Senior Reflection

Technology:

Within the four years I took part in the E-Communication Academy, I was taught skills of technology. Since freshman year I’ve had my fair share of experiences with video, animation or graphic design through out my time in E-Communication, initially I really wanted to thrive in video, but the one strand I ended up really enjoying was the strand of Graphic Design. Unlike some teachers in common subjects like Math or Science where things you ‘should’ know are thrown at you; our teacher, Mrs. Burdolski, took time to teach the basics of Adobe Illustrator and InDesign before giving her creative, larger projects. In each strand the teachers of the department make sure you know what you are doing, they’ll make sure I know the scope of the projects, the shortcut in the software the class is using and help you showcase your work. That’s why I am leaving with valuable skills of technology.

Collaboration:

If you would go to any other classrooms in the school and look for collaboration in the classroom. You would find two scenarios, option one there would be a group project where one person would be stuck doing all the work and the second option where it would be nonexistent everyone would be doing their own project. From the beginning in the freshman class, E9, we were first assigned group project where we were taught to use each others’ strengths because everyone has something that they can contribute to get the best outcome of the project. For example, in E9, we’re introduced to each strand of E-Communication as freshman and as you can imagine some had an eye for film meanwhile some students really understood how to animate. Not all collaborations were the perfect ideal relationships, some had very strong personalities but you had to remain calm and collected to get the project done. Collaboration is vital to real life. I will be collaborating with others for the remainder of my life not just in E-communications.

Communication:

Communication and collaboration come and go hand and hand. You have to have communication with collaborating with others. Communication was a major key for graphic design during critiques. In graphic design we do class critiques together, we print our projects out and pin them all on the wall and see what direction everyone is going with that projects. It's amazing to see how different everyone concepts are when Mrs. Burdolski gives everyone the same exact directions. During these critiques, we can tell people what we don't like politely as well as offer our solution to the issue. I learned communicating in critiques listening to how other say things and pick up graphic design vocabulary from others as well when I listen to their feedback it benefits my projects. I learned that I also don't always know the solution and occasionally leaning on others for advice is okay. 

Project Management:

Project management played a major role in my time in the 21st Century Program. E-communication is structure on deadlines, it created on the idea of it's a workspace. I was very involved in clubs and activity during my time at Olathe Northwest. I was involved in Yearbook, Student Council and Raven Flight Corps on top of E-communication therefore time management was a make or break when it came to projects. Learning project management will benefit me in the future because it is a large aspect to anything to everything from relationships with friends and family or a jobs. 

Leadership: 

E-Communication can be very individualistic when it comes to solo projects, but it did give me plenty of leadership opportunities. One major leadership opportunity in E-Communication is when we collaborate with all 5 strands as a whole department. In the scenario you become a leader and representative for the graphic design wing. This is assist me in the future, I have become a better leadership because I am comfortable about what I am talking about and who I am talking to.

This year my weaknesses from the beginning became my strengths. For example, as I said earlier I am a very involved maybe over involved student for time and project management was a challenge at the beginning; I had a hard time producing quality work in that time frame. Now I manage to create projects I like and am proud of in the time frame turning them in on time. I have also improved on trying to make all my stuff look different from each other, because I used to have all my projects look similar and it was obvious that I made it.

I still want to continue to do and learn things about graphic design. It’s a good past time for me; it relaxes me and I enjoy it now that I know what I am doing. I’m hoping I continue to use it in the future whether it’s just me messing around here and there or designing a t-shirt for a friend. I am majoring in marketing at Kansas State University, I want to intertwine graphic design somehow into that.

E-Communication has been one of my constants of high school. I have had it every year and its always something different I enjoy and have fun with. I found a lot different friends within the this 21^st Century program, students who are on even in my class or even in my strand that I would probably not find otherwise. I have loved how accepting the teachers and students this program. I have grown to love almost everything about this program, I wouldn’t change anything about E-communications. It’s a class I look forward to it prepares me for a job within the graphic design fields and that’s something a lot of high school class cannot do.

Senester Reflection

This first semester of graphic design I had three in class projects which were, the homecoming poster and infographic, rebranding a company and lastly the menu layout. In comparison to last year, I have been a lot better about my projects as a whole and time management. I would like to think I have shown improvement as a designer due to learning new things as well as the increase in effort I put forth.

Homecoming Infographic

The project was to make one poster for the homecoming dance and one infographic poster that gave a run down of what was going on that week with your assigned partner. These poster had to also match the theme of the dance, A night at Raven Manor, which took a while for the committee to get to. My partner, Brett Rawlings, and I split the work, but still worked together to make our posters look similar. Together we had a really neat idea to stage a photo a wreath, ceramic raven and strands of lights. I went to the store and bought the supplies, then he staged this really magical look setting. We took pictures of the setting with a wreath and additional pictures of the lights. Looking at the pictures that were taken of the wreath did not match with 'Raven Manor' and we really liked a unfocused picture with the just the background and the lights so we ran with that putting the colors of the decor, gold and purple colors, over the lights. The biggest challenge overall was not time, was not what it was going to look like; it was the clients changing the theme of the dance because their communication as a committee wasn't to par meanwhile we were designing on the original idea we were given and told to do. Starting the new year with this project, truly helped me out a bit with just doing the project as well as confidence. I really like infographics and finding ways to package them as a unit. I am very comfortable with them because of my background of being on the yearbook staff. Something I learned along the way is that your initial idea is not always your best. I got very helpful feedback about the sizing of type and symbol ratio. In the future, I will double proof read before printing. I miss typed something and it was a bit upsetting because I really liked my project.

Rebranding: Mane N Tail

Original branding

New Branding

This project was to find a product with a not well done logo and package design. With this not so good logo, rebrand it meaning creating a new and improved logo along with nicely designed labels and packaging. The brand I chose to brand was Mane N Tail which is horse shampoo that's working on changing to both human and horse shampoo. This project took quite some time starting with sketches, finding fonts, figuring out logo type, designing a labels and figuring how it is going to fit around bottles, then sending it to print, putting my labels on the bottles I stripped and lastly photographing it. Some challenges I faced was just time management, I had to do a lot of outside of class work to make up for the one hour I miss everyday for splitting my

 e-communication hours. I took a while to print the labels, put them on the bottles chosen and to photograph my products. This project made me learn to like logo design. Last year's logo design was terrible, I definitely was not a fan of logos but this project I learned to love. I now like the process of sketching and designing numerous different logos and pushing two of them. This project as a whole I really do like the turn out. I liked the color palette I made and the bottles I chose.

Menu Design: Bristol

This project was to find a menu you could improve through design element and layout. This project is in the middle of being complete. First you always start with sketches and them move to the computer. With this project we work with the Adobe's InDesign. My favorite project last year was the magazine layout because you get to use InDesign and layout you design. Layout and InDesign are my favorite aspects of graphic design and I think that is because being on yearbook since my sophomore year. With being familiar with the InDesign program I have chosen to challenge myself on the layout aspect I did one version with circle pictures and text wrap. Challenges again was time. I think I will really like the final version of this project. 

Outside Work

 

I have designed a few different things outside of class including all four t-shirts above. Three of the four were actually printed. I discovered I really do like designing t-shirt and seeing my shirts around the community. Other outside of work is our school's yearbook. Being one of the editors of the yearbook, the yearbook takes up a lot of outside time. We have been working on creating the look and theme of the book then making corrections on staff's designs.   

Class Time

I am one of the few that split their E-Communications hours; I am only in class one of the two hours. I try to stay productive with the one hour I have but it is usually instructions. I honestly never finish early on any project this year. I spent a lot of the outside time making up for the one hour I miss daily. In addition to making up for the hour I miss in class, it try to put in extra time to add something more to my projects. I think I did that the most on the Rebranding, I researched what the company was about as well as what colors I should be using to have the neutral, western, nude feel for the shampoo line.

Strengths 

My strength in graphic design is always wanting the learn. I have some background knowledge through yearbook and last years class. I try to do something different than everyone else on each project and do something different from my own work. I put in extra time when it is need. Another strength is that I am always improving. I have grown a lot in the graphic design perspective. My junior year in this class was a mess, I did the bare minimum, I would get behind and give up, but this year I haven't let myself get behind. 

Improvements

There is always room for improvement for everyone, especially me. This year was improvements all around. I think time management can improve still, one hour isn't enough to have my project look the way they should and what I want them to look like. I put a lot of my extra time into the yearbook, so when I am not working on that I need to push my designs.

Summary

This semester I have really liked the diversity of projections this year. We have had print design, logo design and now design layout. Something I would have done differently is put just a little but more time in my work and have my Behance update and pretty looking. After this semester I know things I can do, if I just put the time and effort to it. My goal for next semester is to only only have a high A but be satisfied with every one of my pieces and have my Behance perfectly up to date. Next semester I really want to push myself in both yearbook and graphic design. 

Gestalt Principles

The purpose of the Gestalt Principles, which was created Max Wetheimer, Wolfgang Kohler and Kurt Koffka, is to make a design feel more complete and connected. The six principles of Gestalt Principles are similarity, continuation, closure, proximity, figure, symmetry and order.

SIX PRINCIPLES OF GESTALT PRINCIPLES:

1. Similarity

2. Continuation

3. Closure

4. Proximity exp5. Figure

6. Symmetry and Order

These principles became well known because of the book Art and Visual Perception: A Psychology of the Creative Eye, which was written by Rudolf Arnheim. Arnheim explained all six principles effects as well as provided examples of the principles, but did not explain how of the were created. He finished his book by stating that these principles should be utilized to make the design look more complete.

Semester Reflection

Over the first semester of graphic design class this year we as a class we were assigned roughly 7 projects. This is my third year in E-Communication, but this is my first year in graphic design. I decided to take on the class after my liking of my first year in yearbook. I like to work on projects such as, posters and t-shirt designs especially with loose, brush and handwritten fonts.Due to designing and completing theses projects, I have been  taught numerous things from my instructor, Mrs. Burdolski, my classmates and my myself as well.

On my Name Typography project 

I used black and white to create contrast. 

The first project, which was Name Typography, was a bit rough in the beginning because I had my sketches and ideas together,but they didn’t have enough contrast in my thumbnails. I worked hard to include contrast on this project and I attempt to carry contrast throughout my later projects. Homecoming posters was the next projected assigned; this was one of my favorite projects are I sat down and worked on it for a while. This being one of my favorite projects, I wished I had pushed this idea sooner so it could have been printed. What I liked about this Homecoming poster design was the red glow effect I put on the tree silhouettes. Working on this particular project taught me to push myself on ideas and concepts as well as look up different effects within Adobe Illustrator. My original idea for the poster was very carnival looking and it wasn’t very fitting for the event. I was inspired by tree decoration on pinterest, if I wasn’t looking around on Pinterest and behance; I wouldn’t have known about the glow effect nor have an improved concept. 

Power Puff front pocket design

The Powder Puff t-shirt design project allowed me to use fun, girly, loopy, and curly fonts that I would not normally use on a poster or t-shirt. My first swing at the project was super complex for the front pocket design and look okay large but if it were to shrink it would be a mess. I also found a paint effect on Adobe Illustrator to put on the design and type. After simplifying the design it turned out better. I know the client asked for the small front pocket design and large back design but I wish I created a just a front design because the whole front and back design is a bit redundant at Olathe Northwest. The typography project was one of the projects I went depth with because I sketched many different ideas and always led me by to the tree image so I ran with it. I scanned in my drawing and uses the pen tool and traced it. I want to go back to that project particularly because I want to pay attention to the small details. Paying attention to the small details is something I definitely learned this semester; they really do matter because they add up and affect the impact of your work. By looking at the little things it exposed me to tools I did not know about or did not know how to use such as the knife tool. I have gotten better and improved at using vector points in Adobe Illustrator. I The design is not the only thing I have to pay attention, recently on a project, I was sending to print and messed up. I did not double check to make sure the front and back of the envelope,on my branding project, were corresponding and lining up before sending it to print. And in a real life situation, that would have wasted a load of money for who or what ever company I would be working for. I really enjoyed learning about logos because I see them every day and everywhere I go. I am not necessarily content with my branding project; it could be developed more than only the logo and ice texture. 

At the end of the semester we started our personal branding project and finished and cleaned up the logo. In the start of the semester, I did not put enough time into the projects to make any of the deadlines. Part of that may have been because I have a one hour class meanwhile everyone has two. And I cannot just blame that because I knew I would only have hour as well as I need to be more driven to finish my designs. By the end of the semester I believe I improved on the time issue. Next semester, I plan to put in the time and make all the deadlines; I know it will affect my grades in a negative way, if I do not.

Junior Powder Puff T-shirt Design

Pocket design

The scope of this project was to create a Powder Puff T-shirt for the Junior Class for the client. The client wanted the shirt to have a front pocket design and a design for the back of the shirt, that was cute and something a high school junior would enjoy wearing. I sketched ten different designs incorporating a football. Then chose one I would like to push on the computer.

My first shot at my design was a complete fail it was far too busy and wasn't appealing to the eye. I went back to the drawing board and researched front and back designs and noticed how the two designs corresponded with each other. I also noticed that the front was simpler than the large back design. I looked on how to tie the girly, curly handwritten fonts into my design to make it more feminine.  I tried to somewhat keep my original idea, and simplified the design. Continuing on the computer I moved a lot of anchor point after creating the outlines of the text "Juniors." I made the text fit within the shape.

Back design

 I tweaked plenty details like the fonts and making sure the football kept its shape. After I cleaned the design up I was happy with how it turned out.

Sophomore Video Final

The scope of this project was to film a news package for ONW Now, our school news station and applied the skill we have learned through out the school year. First I had to find someone who has an interesting story as well as being able to tell their story. My first idea didn’t work out due to them not wanting to tell their story, so I found state winner of high school gymnastics and newcomer diver who is qualified for state, Jessie Payne to interview and film at one of her diving practices.

 Then after filming B-roll at the practice, I wrote my twenty-one questions from a template we all were given earlier this year. Interviewed Jessie the next day and upload all my footage, favorite the clips I would like to use. Later in class, I arrange the B-roll and sound bytes to match. Quickly wrote my voice over script around the things I had planned (like the Audio/Podcast Story Jessie Blom).

Time managing went much better this project compared to previous project earlier in this year like the music video from November.

 Something I would do differently if I were to do this again would not stress or freak out due to my perfectionism and understand that we are sophomores and not everything will be perfect. :) Although I think that’s why it turned out the way it did! I loved working with the Broadcast group in our class, it was a great group of people that worked well as a team. I am not only interested to see where this will lead me in the future but as a team as well!! 

Animation Final

For our final project our group, Jacquelynn, Wyatt and I worked together to finish our project. Wyatt came up the idea of the soccer scenario, then made story boards the next day.  Our 'goal' (get because of soccer) was to complete this illusion that this kid was imagining that he was a pro soccer player at  huge stadium but in reality he is at school kicking a soccer ball. My role I played in the group was that I filmed the video portion. When we filmed I made sure to measure the position of the camera like, the height of the tripod, and how far away the subject was to the camera. Jacquelynn made the soccer ball in the Maya program. Wyatt worked on Animation aspect through After Effects like editing the video together and keying the green screen.  In the end, our project turned out well. The only thing that I would change if I would do it again, I would like to have contributed more to the group! Even though, this class isn't my strongest skill to do, I would have liked to have had a larger role or part for the project.

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Green Screen 1, 2, 3, 4:

 1.Film on the green screen with the exact measurement from the previous scene.2. Use the color magenta color, to check it any green in shown3.Find your background and key in4.Add in background and see the magic of the green screen

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