Senior Graphic Design student ramblings

It’s been awhile since I last wrote a blog post! Here are my last pre-final prototypes. I’ve made adjustments with size and wording, and the final pieces are off to the printers, I made sure to give them plenty of time just incase they (or I) mess something up.

Admittedly at this point I feel as if I’m playing catch up, although by next Wednesday I will have refined, printed prototypes ready for feedback.

Deliverable 1 Prototype- This will consist of a pillow box (as seen on the top, left), and inside it will be ‘ticket’-like pieces of paper with my dialogue on it.

Deliverable 2 Prototype-

This deliverable is my favorite. It will be a box. Yes, a box. Upon lifting the lid off of the box, the content will resemble a pop-up book. I’ll be scanning in a sketch of this shortly that gives a better deal of detail, but the second set of images show the framework for the piece. They overlap (largest to smallest).

Deliverable 3 Prototype-

In order:

Illustration

Form

Photography

Typography

Color

Concept: 360/360 perspective/my two lives

Approach: By using the story of how I've lived two lives, (manifested in the form of multiple deliverables) make it clear that my unique, full circle perspective is an asset to any employer.

Rationale: Design is more than just making things look pretty. It's about fully understanding the problem as well as discovering the best solution to that problem, and I feel that my broadened perspective provides great opportunities in that regard.

Implied notions:

A problem solver

Fresh outlook/perspective

Open to trying new ideas

Flexible

What I like about this concept:

It shows that I am an example of change, and that others can change their perspective just as I have.

My qualities and experiences set me apart from my classmates

I am able to recognize and solve problems using the sum of all of my experiences.

So my sketches are  bit...sad. It's hard for me to comprehend all of the deliverables as a big picture and have them be detail far beyond what is seen above. Due to this, I personally need to break down the deliverables into sections. You can tell that Deliverables 1-3 have more detail than the rest. This will be my first 'group' to work on.

I feel that the email/portfolio site (deliverable #4) is a can of worms all its own due to Ashley's expectations, so I'll be leaving that as a standalone.

Deliverables 5-7 will be the third group to focus on.

What are we marketing?

Design, that is to say branding and advertising strategies through design. Although particularly in this case I am marketing myself.

What is the role of the communications?

To establish a relationship

To get my name out there

Who are we trying to reach?

Rene Gauthier, CEO of Sitka.   [email protected]

Janelle Gauthier-   [email protected]

What do we need to say?

Your products have sustainability considered in each component and this is why my voice aligns to your brand and standards.

Why is this true and relevant?

I have a deep commitment to sustainable and ethical design, as well as conviction to help educate others about the world around them.

What is the competitive advantage?

I have lived two lives! One in Chicago and one on the West Coast, this unique perspective has given me a complete, full circle experience on the significance of sustainability in our lives.I bring this 180 perspective to my work and I'd bring it to each project I take on with Sitka.

What is the tone?

1. Brand Personality overview

Wholesome- What you see is what you get- my brand is nourishment to the design world.

Charming- This brand has a certain charm to it that draws people in. It's likeable.

Outdoorsy- This brand isn't overly rugged, but embraces nature and the world around us.

Fresh- Somewhat coincides with outdoorsy, this brand brings new, innovative ideas to the table.

Honest- Touching on wholesome again, this brand is open to any and all questions about anything that happens in any step of the design process.

Friendly- This brand is warm and wanting to help!

2. Brand traits

Casual but not careless

Fresh but not absurd

Creative but not complicated

Simple but not boring

Professional but not uptight

Natural but not hippie/hipster

3. Voice

Casual, but not sloppy. A somewhat warm, friendly tone.

Copy Examples:

Hi there

Hey, remember me?

Take a look at this!

This is for you

Thanks for your time

4. Visual Lexicon

Colors: blues, greens, browns, natural and earthy tones.

Typography: Sans serifs and serifs without anything that is too overly dramatic looking, sprinkled with a bit of hand typography here and there.

General style notes: Occasionally may break free from the above color pallette but very rarely.

5. Engagement methods

Surprise and delight by offering unique, attention-demanding pieces that require the individual to look at it and want to share the design with a friend.

6. Visualizing the tone

Strategy Map

Step 1: Introduction, focusing on the company and what I like about them. This will be a postcard of sorts.

Step 2: Introduction part 2, focusing on me. Also postcard

Step 3: Final part of the introduction, combined focus on me and the company and future possibilities. This would be a small fold-out, maybe brochure or something.

Step 4: Would be an email with a link to my online portfolio site

Step 5: Physical portfolio to show off at the interview

Step 6: Leave-behind booklet

Which perspective will you be taking?

I will be seeking out a company, as opposed to freelancing.

Who are they?

Sitka,

A company devoted to making purposeful goods for exploring the world around us.

How are they a good fit for you?

We share a lot of the same values- sustainability, education, family, exploring, and creativity

How are you a good fit for them-specifically?

I feel that for the most part, my potential portfolio pieces are well received. There are a few pieces that I'd like to take further or in a different direction than the initial project assignment intended, and that's okay.

That being said, once the projects are redone and/or touched up, another photoshoot will be necessary. Two of my projects need to be printed/photographed in a proper environment as opposed to just presenting the digital file (showing off layout).

Oh, and some sort of website project needs to be touched on.