String Typography

Did I ever tell you about the time I did string typography?! No, I doubt I did, so let me go ahead now.

Last semester I had just started my "Design Research Assistant" job. My first assignment was to create an identity for a transformative learning conference we were having at school, called Transformative Learning Conference 2012. Clever, I know...

Their whole idea behind the conference is to show connection between students, teachers, learning, participating in on campus activities, etc. I was really excited about this, really excited. It was about the time that 'String Typography' was taking off and I really wanted to do something with it. Plus, it fit within the parameters of showing connection. What better thing to use than to show a network of connections that with string typography!

Jump to 5 hours later, 30 dollars in supplies, and some pissed off neighbors I had basically given up. The tutorials I had seen said to "hammer the shape of the letter into plywood". Well at 1 A.M. in an apartment complex with thin walls this is a horrible idea. I plan B'ed it and used some extra foam board I had on hand. It worked a lot better with putting the nails in, but if you look in the photo below the letters got all cattywumpus and sad.

Needless to say, I got pretty far before taking a break for the night. I showed my professor the next day, and while we both liked the idea it's not super legible.  I still want to do something with string typography, but obviously this isn't it.

Design Fail. Lesson Learned.

Do Not Enter the Uncanny Valley

Today I read an article about the Uncanny Valley. It was actually really interesting.

"The uncanny valley describes a point at which a human-like animation or robot looks too close to a human and generates a feeling of revulsion or distaste. "


Basically it's the point of being so generated to look like a human that it loses all it's human qualities. It's creepy.


So I was recently asked, or told rather, that I should apply for a student research grant with the design program. Then I decided I may as well be the only one who doesn't know anything about research grants. I know that people write a paper, then they get them, and they they (I'm only assuming at this point) do research. 

Fact: when you type into Google: "What is a Student Research Grant" you get this: 

THESE ARE NOT HELPFUL!
They just made me feel more idiotic about not knowing what it is or what type of projects I can do with them. Great, I'll write a BRILLIANT proposal, but if I can't figure out what things I can propose it doesn't help. Jerks.


So, basically somehow the article popped into my head 8 hours after reading it, but I still have no clue if it's a good topic for a research grant. I e-mailed said teacher asking if it was okay, and if it is I have 2 days to write my paper and turn it in. Easy. Luckily I'm a writing master. I can't talk to save my life, but give me a pen and paper (or less stressful to my hands a computer) and I can write forever. 


Long story short: I may be doing a research project over the effect computers have in taking away the human aspect of design. Or I may not. We shall see. 


Also, I super suggest reading the article, it's interesting! 

My First Magazine

I've been working on making a spread for a magazine for a little more than a month now. We had to choose a magazine (within our group) and make a style guide for it. Then we got to create two magazine spreads based off our guide!

Needless to say, I hated our magazine so I was not excited about the second part. The content of the magazine itself is awesome, but the design of it is sadly lacking.

The best part is the inconsistency of the spreads. 

Anyway- we had to make a main edit well and an ad and edit. I think my spreads turned out pretty well! We could chose our own topic, so I chose building a treehouse for my Main Edit, and natural cleaning products for my A&E. I still have some tweaking to do, but when do I not!

3 Weeks.

I have 3 weeks left until this semester is over and about 6 or 7 till another, more grueling one begins... But I'm excited!

I think I may have reached a point of exhaustion though. I had a horrible time staying awake yesterday and finally crashed about 8pm, much to the dismay of Tyler who wanted me to keep him company. But I did... I sprawled out on him and the couch napping my content heart away. And by napping I mean passing the hell out. I ended up sleeping from 8pm last night to 11am this morning... Minus the 30 minutes I got woken up to see the awesome creatures on Skyrim.

Totally freaking worth it. It helped me write a 5 page paper today, doing research and everything. It's an awful paper, but the subject is too difficult to cover everything. Sadly, I have another 7 page paper to write over Physical Science. Uhhhh yuck.

All I have to think about is the fact that there's only 3 weeks.