Antisocial: Part II (Graphic Design)

{{...And YOU thought that I had forgotten about my 'Antisocial' series. Think again! I will be posting the 3rd and final installment this week or next (I wrote the actual blogs a while ago- this was written January 9...I just had to get the images). Then I will post my art from this past semester. The camera is up and functional again, so here we go!}}

Wow! I got a lot of feedback to my first installment of my Antisocial series...thank you all so much! You have no idea...after slaving away on these projects it's nice to just present them and hear what people say.

On to my second time-consuming class in Fall 2008: Graphic Design.
In this class, we had to make up an alternative fuel company. We went through many series of sketches, drafts, and printouts to get to the point we could produce a good final project. Joe Jackson was our teacher, and our class turned into a big survival posse, as we'd all work slavishly on the h-fac computers or in the print lab.

The project: Brand a pseudo-alternative fuel company.
We first researched alternative fuel companies, then based on what we learned or what interested us most, we each picked one. I picked hydrogen fuel. Then, we produced sketches of ideas for a logo for that type of company.

However, before we kept sketching or started taking our ideas to the computer, Joe had us think of traits or qualities that we wanted our company to have. We made a long list of these qualities. Then, we had to narrow it down to our top three. Mine came out to be:

1- innovative
2- intuitive
3- user-friendly

Then we based our sketches around these qualities. It was an interesting process: it kind of made me think backward. I liked it, because it turned out to be more applicable. We went through a series of what we called "horizontal thinking", which was to expand our ideas in many different directions. Here are a few of mine (out of MANY MANY sketches I did....I have a notebook full of them. Literally).

After we picked about 3 logos that suited us, we continued to expand into "vertical thinking" which was to go in depth on those 3 ideas. Finally, we produced our logo, based on our initial 3 words and presented it. Later, we chose the company name. Joe didn't care so much about the name as he did about the typeface and whether or not it went with the traits and logo of the company. Eventually, we presented the logo and company name:


Then we did a "transformation" assignment: We had to "transform" our logo to fit a bunch of requirements, which was actually pretty fun. The explanations for the transformations are under each one.


After that, we went on to do what was probably the most laborious part of the process: the corporate, or brand, identity package. We had to successfully brand a letterhead, envelope, and business card. It took a LOT of time and concentration, with a prevailing eye for accuracy.

Draft after draft, dead tree after dead tree, we finally got to the point where we could call it complete. We selected special paper to print on, and I did waste a bit. Then we had to mount it. Here's mine:

*note: it looks way cooler in person. cool texture and everything.

(And here are the actual files. Click to enlarge. They look in their final printed stage [so come by and see!], but not so great in the above photo.)

Throughout the process, we were always thinking of application ideas. It couldn't be
"swag" (basically anything you could buy at a football game: pencils, mugs, t-shirts, etc...unless we could convince Joe). It needed to correspond to our company and logo. I decided to screen print a white canvas bag, used for shopping in grocery stores instead of wasting paper or plastic materials. Simple, but I was okay with that:

(I should acknowledge that I couldn't have done this last part without Jeff, who found me the white canvas bag. A normal tan colored canvas wouldn't have worked with this, because that would introduce another color into my color scheme. Tricky, eh? I also couldn't have done it without Craig, who connected me with his brother's friend Steve, who screen printed it for me.)

Then, we presented. And it felt gooood.

Travis Lovell (who was at one point my photography teacher and now works in the print lab) made the comment that was along the lines of, "graphic designers notice the tiniest things that no one else would ever even think about checking." So annoying. But it separates good designers from excellent ones.

Again, comments are appreciated. Let me know what you think!

*all images copyright kristin gulledge, 2008.

Obituary of a Beloved Fallen Tree

[I originally wrote this on April 17-18, 2009 but didn't post because I didn't have photos. I took all the photos in this post the morning of April 16.]

I tend to be an optimistic person. When it happens to snow in April, I'm usually like, "Hey, snow. Cool. Wanna make a snow castle?"

However, the snowstorm last night destroyed something that I can't get back. Those of you who know me well know that
I'm pretty passionate about nature (think about it). It's sad to hear about the natural disasters and such. However, on the fateful early morning of Thursday, April 16, my mom raced into my room and informed me to look out the window. I went to the front door and saw what's depicted in the photo on the topright. When I realized that our once huge, slender beautiful tree with fresh pink blossoms that resided just outside of my window had come crashing down due to the bizarre inclement weather, I was heartbroken. This wasn't just any tree...it was one of the things that I loved most about my home.

So...I am writing an obituary.

Our dear pink blossomed tree fought a good fight for over 19 years [ever since we bought our home] until a terrible accident took its life. Vile bitty critters had infested and weakened its once sturdy trunk, but when a freak snow storm crept upon the unassuming town of Provo, the little tree couldn't fight any longer. Its branches, already weak with disease, were suddenly laden with the extra weight of wet snow.

No longer do we have the pink beautiful tree that held the memories of six childhoods and a caring mother who watched over it through the years. Our yard seems empty, and we will sorely miss its previous occupant.

It is preceded by its elder peach tree, two umbrella trees, and a weeping willow, due to similar accidents. It is survived by two umbrella trees, three pine trees, a few rocks and an apple tree (one that sustained major injuries as well, and is now in critical condition but will be fine).

We will miss you, little tree.

I partly write this in humor, but it actually has been a really hard last couple of days for Mom and I. That tree had a lot more than just branches and leaves. It was the tree that I most associated with our home. In reality, it was an extension of our home; it grew up with me. I do miss it, sappy as it sounds (no pun intended).

Some favorite memories include:
- climbing it when i was little and staying there, reading books
- climbing it and observing my big brother Jonny [on the ground] stick up for me when his friend poked fun at me, not knowing i was in the tree
-playing hide-and-seek and other games with my nieces and nephews around the tree
-seeing the pink blossomed trees around Provo and swelling with pride a bit to know I had a tree just as gorgeous (if not more so) in my very own front yard
-watching the setting sun's beams pierce through the tree
-taking sibling pictures beside it and glamor shots of my sister in front of it
-having to duck underneath its branches when walking to my front door, basking in the scent of the blossoms
-looking out my window, just to see it there
-my mom telling me (when I was very young) that I couldn't eat the red berry-looking things...they were NOT cherries :)
-the first time there was snow and blossoms...at the same time

It's been a few days...but still I get a sad little shock when I look outside and recognize its absence.


For those of you who had any experiences with our tree or with their own, or would just like to add anything, please record them under the "thoughts" part. I'd love to hear.


I think that I'll plant a pink-blossomed tree in my front yard when I have my own home someday.

perspectives & houses

guy francis teaches institute. this makes me more excited because he's a friend of mine, and a professional illustrator. he and his wife lorien are some of my favorite people. anyway, the lesson tonight had a bunch of art examples, which made me just smile from my little desk and soak it up even more.

he started out by reading us the book, "the dot" by peter h. reynolds (i happen to own this book, because zach gave me it last month for my birthday). it's become one of my favorites. i suggest you read it, rather than me explain. really. go read it. (you can even borrow it from me, if you want.)

we discussed potential and perspective. lots of good analogies and discussion commenced, but i just wanted to blog about one quick example.

draw a house.

(go ahead, do it. i'll wait.)

ok. most people draw houses like this:

right? when we add some perspective in there, we might draw it

like this

or this

or even this.

we often see ourselves like that first picture shows.

'this is how i am: _______.'

'squares + triangle.'

however, God sees all those other perspectives as well. though we may think we're simply a combination of squares and triangles, certain abilities or strengths, Heavenly Father knows better. he sees the other parts of our house. he might see a window on the east side under the roof, or the garden in the backyard. he sees the back door and that little path on the west side. he notices the chimney and recognizes the garage.

our little house could have

windows
and paths
and stones
and doors
and stairs
and gardens

that we don't even see.likewise, we could have

strengths
and likings
and abilities
and pleasures
and talents
and lessons to learn

that we don't even see.

how do we see? add perspective. through trials, sufferings, difficult callings, opportunities, etc, we can learn about what's really part of our spiritual homes (or mansions as they may become). we're not just squares and rectangles.

we may be called as a nursery leader. 'what? nursery leader? i don't think i can do that!'
we could find a hidden door. 'i really enjoy kids.'

we could experience a parents' divorce. 'what? i don't like this. this isn't how family is supposed to be.'
we could look for a window. 'oh. i have a lot more love for my family now.'

we could get our hearts broken. multiple times. 'i don't like this. it hurts so badly.'
we could plant a garden. 'i'm learning to depend on Heavenly Father.'

we could fail a test. 'i deserved a good grade- i studied.'
we could discover a secret path. 'ah. a lesson in perseverance.'

do you get the idea? it's a good thing we're more than just squares and triangles. guy then talked about how we are all creators. elder uchtdorf says 'everyone can create...something of substance [and] beauty.'

as guy quoted,

you are the architect of your own destiny.

so when you start to doubt yourself, start to create. make those windows and stairs and doors. discover your potential; create your mansion.



i could even venture a step further into the analogy and talk about creating that house on a 'firm foundation'...but that's a lesson for another day.

liberated!

I AM DONE WITH FINALS! (i even got the pdf sent off!)

i marched right into that jsb (the "extension" of the testing center) and i showed that advertising test who's boss. marched back out with a 93%, to match my previous advertising scores of 96% and 90% (i only feel good about saying this because i'll tell you this: i spent at least 13 hours studying for each one).

huzzah!

after, while waiting for a ride, i found myself sitting on a bench as the sun was setting, listening to coldplay's 'rainy day' and 'glass of water'. i felt so free up there (on a remote h-fac bench) i just wanted to dance and sing. but i had my sketchbook in hand, and started to wonder how i could illustrate what music does for my soul...especially after something as happy as closing a crazy hard week of finals.

this is as close as i could get. a quick sketch, but it still makes me happy.


ps. two posts in one day; is anyone proud of me?

FINALS

well...this is how my days have gone these last couple of weeks. life has been organized on small planners and note cards, a strict hour by hour schedule.


but now i'm one final exam (and a pdf to be sent) away from FREEDOM!

The Big 2-1

today is my birthday! (okay...it's a flat-out lie. i totally post-dated this one).

i didn't have my usual crazy party or anything...i was too busy. but there were lots of little (and some bigger) things that helped me celebrate! i'd like to share 21 of them (appropriate for the occasion)


1* 2 birthday texts to wake up to (i love the feeling of waking up and having texts already there)
2* a wonderful birthday morning, including a cute surprise from mom, new storybooks, refreshing snow and dancing to Coldplay (the weather remained awesome throughout the day...with lots of sun and wind later, with pretty bright colors!
3* fabulous lecture in illustration history, my first class of the day: i took notes like an artist :)


4* tons of texted, facebooked, and gmailed birthday wishes through the day, reminding me that people are the most important things and i am so blessed to have such wonderful friends.
5* productive and unorthodox work...i drew a bridge and water on a huge piece of butcher paper
6* calls and voicemails (my niece gracie left a voicemail that i wish i could keep forever!)
7* an impromptu photoshoot with a friend who was in need of awesome pictures. we succeeded :)


8* surprise visit from one of my favorite people ever
9*relaxing night skipping part of class (shh!) and going out to ice cream, then shopping and shoe browsing with another favorite person (i'm so lucky to have such awesome favorite people)
10* extended birthday: dad was in town and took me to birthday lunch on friday at one of the best restaurants ever (Pizzaria 712) with dessert (Sub Zero) where I ran into another of my favorite people (oooh twicia...)


11* jess, zach, and twicia visiting and laughing til our sides hurt (good pain)
12* the surprise visit from friends the next morning (saturday) at 6 am, politely kidnapping me and taking me to IHOP


13* my niece's baptism.

she was baptized by my big brother (her dad), kevin. the last person he baptized was me. words can't adequately describe how i felt witnessing that. this was by far the best birthday gift.

14* family. everyone was there except my brother in california, whom i missed, but am excited to see sometime. i was thinking about going to the festival of colors, but didn't go due to a headache and pure exhaustion. instead i got to have fun with my nieces and nephews and helped my mom cook
15* birthday haircut...i got bangs :)
16* mom the amazing prepared a family dinner (chicken/rice/gooood topping) and birthday DESSERT (i requested birthday brownies. i never liked cake anyway)
17* my 12-yr old nephew joshua's gift: he looked up and selected a recipe online, then made me doughnut holes. all by himself. i'm not sure if i could do that all by myself now.
18*21 birthday paddles on the bum (this has NEVER happened to me before) ...from all my nieces and nephews, as headed up by my most innocent and oldest sister! (not a super attractive picture...but it had to be shown)
19* singing and playing piano with my sisters, and some guests :) . 10-yr old niece jessica commented, "see? we spent the night doing something even better than watching a movie!")
20* candidly letting people know it was my birthday, so they'd have an excuse to celebrate. i really enjoyed this one. i truly wanted everyone to be happy, just because i was. i had a reason, it being my birthday and all, but it was so fun to see my excitement transfer to others when they didn't have a reason. really, do we need a reason to be happy? nope.

21* looking forward to the best year so far!

thanks to all of you who read my blog and are my friends. thanks for forgiving my follies and having faith that i can be better. 21 years and counting...eternity to go. i'm working on it!

tweet!

i know. i am such a slacker. it's those darned 'antisocial' posts that are holding me back. i feel like i can't blog without putting them in here. so i promise those will be my next posts and i'll try to get back to a regular schedule. i miss blogging...i really do.

this semester has been ultra crazy...but i LOVE all my classes. in my advertising class, we're learning about all the new media out there. ('new' media refers to all the electronic and digital technology that we deal with these days, particularly the Internet). possibilities are endless and technology is fascinating to me (however, i still remain an 'old-fashioned girl' in many, many ways).

so, because of this talk of new media and how to use it for marketing and advertising purposes, coupled with my immense withdrawals from not blogging for so long, i got a Twitter account! twitter is just a site that helps you answer the question, "what are you doing?" which is so prevalent in many of our conversations. it's just a fun way to keep people updated, especially in times of trial (tons o' headaches lately), test (96% on first advertising test two weeks ago...86% on second one last night :( with a decent score on my illustration history test this morning), or straight up non-computer fun (the weather has been fabulous!). it's similar to a facebook or gmail status update, but solely for that purpose. also similar to blogs, you can "follow" people or friends with twitter accounts just to keep in touch. you can even get your phone involved if you'd like.

i'll try to update twitter as much as i can, as life is really crazy right now. BUT i'll also try to get on a more regular blogging schedule as well.

seriously, go check out the twitter site and watch the little video up at the top. it explains it better than i can. and if you get an account, sign up and follow me (in a non-creepy, non-stalkerish type way) so we can be twitter friends! :)