Hello all,
As the semester is nearing an end, I have gone back and read through my blog posts throughout the course of the class to reflect on all I've learned. At the beginning of the class, I was a little nervous about having to learn all of this new software and editing. I was especially nervous about some of the more advanced Adobe software. However, I was also really excited because I was going to be able to develop a skill set that I'd really never worked with before.
One of my early assignments that really shaped how I looked at design was the blog post, Ten Design Elements Everyone Should Know. I referred back to this post several times throughout the semester when I was working on my own designs. It helped me remember to look at the little details, which is really important in design. One of the best tips I can give other designers is to have a reference page like this to look back at. It also made me more aware of the designs around me. I stared to notice more unique designs and think about how they are working. It's been really interesting to reflect on.
A big chunk of my semester was spent working on designs for Diamond K Leather Co. This was really fun to do and helped me learn a lot about an overall brand. Looking back, I still love the logo I designed, but kind of wish I chose different colors- maybe a green and brown. But I am still happy with the overall feel, and I think I did a good job incorporating the brand into each individual design. Another tip I have for PR practitioners is to decide on a brand theme before designing anything, to ensure everything is upholding the brand.
I think my favorite project was designing the newsletter for Boeing. This was a huge InDesign project, and I was really proud of how it turned out. It took me a long time, but after I finished, I felt so confident working with InDesign and have even began working with it more at work. This was definitely my favorite project and I felt so accomplished when I turned it in. Here's a tip for working with unfamiliar software- YouTube is your friend. Looking up tutorial and quick tip videos can save you a lot of time.
Throughout the semester, I grew a lot as a public relations practitioner through my design abilities and confidence. I didn't know anything about balance or how font and color can convey meaning before I started. And I definitely did not think I could design some of the stuff I did. Not only am I much better at designing effectively and for a brand, but I am so much more confident in doing so. I have started doing some designing on my own, trying different layouts, colors and putting some unique elements in them.