Aubrey Samson Process Book

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ISSU Publication December of 2015 GRPH 421- Advanced Graphic Design Designed by Aubrey Samson Typefaces: BELLABOO BEBAS NEUE DOLCE VITA CHAPARAL NEXA

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Advanced Graphic Design Fall 2015 Foreword by Stacy Asher Assistant Professor of Art In the Fall of 2015, the Advanced Graphic Design course at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln engaged in research about the role of design in creating social change. This course was an investigation of graphic design driven by research.

Projects were socially and civically engaged, and focused on the production of communication systems, investigating history and theory of graphic design for social change, and the publishing of self authored work. Collaborative exercises and activities created an understanding of identity systems, social values and how to promote “ justice for all� through visual communications. Deliverables for the course consisted of designed artifacts that documented, reflected, analyzed, and synthesized design research.

The first half of the course integrated the series of exhibitions, lectures and presentations relating to the topic of art/ design for social justice that occurred on campus through October.

The second half centered around publication and experiential design, and the development of identity systems. The course outcomes provided opportunity for students to be innovative, culturally critical and potentially create social change.

Themes for Exploration~ Graphic Design + Social Responsibility / Message + System + Identity / Striving for Viability / Designer as Preservationist + Conservationist / Designer as Witness, Ethnographer and Journalist

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As a student of Graphic Design, i have learned it is important to explore the possibilities. Throughout my advanced Graphic Design course, i continued to hoan my creative vision so that others may understand the themes i bring forward. With all my work and considered possibilities, i become closer to executing projects with high efficiency and a sense of elegance.

I learn something new every day.

Many thanks to Stacy Asher for the many moments of inspiration driven by the course.

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Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Project 1

Project 2

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The quote by H.B Alexander, inscribed on the outer walls of the capital of Lincoln was a starting point for Exercise 01. The class took a field trip to Nebraska’s state capital, and were to be on the lookout for visual communications that could express equality, freedom, and justice for all. Final compositions were to be a response to the quote, expressing a concept

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Thinking more about the quotation by H.B Alexander, i landed on a concept of supporting local life, which is something i personally try to accomplish, from supporting local art to purchasing food from local growers, etc. I believe that watchfulness of the citizen can be achieved in many ways, one of which is by providing a variety of services throughout the community. With this poster, i wanted viewers to perhaps be moved to supporting local life, which saves on energy and other resources required by using services that aren’t local. I used a found emblem to create new badges, each representing a certain sector of the city.

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SUSTAIN LOCAl LIFE

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Exercise 02 For exercise 02, students were to be inspired by establishing a change with their designs. Justin Kemerling, a local graphic designer, visited the class and gave us emerging designers an insiders look on his approach to designing posters to inflict a change on society. The workshop took us through Justin’s methods, encouraging us to dive deeper into something we want to change. These tools helped us reach a concept that we would then visually communicate.

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After presenting my sketches to the class, i decided to treat the poster as sort of an infograph, quantifying the among of stimulant usage among college students today in the U.S. I chose a blue background for a stark contrast between the background and the pill. The amount of pills overwhelms the eye and is a visual representation of the problem, but also can be used as a trigger for people to be more interested in the information, drawing the eye in within repetition.

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20.2 MILLION COLLEGE STUDENTS TOTAL

550,000

college students using stimulants per capsule

w w w . r e c o v e r y. o r g

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Presentation skills are very necessary in the design world, and van be used to pitch a concept to fellow designers and clients. Exercise 03 was to be a designed presentation displaying the direction we wanted to move forward with in our first project. The concept we chose was to represent ideologies of Amnesty international in their passport to human rights.

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After reading the passport to human rights, i was inspired by at least a handful of articles, as they are things that people forget about. I believe that each of them is a key to happiness. Something I’m truly passionate about is letting things be what they are, and respecting that other people might have difference opinions, approaches and desires. Today so many people each other as if we were competing for the gold medal, treating life as a competition. I believe out differences should be appreciated and brought to light, and we should feel comfortable sharing such differences with one another. I felt article 1, treating people with a sense of brotherhood is a quality of human life that people hardly posses anymore, especially to strangers. I try to remind my self every day that you cannot completely understand someone unless you give them a chance. We are all on this earth together, and that alone is a good enough reason to treat people with respect. I have always lived by the rule “treat other people the way you want to be treated�.

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Passport to Human Rights

Be the in the you wish to see -Mohandas Gandhi

Presentation by: Aubrey Samson

For my presentation, i chose peace as the overall theme. Although it is overdone, people still do not grasp the concept, treating it as a “in one ear out the other� attitude. After reading the passport, i came up with a general summary of what it means to be peaceful; engaging in equality, demonstrating a sense of unity, embracing individuality, animating generosity, and living a life without contempt.

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Peace applies to

But what does it

in equality

a sense of unity

individuality

generosity

Design a set of postage stamps that illustrate messages of peace & harmony for anything that posses life

without contempt

Hand drawn type Hand drawn images Lino-cut stamps Water color

Presentation

Purchase Supplies

Design

Finalize & Send

Turn In !

Vector Symbols

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Project 01 was to design a set of postage stamps, representing the concept we choose after reading the amnesty international passport to human rights. I chose to stick to a concept that i think is lacking today, globally and locally. Peace. Life would be so much simpler if we could learn to respect and take care of each other.

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For my stamp series, i wanted my designs to be simple and colorful, emulating, a very peaceful and harmonious feeling i was inspired by existing designs with bold symbolism, vibrant color, explosive pattern, and incorporated textures.

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I really enjoy the look and feel of something hand drawn. The flow of the pencil is something that can never be purely replicated by use of the computer. It is much easier, and more freeing to have complete control over the composition. For my stamp series, i wanted to used my own hand drawings, subsequently bringing them into the computer in order to finalize my designs. These sketches were to be the main focus of each of my designs in the series. Each of the symbols chosen represent a difference concept that falls under my umbrella of peace.

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2015

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U.S.A FOREVER

2015

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The project brief was to build a box to think out of. Students were encouraged to step away from the computer, thinking with our sketches and working with our hands. Box designs were meant to represent a concept of our desire, using the renowned Mr. Rogers ideologies as a starting point for inspiration.

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For this project, i wanted to bring light to the duality of life. Life is filled with choices and situations that can fall under either good categories or bad ones. I was initially inspired by the positive and negative space design of the yin and yang, and the meanings that fall behind the symbol, such as the concept of opposing and conflicting forces. I wanted the viewer to stop and reflect on the ideas of their inner and outer life; their subconscious versus their conscious. The inside of the box represents a persons inner life, with lights emitting from the center, emulating the concept of finding the light from within yourself. Designs consist of black and white imagery, and shapes that contain strong symbolism.

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FINAL PRODUCT I chose to use the colors black and white, representing both the good and bad, ultimately the duality of life. Shapes and designs chosen all represent a multitude of concepts.

The triangle, the strongest geometric shape, represents creativity, harmony among the body, mind and spirit.

Depending on its orientation, the triangle can represent creativity or destruction. I choose to incorporate broken glass for a jagged aesthetic and encouraging the viewer to self reflect.

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As a student of Graphic Design, i am inspired by color, pattern and texture. I am influenced by my surroundings and my inner subconscious desires. With every passing day, projects influenced by school, and personal design missions, i continue to learn new things and better ways to achieve a cohesive design. I aspire to be a textile designer, and will continue to work towards my goals of being a successful designer.

My favorite project was the box project because i enjoyed researching Mr. Rogers and was proud of my solution. It was awesome to see where other students took the project. I also am a very hands on person, so stepping away from the computer was a nice way to explore other possibilities of graphic design.

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DESIGN TO EXPRESS NOT TO IMPRESS - John Tanedo 61