5 Graphic Design is…

Graphic Design and Me

I have never really had any experience in graphic design prior to college, I had always taken film classes in high school because that is what my main interest was. I’ve always been pretty good at art so I never took any art classes in high school either, now that I am in college as an art major I really enjoy the amount of art courses I am taking. I am looking to do the dual option BFA in art and design so I can do half graphic design and half studio art. In doing graphic design, I have a pretty good idea of what my favorite types of design are. With my love for film making, I would say that motion design is definitely one of my favorite types of graphic design. I am also very interested in advertising design.

Motion Design

I originally came to Keene with the idea that I was going to be a film major because I have always wanted to work in a studio whether it be for film making or television production, I just really enjoyed the whole editing together sequences of shots and adding transitions and video elements. I loved watching a piece of motion come together and the whole process that goes into it. Designing and putting together title scenes, animations, trailers, music videos, adding music, etc. brings me joy and I could sit there and put together a video all day without complaining. I have a good amount of experience with putting together motion designs and short films/videos through the classes I have taken in high school and the robotics club I was a part of (I was the head of the marketing team). I understand that it is very important to convey a message correctly and get the right audience to acknowledge it and grab their attention. This is done through color schemes, the way things flow together, the image conveyed in the motion, the sound that is added, the typography, and many more aspects that trigger our psyche and create a specific emotion that designers want to create for the audience. In this article, the typography of stranger things, it talks about how a few aspects of a motion can create such a powerful feel in such a short span of time. The reason why I love motion design and film making so much is because I really enjoy the challenge to create something that is visually pleasing and brings out a reaction from the audience.

Advertising Design

Advertising design is interesting to me because it goes hand in hand with motion design. I am able to advertise for the videos I make and with the same visual concepts. It’s all about the visual appearance and it’s effect on the psyche to draw a viewers attention. I have experience in advertising design through the robotics club I was a part of in high school. I would put together images and information onto pamphlets, brochures, posters, banners, etc. to market for our team and get people interested in the program. It is important for advertisements to have the ability to stick with you, whether it’s a catchy tune or catch phrase. Something that allows the audience to remember the company pr product that the advertisement was providing information for. I love to get creative and think outside the box to get someone intrigued by whatever is designed. In order to create a well designed advertisement, one must have the ability to understand and use psychology, marketing, and creativity for the best results.

Graphic Design is…

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to pursue a career involving design. Therefore, declaring my major in graphic design was no question. Since I was a child, I have always paid close attention to detail, my eyes would light up at magazine covers and frequently recognized different company logos. I have always been fascinated with the large role graphic design plays in our everyday life. Through street signs, product packaging, logos, and even just text we can observe the powers of graphic design. It gives me the greatest sense of joy to one day be apart of spreading and creating the power of graphic design as my career. I look forward to expanding my knowledge in order to create more creative and powerful pieces of design.

Although I have always known I wanted a career in graphic design, I haven’t always been sure as to which area of graphic design I would enjoy most. After reading “What is Graphic Design” I was able to narrow down which areas I would enjoy most. The areas I am the most interested in and would like to focus on in my career are Publication Design and Brand and Identity Design. 

PUBLICATION DESIGN 

As someone who enjoys looking through magazines and newsletters in order to observe design techniques, I have often imagined myself being a publication designer. Although I think it may be challenging to represent different elements such as fashion or business in publications, I enjoy the challenge of looking further beyond the most obvious solution. Publication design allows a wide variety of solutions and strategies, forcing the designer to work out of their comfort zone. As a publication designer you never really are designing the same thing. Every publication or issue is quite different, therefore, allowing more creativity from the designer. If I were able to get a job as a graphic designer at this very moment, I would love for it to involve publication design.

Comma Arts Magazine              |          Uncrate Magazine            |      Works that Work Issues

BRAND AND IDENTITY DESIGN 

Another form of graphic design I find intriguing and would love to be apart of is brand and identity design. I love the idea of being apart of a brand or business’s process of creating a recognizable and emotional response from customers. With each brand’s identity being different from another, a new idea and solution for a design is always possible and ready to be created. I would enjoy designing for a brand or business because not only would my design be a part of their identity, but because I will have gotten to experience creating that identity with the client. However, I imagine brand and identity design to be quite challenging considering a new and very unique design is needed for every client.

examples of brand identity design:

Design Envy                             |                           Comma Arts                                  |               Logo Design Love

Graphic Design

I’d never really had an interest in graphic design until I took a class in high school, and found that it was a form of art that I really enjoyed and felt successful in. I hope to be able to continue using the skills I learn from graphic design and all that goes into it in my everyday life while in college and after graduation.

Once I’d read further into the forms of graphic design that exist, I found that I really enjoy publication design and brand and identity design, because they show two completely separate worlds of design while still tying together the importance of showcasing one specific thing. I also feel that these two areas are very important to lifestyles in which we live today. 

Publication Design

I feel that publication design is interesting because I it’s a way to express how an article or piece of writing has affected you. I believe it allows for personal ideas to be placed into a work while still allowing for the writing to be effective and powerful. I’ve also noticed that I’m more likely to read something if there’s an interesting design or object which goes along with the article. For instance, if an article in the newspaper is discussing the dangers of prescription drugs, a  publication designer might add to the piece with images that show the negative effects of prescription drug use or a tipped over bottle with pills spilling out, and these imagines will help bring the reader even further into the writing. I like how it can enhance the impact of something and make it even more memorable overall.

Habits of a Publication Designer

Ruth Ansel

Cipe Pineles

Brand and Identity Design

Brand and identity design is really interesting to me because it’s a way of making something it’s own thing. During the graphics course I took in the past, I was instructed to think of a business, and then create a logo around it. This was really enjoyable for me because I took the idea of a business and what I wanted from it, and gave it it’s own identity. I’d chosen a coffee shop as my base idea, and ended up creating a logo that wasn’t the same as every other coffee shop logo out there. In order to make a unique logo, I had to consider all other logos out there and think about what hasn’t been done yet, which kept me working on the piece and improving it as much as I could. I feel that this type of design is important and memorable, because it can be seen everywhere. Starbucks Coffee is a successful brand, and it’s known for it’s logo that was created by a brand and identity designer who had to look at other coffee shops and find a way to make a unique and unforgettable image. 

About Paula Scher

Milton Glaser

Why Graphic Design?

I have never really thought to learn about Graphic Design or what it is all about until recently. When I graduate and get my degree from Keene I am hoping to start up my own business. With this goal in mind, I want to learn not only the management aspects of owning a business but all aspects of it. With that being said, Graphic Design could be a big part in my business involving the design aspects of it. Including the signs, menus, advertisements and more. If I learn about Graphic Design now, it can intrigue me and enlighten me on all it has to offer.

After reading “What is Graphic Design” I got to learn about all different types of designs and some intrigued me more than others. The two designs that excited me were Motion Design & Brand Design. Below I explain what intrigued me most regarding these two different designs. As well as some links to great websites involving Motion and Brand design, and images of each type of design.

Motion Design

Regarding Motion Design, I got interested in the areas in which this design comes to play. Some of these that interested me include in film making, animation, and visual effects. It intrigues me when sound and motion come together with pictures and words to make them kind of, come alive, and pop. This is a type of design that I find to be exciting because it makes it so real. My personality is very loud, outgoing and bold. This type of design seems to go well with my personality because it is so bold in itself and turns something original into something out there and different, different is a good thing.

Links:   Motion Design Inspiration  ~  The Latest Motion Design   ~  Build Remarkable Animation  

Brand Design

Brand Design excited me mostly because of what I want to do after college, which as I said was owning my own business. A huge part of owning your own business and having that business become successful is the branding of it. The biggest thing I find important about this type of design is the design of the logo for my business. As said in the chapter, the goal is to create a comfort zone for the general publicly presenting a familiar face to the name. Branding is something so cool and original, not one brand is the same to another and that just amazes me. When I own my own business I personally think the Brand Design aspects it will be one of the most exciting things to work on with a great designer.

Links:    What Makes a Great Logo    ~    Iconic Logo Designers      ~      Logo Inspiration