got it covered

The most daunting task in designing the notebook I talked about in the last post was the cover. However, thanks to some great direction from the boss, it came together rather quickly and easily. I designed two variations, which were then decided on by somebody (I actually wish I knew exactly who this was).
These were the choices:












The one on the left is obviously more conservative, and we were sure that was the one they would choose. However, they went with the one on the right, which is the one I prefer anyways. It seems to be a rare occasion that the design that I have more pride in and spent more time on is the one that is actually chosen.

the notebook

Project of recent: designing the free notebook that is given out to SOU students. In previous years a calendar/planner was given out, but starting last year they switched over to notebooks. Within the notebooks are some ads (of course, nothing is REALLY free, is it?) and 8 pages that the University may fill with whatever content they please.

Fortunately I got the job of filling these pages and also designing the cover.

The theme that my supervisor came up with was Campus Resources. So the notebook will be designed around the different resources and support available to students.

The most difficult task for me in all this was coming up with a concept for a theme that I would use on all the pages. After several hours of playing around with different photos and layouts, I came up with the idea to make each page look like a cork board/chalk board. It has a scholarly look, and maybe it's even a little cheesy, but I think it really works with this content.

So for now, I am laying out the different pages as the copy gets forwarded to me.
Example numero uno (not even close to being done yet):

graduation

I haven't actually received confirmation that I am in fact graduating, but I would just assume so since I have fulfilled the requirements. I have been almost as excited about making really awesome invitations as I am about actually graduating. 

I created these using the same cap vector graphic that I used for the Bookstores graduation signage. The context of it, however, is completely different. 

All of the RSVP info and addresses are on the opposite side of this 5x7 postcard. They will be printed glossy. I CANNOT wait to get them back from the printer!!! 

recycled

Just finished printing material for next weeks recycled sale. I included lots of different textures because I am trying to branch away from my typical overly-clean looking layouts. And it really fits the recycled theme. It is looking a little foggy here, but it is actually quite vibrant when printed.

this week

Today I am just finishing printing up all the signage I have been working on for the upcoming Grad Fair at the bookstore. You will soon see the Southern Oregon University campus (or at least anywhere near the Stevenson Union) plastered with these posters.
I'm in love with this font right now and will probably be abusing it.

i can run, but can't hide.

I am halfway into my perfect spring break vacation (a few days in Davis, CA, some time in the bay area, then off to Vegas, and plenty of time spent with my best friends in the whole world), and guess what I'm doing? Thats right, working. I really can't complain though because I genuinely do enjoy it. And doing this work while on vacation makes it seem even more fun. 

I spent last night and this morning helping my Scarlett with a brochure for her work, Bay Area Sound Studio. 

Now I am working on editing Ashley and Adam's wedding photos. 

Then... to San Fran to visit Scarlett's favorite Cuban restaurant!

i taste completion

Design page: DONE
Photo page: DONE (as of just now!)
Home page: I STILL HAVE NO FUCKING CLUE.
So its great that I have so much of the busy work done. But now I need to design a home page. And I have no clue what to include. jfakfjdskdsa

i like buttons

Design page finished today! woot!
Now I will use this as a template for my photography page. I am spending most of today resizing photos and creating buttons and such. Hopefully I can get all of this squared away before I even begin creating the photography page.
click it.

stuff i like

This morning on my homepage I saw an article about an underwater photographer, David Doubilet, that has done a series about people. It has a very different feel than most of the underwater portraits I have seen and I dig it. See it here in all its glory.

Also, I thought I would mention the website of one of my closest friends because he spends most of his free time on it, and it kicks ass. It is RideWithGPS.com. It is a website that is useful for cyclists, motorcylists, even drivers, to plan a trip, or to map out a trip they have already taken. It can show them the the geographical as well as the entire elevation map of the trip. In addition to this, the site is also a social networking tool. You can upload photos, write comments on other people's profiles, and meet other people who might be interested in doing a ride or who have experience with the ride themselves. This site is essential for people who road bike or ride motorcycles. 

My friend, Cullen King, one of the two creators of the site, is studying Computer Science at OSU. He spends a considerable portion of his day (oh, 18 hours or so) in front of his two fancy monitors writing code. And the website is doing pretty well too. Well enough that rather than graduate this spring, he will be taking time off school to work on the site full time. I would normally want to kick his ass for this, but I have complete faith that this site will really take off. Kudos, Cullen!

ohmygodimsoexcited.

I'm so happy I could cry. But I won't, because even though I have a substantial amount of one of my pages figured out, I also still have a substantial amount of work left to do. I still need to add substantially to the design portfolio, fine tune the graphics of the page, and tweak the layout. Then build a similar page for my photography.
Still, I'm gonna relish in this small accomplishment.
click it!

big brick wall

While in the lab today:

• Flash decided to crash right before I was going to save the hour or so of work that I had just done.
• Flash would crash every time I tried to test my movie.
• I am entered some buggy script or something. I don't get it.

So. I'm gonna call it a day.

woot woot!

I just got it. And don't you know that I am stoked on spending my weekend in the digilab geeking out. 

sweet site.

I was pointed in the direction of Todd Snider's website, and I have to say I dig it. Simple, and easy to use. He is a badass.

Findings

Was just filtering through some old photos from weddings for the portfolio and I found these from last summer. The lighting was pretty funky for a lot of the wedding, but I had a fisheye camera and managed to have a little fun with it.

Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson.

I think that I am getting some clarity with this project. But then again, I thought that I had it before, and I don't think that it really got me anywhere.
This week: ordered Flash CS3 for Dummies (should be here Friday); gathering all my portfolio work and putting it in a consistent format so that it is ready to go into Flash; avoid doing anything else in any other classes.
Next week: Create a skeleton in Flash and figure out how I am going to get what I want out of it; start putting portfolio images into Flash; try to maintain my sanity.

Another Update

So here it is, week I-don't-know-what. I have made some progress on my intro video, so now I just need to figure out a plan for the next steps to making my home page.
I am going to Corvallis this weekend to photograph a wedding. I think that since I will be working on that stuff, I should filter through my photographs to figure out which ones I would like to use in my portfolio.
Here is progress thus far (click the bowl):
I am not too stoked on the graphics, but that is something that I plan on adjusting once I get everything more or less in place.

A Very Happy V Day

Coraline in 3D exceeded all of my expectations, and they were pretty high. I think it was the best movie I have ever seen. Definitely some pretty sweet eye candy! If you haven't seen it yet GO DO IT NOW!!! I plan on seeing it again as soon as I can...

Stroking My Ego

That is the #1 reason I work at the Bookstore. There is nothing more exciting than showing up to work and having your employers how great they think your work is. Today when I got to work they told me that no fewer than 3 people have tried to actually buy the promotional posters that I made. I don't know WHY. But I'm not going to question it or turn down a compliment. It is one of my favorites and will definitely need to be in my portfolio.
It is for our display where Bookstore employees pick out their favorite things from the store.

This reminds me that I will also need to write up descriptions of my work to go along with my portfolio.

Bah Humbug

Last week I had the idea of making the copy for my homepage links out of frosting. So I made frosting, attempted to write them out, and then photograph them. It turned out like shit, but thats okay, because it gave me other ideas.







Now I am working on making a video clip for an intro to my homepage. It is a making frosting clip, then after it is made, it will spell out the copy. I don't know if this makes any sense to anyone but me, but for now I am working on that video clip.


















I know that there are much easier ways to go about this flash thing, but I don't get the impression that this is a program that has a fluid learning curve.

Frighday

While at work today I am looking through some of the posters and other work that I have done here to compile for my portfolio.
Also, I think that I am going to be taking some shots for the front page of my site. My mom is in town this weekend, so I think that she will help me with it... more on that later this weekend...

I got it.

Another button!

I am easily impressed.

I just got my highly coveted new issue of Portland Monthly Magazine! Few things are more exciting in my life than finding that rag in the mailbox every month. 

This month they had an article about the movie Coraline, which was created by a production studio named Laika that is owned by Phil Knight, the same dude who owns Nike (you know, that little Portland-based shoe company). 

The article, HERE, is pretty damn sweet! I was very impressed with the whole process they described in how it was created. I don't normally have much interest in animation, but I think that it was the old-school process that hooked me.

Inspiration and Perspiration

Just looking at some other sites for some inspiration for my website. They say mockery is the highest form of flattery, right?

I began by looking at the website of wedding photographers because I have a whole list of them, and they have the same general concept that I am going for: an online portfolio. So here are some I like with notes:

Cohn Frankel Photography doesn't have the best home page, but I like that in the galleries it auto scrolls with big photos and the ability to navigate to other photos. Not such a big fan of the homepage though, with all the small script on the lower half.

Danielle Gillette's Photography website is another flash site. I like how easy it is to navigate, and see all the menu options while looking at the portfolio.

Shazam has a simple but efficient online portfolio.

I know that I want my site to be a reflection of my style as a designer. Above all it needs to be easy to navigate.

I DON'T know where to go from here. Dreamweaver tutorials? Or just flash? Will I need to pay for Lynda.com?

I guess that I will just start drawing some ideas for a layout in the meantime.

¡Jamborie!

Click my box. Then click it again. The result is pure magic.

Some Place New

The assignment was to go someplace we have never been before. Again.
It is not exactly a place I have never been, but I got the keys to my new apartment yesterday, and before that I hadn't been there for more than just a few minutes. Because it has a washer and dryer, I have been saving all my dirty laundry until I got the keys. So yesterday I brought over a load and hung out there until I had clean clothes again.
I inspected the place for damage so that management could not take it out of my deposit when I moved out. I unpacked a few things. I washed a few dishes.
And then I wandered around the place aimlessly. I tried to get a feel for it, get an idea of where I would put my furniture. I thought about what artwork I would put in which rooms. I thought about who my new roommate might be. I also thought about how happy I am to be able to filter through my belongings and start anew in this place.
And then I realized that the place doesn't have toilet paper yet, but I realized a little too late...

Capstone Project

I have REALLY been putting this off. I certainly don't want to make excuses, but with two jobs, 12 credits, and a personal crisis that I am (reluctantly) having to deal with, I am as stressed as I have EVER been. I am giving it my all to stay sane and enrolled. In order to do that I will get this out of the way. So here goes:

Verelle's Personal Website Project

This term I would like to create a website for my artwork.

I need a website that showcases my design work and maybe also my photography (although it might be appropriate to create a separate site). I originally intended to create this site in dreamweaver, a program I would have to learn, but now that I am learning Flash it seems that it might be a realistic option. I would like the site to be a clear representation of my style and be easy to navigate. 

I have so much to learn if I am going to complete this task by the end of the term.

I will need to:

• Come up with an easy-to-remember and fitting URL.
• Pick my poison? Dreamweaver or Flash? I will need help figuring this part out.
• Draw up a layout for the site.
• Compile my portfolio.
• Do the dirty work of building the site.
• Probably about 30 other steps that I just can't think of right now.

I am going to need some serious tutorials if I am going to learn a new program in just 8 weeks. Maybe Lynda.com? 

Also maybe some Alprazolam. 

I don't know if this idea for a Capstone project is a realistic expectation. I know that there are far easier things that I could choose, like setting up my job at the Bookstore (working as a graphic design/promotions assistant) as an internship, for example. 

Any suggestions?

Fun Flash Sites

The FWA has a list of the best Flash websites. How convenient.

My favorites would have to be some of the "simpler" ones:

Tracy Chapman

Brings out the child in me.

The Great Equation

Brings out the philanthropist in me.

There are lots of other great ones, but some of them seem to get a little overboard with the complexity, and then they lose it. Not that the Tracy Chapman and Great Equation ones aren't totally amazing, they just have all the tiny little buttons that create confusion. I think many of those sites are designed for designers and graphic experts; I have a hard time imagining my parents having a clue what to do with those sites.

The URLs of all those sites are also pretty great. I would assume that almost as much work must go into creating/buying a URL nowadays as the actual design of the site.

Button!

So I guess I am a badass now that I can make these fancy buttons in flash.

the colors! oh the colors!

I don't think I've seen such rad color combinations as I did on the kuler website since my last tripp. :) 

But really, I LOVE that tool!

Here were some of my favorites:

The one above grabbed me first, and that may be because I used a very similar color scheme for  a recent Bookstore event.

I thought this one was rad also. I like the bright colors.

And just for kicks, I had to choose one that was a little more mellow.

I am finding that I am very attracted to vintage colors. Here are some examples of work that I like with old school color themes. They are courtesy of the HowBlog! FUN!

The Women's Resource Center

I am always trying out new places, but somehow in the four years I have been at SOU, I still had never been to the Women's Resource Center. I only find this odd because I AM a woman. But I went, because a friend told me there was an awesome lady there that is very kind and knowledgeable. 

I loved it. 

In this particular ladies office, Delta is her name, there is a whole wall above her desk that has framed covers of Ms. magazine. Delta was just as kind and helpful as I was told that she would be, but the whole time I couldn't keep my eyes off of those magazines. They had covers that said things like "ABORTION", so that it would read "Ms. ABORTION". It was pretty rad.