Topics in Graphic Design Short Essay

In week 1 of class, we started off how classes like these usually start; introducing ourselves. When it came to me I said the things I love to do and what I major on; which is, drawing, video editing, and I’m in the Graphic Design major. Everyone else had interesting stuff about them but most of us with the same major. I find it interesting how completely different people with different interest and hobbies can end up picking the same profession. That is something that just naturally happens throughout ones life.

After intros, we started with discussing design styles. Unfortunately, for myself, I am really on top with it, especially with History of Graphic Design not being my highest grade after passing the class. Some of them were familiar to me, such as, Dada. I hope we get to discuss more on such throughout the course. I took notes on those in a form of a timeline across the paper to make simple to understand.

Speaking of notes, we watched a TedTalk video about doodling. It talked about how visuals in your notes make them much more easy to remember. We are visual. Our brains process information better through images or signals. Which would explain why there is little words and more imagery in the streets whenever we drive or walk. Our four of learning is Visual, Auditory, Reading & Writing, and Emotion. I, myself, like to doodle, but, rarely do it for note taking.

We also watched a short film from Pixar called “Piper”. It is about a bird teaching her kid how to get food; by going to ocean when it drifts away and checking shells for food. When the little bird tried once, it did not work out and he did not want to go ever again. He watched hermit crabs go to the ocean for food, but, when the ocean comes through, they sink themselves in the sand. The bird learns this and found a much easier way for him to get food. He stood out from the rest of his kind with this. This film really appealed to me with its visuals and message.

What I want to do in the future is be a graphic designer at a steady firm and do freelance work and commissions for the other things I love to do. I plan to get my master’s in design while mastering fine art and video to do on the side. I feel like this course would just be another step to that ambition. The knowledge I’ll gain and relearn will be the tools to that as well. It is good to learn something twice so it sticks to you.

Interview Video Project Process

Password: 5559dspGBlO

As recording goes, it was a little bit tough. Finding the right time to do it was hard. Getting the right angle and asking a question with elaborate answers was tough as well. Due to many pauses in between answers. I recorded with my phone, so I had to make sure there was enough room so the interview does not cut off. I made sure there was a voice recording during the entire interview. I wished I was a little closer with the camera and better lighting sources. My subject did answer my questions with open arms.

As far as editing goes, I enjoyed the experience the most. It was my first time ever doing video editing and I enjoyed every second of it. Finding BGM was simple with one youtube search away. My videos came together from my phone and turned out better than I expected. The audio came reasonable hearable. Editing the content to make the interview 3 minutes long was the toughest part of it since I had more than 20 minutes of it. Adjusting the volume and transitions was very fun and is very easy to get in on. Overall, my editing experience made this project one of the most engaging ones I have had this semester and hope to do more stuff like this in the future.

Interview Questions

Who are you and how old?

What are your favorite moments in high school?

Were you doing extracurricular?

Did you enjoy it? If so, then why and what you did?

Would you consider it a passion to this day now?

What do you do now and what lead you there?

Is there anything else that you have been doing on the side, perhaps a hobby?

Where you aim yourself from there?

Do you have any regrets from any of your answers, no matter how little?

What would you have done differently?

Did this interview helped solve any questions you had for yourself that were not asked, if so, what?

Based on all your answers, how would you describe yourself in one or two words?

Cooper-Hewitt Museum

https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/404576393/

This textile was made in The Netherlands designed by Alek Gaca. It was commissioned in 2000. The materials are cotton, wool, polyester, mohair, and digital jacquard woven. She used yarn to build the textile in dimension. I found this one interesting because the depth it has as it goes down. Also, when viewed further back, you can see a gradient effect in it.

https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18703475/

This is one of the Staircase Models that were made in France. It was constructed in the late 18th century and was brought to the museum in 2007. The mediums were joined, planed, bent, and carved pear, wrought brass wire and turned to bone. It is compared as Robert Adam’s 20 Portman Place in London. I find this model interesting because I am a sucker for such architecture. The way the stairs flow through in a curvy style I find to be the most beautiful out of the rest in the exhibit.

https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/1158822627/

This is a catalogue for the American Designers’ Gallery. This was made in 1928, the same year in the American Designers’ Gallery was established. The content of the catalog were showcases of 15 American designers work. One designer being in this catalog, also designed the cover of this by the name of Ilonka Karasz. I like this one because of the color palette and typography. The geometric shapes in the type really stood out to me and it is still legible.