Foudations 0.4 Project Update

This week I've been exploring methods of cutting acrylic plastic. I tried to cut it on my own using a drill, but the result was abominable. The drill would melt the plastic halfway through a cut, the edges came out rough and the plastic scraped easily. I decided the best way to get good quality cuts was to have the hardware store cut it for me. I also decided to purchase metal hinges to connect the sides of the box. This way, the assembly glue is completely masked and the box looks professional and clean.

Check out this link:

How to Cut Acrylic Plastic

Pier Blog Review

Amy Bennett's Design Diary

Amy's project is coming along nicely. It looks as though she has continued to study the essence of an avocado throughout her entire project. I appreciate the continuous exploration and her desire to push the original concept. The pictures of her model show that she is working hard and being meticulous. It's really paying off because her model looks very clean and professional!

Foundations 4.0 Process Work

Assignment
The next assignment challenges you to design a free-standing or counter-top display system that holds a multiple quantity of your product or product + container and reinforces the ideas you developed in the first three tasks. Be sure to consider how the display unit is approached and experienced from all angles. The display unit should display the visual identity, be accessible and convenient, present your products to appeal to your target audience, and clearly communicate information critical to your design + object.

Process
Identifying my goals for the project
I've been trying to think about what type of display unit makes sense for a stamp. Stamps are sold at supply stores, such as Staples, where all the items for sale are typically housed on long metal shelves. Therefore, the display system I create should make my stamps stand out from the competition, be easy for employees to re-stock, and  and be attractive to the target audience. Simultaneously, the display should further develop the concepts I've been exploring; repetition and the mechanisms that make the stamp unique (the push factor).

I thought I could begin the design process by considering razor displays at CVS

Foundations 0.3

Assignment
Packaging is the combination of solving multiple small-scale design problems: what is the "shell" that consumers will view initially? How does the product sit within this container? how is the product to be perceived through the design of the package? The container is the ultimate vehicle to create a meaningful impression. For this assignment, please design a package that supports and further develops the ideas from the first and second tasks.

Process
For this project, I took interest in the mechanics of my stamp. I studied the gears that held the stamp in place, and allowed it to flip and make an imprint. To mimic the push down motion of the stamp, I wanted to make some type of hole in the box, so that when you push down into the hole,  the stamp ejects. I cut out a large portion of the top so that the branding on the top of the stamp was visible. I also cut out space on the side for ergonomic reasons.

The repititive pattern on the surface was inspired by something I did in my sketch book while I was bored one day. The repetition reminds me of a secretary sitting at her desk, continuously stamping away at forms. The overlapping element and the bright red ink are mesmerizing.

Critique
Im very happy with my final product. I think my package has a lot of shelf appeal. In addition, I think it represents important elements of the stamp and doesn't overcomplicate the assignment.

A First Encounter with Adobe Illustrator

I created this portrait of myself for my New Media: Digital Art class. The exercise was assigned to help the class understand basic tools in Adobe Illustrator. At the same time were were asked to consider composition and style. 

  

Process

Learning New Skills

I used the pen tool for my facial features, for shadows and for contours. I used the circle and box tools for my eyebrow ring and for the background. I also used the brush tool (with a chalk stroke) to add freedom and texture to my hair. 

Style

My facial expression posses a clamness which I mimicked with blue background. I used a true black for the shadows around my face because I liked the contrast with my skin. I tried not to overload on values. Instead, I tried to choose key contours and details that would represent my face structure and expression without  sacrificng depth or visual interest. This 'simple' approach, along with the calm blue background go well with the contentment and calmness of my facial expression.

Critique

I think the final product is alluring. I recieved good reviews from my classmates who found the image to be a good representation of myself. However, one thing I would change is the hair. I think it looks a little uneven on the right side. That is probably because, in the image I was drawing from, my hair is strangely parted.

Pier Blog Review 1

Review of Amy Bennett's Design Diary
I enjoyed looking over Amy's Blog. It's overall look is professional and clean. The main element of her blog, they grey background allows the blue text and project photographs to pop. Simple details such as picture labels, large breaks between paragraphs, and subtitles add clarity to her posts. I appreciate that she takes a uniform approach in the design of each blog entry. Her concise writing style allows the images to speak for themselves but helps the viewer to understand her thought process.

Details like these have inspired me to and improve my own blog.

Amy Bennett's Design Blog

Goals for my own blog:
I would like my blog writing style to be personal but concise
I would like to try using subtitles and captions