WEEK 5: New Process

Here are some thumbnails that I have started to develop for three different quotes. These were critiqued on Monday, and a lot of discussion went on around them. My approach to this project has changed some. Now thinking along the lines of a plan, it was said that getting all ideas out on a page for all my quotes would be the best way to go. Other than going about them one or two at a time. This idea would just show that I would formally evolve and I'd have to go back to the beginning and correct those. 

So now going forward I plan to have 20 final quotes to choose from, and then go forth with making mind maps and thumbnails. I have half done already, but have not photographed them yet. They will be shown soon. Then this process will take a more analytical approach when thinking about concepts. Possibly grouping them together if there are certain subjects I'm hitting when I'm making these maps/thumbnails.

One thing was established, which I really was happy with. When portraying these quotes they don't have to be specifically about the story.  Not everyone can relate to the imagery if they do. So when choosing a quote picking a subject that everyone can relate without the reference to the book is the way I'd like to go. So the mind maps will help me get there.

Here is a revised schedule with considering all things applied.
Monday I plan to have all thumbnails done, then to start designing two pieces from there.

WEEK 4: Planned Process

Earlier I expressed that I was wanting to develop something everyday this semester within the project. I don't want to sound like a loser, or someone who can't time manage myself...but that is HARD. Especially with three other classes on my plate, as well as free lance and design team. I really wanted to be able to do that challenge for myself and for this project, but I just don't see it happening realistically, and I don't want to set myself up for a major failure.

Moving forward I plan on slowing down the process a bit. Forgetting about making something for all chapters because I'm not trying to re-tell the story of "The Cather and the Rye" I'm wanting to pick and choose quotes and themes that I can relate to and that I think other people can relate to. This definitely looses the structured part of my plan, but I think having a more flexible plan may be better for this specific situation, because never know what will be going on during a specific day/week in the future.

Here are some QUICK initial studies I have done pertaining to the first three chapters in "The Catcher and the Rye".

The reason I'm changing the initial approach is because I don't want to make something that's not that great then have to make something GREAT out of it later....it has the risk of not coming out. I know that risks are good to take, I think that this process wasn't set up that well for me, specifically. These posters are simple. Too simple, for what I want the final artifacts to be like. I need to explore and express these themes and quotes at a deeper level.

WEEK 4: New Schedule

As you can tell, I'm behind. But, this weekend I shall catch up! That's my goal anyway.

Here is a revised schedule due to the critique we had last Friday (2/10) and a more clear idea of what is actually accomplishable. I'm not sure if I want to do the "Under promise, over deliver" idea within my schedule because I don't think I'll really push myself to over deliver if it's not a written down goal. Although, giving myself room to catch up in my schedule really isn't in there...I want to produce a lot, and end up with the best possibly solutions! It's overwhelming to consider getting so much done in a certain amount of time. But, I can do it. This will be my new phrase to tell myself ever day when looking at my written to do list for the day.

Here is the revised schedule:

You should be able to click on them and look at them in 100% view.

I'm hoping to give myself a lot of refining time towards the end in case my plans change with what I've made, or what I want to end up making with all the "posters" that I'm planning on making.
I know that with this schedule getting behind will be difficult. I really wanted to have a lot made before spring break so that when I get back it's all about picking and choosing which to move forward with. I'm just wondering if I should go about making these things one at a time, or do what I plan on? I think producing a lot of work at the beginning will be good, then stepping back and looking at the work and evaluating with is better to move forward with is best. Just because I know that nothing is ever really "finished" so if I go about making these pieces one at a time, I could seriously spend FOREVER on the first one.

WEEK 3: Schedule

This whole degree project this is changing and changing. Here is a tentative schedule to what I thought I was going to do, but after trying it for a week...and talking through it with everyone in critique my approach to this project will change. I will make a new post later today/tonight with updates.

WEEK 3: Day 01

This is going to be a lot more challenging for me than I thought it would. I mean, I knew it would be challenging, but when I started to try and to design something today it just seemed like I put so much pressure on myself. And that's not what this exercise is about. So, I went with my one of my first ideas on this run...Holden Caulfield refers to almost everything as "phony". Girls are phony, boys are phony, "it's" phony. He has a lot of animosity towards the people he's around everyday.

Within this poster I wanted to keep it simple. I'm sure it has something to do with it being my first one, and me not wanting to over-work it, or just do something to far, where it wouldn't even relate back to the book. The reason I chose to juxtapose the word "phony" and blonde hair is because, a lot of the girls I know with blonde hair dye it that way; it aint real people. I think this also gets at the idea of what traditional beauty is to people, but in reality what we think is beautiful is fake, or should I say, "phony." 

Next step is going to be sketching, SO MUCH MORE. 

WEEK2: The Catcher in the Rye

I'm not really sure where to start this blog post, considering that my idea has somewhat shifted a bit, yet again. Although, it has the basic ideas there still. I want to continue with my idea of making, and making a lot. I met with Kidwell, Jamie, and Marty about my idea change. They liked it, but had a lot of questions and essentially helped me form a new approach for going about creating something in a new "style". 


I think where people were getting lost in my idea before is when I mentioned specific designers that have influenced me. By choosing specific people to be influenced by, it could be seen as copying, or getting "influenced" too much. So...going forward I can reference them, but I don't think I will be so attached to their style or process. Rather, I will look at principles or techniques within graphic design that I have been taught within the passed two and half years. 


Next is content. I need to have something to design about. I proposed the idea of it being about me. Things I've wanted to say, or do but just don't have the courage to actually do it. Then the question comes: Who would your audience be? ...that was a stumper...ME! and people like me...who could relate to those sayings and situations?...it's a stretch. So I moved on to something that I, personally, have related to in the past and really love; J.D. Salinger's book "The Catcher in the Rye". 


"The Catcher in the Rye" has so many topics and themes that I have personally felt either recently or in the past. I remember how much I enjoyed reading the style of this book. It is so sarcastic, and witty. The themes of the book are catogorized as: teenage confusion, angst, alienation, language, and rebellion. With that comes sadness, innocence, relationships, anger, etc... Quotes and situations from this book I think will give me a lot of inspiration, and make me excited about the content of the posters I'm wanting to make, because everyone can relate to Holden Caulfield in some way or another. 

This brings me to my answer to how I'm going to go about doing this project. My plan is to essentially, make. Make something everyday. Show it on my blog, and move forward with the next piece the next day. After I get my schedule really hammered out this may make more sense. But, essentially the first third of the process I will just make something everyday...the second third will be about mixing and matching different designs here and there, everyday....possibly make more everyday as well. Then for the final couple weeks is to really finalize items to make them into a great series of images/posters/whatever they will end up being. I'm really excited about this idea, because it will be me in the mind set of not being so attached to my work, and let me make more mistakes. I just have to let go and create. 

As of right now I'm trying to finish re-reading the book, I was already in the process as the school year started, so now I have a reason to actually finish a book finally. I've pulled quotes and situations from the book that I like/interested/relate to and have started a file. My first official day designing something everyday will be tomorrow (Wednesday). So get ready. Open to any thoughts. 

"Holden believes that to be a "catcher in the rye" means to save children from losing their innocence."

WEEK 1:Degree Project: Question

When we as Seniors were asked to write about our Senior Degree Project I was overwhelmed. I mean, I'm sure everyone in the class was. All I knew was that I wanted to do something I would love, be proud of and not get tire of it over the course of the semester. At the time I was in a quilting class in the fiber department, so while this brainstorming session was going on I was immersed in this different culture and loved being in it. I really always have so I thought at the time I'd want to show the skill and interest off in a self-initiated project. 

Way back when, in December I stated my question of: How through graphic design can I utilize typography and coded language through quilting and traditional fiber processes? 

I'm not at all saying that people weren't supportive in this idea/question of my exploration, but I could sense some confusion and possibly some worried faces for me. So, I re-evaluated. I trust the opinions of my professors and peers, and if they think there is a problem with what I'm doing, I'm more than willing to look at the conflict more and figure out another way of going about what I want to do. With that being said, and after a 6-week break of an intense school schedule I have changed my degree project question. Which, I'm excited about. 

Throughout my time here at, KCAI I've been introduced to so many new things that I sometimes don't know what to do with myself. But, there are certain things that stand out to me and that I'm attracted to. These "things" I'm talking about also stand out to a larger public as well. So what is it about that particular piece that people like? Why is that poster more successful than the one next to it on the wall? We as human beings are all different, and are aesthetically attracted to different types of colors, objects, shapes, forms, etc. But, why? 

I consider myself new to the design world still, because I've only been really exposed to it within the past three years, since I transferred from JCCC. Or at least was aware of my exposure to it. So through out my time there are a few designers that have "tickled by fancy" so to speak. One of them being, Dan Funderburgh. Funderburgh is a Brooklyn based illustrator, artist and wallpaper designer. He got his BFA at KU actually. His work is inspirational to me because of the detail and consideration he puts in his imagery and pieces. He plays with visual puns and metaphors a lot, there's a slight sense of humor in his work that I appreciate. Another person that has caught my attention is Jason Munn. Jamie Gray showed us his "Small Stakes" book with music posters he designed awhile back. Almost all posters have visual rhetoric involved, which I love. I've always liked to figure out what images try to say through semiotics, so he really has stayed with me as someone to reference in the future. He definitely has this power with simplicity, that I think is tough to acquire. My last person I'm going to talk about is Jessica Hische. I remember when I would gather images to put in my "man, that's awesome" folder and didn't know who designed what, and most of the lettering images turned out to be hers. She definitely has a style and it stands out. I like that about her. 

So, you're probably getting bored and wanting me to get to the point already. Here I go. After really looking at my portfolio and all the work I've done over the years I feel like I'm lacking in a certain department, and that's form. I want to take advantage of this project to fit that missing part in my body of work, and really make it *~*~*~*~*SPARKLE!*~*~*~*~*.. To start I felt that by exploring and breaking down certain designer's processes and approaches that I enjoy I think is a good place to start. I mean, the best way to learn is to study, research, and practice, right? I'm still having a lot of trouble forming a question without it sounding selfish. But, here you go: 

What can I, as a graphic designer, learn and discover about the current formal qualities and design approaches within print media? 

Above: Dan Funderburgh

Above: Jason Munn

Above: Jessica Hische