MY FINAL PROCESS

All of the readings were unique in their own way. Each one took a different angle about design and the history that comes along with it. You have "walton" who has a very outdated sense of design that goes back to earlier years (which is still important to be introduced too but not very useful now a days.) Then you have Bruce who talks about the attitude of design, andrew who talks about the development of design, meredith who talks about how modems aren't valid anymore and the history that goes a long with it, and of course me who has no idea because I'm just a beginner! Each article/person has a different aspect that relates somehow to design today. Everything they each have talked about has had an influence on either a designer or a design itself and i think that is such a wonderful thing about design. What people have to say and the type of designing that they do impacts the future and gets across a message to thousands and thousand of people. These articles spread a wide variety across the design world and without even one of them it wouldn't be complete. You need the past of design, you need the development, you need the history, so you can bring those together and come up with the future. I think that design thinking comes from the designer itself. I think to truly understand design and think like a designer, you have to be one. The beauty about that is most everyone can design even if they don't realize it. Design can be how you put your magnets on the fridge, or how you doodle on your history notes, or even how you put your food on your plate. Design is so simple yet can be so complex and i think that is one of the beautiful aspects about it. GRAPHIC design may be a little different but DESIGN in general is in anyones hands. It comes from inside, you just have to pull your creativeness out that everyone has a little of and just express it in a certain way. My personal design process has been a great experience. I have had all different types of teachers guiding me and teaching me. I have had a variety of teachers which relates back to the variety of articles, all of them are different but are all so important because of the range of knowledge and design techniques. This 224 class has really broadened my thought process and my thinking. I have thought about the BIGGER picture and have let my mind be more free. I love how you (luke) don't tell us what to do or give us strict boundaries on projects, you want us to reach deep down and design something completely on our own. You are there to guide us and give us advice but you never tell us what to do or how to do it which is really good practice for design careers ahead. I have learned to design with people as well, which i think is tremendously important because most jobs now a days you DO work with several designers on a project and you need to learn how to communicate and take criticism. Another thing i have learned (a great opportunity) is working with an actual business "transition projects." I have never done anything like that before and it was great practice for me to put myself on the line and design something that they needed. I did have a partner that helped me but baby steps are better than nothing! I think i have come out with 3 great projects from this class and I'm very happy with where i stand and how far i have come in just 2 terms! I hope to keep progressing and I'm going to take everything from this class and apply it to my future. 

MY article - GRAPHIC DESIGN: tools of the trade

In this article it talks about the future of graphic design and where it is going. It states that by 2014 the job positions will open up by 15 percent because of how many businesses need web design, advertising, marketing, and publishing. Think of all the businesses out there that need advertising such as big corporations or even small local ones that just need a brochure made to get their name out. Everywhere we bike, walk, or drive design is always around and someone has to be the one that does it. The articles talks about how once you break into the field of a design career you'll need to pursue continuous learning opportunities to maintain an advantage. Staying on top of your field such as updated software, emerging styles, and the constant shifting marketplace are very good to be aware of for success. The article also talks about how great of a job it can be because you can use your creativity and what you love, but get paid a decent amount as well. Your options are endless with this career because you can go into many different types of fields, different types of advertising, or even start your own business! Once you get that degree the ball is in your hands and you choose what you want to do with it. After reading this, it reassured me of how much i WANT to be a graphic design artist and how i eventually want to rise to the top and help small companies get larger by promoting good advertising. I want to help them and make an impact on their success. I want to feel that accomplishment and i hope one day i can do that. I know its going to take hard work and it's not going to be easy but I'm willing to work hard and put my best foot forward. 

This is our second brochure we did (the main one) that is not only volunteering but about location and what "transition project" actually does for the people in need. 

This is our first brochure that is just for volunteering! We took are own pictures which i thought turned out pretty cool. 

Here is our frustration on the re-do project (the brochure for transition.) We had some fun playing around with it. 

Here is part of our process for the second project. This is our map before we actually designed it into the bike wheel. 

Kaitlyn showing off our transition project wheel as well! 

Me holding our second project, the transition project wheel

Kaitlyn and and I getting ready to take some dinner pictures for our brochure! 

Transition Project

Kaitlyn and I did our project on transition center which is located downtown on Glisan. We went and visited the center a couple times to get research about how they organize their program. It was my first experience their and i was very impressed with the way they have it set up and the passion they have for helping homeless people get off the streets and start their lives. They truly want to help and I think more people should be involved in volunteer work and donations because a little bit goes a long way. Around 9,000 people a year get homes and jobs just because of transition. We decided to make our project on a bike wheel representing the circle of homelessness that people get trapped in and cant get out of. Also representing transportation to commute to and from a job that helps protect the environment. We gathered all are research that we got from visiting transition and put them into categories throughout the bike spolks. We did bright colors so that it would catch peoples eyes and make them want to come over and look. I think that it is a great way to get your voice out on subject that you truly care about because so many people ride bikes and even people who walk by can look and read what is important to you. If i had 30, 000 dollars to go towards this problem i would promote transition advertising on as many peoples bike spolks as possible so we could spread the word about how much one person can make a difference! Phone numbers and even website addresses would go along way so people can atleast check it out and see if they are interested. I would love to see 9,000 people turn into a lot more because their are still plenty of homeless people who need help by the ones who are ABLE too and who have an income. As far as working with Kaitlyn i dont have many complaints at all! She is wonderful to work with and she has also opened my eyes on a lot of issues about homelessness. She is reliable, she is creative, she is easy to work with, and she works hard! What more could i really ask for?  We are doing are re-cap project together and I'm really looking forward to working with her again!