Summary of Learning: The Main Event

Well folks it all comes down to this… the final bout… It ‘s Time for the Main Event! The summary of learning project, where everything we have learned and executed through the semester all came together! 

To start it off I want to take it all the back to the beginning, back when I was just a foolish ad student with dreams of trying his shot at creativity. When I first signed up for this class I was eager to get started learning the different outlets creatives use to make ads. I have always been very interested in art and have had somewhat of a talent for it, which is why I had aspired to be a creative; it was what initially first got me interested in advertising. 

As the semester quickened pace, we learned to utilize all the tools that InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop has to offer! I found the class laid-back but well composed, allowing for creativity to flow freely. The first project, a print ad poster that we all worked through in class, got me really excited to learn. I even went home and downloaded all three different programs to play with and practice in my free time.  The semester progressed and we learned the other programs. Although I did struggle here and there, I was able to work through every problem with minimal help.

It all came together with the summary of learning project. I used everything that I had learned in order to execute a website/travel blog design. I hope to one day travel and more specifically hike all three of the triple crown hikes in the united states, equaling over 6,000 miles trekked. I think it turned out really well and I was able to put everything I wanted into it. I hope to one day make this site fully functional.

On top of all the obvious things I learned in this class, I also learned a lot about myself. I learned to walk the fine line of taking an idea and working the hell out of it from many different angles to make it work, or when to completely scrap an idea and start fresh with something totally different; something that will stick with me and help me for many years to come. I hope to continue down a creative path and am excited to see where it takes me.    

The Road so Far...

            For this Summary of Learning project we had to look back and reflect on our old blog posts and think about all we have learned this semester. Over the past couple of months I have learned a lot about creative thinking and using the different computer programs to express these thoughts. It all started with the creative process and story telling. I think this is my favorite part of the copy and layout class as well as where I have grown the most. I have really learned to walk the fine line of accepting and working through a project and knowing when to walk away.

Along side the creative process, I have learned a lot about the tools used to bring those thoughts to life. We first learned how to make basic print ads and visual esthetics with Adobe InDesign. I made worked through some cool print ads with a company of our choice.

We also learned some really awesome logo design applications in Illustrator over a restaurant on campus corner.

And lastly was one of my favorite projects with the web designs that we used. I really enjoyed designing the temple for a website. I am thinking this is what I want to use to show everything I learned because it incorporates everything. I want to create a website or travel blog for myself. I hope to actually create one for myself to document my travels. I plan to thru-hike the AT, PCT, & CDT equaling over 7,000 miles of hiking through our beautiful country, to be an elite group know as a “triple-crowner”. 

 

When it rains... It Pours...

As we are starting to wrap up this semester, things are really starting to hit up all at once. This is that wonderful time of year where all the projects, papers, and past procrastinations all come barreling down on you all at once!

 

(accurate description of me trying to make it out of this semester)

            As far as Copy and Layout class goes, things have been going really pretty great. The new kits and programs we were introduced to, are really cool and make designing mockup websites a lot easier.  I also got to play around with Photoshop some and add in my own logos to already existing menus and such. I really enjoyed designing websites this way rather than with code. I have taken a couple website coding classes in the past, and although it is a really fun and interesting way of making an interactive website it is very technical and can be very tricky to get right.

 

My other classes have not been going as smoothly however… I am really going to have to “batten down the hatches” so I don’t completely drown in the storm of work I have to do! My only oasis away from the homework can be found down in OKC, as I was scheduled for white water rafting trips all weekend. The thrill of the roaring water, thundering down the channel in a chaotic dance of fluidity… there is really nothing in the world like it.

    

Chicken X-ing

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner… for the last couple of weeks I have been trying to “hatch” a plan for our rebranding project. So I figured I would just “wing it”. For my project I have been focusing on rebranding the rock and roll, chicken wing hotspot, Chixs & Styxs. I really enjoyed the getting to brainstorm the different restaurant and design options. I did struggle at first to come up with some good design options for Chixs & Styxs. I have always really liked the minimalistic approach when it comes to logo designs and was hoping to do the same with the new Chixs & Styxs logo. I tried to focus on a really simple and basic design for the logo and this was my final outcome.

 But it’s hard to focus when it’s… Party time!

While working to get this project done, last week was also spring break! The gloriously insane, boozed fueled, nightmare that anyone everyone spends the following week trying to remember. Well… not everyone. For spring break I luckily got to make my way out to California for my cousins wedding. Afterwards I was able to spend the next couple of days getting to enjoy some sun and surf in some small surf towns around the San Diego area. Once I got back, I spent the rest of Spring Break catching up on my sleep and a handful of Netflix shows.

Getting back into the swing of things this week has been a slow process, but I think I’m starting to get back on track. For this week we are expanding on our last project by making a website for our clients using the same logos and such we had created previously. I the web design aspect that we are using is really cool and useful, simulating a lot of different web buttons and banners and everything in-between.  So yet again I’m “bach”, diving beak first into the world of chicken.    

                          

Yearning for some Kerning: A Very Brief Intro to Graphic Design

Simplicity is key. I have to say I have always admired the creativity behind minimalist advertising; how so little print can convey such a wide range of ideas. I believe that is why simplicity is immensely more creative than a full page covered in print.

This was one of the many key rules we were introduced to over the past two weeks, as we really start to dive into the visual esthetics behind print ads. I am really excited to start learning basic design techniques and how to navigate the different Adobe systems available to us. I have been looking forward to taking this class because of this reason. I am really interested in the creative side of advertising and hope that this class will give the inspiration to continue forward down this path.

  Although we have only really gone over typography terminology and some very basic introduction to InDesign, I am really starting to learn the value and weight behind a nice Serif or San Serif. As well as the horror that is comic sans.

    

I am really enjoying the very basic introduction we have gotten so far in the InDesign program. Although it was just a brief walkthrough of a very simple poster, it has really excited me for the next steps forward on our very own unique designs. I have already been thinking ahead and have some really interesting ideas I am looking forward to try out.

(my poster)

Minimalist Ads

Creative Coffee

Typography Meme