CST 227 | Intro Digital Graphic Design

Name: Nicole Langstaff

Design Reflection
Applied Design
I didn't know too much about Environmental Design or Industrial Design before this class. I knew that designers obviously
had a role in creating consumer products and the buildings and landscapes we see every day, but I had never
considered how much of a design process went into those. I had always thought of the design of buildings as being the
job of an architect, not a designer, so fact that there are professionals out there that integrate a changing environment
with a safe, functional, and artistic design of a building really surprised me. I had known about package design and
stylize objects such as the iconic pple products, but I had never thought of industrial design being its own profession
that skillfully applies usability to aesthetic design principles.
Design History
!earning about the history of typography was fascinating because it demonstrated how cultural and historical events and
social movements affect how humans design and communicate. It makes me interested in seeing how typography will
continue to develop in further generations and how my own peers will influence this process. It was also interesting to
learn about how different art movements would reference previous ones, or modify iconic works in order to suit their
needs and interests.
Aesthetic principles
!earning about the "igure#$round principles was especially helpful in altering and enhancing my perception of design.
%hese are so important in adding depth to a project, and particularly when doing a simple design like a logo. I applied
these designs to some of my work on the &eflections newsletter head for my '(% )*+, -ublication Design class. I love
learning about the $estalt principles as well and seeing how they are present in so much design work in the world. I've
applied $estalt practices to logos and posters I've designed for a club on campus outside of this class.
Vector Illustration
I mostly just didn't know about small technical things like holding down (hift when using the -en tool to create perfect
horizontal or vertical points and lines. lso, I use rulers and gridlines on E.E&/%0I1$ now in order to make my designs
professional and spatially sound. I've used these technical skills in all of my projects outside of this class, such as
creating the buttons for a 'al(peed app I am working on for the university.
Bitmapped Illustration
I2ve used -hotoshop when designing the logo for the %ogether 3ith !ove project and I put the photo inside of the te4t
using a clipping mask. I used this techni5ue in my other class, '(% 667, Digital -hotography. I also learned to use the
pen tool to outline people in photographs and clip the background out from the photo, which I used numerous times in my
'(% )*+ class.
Typography
I learned about kerning te4t to make it look more professional, and I have used this techni5ue in every project I have
done involving type. I almost do it naturally now. I also learned to layer in te4t in a logo to add depth and create te4ture
without using any illustration.
Interactie !edia
I didn't know about interactive -D"'s that are capable of being built in dobe InDesign. I have not applied these to any
project yet outside of class, but I definitely want to once I have the opportunity. I also liked learning how to create a four8
page booklet and transform it into an interactive web book. %his skill will be helpful in the future, I'm sure.
"rint Design
I learned that when a client wants a logo that will be printed on multiple mediums 9mugs, %8shirts, stickers, stationery: and
also will be on a website, that I must design something simple with few colors that will work on different backgrounds and
sizes. I also learned how to print on envelopes and design for stationery while using ;icrosoft 3ord 9and how
cumbersome that can be:.%his helped me with projects in my '(% )*+, -ublication Design class.
#ield Trip
%he trip to the "ull (team design firm was helpful in portraying the kind of company I would like to work for after I
graduate. 3hile there are benefits of working for a larger corporation, I have always enjoyed the genuine, more personal
feeling of a smaller company. %he trip showed how a firm can be successful, even international, with only a few
employees, because each worker plays multiple roles in the design process. %his made me realize I really need to
master other skills besides just design, whether it be marketing, financing, public relations, photography, web design, etc.
I can't just be one thing. %he trip also showed how a company can become sort of stuck in one area of design < "ull
(team is in the spinach and salad food packaging niche < and how that can be advantageous, and not. I know I want to
work for a company that does a myriad of different types of clients, but I also know that there needs to be a place to start
CST 227 | Intro Digital Graphic Design
off and build from.
Design $or your Community
I loved working with 'lare from the ;onterey &ape 'risis 'enter this semester. 3orking with a non8profit organization,
especially for such a good cause, really made me feel that my work mattered and that the logo I designed would be
representing something larger than myself. I absolutely plan to continue doing pro8bono work, particularly for charities
and organizations with a cause that I agree with and stand for. I think that type of work is not only good for a new
designer in the field to gain e4perience and build a portfolio, but also shows that one can design ethically and contribute
something to better the world with nothing in return.
"ro$essional Career
%he projects we had didn't e4actly force me to change my mind so much as solidify my choice of career. =efore this class
I wasn't super serious about staying in the $raphic Design field for too long after college, I eventually want to go into
filmmaking, but working with on a logo project with an actual client opened my eyes to the whole process. 1ow I feel
confident that I can be in this industry and become a successful professional designer. I may even look into getting my
;aster's degree in this field and certainly am looking forward to internships at design firms.