monograph a curated collection of work
emily dubin
04 4
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
5
selected works /
project nยบ / 1
t i t l e / An Empty Net
08 /
Illuminating the Depths
20 /
Perceiving Another Reality
34 /
Fast Fowarding to the Future
50 /
Seeing the Light
72 /
Reimagining our Waste
82 /
Uniting Two Cultures
94 /
Creating Visual Meaning
an empty net, book
nonchromacy, book
amtrak rebrand
the next bright idea, book & product
throw & grow nonprofit
wedding collateral
wired & yoga journal
c o u r s e / Typography 4
i n s t r u c t o r / Carolina de Bartolo
f o r m a t / casebound book
06 6
the red dot /
When approaching the process of creating my design portfolio, I was struck by how similar it is to the process of curating an art show. In my former career working in galleries, I loved unpacking new aquisitions, lining the artwork up along a wall and ceremoniously choosing which pieces to include in an exhibition. The act of selection, of being a curator of my own work, made the portfolio process a familiar one. Both attempt to create a cohesive whole whose sum is greater than its parts. In a gallery, the act of choosing is magnified to another degree when a patron decides a piece would be a necessary complement to their own collection and selects it for purchase. A red dot is traditionally placed next to the artwork label, a small but definitive statement that the work has been designated as special. I've selected each project in this book for the way it represents me as a designer and for how it connects with the other pieces as a whole. This portfolio is my artist's monograph, the pages are the gallery walls, the red dots are symbolic of the process of being a curator.
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
7 07
project nยบ / 1
t i t l e / An Empty Net
c o u r s e / Typography 4
i n s t r u c t o r / Carolina de Bartolo
f o r m a t / casebound book
8
illuminating the depths
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
9
project nยบ / 1
t i t l e / An Empty Net
c o u r s e / Typography 4
i n s t r u c t o r / Carolina de Bartolo
f o r m a t / casebound book
objective /
Design a long-form book informing readers about a current scientific topic or environmental issue. Though the main text could be compiled from a number of sources, all photography, illustrations, and infographics, had to be original and created for the book. result /
I chose to compile and design a book about the dangers of overfishing and the issues surrounding the modernday fishing industry. My overall design and structural concept was that of a net, both the symbolic and literal way the world’s oceans are being overfished, reinforced by a visible grid on each page. The layered, transparent feel of the photography and the infographics lend an underwater vibe, while the black bar paragraph indicators serve to disrupt the quiet of the layouts, and also reference the removal of species leaving holes in the marine ecosystem, with system-wide negative effects.
12
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
13
project nยบ / 1
t i t l e / An Empty Net
c o u r s e / Typography 4
i n s t r u c t o r / Carolina de Bartolo
f o r m a t / casebound book
14
[right] Everything is murky below the ocean surface; information graphics designed with translucent layers of sea greens and blues hint at the deceptively tranquil marine environment where the decimation of multiple species takes place daily, and more obliquely, to the intermixed nature of the many factors involved in their demise.
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
15
project nยบ / 1
t i t l e / An Empty Net
c o u r s e / Typography 4
i n s t r u c t o r / Carolina de Bartolo
f o r m a t / casebound book
16
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
17
[next page] By photographing nets in gauzy close-ups I hoped to capture them as a fish might see them, a deadly snare fluidly passing through the water.
project nยบ / 1
t i t l e / An Empty Net
c o u r s e / Typography 4
i n s t r u c t o r / Carolina de Bartolo
f o r m a t / casebound book
18
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
19
project nยบ / 1
t i t l e / An Empty Net
c o u r s e / Typography 4
i n s t r u c t o r / Carolina de Bartolo
f o r m a t / casebound book
20
perceiving another reality
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
21
project nยบ / 2
t i t l e / Nonchromacy
c o u r s e / Typography 3
i n s t r u c t o r / Jennifer Sterling
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book with slipcase
22
objective /
Design a long-form book informing readers about a particular topic. Execute all photography, illustrations, and any infographics, and produce multiple copies. result /
The open-ended nature of this project led me to choose a scientific topic that would lend itself to illustration and infographics. My book Nonchromacy, is an exploration of both color vision and color blindness. I referenced traditional imagery and graphics associated with the subject, then tried to rework them in some unexpected ways. For example, my redesigned Ishihara color blindness tests contain contemporary symbols within the dots. Other graphic elements such as repeating the color spectrum on the edge of each page and creating a pattern from the visible light wavelength visually reinforce the content.
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
23
project nยบ / 2
t i t l e / Nonchromacy
c o u r s e / Typography 3
i n s t r u c t o r / Jennifer Sterling
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book with slipcase
24
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
25
[left] Throughout the book, spreads like this one call out a specific color or wavelenth of visible light. The pixelated images symbolize the fragmented manner in which the cone cells of colorblind individuals absorb certain wavelengths.
project nยบ / 2
t i t l e / Nonchromacy
c o u r s e / Typography 3
i n s t r u c t o r / Jennifer Sterling
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book with slipcase
26
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
27
project nยบ / 2
t i t l e / Nonchromacy
c o u r s e / Typography 3
i n s t r u c t o r / Jennifer Sterling
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book with slipcase
28
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
29
project nยบ / 2
t i t l e / Nonchromacy
c o u r s e / Typography 3
i n s t r u c t o r / Jennifer Sterling
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book with slipcase
30
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
31
project nยบ / 2
t i t l e / Nonchromacy
c o u r s e / Typography 3
i n s t r u c t o r / Jennifer Sterling
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book with slipcase
32
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
33
project nยบ / 2
t i t l e / Nonchromacy
c o u r s e / Typography 3
i n s t r u c t o r / Jennifer Sterling
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book with slipcase
34
fast forwarding to the future
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
35
project nยบ / 3
t i t l e / Amtrak Rebrand
c o u r s e / Identity 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Todd Hedgepeth
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book, stationary system, application comps
objective /
Rebrand an existing national company with a new logo, new identity system, and a brand standards manual to guide the redesign. The standards manual also had to include at least 25 brand applications ranging from consumer to environmental to industry-specific pieces. result /
I redesigned the Amtrak brand with the main goal of taking the company from its current perception of being an oudated, inconvenient, and low-tech transportation system, to what I envisioned to be the most economical, energy-efficient, and forward-thinking transport option in the country. A new, dynamic mark, and a system of sleek, techie-feeling secondary graphics convey this new direction. The comped applications include the business system, onboard magazine, promotional t-shirts, annual report, and the brand standards manuals.
38
[right] The primary application of the redesigned Amtrak brand is the look of the new bullet train. I created this illustration to show how the redesign would apply to one of the engine cars.
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
39
project nยบ / 3
t i t l e / Amtrak Rebrand
c o u r s e / Identity 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Todd Hedgepeth
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book, stationary system, application comps
40
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
41
project nยบ / 3
t i t l e / Amtrak Rebrand
c o u r s e / Identity 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Todd Hedgepeth
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book, stationary system, application comps
42
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
43
project nยบ / 3
t i t l e / Amtrak Rebrand
c o u r s e / Identity 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Todd Hedgepeth
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book, stationary system, application comps
44
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
45
project nยบ / 3
t i t l e / Amtrak Rebrand
c o u r s e / Identity 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Todd Hedgepeth
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book, stationary system, application comps
46
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
47
project nยบ / 3
t i t l e / Amtrak Rebrand
c o u r s e / Identity 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Todd Hedgepeth
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book, stationary system, application comps
48
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
49
project nยบ / 3
t i t l e / Amtrak Rebrand
c o u r s e / Identity 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Todd Hedgepeth
f o r m a t / perfect-bound book, stationary system, application comps
50
seeing the light
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
51
project nยบ / 4
t i t l e / The Next Bright Idea
c o u r s e / Print 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Tom Sieu
f o r m a t / case-bound book, product design templates
objective /
Design a book that educates the reader about sustainability issues related to a common, household product. Through sections detailing the statistics of usage, the history and development, and the basic function and components, the book would provide a broad overview, of the product while clearly highlighting the various associated environmental dangers. result /
Taking visual cues from children's science textbooks, my book, The Next Bright Idea, "enlightens" readers about light bulbs. This educational tract theme stems from the fact that many words have double-meanings of both to educate and to brighten. The original infographics and the compiled text and images detail issues surrounding light types and energy use. The ubiquitous and unchanging nature of light bulbs called for a similarly simple and rudimentary visual approach.
54
[above and right] Chapter openers are treated like educational posters with simple icons and memorable facts that relate to lighting and energy use.
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
55
project nยบ / 4
t i t l e / The Next Bright Idea
c o u r s e / Print 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Tom Sieu
f o r m a t / case-bound book, product design templates
56
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
57
[above] Captions are visually treated like footnotes to reinforce the book's educational concept which stems from the fundamental symbol of the light bulb signifying ideas and knowledge.
project nยบ / 4
t i t l e / The Next Bright Idea
c o u r s e / Print 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Tom Sieu
f o r m a t / case-bound book, product design templates
58
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
59
project nยบ / 4
t i t l e / The Next Bright Idea
c o u r s e / Print 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Tom Sieu
f o r m a t / case-bound book, product design templates
60
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
61
project nยบ / 4
t i t l e / The Next Bright Idea
c o u r s e / Print 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Tom Sieu
f o r m a t / case-bound book, product design templates
62
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
63
project nยบ / 4
t i t l e / The Next Bright Idea
c o u r s e / Print 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Tom Sieu
f o r m a t / case-bound book, product design templates
64
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
65
project nยบ / 4
t i t l e / The Next Bright Idea
c o u r s e / Print 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Tom Sieu
f o r m a t / case-bound book, product design templates
66
objective /
The second stage of the Print 2 project was to redesign the chosen product into a more sustainable and likewise functional substitute. Improving on the current visual aesthetic of the product was also essential. The redesign could only incorporate existing technology and materials. The final deliverables were realistic renderings and diagrams on provided templates. result /
Using the research I'd done for my book, I redesigned the household table lamp into a dual-function product. Beam is modular furniture covered with electroluminescent film which glows as a light when it receives a solar charge. Each unit can be easily moved to serve as portable furniture and/or lighting, cutting down on both energy use and on product consumption.
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
67
project nยบ / 4
t i t l e / The Next Bright Idea
c o u r s e / Print 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Tom Sieu
f o r m a t / case-bound book, product design templates
68
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
69
project nยบ / 4
t i t l e / The Next Bright Idea
c o u r s e / Print 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Tom Sieu
f o r m a t / case-bound book, product design templates
70
[above and right] Spreads illustrate the dual uses of Beam. The third details how the solar charging button functions, and shows a cross-section of the layers of high-tech materials that make up Beam.
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
71
project nยบ / 4
t i t l e / The Next Bright Idea
c o u r s e / Print 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Tom Sieu
f o r m a t / case-bound book, product design templates
72
reimagining our waste
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
73
project nยบ / 5
t i t l e / Throw & Grow
c o u r s e / Graphic Design 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Laura Milton
f o r m a t / brochure/poster, and postcard
74
objective /
Identify a contemporary issue, and create a grass-roots organization dedicated to that issue. Design a logo, brochure, poster, and fundraiser invitation. result /
For this project I envisioned a new non-profit organization that would promote composting in Philadelphia, a city in need of an organized waste reduction effort. I invented the organization name and then designed an identity, an informational brochure, a poster, an event invitation and a promotional piece. In keeping with the theme of reducing and reimagining waste, the poster was designed to be printed on the reverse side of a foldout brochure that would be sent to potential participants. In both the poster and fundraising invite, the use of type as image also implies reducing and reusing.
p08 o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
75
project nยบ / 5
t i t l e / Throw & Grow
c o u r s e / Graphic Design 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Laura Milton
f o r m a t / brochure/poster, and postcard
76
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
77
project nยบ / 5
t i t l e / Throw & Grow
c o u r s e / Graphic Design 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Laura Milton
f o r m a t / brochure/poster, and postcard
78
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
79
project nยบ / 5
t i t l e / Throw & Grow
c o u r s e / Graphic Design 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Laura Milton
f o r m a t / brochure/poster, and postcard
80
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
81
[above] A detail of the brochure shows how the theme of collecting compost scraps inspired the collaged layout. Line drawings also contribute to the organic and handcrafted feeling of the pieces.
project nยบ / 5
t i t l e / Throw & Grow
c o u r s e / Graphic Design 2
i n s t r u c t o r / Laura Milton
f o r m a t / brochure/poster, and postcard
82
uniting two cultures
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
83
project nยบ / 6
t i t l e / Wedding Collateral
f o r m a t / letterpress and digital print collateral
84
objective /
Create a memorable and unique identity for a multicultural wedding through customized print collateral and cohesive design direction.The final deliverables included letterpressed save-the-date, invitations, and reply cards, corresponding printed envelopes, digitally printed programs, menus, escort cards, and table numbers. result /
Knowing the couple and their many combined years spent in Africa, along with the groom’s Ghanaian heritage, I designed a system that would reflect the visual motifs of this shared culture. Throughout the print collateral are three specific Ghanaian Adinkra symbols that I developed into patterns. Their meanings relate to marriage, love and family, and serve to unite the pieces and also imbue them with greater conceptual significance.
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
85
project nยบ / 6
t i t l e / Wedding Collateral
f o r m a t / letterpress and digital print collateral
86
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
87
project nยบ / 6
t i t l e / Wedding Collateral
f o r m a t / letterpress and digital print collateral
88
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
89
project nยบ / 7
t i t l e / work for Wired and Yoga Journal magazines
f o r m a t / magazine spreads, packaging, identity design
90
[above] Detail of the ceremony program provides an explanation of the Adinkra symbols. [right] Custom luminarias show one example of the circle motif that I repeated throughout the wedding collateral. I liked the shape's association with themes like rings and life cycles.
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
91
project nยบ / 6
t i t l e / Wedding Collateral
f o r m a t / letterpress and digital print collateral
92
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
93
project nยบ / 6
t i t l e / Wedding Collateral
f o r m a t / letterpress and digital print collateral
94
creating visual meaning
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
95
project nยบ / 7
t i t l e / work for Wired and Yoga Journal magazines
f o r m a t / magazine spreads, packaging, identity design
96
overview /
During my internships in the art/design departments at Wired and Yoga Journal I had the opportunity to design multiple spreads, infographics, and supporting elements for section and feature pages. Special projects included designing the packaging and interactive menus for Yoga Journal's 2009 DVD collection, and while at Wired, creating the logo and designing the website for The Climate Desk, a journalistic collaboration between multiple publications on content related to climate change. All layouts and projects were designed with an eye for the content and specific look of each magazine. Designing both for Yoga Journal's balanced, minimalist pages and organic color palette and for Wired's eye-popping layouts and high-tech, bold style, has been a valuable lesson in adaptability and diversification as a designer.
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
97
project nยบ / 7
t i t l e / work for Wired and Yoga Journal magazines
f o r m a t / magazine spreads, packaging, identity design
98
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
99
[next] A freelance project for Wired, designing this map was a challenge in organizing many layers of information about the spread of wheat fungus Ug99. [above] I also illustrated the virulent pest icons in another spread for this feature.
project nยบ / 7
t i t l e / work for Wired and Yoga Journal magazines
f o r m a t / magazine spreads, packaging, identity design
100
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
101
project nยบ / 7
t i t l e / work for Wired and Yoga Journal magazines
f o r m a t / magazine spreads, packaging, identity design
102
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
103
[left] I created the packaging and the instruction manual for Wired's "Athletic Gear from the Future", in stereotypical toy packaging vernacular. [above] An infographic depicting three possible scenarios for future climate change, by comparing emissions from the US and China with global emissions over time.
project nยบ / 7
t i t l e / work for Wired and Yoga Journal magazines
f o r m a t / magazine spreads, packaging, identity design
104
[above and right] Logo variations and website design for The Climate Desk, a journalistic collaboration between seven national publications to share content related to climate change.
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
105
project nยบ / 7
t i t l e / work for Wired and Yoga Journal magazines
f o r m a t / magazine spreads, packaging, identity design
106
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
107
[above and p.110] Two of many opening spreads that I designed for the monthly Basics section in Yoga Journal. The clear simplicity of the layouts mimics the content which explains basic yoga poses.
project nยบ / 7
t i t l e / work for Wired and Yoga Journal magazines
f o r m a t / magazine spreads, packaging, identity design
108
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
109
[left] I designed the dvd packaging and all menu navigation screens for the 2009 Yoga Journal dvd collection, as well as full-page ads for each dvd [above].
project nยบ / 7
t i t l e / work for Wired and Yoga Journal magazines
f o r m a t / magazine spreads, packaging, identity design
110
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
111
project nยบ / 7
t i t l e / work for Wired and Yoga Journal magazines
f o r m a t / magazine spreads, packaging, identity design
112
end of show
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin
113
project nยบ / 1
t i t l e / An Empty Net
c o u r s e / Typography 4
i n s t r u c t o r / Carolina de Bartolo
f o r m a t / casebound book
114
thank you /
Thank you to my family for encouraging the artist and the curator in me. To Claire for the use of your amazing camera. To my teachers Scott Rankin, Jennifer Sterling, Tom Sieu, and Mary Scott, and to fellow designers Maria Janosko and Erik Carnes. To the designers at Wired and at Yoga Journal and to the inspirational community at Creativity Explored. And thank you to Chris for the timely pep talks and endless support. colophon /
Š2010, Emily Dubin. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without express written permission from the designer. p o r t f o l i o / monograph d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin i n s t r u c t o r / Mary Scott c o u r s e / BFA Portfolio s c h o o l / Academy of Art University w r i t i n g / Emily Dubin p h o t o g r a p h y / Emily Dubin p r i n t e r / H & H Imaging b i n d e r / The Key Bindery
p o r t f o l i o / monograph
d e s i g n e r / Emily Dubin