The spring semester at CMU has begin and this marks the first semester that I have been able to take classes that are only allowed for students who have been accepted into the program. The classes on my schedule are:
- Intro to Western Art II
- Aesthetics
- Introduction to Graphic Arts
- Design Bureau*
- Advanced Typography*
The classes with the (*) are the Graphic Design major only classes. The introduction to Graphic Arts is for my Media, Design, Production, and Technology minor, but I think it will have some similarities to the Intro to Graphic Design class that I completed three semesters ago.
Design Bureau is going to be my favorite class because this class consists of dealing with actual clients. My professor is organizing our clients and then depending on how many clients we have, we will be split into groups or work individually. When conversing with my peers, there apparently have been some horror stories in the past with clients that have been very disobedient, ungrateful, and ultimately problematic. I see this as just being part of the challenge and it is simply business. The edge I have in this situation is that I was originally a business major so I have background knowledge on how to orchestrate a business meeting. I was also a salesman for Sears and for Cutco which has its extra benefits.
In this class the required textbook is "How to be a graphic designer, without losing your soul" by Adrian Shaughnessy.
How To Be A Graphic Designer, Without Losing Your Soul
I began reading this book today and I am already excited about sharing it with you.
Another book that I have been reading and would like to recommend to you is called "Logo Design Love" by David Airey. The title of the book is a giveaway, it obviously about logos, but it will give you an insight for any of you logo lovers out there or for those who wish to become one.
Logo Design Love
Advanced Typography will be a fun, but challenging class because of its intensity with type usage. I have often noticed that it has been tough to find a certain type choice for a specific project with a plethora of type options available. As I have been told, I will eventually figure out my favorite typefaces to apply to my style of design.
One of my major struggles is finding my style. I know that when you think of a specific designer or artist you will know their certain style. When I think of myself, I have no style to identify with but I'd rather learn everything I can because I do not want to be limited. This ideology of wanting to learn it all limits the ability to fine tune a specific style because the time consumed by other styles interfere with expanded my knowledge on the other. I think this is the point where a lot of college students are at, which is the stage of experimentation.
Learning all of these new things are exciting, but they are also overwhelming when you are trying to learn them all at once. This semester I am going to apply a tactic that I have learned from a couple of motivational speakers that I have been listening to on my iPad. I learned the tactic of goal setting in a unique way. Instead of cramming all of my goals together, getting overwhelmed, and then ending up getting rarely anything done, I am going set individual goals one at a time. I will not move forward to the next goal until I have mastered the previous goal (this only applies to projects outside of school work). Once everything is ironed out between school and side projects with this new goal setting routine, then this semester should be smooth sailing.
If you're a Graphic Design student and you are reading this, one tip I can give to you is don't be limited by what your professors teach you in school. Go out and learn everything you can on your own. You will learn so much more in addition to what you learn in school. Just don't get overwhelmed by it and learn at your own pace. I guess I'll add an additional tip. This world is becoming more and more interconnected so learn skills other than just graphic design because that will give you the edge against the competition and may be required for your jobs in the future.
Showing posts with label graphic design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label graphic design. Show all posts
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Monday, November 26, 2012
Cyber Monday Craziness! Christmas List and the Future
It seems to me that each year Cyber Monday has a stronger and stronger impact on holiday shopping. Malls and other retail stores won't go out of business because they are too convenient, but I am sure one of the reasons for starting Black Friday at midnight (in my town) was one of their ways to combat the overwhelming market moving toward the internet to buy their holiday gifts so they won't have to wait in those dreadful lines. The stores were packed at first, but around 3 a.m. they had cleared up which made me a fairly happy customer at Rivertown Crossings Mall in Grandville, MI.
Even though I think the local retail stores did a good job in combating with the long lines that people hate in order to draw customers, I think the online holiday purchases will grow this year. With that said, I am happy to know that my career choice in college is technology based. Lately, I've been diversifying my skills by tapping into coding with HTML, CSS, PHP, and Java so I will know the development side along with the artistic side of design.
Recently I created two websites. One website was for school and the other is my personal website to show a gallery of my works and for potential employers and customers to get in touch with me. The intention of my website for school was to create an online cookbook. I decided to create mine with a twist. I made the website into more of a contest for college students to win gifts cards by submitting their recipes that could be featured for a week.
The website can be found through school by going to Simple College Eats Website .
Although my personal website is a long way from complete, I have been enjoying learning new techniques as I go. The aesthetics of the website work, but as I have been reading more and observing professional websites, I realize that gradients and the use of shadows in the contents of my webpage look unprofessional. I'll be changing the website around soon, so you may see a different website in the near future. The link to my online portfolio (personal website) is Andrew Russo Designs Website .
As I have been using Adobe Dreamweaver and can confirm to you that this software is truly a useful tool. I am fairly new to developing, so for us "newbies" Dreamweaver is beneficial. I'm sure it has it great benefits for advanced users as while, so I will let you know when I'm caught up to that point or you can comment below to fill us in. The software undoubtedly helps me keep organized with my code. When I first started, I had a knack for string all of the code together and finding myself lost in it.
Reverting back to Cyber Monday, I of course did my research and found three things that I will be putting on my Christmas List this year. Now that I am advancing skills in design and dipping my toes into development, I am looking forward to start creating an e-commerce website where I can sell t-shirts with graphics screen printed onto them. This would be a hobby on the side that I would do on my spare time. With that said, I was checking out new printing equipment to print positives for screen printing. I watched a few tutorials and found Cat Spit Productions to be the most insightful. The screen printer I am looking for would be something small for personal use and I happened to find one just like it at Hobby Lobby. It was called a Speedball screen printer. Since I have no experience with the product, I can't provide you with any detail on its quality, but from watching the YouTube video above you can see for yourself its potential.
The next thing I came across when I was shopping at Best Buy were Epson printers. I knew that if I ever want to make quality screen printed t-shirts and any quality designs for customers or school then I need to get a quality printer. The students at CMU have printers provided for them, but the cost to print is extremely expensive at over $3 per print for an 8.5" x 11" print no matter how much ink is used. I have probably spent enough money to buy a quality printer at that cost. Another reason for purchasing my own quality printer would be for if I ever begin to get an increased traffic flow of t-shirt purchases.
As a beginning designer living in a rather small apartment I'd definitely choose one of these two options to kick things into gear:
The printer above is the Epson Artisan 730 Color Inkjet All-in-One and from the high reviews I think it would be a designer or even photographer that is running a small business or needs to produce quality work for school projects. It also has wireless capabilities which would be amazing because I like to move around the area and could print from anywhere on a smart phone, tablet, and of course on my lap top.
This next printer is the Epson Artisan 837 and is my personal favorite. The major differences that suck me in are that the LCD screen is bigger and that it can print rather fast but still holds its quality from the video reviews I watched. We all have those last minute projects that need to be completed so it that could definitely come in handy. It is also wireless and has a scanner like the printer above.
Lastly, during my perusing through the ads today, I came across this awesome stylus for the tablet
called the Sensu Brush. It is literally a paintbrush that works on a tablet. It also has a normal stylus pen that you can flip around for drawing.
"The rubber stylus is exposed when the brush is closed. This stylus is great for sketching and writing or as a general navigation tool. Grasp Sensu near the nib section and pull it out of the protective cap. You will reveal the capacitive bristles of the artist brush. Insert the rubber stylus into the cap and the cap becomes a handle for your brush." - SensuBrush.com
Check Out The Sensu Brush For Yourself!
As for my current projects, I am working on an animation for school and for a ficticious raincoat company called "Rubber's Raincoats". You can check out the poster I've created so far on the images section of my Twitter. Check Out My Twitter .
Feel free to follow me and or contact me at anytime! Take care everyone.
Even though I think the local retail stores did a good job in combating with the long lines that people hate in order to draw customers, I think the online holiday purchases will grow this year. With that said, I am happy to know that my career choice in college is technology based. Lately, I've been diversifying my skills by tapping into coding with HTML, CSS, PHP, and Java so I will know the development side along with the artistic side of design.
Recently I created two websites. One website was for school and the other is my personal website to show a gallery of my works and for potential employers and customers to get in touch with me. The intention of my website for school was to create an online cookbook. I decided to create mine with a twist. I made the website into more of a contest for college students to win gifts cards by submitting their recipes that could be featured for a week.
The website can be found through school by going to Simple College Eats Website .
Although my personal website is a long way from complete, I have been enjoying learning new techniques as I go. The aesthetics of the website work, but as I have been reading more and observing professional websites, I realize that gradients and the use of shadows in the contents of my webpage look unprofessional. I'll be changing the website around soon, so you may see a different website in the near future. The link to my online portfolio (personal website) is Andrew Russo Designs Website .
As I have been using Adobe Dreamweaver and can confirm to you that this software is truly a useful tool. I am fairly new to developing, so for us "newbies" Dreamweaver is beneficial. I'm sure it has it great benefits for advanced users as while, so I will let you know when I'm caught up to that point or you can comment below to fill us in. The software undoubtedly helps me keep organized with my code. When I first started, I had a knack for string all of the code together and finding myself lost in it.
Reverting back to Cyber Monday, I of course did my research and found three things that I will be putting on my Christmas List this year. Now that I am advancing skills in design and dipping my toes into development, I am looking forward to start creating an e-commerce website where I can sell t-shirts with graphics screen printed onto them. This would be a hobby on the side that I would do on my spare time. With that said, I was checking out new printing equipment to print positives for screen printing. I watched a few tutorials and found Cat Spit Productions to be the most insightful. The screen printer I am looking for would be something small for personal use and I happened to find one just like it at Hobby Lobby. It was called a Speedball screen printer. Since I have no experience with the product, I can't provide you with any detail on its quality, but from watching the YouTube video above you can see for yourself its potential.
The next thing I came across when I was shopping at Best Buy were Epson printers. I knew that if I ever want to make quality screen printed t-shirts and any quality designs for customers or school then I need to get a quality printer. The students at CMU have printers provided for them, but the cost to print is extremely expensive at over $3 per print for an 8.5" x 11" print no matter how much ink is used. I have probably spent enough money to buy a quality printer at that cost. Another reason for purchasing my own quality printer would be for if I ever begin to get an increased traffic flow of t-shirt purchases.
As a beginning designer living in a rather small apartment I'd definitely choose one of these two options to kick things into gear:
The printer above is the Epson Artisan 730 Color Inkjet All-in-One and from the high reviews I think it would be a designer or even photographer that is running a small business or needs to produce quality work for school projects. It also has wireless capabilities which would be amazing because I like to move around the area and could print from anywhere on a smart phone, tablet, and of course on my lap top.
This next printer is the Epson Artisan 837 and is my personal favorite. The major differences that suck me in are that the LCD screen is bigger and that it can print rather fast but still holds its quality from the video reviews I watched. We all have those last minute projects that need to be completed so it that could definitely come in handy. It is also wireless and has a scanner like the printer above.
Lastly, during my perusing through the ads today, I came across this awesome stylus for the tablet
called the Sensu Brush. It is literally a paintbrush that works on a tablet. It also has a normal stylus pen that you can flip around for drawing.
"The rubber stylus is exposed when the brush is closed. This stylus is great for sketching and writing or as a general navigation tool. Grasp Sensu near the nib section and pull it out of the protective cap. You will reveal the capacitive bristles of the artist brush. Insert the rubber stylus into the cap and the cap becomes a handle for your brush." - SensuBrush.com
Check Out The Sensu Brush For Yourself!
As for my current projects, I am working on an animation for school and for a ficticious raincoat company called "Rubber's Raincoats". You can check out the poster I've created so far on the images section of my Twitter. Check Out My Twitter .
Feel free to follow me and or contact me at anytime! Take care everyone.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Graphic Design BFA Acceptance!
I had forgotten to say that I finally got accepted into the graphic design program at Central Michigan University! Next semester I am officially taking a few classes that only Graphic Design majors are allowed to take. I'm very excited and am looking forward to acquiring new skills to become a professional graphic designer. Along with that, I am also pursuing the MDPT (Media, Design, Production, and Technology) minor. Aside from enjoying learning to build websites in CPS 165 and learning Adobe Flash in CPS 282, I am taking those classes for the minor.
I would really like to find and internship this summer to get a feel of what it's like to be a design professional, so if you know of any companies that are looking for help with graphic design please let me know!
I would really like to find and internship this summer to get a feel of what it's like to be a design professional, so if you know of any companies that are looking for help with graphic design please let me know!
Monday, February 6, 2012
My First Photoshop Youtube Video
I just started creating Youtube videos for people to see the process of what I am doing to create my designs in Photoshop. I'm hoping I'll be able to start doing full tutorials for people once I feel confident enough with the program to create things smoothly without having many mistakes. Well I better get to bed since the school week begins in 10 hours. Have a great week!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
It is Time to Begin
I finally made the move on purchasing a package from Adobe. I purchased Adobe Design Premium CS5.5 and in the process I found out the students and faculty members get a whopping 80% discount! All I had to do was submit a photo i.d. from CMU and explain my purpose for how the product would benefit my education. I was originally going to only purchase Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Dreamweaver, but with the discount the entire package was cheaper than buying the two software programs separately. The software contents that came with this package were Adobe Bridge, Adobe Device Central, Dreamweaver, ExtendScript Toolkit, Extension Manager, Fireworks, Flash Catalyst, Flash Professional, Illustrator, InDesign, Media Encoder, Photoshop, Pixel Blender Toolkit, and Adobe Content Viewer.
When I saw all of the programs that came with this package I was a bit overwhelmed. I have only had minimal experience with Photoshop and Dreamweaver, so I decided to start with one program at a time to learn the fundamentals of each before I start learning new techniques and combinations between the programs. I started earlier this week by re-acclimating myself with Photoshop by taking some photos from the past and Halloween photos of my friends working with layering and other tools.
Here are the originals:
Here are the transformations:
I had so much fun with these photos and I provided a good laugh for my friends when I uploaded them to Facebook.
I also have been watching tutorials on Youtube. Today I focused mostly on learning about Adobe Bridge which is, in a very broad perspective, a photo organizer. This will come in great use for next semester since I will be taking Art 140 (Introduction to Digital Photography). I'll have to purchase a Digital SLR camera for that class. Any suggestions on what to buy? I'll have to do some research and snag up a deal on Black Friday.
Here is the link that I found very helpful for learning about Adobe Bridge: All You Need To Know: Adobe Bridge CS5
I'll be looking into Photoshop tutorials as the week progresses because I know I have much to learn in that program. Well Its pushing towards 1:00 a.m. here and I have class at 9:00 so that will be all for today.
When I saw all of the programs that came with this package I was a bit overwhelmed. I have only had minimal experience with Photoshop and Dreamweaver, so I decided to start with one program at a time to learn the fundamentals of each before I start learning new techniques and combinations between the programs. I started earlier this week by re-acclimating myself with Photoshop by taking some photos from the past and Halloween photos of my friends working with layering and other tools.
Here are the originals:
I had so much fun with these photos and I provided a good laugh for my friends when I uploaded them to Facebook.
I also have been watching tutorials on Youtube. Today I focused mostly on learning about Adobe Bridge which is, in a very broad perspective, a photo organizer. This will come in great use for next semester since I will be taking Art 140 (Introduction to Digital Photography). I'll have to purchase a Digital SLR camera for that class. Any suggestions on what to buy? I'll have to do some research and snag up a deal on Black Friday.
Here is the link that I found very helpful for learning about Adobe Bridge: All You Need To Know: Adobe Bridge CS5
I'll be looking into Photoshop tutorials as the week progresses because I know I have much to learn in that program. Well Its pushing towards 1:00 a.m. here and I have class at 9:00 so that will be all for today.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Learning From Scratch
Hello everyone my name is Andrew Russo and I aspire to become a Graphic Designer. I decided to change my major last year from Marketing to Graphic Design last year because I realized my passion lies within Art. I am in my third year of college, but I am behind in school partly due to my change in career focus, but I also participated in an internship through the Disney College Program during the spring semester of 2011. When coming back to Central Michigan University this year I had to make the decision of pursuing my marketing degree or make a drastic change by pursuing graphic design.
Ultimately I decided, with the help of family and friends, to put aside marketing and pursue what I knew I would really enjoy. The reason why I knew graphic design would be the perfect degree to acquire was because I had always loved art, I spend the majority of my free time on the computer, editing pictures, creating advertisements on ebay, learning a little bit of code and embedding files, and creating my own website my senior year of high school.
Not only do I plan to work for a company someday, but I plan to create and manage my own social network. As far-fetched of an idea as it is right now, I am aspiring to learn all of the necessary tools in creating my own unique social network. I have had the basic fundamentals of it written out and drawn up since 2009, but I had brushed it off to the side for the past couple years because I had no idea where to start. Now that I am pursuing a degree that will help me with this in the long run I have found my motivation once again. I will have the basic skills necessary to begin the project once again. I will use tutorials from Youtube.com, other webpages to learn to create it, and if you have any supportive tips then I would greatly appreciate it as well.
As for school, I am working on building a portfolio to get into the Graphic Design Program through Central Michigan University. They only select a limited number of applicants into the program, so I am in great need of assistance on what kind of work I should put together for my portfolio. I am currently in the basic art classes, but intend to start posting my work onto my blog for all of you to see. Next semester I will finally be in Intro to Graphic Design so I am very excited to show all of you my work progress throughout the semester. I will try to post videos and tips as I pursue my journey to becoming a Graphic Designer.
Ultimately I decided, with the help of family and friends, to put aside marketing and pursue what I knew I would really enjoy. The reason why I knew graphic design would be the perfect degree to acquire was because I had always loved art, I spend the majority of my free time on the computer, editing pictures, creating advertisements on ebay, learning a little bit of code and embedding files, and creating my own website my senior year of high school.
Not only do I plan to work for a company someday, but I plan to create and manage my own social network. As far-fetched of an idea as it is right now, I am aspiring to learn all of the necessary tools in creating my own unique social network. I have had the basic fundamentals of it written out and drawn up since 2009, but I had brushed it off to the side for the past couple years because I had no idea where to start. Now that I am pursuing a degree that will help me with this in the long run I have found my motivation once again. I will have the basic skills necessary to begin the project once again. I will use tutorials from Youtube.com, other webpages to learn to create it, and if you have any supportive tips then I would greatly appreciate it as well.
As for school, I am working on building a portfolio to get into the Graphic Design Program through Central Michigan University. They only select a limited number of applicants into the program, so I am in great need of assistance on what kind of work I should put together for my portfolio. I am currently in the basic art classes, but intend to start posting my work onto my blog for all of you to see. Next semester I will finally be in Intro to Graphic Design so I am very excited to show all of you my work progress throughout the semester. I will try to post videos and tips as I pursue my journey to becoming a Graphic Designer.
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