Semester Project: Sleeve It Alone

Due to poor craftsmanship, and low on time to finish my entire portfolio, I didn't include the sleeve as another 3D piece. However, I could say I enjoyed this project more when it came to designing something that needs to be cut and folded. Definitely for sure.

I just wanted to post this up. I know portfolio review was yesterday, but at the same time, I wanna keep adding more to my blog, regardless of the results.

Hope everyone will have a great weekend! :)

Semester Project: Reflections

(I think Brandi has started a trend...one that I think is interesting for others to post on their blogs. :) )

This semester has been the most gut-checking and emotional semester I've ever been. However, it was for the better. I had no idea what to expect this semester, not just for myself, but for others in Stan's class as well. Even for meeting up with people outside of our class. All in all, I can say it has made me a better designer and a stronger fighter. Pushing designs and taking on different challenges within this group made me more mature in decision making. So I am thankful for all the critiques, comments on the blogs, and even the chats on the side.

As the semester is coming to a close, my hope and desire is that we continue to push each other to become better designers and artists. That we continue to network and engage in each others' projects. We have a strong core of designers, and I'm sure any firm would welcome our integrity any day. Or even to the point of creating our own firm someday. It can happen. With that, I hope people will continue to blog designs and projects, to showcase to colleagues and potential clients.

In closing, I again thank everyone for helping me get better, for telling me like it is (you guys remember the first critiques for my client - :D ), and for pushing me. Good luck on the portfolio, and I hope we stay in touch. Peace!

Semester Project: Rollin' Up My Sleeve!

This is my design for the sleeve, so far. To be honest, it took me a long while just to think of an interesting pattern for this project. And after a three hour sleep for the night, I just got up and started drawing.

As for the right flap, that's one idea of having the numbers punched or marked so people can come to redeem a free drink. Another idea, just need to construct this, is to create a maze. That way, instead of just throwing it away, the customer could have fun after they're finished drinking. Or even during it. :)

Still constructing this, so if there's any suggestions or advice, please let me know! Thanks!

Semester Project: Website Interaction Works!

I am happy to announce the Flash interaction for the website project is working! :D After several failed attempts, I was able to get help from Paige Taylor, and I'm satisfied with the results! :) Now to just work on the added content for Portfolio Review.

Thanks again Paige for helping me, I truly appreciate it! :)

Semester Project: hAD To Do It

Yes, I had to do another annoying pun for my ads. :D Anyways, I changed the background color for the ads, and it's definitely different from the ones at critique. Much more welcoming.

So, I'm ready to print these babies. Joy! :)

Semester Project: My Third Specialty Piece Candidate..

And I do the best I can when I hit the number 3, seeing "Tres" does mean three in Spanish. ;) :)

I wanted to redesign the website layout for Indie Coffee | Books, seeing that...well...have a look for yourself:


As you can see, (and if you really want to view the site in person), the design and layout is bland, boring, and not engaging. I'll skip my fully-loaded charged rant for another day, or off the blog. It's that explosive for me to point the flaws on this current design...

So..as anyone would normally say, "If you don't like it, do something about!" And I have:


So...much....better! Not saying I have all the nuts and bolts in place, but I have no doubt that this design is a whole lot better! Yeah, I'm that confident.

My plan is to continue pushing the layout in Illustrator, then take it into Flash and connect the links so it could be interactive. Hopefully I can get a prototype to be usable by Monday night on the blog.

Anyways, I hope everyone has a good weekend, and if anyone has any suggestions or advice, I would be happy to hear them! Thanks! :)

Semester Project: Promotional Design

So after our brainstorming session, I tried working on a sleeve and bookmarks for Indie. Not that I want them to be my final pieces...I still feel like I want to redesign the website. The sleeve and bookmark directions I'm still in question, and these are not the main direction. I'm just fiddling around right now until something inspires me to a greater direction and purpose.

If anyone has any suggestions or advice, I would be happy to hear them! :)

Semester Project: Continuing to Push

Thanks to everyone who offered their critiques and suggestions last night, as well as on this blog! I truly appreciate it. :)

So I started reworking on the 8.5x11 ad last night, so there are a few changes to the composition.

(Before Critique)

(After Critique)

I always had a problem with the white copy as a paragraph, and I didn't know where to place it in this ad. After hearing some suggestions, I tried reworking it, and I am happy where it's located now. I also enlarged the female (just her, didn't enlarge the vehicles), and rearranged the placement of the car and airplane. So now I have more room to play with negative space.

As for the colors, I'm still going to have to play around and try some things. I'm still gonna keep the colors for the characters' shirts, the consistency of them wearing warm colors against a cool background. I will try to work with the background color, and see of what I could. Seeing that I have white type, I don't want to lose it against a light color...so we'll see.

Any suggestions or advice for the new direction is appreciate it. :) Have a great weekend!

Semester Project: hAD Enough?

*Phew* I can't think of any more wacky or adnoying puns. : / LOL Then again, where there's a will, there's an ad. :) :D

Anyways, here are the final drafts for my ads (for now). I feel like I can push the illustrations more after critique. I always feel that way honestly when I draw and color characters.

As for the copy and the type, I am open to more suggestions and advice for critique and before it. Thanks!

Semester Project: Just Keep ADding, Just Keep ADding

So my 5.5x5.5 is making her debut today. For what I have so far. I felt like I needed to add more illustrations for her (compared to the other two)...but I think it's fine where it is illustrative-wise, seeing I'm trying to show her interest in sports. My problem I am having is her copy, I think she has too much to say just to get her point across...even though she doesn't have much to showcase compared to the other ads. I am going to try playing around with the copy some more, just to make it feel more legit.



For this ad: I want to first say thanks Stan for the concern of the copy. I started to see what you pointed out. So with that said, I changed the copy, and I plan to change some of the illustrations to make it more clear and consistent.

I tried with these two copies, talking about her interest in travel (though her taste buds are doing the pacing). I know airplanes can showcase travel, and other elements outside of the ones I currently have. What do you guys think of the new copies? Any particular ones you like over the other? I'm thinking the bottom one just might be the final one to go with.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated! Thanks!

Semester Project: Ad 3 Progression

I'm thinking that I need to push some objects over the right. I'm gonna try to make some more decisions on this and the rest of them.

Semester Project: Ad-gression

The layout for the 8.5x11 ad. The paragraph will appear under "Discover Your Taste. Discover Yourself." tag line.

Any advice or suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

Semester Project: There is Ad in HeADache.

This ad is not finished per se...but it's the layout for some text, the tagline, the logo, and the address for the client. I do plan to add some more extras in the ad to compliment the character's interest in music.

If there are any suggestions, let me know.

The other ads will showcase sometime Sunday.

Back To The Drawing Board...Apparently..

I didn't talk about my initial idea for my ads on my blog...however, I feel that my proposed vision is starting to become...and I hate to say it...boring and stale. I'm just not having as much fun working with a dry erase board as I would with a piece of paper when it comes to drawing.


I thought of doing some sort of illustrative background with a photograph of an individual in the forefront of the dry erase board. Something different than what I normally do, sure. Still, just after trying to work and rework a few possible illustrations on the dry erase board, it just didn't interest me that much anymore. The lines weren't meeting my desires and whatnot.

With that said, back to the drawing board. And this time, really let my cartoonist side dictate the flow.

Semester Project: Stationery Complete

I couldn't be more happy. :)

Semester Project: YES!!!

My envelope was able to print through the printer without any ink smudges! Thank you God for this! :D

I'm so happy....I'm so happy.

The best part is I was able to print another copy of the envelope without any ink smudges.

Final Score:

Printer: 2
Tres: 2

:D Back in the game! LOL

Semester Project: Envelope

The envelope was able to print through the printer. But I am going to try again, just make sure it looks perfect. I do like the fact that it is printed, just to see how it would look. Also, to feel it and stare at it. It's amazing how one can hold something and look at an object for a long period of time. Until one's stomach growls. LOL :)

Cards are going to be next.

Semester Project: Advertisement Inspiration/Preparation

I'm taking some thought to what I could do with my ads for this upcoming project. The theme, the audience, the concept, etc. I want to capture the connection between the viewer and the tag line "it starts with I".

After talking with Stan, I found some advertisements that started to inspire me for a certain direction:







I didn't want to go look at Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts...or anything coffee related. To make the coffee the most focal point. I really want to focus on the individual who is holding the coffee cup, reading a book, or doing something else. It's more of a connection between the individual and "it starts with I" in my opinion.

I will try to do some sketches to post, in hopes to gain the attitude and look for the ads. Any suggestions or advice are welcome. :)

Semester Project: Stationery Presentation

Here's my final look for my stationery project. I believe the only items I will tweak more (due to test prints) will be the letterhead and the envelope. And I'm really anxious to see how the business cards will look. :) I want to see how it looks when I get to hold the card in different perspectives (horizontal and vertical).

Have a great weekend everyone! :)

Semester Project: Business Card & Stationery Intro

I wanted to give another try with the swirl design for Indie, in the business card, as well as attempting the stationery. The card design is can go where it has both sides printed. I am willing to allow this card design to be one side, if I need to.




These stationery designs for the swirl design is a start. I am going to try to push the design more, to see what else might come up.



As for the stationery designs for the characters, I am trying to keep it simple, and hopefully, interesting. I want to provide the information, enough room for the body, and something that makes these designs unique.

As always, any suggestions or advice are welcome. Thanks! :)