Graphic Design
This past summer, a new trend surfaced online called the #VogueChallenge. In short, it was a creative way for BIPOC to showcase their work (in modeling, beauty, art, etc.) through imagery using the famed publication as a template during the height of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
Read MoreBefore the semester even started, an email appeared in our TU inboxes from our Visual Communication and Branding professor: “I’m planning an in-person meeting.”
I was a bit (very) skeptical about meeting in person for class, especially since there was a very strong reason why our classes are online this semester. Originally, my response was "NO, NO WAY. NOT IN THIS PANDEMIC! WHAT IN THE WORLD." (See: “WHA THIT HEO?!”) After I heard it wasn't going to be 2.5 hours of ice breakers and awkwardness on the first day of class, but rather a chance to see each other (for the first time in, what, six months?) in a beautiful outdoor space with a chance to network with other designers from a local firm called Cohere, I was immediately in. The only thing that got in my way was my mode of transportation. (I decided to drive in…it was faster to do that anyway.)
I am so glad I decided to go. We met two of the nicest ladies who are designers by day and botanists by night (okay, maybe not botanists, but definitely urban gardeners!), who took time out of their busy schedules to tell us all about how The Viaduct came to be, a little bit about Cohere and what they do, and gave us some insight on a branding project they’re working on for a local hotel.
What made this trip even better was being able to meet our professor in person. I already know everyone else who showed up Thursday night (except for the one guy, Branden), so it was almost like a (much needed) reunion. We all masked up and took a “class photo” and throughout the night, Kathy (our prof) snapped shots that she later shared with us on our free-for-all discussion board (thank you!).
And even better - I expected to go back to my car to see a ticket from PPA on there, but was disappointed (in a positive way) to see that they showed me no love. ;P
The space is beautiful, and it’s open for other plein-air -type events they host. Plus! They have chickens running around! There are also harvests and flowers for sale, and it’s in an area where you can take a few short steps to grab a drink after whatever event you’re attending in the man-made space.
Thank you, Kathy, for arranging this for us and thank you to Dylan and Victoria for hosting a fun evening full of interesting discussions and an awesome networking opportunity. It was worth the trip!
Photo cred: Dylan Garner/Victoria Costa
“Okay, everyone: JAZZ HANDS!”
Photo cred: Dylan Garner/Victoria Costa
Project: Serif Vs. Sans Serif Effectiveness in Advertising
Type: School Project
Class: ADV5503 Persuasion and the Marketplace
Photos: Google search
Two posters designed for an experiment to determine whether serif or sans serif typefaces are more efficient and effective in eliciting positive emotions in print advertisements. The subject of these posters is one of four; only two were present in the experiment. This was not one of the four.
Each set of posters were set in both serif and sans serif type (one family each) with varying weights.
I’m not sure who, when, where, or why the term “potato” became synonymous with a person who views themself as plain/boring/ugly/whatever, but I’m here for it.
And to show my pride as a potato myself, I designed this sticker that reads: “Certified Potato”.
Don’t worry—all of my future blog posts will not be just sticker designs and silly things. I do have some actual work waiting to come out of the pipeline (final stretch, you know?), mostly logo design with some layout stuff mixed in. It’s coming, I promise.
EDIT: Stickers are now available for purchase!
I grew up in a bilingual household. My mom is originally from Vietnam and speaks, well, Vietnamese. My (late) dad was born and raised in Philly and spoke Philadelphese—you know, stoop, crick, wooder, hoagie. All dem jawns.
On my mom’s side, all of the ladies speak with poise. Their English may not be that great, but they try and I can understand each of them quite well. The men, on the other hand, also try, but they try hard. So hard, in fact, they also learned to speak Philadelphese…ish.
This sticker design, which makes me laugh heartily every time I say it aloud, is an homage to my Vietnamese uncles and any other AZN bad boy who always lets one slip when the time’s right: WHA THIT HEO?!
So, unless you’re familiar with what any sort of Asian accent sounds like (I’m really nodding my head at Vietnamese and Chinese), then these words won’t make sense.
I’ll break it down:
• Wha = what
• Thit = the/tha (if you also speak Philadelphese) (FUN FACT: “thit” as a Vietnamese word means “meat”.)
• Heo = H-E-double-hockey-sticks, hell
what•thit•HEO?!
