Packaging Design
I’m taking a packaging design course, which I’m thrilled about. I’m a sucker for great packaging and I often find myself picking out new beers Dave should try just strictly on the design. ;) Branding beverages has sort of become my new dream design field, so I’m going to work really hard this semester to create some great portfolio pieces in packaging that I can use to potentially land these sorts of jobs. Our first project right now is packaging for healthy snacks. I’m currently working on the logotype for a fictitious company called Petite Eats that emphasizes the importance of having five small meals a day. I’ll be creating the entire branding and packaging from the look-and-feel of the design to the hands-on construction of the actual container.
Information Graphics
I’m also taking an infographics course this year. I don’t have any sketches just yet since I’m still in the research phase, but I’m basing my semester-long project on horror movie remakes. I’ll be researching how many have been made, when they were made, why they were made, how they rank up with the originals, and why I believe too many remakes will become the death of the horror movie genre and what moviegoers can do to put an end to shoddy remakes. Then I’ll be transforming all of that information into a series of aesthetically awesome graphics. Should be fun!
Personal Goals for Spring 2013
In the past, I’ve sort of just gone with the ebb and flow of the semester and didn’t really put any distinct goals in place for myself. I think creating goals is a great way to not only stay on track, but also feel a sense of accomplishment at the end. So here’s my agenda for Spring 2013:
1. Stay One Step Ahead. In order to maintain creative control and nurture inspiration, I need to keep on task and always be pushing myself to do more than the required amount. If I just wait to do things until the day before they’re due, my creativity is crippled by stress and I don’t end up producing my best work. Do more than what’s expected and let creativity take control.
2. Create at Least 5 Portfolio-Worthy Pieces. I’m quickly approaching my last year of school when I’ll need to develop my senior portfolio. I want to take full advantage of this semester and produce a handful of projects that will – from process to finished product – stand out among my competitors.
3. Continue to Develop my Style. I’ve worked as a commercial artist for so long, always mimicking the preferences of my clients, I never really spent a lot of time developing one particular style. I feel like I’m really starting to hone in on a particular style that I can say is characteristically me and I want to continue to develop that this semester.
4. Pursue More Personal Projects. For sanity sake, and for portfolio, please please please pursue more personal project. Even when things get busy, take some time to create for me.
Hope you guys will follow me on my journey through this semester. I’ll post projects periodically as they’re wrapped up and continue to share tidbits of knowledge I’ve gleaned from my time at State. If you’re also a designer or a design student, I would love to see what you’re working on or what your goals are for Spring 2013!
Really awesome stuff. I'm also taking a Packaging Design course right now and will be getting some liquor bottles later on this evening to use for my designs. I can't wait to see what you come up with for that course. I've done some similar stuff stuff before and it's really a lot of fun when you get into all the small nuances of it.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Unfortunately I don't think we're going to be doing any projects where I'll be designing the packaging for bottles. :( My professor is real big on having us create the entire packaging by hand and not using any pre-existing containers, so bottles would be difficult to create from scratch, haha. But I'll probably take on a couple personal projects myself so I can have a few bottle designs in my portfolio. Do you have a place where you'll be posting previews of what you're working on? I'd love to see!
DeleteUnfortunately I don't. I'd like to start doing something similar to what you're doing here, but I fear I'm not quite as interesting haha.
DeleteWe've had assignments similar, where we have to make the boxes/packaging for products as well. It's really something I had never really thought about prior to taking this course, how difficult it can be that is.
Ha, don't say thaaat! I think posting your stuff to the Internet world, no matter what level of "interestingness", is a great way to grow. It not only allows you to get feedback from others, but it helps you see your own work in a new light. That's how I grew as a photographer -- I started posting my crappy photos to Deviantart, and it pushed me to get better.
DeleteThat packaging class will be awesome! Your sketches look like they are coming along nicely! Good luck with your goals. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! :D I'm definitely looking forward to it!
DeleteSuper excited to see your future projects! Both the process and the finished pieces ;)
ReplyDeleteAlso, one of the goals that you listed is something I believe that I continuously have trouble with. I'm really keen on trying to develop my own style (both in my photography and my design), but I just feel like I'm simply re-using old ideas of mine and I end up feeling like all of my work is the same! Ugh!
Anyway, I also love the re-design of your website! :)
I think having all of your work look the same means your on track to developing a style, haha. You just have to hone in on what it is that makes these things look the same and try to manipulate it so the works are different but the style is distinct throughout. My problem is that my works are all across the board and look like they could have been created by a slew of different people. I'm really trying to narrow my focus and figure out what it is I'm really good at and start to focus my efforts on strengthening that particular style.
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