Emilia Wrobel

UNIV 101 // Graphic Design Major

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Activity Follow-Up

The activity on Thursday was very interesting and excites me for my future classes as I continue my studies. Talking with upperclassmen about their experiences in graphic design was fun, and I enjoyed it. I got to see some students’ portfolios, as well as listen about other students’ co-op experiences. I learned a lot, especially about the processes that go into making designs, and in co-op experiences, like the co-op class, as well as interviews, etc. I overall enjoyed talking with the upperclassmen and can’t wait to experience everything the graphic design program has to offer.

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Title Sequences (Motion Graphics)

The Emperor’s New Groove

The motion graphics in The Emperor’s New Groove always leave me feeling excited every time I watch the movie. There is a fluid dynamic that combines with an excited feel to leave the viewer enticed into the rest of this movie. The colors are vibrant and the motions are dynamic.  The enthusiastic music combined with the fast paced animation fits perfectly with the theme of the movie.

A Bug’s Life

The opening sequence for A Bug’s Life has a very classic, nostalgic feel to it. The colors are calming with a cooler toned palette, and the details are very refined. Disney’s Pixar animation always has exceptional quality in each film, and this movie is no different. The details in the grass and the shadows are very pleasing to the eye. Each detail is very carefully combined, making the opening sequence a very aesthetically pleasing one.

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Web/ App Design

I enjoy web design because it integrates functionality with aesthetics. That being said, there are so many options when exploring the internet to see good web design being put to use. I chose these 5 examples because I feel like they integrate good ideas, eye catching design work, and easy to use functionality. 

I liked asos’s simple aesthetic. The website kept everything clean and minimal, while still utilizing hints of color with small logos to identify certain aspects. I also enjoyed the kalmmind app, which uses different calming sounds for a meditational experience.

Pantone, Pacifica, asos, Phocuus, Kalmmind

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NCC Visit

The National Constitution Center’s exhibit was very well put together design wise. I enjoyed the wide array of the color palette, as well as the interactiveness of the exhibit. I think the designers did an excellent job of putting the exhibit together so that it is able to be enjoyed by anyone regardless of age or education level. The room was very colorful and interactive, catching the eye of small children, while still educational for older people who prefer to read the signs. There were many different types of ways that information was delivered, from simple paragraphs on flat boards, to physical objects in cases, to tv screens playing different scenes. Overall I had fun on this visit from learning about design to seeing how it is played out in a museum exhibit.

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Book Design

I chose this book for a number of reasons. The first being that I am interested in package design, the second being the design of the book itself. This book, Structural Greetings by Josep M. Garrofé, uses bright colors and dynamic fonts to capture the viewers attention. I especially liked how the cover was interactive in itself, detaching from one of the ‘S’s’ as a separate cover. The interior is very simply laid out, with a minimal color palette and plain text. Within the book there are images of 3D packaging, as well as their 2D layout. Overall this book caught my eye pretty quickly. It is well put together, aesthetically nice to look at, and achieves its goal in being informative of package design.

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Time Management

Time management is a very vital skill to have, and it is something I keep working on. One time management method is to use a planner and to keep it around as often as possible. In the planner, write everything down. To do lists, thoughts, time spent on the internet, deadlines, goals for the day, week, month, etc. By having all your thoughts and concerns written down, you can then sort them out, and see what needs to be done. Instead of writing simple lists, write up a schedule, label what is imperative to finish, write how many days you have to get certain things done, and make sure to include break times. By having a structure you can make sure you are staying on top of things. I try to stick by this, especially on busy days when I can’t think of how to fit in everything that needs to get done.

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Fashion Design

A lot of fashion design, like most of the pieces seen here, use the same foundation principles as graphic design. Fashion designers must think of their use of color, texture, pattern, and measurement, much like a graphic designer.

These ten examples of fashion design stuck out to me mostly because of their uniqueness. I looked through a bunch of designers’ collections online, my favorites being Valentino’s and Marc Jacobs’s. I love clothing that you can tell the designer had fun making and designing. Expressive fashion, bold prints, and quirky details always leave an impression that gives the viewer a glimpse into your personality, and these pieces most definitely have their own personalities. Some examples are more simplistic, like the Acne piece, while others are incredibly detailed, like the Zuhair Murad piece. The use of texture is a standout feature in some of these, like in the Marc Jacobs pieces. Nevertheless, these all stand out to me and show good design work.

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Philadelphia’s Old City

For our cultural excursion, Lexi, Marcela, Alexa, and I went to Old City. We started off at 5th and Chestnut, right by Independence Hall. We immediately went to go see the famous Liberty Bell. After that we walked around for a bit, strolling through the historic sites until we got to Ben Franklin’s grave. We threw pennies onto the grave for luck and then stopped by the U.S. Mint, which had already closed by the time we got there unfortunately. 

We continued on throughout Old City, stopping to look through some gift shops, as well as the Independence Visitor Center (we stopped to take some selfies with the historical figures- George Washington, Ben Franklin). We then decided to head over to Penn’s Landing to see the sunset on the water. On the way over we stopped for dinner and got pizza at Big Ass Slices which did, in fact, have huge slices of pizza. We also stopped at Shane Confectionary, an adorable candy shop. 

After seeing the sunset over at Penn’s Landing, we decided to head on back and end our excursion. It was a lot of fun and I would recommend that anyone go, especially if you haven’t been before. As someone who has visited Old City many times, it still never gets old.

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Distrito in Philadelphia

Disitro is a Mexican restaurant bringing out vibrant colors in its theme of bringing Mexico City to Philadelphia. 

The branding is indeed very bright and colorful. I love how almost everything is pink; it is a bold move that demands attention. The restaurant environment is entirely different, with diverse lighting and seating set-ups. The menu is inviting, with different fonts and images across the board, all brought together with the pink font.

The themes brought about in Disitro’s overall branding represent the culture of Mexico City and its street foods. I think the concepts of the restaurant match the mood of its website and menu. Overall, it is all put together very well, and I would love to visit sometime.

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Best of 2015

These designs all bring something different to the table. Some are very graphic and crisp, others are simple and more minimal. Some have bright colors, others subtle, all with different textures and images. Overall, I like these designs because they are all pretty dynamic and keep my eye on them.

I like the “Let’s Make a ‘Racket’” (fourth image) design the best, because it utilizes a very simple color palette that still manages to catch your eye. I like the contrast between the saturated blue and white, as well as the bold words and simple images. It is a simple idea that is maximized so as to keep your attention.

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Looking Forward

This term, I would like to explore the field of graphic design more and see what new media I can work with. I want to find new materials and expand my portfolio. I’m excited to work with color in Design II and to see how compositions can flourish with all the new combinations of color I can explore.

This winter I would also love to find more unique, lesser known spots in Philly. I’ve lived close to the city for my entire life, so I’ve covered most of the major places, including the tourist spots. Finding smaller and more interesting shops and places would make Philadelphia feel more like home and therefore enhance my college experience.

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Environmental Graphic Desin (EGD)

Environmental Graphic Design can be vital to a company’s success. There are instances in which 2D design doesn’t get the message across, making EGD an important business. I chose these five examples because they did an exemplary job of not only catching my eye, but giving across a message, whether it be purely creative or powerful and informative.

One installation that intrigued me was the very first one, “Pastello Draw Act”. Mathery Studio installed this creatively dynamic environment for a Kids Space at the National Gallery of Victoria. This installation, which lasted from May 10 to August 31, 2014, gave children a new look on the idea of drawing. It was installed purely to instill inspiration and to look at media in a different and exciting way. With use of bright color and quirky setups, Pastello phenomenally showed what it is like to look at traditional things in a new way. More information can be found at http://www.mathery.it/works/#/pastello/.

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Advertisements

I chose these ten advertisements because they all caught my eye for different reasons. I was drawn to the iPhone ad when I first saw a large photograph and wondered what it was and why it was placed there, eventually seeing that the photo was shot on an iPhone 6. I enjoyed the film festival flyer because I was intrigued to find a small man climbing up a mountain of popcorn. The clever editing drew, and kept, my attention in most of these advertisements.

These ads all have clever and interesting design patterns, as well as slogans or phrases to match the image they are portraying. For example, when I first saw the Life Saver ad, I just saw an illustration, but the placement of ‘Sweet Dreams’ accompanies the image just right in order to advertise the candy. I also like the informative aspect of the coffee ad, with a realistic scene depicted on top of a coffee bean. Overall, I enjoyed all ten of these advertisements for not only their aesthetic appeal, but for their marketing and advertising concepts presented as well.

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Interesting Typefaces

These ten typefaces show an interesting range between traditional styles, as well as more intricate creative fonts. 

(Image credits are under each photo caption.)

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Color Combinations

Having nice color combinations really makes a photo a strong piece. I enjoy aesthetically pleasing combinations, whether it be complementary colors, alike colors, etc. I typically like photos that are especially colorful, showing a spectrum without being too bold or harsh on the viewer’s eye. Pastels usually succeed at this, as they are still colorful but not too bright.

Of all the color combinations, I would have to say that the seventh photo of the clouds is my favorite. The subtle change between the tints of blue and gray create more of an atmosphere for the image of the clouds. I especially like the very soft hints of warm tones in the image as well. I did not think that this combination would work having so many values close together, but they interact in such a way that it works very well for the image. The circle still appears as a harsh contour line, but the subtle color change softens the outline.

(Image credits are under each photo caption.)

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Illustration Styles

I definitely enjoy more simplistic illustration styles, whether it be minimalist detail, color, or line. If there is detail in a piece, I typically gravitate towards the more balanced pieces, meaning that if it is detailed in one aspect, another element is more toned down. I like subtlety in color as well, instead of having flashing colors that mix together all in one piece.

I would say that my favorite example of illustration is Berkley’s Sloth print. The drawing is very detailed, but does not show super realism. It still shows the viewer that it is hand drawn. The toned down colors complement the mood of the piece. The values are warmer, complementing the sloth’s bright mood. I enjoy the composition and how it is visually dynamic by creating a portrait style image. 

(Image credits are under each photo caption.)

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Philadelphia’s Italian Market

For our group excursion, Sierra, Kaci, and I decided to go to the Italian Market this weekend. We took the Market Frankford Line to 8th and Market, then walked to South 9th Street. 

Once we got there, we decided to walk the whole market. We passed multiple vendors lined with fresh fruits and vegetables. There were also multiple shops with more produce, meat, fish, etc. We then had lunch at Villa di Roma, where I got ravioli and meatballs (which definitely live up to their award-winning title). Afterwards, we stopped at Anthony’s Chocolate House, as well as Anthony’s Coffee House. I got a caffè mocha, which was really comforting as we walked around the market in the chilly autumn weather. We stopped in a few local shops, like Molly’s Books and Records, and Claudio. After we walked the entirety of the market through 9th Street, we walked to Isgro Pastries, which has been making pastries since 1904. I can see why they have been successful for so long, as their pastries were pretty amazing.

I really enjoyed visiting the Italian Market and I would definitely visit again. The whole market was decorated with festive autumn and Halloween accents, so I think coming back again during the Christmas season would be really fun.