• Based on skills aquired from class readings, movies and links you will draw a common everyday object using Adobe Illustrator's basic toolset. Your object may be a pepper, shoe, insect, hat, costume or whatever.

The best way to approach this project is to choose a simple object. Lots of detail will drive you crazy at this point in learning Illustrator. Grab a sheet of paper and pencil and do some basic sketches of the object from various viewpoints. You don't have to be an artist to do a rough sketch. We call these simple sketches thumbnails becuse they are usually smaller than the final artwork. It's a good habit to make a number of these small sketches.Visualize the shapes involved, even complicated objects are made-up of basic shapes. Create two views of the object; one from the top looking down and one from an eye-level view.

With your sketches in front of you, use the basic Illustrator tools to recreate the object. Illustrator objects are built-up with overlaping objects. I expect you to use the shape drawing tools and the pencil tool-that's all that's necessay to meet the requirements.

You must send me two sketched images (these are your thumbnails-scanned). Send these to me by 7 Sept in one file. I will provide feedback. The earlier you send the sketches the more time you'll have to work on the final version incorporating my comments.

Your final file will be based on the best viewpoint and my feedback. It must be e-mailed to me NLT 14 Sept. Send to me as an ai (native Illustrator file with the PDF option checked in the save dialoge window..this comes up when you save a file.

Your object may be colored or black and white. Consider the effect of light and shadow.

The skills involved with this project incorporate the use of:
Page layout, Pencil tool, shape tools, selection and direct selection, stoke and fill, simple layers and color palette. You will also learn about perspective, lighting effects and saving and sending Illustrator files! Have fun...

Project 2: Color Variations Project

Concept/Layout Review: Send scan of your interior scene NLT
Deadline/Critique:

This project will demonstrate your use of the pen tool and color blending skills. You will be importing a photographic image into Illustrator and placing it on a layer and lock that layer so that you can trace over the image to create an illustration. After drawing the image you will colorize it using color schemes you mix on the color palettes.

Getting started: Find an interesting interior scene from a magazine. Architecture, interior design, Sunset and many other magazines have these types of scenes. Scan the page and import the image into Illustrator. I suggest you use an image that's about full page size. You can either copy and paste this into Illustrator or use the File>Place command. Once the image is on your page, go to the layer dropdown menu and select template. This will lock the layer and dim it so you can trace over it. Create new layers on top of the template layer to build-up your image. Draw the interior with enough detail to demonstrate your skill with the tools. Consider perspective, light and cast shadows as you develop your drawing. Once the drawing is complete you will make three versions of the drawing and color each differently using your choice of three of the following color schemes.

Note: The biggest problem you'll run into with this project is making shapes that aren't closed. If you don't complete a shape that you draw with the pen tool it is an open object...as such, it can be filled with color but the fill will be based on
an invisible straignt line drawn between the start and end points. This isn't all bad but can be very frustrating if you edit points after filling with color.

Analagous
Complimentary
Monocromatic
Triadic

Color Theory

Project #3 Logo

Corporate Identity

Select one of the following companies for your logo redesign. Review the web sites and the requirments provided by each company....pick the one you are most interested in working with.

SF Scooter - San Fransisco retail store that specializes in powered scooters and accessories. They want to attract a younger, "skateboarder" segment of the market. An "edgy" contemporary style is desired. Golden gate bridge is out simple and striking is in.(Note: last semester's companies are shown below so you can see the concept for this project new companies will be added for Spring Semester)

http://www.sfscooter.com/

Blooming Bulb-Our company currently sells wholesale and retail gardening supplies on the web. The current "flower stake" logo has been in use for several years but now we're under new managements and want to strictly focus on our strength, imported bulbs. Picture on the logo has to go...We are expanding into the shopping mall kiosk segment of the retail market and must have a simple but striking logo that is easy to identify and will attract the 35+ customer.

http://www.bloomingbulb.com/

Windance-We are a windsurfing board, accessory and training store in Hood River Or. Our logo is really in need of help! It needs color and a clear identity that clearly "reads" sailboard to a young, athletic, professional audience. A graphic that incorporates the concept of wind, sailboard with the rhythm of "dance" would be ideal. Our name must be incorporated in the logo too.

http://www.windance.com

Requirements:

• The new logo must use both text and image (a single colored shape, such as a background for text, does not constitute an image..needs to be more complexed)

• Final logo must be rendered totally in Illustrator (no bitmap images/pictures)
• The new logo must reflect the nature of the business and the logo requirements provided by the company. View the company website and come up with your persoanl interpretation of their new visual identity.
• The logo must be scalable...that means it can be used on anything from a business card to a billboard, fine detail that would breakdown if printed very small must be avoided.
• Final artwork should be no larger than 5 in (high) x 8 in(wide)
• It must be finalized in color and sent as an ai file.

Due Dates:
TBA-Scan and send me 6 thumbnails (one page only) of logo concepts. These are simple/small pencil sketches that communicate the range of ideas you are considering. You will receive feedback and my opinion on which 2 or 3 designs have the most potential.

TAB-Send me your two best versions of the new logo rendered in Illustrator-This does not have to be best/final detail. They should reflect comments from first submission. You will, again, receive feedback.

TBA-Final Illustrator artwork of your one best design.

This is a typical design project you would be assigned in a graphic design studio...except that you would not get to choose your client! The only difference is that the deadlines would be much tighter. Have fun! I'm looking forward to some very creative work.

Project #4 Product Label Design

Package Redesign

1) Find a product that needs help (please don't just grab a tuna can becasue it's handy!) Scan or make a digital photograph of the current label and sketch at least two new design concepts for the redesign. You must also write a thoughtful paragraph describing why you are making the changes. You should consider shelf appeal (is it eyecatching for shoppers?), does the label "fit" and attract the target audience? Is it readable? Would you buy the product based on the label? You will need to e-mail the scan/photo of original label and your sketches. (this should be a jpeg file).The paragraph supporting your new design must be included in the text of the e-mail. I will return feedback on your designs for incorporation into your final Illustrator rendering.

Here's a sample of the attachment I expect you to send:

2) Based on your creative genius, Illustrator skills and my feedback you will render your final label design in Illustrator. The label must include all the stuff you'd find on a label. Ingredients, company name, attractive graphics, even the bar code (I'll demo how to make this). You'll send me this Illustrator file by the final project due date. Make sure fonts will be viewable by me...that means you will have to save as embedded or create outlines.

Note: You can use any product except books or CDs. Try to keep the size of the label to a standard page size...if fact, you would save yourself problems if you are able to fit both front and back on one page, but that's not mandatory.

PROJECT DUE DATES: as listed above

Final project due Date TBA

Final Project #5 (CD Cover)

Concept/Layout Review: TBA
Due: TBA

You will design a CD cover for a musical group or software title. CD covers are compact pieces of art....take a trip to your local music store and see what's on the shelf. What catches your eye and has shelf appeal? Try to incorporate some of these concepts into your work.

General
Your artwork must be the correct dimensions to fit in a CD case including the spine!

Front Cover
You can place photographs into Illustrator or create the artwork entirely with Illustrator artwork. All text and titles must be done in Illustrator. If you use photographs make sure they have a resolution greater than 72 dpi and are not pixilated. Images you copy of the internet are low resolution and probably won't reproduce well.

Back Cover
The CD must include a list of song tiltles or a description of the sofware title. Remember, you're trying to sell the product. Check out commercial CDs and see how they are marketed. Photos are optional, again all text must be done in Illustrator. Spine must also be incorporated into your design.

Make your artboard large enough to accomodate both front, back and spine. Suggest you take out one of your CD front/backs and measure for accuracy.