Project 1 Update

PDF Portfolio

I have just finished my pdf portfolio.  I wanted it to be stylized to my other stationary system to give it the same feel.  I included 5 of my best works, so that I can send it to companies as samples.  They will also be able to access my website if they would like to look at other works.  Here are a couple of images:

Project 1 & 2 Update

Small Group meetings & critiques
with Stephanie Bruner, Bailey Carges, Andrew Debroux, Whitley Kemble, 
Adam Oestreich

For the most part, our group has been utilizing each other with design questions and critiques.  We would meet Tuesdays and Thursdays when we didn't meet with Professor Fender.  I think it really helped to develop all of our concepts and any questions we had for each other about the course.  With their help, I was able to design to my unique style and further push my teamwork skills.  Thank you guys for a great semester!

Project 3 Update

The End

It's been a long semester, but I think it went well overall.  I got everything printed last week and just had a few touch ups on some stationary items.  When looking back at my original timeline, I think I stuck to it pretty well.  There were times that I didn't want to blog or I needed a break from my logos, but everything got accomplished.  Looking back on all the items I have designed and created, I have a great sense of pride and accomplishment.  I want to thank Drake University and all of the faculty members for all the help and guidence over the years as well as anyone who helped me along this great, long journey.  Thanks all! Until next time!

Meredith Bernath

Project 3 Update: Outside Activity Notes

Typeface Movie
The Des Moines Art Center
5 points (extra credit)

Today I went to the Des Moines Art Center.  There were two movies, but I was only able to make it to the Typeface Movie.  The movie was about the Hamilton Wood Type Museum in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.  This museum was a type factory where everything was needed for letterpress.

There was a variety of small letters, large letters, and different size presses.  They showed a letter that was taller than a person at one point.  Several years later the factory was turned into a museum.  The factory was used to print advertisements and can still be used today.

This movie made me feel excited, but also sad.  It was exciting because people were still using it today.  I would really like to go there one day and make a print myself.  Throughout the movie, it showed the process from cutting the letters out, to preparing the ink, and then printing.  Some retired letter carvers still go to the factory because it is what they know and love.  Many of these retired letter carvers are starting to get older and due to health issues, don't get to go back the factory as often.  With the retired folk getting older, my only hope is that a younger person will start to learn the ways before the process is gone. It is sad to see that the letterpress museum is dwindling.  I really hope to get out there to make some prints of my own.

Here are a few things I picked up at the Movie entrance:

Project 2 Update

Final Logo Design and Business Card

After much deliberation, I have decided to stick with the blue and the final two logos.  The business card is well laid out and uses both front and back.  I will be cutting the corners so that they are round.  This will add a flow feel and emphasize the logo even more with the round feel.  In doing this, I think it will help to make my stationary system stand out from the rest.  Below are the final logo design on business card.

Project 2 Update

Logo Design



After looking at my past logo, I am unsure whether it truly represents me or not.  I think the old logo has  a great use of color, but it feels to corporate to me.  As a person, I pride myself in being professional, however, I also take situations as they come and go with the flow.  Stress I feel can take over your body and mind, to release some weight I "go with the flow."  I have started experimenting with layout with both this new logo and past logo.  The new logo I feel is getting closer to what I want, but again I think it still needs further development.  I love the use of colors in this one.  I tried to show how primary colors and create secondary colors along with my initials.  It almost feels like a button to me, making the theme of go with the flow a little static.  I will most likely revist this logo again, but I need to move forward with layouts.

Project 2 Update

Logo Design

I designed my first logo today.  I'm using my initials mb for my logo.  Colors I plan to use either blue or green because I feel it reflects me the best.  I like all these logos, but I would say the first logo in the upper left corner is my favorite.  It combines the colors I like and a creative use of mb.

Portfolio Review #2

Today I had a portfolio with Kim Welch.  Currently, she is the Creative Designer at Kum & Go.  Kim has had many jobs since her graduation from Grandview, but she has learned many different skills and experiences.  I was very happy after reviewing my portfolio with Kim.  She said that my portfolio was strong and had great potential in the graphic design field.  The only big suggestion I received was to rearrange my portfolio, so that my pieces would work together to make the portfolio stronger.  Kim also help to provide job hunting resources for me, which I found to be very helpful!  I can't thank enough the help Kim has given me with my portfolio!

Project 1 Update

Website Design

After much deliberation, I have to create my website with wix.  I know a lot about website design, but I feel it wasn't meeting to it's full potential and time is of the essence.  Soon I will have the website up and running!

Portfolio Review #1

Tonight I had a portfolio review with Jeff Harrison from Innova Ideas & Services.  He is currently an art director for them, but has worked freelance as well.  I showed my presentation portfolio and explained the various projects.  After filling out my review sheet, he gave me some great advice.  One of the things he suggested was to add some logo variation within my portfolio.  That way the viewer can see how my process works and see how I arrived at a solution.  We also discussed freelance quotes.  He suggested that I do $65 per hour starting.  I think that it is a good place to start and I'm glad that he gave me an idea to start from.  Jeff has worked both corporate settings and agency settings.  This really helped me get an idea of what kind of jobs that I could apply for.  Overall, it was a great experience and I'm really grateful for his insight on my portfolio.

Project 1 Update

Website Design

I setup with fat cow web hosting in February.  I have now started the design process and hope to have it completed by next week.  The color scheme and typography will stay the same.  Here is a link to my sitemap: http://writemaps.com/sitemaps/shareMap/ex1ff94yj185275iaeavqekbonj641po9w5k3e5syp4mb6cni4.

Project 3 Update

Printer Tour

Garner

Today we went to the Printer Garner in Des Moines.  Since we were such a large group, we got divided into 3 groups.  I never realized exactly how big a printer can be and the process it goes through.  The printer was enormous!  Even though there is a progression towards digital printing, it was neat to see they still had letterpress.  I wish we had gotten a chance to try it out.  Along with the embossing and foiling accents.  One process that I was curious about was the bindery. Most of the booklets can be put through the machine, but other times people would be hired to put them together.  I was also surprised by the whole size of the entire printer building.  I have never seen one that big.  I hope to learn more about the entire process of the printer.

Project 3 Update

Chad Owen

Guest Speaker

Chad's presentation today was a breath of fresh air.  Unlike the other presentation he told us the good and the bad of Graphic Design.  I really appreciated that he didn't fluff anything and was very blunt.  He also gave some new advice that I hadn't thought of asking.

The biggest key was not to job search during the summer.  In the Graphic Design world, it can be the slowest time of the year and companies may not need that extra help.  In one of his job experiences at an Ad Agency, he said it was very hard to have connections with clients and people.  All you do is stay on the computer all day.  For him, this wasn't the ideal job.  Personally, I want to have interaction with people.  When he mentioned this, it gave me a red flag to be cautious of Ad agencies.

Chad also mentioned, that awards get you places.  Awards also look good on resumes to potential employers.

When interacting with clients, it is important to know when to stop trying to convince.  Chad tried presenting a spectacular idea for the company and they weren't convinced.  The company wanted something generic.  Once Chad had tried to convince 2-3 times, he stops.  This was helpful to know when working with employers.  Another suggestion by Chad was to have people pay up front.  Many times new companies will start up and then run out of money. Leaving the designers with nothing.  In the same aspect, best pieces that are designed may never fully happen.

Sometimes when these situation occur, designers can get disappointed or depressed.  Chad suggests to make up fun little projects to keep yourself motivated.  I think is was very important!  Designers will always have good and bad days, by continuing motivation, great pieces can still be produced.

Chad's presentation today was very helpful.  I thoroughly enjoyed the bluntness and sense of reality in his presentation. 

Project 3 Update

Antje Gray

Guest Speaker

Antje Gray is a design from Design Matters.  In her presentation today, she stressed the importance of connections with people and helpful advice that incorporates with Design Practicum.  Being a member of AIGA, Antje suggests that becoming a member is a great way to make connections.  If not AIGA then, ADAI is also another option.  Details, Details, Details!  Antje is very particular to details: making sure stationary and portfolio are consistent, website is key, and job researching before interviews.  A stationary system and portfolio must be consistent in order for the representation of yourself is successful.  Colors and style should fit together, but also be able to print in black and white.  Many employers don't always print everything in color.  For digital in pdf format, Antje suggested that the cover letter and resume should be a separate document from the portfolio pdf.  All of the documents should be 8.5x11.   The portfolio should have 3-5 great pieces to show off your work for the potential employer.  

Website is key! CD portfolios are out of style and just to click is more efficient. Plus, Antje says this will show off that you can build a website that is functional and impressive.

Research a job before an interview is very important.  If a potential employer ask how you can be a asset to their company, you should be able to describe how you would fit into their specific company.  Using key words that the company uses will help your resume and cover letter stand out from the rest. Contacting the company before showing your portfolio shows not only that you are organized, but you are respecting the companies time.  If you show up, don't always expect a person to drop everything to look at the portfolio. When doing the interview process, be assertive and show you want to be involved.  Presenting the portfolio to the employer shows off the communication skills and problem solving skills with the piece.  Antje suggests to describe the assignment and then say how you find the solution to the problem.  Everything must have a reason: color, font, and imagery.

Antje's presentation was well done like the presentation done by Andy Cusack.  Her stress on connections, presentation of yourself, and attention to detail has helped me to move forward in my design process for design practicum.

Project 3 Update

Andy Cusack
Guest Speaker

Andy Cusack's presentation gave insight to types of jobs are available for a graphic designer.  He started with an introduction of himself and two different jobs that he has worked as a graphic designer.  The first job was with Principal Financial Group where he worked in house and the second job was with Integer Group at an design and marketing agency.  At Principal, he explained that he worked primarily with a small group of people on design projects.  Majority of designs were done by him and he worked an normal business day of 8AM-5PM.  This was different in comparison to Integer.  Andy explained at Integer that a thorough process is done to ensure the best quality of design.  Throughout the complex process, he stated the importance of specialist, designers, copywriters, account service managers, and editorial staff working as a team.  The agency required more hours of work, but he had more liberty on design work.  Besides Andy's work experience, he also gave tips on interviewing skills and portfolio presentation.

For interviewing tips, Andy presented thoughts that employees had Integer, questions that Integer would use for an interview process, and reiterating that detail was essential for success.  When presenting your portfolio, he stressed the importance of telling the company why you designed a project a specific way.  This helps the potential employer to see your design reasoning and thought process for a work.

Andy's presentation was insightful and encouraged me to research the type of jobs available in the career field.  I think I will take Andy's advice about starting in house and move into an agency position.  This way I gain experience necessary to push my knowledge as a graphic designer. I can't wait to get started on this journey!

Design Statement

       Graphic design is important to me because of how well can I get an idea across visually. This drives me to do graphic design work because I want to take ideas that people have and turn them into design that will help get them the results they want. Being a very visual person, graphic design has helped share all the different ideas I have with the world. Graphic design has really given me a chance to express my personality through well thought out design. As I develop as a graphic designer, I hope to take my work and make eye catching designs for a client, but also to help show my growth as a person. I want my designs to grow and impact the community.
     When first diving into a project, I like to do is research. Research is extremely important to get an exact feel of what the client wants. After careful research on I start out with numerous designs and then develop ideas. One of the biggest obstacles that can occur is when the client doesn’t know what they want. As a graphic designer it is my responsibility to solve the puzzle and design what I know the client will want.  My work shows the use negative space and its supporting role to the main content on the page. Many designers fill up space to draw intention where I feel my pieces are more eye catching because of well I can incorporate negative space.
    In my works, I feel there should be a good harmony with in my designs. When I say good harmony, I mean the relationship between my design and what the client wants. As long as I have a little bit of myself with in each piece, then I know that I will be content.   This way the client receives what they want and I know that a piece of me is the design. As a designer I hope to show my personality and my growth as a person with each piece that I design.