Reflect

The Studio Habit of Mind that will be explored in this unit is Reflect.

To reflect on an artwork, whether it is our own, the work of our peers, or professional work, we must learn to think and talk about art using specific vocabulary to that particular art form. It is also important as we reflect, to think and talk about the art making process and the conventions artists use to create work. Reflecting also means deciphering the meaning of the piece intended by the artist through visual symbolism and finding connections to it on a personal level.

As graphic designers, we must also reflect on our work with a critical eye towards meeting the needs of our client. Sometimes this means making choices that we feel might not be the strongest, but are in line with the clients expressed wishes.

Just as in all of the Studio Habits of Mind, the ability for an artist to reflect on an artwork and takes repeated practice.

Artistic Concept

A concept is an abstract idea. Artists use different concepts to take those ideas from abstraction to reality. The concept being explored through the lens of the Studio Habit - Express is Collaboration.

Collaboration refers to an artist's ability to work well with others - in this case the client/graphic designer relationship. To collaborate means to work as a team where the work is goal oriented, approached with an open mind, and with equal effort given towards the final outcome.

Working with a Client

As a graphic designer, whether working for a firm/agency, or as a freelancer, you will be interacting directly with clients.

Working with a client starts with strong communication!

communication graphic

Some clients have a very clear vision of what they want for the design work they are commissioning you for, and some clients only have a vague idea. It falls on the graphic designer to forge and foster a working relationship with a client that is professional, meets their needs, and allows you to make the strongest design choices possible for the commissioned work. This can be a tricky working relationship to navigate, but is essential to create a positive workflow, achieve the best design, and allow your work as a graphic designer to grow.

Research

Research is the very first step, and arguably the most important one in creating a strong design. In this phase of the research, you will meet with your client and determine exactly what it is they need/want for the design work they have commissioned from you.

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Client Driven Project: Initial Information

Check In

As a way to ensure that we are continuing our conceptual learning on collaboration, there will be multiple times you will need to check-in with your instructor throughout the project.

Each student will make a copy of the Collaboration Check In to use individually when they meet with their instructor.

At this check in, students will bring their Chromebook with the document open to the instructor to discuss their project and learning so far. After the discussion, the instructor will check off, on each student's individual form, if the goals were met and the student is making adequate progress on the project.

These check ins are meant to track your understanding of the key concepts being taught in the lesson and to monitor your progress as you create!

Dates will be posted in the classroom as to when each check in should be complete.

Client Driven Project: Further Research

Develop a Plan

Conduct more research! This time, research with the information gathered from your client in mind. The following are areas that you should research:

Similar companies

Similar design work/style

Customer preferences

Color palettes

Find a lot of reference and gather it together in one organized document or place to refer to frequently.

Develop a plan for your design before you begin to sketch.

Sketch

Thumbnail sketch a broad range of ideas for your client based on the research you conducted, the information you gathered and your design knowledge. Since this will be shown to the client, the sketches should be a bit more detailed than simple roughs.

sketch graphic png

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Show the Client

Show these more detailed, but still rough, sketches to the client. Gather their feedback making sure to record, in writing, the most important parts of the conversation. Reflect on this feedback by making lists and quick sketches of what can/needs to be revised before moving to the next steps.

Revise your best initial sketch that the client was most drawn to making sure to enhance it based on the feedback that you received and your reflection on your work.

Create the Final

Using whichever design program best suits your needs, begin working on your final design in the program of your choice that best suits your needs.

Keep in mind the following information as you create your final design:

Elements of Art & Design

The elements and principles of art and design are the foundation on which all art is created. They can be thought of like a sentence. There has to be words in order to make a sentence; no words, no sentence. The elements of art are like the words. Without the elements - line, shape, color, value, texture, space, and form - there is no art. That doesn't mean that all elements of art must be used in an individual artwork, just like not every word has to be used in a sentence, but at least one must be present.

Reflect will focus on the following elements of art & design:

Element of Art & Design

Learn some interesting aspects about the element of art & design: space

Create a sketch that demonstrates what you learned about space.

Why is it important for graphic designers to know about space?

Principles of Art & Design

If we think of the elements and principles of art & design like a sentence, with the words being a metaphor for the elements, then the principles of art & design are the ways in which the words are arranged. The way in which you arrange the words of a sentence dictates the feel and meaning of it. More descriptive words, and the sentence gives more detail; less words, and the sentence reads sharp or abrupt. The principles of art and design are the way in which an artwork is arranged. Does it appear uneasy, or relaxed? Without the principles of design - pattern and repetition, contrast, movement, emphasis, balance, rhythm, and unity - an artwork would not have a unique look and personality to it. The principles of art and design are more subjective as well. This means that they can be viewed and interpreted by one person differently than they are viewed and interpreted by another.

Reflect will focus on the following principles of art & design:

Principle of Art & Design

Learn some interesting aspects of the principle of art & design: pattern and repetition

Create a quick repeated pattern using basic shapes that demonstrates what you learned about pattern and repetition.

Why do graphic designers need to be familiar with patter and repetition?

Artistic Conventions

A convention is an accepted way in which something is done. It's a variety of things that artists do to create a piece of artwork. Artists use their knowledge of the numerous different artistic conventions with corresponding methods and techniques to portray meaning in an artwork.

Each Studio Habit of Mind will explore different artistic conventions. For this project, the artistic conventions that will be explored are branding and identity, personal voice, and client input.

Branding and Identity

Personal Voice

Client Input

Composition

present

reflect

graphic designer you should know

objectives

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