Schwartz - Week Fifteen

Initially, I was confused as to why I would be required to take a course in graphic design. I was very nervous for this class, because I am not an artistic person and do not respond well to visual cues. I never considered myself to be someone that would have any need nor interest for graphic design in my life, and I thought that the class would be essentially pointless for my future. I am a public relations major, so I thought-- when would the application of graphic design ever come into play in my potential career paths?

Well, I was immediately mistaken as our first project was the resume design. This was the most practical project as well for my field, so right from the start I was proven wrong. This beginning just reenforces the continuation of lessons I have taken from GRA 217 throughout the entirety of the semester. As we embarked upon each new lesson and project, I found myself learning a bit of new information as we went along. I was shocked at how interested I became in a class I originally resented enrolling in. I found lectures to be informational, because I knew absolutely nothing about graphic design before this class. To take this to a new level, I was actually interested in the new knowledge I was absorbing. I have found graphics to be both interesting and important to me, as I feel a lot more confident about my knowledge of graphic design but also see the ways that it can help me both on a professional and personal level. I am leaving graphics as my favorite class of the semester.

I am a new Newhouse transfer so I hope that my other classes continue to impress me as much as this one did. By no means did I find this class to be easier than I expected, as I struggled through every project we did. I found myself spending more than half of my free time each week in the lab. Every second not spent doing other work or tending to personal needs, I was in the lab. I have put my heart & soul into every project we have completed, and although the grades may not always reflect it I have put the most effort possible into each project. My favorite, and also the most challenging, was the magazine project. I found that once I came across a topic I really liked, I was engrossed and interested in the making of the magazine. I hope that someday in the future I am able to take my graphic knowledge to the next level, but if not I know that I have learned so much as it is.

Annie Leibovitz - Schwartz

I feel like a took a lot out of watching Annie Leibovitz speak. This was such an unusual opportunity because she is a world renowned photographer, and I was able to watch her in person. She was such a good presenter, providing a broad spectrum of ideas. She did not focus solely on her photos which was also interesting, because she spent a great deal of time addressing her other interests and pasttimes. She read a part of her book, expressing the details behind her interest. I also really like seeing her photos just because of the vastness of her talent. Its such an experience to be able to see a woman speak whose work is presented in Rolling Stone and other famous magazines. She photographs celebrities, but also takes more personal photos as well. This is a unique aspect of her work and personality. She brings a lot to the table, and she is able to really articulate her experiences in an understandable and effective way.

Week 14 - Schwartz

This is a good example of visual hierarchy on a website. This site is designed in a visually appealing way because the images at the top attract your attention, and your eye is then drawn to the text and links on the righthand side. The eye is led throughout the page in a systematic way. The headlines are bigger than the body text, so it is clear what is important to look at first. The site is set up in an easily accessible way.

Schwartz - Ed Kashi

This past Thursday, Ed Kashi came to speak at Newhouse. I found his presentation to be both enlightening and effective, as he shed light on the issues that he focuses on through his photography and did an articulate job of describing the thought process behind his work. Photography is an art that is more multi-faceted than one may think, and he helped expose the details of the practice and raise awareness about the effort that goes into a good photograph. I found his effort to be extremely effective, as this was a topic I did not know much about but ended up understanding a great deal. Not only is photography a topic I have never before known much about, but it is one I have never been particularly interested in, and now I am fascinated by the power of visuals.

He spoke about a number of his individuals projects, but one that sparked my attention was the Niger Delta. Through this photography, Kashi focused on the oil problems in Nigeria. He used his skill to help a social issue that plagues our world today, bringing attention and emphasizing the extent of the problems in Nigeria. He used his abilities to make a difference, as people were impacted by his photography and used his work to help a cause. Kashi uses his gift to make a difference, and this is a skill that should not be undermined. He explained the way that photography is more complex than one may think, and how it is important to focus on the important parts of a picture and not get distracted in the endeavor to dig too deep. This is something to remember, because his affection for simplicity helps asist in the effectivness of a photo's message.

Week Eleven - Schwartz

This website is a good example of strategic and good web design. The website is organized in a way that is easy to navigate and direct in its purpose. The most important links and essential forms of navigation around the site are highlighted, and the visuals and content are in the center of the page. It is visually appealing and grabs attention, sensible through its color scheme, and attractive to the eye. The header and deck are both creative and stimulating, and the page presents an overall flow. The information is relevant and interesting to the reader, and all the things that are most likely of most importance are emphasized.

Week Ten - Schwartz

This is a good demonstration of the implication of a grid system in graphic design. The grid system is oftentimes seen in magazine design because it articulates a structured and easily navigated visual appearance. This example shows the way that images and text are used and juxtaposed in an organized manner. The grid is easy to follow and presents a clear and straightforward visual appeal. The jams are lined up with each other and with the text to make the magazine spread look aesthetically pleasing. The grid system is a good format because it provides a guideline for images and overall design.

Week Eight Schwartz

This image serves as a solid example of the gestalt principles. For one, it uses simplicity to attract attention to the logo. There is continuation present leading the eye from one part of the logo to the other, as your eye is first drawn to the "you", but the main attention lies in the "tube." Another aspect of gestalt principles can be seen through the way that tube is actually in a tube, it seems. It is physically manifesting the message it is trying to get across. Also, the color choice is clear because red is the most universally recognized and understood color after black and white. It is appealing to all kinds of people, which adds to the universiality of the logo and therefore the company.

Week Seven - Schwartz

This visual is an articulate example of gestalt principles. It is a good demonstration of silhouette, because it shows the detail and outline of an image in a successful way without giving the detail of the face. The power of the visual can be interpreted through the simple outline.

Week Six- Schwartz

For this project, I had to consider the best way to portray my sorority’s annual philanthropy event, Phi Hoops. I wanted to create a unique poster for this event, but one that would stand out in people’s minds and be remembered. I focused my design around simplicity in an effort to portray the focuses of the event without going overboard with detail. I wanted to avoid clutter, so I chose a few simple images that would succeed in providing a noteworthy image. I aimed my design at a visual appearance, using the text to contribute to the visual appeal of the overall image while still maintaining a quality of usefulness for the poster at large.

I chose my typefaces carefully, using Motter Corpus Std as the typeface for my visual text, due to the way that I filled it with a clipping mask. However, because I chose to use an artistic text for my main typeface, I had to be careful to choose a simple text for my event information. I chose Verdana Bold, a sans serif, so that it would not take away from the text I wanted to emphasize. I made sure to use a visual hierarchy, drawing the eyes to my image and using the event information as supplementary. Beneath the logo I used ITC Lubalin Graph Std, because I felt like it worked to have a more detailed font go with this artistic logo. My target audience is college students, because this event occurs on campus to raise money for my sorority’s philanthropy, so I saw this creative decision as beneficial in reaching the youthfulness of my viewers while still providing readability.

The most intense part of my poster to create was the image in my text, as I clipped an image of a basketball to fill the type. It was difficult to find a picture that was big enough for the font to remain unpixelated when enlarged. I thought that it was a good idea to fill the letters with this image to portray the visual of a basketball in a creative way. It is also the only color on my poster. I shaped my text into a basketball shape, which contributes to my design. Overall, I think that my poster provides an effective visual of my idea and event while preserving an artistic flare

Week Five-Schwartz

This image stuck out to me as a good example of the gestalt principles because of the way that the messages come across clearly and to the point. It is clear that it is very thought out, and the message is conveyed in a simple and straightforward manner. It is a concise advertisement for eyeglasses. It is also very creative and emphasizes closeness, as everything outside of the glasses is blurry but the difference that these glasses makes is very obvious through the image. The thoughtfulness of this ad is very apparent, but it still manages to do a unique and creative job of portraying the underlying message.

Week Four Schwartz

Strategy: When designing my resume, my aim was to produce a creative but professional expression of self. I wanted to add personality to my design and structure without taking it over the top. Because of my major, PR, I wanted to create a resume that would be broad enough to apply to a spectrum of jobs. I knew that it would be seen by mostly professionals, so I wanted to spark individuality in a different way. I made my wordmark creative while still maintaining its quality. I kept my resume bold and to the point, highlighting the information and experiences that I have had. I like the simplicity that it contains. I did not use color or any intricate design work for this reason as well, maintaining the quality of my content.

Typefaces: For my wordmark and headers, I used Eurostile LT Std. I liked this font because it was bold and also quirky. I was particularly drawn to the sans serif fonts, as I also used Thornburi for my body text. I like the clean cut image they portray. I chose to make my wordmark in all caps for a bold effect, and as a way to draw attention to the prominence of my name. I liked both these typefaces because they provided uniqueness through a seemingly simple font. I chose to maintain a pattern of bold, black, lettering through the entirety of my resume to keep consistently through style.

Week Three-Schwartz

This image is a demonstration of the concept of hierarchy in Lupton's "Text." It shows the way that visual hierarchy exists in graphic design simply by the ways and things the eye is drawn to. The beginning lines are much more apparent and clear than the rest, and as your eye goes down the page more emphasis is drawn toward them.

Week Two - Schwartz

This is an example of an advertisement that uses poor font choice. The ad is intended to promote the subject at hand, which happens to be a Law Group, in an appealing light but fails to do so due to a poor aesthetic appeal. Not only is the font not accentuated at all, but the image itself does not even draw attention. The majority of the picture is consumed by blank space. The font is small and hard to read. It does not capture the viewer's attention, and it fails to be visually appealing. The letters are kearned too close together, so it is hard to differentiate the difference between them and make out words. Although the font is intended to come across as bold through its all caps, it fails in this mission as well because it is so difficult to decipher.