MFA Candidate (2010 - present) Savannah College of Art and Design Graphic Design, 3.5 GPA
methodology
BFA (2009) University of South Alabama
process
Primary - Graphic Design, Secondary - Painting. 3.98 GPA, Summa Cum Laude
WORK EXPERIENCE
Graphic Designer (June 2009 - present) Crown Products
Responsibilities include the design of all electronic media including web banners and graphics, e-mail marketing and social media management. Additionally, I create specialty items including custom direct marketing pieces and high-end catalogs. Other duties include product photography and product development design.
Art Director (June 2007 - present) Negative Capability Press
Responsibilities include interior and exterior design and typesetting of books. Additionally, I am responsible for most of the company’s marketing duties.
Student Assistant (June 2006 - May 2009) University of South Alabama
routine
Responsibilities included assisting students and trouble shooting graphic design soft- ware and Mac hardware. I also operated several large format Epson printers.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
ACHIEVEMENTS
Silver Addy® Award (2010) Print Collateral Crown Products, AAF Mobile Bay
Silver Addy® Award (2010) Interactive Web Design (w/B. Davis) Crown Products, AAF Mobile Bay
Progress Through Ideas Award (2010) Ebsco Industries Employee of the Quarter (2010) Crown Products SCAD Honors Scholarship Recipient
AFFILIATIONS AIGA AAF Mobile Bay Golden Key Honour Society Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
Adobe Photoshop CS5 Adobe Illustrator CS5 Adobe InDesign CS5 Adobe Dreamweaver CS5 Adobe Flash CS5 Adobe Acrobat CS5 XHTML/CSS
form
//MEGANCARY graphic designer
EDUCATION
ADDITIONAL SKILLS Catalog & book production Website production E-blast creation Digital illustration Product photography & design Competitive analysis Copy writing Social media management QR code design & optimization Research
PROCESS BOOK 01 Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
References available upon request.
6711 Overlook Road // Mobile, Alabama // 36618 // 251 454 7510 // megan.cary@gmail.com
Design Methodology Book
methodology
process
form
routine
PROCESS BOOK Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
Assignment
4
Research & Brainstorming
5
Thumbnail Sketches
8
Rough Sketches 11 Digital Comps 13 Revised Comps 15 Analysis & Execution 21 Final Design Solution 24
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
CONTENTS
Overview:
Put together a book sharing your design definition and your methodology and supporting it with visual examples from your work. You will be writing all the content from scratch and adapting your essays to the format. Consider it a limited edition “how to” - the insiders view of your own creative world. The format will be up to you. Your audience - aspiring designers. ...start thinking about it. Start thinking of formats that you may want to consider. There are some excellent tutorials available online on book making techniques. Since this is a one of a kind type book, you will get to select what would be the best in terms of materials and the best in terms of format to help communicate “your secret” to creativity.
Your audience Young aspiring designers who are looking at you for guidance and inspiration. Make it engaging and fun. Format You decide. I have seen some great work come out of this project... from pop ups, sliders, to multiple volume sets. Process Book It is expected for you to spend significant amount of time developing concepts for this as well as researching formats, etc.
As you are working on your book, you should be following your methodology to create the concept behind it. This is where you need to put your process through the test again. Don’t skip steps. Document everything. Ultimately, you will be submitting the final book + the process book for it. You need to approach this book as a one of a kind book - You are the author and the designer. The goal is to write a book where you share your views on graphic design (based on your essay or it could be your essay) and share your methodology with great examples to illustrate each step. You may use any of your projects from this class in the book or any work that you have created that would best illustrate the steps.
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
ASSIGNMENT
I began the research process refererencing my definition of design and design process essays. As I read through the essays I circled key words and phrases that I felt would become essential in the process of creating this book. I then took those key words and phrases and began to form a list out of them. From there I started brainstorming more additional words and phrases that were associated with the first set. I then marked key words and phrases that I felt would be helpful. Some of the key words and phrases that I circled during this process included “execution, research, brainstorm, bind, sew, gather, pattern, blue print, guide, architecture, and strength.�
brainstorming for this assignment
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
RESEARCH & BRAINSTORMING
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
RESEARCH & BRAINSTORMING
After completing the brainstorming process I began my visual research. I started searching the internet for interesting book design and binding techniques. During my research I learned about Japanese stab binding techniques, which I found to be both unique and beautiful. I found several different methods of creating this technique and booked marked the tutorials for later reference. Additionally, I began searching for images associated with the keywords that I had marked earlier. On the previous page are images that I found visually interesting in my research. On the right are examples of japanese binding techniques.
examples of Japanese stab binding
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
RESEARCH AND BRAINSTORMING
8
Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
THUMBNAIL SKETCHES
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
THUMBNAIL SKETCHES
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
THUMBNAIL SKETCHES
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
ROUGH SKETCHES
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
ROUGH SKETCHES
process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique
process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic methodology routine technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique
operation
process
action
routine form
technique
The first digital comps I posted to the discussion forum.
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
DIGITAL COMPS
methodology megan cary
Studying
graphic design has always been challenging, insightful, creative and, at times, frustrating. But after many years, I have found that the act of designing is not nearly as frustrating as the act of explaining to those around me exactly what graphic design is. Graphic design is a profession and a practice, but it is also a technical skill and a form of art. In today’s society, graphic design can be one thing or many things. To me, all of these things – profession, practice, technical skill, and art form that define graphic design. If you look in the dictionary you will find a simple definition of graphic design. According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary graphic design is “the art or profession of using design elements (as typography and images) to convey information or create an effect; also : a product of this art.” This is true, graphic design is a profession. I am employed at a company with the title of “Graphic Designer” (as are thousands of people around the world.) I do use design elements (type and image) to convey information to my company’s customers. But while this definition is true, it is limited. It is limited because graphic design is also a practice. One definition of a practice is “to be professionally engaged in” a profession. Graphic designers practice by physically and mentally participate in the act of designing, an activity. Picture a football player (also a profession) – they participate in the act of playing football, by mentally coming up with a plan of action and then physically running with a ball. A graphic designer mentally comes up with a design plan and then creates it physically, either by hand or with a computer. The physical practice of graphic design requires technical skill, most commonly computer skill. Frequently jobs are posted for graphic designers with the only requirement being computer skills – the ability to use Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and other programs. At my company, there
The first digital comps I posted to the discussion forum.
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
DIGITAL COMPS
After posting my intial digital comps for feedback to the discussion forum several issues were pointed out to me. Primarily the color choices. The design of my initial comps is based off the idea of a blue print mixed with the process of pattern making (sewing). However, I had been concerned that using a blue color scheme would be too liter-
technique practice form plan schematic process procedure system mode routine operation action technique practice form plan schematic process procedure system mode routine operation action technique practice form plan schematic process procedure system mode routine operation action technique practice form plan schematic process procedure system mode routine operation action technique practice form plan schematic process procedure system mode routine operation action technique practice form plan schematic process procedure system mode routine operation action technique practice form plan schematic process
process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic methodology routine technique process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure process schematic plan form practice technique action operation routine mode system procedure
al of a translation and decided on a warmer color scheme of browns, oranges and reds. Feedback on my layout was generally positive, but overwhelmingly my peers felt I should go back to
action routine
a blue color palette that reflected the inspiration.
operation
process
technique
form
They also felt that the cover design needed to reflect the overall design pattern as well. On the next few pages are additional versions of my digital comps that I posted, revised and reposted for additional feedback. design 04
research 09
15
methodology
execute 33
brainstorm 16
reference 27
sketch 21
Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
REVISED COMPS
operation
action
design design technique
Studying graphic design has always been very
challenging, insightful, creative and, at times, frustrating. But after many years, I have found that the act of designing is not nearly as frustrating as the act of explaining to those around me exactly what graphic design is. Graphic design is a profession and a practice, but it is also a technical skill and a form of art. In today’s society, graphic design can be one thing or many things. To me, all of these things – profession, practice, technical skill, and art form that define graphic design.
If you look in the dictionary you will find a simple definition of graphic design. According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary graphic design is “the art or profession of using design elements (as typography and images) to convey information or create an effect; also : a product of this art.” This is true, graphic design is a profession. I am employed at a company with the title of “Graphic Designer” (as are thousands of people around the world.) I do use design elements (type and image) to convey information to my company’s customers. But while this definition is true, it is limited.
02
It is limited because graphic design is also a practice. One definition of a practice is “to be professionally engaged in” a profession. Graphic designers practice by physically and mentally participate in the act of designing, an activity. Picture a football player (also a profession) – they participate in the act of playing football, by mentally coming up with a plan of action and then physically running with a ball. A graphic designer mentally comes up with a design plan and then creates it physically, either by hand or with a computer.
16
Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
REVISED COMPS
methodology action routine
operation
process
form
technique
17
Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
REVISED COMPS
After brainstorming I
usually take my ideas and begin to sketch. Sometimes finding visual references first may be appropriate, but that step will be discussed later. For now, I will move on to the all-important sketching process.
The sketching process can begin with doodles of random ideas and/or thumbnail sketches that have more structure. Often my sketches include notes or collaged visual references. The important part is to work through all ideas, so that a very solid foundation has been laid.
When I feel I have sufficiently worked through initial ideas, I move on to larger concept sketches. These concept sketches are larger and more detailed than the thumbnail designs. They often include notes, color, and visual references. Concept sketches play a very important part in the final creation of a design. They are what digital designs are built from and what makes the execution of a design more efficient and the design itself thoughtful. On the right are some examples of thumbnail sketches and large, hand made concept sketches.
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design 04
research 09
methodology
execute 33
brainstorm 16
reference 27
sketch 21
contents 18
Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
REVISED COMPS
operation
action
design
design technique
Studying graphic design
challenging, insightful, creative and, at times, frustrating. But after many years, I have found that the act of designing is not nearly as frustrating as the act of explaining to those around me exactly what graphic design is. Graphic design is a profession and a practice, but it is also a technical skill and a form of art. In today’s society, graphic design can be one thing or many things. To me, all of these things – profession, practice, technical skill, and art form that define graphic design.
02
If you look in the dictionary you will find a simple definition of graphic design. According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary graphic design is “the art or profession of using design elements (as typography and images) to convey information or create an effect; also : a product
19
of this art.” This is true, graphic design is a profession. I am employed at a company with the title of “Graphic Designer” (as are thousands of people around the world.) I do use design elements (type and image) to convey information to my company’s customers. But while this definition is true, it is limited. It is limited because graphic design is also a practice. One definition of a practice is “to be professionally engaged in” a profession. Graphic designers practice by physically and mentally participating in the act of designing. Picture a football player (also a profession) – they participate in the act of playing football, by mentally coming up with a plan of action and then physically running with a ball. A graphic designer mentally comes up with a design plan and then creates it by hand or with a computer.
Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
REVISED COMPS
The physical practice of graphic design requires technical skill. Frequently jobs are posted for graphic designers with the only requirement being computer skills. At my company, there is a graphic design position where the definition of graphic designer is to be able to use these programs. The interviewing employee is told that they will not be using their creativity at all, only their ability to create.
04
Finally, graphic design is also a form of artistic expression. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines an artist as a “one skilled in or versed in learned arts…one who professes and practices an imaginative art…one who is adept at something.” As designers we do profess and practice an imaginative art, we are adept at technical skills, and we are learned artists. Museums are also beginning to acknowledge graphic design as art, for example the Museum of Modern Art’s
To me the design process
has always been similar to the act of putting together a puzzle. As designers we take small, random pieces of information – colors, typefaces, images, emotions, paper, ink, varnishes, die-cuts, illustrations, etc. – and figure out how they fit together to create a complete and thoughtful design. The process that we use as designers that helps us figure out how to fit those pieces together is our design methodology or design process.
06
My design process begins with research and background information. Before I begin a design, I try to learn about the problem as much as possible. This can mean utilizing internet
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website lists 3,040 results for the search term “graphic design” in their collection.
Jessica Helfand, co-founder of Winterhouse and editor of Design Observer explained “graphic design is everywhere, touching everything we do, everything we see, everything we buy: we see it on billboards and in Bibles, on taxi receipts and on websites, on birth certificates and on gift certificates, on the folded circulars inside jars of aspirin and on the thick pages of children’s chubby board books.” To some graphic design is just a job; to some it is a creative process that results in amazing works of art. To me graphic design everything. It is my profession, my practice, my skill, and my art. I’ve always thought Paul Rand said it best, “Design is the method of putting form and content together. Design, just as art, has multiple definitions; there is no single definition. Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that’s why it is so complicated.”
research
searches, books, and dictionaries to find information or it can simply mean asking questions of clients – their likes and dislikes, motivations, purpose, and intended usage. I collect this information in the form of notes that I keep for future reference. On the right are some examples of my research process. The first example, top left, shows me writing down the problem. This helps me focus on the process ahead. Moving clockwise, you begin to see the natural progression of research as I start with internet search engines like google, and move through books, and asking questions of clients.
Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
REVISED COMPS
After finalizing my design, I printed out my book on 70# text weight white Neenah paper and the front cover overlays on white vellum. I also printed a binding support on Neenah 80# white cover stock. The first step in my execution was to cut out all of the pages with my x-acto knife. The pages were printed double-sided on a large format laser printer so no adhesives were required. I then arranged the pages in the proper order and clipped them together with several binder clips in preparation for binding. This was done very carefully to avoid creasing of the pages or vellum. I then drilled holes, according to the guide I printed, on the heavy outer binding shell with an awl. This was the one of the most time consuming processes just because of the thickness of the book. Next I threaded the binding needle with light blue heavy duty embroidery thread and began to bind the book in a modified japanese stab binding technique.
Execution of the final book in progress
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
ANALYSIS & EXECUTION
Execution of the final book in progress
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
ANALYSIS & EXECUTION
The binding process was not easy. To achieve this binding look, with no thread wrapping around the outer edge of the book, extensive intricate stitching techniques must be made on the inside of the binding shell. I had to stop and start over again several times, but ultimately I was able to achieve the look I wanted. Overall I am very pleased with the outcome of this book, for my first major project as a graduate student I feel that it is an accurate representation of my personal aesthetic and process. I am also pleased that I did not give up on the binding technique I chose. I think that this technique really elevated my book to the next level.
Execution of the final book in progress
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
ANALYSIS & EXECUTION
methodology Final Design (portions of the final PDF)
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
FINAL DESIGN SOLUTION
action routine
operation
process
form
technique
design 01
research 05
methodology
execute 21
brainstorm 09
reference 17
sketch 13
contents Final Design (portions of the final PDF)
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
FINAL DESIGN SOLUTION
operation
action
design
design technique
Studying graphic design
is challenging, insightful, creative and, at times, frustrating. But after many years, I have found that the act of designing is not nearly as frustrating as the act of explaining to those around me exactly what graphic design is. Graphic design is a profession and a practice, but it is also a technical skill and a form of art. In today’s society, graphic design can be one thing or many things. To me, all of these things – profession, practice, technical skill, and art form that define graphic design.
02
If you look in the dictionary you will find a simple definition of graphic design. According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary graphic design is “the art or profession of using design elements (as typography and images) to convey information or create an effect; also : a product
of this art.” This is true, graphic design is a profession. I am employed at a company with the title of “Graphic Designer.” I do use design elements (type and image) to convey information to my company’s customers. But while this definition is true, it is limited.
It is limited because graphic design is also a practice.
One definition of a practice is “to be professionally engaged in” a profession. Graphic designers practice by physically and mentally participating in the act of designing. Picture a football player – they participate in the act of playing football, by mentally coming up with a plan of action and physically running with a ball. A graphic designer mentally comes up with a design plan and then creates it.
Final Design (portions of the final PDF)
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
FINAL DESIGN SOLUTION
draw
conceive
think
compose
generate
design brainstorm create
08
The final step of the design
process is to take the chosen concept or concepts and recreate them with a computer. Important decisions are made with final imagery, typography, and materials. Because of my preparation, I have solid ideas and concept sketches to support this part of the process.
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Often however, a design may change at this stage because of a new idea or inspiration found when a new medium (the computer) comes into play. But in general the creation of the final computer rendered design follows the initial design process set forth from research and sketching. The goal of this step is to create a finished image, which has unity, balance, contrast, and rhythm.
Vincent Van Gogh said, “Great things are not done by impulse, but a series of small things brought together.�
The ultimate goal of my design methodology is to fit together those small things, the pieces of my design puzzle.
To take words, imagery, restrictions (if they exist), and even pre-existing ideas and form a unified and complete design that is a thoughtful and effective piece of visual communication. On the right are some examples of execution, creating the final design in the computer from a concept.
Final Design (portions of the final PDF)
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
FINAL DESIGN SOLUTION
Photographs of the final design
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
FINAL DESIGN SOLUTION
Photographs of the final design
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
FINAL DESIGN SOLUTION
Photographs of the final design
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
FINAL DESIGN SOLUTION
Photographs of the final design
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
FINAL DESIGN SOLUTION
Photographs of the final design
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Megan Cary | GRDS 705-OL | Design Methodology Book | Process Book
Design Methodology Book
FINAL DESIGN SOLUTION