Month: December 2024

What did you learn?
I learned a lot about maintaining consistency in design. Working on a series of stamps taught me how to create cohesive designs that feel like a group. It also helped me refine my skills in Figma and Illustrator, especially with color schemes, typography, and layout.

What was easy?
Brainstorming ideas and sketching out concepts for the stamps was enjoyable and straightforward. Working with color palettes was fun, and coming up with imagery to represent different aspects of the chosen location was creative.

What was challenging?
The biggest challenges were ensuring all four stamps looked cohesive while remaining unique, finding fitting images, and pairing fonts effectively. Adjusting typography to fit the layout grid without making it look cluttered was also challenging.

How could your submission be improved?
I would refine the typography more, spending extra time on font contrast and placement. Checking the alignment of all elements carefully would improve the overall consistency of the designs.

How could the professor improve the assignment for the next class?
Providing more examples or in-depth tutorials on techniques like blending modes and using textures would be helpful. More visual references would make it easier to understand how to approach complex parts of the project.

How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios?
The skills I gained in creating consistent designs will be invaluable for branding, marketing materials, and social media content. The focus on color theory, typography, and layout will be useful in almost any design project moving forward.

How did a specific reading or video inspire or help you?
The font-pairing guide and Figma tutorials on cropping images and blend modes were particularly helpful. They provided practical tips that made a big difference in my project, helping me match images and type effectively.

1. What did you learn?
I learned how to create visual metaphors that combine images in unique and unexpected ways to convey meaning. I also became more skilled at using tools like background removal, texture, and pattern to enhance my designs and express my chosen metaphor effectively.

2. What was easy?
Brainstorming metaphors and associating imagery with the nouns and adjectives was easy because the examples provided were relatable and inspiring. Using tools like background removal felt intuitive after the in-class demonstrations.

3. What was challenging?
Combining two images seamlessly to create a clear visual metaphor was challenging. I struggled with finding the right balance between maintaining clarity and making the design visually interesting. Ensuring that the textures and patterns didn’t overwhelm the focal point also required extra attention.

4. How could your submission be improved?
I could improve my submission by refining the integration of images to make the metaphor more immediately recognizable. Experimenting with more advanced blending techniques or adjusting color schemes might make the design feel more cohesive and polished.

5. How could the professor improve the assignment for the next class?
The professor could provide more step-by-step examples of how to create visual metaphors using different approaches, such as substitution or juxtaposition. A checklist or rubric outlining specific expectations for texture, pattern, and metaphor clarity would also be helpful.

6. How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios?
This knowledge can be applied to creating compelling visual campaigns, advertisements, or editorial designs that rely on metaphors to engage viewers. Understanding how to combine imagery in meaningful ways will be especially useful for storytelling and brand messaging.

7. How did a specific reading or video inspire or help you?
The TED Talk “Metaphorically Speaking” by James Geary helped me see the power of metaphors in communication and gave me ideas for how to use symbolic imagery. It inspired me to approach my metaphor not just as a design but as a way to tell a story.

• 1. What did you learn?
• I learned how to use color schemes effectively to create distinct moods for different environments. I also gained a better understanding of how gradients and contrast can add depth and establish focal points in a composition.
• 2. What was easy?
• Creating simple foreground objects like fish or buildings was easy because I could use basic shapes. Choosing color schemes was also straightforward since the guidelines made the options clear.
• 3. What was challenging?
• Applying Gestalt principles to create a strong focal point while maintaining balance was challenging. Additionally, ensuring smooth gradients that conveyed depth without looking flat took some trial and error.
• 4. How could your submission be improved?
• I could improve my submission by adding more detail to the foreground elements and experimenting further with texture to make the landscapes feel more dynamic. Incorporating subtle lighting effects might also enhance the overall impact.
• 5. How could the professor improve the assignment for the next class?
• The professor could include more examples of completed projects or provide a step-by-step walkthrough of one landscape. This would help clarify expectations and give students a better starting point.
• 6. How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios?
• I can use what I learned about color schemes and focal points to create effective designs for posters, presentations, or digital media projects. These skills are also applicable in branding, where color and composition play a key role.
• 7. How did a specific reading or video inspire or help you?
• A video on Gestalt principles helped me understand how proximity and figure-ground contrast could guide the viewer’s eye. It inspired me to think more critically about how I arranged objects in each composition.