Recent Designs

Cartoon scene

Create a  caricature of yourself 

logo competition

The last logo of the semester!!woooohoooo!!!

Final I have finished that last thing that I had to do for this class for the semester. I made a logo for a sports company. The company is focused on getting the attention to all sports. They wanted their logo to be able to catch the audiences attention just as the Polo logo does. It was hard to create a logo that could catch someones attention like that because it is not a clothing company. I did the best I could trying to figure out how they could use my logo.

new logo

After the first logo contest, I decided that I wanted to enter a more creative contest. Judioo is a music company that needed a fresh new logo. I liked this logo that I designed because it looks cartoonish, and that is my style. I enjoy doing fun logo's. I cannot stand doing logo's that are just plain text. I know in the future that I will have to do just text logo's and I will do whatever it takes to make them happy.

Logo Contest

The second project we have to do to end the year is enter 3 logo contest. I have entered a few, and so far they are not looking too bad. I entered one that was focused on a company that helps people make resumes. The company put pictures on the brief about how they would like the logo to look. I tried to make them look as they wanted them to look. I also used different colors to see which ones they would like the best. Right now the contest is still running, so we will have to see what happens in the end.

The Paper

Right now we are working on a paper that is due on exam day. The paper is about how a desktop computer works, it is a very basic topic, but the point of the project is to make the paper graphics amazing. Professor Speyers wants it to look good basically, and use what we have learned in word and illustrator. I am half way through right now, writing the paper is easy, but making it all look good is taking a while. I would have to say that it is a good project to have for the last one.

It's Coming to an End

This semester of graphic deign is coming to an end. Right now we have been assigned to enter logo competitions and write a paper, which should be a good end to the semester. It is amazing to be apart of the first group of graphic design students at CSU. I really feel lucky to be in such a great major and have such a great group of supporters along with me. Our class is always enjoying art in some way and there is never a dull moment. Professor Speyers always keeps us motivated and working, even on the days when our hands are cramping and our eyes are burning. I cannot wait until next semester of classes and the rest of my time here at CSU as a graphic design major.

Monster

The monster project was my favorite project so far. It was a lot of fun and really made the entire class happy. My monsters name is Martin. He is not very complicated and when I say that I mean he does not have much to him. He is plain, but that is how I wanted him to be. I tried putting more hair and fur on him, but he just did not look right with so much detail. I was also going to change the gradient in the eye lashes, but it just did not look right. i might create another one with a lot of fur some time in the future.

The Use of Shapes

For this assignment we were to use some basic shapes to create whatever came to our minds with out changing the angles of the shapes. It was an easy and interesting project. it did not take very long, and it made your mind go out of the box and figure out what to create with the random shapes.  The sun is crying because the raindrops are coming for him, just as they are the house in picture. The tree is the only happy thing in the entire image, an he is happy too.

Distressed Text

Last week we worked on making the text in illustrator distressed and old. We had to choose between three different tutorials. I used the tutorial that was making a Western banner that went to a food joint. It was interesting and took a day or two, but over all I learned a lot.

My Version

The project that we have been working on and just finished was remaking a logo in a way that we like better. I chose the Adidas logo, and the Billboard logo. Professor Speyers told us to chose one that we related to and understood what the logo represented. He also told us to go simple on the logo, and not much as many graphics in the logo, because some companies want a simple logo.

When I started the Adidas logo, I remembered that Adidas represents soccer a lot, so I decided to incorporate soccer into the logo. I chose to put a soccer player underneath the Adidas logo and he is kicking the a as if it was a soccer ball.

When I started the Billboard logo, I wanted to incorporate music into the logo, because Billboard is the top music of the week music company. Billboard puts the top music of the week onto the radio and goes through out the radio stations. I wanted to make this logo the simple one so all I did was put a music symbol at the end, replacing the d at the end of the logo.

Powerpoint Presentation

Last week our assignment in class was to complete a power point presentation. My power point was on The History of Animation on Computers. It was very interesting to learn about how computers have impacted animation through out the years.

The most interesting thing I learned while doing my power point was Gertie the Dinosaur. Gertie was the first cartoon animation that was drawn and made through a computer. Before doing this project my favorite cartoon characters were the ones from Rocket Power, on Nick TV. Since doing this project I now love Gertie.

I also learned about the different movies that have changed animation through out history, and I can say this was the only power point presentation I have ever done in school that I actually enjoyed doing.

My Least Favorite Thing

So far this semester I canot really say that there is something that I didnt like doing. I have enjoyed everything and I am glad that I had to learn the things I have learned, because they will help me in the future.

There is one thing that I have not enjoyed doing and that was doing all of the tutorials we have done with excel, and powerpoint. I am glad that I have learned the information from the tutorials, but it was very boring going through l of the steps. I think they will help me the most in my future, because I will most likely haveto use them in internships, considering we do not get to do anything really while wring as an intern.

My favorite

Since it is the middle of the semester, I thought that I would post two blogs about my favorite and least favortie things I have learned so far.

My favorite thing that I have learned so far this semester would be learning how to use the pen tool on illustrator. I am glad that I have learned how to use it, because now I can improve my skills and create cartoons and characters in the lab whenever I want. That is probably one of the best things of being a Graphic Design student, we get to use the mac lab whenever we want. I enjoy going in the mac lab and just using it to free my mind and focus. Since it is in the basement of the library it is very quiet down there. Anyways, the pen tool is a lot of fun. I like playing around with illustrator and figuring out new tools. I learn something new everytime I use illustrator. One day, if I ever get any free time, I am going to go to the mac lab and draw my own characters,scan them, and put them onto illustrator and draw them. I need to take full advantage of the things CSU has given us graphic design students.

Found One Idea

I was searching and thinking about this lgo for the South Carolina Correctional Association, and I figured out an idea. Right now I have the outline of the state of South Carolina. In the middle of the outline I am going to add things that can make it obvious that it is for this company. I am thinking about doing the state flower inside, and also putting little things. I cannot stop thining about putting a lock inside, but I know if I do that I will not win. I am going to put a help sign at the bottom and then put a hands coming together or something. The hands coming together can show that this company can help people, and the help sign is shoing that they are always there. I am not done right now, so tomorrow(Monday), I am going to have to go to the mac lab and work on it.

Ideas

Usually while I am trying to figure out a logo, I usually just go to google and get some ideas. Recently I have been trying to do something different and just start sketching and thinking of new things. It is hard to come up with ideas for South Carolina Correctional Association. They are a bit conservative, so I definitely cannot draw a cartoon character for their logo. It has to be something to represent South Carolina, but it alo cannot have anything to do with bars. They most likely do not want any bars, because that represents jails, and they do not want it to look like that. That is something as a Graphic Designer you always have to remember, ALWAYS LISTEN TO THE CLIENT. If you continue to mess up and change around their ideas, then that is just more work you have to do yourself. I am not sure what I am going to do with this logo, but I am sure I will figure it out soon.

Books

My mom ordered my Graphic Design books and I finally have gotten them in. This is great, because now I can look at the illustrator book and figure out some of the tools that I want to learn about. This major is very interesting, I am so glad that I have chosen something that I enjoy. I was a psychology major, before Charleston Southern had decided to have this major and that was miserable. I am so excited for the students that are joining the major next year, because I am sure it will change their life, just as it has mine.

Sparkle

Last week we worked on a logo for a glass restoration company. it had to remind of us sparkle. I chose to make my logo look like a cartoon,like I told you in one of my earlier blogs. My logo turned out OK. I think if I would have had more time I would have put a little more into it. Maybe it was a good thing though, because sometimes the company likes boring. My star is named Sperkle. I named him Sperkle, because I wanted to go out of the box. Now when someone sees him they will call him Sperkle. It was an easy project, it did not take very long at all.

Sorry I know ths picture quality is off.I was trying to upload it onto here from the mac computer in the mac lab, but for some odd reason it would not upload. I ended up having to take apicture of it with my phone then uploading it from there.

South Carolina

Right now I am working on my logo for the South Carolina Correctional Association. I have been looking up stuff the represents South Carolina and I have learned a lot. I have realized that our SC bird is very ugly. The SC flower is very nice, that is one of our things that does pass the test of what is good and bad about South Carolina. Basically I am even learning more about our state in Graphic Design class, that is how great this class is...you learn something new everyday.The picture I have posted on here, is the state flower....very beautiful.

Even More Logos

This week we are working on more Logos for our 216 class. I enjoy doing logos,and would rather work on logos than the tutorials we have to work on for our 218 class. The tutorials we have been working on have been very easy, but they are annoying. I am very bad at following directions, and I would much rather just draw on illustrator. Even though the tutorials are boring, they still are very helpful. I have learned a lot about power point and illustrator. The tutorials will help me a lot in the future.

Logo

The next project we are working on right now is creating a logo for a business.So far, My logo that I came up with is a star cartoon with cleaning supplies in its hands, but we are going to work on them more tomorrow. I wanted to use a cartoon, because I always try to make my designs cartoony(if that is even a word).Hopefully will have a picture up soon.

Getting Familiar with Color

About two weeks ago we had a project on working with illustrator using color. We had to chose a picture and for some odd reason I chose a yellow truck. We had to work with gradiants and and color to make it look as realistic as possible.Starting this project, I figured that I would be done in no time. I had alomost the entire front part of the truck finished and it looked horrible. For some reason I had totally forgotten about using the pen tool. I was trying too hard to work with small areas that I did not take the time out to do the entire outline and then work on the details. I ended up getting so frustrated that I deleted the entire picture and restarted the day before the project was do. I ended up being done right on time.I worked for 9 straight hours on it in the mac lab,believe me it was a challenge.

COMPLETE =)

I am posting this a little late, but last week I finally finished my Less is More project. In the beginning it was very hard, but I continued to go to the lab and work on it and it turned out ok. I am sure if I had more time I could have really perfected it. The picture quality did not come out too well considering I took it with my camera on my phone. I chose to do a motorcycle, and I am not really sure why I did now that I think of it. Anyways, I made some of the lines darker so that you could actually tell what part of the motor it was. I chose to zoom in on the motor, because I figured it would look more interesting than the handle bars for example. The hardest part of the project was the tires for sure. As I began to get better with the pen tool, I started to try to perfect everything. I ended up running out of time, because there are still some parts that bother me about it. Hopefully, the next project in illustrator will be dealing with the same concepts so I can have a little grasp with what I am doing.

Other than the project, we also worked on doing resumes. I had already had a resume, because of the internship I had done this past summer. My mom is also has always been on my case about having a good resume, because she is a business woman. That might sound funny for you to read, but that is what I consider her. Well, that is all I really have to say.goodbye bloggers.

Finally Getting Close

This entire week we have been working on our projects. In the beginning it was really hard working with the pen tool, but now I feel comfortable. I feel comfortable with sayiNg that I will be finished on time for this project. The picture I chose was a motorcycle. I think it was a good choice, even though I am not too into motorcycles. This week is now over for my graphic design classes, and I have learned so much. I am so glad that Charleston Southern decided to have my major. I really feel like this is something I am suppose to be doing for the rest of my life.

A New Week for Design

It is a new week of design classes and I am very excited. Last week of class we worked with Illustrator. It started out very easy and then as I continued to work I realized that it was not going to be as easy as I thought it was. I started to get frustrated, but as I continued working Professor Speyers was there to help. No one ever said that becoming a designer was going to be easy. I am going to keep trying my best and pushing forward to reach my goal, and I know my great classmates and helpful professor will be there to help me along the way.

It's Time For a New Major

When looking for a good college to attend, you want to find a college that has exactly what you need to become who you have always wanted to be. As children we all grow up thinking about what we might want to do when we get older. Whether it is to be a doctor, Superman's wife, or a bouncer at a club, we all have our own dreams. When I was growing up I was never interested in anything but sports. As I grew older I started to become very interested in art. After realizing that I was addicted to Family Guy and loved to draw characters I decided that one day I wanted to make my own cartoons. The school I decided to attend for college was Charleston Southern University. The new graphic design major is really what I need to get me to where I want to be in my future. Oh and I cannot forget to mention the new iMacs we get to work on that really complete my journey. Well, that is all I really have to say for right now.TOOOODLES.