Kicking off the year, we began by writing twenty characteristics about ourselves on a piece of paper. Not knowing the reason behind it, the class wrote. Once we had twenty things, we had to create three sketches per characteristic in which typography portrayed the feeling of that characteristic. Once the sketches were completed, we chose our twelve favorites and pushed them through illustrator.
Hours and hours I spent sketching trying to stretch my brain and be creative with my characteristics. It was challenging, but in the end I realized how pushing further really helped. Creating them on the computer was a whole different game. A lot of the time, I could not find fonts that met my sketches, so I scanned in a lot of my designs. Also through class critique, I learned to push certain designs in a different way. I ended up editing my designs two or three times.
Through this project, I learned that sketching is a really important part of a project. Also I enhanced my scanning and pen tool skills in illustrator and photoshop. I learned to take criticism in a professional way and change things to please the audience rather than what makes sense to me.
I wish I would've spent more time perfecting my worst designs rather than admiring my good ones. Some designs are not visually pleasing, and I wish I could arrange them in a way that would look best.
If I did this project again, I would definitely spend as much time on the sketches as I did. Sketching is the most important part of a project.
For my next project, I will sketch a lot and push my ideas to their limit. Also, I will use the knowledge I gained in file management.
I really enjoyed this project because it was a great way to learn and collaborate with others in the classroom. Also, since it was the first project of the year, I got to learn a lot of the names of people in the new junior/senior class!
-Tess Reid
