monicaalisse GRAPHIC DESIGNER
INFORMATION KIOSK November 2008 Senior Studio For my design process I began to build a few models that I felt would work well with the Chace Center building in our RISD campus. What attracts my attention from the building are the big rectangular windows appearing on the top. The sizes of these windows vary; as a result, I decided to design an askew kiosk with diamond-shaped windows that appear on each edge of the form. Also, the form itself is a triangle which helps accentuate the diamond windows. The design is static. It is a form that an observer can walk around, admire images, and read the content. The design is not supposed to be interactive. It is a classic printed design both simple and instructive. The main difficulty I came across was attempting to find good image placements for the diamond windows. Each panel already contains an image introducing each exhibition along with a description and title. I wanted to bring identity into the piece by placing portraits or some reference of identity on each diamond-shaped window.
SPORK PACKAGE DESIGN November 2008 Senior Studio My final design ended up containing
and slits to place them in are available.
two panels attached to each other that
Also, I still wished to use the wavy paper
open up and display the information
and created a slip that can keep the
about the product. I applied segments
package intact while being shipped. The
of each exploration. I letter pressed the
paper also creates some contrast with its
logo “spork.” Also, I used the Neenah
texture, between smooth and rough.
paper and pasted 2 ply cream museum
A few things I would fix are the colors.
board that helps stabilize the package.
There are some areas which may be more
I emphasized continuity in contrast to
saturated than others. Also, in general,
my earlier design, where the images
the text and images appear light and may
encircles each side of the package. The
not bring much attention to the public
yellow, or tortilla color is chlorine-free
in the store. From far away, it should be
paper and 100% post-consumer.
easy to see the logo “spork,” but not the
The package fits up to twenty sporks and they can be arranged either way the store wishes. When shipped, the top and bottom of the package contains an opening releasing the sporks from within
rest of the content.
WATER DOCUMENTARY AND CD/DVD PACKAGE November 2008 Senior Studio For this project I reflected closely on what I personally feel about water. One outcome of that was to realize water as a spiritual commodity as it is used and valued differently among many cultures. With that idea, I recalled the Bible, fairy tales, folk tales and legends — stories from different cultures that referred to water in their own mythical symbolic ways and interpretations. I then thought of motives in which the senses can help a person feel wholesome. I wished to share the message that water is not only nourishing and essential, but it can also generate some emotion and inspiration to our daily lives. In the end my project became a CD and DVD package design with water as its theme to contain music I created with an a cappella student group from RISD. I documented the group’s experience when going to the beach and how being around water affected their moods to bring inspiration and creativity to the music. The CD package is useful to remind the public to consider other ways in which water can be a powerful influence to our daily lives. The package also contains a booklet of photographs documenting the process of the project along with a brief narrative of the group’s experience there.
Documentary photographs
“LA MUJER DEL ANARQUISTA” POSTER July 2008 BARFUTURA summer internship After interning during the summer with the design firm, BARFUTURA in Madrid, I was able to design a poster for a feature film released in January 2009. The film focuses on the Spanish Civil War, when people resisted the rise of Franco. A young woman waits for her husband to come back to her while he schemes to assassinate Franco and ends up in a concentration camp for a long period of time. I wanted to portray the major idea of ardent love for this poster. As a result, I found a few screen shots that show tender moments between the two protagonists, emphasizing their exhaustion and internal struggles, but the love that helped them thrive. The scenario of the ocean is a strong symbol of them being at peace. The jet is meant to remind the audience that this is not only a story of love, but war. The classic typeface, Bodoni, was found appropriate for this piece due to its historical context.
© BARFUTURA 2008
“CHINATOWN� POSTER November 2007 Making Meaning For this film poster I wanted to show the essence of film noir. The story conveys a lot of secrecy and a strong lack of trust is portrayed between the two protagonists. Therefore, the final poster has a sense of ambiguity and blankness. The drawing used was an original sketch from a notebook, which I later scanned and slightly edited. I began using critical scenes and elements from the film such as Chinatown itself, the valley, or cigarettes. However, I found my earlier concepts to look too busy although the story is chaotic.
TAPAS COOKBOOK May 2007 Typography II This cookbook is perfect bound with watercolor illustrations. The recipes in the book contain personal favorites from Spain along with an illustrative narrative emphasizing its genuine and unique culture. Along with a personal touch of illustration and style, the book operates as a system. It is divided into three dish categories, which are hot, cold, and side. Each section is color coated.
DUCT TAPE MAC CASE January 2009 This is an independent project that I
I found some very interesting ideas when
began doing during the course of this
playing with duct tape. I explored this
year. Because of the difficult economy
tape as a form and a utility. Also, I began
situation that many are facing, I began
adding other elements such as type and
focusing on how individuals can make
icons, such as the Apple logo.
good use out of what they already have.
The Mac case came to mind because it
As a result, I have been exploring all
works as a simple and useful object to
types of old items that I already have
own. The color of duct tape also can work
and never consider how much can be
well with the silver Mac platform laptop.
done or manipulated with that object.
DUCT TAPE BAG January 2009 Because duct tape is strong material, I went further into exploring other things I could make such as bags. Some people are are not into shopping for accessories such as bags or slip cases for their laptops. Surprisingly, not a lot of tape was used up to make this bag. The form is also very simple and it has one handle to put around the shoulder. The reason for making one handle is due to personal experiences of carrying a big bag around campus. Sometimes, one handle would slide off making it uncomfortable for me to walk around. The handle I made does not slip. Besides painting with acrylic, I added letters to give personality to the bag. Because it is hand-made, I felt wood type blocks is be appropriate to use and would give layering and texture to the bag. The ink dried in only one day — duct tape is useful material.
“HOOTENANNY� DVD PACKAGE October 2008 Senior Studio I chose to design a DVD package for the
that really focused on presenting texture.
Hootenanny show because it seemed
Eventually, my letterpress designs
like an entertaining theme to work with.
seemed to give a traditional experience
I am also interested in that time period
to the audience. I continued cropping
and wished to evoke nostalgia for those
the letters in order to improve the style
who lived in that era of folk music, or to
of the booklet. I intended to give the
draw interest to a contemporary type
booklet a circular form, and in doing so,
of audience.
it was a challenge to plot a layout.
In doing this I began looking through the images and original logos from the actual Hootenanny show and wished to use wood as the bases of my design. The design began more simple and pictorial, giving little emphasis on playfulness and texture. I also attempted to recreate the Hootenanny logo, but concluded that drawing it using Illustrator was not effective enough. In order to improve these issues, I decided to create a title and logo using wood- block type and letterpress. I felt this connected back to my idea of using wood. I also took better photographs
CAMPAIGN IDENTITY October 2008 Senior Studio My exploration was to create a mock water campaign that wishes to raise funds for those in need of a healthier, sustainable water supply. I wished to express the importance of this campaign by giving the logo a fresh, organic, and elegant design. I began with sketches and then watercolor became my main medium. Paper used was also important because a watercolor drawing can look even more aesthetically diverting on the sheet. In addition, I also wished to address this campaign as a company who values using natural, organic resources; this includes using recycled paper that is both chloride-free and 100% post-consumer. Along with the letterhead, envelope, and business card, I imagine other objects that accommodate the company and put the logo in good use such as T-shirts. The tag line “spread the word� is used both for the advertisement and placed on the envelope because they are both good methods for the public to easily see and learn about the campaign and advise others to help other countries in need.
MATHEMATICA THEME STAMPS March 2008 Visual Systems In terms of the theme “Mathematica,�
a different color. The vertices are then
this postage stamp system relates to the
connected creating a planar graph.
four-color theorem. Francis Guthrie, a
The four stamps relate to this theory.
British mathematician, proposed the
By researching different solved color
four-color theorem in 1852. He stated
problems that were later converted into
that at least four colors are necessary
graphs, a simple system was found. The
to color any map or flat plane. No two
more complex the color problem is, the
regions on a map should share the same
higher the price of the stamp becomes.
color, or they would not be identified as
Each stamp follows a system of using
a single region. There have been doubts
the same four colors for each problem.
about whether this theory is true. For
The graph appears in the background
example, some have said that up to five
and is able to show its relationship with
colors are appropriate enough to fill in
the original problem. The background
a map. However, the four-color theorem
color of each stamp is neutral mixed with
was the first major theorem to have been
grays in order to have the actual data
proven on a computer. The theorem
appearing on each stamp to stand more
is commonly addressed as a graph, in
or become the central point of focus.
which every four colors appear like
The first-day cancellation stamp for this
vertices and the adjacent vertex must be
series celebrates the function of using a graph or chart as a useful way to represent any type of mathematical data; in this case, the four-color theorem is the center of interest here. This particular graph accentuates the vertices and the lines connecting each one, showing how they are separate from each other. The typeface stating the date issued is also used on the four stamps.
WORD DEFINITION POSTER February 2008 Typography III The requirement was to choose a word and design an abstract poster playing up the definition of that word. I chose “drift� because I felt that this word is elegant and could drive me to create an elegant composition. I looked through images and came across rivers, objects floating and moving slowly in space. It then occurred to me to emphasize this imagery of slow motion, gracefulness, and clean space by using a classic and elegant font like Caslon.