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Visuals

 

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Project Statement

In this multi-faceted project, I combined both 2D and 3D design elements to design something for my mentor. In creating my gift, I examined it through the lens of my major of interest, Visual Communication, and used my understanding of it and design thinking to guide my decision-making as well as a quote about design. A lot of my ideas for this project centered around designing something that could help Cali keep organized throughout her busy days. Given the material requirements and lack of access to certain machine tools, I simplified my ideas regarding its use and created something that I believe lends itself in a way that speaks to Visual Communications by providing an easy to understand surface with various trays and slots meant to keep your most important things right where you want them. I focused a tremendous amount of time on proportion and ensuring there was just enough space on the organizer to keep Cali’s things front and center without creating visual clutter, which is where negative space became a focus.

 

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Process

You can view a detailed project process at Gifting Design: Process

 

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Reflection

This project had a lot more to do than the other ones. It kinda threw me off once I had interviewed my mentor and had to start coming up with ideas. I felt like I got in my own head about a lot of the decisions I made regarding the gift because I knew it had to be personalized and special. However, given the limitations in machine processes and lack of access, I feel that I managed to achieve the basics of my overall goals with this project. I personally enjoyed using my gift for Cali as I tested it to the point that I even wanted to make one for myself! My exploration into the gift could’ve been more rapid and thus helped me produce many bad ideas and help funnel towards the better ones. I feel that I got stuck on too few ideas and explored them just a little too in-depth which took time away from really digging into it. After landing on the organizer, I went ahead and explored enough to know I wanted to move forward with it which really got things rolling, but I know I could’ve done even more than I did. At the end of the day, Cali seemed to really like the gift and thought the box was very cute regardless, and understood there were some things I probably had to omit from my designs to meet the deadline and work around restrictions. She hopes I make it into VC and hopes to see me around class if I ever need help or just want to talk about some ideas!