Class 1 - February 21

 

Make up a service, product, restaurant or non-profit organization (please no political non-profits) and think of a few names for it. Most students take something they are interested in (for example: surfboards) or something that might one day become a real project. If it has a unique selling point (in case of the surfboards: recycled and recyclable) then that's even better. You may also use an existing business that is poorly branded and re-brand it (including the name). If you re-brand, please show me the original. The only thing I'm asking you to stay away from is branding yourself or your portfolio. That's what the Final Portfolio class is for. I teach that as well, by the way.

 

Take a look at the link "Student Work" - "Branding" and see what the people before you did. Don't be intimidated by their projects. You will be learning how to create stunning portfolio pieces. That's exactly what this class is for. Many of these students had just recently begun their journey as a new graphic designer. 

 

Class 2 - February 28

• Fill in the Branding Checklist as much as possible. 

• Start working on your logo. Make it simple. 

• Have a really good vision of your product or service. What is your vibe? Start thinking about 2 to 4 adjectives that describe how the consumer should feel about your brand. This process may take a little longer and you may change your mind a few times.

• Do you use Pinterest? If not, I highly recommend it. It's a great place to look for inspiration. Collect graphics, logos, etc. A folder with color combinations is also very helpful (search "color palettes")

• Please take a look at the link resources

• Suggested reading: The Boy and the Bear by M. Mc Dermott 

 

Class 3 - March 7

• Start applying your logo. Find a picture (unsplash.com or pexels.com are good sources) that represents your brand and put your logo over it. Designing a logo in the context of an image makes the process a lot easier.

• Here is how I like to work: Let's say my brand is Global Colors and it's vibe is ethnic, individual and modern. I try this logo in a variety of fonts that I feel represent either one of these 3 attributes. I also try different variations of upper/lower case (all upper case is usually perceived as a bold statement, also as more elegant, classic and authoritative. Lower case is friendly, open, approachable and more playful than upper case). Having a picture that represents your brand helps a lot to visualize how the logo works "in action".  At this point I walk away from the project for a day or so. When I look at it again I usually see immediately that some fonts are not working. I find, for example, that some fonts are too boring or too childish. I narrow the list of fonts down and walk a way again for a while. When I'm done with this process of elimination there are usually two or three solutions that are equally good. These are the designs you'll want to present to a client. Never present anything you can't live with as a designer!

• Some logos need a sub-line or descriptor line. "Global Colors" without any description could be a clothing brand, for example, if the logo is not shown in context with a picture. We'll talk more about descriptor lines vs. taglines in class 3.

• In class 3 we'll also talk about additional design elements and/or logo icons, and logo systems. 

• The goal in branding is to make sure all elements complement each other and complete the brand story/theme.

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Class 4 - March 14

• Finalize your logo and apply it as we discussed individually

• Here are some Instagram accounts you might want to follow for logo and branding inspiration: @logoawesome, @branding_design, @ismail_elazizi, @logounifact, brand awesome_com, @crenerit

• Don't forget to check the resources page

• Check out these sites: creativemarket.com, mockup blast.com (each mockup is $5), pixelbuddha.net, graphicburger.com. design cuts.com, mockupcloud.com

• Suggested reading: FLX Creative Brief

 

 

 

Class 5 - March 21

• Your projects are coming along nicely, keep working

• Smola: start thinking about creating an ad and if you have time finish the shopping bag mockup and maybe add a jewelry box mockup

• Le Resto: be sure to finish up your logo and continue with the menu design

• Bohemian Bliss: work on the packaging

• Remnant Revival: create an ad as we discussed and business cards

 

Class 6 - April 11

• Please work on your projects as discussed individually. Don't forget to take a break. You have two extra weeks. Please use one week to NOT look at your project. You will probably find that when you look at it with a fresh eye (like I look at your projects every week) that everything looks really good.

• If you feel like watching more videos on the designers we saw last week, here are the names again: Debbie Millman (check out "Design Matters"), Michael Bierut, Paula Scher, Chip Kidd and Sagi Haviv

• Suggested reading: 20 Rebranding Disasters You Can Learn From

 

Class 7 - April 18

• As requested here are the links to the videos we watched in class 6:

• Matthew Encina - How to talk to clients that use abstract or unclear language

• Matthew Encina - How to pitch to potential clients

• Mike Monteiro - 13 ways designers screw up client presentations

• Here is the link to the branding video we watched in class 3:

• Skillshare (free videos): Mike Ski and Jessie Jay, True Hand - Creating Brand Systems

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Class 8 - October 27

• Work on your projects as discussed. Start designing a website home page.

 

Class 9 - November 3 (don't forget: Daylight Savings Time re-set!)

• You should be wrapping up all your projects now.

• If you are in the Certificate Program and/or get a grade you must submit the required 4 projects (logo, business card, web homepage design and whatever additional project you chose) by Wednesday, November 13. If you do not meet this deadline your grade will drop half a grade point. Please send all your files to arubien@earthlink.net.

• If you have missed more than one class, your grade will be dropped by one letter grade, but you can make up for that by submitting an additional project. It can be as simple as applying your logo to a PSD mockup of a mug or tote bag.

 

During Class 9 you will get some time to fill in the online evaluation (or you can fill it in now). Here is the link: https://otiscollege.formstack.com/forms/ce_eval If you want you can click on it now and fill it out at home. 

 

NO CLASS ON NOVEMBER 10th! Last class is on November 17th