Final - Project 3

Final - Project 2

so far...

The images aren't being shown at their best quality because I had to use PNGs to upload them.

The first image is the envelope, second is the letterhead, third and fourth are the back and front of the business cards and the fifth is the color palette.

The business cards are going to be made of plastic with the "KATHRYN ERMAK" punched/diecut out. The colors are going to be bright and vivid as well as shiny. The logo, envelope and letterhead are all going to have that shiny effect also.

Project 2 update

Recently I discovered a design firm in New York City called TODA who made a pro bono project that I created for my project 1 case study. I really like the "feel" of their website (http://www.toda.com/index.php) and after speaking with the creative director of visual communication, Marcos Chavez, I got the feeling that the firm is pretty laid back.

I really enjoy that they are a multidisciplinary firm and from the look of their website, they take on projects that they know will be more fun/interesting than the typical "business design".

Honestly, I can't pinpoint what exactly it is I want to do or where I want to work at this point in my life. BUT I DO KNOW I want to work in an environment is laid back but one where I'm constantly learning new things and able to contribute to different projects in different ways (I certainly don't want to make web mockups my whole life...).

I need something FUN, EXCITING and INTRIGUING!!!!

Assignment #1 - Final (ON MY OWN BLOG!)

TODA design firm in New York City is a multidisciplinary design firm that strives to “strip down everything to its essence” (toda.com). They take a hands-on, group approach to solving problems and enjoy creating new opportunities.

The design firm recently collaborated with the non-profit AIGA, a professional association for designers, to create a pro bono project. AIGA demonstrates the value of design and empowers the success of designers at each stage of their careers.

Together, the design firm and non-profit created an exhibit at AIGA’s national gallery called, “Design Journeys: You Are Here”. The goal in this exhibit was to bring awareness of the need to increase diversity within the graphic design profession.

To do this, AIGA sought to create awareness of outstanding designers from culturally and racially diverse backgrounds by creating a show of the work of diverse designers.

Marcos Chavez, the creative director of visual communication at TODA design firm, explained that “ the “Design Journeys” project seeks to achieve both - by not only celebrating the lives and achievements of 25 selected practitioners, but also encouraging aspiring designers from all backgrounds to consider design as a viable and rewarding career”. The resulting show was an interactive exhibition open to the public that was on display at the AIGA National Design Center from May 20 through August 6, 2010.

TODA used step two - envisioning the desired state, step nine - choosing the best solution then activating it and step eleven - selling the solution, in the process of creating the “Design Journeys: You Are Here” exhibit. The design firm specifically worked on creating an overall concept, designing all aspects of the exhibit’s visual identity and promotional material.

The first phase of the project (step two), consisted of focusing on finding a way to create an exhibit that both showcased the work of 25 designers, while also creating a secondary level of experience that involved asking participants to examine their own point of view and experience on the topic of diversity.

The second phase (step nine), was to work on creating design installations for a number of exhibit pieces while working within a limited budget. Designs then needed to be translated to finished pieces which required working with a number of vendor specialists in order to bring the designs to like and allow them to work at a large scale.

Step eleven was then implemented when the exhibit opened on May 20, 2010. This specific exhibit platform “allowed TODA to create an exhibit that broke out of the typical format of showcasing design work and instead supplemented the traditional exhibit format with a series of interactive installations” (Marcos Chavez).

The installations were all “based on ‘big questions’ that allowed viewers to think about diversity in their own life and career. The questions; “Where are you from?”, “Why are you here?”, and “Where are you going?” were connected to interactive installations that allowed the viewers to contribute to the exhibit” (Marcos Chavez). This interactive platform actually helped TODA and AIGA sell their unique solution.

Marcos Chavez explained that everyone involved in the creation of the “You are Here” pro bono project felt that it was a fun and unique experience that brought a positive awareness to diversity as well as the design profession. And to be able to bring the two together in a successful exhibit was more rewarding than ever.

Rough #2

TODA design firm in New York City is a multidisciplinary design firm that strives to “strip down everything to its essence” (toda.com). They take a hands-on, group approach to solving problems and enjoy creating new opportunities.

The design firm recently collaborated with the non-profit AIGA, a professional association for designers, to create a pro bono project. AIGA demonstrates the value of design and empowers the success of designers at each stage of their careers.

Together, the design firm and non-profit created an exhibit at AIGA’s national gallery called, “Design Journeys: You Are Here”. The goal in this exhibit was to bring awareness of the need to increase diversity within the graphic design profession.

To do this, AIGA sought to create awareness of outstanding designers from culturally and racially diverse backgrounds by creating a show of the work of diverse designers.

Marcos Chavez, the creative director of visual communication at TODA design firm, explained that “ the “Design Journeys” project seeks to achieve both - by not only celebrating the lives and achievements of 25 selected practitioners, but also encouraging aspiring designers from all backgrounds to consider design as a viable and rewarding career”. The resulting show was an interactive exhibition open to the public that was on display at the AIGA National Design Center from May 20 through August 6, 2010.

TODA used step two - envisioning the desired state, step nine - choosing the best solution then activating it and step eleven - selling the solution, in the process of creating the “Design Journeys: You Are Here” exhibit. The design firm specifically worked on creating an overall concept, designing all aspects of the exhibit’s visual identity and promotional material.

The first phase of the project (step two), consisted of focusing on finding a way to create an exhibit that both showcased the work of 25 designers, while also creating a secondary level of experience that involved asking participants to examine their own point of view and experience on the topic of diversity.

The second phase (step nine), was to work on creating design installations for a number of exhibit pieces while working within a limited budget. Designs then needed to be translated to finished pieces which required working with a number of vendor specialists in order to bring the designs to like and allow them to work at a large scale.

Step eleven was then implemented when the exhibit opened on May 20, 2010. This specific exhibit platform “allowed TODA to create an exhibit that broke out of the typical format of showcasing design work and instead supplemented the traditional exhibit format with a series of interactive installations” (Marcos Chavez).

The installations were all “based on ‘big questions’ that allowed viewers to think about diversity in their own life and career. The questions; “Where are you from?”, “Why are you here?”, and “Where are you going?” were connected to interactive installations that allowed the viewers to contribute to the exhibit” (Marcos Chavez). This interactive platform actually helped TODA and AIGA sell their unique solution.

Marcos Chavez explained that everyone involved in the creation of the “You are Here” pro bono project felt that it was a fun and unique experience that brought a positive awareness to diversity as well as the design profession. And to be able to bring the two together in a successful exhibit was more rewarding than ever.

Assignment #1 - Rough

Who?

TODA Design Firm (located in New York, New York)

What non-profit?

TODA recently worked with AIGA to create an exhibit at their national gallery called"Design Journeys: You Are Here".

Their goal?

Their goal in creating this exhibit was to "bring awareness of the need to increase diversity within the graphic design profession".

AIGA was "seeking the opportunity to create an awareness of outstanding designers from culturally and racially diverse backgrounds by creating a show of the work of the designers".

The "Design Journeys" project "seeks to achieve both by not only celebrating the lives and achievements of 25 selected practitioners, but by also encouraging aspiring designers from all backgrounds to consider design as a viable and rewarding career".

The collaboration between TODA and AIGA resulted in an "interactive exhibition open to the public at the AIGA National Design Center on May 20 through August 6, 2010".

How did TODA go about creating this project?

TODA contributed to a number of things for this project. They worked on the design and production, creating the overall concept for the exhibit as well as designing all aspects of the exhibit space and visual identity and promotional materials.

The design firm also worked with other design firms such as Alfalfa Seeds and Cubanica, along with working with a number of designers in-house which included staff, interns and volunteers.

The first focus of the project was to "find a way to create an exhibit that both showcased the work of 25 designers, while also creating a secondary level of experience that involved asking participants to examine their own point of view and experience on the topic of diversity. With the concepts worked out, TODA worked on creating design installations for a number of exhibit pieces working within a limited budget. Designs then needed to be translated to finished pieces which required working with a number of vendor specialists in order to bring the designs to life and allow them to work at a large scale".

What was TODA's motivation to work with AIGA?

A part of "TODA's mission is create ideas that inspire and make a difference in our lives. Working on non profit efforts is a big opportunity to make differences, and TODA believes in giving back to the community by balancing it's project base to include pro-bono work".

"TODA is also interested in growing it's network and capabilities, and working on pro-bono projects gives us an chance to meet new people and do interesting and diverse work. Lastly pro-bono work can be an opportunity to promote the company and can result in building new business opportunities".

What was the concept behind the project?

For the AIGA Design Journey's Exhibit, "TODA came up with the concept "You Are Here" in order to tie in the idea of honoring the accomplishments of a select group of diverse designers, while also challenging visitors to explore their own point of view on diversity. This platform allowed TODA to create an exhibit that broke out of the typical format of showcasing design work and instead supplemented the traditional exhibit format with a series of interactive installations. These installations where all based on 'big questions' that allowed viewers to think about diversity in their own life and career".

"The questions; "Where are you from?", "Why are you here?" and "Where are you going?" were connected to interactive installations that allowed the viewers to contribute to the exhibit. Installations included an oversized multiple choice magnetic arrow, a "map yourself" world map made of hanging strings and an interactive mural.

What effect did you want it to have on the public?

TODA wanted to be able to "take the issue of Diversity and turn it into a pro-active positive experience that was a "fair like" atmosphere of fun and fellowship. These goals were fully realized as the opening event was a vibrant and exciting event with visitors viewing and interacting with all the installations at the exhibit".