Reflection Blog Post

My favorite project during the semester would either be the graphic design project or the audio story project. I cannot decide between these two but thoroughly enjoyed all the projects throughout the semester. I really liked the graphic design project because I was already familiar with using Photoshop and it pushed me to create something newer and better. This is one of the projects where there was the most significant change between the draft and the final. I was able to push myself to create more than intended and really utilize multiple tools of the program. I also really loved creating the audio story. I think my favorite part about it was being able to tell a story and create emotion without the use of visual cues. Overall, this course taught me skills in adobe programs I had never worked with before, and continued to build upon my skillset in those I had previously worked with. I think every skill I learned was useful and I am hoping that I will continue to use these programs beyond my college experience.

My major, fashion merchandising, has a wide range of career paths that are available. I have always been more interested in the creative and artistic jobs such as styling, creative director, photography, etc. Although I am not completely sure yet where in the fashion industry I would like to work, taking this course has helped me solidify my feelings towards pursuing a career in the fashion industry that utilizes the skills of graphic design. Everything I learned this semester has helped me get closer to being qualified to get a job like that.

For all my projects, researching similar executions of the ideas I had in my head helped me create a professional result. However, not all my inspiration came from research prior to the assignment of each project. Through watching videos, reading articles, and using social media I find inspiration on a daily basis. This course taught me how to use these inspirations and create sleek and refined multimedia content.

 

Unmasked

 

Idea and Inspiration

The concept of this video story focuses on the journey of wearing makeup. The time, effort, and personal investment of creativity and money can be washed away so quickly to reveal natural beauty underneath. Which inspired the title of the video, Unmasked. I wanted to the viewer to feel as though they are experiencing the progression themselves through both the visual and audio story. Like my other media advertising and branding I strive to create consistent and high quality products. This video story, in more ways than one falls in line with the message of RAW.

Design Process

To create my video story, I was originally inspired by promotional narrative advertisements such as Dove’s Real Beauty Sketches campaign. In addition to this, makeup application time lapses additionally served as inspiration for my artistic direction for this video story. Researching the different editing styles of these kinds of videos helped guide me in the direction I chose to edit. I added conceptual elements of my audio story because I felt it was important to retain the authenticity while the works complemented each other. The first step in creating this video story was brainstorming the concept. I went back and forth between a couple of different ideas but ended up settling with a variation of my first idea. It didn’t turn out exactly as I had imagined due to my limited resources, however I feel as though I the message of Unmasked is clear and relatable to its viewers. Filming all the footage necessary for my concept was the next step in the process. I then collected audio, asking similar questions that I asked in my audio story. The most time consuming process was weeding through all of the footage, picking the clips I liked, and trying to condense the amount of clips I used to fit the time frame allotted. Then I edited the video together and once I was happy with the result, I added the audio tracks. I chose to add background music to elevate the emotional attachment associated when watching, but to also balance out the video and audio interview. Upon reviewing my feedback I adjusted the different audio levels while additionally moving around some clips to make the overall video flow better.

Technical Detail

I directed and filmed all of the video footage myself. I additionally recorded the interview audio track myself as well. I used my editing research to construct my video story. There was some abruptness in transitions but I found that using video transitions made the video story more seamless with stronger flow between clips.

Sources and Materials

Music: “Flowing Air” by Mattia Vlad Morleo

From Jamendo Music

CC by NC

https://www.jamendo.com/track/1434776/flowing-air

Video Story Draft

 

Idea and Inspiration

The concept of this video story focuses on the journey of wearing makeup. The time, effort, and personal investment of creativity and money can be washed away so quickly to reveal natural beauty underneath. Which inspired the title of the video, Unmasked. I wanted to the viewer to feel as though they are experiencing the progression themselves through both the visual and audio story. Like my other media advertising and branding I strive to create consistent and high quality products. This video story, in more ways than one falls in line with the message of RAW.

Design Process

To create my video story, I was originally inspired by promotional narrative advertisements such as Dove’s Real Beauty Sketches campaign. In addition to this, makeup application time lapses additionally served as inspiration for my artistic direction for this video story. Researching the different editing styles of these kinds of videos helped guide me in the direction I chose to edit. I added conceptual elements of my audio story because I felt it was important to retain the authenticity while the works complemented each other. The first step in creating this video story was brainstorming the concept. I went back and forth between a couple of different ideas but ended up settling with a variation of my first idea. Filming all the footage necessary for my concept was the next step in the process. I then collected audio, asking similar questions that I asked in my audio story. The most time consuming process was weeding through all of the footage, picking the clips I liked, and trying to condense the amount of clips I used to fit the time frame allotted. Then I edited the video together and once I was happy with the result, I added the audio tracks. I chose to add background music to elevate the emotional attachment associated when watching, but to also balance out the video and audio interview.

Technical Detail

I directed and filmed all of the video footage myself. I additionally recorded the interview audio track myself as well. I used my editing research to construct my video story. There was some abruptness in transitions but I found that using video transitions made the video story more seamless with stronger flow between clips.

Sources and Materials

Music: “Flowing Air” by Mattia Vlad Morleo

From Jamendo Music

CC by NC

https://www.jamendo.com/track/1434776/flowing-air

Footage Collection and Storyboard

Visual Elements	Audio Elements
0:00-0:04  Title page with pan of makeup spread out over counter	Background music fades in
0:04-0:20  Sped up face makeup application	Background music continues Audio interview beings
0:20-0:30  Sped up eyebrow application	Background music continues Audio interview continues
0:30-0:50  Sped up eye makeup application and bronzing face	Background music continues Audio interview continues
0:50-1:10  Sped up lipstick application	Background music continues Audio interview continues
1:10-1:20  Looking at full-face makeup in mirror	Background music continues Audio interview continues
1:20-1:30  Wiping off makeup	Background music continues Audio interview continues
1:30-2:00  Looking at no makeup face in mirror and being happy with looks	Background music fades out Audio Interview fades out

 

Premiere Tutorials

Final Audio Story

 

Idea and Inspiration

For this project I created an audio story explaining the viewpoints from several females on natural beauty and the effect it has on their everyday lives. Through these varying assignments I am able to represent this platform in many ways, but still in a cohesive way.

Design Process

I wanted to tell a story with this audio and make it feel less like an interview and more like a spoken word piece. I had a vision of what I wanted to achieve with this audio story and was inspired by the spoken word pieces performed by Richard Williams, more commonly known as Prince Ea. Each piece he creates is moving and typically addresses a more controversial but serious topic in a new creative way. I wanted to collect voices that blended well together to tell the story of the RAW platform.  I also made sure to find the more inspiring pieces of audio from each interview and piece them together in way that was balanced but never allowed for the same person to say things in a row. I have taken note of strong flow and smooth transitions when listening to spoken word pieces that are successful. Keeping the answers to the questions I asked to be first reactions was very important to me, seeing that a more genuine and authentic self is a something that this platform advocates for. Adding music in the background was an important part of building and creating the story.

Technical Detail

To collect the different tracks of audio, I interviewed three different females. I referenced the process of making the mixed track from the Audition tutorials and it allowed for a more seamless execution. I did not experience any technical challenges using Audition.

Sources and Materials

Music: “Respiro” by Mattia Vlad Morleo

From Jamendo Music

CC by NC

https://www.jamendo.com/track/1326383/respiro

Draft Audio Story

 

Idea and Inspiration

For this project I created an audio story explaining the viewpoints from several females on natural beauty and the effect it has on their everyday lives. Through these varying assignments I am able to represent this platform in many ways, but still in a cohesive way.

Design Process

I wanted to tell a story with this audio and make it feel less like an interview and more like a spoken word piece. I had a vision of what I wanted to achieve with this audio story and was inspired by the spoken word pieces performed by Richard Williams, more commonly known as Prince Ea. Each piece he creates is moving and typically addresses a more controversial but serious topic in a new creative way. I wanted to collect voices that blended well together to tell the story of the RAW platform.  I also made sure to find the more inspiring pieces of audio from each interview and piece them together in way that was balanced but never allowed for the same person to say things in a row. Strong flow and smooth transitions have taken note of when listening to spoken word pieces that are successful. Keeping the answers to the questions I asked to be first reactions was very important to me, seeing that a more genuine and authentic self is a something that this platform advocates for.

Technical Detail

To collect the different tracks of audio, I interviewed three different females. I referenced the process of making the mixed track from the Audition tutorials and it allowed for a more seamless execution. I did not experience any technical challenges using Audition.

Sources and Materials

Music: “First Time Outdoors” by Parvus Decree

From the Free Music Archive

CC by NC

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Parvus_Decree/The_Introspection/01-First_Time_Outdoors

Audio Collection

 

 

I plan on using this audio to create a narrative about natural beauty and what it means to others and how society’s standards of beauty have affected their life.

Audition Tutorials

 

 

 

 

 

Logo Final

Idea and Inspiration

I decided to create a leaf-like logo incorporating the title from my graphic design project to create consistency. I feel that a logo symbolizing nature helps communicate the message of RAW, hence why I choose to use a leaf.

Design Process

The idea of the design was original, without any previous research done. To capture the aesthetic I wanted, I looked up “natural” logos to research different forms that could further define my sketch. The leaf specifically is the main feature of the logo, representing the natural side of beauty that RAW stands for. I wanted to keep the leaf balanced aesthetically, but asymmetrical. I chose to add color to further the idea of the raw and natural state and to mimic the color scheme of my graphic design, creating a cohesive platform. I designed the leaf’s body first then added the swoosh coming off of it after, and created and aligned the text based on the placement of the leaf and the swoosh. Coloring the leaf was the next step. After reading my comments about my logo draft, as shown below, the typography was an element I needed to address. I changed the font and color of RAW to mirror that of my graphic design project. I also shrunk down and re-positioned the subtitle. Upon completing this, I experimented with smoothing out the shape and size of the leaf and its stem.

Technical Detail

I created the leaf component by using my logo sketches as a guide for the path. I utilized the pencil tool so that I would be able to create a more seamless outline of the shape. The stroke window also helped me achieve the thickness and the thinness of the lines I desired. I additionally used the paint bucket tool to color the leaf and the type tool to add the titles. I chose to use the pencil tool because I had tried using the pen tool to create anchor points, but I found it more difficult to have a fluid line without edges within the curves. I do not have previous experience using Adobe Illustrator so there has definitely been more of a learning curve, but trying different techniques, searching for tutorials, and referencing my Illustrator tutorials is helpful.

Sources and Materials

Dennis Ludlow – Dafont: http://www.dafont.com/goldoni.font