Project 2: Big Picture, Small Parts

Medium: Pen & Ink on Bristol Students were challenged to combine 2 subjects/categories (one represented in the large and one in the small) to create a larger meaning or statement. The main challenge was to use strong shapes that could communicate in silhouette from a distance, providing the viewer with fast, clear, exciting impressions. Photographs of the objects were carefully referenced and drawn from, and pre-existing symbols, icons, logos, and designs were avoided. The results create commentaries and associations that compel audience engagement.

Project 3: Pattern & Color Motif

Medium: Matte acrylic paint on Bristol

Students were challenged to work with 2 essential shapes to create 2 different arrangements (via repetition, placement, scale, overlap, rotation, and reflection). These key arrangements were then realized in a repeating motif through a variety of underlying grid ideas (brick, stack, radial, isometric, exponential scale change, etc).

Through our study of color theory (via color wheel creation from only primary colors, black, and white), they chose carefully-considered relationships, 4 different colors for each pattern, and black and white as well. The resulting pattern motifs display color in a variety of ways, allowing the viewer to notice interactions between them, including what comes forward, and what pulls back in perceived space (figure/ground relationships).

Project 1: Expressive Words

Medium: Photography, physical typography, staged environments Students were challenged to combine a physical scenario/construction with a word that synergistically works together to create a larger impression or meaning. Beyond just naming what we see, students were asked to create layers of interest and go beyond the expected, all the while using the design process as a guide. Any physical space or material was fair game for this project. Attention was given to careful craftsmanship.

Medium: Mixed Media on Bristol

Students were given a random noun (person, place, thing, or creature) and through formstorming exercises (visual brainstorm), they explored history, culture, story, views, associations, idioms, sayings, puns, materiality, and change-over-time (verbing) aspects of the noun. From here they chose the most intriguing one to take forward to create an accordion book that imbues the noun, and uses a strategic 3-color motif. Pulling together our principles of design, with attention to rhythm, timing, framing, unity, variety, layers, repetition, and hierarchy, they created compelling visuals that function on both an up-close, and far-off view.