Semester Reflection- Graphic Design

Projects 

Photoshop Tutorials 

The first project of the semester was a series of tutorials to reintroduce Photoshop. This project took a little over a month to complete. Some of the tools in Photoshop took a while to understand how to use and it was a bit difficult to keep up with the pacing of the tutorials. The collage of the girl below took longer than the other tutorials and it took lots of tools and layers to create. I learned how to use most of the tools in Photoshop and I will be able to use them to enhance my projects. The tutorials made me more comfortable with Photoshop. 

    As for feedback, I was told to stay persistent with the tutorials and to make sure that everything was blended and smooth, so that people wouldn't know that the image had been photoshopped. I went back and tried to blend everything to make the picture look realistic. Each tutorial focused on a different aspect and/or tool in Photoshop, so some projects were more difficult than others. However, I enjoyed the projects because it made me feel more comfortable working in Photoshop and it gave me a better understanding of the program. 

Fall Raccoon 

   I went back to Illustrator for the Fall Raccoon project. The goal was to create a vectored raccoon, place it in a fall background, and to create a postcard and incorporate the raccoon into any theme that you chose. This project took about 3 weeks to complete and the postcards that we printed came about 2 weeks later. I think the most difficult part of the project was the individual theme that I chose because it was the first time that I made something that I didn't follow a tutorial for, so making some of the objects was confusing and took some time to make. I learned what a bleed was and its importance in graphic design. I also learned how to use the pathfinder window, which I now use in a lot of my projects. I ended up changing the fall background because it originally looked cluttered and messy. I really enjoyed this project because I was able to branch out and make something that I knew how to create and that I was proud of. 

Vectored Self Portrait

   The vectored self portrait was a project that required precision and focus. The project took about 2 weeks and I had to stay after to finish it a couple of times. One of the things that I struggled with was the precision of each tone on my face, shirt, or hair. The main tool that was used was the pen tool in Illustrator, which I now use a lot in my projects. I also had trouble finding the appropriate skin tone, even though I was using the eyedropper tool. I enhanced my project by making the background contrast with my skin tone so that it would pop. However, I don't really like how the portrait turned out because the skin tone on the vectored version does not match my skin tone in the original photo. This was probably one of my least favorite projects because it required patience, which wore thin for me during this project. Now that I know how to use the pen tool correctly, I think that I would be able to make a more accurate portrait than my first one. 

Infographic 

   My most recent project is my New Years' Eve infographic. This project took about 3 weeks to fully complete. Some of the challenges that I faced were accurately displaying information in a graphic. There was surprisingly a lot of math involved in making my graphics. The layout also took a while for me to finalize because I had to decide which layout would show hierarchy and also be easy to read for the viewer. I learned the importance of guidelines and rulers and how they section off portions of the project. I also learned how to condense information and use a graphic to display it. Some of the upperclassmen in the program critiqued my project and they told me to have a set color theme and have each section as a background instead of the same color as a background for the entire poster. Mrs. Burdolski also wanted me to leave some 'breathing room' in each of my sections so that the poster felt more spacious. I changed the size of my text and made some of the graphics smaller to add room in each of the sections. This project was my favorite because I used all of my illustrator skills for this project, like the pen tool to trace the NYE ball and adjusting transparency with the champagne bottle. I spent a lot of time on this project and it succeeded the expectations that I had for it. 

Constructivism 

   Currently, I am working on a 5-slide presentation about Constructivism. I wrote a paper about the movement and I am working on the presentation slides. Each slide uses principles like radial patterns, slanted text, and a color theme that consists of red, black, tan, and yellow. The movement is mainly propaganda during the Russian Revolution. Since I am still working on the project, I don't have a picture to show.

Time Management

   During class, I feel like I mostly use my time well. I am a bit of a slow worker, so I have had to come in a couple of times after school to finish up projects and make them my best. I think that the only time I've finished work early is my artboard for Behance, which doesn't take too long. If I have time to spare, I check my project again and write a blog post about it. I also go on Behance and look for inspiration for future projects. I also look at the upperclassmen's work to see how they have progressed. During class, I ask people to review and critique my work and I give them suggestions on their work. However, I get pulled into conversation easily, but I get back to focusing on my work and getting it finished. Outside of class, I sometimes go on Behance or Pinterest and look at posts on photography, Photoshop, or Illustrator skills. 

Strengths and Weaknesses

   I feel that I am very well at writing reviews and critiques on my graphic design projects. I also think that I use my time well in class. I think that my work represents my personality with the colors, fonts, and graphics I use and make. I enhance my strengths by trying to incorporate them into my projects and working hard in class. For weaknesses, it takes me while to figure out the best way to make something. Once I figure out how to start the project, the rest of the designing becomes easier. I also need to work at a faster pace so I can get projects done quicker but still have them look neat and professional. I have shortcut keys and different strategies to make items written down in my sketchbook, so it should make the process go by quicker in the future. 

Sharing my Projects

   From the beginning of the year, I have been using my Behance account to share my work and look at students' and professionals' work. It is an easy way to access my peers work and be able to give feedback for them. I like designing artboards for Behance because you can give a thorough explanation and process of the project without using paragraphs of text and it creates a relaxed environment. I like being able to view professional's work so I can get inspiration from their projects to use in my own. I also use this blog as a way to share all of my e-Comm work, not just my graphic design projects. I like being able to see how my skills progress with each project. 

Summary

   I really enjoyed this semester in graphic design, especially when working on my infographic because I was able to collaborate with the people around me and base ideas off of them. Next semester, I really want to focus on my work in class so that I no longer have to stay after school for long periods of time to finish it. I will also put more creativity into my projects so that they reflect my style and personality. I learned how to use lots of different programs, websites, and tools this semester and they all contribute to my portfolio. I like being able to use new skills for future projects and seeing the advancement with each skill. I am excited for next semester's projects in graphic design and I want to learn more about the graphic design industry.