kalin120

 

My final image book winner: SUNGLASSES (this image was created by knocking out the background, converting the image to grayscale, applying a light and dark blue duotone and then copying and pasting the glasses twice. I will show you how to do this too in class!

Image making and selecting are huge parts of being a skillful graphic designer. This next assignment has us choosing an image and then applying many computer and hand done techniques to it so we create new and unique imagery. (Down with internet imagery! down with stock photography! Here's to generating your own material! 

In the design classes at PSU it is important that you are able to create your own imagery in a variety of ways (computer, handmade and the skillful combination of both) to be applied in a variety of ways (posters, editorials, proposals, branding, book covers, packaging - you name it - an image is probably involved).

This next assigment will see you tackling many objectives! File management, book construction, printing methods, scanning issues as well as image generation in a TON of different methods!

I am giving you a HUGE list. From this list you must pick at least 20 different image treatments to apply to your chosen image. You are also given extreme flexibility to employ your own ideas and treatments that are not listed on the master list. I encourage you to balance your final list with an even amount of selections from the COMPUTER list and the HANDMADE list.

Each of your documents will be 7.5 wide x 7 tall. I am giving you a half inch extra in width because you will be spiral binding (or otherwise binding) your final documents. Remember that about a half inch of the left hand side of your book will be used for the binding. 

You will be outputting all of your images on either matte heavyweight ink jet paper or laserprint card stock. You will be scanning in all of your handmade images and outputting them this way as well. NO lightweight copy paper print outs please! 

It is important to note that not all of these treatments will work with your selected image. This is why it is important to think and plan. Select an object that is not too complicated around the edges so it will be easy to extract from it's background. It should also be complex enough that it has more than one or two0 shapes when rendered. Also be sure you have 300 pixels per inch for you final print size! I would also suggest doing more than 20 so you can pick and choose the best images for your book!

 

It is important to note that not all of these treatments will work with your selected image. This is why it is important to think and plan. Select an object that is not too complicated around the edges so it will be easy to extract from it's background. It should also be complex enough that it has more than one or two0 shapes when rendered. Also be sure you have 300 pixels per inch for you final print size! I would also suggest doing more than 20 so you can pick and choose the best images for your book!

Graphic Design History Postcard

 

above: Just a miniscule sampling of the rad that I want you to explore. From top left to right:

Geoff McFetridge, Charles and Ray Eames, Julia Rothman, Stefan Sagmeister, Charley Harper, Aaron Draplin, Paula Scher, Frank Chimero,Mike Perry, Tibor Kalman and Milton Glaser.

 

Hey Hey! We are going to learn about a few of the AMAZING, GROUNDBREAKING designers and makers. Some have been working for many, many years - others are just starting out. The one thing that they all have in common is that they work hard and love what they do. There are so many inspiring makers to choose from, but I am going to compile a list for you to research. You will ultimately pick ONE (must be from the list provided) after you have spent time researching a picking the designer that feels like the best fit for you!

Do research on their work, what era they are from, what themes and concepts they work with, HOW the make what they make, WHY they make what they make, WHO they make for. Write a short description of your chosen designer and post it with an imagine of their work onto our Flickr group later this week.  

You will be creating and passing a card onto other peers in your class. The written text is to help inform others about who your designer is. 

REQUIREMENTS

---> Make a 5x7 postcard, double sided, full color

---> Front: Visuals and vector drawings (you will NOT use images from the internet - you are creating your own images in illustrator inspired by and in the style of the designer that you have chosen. This is your OWN creation - not a copy and past job.

---> Back: Text and Info about the designer - make the thoughtful in composition. do not make this an afterthought. 

--->Print double-sided onto card stock using bleed and trim marks.

--->Make a minimum of 5 copies. One for me. Second for your portfolio. Three extras to pass to your peers (you might have a popular card and people might want more! you might want to make more!)

---> You MUST DO THIS IN ILLUSTRATOR!

INTRO NEW ASSIGNMENT.

Please try not to overlap with someone else. I will understand if it happens, but I reserve the right to assign new people if 10 of you have picked the same person.

 

above image: Hypnopaedia by Emigre.

 

Surface Design and Pattern Study - creation and application!

Make four final customized wallpaper designs out of type letterforms through proximity, overlapping, rotating, and repeating, with single letterforms from selected fonts [Adobe Caslon, Bodoni, Courier, Didot, and Univers AND ONLY FROM THESE]

Objectives: Illustrator vector drawing tools and attributes, drawing in the digital environment, 
pattern design visual language. A pattern is more than repeated parts. You must use design principles like rhythm and proportion to move beyond just simple rotate and repeat! What spaces are created, is there movement. Have you gone beyond the obvious? Get designing!

Each final pdf will be 7x7.  You will work with FOUR artboards in one Illustrator document. Use only black and white. You may only use one character from one typeface. See examples below. Do not cut your letterform in ways that disturb it's design, but only to make a pattern more effective. 

 

Example by Rob Ferrell. Font: Courier New. Character: Lowercase I.

 

Example by Rob Ferrell. Font: Didot. Character: Uppercase Y.

 

Example by Rob Ferrell. Font: Univers. Character: the number 4.

 

More examples and project timeline after the CUT!

 

  

 

Production:

You will each be assigned a logo to recreate and trace. These should be seamless! Seam-less. For each logo that you recreate, you must outline the steps you used to recreate the logo (be able to show and explain what you did...take a minimum of four progress screen shots - you can't just scan and live trace the logos!) Without process screen shots you will receive a low grade! Start making screen shots from the beginning. Try to simplify shapes/paths/points/ etc. as much as possible so that the logo's color is easily modifed later. Put the logo you download onto a layer and lock it. Trace it and create your work on layers ABOVE it. You will be turning in these ai files so I can see that you did this and you will be graded on it. When you resize your logo, unlock and resize your "traced" logo too, so I can see them together when I grade your work.

Presentation:

Present your work to your classmates. You will also present a short description of the history of your logo, not the corporation that uses your logo, but the history of the logo itself — it's by a designer, has an evolution etc. Include images of the evolution of your logo's history in your presentation. We will learn how to make a digital presentation and we will also work on our speaking skills! The presentations will be given in either Keynote or as a PDF Presentation. We will go over the basics of these presentation options in class. 

Objectives: 

Articulation of form, process and work realized. Begin developing your awesome public speaking skills.

Specifications:

I require you to turn in a digital .ai file of your logo! This will have all of the layers, including the tracing image/.eps so I can see YOUR work. Without this file you will get a low grade. This is how I grade your vector skills!

Research: 

The logos are famous logos with a history! Do research on each logo and prepare a minute or two presentation about each of your logos. Your group will give presentations about the history of your logos and how you constructed them. You will be showing slides about the history and then HOW TO slides to show your process and technique.

You can find information on all of your logos HERE!: --http://www.logoorange.com/logodesign-A.php

Do the newest version of your logo that you can find in .eps format or you feel you can trace from. 

This site also offers .eps downloads of nearly all of your logos. You may download them to see how they are constructed, but you must create all of your assigned logos and document the process. Also, it is your responsibility to start tracing from the most high-res pixel version if you cannot find a vector version. Use your class time wisely! Please use ILLUSTRATOR! If you need to, search the internet for an .eps file of your logo or a high res image to trace [ex: google search > "coca cola logo .eps"]. It is important you find the best file for tracing possible. If you think your file may be different from the official or not a good file to trace from, STOP and ask me before you proceed! 

Process:

I require process screen shots from your ENTIRE process, not just at the end! Create a folder and start putting screen shots of your logo recreation process from the beginning take them a few times every work session. You will turn in at least four, no more than 8 that adequately show you actually traced your logo. It is proof of your work!  

...Find your logo assignments here, first for the 6pm class, then the 9am class.

Odin Login Update!

To login to your odin network folder in the FPA lab...

In Finder, under the "Go" menu select "Connect to server…"

In the Server Address box, each user will have to append the first letter of their login name to the end of the following URL:

smb://stuhome.psu.ds.pdx.edu:139/<first letter of user's login name>

For example, for user "bvila", the URL will look like this:

smb://stuhome.psu.ds.pdx.edu:139/b

This class will be fun and challenging. I will expect you to be into learning a LOT so prepare yourself by considering how you will manage your time. Deadlines are strict. Your syllabus is in a link at the top of this page. Read your syllabus at least twice to make sure you don't miss anything.

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