chapter title | page # | Shayla Kerr
“The journey is never ending. There’s always gonna be growth, improvement, adversity; you just gotta take it all in and do what’s right, continue to grow, continue to live in the moment.” — Antonio Brown
INTRO After months of working through project after project, finally we get to take all the work and organize it in these Process Journals. These books are so helpful to me because then I can take a step back and evaluate my work flow, and see how much I have managed to grow. Growth in every aspect of life is important to me, especially in my work. I am always trying to learn and internalize all the information I can, so I can work my best.
EXAMINING TYPE Reflection My first reaction to learning the various
feeling overwhelmed and lost, but that’s
leading. I would have liked for my eyes
aspects of typography is that it is all
okay. I’ll be okay.
to feel less constraint.
pretty daunting. There is a lot of do’s
I know that this was a simple
My other piece was a Sans Serif body
and don’ts that I need to remember. I
assignment, but somehow I still made
type. It was a book on a modern artist,
need to keep in mind content, context,
it difficult for myself. Both the printed
which I thought was neat since you
audience, material, and so much
pieces of body type that I brought in
don’t see Sans Serifs in printed books
more. I feel a bit lost and don’t really
seemed like they both had their pros
often, especially as body text. I felt it
know where to start with it all, which,
and cons. The Serif body was very
kept with the whole aesthetic of being
coincidentally, is how I even feel about
traditional and colonial, which was
modern, but was also very easy to read
this document. It will take a lot of work
a good choice since it was talking
and was inviting to my eyes.
for me to be able to comprehend all
about Virginia and its past. My biggest
that we are learning because even if it is
complaint was that the body
thorough, it is a fast pace. Overall, I am
type felt too close together in its
Examining Type | 5 | Shayla Kerr
SIX FACTORIALS Reflection This projects really helped me learn
trying to avoid. This assignment also
been a big issue for me this semester. To
what it is that I personally like from type
made me more conscious about what
me, it is sort of one of those
and what I don’t. I use it as a reference
makes type work and what doesn’t. I
things that comes naturally.
to help me decide what I want to use for
am still always second guessing how I
It’s intuitive in my opinion.
my Process Journal we will be working
am handling type, but it is comforting
on soon (hopefully). I lean more heavily
to know that I have a set of guidelines
towards sans serif fonts, actually, all
to reference for when I really am unsure.
my favorites are sans serif. I don’t hate
I admit it is getting easier and easier
serif typefaces, there’s nothing wrong
to handle type. The more I work with
with them, I just don’t prefer them. I
it, the more I find myself enjoying it. It
don’t have a general preference for
still frustrates me and I still get lost and
columns, but I do enjoy the 3-4 column
overwhelmed from time to time, but
look. It’s an easy way to have all my text
overall I find myself
organized and make it feel less like a
slowly getting comfortable.
term paper, which is exactly what I’m
Personally, I don’t think hierarchy has
Considerations for Good Typography (especially with body text) » white space
» justified alignment, has to work well
» appropriate choice
» audience, connotation
» breaking up large masses of text
» color
» visual hierarchy, organization
» readability
» letter spacing
» column width
» placement (on the page)
» orientation of text
» works with the non-type material
» structure of text
» line spacing
» surface, contrast
» line breaks (widows & orphans, hyphenation, nice rag)
» overuse of special formatting
» cohesiveness
» visual system
» boxes around text Six Factorials | 7 | Shayla Kerr
PAIRING TYPE Reflection The exercise of changing and comparing
Avenir LT Std and Gotham (TT). I have
I went with the three column approach
text and then printing it was one that I
become a little obsessed with Sans
again. Gotham is already kind of a
really appreciated. As someone who is
Serif fonts recently and have been
chunky typeface, so after experimenting,
not very adept at wrapping text around
experimenting with different ones. I
I decided on a size nine for type and
her head, I really loved this exercise. It
chose these two because they are very
fourteen for leading. I had a hard time
was a lot easier for me to see the little
well made fonts and I love the way they
deciding between size thirteen and
changes side by side. This is definitely
look. I tested the fonts with various sizes
fourteen leading for this font, and in all
something I will be implementing into
and leadings to see which combination
honesty, I think they both work fine for
my process because it really has helped
worked the best for the body text.
the font and its size.
me view text in the way that I need to.
For Avenir, I was most happy with the
I still am not very confident with my
three column formatting with typeface
eye for text in general, but I know this
size nine and having the leading set
exercise is helping me take a step to
to thirteen. My eye did not feel very
help train my eyes and expand my skills.
constrained in any way or lost while
The two fonts that I chose where
 
examining the body text. With Gotham,
Pairing
Typefaces Pairing Typefaces | 9 | Shayla Kerr
Fluid Typography | An Essay by Ellen Lupton
Fluid Typography | An Essay by Ellen Lupton
with additional subheads inserted for the exercise
with additional subheads inserted for the exercise
to the next. By the early twentieth century, the classical page had given way to the multicolumned, mixed-media structures of the modern newspaper, magazine, and illustrated book.
the moving waters of text, where they shape it from within.
Print and Digital — The New Paradigm Today, the simultaneity of diverse content streams is a given. Alongside the archetype of the printed page, the new digital archetype of the window has taken hold. The window is a scrolling surface of unlimited length, whose width adjusts at the will of reader or writer. In both print and digital media, graphic designers devise ways to navigate bodies of information by exploring the structural possibilities of pages and windows, boxes and frames, edges and margins.
soft copy — a chameleon In 1978, Nicholas Negroponte and Muriel Cooper, working at mit’s Media Lab, published a seminal essay on the notion of “soft copy,” the linguistic raw material of the digital age. The bastard offspring
Interactive Typography
Subhead Sitka Reg, 13/13.5 Body text Josephine Sans, regular / style, 9.5/13.5
Subhead Rockwell Reg, 13/13.5 Body text Crimson, Roman, 9.5 /13.5
Subhead Mongolian Baiti Reg, 13/13.5
Body Text as a Mass
Body text Avenir LT Std 35 Light 9.5/13.5
of hard copy, soft text lacks a fixed typographic identity. Owing allegiance to no font or format, it is willingly pasted, pirated, output, or repurposed in countless contexts. It is the ubiquitous medium of word-processing, desk-top publishing, e-mail, and the Internet. The burgeoning of soft copy had an enormous impact on graphic design in the 1980s and 1990s. In design for print, soft copy largely eliminated the mediation of the typesetter, the technician previously charged with converting the manuscript—which had been painstakingly marked up by hand with instructions from the designer-into galleys, or formal pages of type. Soft copy flows directly to designers in digital form from authors and editors. The designer is free to directly manipulate the text-without relying on the typesetter-and to adjust typographic details up to the final moments of production. The soft copy revolution led designers to plunge from an objective aerial view into
Explorations by Shayla Kerr
Digital media enable both users and producers, readers and writers, to regulate the flow of language. As with design for print, the goal of interactive typography is to create “architectural” structures that accommodate the organic stream of text. But in the digital realm, these structures-and the content they support-have the possibility of continuous transformation. In their essay about soft copy, Negroponte and Cooper predicted the evolution of digital interfaces that would allow typography to transform its size, shape, and color. Muriel Cooper (1925-1994) went on to develop the idea of the three-dimensional “information landscape,” a model that breaks through the window frames that dominate electronic interfaces.
Subhead Myanmar Reg / style, 13/13.5 Body text Segoe UI Regular, 9.5/13.5
Viewed from a distance, a field of text is a block of gray. But when one comes in close to read, the individual characters predominate over the field. Text is a body of separate objects that move together as a mass, like cars in a flow of traffic or individuals in a crowd. Text is a fluid made from the hard, dry crystals of the alphabet. Typeface designs in the Renaissance reflected the curving lines of handwriting, formed by ink flowing from the rigid nib of a pen. The cast metal types used for printing converted these organic sources into fixed, reproducible artifacts. As the printed book became the world’s dominant information medium, the design of typefaces grew ever more abstract and formalized, distanced from the liquid hand. Explorations by Shayla Kerr
3
4
Pairing Typefaces | 11 | Shayla Kerr
VISUAL SYSTEM Reflection I have always known where to find
personal touches to work is always
typography since we have been focusing
inspiration and references, but in this
nice too, like handwriting some text or
on the basics of the basics. Baby steps
project, it helped me learn how to
creating your own images and icons.
like these are letting me become more
analyze what inspires me. It has helped
Things like that are what I have in mind
comfortable with type and become
me see and list off what I enjoy and
for the Process Journal we will be
more confident in my work.
want to emulate in my designs. Seeing
creating soon.
what elements have been used and why they work or don’t work. I really enjoy works that are bold and have a bright color pallet. Adding
Every day I just feel like with each project I am expanding my knowledge and learning more and more. I am becoming less and less worried about
Publication Title: Process Journal by Millie McGuffie
Publication source: https://issuu.com/milliemcguffie/docs/reflective_journal_pdf
Feel/tonality:
System elements » Color: › Keeps color pallette per section » Script: › Uses scripts for all sections cover pages and numbers
» Content Seperation: › Images on one side, text on the other » Text: › Double collum with no para. indent »
» Images: › Majority are fully covering the page » › etc › etc
»
» » » »
Clean Large Blue Powerful
Visual System | 13 | Shayla Kerr
ANALYZING GRIDS Reflection This project was in my personal opinion,
the different ways I can use a grid in
the most unfun, but was useful to my
my work. Admittedly, my grid for this
eye. I know that it is important to be
project was still very difficult for me
able to look at a layout and to see how it
to see, and I am still not very good at
was constructed. It gives you an idea to
finding the grid in general. Hopefully,
how you can better your own layouts, or
I will get better and as time goes on,
what you can experiment with. I already
spotting the grid on someone’s work will
do this sort of thing with other types of
become second nature to me.
art like paintings. I try to deconstruct the
It was interesting to list off all the
work and see what it was the painter did
components that were on one page that
to create their work. It makes sense that
interacted. The color palette, body size,
we would do something
placement, typeface choices, and so
similar in design.
much more are just some of the many
Trying to look at the bones of a
elements, I’m learning, that help brings
design is helpful and shows me all
visual harmony and sense to a spread. MOSAIC ––– Identity for a Fictional Nation, and Welcoming Guide Year: 2018 Created by Tracy Thanh Tran
Section Header: Flushed
Page Setup: 6x10”
left in a sans serif font, closely resembling Gotham Black at 32/34, very large and bold as head of
page, 0.5 in boarder on top/bottom of page, 0.2597 in boarder on let/right of pages.
hierarchy.
The Past + Future
Body Text: contrasted with header as a serif font, separating paragraphs by spacing, 12/17 in a font similar to Baskerville Old-face.
mosaic’s history
Header: Small caps sans serif font, similar to Gotham TT Book, 12/14 and 180 tracking
Photo: flushed left, similar to header and side caption, aligned with horizontal of body text, 0.125 pica spacing from body text.
Horizontal Alignment: 2.9261 in from top of the page.
As the world was going through a refugee crisis, and 6.5 million people were displaced from their homes,
Columns: 14 columns /0.125 pica spacing
Side Captions: Flushed to very left of the page. Sans serif font similar to Claibri in a 9/12.
Color Pallette: All text: 2F5735 Photo: Overlayed with that same color. Background: FFE4D9
On Super Diversity: Reflections
Page Numbers: Centered on page, directly touching/ bellow the boarder, sans serif font
Analyzing Grids | 15 | Shayla Kerr
VISUAL HIERARCHY Reflection Right now I am I feel like I have a good
just need to try new things and expand.
change anything because I didn’t want
foundation for the project. I want to
It’s a little frustrating, mainly because I
to mess what I already had up. Looking
create something modern and fun,
don’t like working with a lot of text,
back, this is something that maybe in
while also keeping the flow/hierarchy of
but it’s fine.
the future I would like to
the text. At first I was happy with what I
All I can really say is that the
was doing inside of the pamphlet, using
project went well. I enjoyed the look
circles to enclose the numbers. But
and illustrative approach I took, and
now, I am bored with it honestly. There
my visual hierarchy could have been
is so much more I could be doing with
better. I wasn’t the most excited about
it that I just haven’t tried yet. Which is
the circles encasing the numbers, and
something I’m going to make sure I do
maybe the subheads could have been
tonight while continuing to work on it. I
a little bigger. I was just too scared to
try practicing again.
Visual Hierarchy | 17 | Shayla Kerr
september
2 5 , 2018
Pamphlet Project: All I can really say is that the project went well. I enjoyed the look and illustrative apprach I took, and my visual hierarchy could have been better. I wasn’t the most excited about the circles encasing the numbers, and maybe the subheads could have been a little bigger. I was just too scared to change anything because I didn’t want to mess what I already had up.
Reflection
chapter Visual Hierarchy title | page | 19 # | Shayla Kerr
DESIGN HEROES Reflection At the moment I have no problems with
but I also like to make things fun. What’s
has not been helping the mood. I just
any of the designers and illustrators I
the point in making something if it can’t
have to keep pushing on through until
picked for this project. I really love all
be a little fun or cheeky? I want others
something good happens on accident.
of them, even if their work is drastically
to enjoy my work just as much as I enjoy
different. I chose them because I see a
it, even if it is a bit frustrating at times.
lot of myself in their work, whether it be stylistically or conceptually. As for planning what this book will
I am also a little frustrated with myself because I feel like my creative juices just aren’t flowing as easily. I’m
look like, that is another story. I want my
taking the same five key aspects of
book to be dynamic and fun, but I also
the book and trying to figure out how
feel like all my work is very childish, or
to organize them in different ways,
not as mature as others. But, then again,
but overall I just feel like they’re all
that is me comparing myself to others,
generally exactly the same. It’s been a
which I shouldn’t do. I just like my work
hard week and it’s only Tuesday and my
to be visually interesting and dynamic,
creative constipation for this project
Design Heroes | 21 | Shayla Kerr
chapter title | page # | Shayla Kerr
Reflection
I have only a handful out of the countless variations of spreads I experimented with during the process of creating this booklet. Eventually, I ended up with something I really enjoyed, and so did everyone else.
Design Heroes | 25 | Shayla Kerr
chapter title | page # | Shayla Kerr
Reflection
chapter title | page # | Shayla Kerr
Reflection This had to possibly the most
I don’t even know where the idea
problem was trying to figure out how
difficult part out of the whole project.
came from, but one day I just thought
and where to put my text. Just pasting
Remember when I was talking about
about making a pattern. I have been
my title over the pattern was too much
creative constipation earlier? Well, it
having a really fun time making patterns
visually, it looked very messy. Eventually,
really hit me hard here. I can’t even
recently in Adobe Illustrator for other
after staring at my screen for what felt
begin to count how many sketches and
personal projects. Each of my heroes
like an eternity, I thought it would be
variations this front cover went through.
had at least one small icon that they
smart to place my text in generally the
I saw a lot of my peers creating covers
created that I also added into my
same areas where the icons would be in
with their chosen heroes displayed on
spreads. I had the idea to take those
the pattern. The blue color of the cover
them, but that just really was something
icons and use them for a nice pattern
was to somehow include myself in this
I didn’t want to do. Even when I did put
for the cover.
book of people I looked up to. Over the
my heroes on the cover I didn’t like how
This also went through trial and
years I have personally watched my own
it looked. It never seemed to really work
error because I had to figure out how
growth and I find a lot of inspiration
for me. I wanted to represent my design
to pattern them in a way where the
from that, and it just pushes me every
heroes in a different way.
overall look was optically even. My other
day to get better and better.
Reflection
Design Heroes | 29 | Shayla Kerr
chapter title | page # | Shayla Kerr
Reflection This journal is finally OVER! I have no
kerning is our acne, and grids are our
idea how many I had to redesign this
growing pains. I might sound pretty
journal. I felt like I was constantly at
negative about this whole experience,
war between what was functional and
but I am actually very happy about
what looked interesting. I guess that
everything that we have been doing.
is the eternal struggle of a graphic
I’m not the best at it and want to
designer, but in this project, it really
acknowledge that, because it’s just
seemed to kick my butt. One day
the process of helping me improve.
the journal would look one way, and
I am very proud of everyone’s work
then the next day it was a completely
in class too. It was rough in the
different book. I know that book and
beginning, but in the end, everyone
layout design is definitely not my
ended up with something great.
thing or my strong suit, but I have to admit, it is really nice when it’s all put together in my hands. This project was definitely a journey, and even now I am not a hundred percent satisfied with how my journal came out, but then again, when am I ever. I still can’t see grids very easily even after all the practice and study we have had, however, it’s not exactly the first thing I think about when it comes to layout design. It’s very important, and I know that, but I feel like I just need to be more conscious of this sort of thing. Something good that came from this project, is that I can definitely see improvement from last year. I coined the term “design puberty” because that is the best way to describe what not only me, but I’m sure many of the others in the class, are experiencing. We are in the process of growing, bad
Design Heroes | 31 | Shayla Kerr
RÉSUMÉ WORKSHOP Reflection This workshop was the one that I
that keeping it simple is always a good
probably looked forward to the most.
thing, but I also wanted to stand out
of the alums résumés. They were all
Making me résumé as professional as
a little bit from others. I now see that
unique in their own way but kept it
possible is always something I am trying
there are a lot of badly made résumés,
simple and clean. It was also nice to get
to learn, and honestly, there are a lot of
and the ones that stand out are the ones
a sense of what is to come in the future.
different sources out in the world with a
that are made well.
I am excited for the day when we print
lot of contrasting opinions. After I read
Something that had me shocked was
my assigned article about résumés, I felt
some of the résumé horror stories Leslie
as dumb as a résumé looked. Everything
was telling us about. People putting
the article told us not to today, I, of
confetti in their résumés or making
course, did. But, to be fair, a lot of what
them look like a chip bag. It gives me
made my old résumé garbage came
goosebumps just thinking about it. I
from different sources on the internet.
mean, I wanted my old résumé to stand
How was I supposed to know what was
out, but even I knew that I should never
good or bad for a résumé? I did know
do something like that ever.
It was very inspiring to look at some
our business cards and create beautiful envelopes and packaging for our résumés.
100% Clever,
0% Hired Résumé Workshop | 33 | Shayla Kerr
s h ay l a k e r r co n tac t 270-872-6096 snkerr01@louisville.edu shaylakerr.com @shayla_kerr
experience
skills
freelance theater poster design
adobe suites
Louisville, KY | 2018 – Present Design and produce a theatre poster for client, with imagery representing the themes and mood displayed in the play being performed.
louisville cardinal
Louisville, KY | 2018 – Present Design and produce various media such as illustrations, typographic visuals, and front page of newspaper.
freelance
Louisville, KY | 2013 – Present Design and produce various media such as illustrations, logos, posters, fliers, and shirts.
e d u c at i o n university of louisville hite art institute
2018 – Present » »
University of Louisville BFA for Graphic Design Dean’s list 2017-2018
extra curricular university of louisville
2018 – Present U of L Student Art League Vice President
2018 – Present U of L Student Art League Social Media and Advertising Officer
central hardin high school
2016 – 2017 President of the Central Hardin High School Art Club
2015 – 2017 Central Hardin High School Drama Club Graphic Designer Résumé Workshop | 35 | Shayla Kerr
Photoshop
| Advanced
Illustrator | Proficient InDesign | Proficient
volunteer work central hardin high school
Elizabethtown, KY | 2016 Illustrator of the Special Education Mural
WOODTYPE Reflection
Assignment10
how we want our type to look,
When I joined printmaking, I knew that
art 571 :: Typography I :: fa 2018
I wanted to somehow employ the skills I gained in that class with my graphic
Graphic Design seems easy enough. BFA program
Something that I will Hite Art Institute University of Louisville
Instructor
Leslie Friesen probably be Power Agency Designer-in-Residence
wood. All my crafts are important to me, including witchcraft. I like to combine my crafts if I am able, and I thought
design skills. I am glad that both my
using multiple times is the etching
this assignment would do that well. I
favorite disciplines go so well together.
information we will be acquiring after
have used some witchcraft symbols,
Shared | Letterpress Poster If I amValues being honest, the day Leslie
we go to First Build. I am interested in
and I didn’t include anything that would
mentioned that we would be using the Method: Letterpress Tues, 11.13 (in class) Content: Shared Values Step 1:had Content development print press, I had already sketched In this project. you’ll get to » Pick 15 to 20 words from the experience first hand the you value?” list out a handful of ideas. “What I justdoknew that process of setting up and attached. If there is a value printing a letterpress poster there were so many things to do, but that is important to you that using wood type. is not on the list, feel free to I am glad that Leslie structured this add it at the bottom. For content, each team will Step 2:me Shared Values list be selecting three words they assignment that will give and my » Meet with your team or 3; agree on as values they share. classmates a little bit»of a creative break. Select three values you all share. (Pick 3 to 6 more options In an era where differences can Everything for this assignment was laid you can also agree on.) deeply divide us, perhaps we › Ones you all checked on need to find out what we have out for us, all we have to do is design your list? in common in order to start › Or others you agree on. bridging the divides.
SHARED VALUES
EMPATHY STEWARDSHIP
knowing Tues, 11.13 &how we Thurs, 11.15 (in class)
willTues, be 11.20 etching out
First that Build Field Trip our sorts, and I wantStep to5:use same
Step 3: Pick your type, plan your set up information to
» Individual files will be “ganged up”big on one file for help me on a project I » Each team has a 10.5" high × laser cutting. have planned for in the future. 9" wide space to work with. » Mount your sorts, both » Selecting from the wood type positive and negative As infor sorts, I wanted on hand the my letterpress versions, onto 1"×1"add blocksto room, work on composing provided. the schools’ collection something that the three shared values in » Coat with matte medium. that space. would represent me, so that way I will Tues, 11.27 & » Each person pick one word to work with in a line always beto asetpart of itThurs, even11.29 if it is only not to exceed 9". Step 6: Printing » one Set your type up a ruled inch byonone-inch cube of carved » Printing on teams cutting board, photograph it; And when you are not printing return it to the proper type » When your team is not drawer. printing, design zines. Step 4: Create 3 “sorts” » Goal make at least two new to cut at FirstBuild zines. Content is up to you. Also called ornaments, press cuts. » Each must fit in 1"×1" space. » Should be capatible when used together. » Upload a vector file with ornament at 100% scale, » with .01" rule; no fill » (stay tuned for specifics)
be very scary. There is the Icovellavna, or the Celtic Shield Knot, which is for protection. Then I have included the symbol for Pluto, and finally, I have added the Pentagram, which does not represent Satan, but the five elements earth, air, fire, water, and spirit.
Upload by Mon. 11.19 for FirstBuild Field Trip on Tues, 11.20
INTEGRITY TYPOGRAPHY 1 CLASS Photos by Leslie Friesen
Woodtype Project | 37 | Shayla Kerr
Something that really made me love the
the progression of using the press and how important it still is to many people. I am saddened that all these amazing people with knowledge and the incredible collection will soon one day be gone, and their legacies went with them. It makes me want to take action and do what I can by keeping printmaking alive. It is such an important part of the world’s culture and should be protected and preserved. It is because of this reason why I now understand why Rachel is always trying to recruit people into printmaking. She loves this craft, and what others to love it as well so that they can also protect it. I will do what I can, by helping her recruit more people into the class, and keeping the information I have learned so far alive and well. I will possibly even try teaching it to others if I can. Something I have been thinking about doing is creating more wood type for our library. We don’t have a large variety to use from, and a lot of the collections we do have are missing pieces of type. If I can help in some way, then I will be happy.
Thursday, Nov.15 :: 12:10–1:50 :: Schneider LL27 (Graphic Design Lab) Bring your lunch & enjoy a wonderful documentary about letterpress and some of its heroes. 100 minutes. Free for UofL students, faculty & staff.
Poster design: ©Letterpress Film llc
Pressing On. It was really great at showing
Lunchtime Movie
process of print, even more, was watching
http://louisville.edu/art facebook.com/Hite.Art.Institute Phone: 502.852.6794
Photo by Leslie Friesen
Woodtype | 39 | Shayla Kerr
PROCESS JOURNAL Reflection Honestly, at the start of the semester when a Process Journal was mentioned,
that I think I am handling them well. Designing this journal was also a bit
implement that I just didn’t have time for. Over the Summer, I may do what I
my first thought was, “Oh god here we
difficult. I hadn’t really given it much
did with my first Process Journal and
go again.” At least this time I knew what
thought over the semester because I
take time to redesign it.
to expect and how to make one. I am
was either focused one working other
pretty sure though that this Process
projects or trying to get as much
seeing everyone else’s journals. During
Journal is exponentially harder than the
material for the journal as I could.
our quick crit, I could see that a lot of
last. The time crunch I know for a fact is
Designing this journal just accidentally
people were struggling as much as me,
not hitting just me, but everyone in the
slipped into the back of my mind. Right
but they also had some really good stuff
class. If it wasn’t for the time crunch and
now I am close to comfortable with
in the making, and I am excited to see it
other little side projects that have been
where this journal is in terms of design.
all finished and printed.
taking up some time, this would be a
The visual system doesn’t feel as fluid
little easier. I understand, however, that
or strong as I would have hoped it to
there will be plenty more time crunches
be. On top of that, there were just so
in the future and thankfully I can say
many things that I would have liked to
So far I am most looking forward to
Process Journal | 43 | Shayla Kerr
Reflection
chapter Processtitle Journal | page | 45 # | Shayla Kerr
Reflection
Process Journal | 47 | Shayla Kerr
CREATIVE SPRINT: Creating an Alphabet
Reflection This creative sprint was really fun for
Illustrator and perfecting its form using
me. Not a lot of people know this, but I
circles and lines, but I think I liked the
spent a lot of my childhood creating my
imperfections of the handwritten letter
own languages either for myself or to
better. Also, the Illustrator version I
have secret talks with my friends. This
made was generally garbage anyways.
assignment made me a little nostalgic. It was interesting to see what other people were creating and how we had to combine them. It made me want to start up the hobby of creating languages again. The letter that I had helped create looks almost like a dramatic cursive “z�. I enjoy the fluidity and curves of this letter. I tried taking this letter into Adobe
Design Sprint: Creating an Alphabet | 49 | Shayla Kerr
CREATIVE SPRINT: Creating a Zine
Reflection Making a zine wasn’t exactly something
for Typography. All of my images were
little story and felt a little more liberated
that was new to me. I like to make books
drastically misaligned on the pages and
that other work I had seen from my
and sometimes I also make zines. Going
were even backward. Creating a zine,
peers.
through the process of trying to figure
something that is small and compact is
Even though my zine turned out very
out how images and text will be placed
very hard.
poorly, I hope to find time ones of these
on a single sheet of paper which will
I did enjoy taking a moment to do
days to go back and try to fix it
then be cut and folded has always been
something creative that didn’t concern
the biggest struggle for me personally. I
any of our big projects. It was nice
can never quite get the math right and
not to have to worry about them for a
something is always a little bit off. It
second. I also enjoyed all the zines my
happened again while creating the zine
classmates made. They all had their own
and make it better.
Creative Sprint: Creating a Zine | 51 | Shayla Kerr
Photo by Leslie Friesen
Reflection
Creative Sprint: Creating a Zine | 53 | Shayla Kerr
chapter title | page # | Shayla Kerr
AIGA WEEK: Michael Bierut
Reflection Experiencing the presentation by
since it was my first AIGA Louisville
of the highlights of my night. She
Michael Bierut felt like the second
Design Week but hearing about Michael
does so much for us and the design
coming of Jesus, it was almost spiritual
Bierut’s life and experiences were very
community and I am just so happy that
to me. All around me were where these
fun and insightful. I want what he and
people recognize that. I am happy that
important and creative people and for
others are doing at Pentagram. I want
everyone else loves Leslie as much as
once I could physically see the sense
so badly to design things and work on
me and my peers do.
of community around me in the design
projects that change people’s lives and
world. For once it’s not just faces and
add something to the world that people
words on a screen, they’re all sitting in a
will see and recognize. I want my work
room with me.
to last and outlive me. At the end of the
Michael Bierut has kind of become
day, I just want to be doing something
one of those figure in my life that helped
that is making me happy, in hopes that
me really reinforce that I know what
one day I will eventually die happy.
I want to be doing for the rest of my
Seeing Leslie get the praise and
life. I didn’t really know what to expect
www.instagram.com/aigalou
credit she deserves was also one
www.instagram.com/aigalou
AIGA Week: Michael Bierut | 55 | Shayla Kerr
BRAD VETTER Reflection Getting a chance to go and see Brad
Growing up, all the creatives that I
Vetter’s studio and his process was wild.
admired and looked up to were lived
been cathartic for all this. It really has
I have found that printmaking has
It was a blessing and I am so thankful for
states away or in different countries.
helped with the stress of being busy all
the trip and feel like I have a newfound
It was an amazing experience to be in
the time and being addicted to work
appreciation for typography. It was
what I can only describe as the physical
and not having my time. I don’t know
never my strong suit but now I am not
embodiment of what it is like inside
what it is about it. I don’t have the same
so scared of it. This trip made me realize
his head. I always forget that Louisville
feeling about it as I do with design. With
two things: First, my love for combining
is this crazy town with a bigger art
design, I feel obsessed and excited. With
digital and traditional mediums was only
community than I thought. We have
printmaking, it almost feels like I am
further reinforced by seeing Brad do
all these low-key famous artists that
meditating. There is something about
it with letterpress.
only live five minutes up the road and
going through the motions of making
Secondly, that Louisville is a great
it’s great. All the artist I have always
additions to prints that just gives my
hive full of creatives. I always seem
admired have always been in faraway
brain a chance to shut off.
to forget this, but Louisville just has
places, so it’s exciting having some that
so many amazingly talented artists.
live less than a mile away.
Photos by Leslie Friesen
Brad Vetter | 57 | Shayla Kerr
Reflection
Photos by Leslie Friesen
Brad Vetter | 59 | Shayla Kerr
chapter title | page # | Shayla Kerr Photo by Leslie Friesen
Reflection
chapter title | page # | Shayla Kerr Photo by Leslie Friesen
PERSONAL WORK Reflection Since I have started actively
up with something we felt represented
participating as a Student Art League
us more correctly. We wanted to stray
member, and currently, Vice President,
from the traditional theme of being a
translatable if it was printed in black
I have made it my mission to do as
University of Louisville group.
and white, but because all the letters
much graphic design work for them as
Honestly, I am not exactly sure
be using the Gotham typeface. I wanted the logo to also be
are touching and have different colors,
possible. SAL had no logo or branding
how the current logo for SAL came to
I couldn’t just make the whole form
when I joined and I wanted to change
fruition, but I do know that it was an
black. As a result, I made the decision
that. If you are an organization and want
accident. Despite that, I had somehow
to turn the letters into lines. I love this
to be recognized, it would probably be
created a logo that fit all the themes
look because it looks like a stained glass
smart to at least have a logo. The first
we wanted to exude. Using a round
window and reminds me of work from
meeting we had I started working on
geometric and equidistant type I had
the Bauhaus period of design.
designs automatically.
made, I took “S” “A” “L” and made them
The first idea we decided upon was
into a monogram that would be one
a cardinal with a paint pallet in the
form. Then to help distinguish each
background. We decided it was good
letter by changing its layer setting to
as a placeholder until we could come
Screen. I kept the logo related to U of L
Now SAL has a logo for social media, to put on buttons and shirts, and more.
Personal Work | 63 | Shayla Kerr
Reflection
It wasn’t very necessary, but I thought it would be fun to create an entire typeface, or at least the alphabet, using only a circle and a square. Maybe one day I will turn it into some wood type for printing.
Personal Work | 64 | Shayla Kerr
Personal Work | 67 | Shayla Kerr
Personal Work| 69 | Shayla Kerr
Creating logos, I have been recognizing
I find a lot of joy in creating
this year, is something that I am very
logos, as I’ve already
passionate about. I love how sometimes
explained, but it really
some logos are just so smart in their
helps put my work into
design. Back during AIGA Week, when
perspective when I apply my
Michael Bierut was talking about when
designs to mockups and see
his dad said that Clark forklift logo was
how it would work
smart because the “L” looked like it was
in the real world.
lifting the “A”, he said it shocked and amazed him. That perfectly describes my whole experience with logos, and that is exactly why I want to create them so badly. I am practicing and learning as much as I can. Finding inspirations in almost everything, and even giving myself practice prompts. Some days, I even sit in the library and just stare at the logo mark books we have on the shelves. Never in my life have I wanted something for myself so badly, so I am trying my hardest to succeed and work hard. Something that has helped me create my work is by taking a step back and trying to recognize the step in my process. If I am able to take a step back and analyze my workflow, then hopefully I can work more efficiently, and find even better methods that will help me creatively. Right now I am proud of myself, even though I’m sure a lot of my logos are not the best, however; I am even more sure I’ll get better eventually.
Personal Work | 70 | Shayla Kerr
Reflection
PERSONAL GROWTH Reflection This year I hit a really big wall when it
days at a time. Even when I was younger
think I would ever do, which is model.
came to myself. Every day I just would
my anxiety was never this bad. I have
I was never one of those little girls
like looking at myself less and less, and
found my ways of dealing with it though
growing up who wanted to be a famous
started to feel really insecure, which hit
so I guess that’s good, but it still sucks
actress or model, so this sort of thing
me really bad because I haven’t felt like
that I feel this way and can’t control it.
was never really on my mind. I started
that about myself in a long long time. I
All these things have been weighing
mainly because I felt I needed some
have always been a heavier set girl but
on me for the past two years and I’ve
decent pictures of myself if I am going
the last two years have been the two
gotten to a point where I am just really
to advertising myself for freelance work.
heaviest years of my life.
tired of it all. To help with the anxiety,
After getting the photos and seeing
I have to try and trick myself mentally
how nice I looked, I started to feel a little
in a very long time is severe anxiety.
and it works sometimes. And then
better about myself. So now I just kinda
Some days, completely out of the blue, I
sometimes I just have to ride the wave
keep doing it. It doesn’t even matter
will be so overcome with anxiety for no
out and know it will be better in the
if people on Instagram will like my
reason that I can find, and have to fight
end. To help with my self-image I have
pictures, a lot of the times, the photos I
off an anxiety attack for maybe two
started doing something I didn’t really
take of myself are purely for me.
Something else I haven’t experienced
Personal Growth | 73 | Shayla Kerr
The most recent of my favorite photos are where I am in front of greenery. I love nature, and hope to one day do a shoot at Bernheim Forest.
Reflection
chapter title | page # | Shayla Kerr Photo by Arry Schofield
Another form of modeling that I have been doing, but not as often, is nude modeling. So far it has all been for painting or drawing so the results how of my figure are varied, but it is just as helpful and cathartic. I have enjoyed just being comfortable in my skin and not being able to hide anything and accepting that fact. Dong things like this have helped me regain a little bit of the confidence I had a few years ago.
Something funny that I have learned while modeling is that I, apparently, wear a lot of denim. Denim shorts, jackets, overalls, and even skirts! Guess I just look good in something denim.
Personal Growth | 77 | Shayla Kerr
Reflection
Nude painting of me done by Shai-ann Vera, Fall 2018.
chapter title | page # | Shayla Kerr
Header: Gotham Black 76/91, Sub Head: Gotham Medium 10/14, Body: Gotham Light 8/14, Captions: Gotham Light Italic 8/14, Citations: Gotham Light 6/12.
