Weather Report

In this motion project, we were to create a weather report using 3 out of 5 LATCH organizing techniques: location, alphabet, time, category, hierarchy. The report has to show temperatures and weather conditions for four different cities over a future weekend. The challenge is to reorganize the info between the different forms to effectively show the data without it leaving the screen each time. Mine is organized by time (day), then by hierarchy of median temperature, then by location.

Kitchen of Meaning

Each student was assigned a conceptual word to use as the design basis for a poster advertising a gallery exhibition. The methodology used began with production of 30 studies of our word, perhaps the most challenging part for me. My word, morphology, is about the structure and form of things. I learned a lot about how to use and idea as a design theme.

Black Squares

To further advance our aftereffects skills, we used motion to convey ideas. Choosing from six, I animated playful, tension and congestion. The challenge was to use the actual motion rather than just placement of squares to clearly communicate the idea.

Blue Squares

In this first aftereffects project, we learned the basic tools needed to animate shapes. We had to tune the timing and spacing just right to match the given example.

Cognitive Map

The last stage of the project was to map our thinking as we traveled along that path. It was especially tricky to document thought, something that is not easily organized or illustrated. My understanding of communication through symbols was greatly expanded through these maps, especially this last one.

Perecptual Map

In this second stage of the map project, we were to map what we perceived via our senses along the same path mapped in the first map. It was a greater challenge to have to map something that isn't tangible. Using predominately symbols, i incorporated color and the 3rd dimension to illustrate the intensity of my sensual experience from home to school.

Artifact Map

For part one of the map project, we created an artifact map from home to school or work. The map was to consist of the basic network of streets and landmarks. With this, I expanded my understanding of visual communication through the use of line and symbol. Such a simple concept proved to be challenging in just that fact.

Type Specimen Book

Creating a book to display one typeface allowed me to really understand the form and variety of type. In just one, there were so many style options that could be used for a number of purposes. I learned to use a modular grid to bring uniformity to my book.

Interface

This was a quick supplement to the critical mass assignment. Here, we designed an interface that might be used to view the postcards we had created. The challenge was to come up with something that complimented each of the four.

Critical Mass Postcards

The next step after the transformations project brought us to create new images that in fact communicated a specific idea. Pulling from a large pool of images used by the whole class, we chose to convey either a constitutional amendment or one of the seven deadly sins in the form of postcards. I chose lust.

Design Culture Now poster

This was my first poster project, designed to teach us about hierarchy of text and use of typography in communication. I learned how to work with negative space and text to create something informative and visually appealing. It was especially challenging to find just the right way to place different groups of text within the space.

Transformations

In this project, we explored the vast options of photoshop in attempt to create something new and interesting from a small group of images. It was a lot of fun to find so many ways to transform and combine such originally simple images. I learned a lot of important photoshop skills from this series.

Interaction Exercise

This was our first Flash exercise. Through animating buttons of our symbols, we were introduced to the world of motion for the first time.

Symbol Methodology

This project required students to create three new symbols that could ultimately become a useful part of society. Beginning with a long list of relative words to the industry of our choice, we put simple images into a matrix to come up with more complex ideas. This project taught me to value simplicity in visual communication.

Scavenger Hunt

Image Project 1

For our first image methodology project, we took photographs in order to come up with a series of six related images. Each image had to share a similar visual quality with the image on either side of it. With the choice of using space, line, color, shape, value, or pattern, each could only be used once to connect two images. The connections needed to be obvious at first glance, the most challenging aspect to conquer.

Prototype

For this project, we were required to create a new typeface by filling in squares of a 9x9 grid. The type had to appear uniform, as if you could apply the style to any letter of the alphabet. As the first typography project assigned, I found it intersting to explore even such limited typographic possibilites.

Illustrator Exercise

This assignment was my first time using the pen tool in illustrator. Though it may seem simple, tracing the curves of this ducky was quite challenging at the time!