Billy Jo Molinari: Process Documentation
Senior Projects, Fall 2018
FINAL WEEK:
WEBSITE:
Took critiques from last class and made the site more cohesive and got rid of the big space between the gallery and the head bar and made everything more cohesive. Made about page feature PDF downloads for resume and added a little line to the contact page. I was hoping to get professional headshots done before the end of the semester but plans fell through but eventually they’ll be incorporated into the shop. I plan on editing the site further in the future and likely switching the platform it’s developed on to open up a shop section and have more interactivity but for now I think it’s a solid working site.
SENIOR PORTFOLIO EXHIBITION TABLE:
Link to playlist of motion graphics that were played on a loop
ARTIST STATEMENT:
As a designer I focus strongly on concept design and development in many different contexts and media. I believe that diversity is important for everyday life as well as in design. I also believe that the art of communication is at its strongest when the message being conveyed is fully explored. Exploration is key to my design process as I spend the beginning phases of a project being experimental while also having my work grounded in various aspects of art history. This eventually leads to a finished product that does just what I set out to do, convey “the” message. Design influences people, brings them joy, it can make you question your beliefs but most of all design is fun!
AIGA EVENT PROOF:
Piper Olsen and I went down to the Pittsburgh for the AIGA Xposed Studio Tour in which we got to tour CGI and Chemistry (both design firms). We got to talk with a lot of the people there especially at CGI which had 2 Edinboro Alumni working there in higher up positions.
Email about the event:
Photo from AIGA Instagram of me during the event:
STUDIO VISIT REPORT:
Garrison Hughes Advertising
100 First Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
garrisonhughes.com
*Get two copies of their business card, paperclip one to your final write up. Please post your write up as an article in Medium and submit a paper copy at the end of the term.
For my studio visit I went to Garrison Hughes Advertising, a design firm located in the middle of downtown Pittsburgh. The studio works with clients like UPMC, The Pittsburgh Steelers, PNC, and many more. I like a lot of their work they do, as it’s a blend of very traditional corporate design with a bit of fun injected into it through bright colors and photography. A good example of this is their work done for the Children’s Hospital and their use of photography and bright colors within a series of stationary pieces.
On the day of the tour I met with Alexa Valenta, a former graduate of Edinboro University, now one of Garrison Hughes’ Junior Art Directors. She greeted me and we chatted until Bob Lazor, the art director met with me and gave me a personal tour. The space itself was quite large, taking up an entire floor of the First Avenue building and even having a second office space located in a little basement area of the building. The studio was full of designers as well as people who specialize in marketing and communications with I’d say about 44 people in total. The atmosphere itself was very welcoming, felt competitive, corporate, but simultaneously laid back and upbeat.
After the tour of the space Bob and I sat down in his office and took a look at my portfolio which I presented on a tablet. I started by showing my motion graphic pieces to which we talked about them further. He seemed very impressed with them and really liked that I created almost all of the elements within these projects. We then moved onto the rest of my portfolio (I showed all the projects on my website). He gave really good feedback on subtle things to change which I’ve already done. He really didn’t have much to say in regards to what to change in my portfolio and in fact said that I had one of the best portfolio’s he has seen come through there and that it was even better than his coming out of college. The one thing he said was to maybe have some projects that were a bit more “boring” like branding for a bank or large company that doesn’t seem exciting at first but to apply my style of design onto it and really bring it a new sense of life. Other than that, though he was very impressed. He said right now they weren’t looking for any full-time design positions but that he’d definitely be interested in working with me in a freelance capacity. He said once I graduate to definitely apply and check in because they might have a position open by then and he’d like me to apply for it. Overall the experience was really great and I gained a few nice tips on how to improve my portfolio and it also acted as a major confidence boost!
WEEK 14:
GMITTER APPLICATION:
With this coming Thursday being the date for when the gmitter application and project drop off is i’ve really been focusing on that. I’ve selected my HIV/AIDS motion graphic as one of my entries and I am working on a handout that goes with it giving more information about the virus and steps to fight against that such as what PrEP is. The second project i’m submitting is a self portrait based on my personal fears I have with the virus and the culture surrounding sex within the gay community. My third project is going to be one of the prints i’m making for my series of charity prints and i’ve chosen to go with the one based on princess Diana.
SELF PORTRAIT (WIP):
PRINCESS DIANA 5ft wide 3 ft tall:
MOTION GRAPHIC:
found on my website: https://billyjomolinari.com/aidshiv-motion-infographic
GMITTER ARTIST STATEMENT:
More about me as an artist:
As a graphic designer, I try and find ways to incorporate queer counter into my work. As an artist, my work is the subject of that very thing. As an artist I feel it is my responsibility to look back on those who led the way for me to be open and as free as I am today. I am currently working on a body of work that pays tribute to 80s queer life and club culture and focus on iconic images like the Ballroom Scene, which provided a safe haven for LGBT artists. Alongside the openness of this period came tragedy through the AIDS epidemic of the 80s. I find it troubling that in today’s age how uneducated many people my age, and even older are on the subject. My ultimate goal with this current exploration of work is to educate people about queer counter culture but more importantly about HIV and AIDS and how it still affects us today. Ideally i’d hope that bringing awareness to this subject would inspire people to donate and get involded with charities like International Aids Society & UNAIDS whose effort supports HIV & AIDS research and awareness.
More of a proposal versrion:
To raise awareness about the still-relevance of HIV and AIDS, I will create a series of traditional and kinetic posters to be featured ____ and on online platforms.
This Series, titled _________, will pay tribute to 80s queer life and club culture and will focus on iconic images like the Ballroom Scene, which provided a safe haven for LGBT artists. This series will also highlight notable figures such as _X [name]__ who _[Description] and Y who ____.
Alongside these posters, I will provide a streamlined plan for how to produce and market my prints. My ultimate goal with this series is to educate people about ________ while inspiring and encouraging them to donate to charities like the International Aids Society & UNAIDS whose efforts support HIV & AIDS research and awareness.
SENIOR SHOW PLAN:
Pretty simple plan, main works shown will be my prints and motion graphics. All other projects will be viewed from my portfolio box / my ipad that I will be using.
EDIT* I plan on bringing my 40 inch flat screen TV along with my laptop and having a dual monitor set up allowing the motion graphic to play on the screen while my website is accessible on the laptop itself ALONGSIDE the rest of my portfolio work.
PERSONAL ARTIST STATEMENT:
As a graphic designer my goal is your goal: to successfully communicate information through artistic expression. This is the goal of any designer, well at least it should be. The way I go about communicating through artistic expression is what sets me apart from other designers. My work is fun, calculated, colorful, and did I mention fun? With my designs I hope to communicate the joy that I experience making my work onto the viewer. But how do I make this all happen? Through intensive brainstorming, research, conceptualizing, and most importantly just having fun, I’m able to bring into fruition a clear concept that once worked on will always lead to the end goal we all strive for, a successful design.
(having a lot of trouble with this right now, mostly because i’m fried at the moment from this past week and a half).
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WEEK 13:
Portfolio Box:
So far for the portfolio box I’ve got out all the pieces of illustration board and have it fitted and ready to go to cut wells. I have to wait till tomorrow (Friday 11/30) when I get paid to purchase the paper stock, adhesive, and whatever other materials I need to continue on. I have however mocked up the way I want my physical pieces to look. I’ve decided to go with my Chimera XVI promotional materials, my self branding, and examples of my print work as my physical pieces. I also technically have 4 motion graphics that will be showed through a tablet which I’ll also be building a well for. Sadly I don’t have the money to purchase a tablet until Christmas time due to unforeseen car issues and having to get a whole new car fixed, BUT Cass has graciously offered to let me use her tablet for the remainder of the semester so I’ll be building a well fit for her iPad to display my digital work as well as my digital portfolio booklet. Below are screenshots of my case and the boards I’ve cut along with general sketches layout plans for the wells. I was considering using my pattern from my self branding as well printed on a parchment paper to superstar each well and keep projects clean, thoughts on that?
Images below: The one image is meant to be a tablet, the other is meant to be my self branding envelope / letterhead folded / business card, one is meant to be the Chimera tickets and hand out for the soirée, and the last one is meant to be my prints. I plan on using photo photo corners to hold down my personal branding pieces and the Chimera pieces because they aren’t thick enough to warrant carving a full well and also so they’re easier to pick up and handle. I am going to be getting the box completed this weekend along with my PDF booklet.
Website:
I am so happy with how my website is turning out, it just needs a few updates to projects and some general tweeks overall but all in all i’m very much into it! This weekend I’m having one of my friends who is a photo major take professional headshots of me and I’m going to edit them to fit the website and use them on the home page above my work (currently it’s just a picture of my logo blown up) and I’m also gonna have a photo in my about section. I plan on editing my photos and incorporating my self branding illustrations into them. (Whether that means putting the eye illustration actually over one of my eyes, or editing my shirt to make it look like my branding pattern is the actual pattern on my shirt)
here is a link to the fully functional up and running site: www.billyjomolinari.com
Artist Statement / Writing / Gmitter
I got a hold of my good friend from back home Jessica who graduated from CMU with a degree in English and is now currently attending CMU for her masters in English (I don’t know what specific area of english off the top of my head) AND she has been more than happy to help me with writing my artist statement as well as descriptions for my projects and is even helping me currently with my gmitter application specifically the artist statement. Gmitter has been a big priorty right now for me so i’ve been working on my projects for that but here are some screenshots of Jessica and I working together through a google doc. I’ve also started my write up of my AIGA event and Private studio tour and portfolio review experience so you’ll have that by the time the semester is over as well!
Interactive Digital PDF Booklet:
I have pretty much completed the layout of my PDF booklet, now i’m just working on modifying my photos for my portfolio as well as documenting more of my work and the revisions i’ve made to projects to fit them in. I’ve figured out how to make the portfolio itself interactive including putting videos into it that can be played when viewing it. After watching some tutorials i’m going to go back and make some edits but here are screenshots fo all the spreads (I didn’t design this really with an idea of “pages” in mind since you’ll be swiping through each page on a tablet or desktop)
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WEEK 12:
Basically thanksgiving break was HECTIC working a 40 hour week, and working on my totaled car and senior projects and practicum. My case didn’t arrive till the end of thanksgiving week but I had some questions about it which i’ll discuss with you personally whether it be in person or through email. Sorry there wasn’t a post for this week was just very stressful and honestly was the last thing on my mind BUT a lot of what happened this week I finished and wrapped up for week 13!
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WEEK 11:
Personal Branding:
Stationary:
Logo:
Digital PDF Book:
Website:
https://billyjomolinari.myportfolio.com/
WEBSITE General layout and mockup, I want to definitely add some motion through gif images and create specific illustrations for the site that fit and move organically. Overall though just want to keep with a pretty simple black and white aesthetic with movement.
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WEEK 10:
Personal Branding:
Stationary:
Logo:
Website:
Definitely have some changes i’d like to make. I’d like to make some sort of illustration or pattern for the background. I also want to change the typeface by getting the typeface RALEWAY which i’ve used in my branding so far onto the website. I also just need to fix technical issues but that’ll happen once I get more into the program and am better able to use it.
Leave Behind:
I still really like the idea of just a simple and sleek looking mug because it’s useful and if used it’s seen everyday so in a way you’re seeing my name on a daily basis and people don’t just throw away mugs so people would presumably keep it. It would also demonstrate my ability to produce images on more than just a flat paper surface. I think I might also make a little guide using these tips with a dog clip that has a vinyl of my logo on it possibly.
https://mashable.com/2014/05/12/diy-office-hacks-tips-tricks/#G9TGlMfR_aqK
Mail Signature:
Project Revision:
Film Festival Poster:
Going to be COMPLETELY changing the theme of the film festival poster. Not fully sure what movie’s i’m going to go with yet though so i’ll decide that this weekend. I want to go for a more illustrative look overall though.
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WEEK 9:
Personal Branding:
Stationary:
Logo:
Digital Variations:
Original Sketches:
Image Trace of Original Sketches (not a fan)
Individualized Studio Tour:
I’ve contacted Alexa Valenta at Garrison Hughes about an individual studio tour and she told me to also get in contact with Cathy so i’ve sent an email to her and got a response. Waiting to see what they say as for a time we could set this up!
http://garrisonhughes.com/index.php
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WEEK 8:
Portfolio and Branding:
Portfolio Idea Board:
Leave Behind Ideas:
Ideas I had were an enamel pin, a “charger holder” or an office supply holder, a calendar, a mouse pad, just things like that. Not a flash drive as I originally thought because when I asked professionals about it they said they can’t even use external usb’s that aren’t given by the company because of the risk of a virus etc.
Stationary Designs:
Critiques:
So during my AIGA studio tour in Pittsburgh I was fortunate enough to speak with many of the people that worked at Chemistry and got in touch with them further and some of them have/are in the process of giving me feedback on my portfolio.
Mike Siemianowski said:
“FROOT Motion Poster
A motion poster is a bit of a new concept to me.. Where would this play? Is it something that would play continuously,? say, in a bus stop? Web banner? Perhaps provide some context as to what this may be, or consider producing it for some social media platforms.
Overall, I like what’s happening with the aesthetic you’re applying, and it seems to match Marina Diamandis’ “look”. Somethings I would play with would be the special relation of “FROOT” and the borders of the piece. You’re fairly tight on the left and right side and it’s a bit claustrophobic. The animation is nice, a bit choppy due to the loop, however this doesn’t bother me. Nor does seeing the hand (?) spinning the platform as it lends itself to be playful and doesn’t take itself seriously. I would play with the copy a the bottom to try get that to be a bit more legible.
AIDS/HIV Motion Infographic
I really like what you’re doing here, the transition from the money sign to the mortar hat is nice. Now, some things I would consider altering.. The word “Emboldens” seems very out of place to me. Since this is a PSA you want to keep the language very simple — think 5–7th grade reading level. ( I’m not kidding we do this for most of our healthcare creative since it applies to all but some may not have had a proper education or difficulty retaining/gathering information) The suitcase read as a camera to me, with the body being the suitcase and the lenses being the “do not enter” sign, I would consider adjusting. I’m noticing that you’re switching from rag right to centered text and back again in a few instances. I don’t think this is a bad thing but I would keep it consistent. When anchoring it to an item (18, 26, 35 seconds) I feel that its ok to use rag, but would use center in all other cases (56 seconds for example). I would decrease the opacity on your end graphics so the pink comes forward a bit more (like around 56 seconds) The dark figures and blacks coming through the background make it hard to read, and I would also suggest having the highlight color be white and not pink for the same reasons
Digital Collages
These are pretty dope and great creative exercises id keep them up and maybe try and do one a week/month to keep your behance fresh.
Cluck n Tuck
This has to be one of the most interesting logos I have seen, I would maybe play a bit more with the chicken foot and how it connects to the highheel. Right now I feel that the foot is too far forward on the heal causing it to look unstable. I would play with the neon font over the images in the app as well.
Museum of Sex Rebranding
Could you give me some context to the design choices you have made? I don’t think I’m fully graping what the logo is. I would try and smooth out some of your drops, some look a little rough and unnatural due to the varience in thick to thin.”
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WEEK 7:
Project 3 Redesign (Rape Nouveau):
What I heard: Concept and aesthetic is fine, just edit the pictures and make iti just look stronger with higher quality images and more illustrative detail.
What I think: I agree with all the points brought up, I also want to print these on canvas as originally intended. I may add more examples or even use real life people with the whole ME TOO movement and everything happening politically now.
What I’ll do: Redesign these with better images and improved illustrations as well as printing them on canvas in the end.
Personal Branding Style Tile:
Personal Branding Logo Designs:
Personal Branding Expansion:
Business Cards:
Letterhead:
Envelope:
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WEEK 6:
Personal Branding Expansion
“Final” Black and White Logo Design:
So I keep going back and forth on this logo design, there are parts times when I like it and times where i’m not super fond of it…. I feel I really need help and feedback on this I think?
I Like this kind of look where the type is illustrated and think that would be interesting to go about:
Logo Design Color Variations:
Business Card Designs:
Redefined Identity System Sketches:
Mock Cover Letter:
COVER LETTER:
C&G Partners Art Director, Krystal Ridilla
I was looking through AIGA’s national job listings and came across you all at C&G Partners. I knew the name sounded familiar but couldn’t quite remember why. Then I realized from my visits to New York I’ve seen your various signages created for the botanical gardens around the area but also the various subway infographics and signage as well! After realizing this I felt the need to reach out to you in hopes of working with you all as a member of your studio, specifically as a motion graphics designer as listed.
I further researched your catalogue of work and instantly felt that my knowledge of motion graphics and designing in motion would pair perfectly with the design aesthetic of C&G Partners. The way typographic hierarchy and illustration is handled at your studio intrigues me and I’d love to be a part of it. When looking at the job posting you have listed I noticed you were looking for someone with solid composition, typography, color, and general graphic design knowledge all these expectations I fulfill and expand upon as found in my portfolio. You also specified a deep knowledge of after effects, photoshop, and illustrator which are the primary resources I use within my work but don’t limit myself to. HTML code and Flash although not a primary focus of my skill sets I do have experience with both and understand how they work and the language associated with them. Having fulfilled all these requirements and already having a knowledge and interest in your studio I feel are just a few reasons why I would be a perfect fit for the position.
Within this application I have attached a resume, my portfolio and personal website, along with letters of recommendation as requested. I look forward to hearing back from you and hope that we can set up an interview within the next week or two!
-Billy Jo
JOB POSTING:
MOTION GRAPHICS DESIGNER
Company: C&G Partners
Location: New York, NY Posted: Sep 26
Specialties: Animation, Motion Graphics
Job Level: Junior Staff
C&G Partners is a multi-specialty creative studio, dedicated to design for culture — from cultural organizations to organizational culture. We focus on design and user experience, making sure that our creations are intelligent, elegant, engaging, seamlessly integrated, and efficient. We do this by creating carefully tailored designs that follow or establish industry standards and best practices, ensuring that our work is not just visually appealing, but also well-produced and sustainable.
We are seeking a motion graphics designer who is highly motivated and creative. At our diverse firm, you will have the opportunity to implement your designs on projects for well-known museums, cultural institutions and commercial clients. Candidates at our firm learn a great deal on the job through exposure to the full range of multi-specialty work in the studio. We are looking for designers who are eager to work on multiple projects and always looking to research, experiment and learn something new. The successful candidate will help conceptualize and visualize designs in collaboration with multidisciplinary designers. Verbal and written communication skills are key to successfully collaborate with our teams and communicate with clients. Your portfolio should demonstrate proven storytelling abilities, a high level of craft, as well as the ability to think through the design process from a strategic and creative point of view. Ideally your work should show examples of bringing a project to life using video editing, animation, titles and audio.
Requirements:
— Solid composition, typography, color and general graphic design knowledge
— Deep knowledge of After Effects, Photoshop and Illustrator
— HTML code and Flash would be a plus, but is not required.
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WEEK 5:
Personal Branding Logo Design
CLUCK N TUCK Logo Redesign:
As far as the Cluck N Tuck redesigns go, i’ve made a bunch of changes to the menu and made a mockup website and everything but I have not finalized anything yet. I would like feedback on these 4 logo mockups and what changes I should make to them to improve them further if needed and then i’ll put these into everything else i’ve updated from it including making a little “motion graphic teaser” as suggested last class.
as far as the logo goes I was looking around at some “Chicken Logos” / “Neon Sign Logos” / “Drag Queen Logos” and tried to take some inspiration from these but also tried to differentiate myself from them as well. I’m worried they aren’t saying “drag queen” enough???
CLUCK N TUCK Collateral Redesign:
Before moving on I would also like feedback on a visual direction to go as shown below for how to handle the figures interacting with the food. As far as specifics like the menu and collateral I like the format of the original menu it just needs updated with better images and better type which i’ve already had selected as seen below. As far as what all collateral I plan on creating I intend on updating the menu a bit and adding another page to it, updating the app a little bit, and updating all the other collateral as well and having more images of the collateral specific items like a cup, take out, etc which I will mockup.
Original Designs:
(These will change once a style on how the queens are photoshopped in with food is decided upon)
In-house Items:
Once logo is completed I want to use an actual mockup or use adobe dimension to put the logo onto a glass
Self Branding 3 Digital Logos:
I went with the concept everyone seemed to think was their favorite but personally i’m not really into it anymore… Maybe it’s because I need to experiment with it more but I also don’t really think it fits what I want necessarily??? MAYBE It could be a cool leave behind item as something like an enamel pin or something along those lines but I think I want to go back to the drawing board and look back at some of my older concepts and work with those instead. Something simpler and sleeker perhaps…
Self Branding Collateral:
Initial site map ideas:
Brand Collateral Sketches:
Portfolio Style Tile:
As far as the physical portfolio I would like it to be very bright and fun and illustrative. I was planning on screenprinting on top of it to do this? As I was looking online I never really found one that super jumped out at me.
FEEDBACK:
Personal Branding
Logo:
Is the designer’s name the main element in the personal logo? Is it clear and readable? Remember that your logo should first and foremost communicate your NAME so people remember who you are.
The name wasn’t really clear with the current logo. It reads as “B JO” which is the baseline but if I were to go with it I would definitely need to add a “Billy Jo” or “Billy Jo Molinari” as well to it (preferring just Billy Jo).
Discuss what the visual style of the logo (typeface, contrast, texture, etc.) communicates about the designer. Is this accurate/appropriate? If not, what changes could be made to improve this?
Communicates illustrative qualities. Communicates digital artist. Communicates “fun” / “playful” nature. Overall though I don’t feel the logo works as a logo that i’d personally like.
Is their cohesion between type and image (if a visual/symbol/logomark is incorporated with the logotype).
There was type absent so not applicable.
Will the logo work at various scales? Is it too complicated or detailed to be readable or to small to be seen on a business card? Too simple to hold interest at a larger scale?
Logo would work at various scales and could fit a lot of different formats.
Discuss contrast/balance/positive and negative and color ideas.
The balance and contrast is alright….? Again I think it’s just not as visually interesting as I would like it to be if I went this route but in the end i’m not thinking I want this as my logo but rather as a leave behind enamel pin or aspect of the branding. I’d rather make my name out of fun icons or something like that so definitely going to experiment with that more etc.
Logo would work really well with bright fun colors and could be really engaging once color is added. I think the colors chosen for my personal branding mood board would be a good jumping off point.
Collateral:
Liked the idea of the pop up business card or the fold out one etc. Leave behind ideas of a lego figure or the enamel pin(s) was also well received. Idea of a little leave behind “package” with like a business card, usb, lego figure (even one set up that can hold charging wires), and some pins was a fun idea.
Cluck N’ Tuck (may become Cluck and Tuck in the physical logo)
Logo Critiques:
Liked the bottom 2 logos, but leaned towards the one on the right. Liked the type for it but think make the crown on the head into dramatic plumage and then at the bottom right end add tail feathers so it looks more like a chicken. Emphasize the eyelashes and make them look more feminine (adding makeup and other aspects possibly).
Style To Go With:
Preferred where the queen looks like she’s wearing the food
Project 1 Redesign documentation:
Due to the first project redesign being a motion graphic video I wasn’t sure how to “document” it knowing that it’s gonna be in my digital portfolio as a playable video BUT I did find a reference on how i’d like to have it look once it’s in there.
How i’d like to document it:
Here’s some screen grabs as “documentation”
The credits for this particular project would be:
Clips from: FX series Pose and Pexels Videos.
Information from Newsy
Audio from: Newsy
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WEEK 4:
Personal Branding Continuation
Mood Board:
Blown Up Sketches:
(sketches were completed early in the previous week so they are in the “week 3” section. I have made simple blown up vectored versions of some of my favorites though)
First Project Revision
First Project Revised / Finalized
My AIDs/HIV Motion Graphic has been fully revised and finalized but there is no way to upload a video to Medium so i’ve uploaded it to my vimeo from my motion graphics class from last year. I attempted to put it on behance but behance was having issues and not loading properly.
link to vimeo: https://vimeo.com/290922120
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WEEK 3:
Personal Branding Sketches and Exercise
Portfolio Site Examples:
I went and researched a bunch of really unique website designs and compiled a list of my favorites below. I thin there’s a lot of great elements from each site that i’d like to pull together on my own website in some aspect.
(I absolutely adore the micro interactions within the website and just the overall playful feel of it)
(I LOVE the way its just a simple image of him with a fluid color changing overlay on top for the background. I also love how when displaying publication design he uses gifs to show it “opening” and “flipping pages”)
(Really like the interactivity and the scroll effect and large areas of flat color mixed with photography/the work being shown)
(I think there’s some really great micro interactions on the site and it has a really nice flow to how it functions)
(I like the way the works each have a “title section” and when you hover over it the background of it changes to the video/work)
(I just like the flat fun use of color with a single image on top as well as the navigation is simple and easy to understand)
(I think the way the artist displays their illustration work is super neat and organized and helps give the artist a clear aesthetic and style that can be immediately understood by the audience the website. I also like the subtle details of some of the motion in the illustrations)
Personal Branding Brainstorming 30 Characteristics List
How I could visualize this: these words visualized in different ways utilizing type switching from one to the other as a motion graphic that gets faster and faster and ends with my name “Billy Jo”
1. Humorous
2. Witty
3. Extra
4. Kinetic Designer
5. Interactive Designer
6. Illustrator
7. Screenprinter
8. Calculated Designer
9. “Referenced Designer” (meaning I pull from a lot of art history, not sure how to word it?)
10. Neo-Pop Artist
11. Queer
12. Gambler/Risk Taker
13. Gay
14. Collage Artist
15. Flamboyant
16. Fun
17. Rebellious
18. Political
19. Eccentric
20. Gamer
21. Nerd
22. Colorful
23. Gradients
24. Ambitious
25. Experimental
26. Sassy
27. Fearless
28. Bold
29. Free Spirited
30. Leader
Logo Thumbnail Designs:
Personal Mission Statement and Professional Goals Statement
Asking people to describe my work as a designer:
I started by asking some friends and peers of mine to describe myself as a designer and my work and these are some of the results:
As told by Ethan:
“I think your graphic design work is smart, intelligent. bubbly but like those words seem basic so I’m not really sure. The only way I know how to describe your work is GAY”
As told by Jewel:
“Smart, colorful, very bold, modern pop art style to it is my feeling, and you use these vibrant color schemes and it always pops. Your style is already set in a sense that it focuses on something that would relate to a lot of young adolescence and younger demographic. I just like that it’s very fun… it’s kind of on that indie side a little bit from where you draw your subject matter from like counter culture”.
As told by Fabiano:
“I would definitely say it’s flamboyant. Very influenced by gay culture. Really personal and you do things that you are passionate about. You like to take chances and experiment’
As told by Aubrey:
“Neo-pop art, eccentric, I wasn’t gonna say gay but I’m gonna say gay”
As told by Tyler:
“Glamour. Fashion. Perfection. Gay. Iconic. I can keep going… but I don’t… I didn’t even do my style frames I should probably do that, you think I can get it done? But yeah I guess it’s got humor, you’re a pretty funny guy sometimes”
To help focus your thinking, consider these questions:
What are your core values?
As a designer I always have a clear goal with my designs on how I want the audience to react to it. Every choice made is intentional and calculated and will often times reference something from art history in subtle ways. When I create work I always want to be proud of it regardless of what it is thus doing whatever I can to make it “worthy” of putting my name on it. In the end though I love for all my work to be FUN!
How do you want to be remembered?
Ideally, I’d love to be remembered in the same light as other designers who’s work fills our textbooks and who’s work defines aesthetics of their time. But aside from that I’d just really like to be remembered as a designer who put queer counterculture to the forefront of my designs and create work for the LGBT+ community as well as other marginalized groups in society.
How do you define success?
I think there’s a lot of different versions of “success” just as there are many different aspects to life. I think there’s differences between success at home, success at work, success in society etc. In a general sense I think being successful at work or in class is when you’re someone that other people look to for inspiration or who trust your critiques and judgement and look to you for guidance and ideas. To be successful in the field also has with it the idea of being known and being a name in the industry etc but I believe all those things can go hand and hand.
What do you want people to associate you with?
I would like people to associate my work with being fun, colorful, and as a creator in queer counterculture.
Personal Mission Statement:
To promote queer counter culture through design, to resist conservatism, and to inspire those to just have, y’know… fun!
Professional Goals Statement
Upon graduation I will begin what I’d call the fifth chapter of my life and what is soon to be the best one yet. In that chapter ill have begun working as a designer and hopefully beginning to have an impact in the design community of Pittsburgh where I plan on working for the first few years. If an opportunity arose outside of Pittsburgh that aligned with my interests as a motion designer working in the entertainment industry then I’d begin heading down that route. Otherwise I’ll be in Pittsburgh working at a firm while working on my own more artistic passion projects until I move over to Liverpool England. There I plan on moving in with a long time friend of mine Annie where we intend on creating a studio of our own hopefully influencing the world of design together! After a decade of being in the industry or even earlier I hope to return to gradschool, maybe even in liverpool for design in AR/VR.
BUTTON:
Took the concept of “y’know… fun!” from my personal mission statement as a reminder to always make sure my designs have an element of FUN!
Project Redesign #1 HIV/AIDs Motion Graphic
First Project Revisions:
I’ve begun working on the first project redesign. I’ve recreated the icons system to make it a bit more cohesive and i’ve gone ahead and changed some of them so that it would be easier to transition from one icon to another. I’ve also begun creating ideas for collateral and turning this into a campaign in which i’ll mock up a website, and depending on if I use a pre-existing HIV/aids nonprofit I may end up just making my own.
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WEEK 2:
CRITIQUE:
HIV/AIDs Campaign Motion Graphic
What I heard: From the critique I heard that there were spots where some of the visual graphics were a little bit clunky. As far as type goes “less is more” and so the body copy should be broken down into key words and make sure that it’s easier to read on the backgrounds. The type itself also could have a better transition into the video itself (“don’t have text just go and abruptly stop have it move with a subtle fluid bounce from side to side”). The pinks in the graphic could be brighter and the backgrounds could all have a subtle overlay to make it easier to read text and visuals. There were also suggestions of having this become a branding project and expanding on it in that way.
What I think: I agree with everything as stated above as these were issues I noticed within the project last semester when it was created that just couldn’t be fixed at this time due to time restraints of the project.
What i’ll do: I plan on fixing the issues above and I also really like the idea of expanding on this as a branding project and creating a mini campaign for it.
STUDIO VISITS:
I have begun looking into places to do a studio visit and i’ve already started getting into contact with Garrison Hughes in Pittsburgh through Alexa Valenta. I am going to be setting up a studio visit there soon. Other studios I was interested in were Blender, Wall to Wall, and museums like The Warhol, Mattress Factory, and Carnegie Museum of Art. I’m also planning on getting into contact with some more national studios like O/DD, Buck-TV, Luma Pictures, World of Wonder Presents, and Imaginary Forces to name a few. I’ve even looked into some design studios in Liverpool England where I plan on moving in a few years.
RESUME:
As for my resume i’ve begun working on that as shown here:
(The design of the resume is very subject to change)
HOW ABOUT YOU?:
After filling out the “How About You?” exercise I think i’ve really laid out my goals not only as a designer but as a person. As far as design and finishing up my last year here at Edinboro I think i’ve definitely mapped out a road on how to best succeed this year. My early goals focus more on acting as a start to what I want to accomplish like beginning self branding, having a good start at the Beehive, and beginning to eat healthier and workout. For the overall semester i’m really hoping to have a good set of branding and collateral for my own portfolio. I also hope to have really nice work out of the beehive. Thinking 6 months into the future i’m hoping that i’m able to use all i’ve learn over these past 3 and a half years here and put it into my own self driven work as well as in my printmaking and publication design class. I also hope to have been accepted into the Gmitter scholarship show. On a personal level I really hope to have kept being healthier and lost a good amount of weight etc. My one year goal post graduation and post first summer out of college would be to have found a job to start my work as a designer in “the real world”. I hope this firm is a good suit for me and that I really enjoy the work that i’m doing there. I also hope to have traveled to England at this point. Looking into the future 5 years I really hope to have started making my name as a designer in the design world, hopefully in motion graphics or even “AR/VR Design”. I intend to have moved to Liverpool, England by now and expect to be in the process of starting a design firm with my friend Annie. Overall i’m really excited for the future and what it holds in store for me and can’t wait to get started on that journey ahead!
Chart filled out below:
