After a Friday afternoon/evening class at the Warehouse. Someone found a super cool video on YouTube.
I've gotten to my favorite part in my design project. I've got the big ideas solidified, my mission clear and my graphics in the right direction. Last week I managed to eek out a few roughs for actual design of my handwashing campaign. The class liked one direction in particular, but told me that I had to "loosen up." This advice isn't new to me. Ever since high school I've been told to get looser with my work. It's hard for me. Even when I thought I was loosening up, my art remained pretty uptight. With graphic design I'm even worse. I love order in my pieces, using a grid and perfect lines of common continuity. So in critique this past Wednesday, when they told me to "have fun" with my graphics, I knew they were right, and I knew I was in trouble.
The next day I decided to go for help. If anyone on this campus could help me loosen up my graphic design it would be Gail Hoffman. Gail was a professor of mine for my freshman foundation 2D Creative Processes course. I learned a ton in that class, and have kept up relations with Gail ever since. A good friend of mine is now the TA for this year's 2D course, so I knew where and when I could catch Gail before the class began. With examples of the design and a good deal of brainstorming and sketches I met with Gail for a few minutes. She gave me a bunch of new things to think about, and reaffirmed a bunch of things I already thought of. When it was time for her to turn her attentions toward the class she suggested that I come back later in between my classes that afternoon and ask her class what they thought. To tell you the truth, I was really not into this idea. I thought I already had a good place to go from based off of my crit in my CommDesign class, and my brainstorming with her, but since it was Gail asking, I couldn't say no.
Later that afternoon I show up in Gail's class. As soon as I walk in a handful of the students call my name. Turns out I have a bunch of them tours last year, and they chose to come to Syracuse. Most of them are even planning on entering my major. It was fantastic to talk to them. They're so excited to be here! As soon as the whole class was back from their break, I started my quick presentation. I told everyone about my project, showed them my roughs and asked them to comment on my typography, the use of color, the mood and anything else they could think of. Their responses were fantastic. The conversation was smart, quick and full of good feedback. I told them I might come back next week so the could see what I took from their critique and ask their advice again. It's nice to see the students so excited, and I'm sure it's great for them to see what a junior in CommDesign is up to (especially for the ones who plan on entering the major). Besides, I can never get too much feedback.
I'm feeling good about my new designs this week. I don't know if I've reeeeally loosened up, but I think I've gotten closer to what loosening up may look like. My colors are happy, my designs are almost whimsical, and the images have much more thought and meaning behind them. I'm excited for a very useful critique this Wednesday, and I'm also pumped to bring the new versions back to Gail's class. I'll tell you how it goes next week.
