Graphic Design
I have gained valuable skills in using Adobe Illustrator, enhancing my ability to create visually appealing designs. I've also deepened my understanding of the collaborative and social aspects of research, writing and the design process. Additionally, I've learned how to effectively use color to evoke specific moods and how to use limited design elements to convey powerful messages. This knowledge has significantly enriched my approach to design and communication.
Famous Quote Poster
​Graphic design is created to convey emotion and the mood of the quote while using very limited elements.
My quote was chosen because of my nautical background. Seven years in the Coast Guard meant that I heard, “Smooth seas never made a skilled sailor,” to no end.
To achieve the thematic elements of “Smooth seas never made a skilled sailor” through elements President Roosevelt was known for: being an outdoorsman, but maintaining a nautical theme. While using color theory, I decided to opt for a more “sunset” theme with deep reds, yellows, and browns. In doing this, I wanted to evoke the emotions that are conveyed in Wild West movies.
Text-Based Book Cover Design
The book cover conveys the theme and mood while only using words, font, and color to convey a famous book cover. 1984 is an iconic book in which every rendition of the cover has an eye somewhere. I was limited to text, so I wanted to convey that message while keeping the book mysterious. To give it a hypnotic look, I wanted to practice with design repetition. I chose a color palette that was similar enough that your eyes were drawn to it to look like a hypnosis spiral. Ideally, I wanted to catch people off guard. I felt like 1984 was a difficult cover to do without some sort of drawn representation.
I wanted to keep elements of the “all-seeing eye” while keeping everything grim. Adobe Illustrator was a fun program, and this book cover was done through many experimental techniques, like spiral pens and downloading new font types. The techniques used give a dimensional feel while the colors allude to what is mysterious and grim about the novel. Some of the iconic elements of the book such as "Big Brother is watching" were kept to cement the icon status of the book.