Lesson 6 Reflection

Lesson 6 focused on completing our first design project. We had to tie up loose ends with our business card and letterhead design. Before this week, we had to complete a lot of preliminary research about the organization that we chose to make our business cards and letter heads for. We were to use pinterest and other helpful tools to draft a competitor analysis board along with a mood board. After we did all the grunt work, we were able to move on to implementing a design. This, for me, was the toughest part. I am not that great at InDesign so there were certain things I wanted to do, but was unsure how to implement them. I began watching youtube tutorial videos and began trying different techniques. The more I played with InDesign the better and more comfortable I became with the program. I was excited that I had something to show for my first draft of my business card, but it was not up to par. It was very hard to read and did not send the message that I had intended.  I was disappointed in myself and my work.

Once we got into class, we critiqued one another’s design projects and gave feedback. My feedback was mainly positive, but more than the feedback I received, I was blown away by some of my classmates’ designs. They were incredible. I had nothing but great things to say about their projects. Some of my classmates were even kind enough to share some tips on what they did on their design projects so that I’d be able to improve mine using those helpful hints and techniques. Last week in class, Mr. Croom really helped me narrow down my image and my message. I was able to improve my business card. It is now legible and overall looks more appealing.

Once my business card was complete, I needed to improve my letterhead in order to keep some form of continuity through the message and image I was trying to send through my design projects. My first draft of my letterhead was very basic. It had the logo situated in the top left hand corner, but it did not display the proper contact information. Once I improved my letterhead, I put the proper information on there, spruced up the logo, added some color, and give it a hued background image. I was rather pleased with my final letterhead.

 

After all was said and done, I felt quite accomplished that I finished both design projects on time and that I was actually prideful in them this time around. I also shows the Chair for Stompdown my letter head and they are going to use it for the sponsorship letters.

 

For future students taking this class, I would recommend that they just be open to InDesign and Photoshop. Once you start playing on the programs and using the tools, it is way easier to get the hang of it. If I can do it, so can you. All in all, I am happy this design project is over and I am looking forward to the next one.