Creative Challenges

1. Transformation

2. The Square

3. X's and O's

4. Black Square Problem

The Black Square Problem was an exercise in communication through visuals. Using only four black and white squares within a 3” x 3” box, create a design to express six differnet words: order, increase, bold, congested, tension, and playful.

For each word sketch at least 2 possible designs, picked your favorites, and create them on the computer using Adobe Illustrator.

The squares can be any size, overlap, go off the page, or be rotated, as long as they were black or white and only four of them were used.

This video gives an idea how to create ONE black square graphic in Photoshop using the Shape Tool.

5. UPC Challenge

The Universal Product Code, or UPC, is one of the most widely used marks
in the world, appearing on packaged foods, magazines, books, CDS, and other mass-produced products. Indeed, the UPC mark has become a symbol of consumerism throughout the world.

But because this image is seen so frequently, it is almost taken for granted and consequently not really seen at all– it has become a part of the invisible fabric of our daily lives. With this in mind, redesign the UPC mark. Making it visible once again by interpreting it as a personal, political or social statement.

Create 3 designs where you add elements to alter the meaning of the UPC. You must maintain the feel of the bar-code and the numbers, you can later the length of the lines and add other vector shape. There are no limitations on the use of color.

Download the UPC code, which can be altered and modified in Adobe Illustrator.

-taken from https://mrscoxclass.info/graphics/graphicsi/upc-challenge/