Portfolio| January 2019
a voi A VOI is the Kent State University Florence campus’s College of Communication and Information (CCI) magazine. As the third issue, the magazine gives tips, tricks, and experiences from the staff’s study abroad experiences. The magazine acts as a tool of advice for future students and showcases the photography, writing, and design of the current staff. As the smallest CCI group, the magazine posed an exciting challenge for students.
I worked as Art Director and Editor of the magazine, organizing, editing, and designing the work of my peers. The magazine was a collaborative effort with Erin Simonek, Kalib Kiser, and Melanie Talbott. KSU CCI Florence director, Fabio Corsini, was our guide throughout the creation.
margot Margot is a high contrast typeface that is intended for display type in editorial design. The curved forms and sturdy stems allude to the strength and power of women. Margot is meant to be powerful, stable, modern, quirky, and edgy.
The type specimen is designed to show the bold, positive aspects of women through Margot. All of the various poems at the end are written by female writers in order to showcase this creativity. Although the design of the book may seem “too feminine,� it is meant to show that women exist on their own terms. Women are allowed to be bold and sharp, flowery and girly, etc.
gubbins Developed a logotype based on an online knick-knack shop. This project emphasizes the difference between ‘a collection of lovely letters’ vs. ‘a lovely collection of letters,’ a central concept in typeface design. Used Glyphs software and gained an understanding of letterforms and their shapes.
The logotype is inspired by how various items interact within each other. Gubbins’ ligatures, flared terminals and ears, and rounded nature reference the oddity and quirky nature of miscellaneous items. This project was a Semifinalist in the 2018 Adobe Design Achievement Awards.
the doughnut project After much speculation, I found that while The Doughnut Project had insane doughnuts and a crazy shop, their existing branding didn’t fully express the creativity put forth by their product. So, for my final project in my branding class I decided to create new branding guidelines for them. I began by creating a logotype where each letter is made mainly from circles, the basic shape of a doughnut. I also used bright, bold colors against a dark gray background to challenge
the typical pastel colors put forth by other sweet shops. Building a cohesive social media platform was important as well, but I believed this shop could benefit from expanding into a food truck. This would allow the target market to grow while remaining a NYC staple. Full brand guidelines can be found at https://issuu.com/sydneygeller/docs/ the_doughnut_project_brand_guidelin
mulino organico Mulino Oragnico’s pasta product is This project was a Semifinalist in the aimed towards upper-middle class 2018 Adobe Design Achievement people and college students with an Awards. interest in natural cooking. It is found in in stores such as Williams Sonoma and Dean & DeLuca. The utilization of playful patterns and bright, contrasting colors allows the product to stand out from competitors on the shelfs and offers a unique, interesting experience.
literature redesign Redesign of 3 classic books: Fahrenheit 451, Frankenstein, and The Tell Tale Heart. All three works of literature featured a theme of secrecy somewhere throughout the story. Therefore, the promotional poster and social media post designs are all focused around this common theme. Kinetic typography trailer for The Tell Tale Heart also included, which builds tension in order to portray the fear of the narrator in the story.
Trailer can be found at https://vimeo. com/239041843
Penguin Books London, England
ecotopia Movie design for hypothetical movie, Ecotopia. Includes character design, setting design, and promotional poster. The movie discusses a scientist who lives in isolation. One day, he makes a mistake, causing his lab and home to result in chaos.
sickly greenish skin
before accident: -lives in house in mountains, isolated from society for fear of harming family -years of isolation left him friendless and alone, but he still tries to fit in -found plant while in lab at work; took it back to try to reproduce it by combining chemicals
stylish glasses (because he’s trying to fit in with society’s fashion norms) beaker of chemicals
after accident: -new form caused by explosion of combining chemicals with plant -worried that no one will accept his physical change
single, striped eyebrow
hair sticks straight up one eye
lanky arms purple skin shorter and chubbier
chubby belly (proves wealth with abundance of food)
test tube in pocket (just in case)
special scientific powers
clothes ripped from accident
typographic dissent Inspired by Betty Tompkins, 1000 Ways to Describe a Woman, this poster is intended to show how women are often overlooked. The four large words (mother, slut, bitch, cunt) were the four most popular words that Tompkins received back when asked for words that describe women. The small text within the large words, “the only thing that would make her more beautiful is my dick in her mouth,” was the most shocking response.
The poster was displayed in Kent State University’s Fall 2017 VCD Juried Student Show.
march 8 march 8 I am considering doing another series of pieces using images of women comprised of words. I would appreciate your help in developing the vocabulary.
Please . send me a list of words that describe women. They can be affectionate (honey), pejorative (bitch), slang, descriptive, etc. The words don’t have to be in English but I need as accurate a translation as possible. Many, many thanks.
I am considering doing another series of pieces using images of women comprised of words. I would appreciate your help in developing the vocabulary.
Please . send me a list of words that describe women. They can be affectionate (honey), pejorative (bitch), slang, descriptive, etc. The words don’t have to be in English but I need as accurate a translation as possible. Many, many thanks.
When Betty Tompkins asked for words that describe women, these were the four most popular. When Betty Tompkins asked for words that describe women, these were the four most popular. Visit http://flagartfoundation.org/ exhibitions/women-words-phrasesand-stories/ for more information.
Visit http://flagartfoundation.org/ exhibitions/women-words-phrasesand-stories/ for more information.
spill the beans This site showcases the process and history of coffee. Through playful color and typography, the site allows an interactive experience through the world of coffee.
Full site can be found at https:// sgeller2.wixsite.com/spillthebeans