Designs
Designs
Life & Alternative Story Form Section Editor 2022-2023
​COVER
We went through a lot of ideas before settling on our final design, so I was happy of the finished product and decided to include the cover of the senior issue. We ended up taking the images on lock night as we didn't receive the responses we required until a few days prior due to the senior issue's craziness. The combination of illustration/editing and photography is one of its strengths. Covers featuring multiple elements, as opposed to just a picture or illustration, are my favorites. The random American flags in the background is a weakness. I discovered that problems like that would have been prevented if preparation had been done beforehand.
PROFILES
I chose to include this design of the profiles page, despite its simplicity, due to how new it is to our paper. There are many ways you can take a “profiles page,” but when you’re given only one photo there are only so many ways you can design it. For more depth, we decided to make cutouts - as one of our main issues happened to be too many words. Additionally, we added a QR code at the bottom of the page for student submissions as an interactive element. Overall I learned how to make a page less boxy, or repetitive, despite being given little to work with. It set the standard for our future issues in terms of design on page 16, which we plan to continue to utilize in the future.
Additionally I decided to include the cover art Katie Madigan and I made for Issue 2. This was a photograph, with photoshop, alongside an infographic. It is a very detailed cover with many elements & information, which I think is essential when it comes to pulling along readers. Despite its detail, I think in the future we can make it more minimalist in a way - it could be too much to some. However, it allowed me to express my creativity with my partner, mashing our ideas together. It is always a great feeling to see an idea like this come into fruition. This was definitely a leap of faith in terms of design and I learned how to express that.
I've included this alternative story form design as it was the first page that I composed by myself. Despite being my first, I think it was one of my most intriguing. Without the flawless photographs taken by Christina Shea and Lilly Kline, I don't think this piece could have done such an effective job of allowing me to organize the precise details of the dresses and the process behind them. I also appreciate the minor details, like the pieces of tape and the stitches dividing the two interviews on the center of the page, essentially corresponding to the story's main theme. Alongside the strengths, there are additional aspects of the page I could improve. I feel I could've gone outside my comfort zone with this page. Each individual section mirrors a corresponding one, giving it a blocky appearance; I feel that I could have explored more unique ways to construct each individual image. This piece ultimately taught me that I can explore any idea and see where it leads. I discovered that even if I'm hesitant, I shouldn't be afraid to put my ideas out there because they may turn out better than I had anticipated, just like the stitching design did, which I will take into consideration for the future.
Although I anticipate every alternative story form to be different from the previous one, this one was definitely new to me design-wise which is why I picked this as a design for my portfolio. Initially, I had no idea what I was going to do because I had predicted a group photo. Though, I believe receiving a photo of each character individually was the best outcome possible. I love the way I organized each character orderly with their unique poses and emotions. Additionally, the coloring choice was a definite strength. Pulling the colors from each costume made the page pop. On the other hand, I believe I could have covered more white space as it appears somewhat prominent as a weakness. It was recognizable which resulted in the use of the drop-shadow to create more definition. Though it looks clean and slick, I believe it is something to be aware of in the future. I learned from this piece that you can expect the unexpected and have fun with whatever you receive from the writers of the story.
This page was one of the most fun to make due to its organized, simple, and slick style which is why I chose this piece. Since you can't always predict how the design will turn out with the material you receive, it can be challenging to come up with an alternative story form that adheres to the theme of our paper. However, I was given simple mugs which led me to experiment more with the style of our overall paper. I was able to navigate the page's clear organization and transparent boxes while also spotting playful details like the curved text and vibrant colors. In the future, I plan to take on each page with the same mindset I did this one. I planned how I wanted the page to come out, rather than waiting until I got every last piece of material to begin in order to "perfect it." The inconsistency of the box sizes was one drawback of this design. To make the page appear more organized, I wish I had made the transparent boxes have corresponding sizes. This taught me to focus more on the essential components of what I have rather than overanalyzing its overall design.
Cover
I chose to include the cover I designed in my portfolio primarily because of the intricate process behind its creation. It required multiple drafts, planning, and close coordination with my partner Katie Madigan. The final product emerged as a captivating blend of hand-drawn illustrations and curated (drafts of) photographs. Its strengths lie in the creativity depicted within the image, particularly in the representation of money flying out of the instrumental program. However, a weakness I acknowledge is the background, which could have been more visually appealing and less dull. Looking ahead, I aspire to incorporate more photograph-illustrations in my work and the paper, as they offer an enhanced route of creativity and provide a completely unique visual experience.
ALTERNATIVE STORY FORM: How Norsemen celebrate Mother's Day
I chose to include the page I designed in my portfolio primarily because of the extensive process involved in its creation. It required numerous revisions, rearranging elements, and making fresh ideas. The standout strength of this design is undoubtedly the unique cut-out element. The collaboration with another section editor, Bella Yoakam, elevated the page's impact, making it ten times more captivating and interactive. However, a weakness I acknowledge is the background's white color, which I feel is dull. Through this project, I learned to step outside of my comfort zone and explore new routes when it comes to design and images. Moving forward, my goal is to incorporate more interactive elements into my designs, pushing the boundaries of traditional paper layouts.
ALTERNATIVE STORY FORM: Norsemen celebrate National Reading Month
I chose to include the page I designed in my portfolio despite the challenges I faced during its creation. Being out of town without a production night, I had to rely on my independent brainstorming skills and hope that my ideas would align with the paper's vision. Fortunately, the page turned out well, thanks to the thoughtful selection of colors and coordinated patterns which I take pride in. However, I do wish it could have been more unique, as each segment ended up following a familiar formula. This experience taught me the importance of putting forward your ideas, even if you're unsure of the response, as I took a leap of faith with this design. Looking ahead, I aim to encourage a more innovative approach to the ASF page, minimizing repetitive elements (as I mentioned as a weakness), fostering greater creativity.