Time to really get professional

Hey guys! I'm finally getting around to updating my LinkedIn profile so if you're on there, connect with me! Looking at what I've updated with, I have come a long way and that's a good thing. I just hate being asked what I'm interested in. It's such an awkward question. I have tons of interests but I seldom actually sit down and think about them. I just know what they are becuase I like them if that makes sense. Anyone else feel that way? May just be me haha

It's that song you like, but better!

I love the mesh of soul, pop, and Jimmy Fallon. Listen!

It's not right, but it's ok!

Well I didn't get into the graphic design program at GSU but it's ok! I'm going to still pursue design and just study it on my own. I've also turned it into my minor. My Major is now Marketing. It's not a shot in the dark, I've been interested in marketing for a while so this seemed to be good timing to pursue it more. I really want to concentrate in advertising but GSU doesn't allow a concentration for marketing. I'll just study and practice as much advertising as I can on my own. I'm sad I didn't get in the program as it's always a bit disheartening when you don't make something you tried out for but I'm grateful for all the opportunities and doors this will open for me. I'm excited to see where I'm headed now and what more I'm capable of. I hope I have everyone's support as I am moving on!

Beautiful Disney designs

I came across this on Buzzfeed last week and wanted so bad to share it. I have posted one image but you can follow the kink to see the rest. I think it's some beautiful minimal design (my favorite), especially Snow White's, which is at the link. I enjoy Peter's too.

Here's the link: http://www.tqsmagazine.co.uk/10-beautiful-alternative-disney-movie-posters/

And it's done!

I turned my portfolio in today before 5pm and I have to say I'm very excited! It was a lot of work, a lot of stress, and several all nighters but we pulled it off! I hope the best for everyone. If I could go back, I would probably start working on the craftsmanship of it all a bit earlier but I was pleased with how it all came out.

Now, I have posted my work from this semester so it's only fair I post work from last semester as well. A few of them involved mock ups but they were poorly crafted so I don't have 3D objects to show but you can get the idea.

First, Typography pieces:

This includes a logotype, menu layout with logotype, font calendar, and the layout for the guide to good and bad type. The last piece are all the leaflets laid out.

Now, Intro to Graphic Design:

This set include the WRAS radio poster, book cover, and layout for our packaging product. I did peppermint in honor of my late great-grandfather. I hope you like the pieces, feel free to leave any comments!

And last but not least...

My specialty piece! I wanted to originally do an item but I realized the website needed more of my attention. I wanted the website to be more organized and well laid out. Their current one is a bit of a mess. One thing that bothers me about the current website is the lack of list of all the classes they offer. And they offer a bunch! i wanted a separate portal just for all the classes they offer where you can read up on the dance and choose if you want to sign up. The calendar is more organized as the classes are more evenly laid out and I took out all the unnecessary buttons that don't work. The landing page is what draws you in. As a dance studio, I believe the weekly classes should be available on the home page so that's where I put it. the rest of the information moves to the right (once again with the logo) and the thin white bar acts as the guide.

Mailer

I already posted my ads but before that was the mailer. My idea was speed dancing. It's like speed dating but not as sad. You dance to 2 minute songs and rotate partners with each new one. This is where the idea of personality through shies comes in. You can connect with anyone no matter what you perceive them to be. This brings all types of people together and joins them  under one common denominator: Dance!

Finaaaaaaallllllllllssssssss Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

This has been a very busy few weeks for all of us! My final designs are dwindling down and printing is in process. I'm excited to see it all come together. To make up for my lack of post lately, here are the rest of the pieces from Grd 3200 this semester. The first is the stationery. This was right after the re-brand.

There is the business card, thank you mailer, envelope, and letterhead. Stationery is more corporate as it will be sent out to colleagues, clients, and other business professionals so I didn't want it to be all over the place. Same color scheme. The blue is a little more calm so it draws you to the front of the business card and when you turn it over the orange reels you in along with the rest of the information. The silhouette of the dancing man is for...well, the dance company. There should be someone moving on here! The thank you mailer is a lower opacity of the original colors and the text (all of it throughout the pieces) are right aligned to follow the logo. The line in the mailer and around the edge of the envelope draw the eye in and the breaks for the logo or words keeps the eye moving. The letterhead is a simple 3 tier page. The outward blue, border orange, and the white space to mimic the 3 layers of the logo.

Dance Ads

I'm kind of skipping a step since I have not posted the stationary or the mailer but they are currently under revision. These are the print ads for the dance studio. I really like the way they came out since it is an extension of the mailer, which deals with personality being shown through shoes. No matter who you are or what dance you like, Dance 411 Studios welcomes you and your inner dancer!

Dance 411 Studios rebrand

To start off, we had to re-brand a local business. I chose Dance 411 Studios. A wonderful, highly accredited dance studio with a logo that needed to be dusted off.

The old logo, to me, was dated and still. It's a dance studio so it needs to move and looks like it represents the #1 dance studio in the city. After weeks of sketches, peer advise, and many digital revisions, this was the final result. My main word was movement. I really wanted the logo to move. So, with the suggestion from a classmate, the 1's became legs and I played around and finally settled on offsetting them. I tried many typography examples but they all came out looking crazy instead of well placed. I wanted the legs to stay neutral because they offer a wide variety of dance classes. Hip hop is their main class but there's also jazz, ballet, salsa, contemporary, etc. I really liked the way it finally turned out. What do you think?

This is late (as in last semester) but this is my new, final logo brand of myself. With the help of Anri and hours of staring at the screen, i finally got it to a place I'm happy with. This is what will be on my portfolio and everything else from now until I feel it needs to be updated. Feel free to comment!

Ahhhh, it has been weeks since I made a post! very sorry but school has kept me utterly busy out of my mind. I finally fixed my pictures so I can upload them to the blog so you'll see what I've been working on all semester, FINALLY.

I'm sorry. I promise to keep you up to date more often now.

What designers really do....

Oh, this is what we're suppose to be doing!

I am a HUGE Simpsons fan and this alphabet is the perfect design to me. The characters morph into the letter they are associated with and they bend and curve perfectly. If I ever had an alphabet in my house, this would be it. Can you name them all?

Pieces and pieces

I have been trying to post my artwork and design pieces but I'm always told the file is too large. As soon as I figure out what to do I will start to post my designs, past and present. I will accept constructive criticism and anything awesomely said :) I paint (oils) and I will post those pieces as well!

Memes as movie posters

Some designers have re-imagined popular memes as movie posters.

Here is one based on the diet coke and mentos craze from 2006. Each poster has the 'title' (whatever the meme is about) and the opening day (the time when the meme became popular). They are all pretty interesting. The transition from internet meme to movie poster is done cleanly. The posters are rather minimal in design but the image(s) and type say everything that need to be said. The slight vintage effect is pretty cool too. You can check out the rest over at buzzfeed.com http://www.buzzfeed.com/keenan/25-memes-re-imagined-as-movie-posters

DC Comics Re-Brand

http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/the-new-dc-comics-logo

DC comics re branded themselves recently. Personally, I like it. The new logo has style that looks fresh for 2012. It's flexible to accommodate each superhero. Take a look. Even if you're not a fan of their comics, you can't be mad at the new logo(s).

Hello

Hello!

The experience of being a blogger is new to me, though I read a number of blogs everyday. I thought this would be something interesting to try and I want to see where it goes.

I am a student at GA State University. I am a graphic design major and I apply to the program later this semester. I have always had an artist flair, starting when I was young and would draw and paint with my older cousin. He is the very reason I became so interested in art. I developed a fondness for making items that turned into a side hobby. Later, I started taking oil painting classes and became a painter. I sold my paintings for a couple of years but stopped when I entered college. I hardly had time to paint. Graphic design became an interest of mine when I noticed I LOVED being on the computer. I read more into it and liked the idea of graphic design. I have been doing design, some freelance but mostly personal and school projects, for 2 years now.


There is so much in the world around and it's impossible to see it all. I want this blog to be source of new information for people. I will do my best to keep the post as up to date as possible so my followers can be interested for at least a minute or two. I will also post work pieces I have done so you all can see that I am not lying and have actually done the things I said I did. Any feedback (as long as it's constructive) is welcomed.

Ciao for now, Cris