Q + Snail.

Well, my first semester at OCAD is coming to a close. I can't believe that. It feels like just yesterday I was applying to try and get advanced standing in their design program. Today was my last day of classes and all my final projects have been handed in - only 2 exams left to do and then I will have 6 weeks to focus on my own self-directed projects. I honestly can not wait. It will be nice to be able to catch my breath finally.

Above (and below) are both parts of my last project for my Graphic Design 1 class. To be honest, I am not sure what the purpose of this project was as far as how it will help me market myself in the future, or improve my design skills... but I did enjoy doing it. Sort of.

The challenge was to chose a living object and blend it with a letterform. First, we had to show the letterform becoming the object, and then we had to try and combine the two into one icon. I did not find this to be overly challenging, for some reason. I think maybe the reason for this was that I did a good job of picking my object and letterform and designing the object to relate structurally to the letter. In some respects, doing this, made the project a little boring for me. What I can say however, is that projects such as this one have really given me more of an appreciation for illustrator and the many tools it encompasses.

As much as the last two weeks of this semester have been a very painful and stressful thorn in my side, I have decided I have actually enjoyed this first semester at OCAD. I have met lots of really great, inspiring and creative people, and I think it'll be interesting to see what is in store for me in the second half of my first year in the design program here.

Let's talk about the WIND, not the weather.

Design school has graciously given me this 5 minutes of breathing time to give you a glimpse into what I have been working on (for my Design 1 class) for the last 3 weeks: 25 individual compositions that convey the word "wind" both typographically and visually.

For the record, I didn't pick the word. It picked me... from the depths of a hat.

This has been a tedious project, and I will be beyond happy to hand this guy over tomorrow at 8:30 am. I am not exactly happy with the outcome of all 25... I think if I hadn't made the mistake of taking 7 classes + 1 tutorial this semester I would have had the chance to focus on these more as I would have liked. As with everything though, there has been lots I have learned through this exploration... and I am grateful for the experience.

Enjoy.

Coast to Coast.

Coast to Coast - Mix CD
Graphite & Digital

Again with the mix CDs... Here is another one I created over the summer. This CD design illustration was created to represent a playlist of songs about California. I guess the illustration is pretty self-explanatory... although I will try to explain it a little anyways. I've been to the California coast 4 times in my life - staying a week or so each time I've been there. It sounds cheesy... but the time I have spent in California has yielded some really great experiences for me, although, surfing stands out as the major one. As it turns out, that place has become special to me... California is one of many things/places that I feel inspires me in my artistic endeavors, and speaks to me on a number of levels. I tried to use iconic symbols (and things I have encountered while in California) to illustrate the cover to make it both recognizable and personal.

If you're interested, the tracklist/back cover is below... Unfortunately, the back cover ended up being a little rushed, but I still think it sort of works with the front cover.