Christine Retirado’s Project #1 – Line Pattern Mashup

For the Line Pattern Mashup project, we were asked to create a black-and-white, grid-based composition based on a song or piece of music of our choosing. The song I chose was “Puppeteer” from Jorge Rivera-Herrans’ EPIC: The Musical. The project employed a four-step design process. Step one of the design process—the Discover step—was to listen to a song or piece of music of our choosing and draw what we heard across one or two pages. We were asked to envision the music’s sounds as if they were lines, shapes, dots, and/or patterns and to get those elements on paper—keeping an ear out for any patterns in the music’s rhythm and/or beat. This part of the process enabled us to draw without thinking—to feel the music and let that feeling guide our pencils. From what we drew, we were asked to identify commonalities and to define them in 12 bordered thumbnail sketches—each thumbnail consisting of a pattern utilizing the repetition of shapes, lines, and/or dots with no geometric shape being filled in. The purpose of this 12-thumbnail composition was to display our music’s visual rhythm in a more structured form—keeping variety and scale in mind. Step two of the design process is considered the Define stage, where we had to pick six out of the 12 thumbnail sketches to better refine on Bristol paper using inking pens and measuring tools. We then had to research modular grid layouts and start drafting mockups that incorporated our six refined patterns for the final composition. The third step of the design process—the Develop stage—required us to finalize our grid layout design and use either inking pens and paper or Adobe Illustrator to compose the final design. Finally, the fourth step of the design process is the Deliver stage in which we present our projects to the class in the form of critiques. In these critiques, we describe the concepts and processes behind our pieces, discuss the overall learning process, and receive feedback. We must then write a reflective statement on the project and submit it.  

I honestly enjoyed working on the Line Pattern Mashup project because it forced me to look at lines and patterns in a way I never thought possible. As I designed my patterns, I learned that every line, pattern, and shape in relation to one another can illustrate something unique and pleasing to the eyes. Because of my penchant for concept art such as worldbuilding and character design, I tend to focus on the “big picture” and fail to admire the fundamental elements that make up an art piece. Since transferring to Communication Design, I have wanted to broaden my art horizons and try new things—and this project practically forced me to structure my design process instead of “going with the flow” like I usually do. As much as I enjoyed the process of this project and figuring out what it represented, it would be a lie to say that I never got stumped or frustrated at some point throughout. Given that this was my first time using Adobe Illustrator, I encountered many technical errors and had to watch numerous YouTube videos to figure out what I was doing wrong. I could have made my life easier by traditionally drawing my final composition, but I wanted to challenge myself and challenge myself I did. Overall, I am happy with my final grid design. I found it unique, it had variety, and it does my efforts justice. I can honestly say that I put my blood and sweat into it, and that makes me proud. If there is something I should improve on, though, it would not be the project itself but my mindset. I often strive for absolute perfection. I completed my project with little to no feedback from my professor, not because it was not offered but because I unconsciously presented myself in a way that made me appear unopen to feedback. I know that making mistakes is a part of the process and that listening to others’ opinions is crucial for development, but I often take comments personally and get hurt quite easily. I need to change my mindset and am in the process of doing so.