learned that you need to spend lots of time searching
and make a list of mockups that you like so you can come back to them. When we
were printing out our materials for this project we were given the feedback
that we were not thinking about hierarchy when we were sending our materials to
print. I made sure that my designs were all planed out for mounting.Overall I
am pleased with the outcome of this project. 
Junior Committee also wanted to create shirts to sell for
the junior class. For this project I collaborated with Emily again. I came up
with a concept and asked here to help with hand type. I then fixed it in
illustrator and created the rest of the design around it. From this project I learned
that it is sometimes difficult to make the front and the back of a shirt
coherent, especially when the hand type is so distinct. Junior Committee asked
me to redo the front so I used the design from the back and moved elements of
it onto the front. I am happy with the final design fro this shirt and I am
glad I have the opportunity to collaborate with other designers.
Banking on a Cure is the name of a student group that is running
fro student of the year. Student of the Year is a program were students raise
money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society over a six-week campaign period, the
group that raises the most money can earn scholarships. For this project I took
a week and made sketches and three logo designs for them as well as a t-shirt. I
changed the colors of the logos a couple times but ultimately landed on red because
it shifted the focus away from money. One changed I faced was trying to express
what they were raising money for in the logo. I also learned that you can make
a t-shirt very quickly if they knowexactly what they want on it and its simplistic. Overall I am pleased
with the products and I will be happy to design for them in the future.
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