Business and Postcards (FINAL)

Creating these business cards included me using many different types of tools like the Quick Selection tool and the pattern making option, etc... I was inspired by my passion for fashion and that is what drove me to make a vogue cover with a model on it. I have always wanted to create my own vogue cover and this was one of the best ways that I could create one. I had to use the quick selection tool to make the font go behind her head. I was really proud of this creation since it looked very professional and sleek. Then I made a circle pattern by using the Make Pattern tool. It took some time to create this since I had to make it perfectly aligned but it worked out very well.


Then I created my postcard which was inspired by a picture on tumblr that I found. I wanted to use warm colors for this to get a fall feel to it. I used a tight font to make it look more modern. To make the moon look good I had to use the minus front tool. I added my logo on each business card and I changed the colors for them to match the card. I also used the same logo font as Vogue did in order to get that professional look. Overall, this was a fun that helped my revise everything that I learned through out the entire semester.

Semester Reflection

         So far, this semester has gone very well in terms of me enhancing my different skills. Last year I was gone for most of video since I was out of the country but I knew that I wanted to go into video since it's something that I am passionate about. We have had a lot of different projects assigned this year from making a cover story on someone's hobby, an interview, covering the blood drive, and making our own ONW Now segment.

         Some key events were interviewing and recording someone else's hobby or interest. This really helped me expand in my skill set and taught me a lot about myself. It was difficult to have a set date on recording since things could go wrong so it's very important to communicate with your partner and having a back up plan. Things going wrong wasn't in my agenda so it was very stressful and nerve wracking. I was mainly nervous for that project since I didn't know what to expect and how the whole process would work out. Another issue was the staff change. Adjusting to these changes was difficult because it felt like we were behind on our projects and since it felt like we were rushed we couldn't come up with quality work.

       It was a little difficult not having someone work with you on a specific project and stand by you while recording, etc... I always like to have someone there with me to make sure that I have gotten everything correct and wasn't messing up on something. I fixed this problem by going through a checklist in my head and making sure that I didn't forget anything. 

       I learned multiple new concepts that I didn't know about last year. I learned about the two third rule and the 180 degree rule. Software wise I learned many different shortcuts that I did not know about before and I also learned about keywording and favoriting clips to make the editing process go by faster. Another thing I learned was collaborating, leadership, communication, time management, etc... These skills are what is needed in order to efficiently work together with a group of people.

My strengths would definitely be leadership, collaborating,  and communication. 

       In order to improve next semester, I plan on managing my time efficiently and making sure that all my work is great quality and would be something that is interesting. I hope to learn different techniques on Final Cut Pro that will make my videos more interesting and entertaining! Overall, this semester has been a great success. I have made a lot of great relationships with the people around me and also with the new teachers that I have met!

Famous Logo

       I created a Domino's Pizza Logo for my Famous Logo. I added a little of a twist to it to make it my own and for it to look original. This was really helpful because it helped me with creating my actual logo. I also created an Instagram logo but with different colors. 

How To (Logo Design)

In order to make a successful logo you have to follow a few steps...

1. Interview someone or be interviewed on the logo design that you/ they want.

2. Start sketching... this will help you make your actual full design! 

3. Go on Photoshop and make your sketches come to life,

4. Make a few or a lot of tweaks on the design depending on if you like it or not. 

5. Make an artboard with the same design but changed up a little bit so that you can design which one you like best.

6. Finally, pick your favorite design and adjust it a little bit and you're done!

Things to remember:

• Have someone critique your work since they are usually the ones that will be looking at your logo in the first place. 
• Add color if needed.

Personal Masks

                  

Logo Process

                                The first step of the logo designing process involved interviewing someone about their logo designing process. I interviewed Sydney Weeks on what she wanted her logo to be.

 For the second part of the designing process I started with some basic sketches of what I envisioned my logo to look like. The process was a little difficult since my sketches were not exceeding my expectations. The sketching process took about an hour but in the end it was worth the struggle.




The next part of my process included making my sketches come to life. As I was making this I realized that my design looked really bland and dull. I knew that the next thing I needed to do was add color and make it more appealing/ personal.

 

    As I was getting more inspiration I created different types of logos with different fonts, shapes, and colors.




At the end of the day I came up with this logo. During critiques I was told to incorporate the flowers which symbolize Kansas (where we live) into my design of my name with a line.
After 3 weeks I came up with this as my final logo design. The flowers were put into the end of the line to symbolize where I live. I used skintone colors because I like the simplicity of it and it's very modern which represents who I am. I used my name in all capitals to show that I'm confident, outgoing, etc... My logo speaks for who I am.


        During my meeting with Lofquist, we talked about my Meyer's Briggs results (ESFJ) and we talked about what my strengths were. I learned through observation that I work best with the people close to me and the people that I come in contact with. The factors that I exceed in the most include Communication and Leadership! Through out this semester I learned that I do well with time management and that I have improved immensely with my technical skills.

Painting in Photoshop

        Painting in Photoshop turned out to be a lot of fun! It was interesting to see what I would turn out with when I blended two of the colors together. Also, the different types of tools was a new experience. It was almost as if I was painting in real life with the actual paintbrush in my hand.

Photoshop Masks

         While I was creating these different masks I encountered a few problems. That is including the different projects that didn't include instructions. I solved these problems by collaborating with the people around me and problem solving through them. I learned different techniques like including a clipping mask in a layer and how to make an ombre effect on a piece of corn. I really want to explore different ways to make the font have the background of the picture.

How To Make Shadows

       Extracting an object can be difficult if you don't know what you're doing. Although, with a tutorial it is easier to try and practice with. Within the depths of Adobe you will find a way to fix the pixel fringe which is very helpful. Fixing the pixel fringe can make your picture look incredibly better and more realistic. Casting realistic shadows can be very easy with a few simple processes. It does take practice to perfect the art of making shadows but with time it should work out very well.

How To Move Mountains

          The scope of this project was to learn how to use the different tools in order to create a mountain floating in space. The main point of this project was to learn different techniques with different tools in order to incorporate it into your own work. The process included taking the main part of the picture and changing the layers in order to combine it together. I learned about many different tools, that including the Quick Selection Tool, the Layers panel, the refine edge tool, etc... The thing I would do differently would be the way the pixels looked in the pictures. I would want the collaboration and teamwork to be the same. I will use these tools to enhance my next project.

Saving Lives One Drop at a Time

          The scope of this project was to learn backpack journalism. We had to film the semi- annual fall blood drive that took place at ONW. There was a small process that occurred in order to make this successful. First, we had to make two sets of 21 questions from different angles. Second, we had to actually go and film the blood drive. Then, we have to make a script that included a summary lead, a delayed lead, voice overs, and an interview. After we made our script we recorded our voice overs and then we edited the video and published it on YouTube. I learned that backpack journalism can be difficult if you're not organized. You should go in and have a game plan even if you don't know what can happen. You should also know where and where not to film. This can also help you get great footage.

          What I would do differently would be the planning that went into getting shots. Getting someone to be interviewed was difficult if they didn't answer the questions thoroughly and effectively.  The thing that I would do the same was using my time wisely and getting as many shots of different Student Council members as I could. I will probably take the experience of getting rushed and having a short amount a time and apply it to my next projects. Overall, this was an interesting project although it seemed very rushed but it was a great learning experience!

Donating Blood Saves Lives

         This video is a great representation of the blood drive and the procedure that goes with it. I noticed specific details like the sequencing and the way the interview was set up. The way the video was sequenced showed the entire procedure of the blood drive. It showed the steps it took to be able to donate blood. The interview set up was something that needs improvement. The subject was looking into the camera and the angle did not follow the 2/3rd rule.

         The story of the blood drive was shown through the eyes of the blood donor. I would apply the sequencing into my story because it told a great story. The voice overs are something I have learned and applied to my previous projects. In my opinion, the sequencing was the best thing that the creator made. I also believe that this piece of work could show improvement by adjusting the audio levels. Overall, this was a very great video showing how the blood drive works with few needed adjustments.

ONW NOW Feature Story

         The scope of this project was to create a feature story on one other student's hobby or interest. The process to make this video took many weeks and many hours. First we went through the filming process which took a few days to get all the footage. Next, was to create a script that would be used to make the voice over's and for the editing process. The next step was to create the voice over's and to import all the v.o. into final cut pro. The last step was to edit the video and put it on YouTube.

         Through out the process of creating this I learned about ways to make the video flow better and what short cuts I can use to make that happen. I also learned that most of the time when you're filming, something will probably go wrong. In that situation I learned to be flexible and to not accept defeat.

         Looking back at this experience, I would probably pick 1 day to film everything. Since things went wrong it took about 2-3 days to film my partner. The thing that I would do the same would be the way I worked on my project and how I collaborated with people and got some opinions from them. I would take the technical skills that I learned and apply it to my next project. Overall this was a great project although you had to make time out of school to do it.

Professional Article Review: Creative Anarchy at It's Very Best

       This article talks about the methods to the madness of breaking rules and pushing boundaries. The author talks about the key elements of breaking rules like, "You have to learn the rules before you can break them," or "Pushing boundaries proves that you are a thinker and a doer, not just a follower," and also, bending the rules to make the concept yours can be a good thing. The author is trying to show that we need rules to function as a society but we also need the guts to break the rules. The author is also trying to show that bending the rules and making it flexible can be a good thing because then you can make your work bigger and better.

        As told by Denise Bosler, "Rules take on many forms, and we begin to learn rules the minute we comprehend language." Bosler is trying to prove that rules can be bent and made flexible for creativity at a specific time. Bosler also says that, "Design rules are more like guidelines, so the answer is anytime." Bosler does an incredible job sharing different scenarios that have occurred with bending rules. The main weakness that has occurred in this article is that her main focus on her feelings are not present in the first paragraph. This makes the article unfocused and unorganized. The author believes that breaking rules for creativity can be a good thing.

        I don't think that the author's argument supports it's main points. The article seems very disorganized and doesn't captivate interest. The evidence that she gives is very convincing and it really makes you think. The conclusion makes you interested and really makes you reflect on the past moments of your life with creativity. As a graphic designer it lets me know that rules can be ok to made flexible. I don't understand the writers main feelings and emotions. I may have to re-read it or the author is just unclear.

        Overall this was a great article that makes you think and reflect on your past projects. I really liked the actual experiences given from people and past history. Denise Bosler did an incredible job with the article and it would be interesting to read more of what she wrote. 

Oregon Shooting Witnesses Hit with Media Requests

          The tragic events that occurred on Thursday at Umpqua Community College in Oregon has swept the nation off their feet after a gunman killed 9 and wounded many others. Outrage sparked when the new's media nearly instant descent on anyone posting such accounts, in search of interviews.

          The author is trying to show the media's reaction towards this backlash and how they can't help but let it happen because that is their job and it's what they're supposed to do. One of the strengths in this article is that it shows all of the viewpoints from the media's perspective so that you can see how they feel/react towards it. One of the main weaknesses of this article is that it doesn't give much information on how the general public and witnesses feel towards it. It needs to show perspective from everyone. The author doesn't show any type of bias towards one side or the other but since he is writing this article through the medias perspective we can assume that he is more lenient towards the media's side.

          The author's argument does support the main points because he backs up what he says with evidence. The evidence that is provided can be convincing towards people that are in the middle although since it is focused on how the media feels it can make it seem sympathetic towards them. There can be ramifications towards this article based on what other's feel towards the subject. As a graphic designer/ videographer it seems like the evidence does tie back to the main points although it can be misleading because it only talks about how the media feels and not so much as the public. I don't understand why the author didn't explain how the public felt. This could have been because the writer was unclear.

         Overall this article was very well written and to the point although their were some details missing, especially from someone else's perspective.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/vultures-or-reporters-after-shooting-witnesses-hit-with-media-requests/2015/10/01/c7c53a86-6871-11e5-9ef3-fde182507eac_story.html

AudioStory

This video was about Natalie Kriegers tragic story about her foot getting cut at Schlitterbahn. I asked her about what happened that day, and how she felt about it and her reaction to the events unfolding.

Pattern and Motif Ceiling Tiles

The process it took to create this motif took a series of steps and being able to adapt to different designs. This includes creating different sketches and looking up many different patterns and designs. I created a design that includes many different shapes and a color scheme that matches the theme. I encountered many different obstacles like being able to think of fresh designs without copying someone's work from the internet. I also had some troubles being able to correctly measure where each circle goes. Overall this was such a fun project because I was able to make something of my own from scratch without having to follow some type of guide. These two designs can go towards my motif and ceiling tiles.

Michaela

         The Michaela project was based on the 6 shot system. This includes being able to identify each shot, and how to create a beginning, middle, and end to a story. This piece of work has everything that a 6 shot system sequence needs. It has all 6 shots including a Close up, Extra Close up, Medium Shot, Over the Shoulder, Wide Shot, and an Extra Wide Shot. Most of these shots follow the 2/3 rule. I noticed in Michaela, that the work that was done was flowing very smoothly. All the shots were framed correctly, there were no jump cuts, and the story had a fluent beginning, middle, and end. This is a story of a teenage girl named Michaela Gertner who isn't just an ordinary girl, she's a power lifter who competes in competitions. This story was told by her family and Michaela herself. They understand how Michaela's life works so it was best if this interesting story was shared through there eyes.

          One element from this work that I would apply to my own work would be the flow of the story. It has a beginning, middle, and end which makes it easier to understand the plot of the story and what it's about. I would add the technique of framing the shots to my work because my shots definitely need more improvement. What I have learned that is applied to this video is the 6 shot system. The creator of this video did a very well job of making sure the video flowed smoothly and was good enough to understand.

          As many people know, there are many ways to improve something. In Michaela, the parts that need more improvement are the plot lines, this including the beginning, and the ending. These specific parts don't give us enough captivating information to want to watch the video longer. The beginning should be interesting which flows into the middle of the story. Overall, this project was very interesting and will definitely help me with future projects. 

Recycling vs. Trash

This was a video we created for procedures at Olathe Northwest High School. It is about the differences between Recycling and Trash. Hope this is helpful for new students and old students!        

Pencil Project

     Creating these pencil designs has really opened my eyes to the type of style I have. I realized that during this creative process I started off with a simple design and started to change that specific pencil and it's colors in order to get my new creative pencil visual going. The picture that I added to my new pencil was a piece of paper. I wanted to symbolize what is shown in a classroom so I created a piece of paper and in that same picture I added my new pencil with my new can. My new pencil was a mechanical pencil and as for the color theme I wanted to add a new pattern that would blend in well with my can. For my new creative piece I created christmas ornaments. For this creative piece I used different shapes and added different patterns on it. I realized that the borders were very thin so I made the stroke 3 points. My 3 biggest take aways were being able to make each shape and combine it to make a pencil, adding patterns to each shape rather than a simple color, and being able to use the outline setting, the ruler, and the smart guide.

What is Graphic Design?

      There are many personal connections that I can make to Graphic Design, this including creativity and expressing yourself. Through this I can find my type of style while creating something. Another connection that I can make with Graphic Design is being able to find who I am and my beliefs. Through the whole creative, and design process I can find my sense of style like I had mentioned before. The last connection I can make with Graphic Design is how we can both change the world. You see Graphic Design everywhere but not many people realize it. Like Graphic Design we can do many things to change the world but most of the time they go by unnoticed.

Links: http://pomgraphicart.blogspot.com

http://www.mr-cup.com/blog.html

http://www.lostincheeseland.com

DubFresh In The Making

        The product we have created is called DubFresh. DubFresh is a toothbrush that plays music while you brush your teeth. What makes our product so much more unique than many others is that it incorporates the pause, play, rewind, and forward buttons which lets the customer play any song at the speed or parts they would like. Did we mention that our toothbrush is also waterproof? DubFresh is such a great product for our target audience (teens) to use that promotes great dental hygiene in a fun way! The main roles that I took on during this project is the Animator, the Graphic Designer (ad), the Typographer, and the actress in the commercial.

Animation

        Taking on the role of the animator was such an important task. In the animation we had to be able to show every part of the setting in which our product is at. I used a software called SketchUp to be able to represent our product in its appropriate setting. The setting of the bathroom was chosen because it is the most appropriate place you would use a toothbrush. Some problems I came across were being able to capture the whole scene. I learned how to use the 'add scenes' button and also how to capture the most important scenes.

Graphic Design

       I also took on the role of the Graphic Designer. I used a software called Illustrator to create the ad for DubFresh. I wanted to incorporate the unique play buttons on the side like on the toothbrush. There are so many different aspects of Graphic Designing and Illustrator that I have learned. Some of the different techniques I have learned is the aligning buttons to align the text with the picture. Also, I have learned the option, shift, drag technique which helps me copy and align different pictures. Some problems I came across were keeping the play buttons in the same line. I fixed this problem by using the option, shift, drag technique!

Animation

                                      

       In the Animation rotation I also took the role of being the typographer. For the font I wanted to involve the color scheme of the toothbrush which was purple, blue, and green. The font symbolizes a fun aspect and the blue incorporates the color of the toothbrush. I wanted to make the font very simple as making it to drastic take away the audiences attention of the actual toothbrush. I also made the slogan all lowercase because of how it appeals to a more younger audience and drags in there attention because of how it doesn't look to professional and has a child-like touch to it.

Video

       In the Video Rotation I took on the role of being the actress. The concept of the video focuses on the everyday life of a teenager and his mother trying to get him to brush his teeth. She presents DubFresh to her kid and tells him that it plays music which grasps his interest. He tries out the toothbrush and realizes he really likes it. Some of the struggles I went through in the Video rotation was being able to edit the video and not making it look like a jump cut. Also, picking when to start the music was a little difficult since it had to show that the toothbrush playing the music. I fixed this problem by adding the music when the boy was brushing his teeth and letting it play at the end of the video. In the original video presented our logo was shown at the end. I learned different aspects of Video using the software Final Cut Pro. Overall video was such a great experience!

Summary

        Overall the experience was wonderful. It really helped me learn about presenting and how to work together in a team. Some requirements needed were your Meyers-Briggs results and your animal results. My letters were ESFJ and my animal was a Lion. I mainly took on the leadership role by trying to gather the team and make sure we were on track. As apart of the team contract we all promised to contribute something to this project in which we successfully did. Next time we should all make sure that we ask for help if something is going wrong otherwise we will get off track.

DubFresh

          The product our group has made for this project is a toothbrush called DubFresh. This toothbrush is unique because it has an MP3 player that is waterproof and is exposed mostly to the age group of 14-18. The music this toothbrush plays is mostly Dubstep because in modern times this is what kids mostly listen to. DubFresh is a new and unique design that can appeal to the younger generation. DubFresh doesn't just make the parents life easier but also the children's. Teen's can enjoy brushing their teeth while listening to great music. They also get a healthier lifestyle. The design of this toothbrush includes buttons for pausing the music and forwarding the music, etc... DubFresh is the new tooth tunes for teens, it appeals to a wider audience and has a great variety of music rather than one piece of music. Overall DubFresh is a great product because it relates to a greater audience.

The Interview

        In this rotation of video I have learned a lot about filming and editing that I didn't know about before. In Final Cut Pro there were many shortcuts that helped make editing easier for me. For example, command B is a shortcut for the Blade tool. This helps you crop your videos better. Another example could be, Command I and Command E to import and export my videos. During this video strand I learned a lot about filming. For example, when your filming you have to make sure you have to same action and reaction to each so that your video doesn't look like a jump cut. An important asset of this video strand was the 6 Shot System. The 6 Shot System included six different types of angles that made our video look different but all the scenes were the same. After this video strand I will take everything I have learned and apply it to every day life, like if I am filming something or someone. Next year for my two strands I will take everything I learned and apply it to my projects.

The Chase Scene

        During the process of making The Chase Scene I learned that while editing you have to make sure that all your scenes have a reaction for an action. Another thing I learned is that while editing, when you cut the video, you must start off again in the same position the character was in before. For my next project I will apply the ability to make sure every scene is the same so that your video doesn't look like a jump cut. The collaboration in this project was different because we film two people and we all edit the same video but we all edit it differently, including different music and scene order. We can improve collaboration in our next project by working together to make sure all the scenes are correctly made and have all the same actions in the scene. We can also work together to make sure we create a clean cut video with no errors.

6 Shot Sequence

        The 6 shots in the 6 Shot Sequence are Extra Close Up (XCU), it is a brief close up of the hands. The second one is Over the Shoulder (OTS), shows what the person is doing. The third shot is a Close Up (CU), it answers the question- "Who is it?". The fourth one is the Medium Shot (MS), shows what the person is doing from the hips and above. The fifth shot is called the Wide Shot (WS), it shows what the person is doing, but not the entire scene. The sixth shot is called the Extra Wide Shot (XWS), it sets the scene.
         There are a lot of things that I have learned from the 6 Shot Sequence. The first thing I learned is that sequencing can compress time by compressing action. I also learned that wide shots should not go back to back, otherwise it is called a jump cut. The last thing I learned was that for every action there should be a reaction. I will apply the saying that for every action there is a reaction to my next project. I will also make sure that my wide shots don't go back to back otherwise it will make a jump cut.

Highlight Video

          To start off my project I used the program Final Cut Pro. Some of the tools we used were the i and o button on the keyboard which helped me input and output the videos on my timeline. I also the Command T button to fade out my video and music. To download the music I had to pick 5 videos and from that I used Command C and copied the link onto a website and then I used Command V and pasted it. In Final Cut Pro I also used the transition slides. I chose this particular hobby because I enjoy music and bands and I thought this would be the perfect mix. This is important to me because I love music inside and outside of this school and I thought it would be perfect to add my favorite band to it so I can show my love for music.