Assignment Overview:

In this assignment, you will explore and develop your personal brand as a graphic designer. Personal branding is crucial in establishing your unique identity and setting yourself apart in a competitive design industry. You will create a comprehensive personal branding strategy that includes your visual identity.

Objectives:

  • Understand the importance of personal branding in the context of graphic design.
  • Develop a strong visual identity that reflects your design style and personality.
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills in presenting and promoting your personal brand.

Assignment Components:

1. Personal Branding Research (33%)

• Research and analyze the personal branding strategies of successful graphic designers.

• Identify key elements that contribute to a memorable personal brand in the design industry.

2. Visual Identity Creation (33%)

• Design a logo that represents your design style and personality.

• Select a color palette, typography, and visual elements that align with your brand’s identity.

• Create a style guide that outlines the usage of your visual elements across various design assets.

3. Brand Communication (33%)

Prepare a presentation that introduces your personal brand to the class.

Clearly articulate your design philosophy, style, and the story behind your brand.

Discuss how your personal brand differentiates you in the competitive design industry.

Submission Guidelines:

• A presentation outlining your personal branding strategy and rationale (2-5 pages).

• Visual identity elements, including logo, color palette, typography choices, examples of use and style guide.

• Presentation slides for your brand communication presentation.

Grading Criteria:

• Clarity and creativity of visual identity.

• Consistency and professionalism of online presence.

• Effectiveness of brand communication in the presentation.

Project Overview:

Create a compelling personal branding identity, including a unique and versatile logo, that reflects Your professional identity and values. This personal brand will be used across various platforms to establish a consistent and memorable presence.

Assignment 1:  Part A Personal Branding Brief 

Project Objectives:

  • Develop a distinctive and memorable personal brand that captures [Your Name]’s personality, expertise, and aspirations.
  • Design a versatile logo that can be used across both digital and print media.
  • Ensure the personal branding aligns with [Your Name]’s professional goals and target audience.
  • Establish a consistent visual identity that reflects professionalism, creativity, and uniqueness.

Answer these questions to start getting an understanding of what your brand will look like.

  1. What values or attributes would want to explore that represent your brand?
  2. How would you describe your personality? (e.g., innovative, approachable, sophisticated, energetic, etc.)

3. What emotions you want your personal brand evoke in the audience?

4. Do you have any initial ideas or preferences for the logo’s visual style?

5. Are there any specific symbols, icons, or imagery that should be included in the logo?

6. What colors do you envision for the logo? Are there any color preferences or associations?

7. Besides the logo, what other visual elements (typography, patterns, etc.) would complement the personal brand?

8. Are there any individuals or brands that you admire or consider competition?

9. Do you have any examples of personal branding or logos that you find inspiring?

10. Where will the personal brand and logo be primarily used? (e.g., social media profiles, website, business cards, presentations)

Deliverable: Create a Word doc or Google Doc with your answers

Due: Monday 2/1/2024


Assignment 1 (Part B) Personal Branding Moodboard

Assignment Description:

In this project, you will delve into the exciting world of personal branding through the creation of a comprehensive moodboard. A moodboard serves as a visual representation of a brand’s personality, values, aesthetics, and overall vibe. This assignment will allow you to showcase your graphic design skills while exploring the intricate elements that contribute to an individual’s personal brand.

Project Objectives:

Understanding Personal Branding: Gain insights into the concept of personal branding and its significance in today’s professional and creative landscape.

Visual Storytelling: Develop the ability to visually communicate a cohesive narrative that encapsulates the essence of an individual’s personal brand.

Aesthetic Exploration: Experiment with diverse design styles, color palettes, typography, imagery, and other visual components to create a harmonious and visually appealing moodboard.

Research and Curation: Practice effective research and curation skills to gather relevant inspiration, references, and visual elements that align with the personal brand you are working on.

Composition and Layout: Learn to arrange and compose various design elements on a digital canvas to create a balanced and impactful visual composition.

Digital Design Tools: Utilize graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite Photoshop or Illustrator or InDesign, whatever you are comfortable with) to craft your mood board, showcasing your proficiency with these tools.

Project Guidelines:

Brand Exploration: Research and gather information about the values, aspirations, hobbies, and any other relevant aspects that you want to contribute to your personal brand.

Visual Elements: Collect imagery, colors, typography examples, textures, patterns, and other design elements that resonate with the individual’s personal brand attributes. (You can gather references for websites such as Google Images or Pinterest) 

Design Composition: Arrange the collected design elements on a digital canvas to create a visually cohesive moodboard. Experiment with different layouts to find the most effective arrangement.

Typography: Integrate typography that complements the individual’s brand image. Experiment with various fonts, sizes, and styles to convey the desired emotions. (doesn’t have to be the final font you are planning to use in your final product) 

Color Palette: Select a color palette that resonates with your brand personality. Ensure the colors evoke the intended emotional response.

Examples of mood boards:

image
image

Presentation: Prepare a final presentation of your mood board. This can include a digital file (PDF or image) that can be easily shared and a brief description explaining the design choices you’ve made. 

Deliverables:

  1. A high-resolution digital mood board showcasing your personal branding design exploration.
  2. A brief written description (approximately 200-300 words) explaining the design choices you’ve made, the reasoning behind your selections, and how they reflect your personal brand.

Evaluation Criteria:

Your project will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Concept and Creativity: The originality and depth of the visual concept that aligns with the individual’s personal brand.

Visual Execution: The quality of design elements, composition, and overall visual appeal of the mood board.

Coherence: The degree to which the chosen elements collectively convey a consistent and unified personal brand identity.

Typography and Color: The effectiveness of typography and color palette choices in conveying the intended emotions and brand personality.

Presentation and Communication: The clarity and conciseness of the written description that accompanies the mood board.

Submission:

Submit your project as a digital file (PDF or image) along with the written description via the discussions on Openlab. 

Due by Thursday 1/15, for in-class discussion

Comments and feedback on other’s posts is highly encouraged.

Remember, this project is not only about design skills but also about understanding and effectively communicating the essence of a personal brand through visual elements. Good luck and have fun exploring the world of personal branding!