Reach Out and Read Posters Second Submission

It Is Beautiful Then Gone

Martin Venezky, is a graphic designer whose work though based in working with collage and found materials and photography his work transcends the typical results of such mediums. He founded and operates his design firm Appetite Engineers.

Semester Reflection

How can I summarize what I've learned so far during my first semester at KCAI... The most important thing that I learned is that I know nothing... and its really exciting. Just scratching the surface with so many possibilites and directions to specialize in the future it really inspires me. I know now more than ever that everyone who told me I didn't have to go to art school really didn't understand what it had to offer or at least what KCAI had to offer. I think I'm very fortunate to be here with the classmates and teachers that I have.

I feel like I just went through a huge crash course of design fundamentals and basics that I know will become the solid foundation of bigger and better things in the near future. I know also that I didn't grasp everything as well as I had hoped to and will be doing tutorials and posters once again over break as much as I can but in a new light, with a new understanding of why I'm making the design choices that I am.  I'm glad to have winter break to recap on the semester. I know when we all come back in spring we'll be ready for it!

Past Project Critique

This project in particular challenged me and embarrassed me unlike any art project I've ever done before... but I learned something vary, vary valuable. Have a back up plan. I had a concept I really liked but I pushed ahead without thinking of what could happen if an aspect of it which relied on other people's timing fell short somewhere along the line that I would be in trouble. Not that anyone besides myself is to blame here. That in fact is the point of it. I didn't plan ahead ar enough. I know now that for every concept or idea there should be multiple directions in which it can go all of which ideally strong. Especially when working with clients whose opinons you cant predict.

Project 3

Project 3 as listed on the Viscom blog was to "Exploit properties of non-traditional tools, Understand mark making as aesthetic, expressive and perceptual phenomenon, and Explore symbiotic relationship of concept and form."

Our animations were to compliment the Haiku, retain its poetic grace while adding our own imagination and creativity into visualizing the words. I definitely had a crash course in flash while working on this projects and spent a lot of time outside of class watching lynda.com tutorials. In hindsight I wish I had pushed my animations further. As I mention else where in these final statements I have to learn to express myself better and push harder for excellence. Too often I settle on the first idea I think is worth while and this is a mistake. I had a hard time retaining the essence of the typical haiku and Japanese style of poetry while trying to bring it to life per say. I wanted to keep a graceful but simple composition but I came to understand these were menat to be free to explore our abilities and though that exploration compliment the Haiku. The book was an incredible roller coster of emotion. I'm just glad we gave ourselves enough time to work hard on it. I know were wouldn't have been satisfied with a simple book after all of the work we put into the Haiku animations and marks. All though I know my work could be better and I think I've gotten off to kind of a rough start here in design. I know its where I want to be though. Design makes me happy as a human being. These projects through demanding and difficult and frustrating at times I know i'm learning so much even if its not quite showing as well as I want it too. But here's to a strong finish no matter what it takes. 

Earth, Air, Water - Haiku Book

Front Cover

Side

All Three Books Pulled Out Showing Wax String

Front Cover W/Out Sleeve

All Three Books Pulled Out

Inside Cover Showing Haiku / First Page

Inside the Pages. 

Final Storyboard

Linear Development

Updated Haiku Video

Music Credit to Iron and Wine for their song Boy With A Coin

Reach Out and Read Posters Final Submission

This is my final poster submission for the Reach Out and Read Kansas City AIGA poster contest. I have to admit I've never created so many versions of a poster before haha. But all and all I feel like I learned a lot about how I can better my own processes I use in my poster designs. Big thanks to all of you guys in class. The feedback was priceless. 

Now lets all cross our fingers for our class. 

Video: Stefan Sagmeister: Don't Take Creativity For Granted

Final 3 Digital Shape/Type Compositions