What did you learn? I learned how to combine elements of a metaphor into a great piece of art that is creative and gets the message across. It was good to enhance my knowledge of Photoshop since it’s been a while since I last used it for a project. I re-learned how to do layer masks and how to create patterns multiple ways.
What was easy? Thinking of which metaphor to use was easy. I tried to use one that was personal to me. I ended up using the “laughter is the best medicine” metaphor because I believe it to be true, as I do like to watch stuff that makes me laugh when I am sad or not feeling well. The pattern was also easy to make using Figma, I just had to adjust the designs a couple of times but there are multiple ways to easily create patterns.
What was challenging? Deciding how to get the message of “laughter is the best medicine” across was challenging. I struggled for a while to come up with creative ideas and I even restarted a few times in Photoshop completely. Also, understanding layer masking is also difficult since I have not used it too often in the past.
How could I improve the assignment for the next class? Although I am happy with my design, I think I could have combined “laughter” & “medicine” a bit better. Depending on how one looks at it, it may be difficult to tell which metaphor the art is supposed to resemble. Also, I noticed that I did not cut out the guy’s body or the smiley face pills the best, I could have taken my time a bit more so the quality would be better.
How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios? I am happy each time I can use Photoshop for a project since I have gotten so much practice with it the past couple of years, so I will definitely continue to improve in all areas. Making patterns is something new I learned and I was surprised by how easily someone can create one, so I will definitely do that again in the future. Also, my use of symbols in Figma and the Noun Project websites will be valuable since I now know how to import simple symbols that are free to use and will save me a lot of work.
