Designing From the Heart: Exploring Passions Through Design
When I step beyond the boundaries of my classes, I relish the opportunity to engage in design projects that align with my personal interests and passions. It's a wonderful feeling to explore new avenues of design that hold personal significance to me. These ventures allow me to express my creativity through distinctive and unique illustrative styles, giving life to concepts and ideas that resonate with my experiences and emotions. Below, you can find some projects that I desgined during my own free time!
Capturing Cultural Essence: An Illustrative Journey Through Asian Heritage
I embarked on a series of illustrations inspired by various Asian cultures. The red piece draws from Chinese culture, while the blue one is an ode to Japan. My vision for this project extends to encompass illustrations representing each distinct Asian culture. Amid the hustle of life, I often overlook the significance of my roots, so I cherished the process of crafting these artworks and revisiting the profound meanings associated with these places.
Editorial Design: Timeline of The Teletubbies
Teletubbies held a special place in my childhood memories, as I used to catch it on our big old TV. Who could ever forget the giggle of the baby sun? Each new episode was an exciting moment, filled with their unique blend of non-verbal communication. With this project, my aim was to visually resurrect the nostalgia of people's childhoods. I also aimed to transform the perception of Teletubbies from being potentially unsettling to a more friendly and inviting presence.
Editorial Design: Postmodernism in Architecture
The realm of architecture has continually captivated my interest. In today's world, certain structures push the boundaries of conventional form, shape, and equilibrium, a concept that truly intrigues me. In crafting this layout, my intention was to accentuate the abstract and geometric elements prevalent in post-modern architecture. This endeavor allows me to extend my design expertise to diverse domains, and the fusion with architecture adds an exciting layer of exploration to the mix.
Packaging Design: Revamping UPS Boxes
Packaging design has perpetually intrigued me, and I've been keen to explore box packaging design. In this creative endeavor, I chose to reimagine UPS box packaging, infusing it with a captivating aesthetic. The exterior exudes a natural essence, while upon opening, recipients are transported to a forest realm, symbolized by the foliage-laden top flap.
De-stress Fest: Button & Magnet Designs
As part of a work-related side project, I was assigned the enjoyable task of designing buttons for Destress Fest. This initiative, held during Finals Week each semester, aims to provide students with stress relief and study breaks. Hosted by RIT Libraries since 2016, the festival features diverse events like therapy dog visits, guided meditation, coffee/snack breaks, and arts and crafts sessions. Crafting these pins was a delightful experience, knowing they would be used for this event. I ensured a diverse color palette to cater to a wide audience.
Exploring the Trend: Embracing Gradient Mesh in Design
Gradient mesh has emerged as a prominent trend within the design sphere. This technique involves placing a grid within an object, enabling the selection of distinct colors for each grid point. While traditionally employed for achieving realism, gradient meshes are now finding new applications in crafting abstract backgrounds. I embarked on this endeavor both as a creative exercise and to gain insights into the prevailing design trends shaping the industry.
Graphic Translation & Poster: Bonsai
Crafting impactful imagery-based posters can pose a challenge. Traditionally, posters rely on photography to convey their message, yet modern trends see the integration of purely graphical elements. Employing striking visual components as the central theme can captivate observers due to their prominent and bold nature. Establishing a clear visual hierarchy becomes paramount in this endeavor, as elements' sizes need careful calibration to prevent any distractions from the primary focus.
Historical Poster: Boston Tea Party
Upon encountering the Art Deco aesthetic, I was immediately captivated by its allure. Numerous tourism and illustration posters executed in this style piqued my interest, prompting me to delve into it for one of my projects. The task entailed crafting a poster that encapsulated a historical event using visuals. My aim was to fashion a piece that could serve as both an informative artifact and a decorative artwork for homes. Merging illustration and graphic design into a single composition, I relished the creative process and the harmonious fusion of these elements.
