PCC: CD Packaging Comps

Created a new CD package for the Gym Class Heroes CD Papercut Chronicles. This is the second comp that I created. I intend to make one more comp at the very least and eventually turn it into a dual CD package for their recently released CD, The Papercut Chronicles 2 (Out now at stores and on iTunes! Go get it!)

This project was very different in the way that I designed it because the majority of the package was designed without a computer. I used spray paint and created my own stencils. The only time I used the computer was to print the track listing and the photography (which also happen to be my own photography) on top of the spray paint.

Using something other than the computer as a means of design was definitely fun and changed the aesthetics of how my design turned out. It's something I've been kind of experimenting with this semester on a few projects. Makes me kind of wish I had been experimenting like this before. Now, the trick will be to create a happy medium between design off and on the computer.

Using spray paint for the first time was a bit of a challenge as well. It was a weird sense of being able to control the substance but at the same time, I couldn't control it as well. Each comp I created turned out differently than the next. I didn't realize what a control freak I was... but then again, what graphic designer isn't?

Arroyo December 2011 Ad

Just found out recently that one of the magazines that my work advertises in also has an online version of the magazine! I don't remember if I was able to screen capture the ad from last month but here's the ad that ran in this month's issue! I'm planning to grab the magazines from work and photograph them either sometime this week or next week.

The ad I designed is the one on the left page.

Roomination: Enter a Graphically Designed Experience

Entered some of my work to a gallery exhibit at my school. The show is called Roomination: Enter a Graphically Designed Experience. It is being curated by a few classmates from the Graphic Design Club in school and the show will be opening on Saturday, November 12th. Check out the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=228473927212456

Very excited to have my pieces be exhibited!

This also means that I have no excuse but to update the website in the coming weeks now that I've gathered some digital files.

But, its been a stressful and busy couple weeks and, unfortunately, the following weeks will be just as bad. =/

PIVOT!

Heading to Phoenix tonight! I'm volunteering at the AIGA's Pivot Design Conference this week! So excited and nervous!

The Princess Bride

Created a new book cover for "The Princess Bride." And from the book cover, created a promotional package including: table tent standee, three bookmarks, three buttons, and a coffee sleeve.

The idea behind my book was to capture the more mysterious side of the book. I decided to use the six-fingered man as my inspiration for this as Inigo Montoya spends the whole book trying to look for this man who he can only remember as having six fingers.

More Magazine Ads!

Just designed two more magazine ads which will be featured in three magazines.

THE Magazine
Luxe Magazine
Arroyo Magazine

So excited! =)

Kinetic Type

Here's a video of the latest project from my entertainment graphics class. I think it turned out pretty great for being my first time. I know it could still use a lot of work though.

The objective was to animate a quote from a movie and have the animation coincide with the tone of the speaker as well as the style of the movie. Of course, I make things difficult and pick Suckerpunch.

My main focus was to capture the style of the movie which I (and my professor agrees) that I did with my font and color choices. The animating of the words was the next focus which for the most part, I'm happy with. I didn't realize how much I forgot about Flash!

Things I could fix: animate the building up of the grunge textures on the font. Shifting camera angles so that not all the text is always showing up. And possibly a change in color/background, etc.

Without further ado...

My Ad in a Magazine!

I'm so excited to tell you that an ad I designed is in an actual magazine!! =) I'm now a published designer!! =)

Just had my dad buy the magazine for me yesterday (he works in the area the magazine is distributed) and will post a photo soon!

Expired Flickr

So, my Flickr expired a month ago. =(

That means that some of the albums are not viewable.. especially the older ones. I haven't decided if I want to pay for the service again. It was nice while it lasted though. I just don't know if I want to pay for that since I just paid for a domain (and thank God, my cousin has a server and I get to use it!)

New York City!

Ok, well, I'm like six months behind on editing and posting photos but yesterday I did go through the photos from when we went to New York City in December. It was fun. One day is definitely not enough time though. We went to see the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island and then to Times Square and that was pretty much all we could do in one day.

Flash Websites

Awesome! Done with the semester! These two flash layouts were the last two projects I had to complete. I plan to upload the actual websites because its pretty cool with the animations =)

The first is a portfolio website I had to make for myself which I will eventually use as my website. The second is for a think tank organization.

Sgt. Schlepper Who Needs Hearts Band Tour and After Party

Spring Break!! It'ss almost over... =( But Wednesday, I went and had little adventures in LA. Danielle and I went to the El Rey Theater and saw Bad Rabbits, XV, Black Cards, Donnis, and Travis McCoy perform. Followed by Tim William's after party performance at Hemingway's. Had to borrow my brother's point and shoot camera. =/ It felt weird not being able to control anything on the camera. But nonetheless, his camera is pretty awesome and I got some nice shots anyway. Without further ado, here are a few shots. More available on my Flickr.

Elvis Week Magazine Ad

Designed an ad for VH1's Elvis Week. It's meant to go into a Rolling Stone magazine. I had a hard time picking between the two variations below. I love the image on the left. It's so dynamic and Elvis. But, the right side works better typographically as well as having a better composition.

Some parameters included: 3 color print, incorporate the VH1 logo, reminescent of 1950s Elvis

DC Photos Finally Uploaded

Yeah, yeah... I know I'm super late. But I just finished editing photos from Washington, D.C. part of my December vacation to the east coast. I still have New York and snow photos to go through.

We went once to DC during the night for a night shoot (VERY cold!) and I realized that I really like doing long exposure night shots. They are sometimes hard to figure out what exposure/aperture to shoot at but I love how they look. I need to find time during spring break to do a little shooting.

CSUF Visual Arts Poster

Pretty self-explanatory. Objective was to make a poster for the Visual Arts Department at CSUF.

I was taking the idea and style of... I guess it's Russian Revolutionist era? Basically, inspired by those political posters using similar style and applying that sentiment in a more contemporary setting. The text is such a big thing to handle. I'm still not satisfied with it.

I have two weeks to improve the poster and resubmit the project so, there will be changes and actually, the version I brought into class is already slightly different.

Final Kit Hinrichs Poster

Here's the final version of the Kit Hinrichs poster. The peoples are picking the winning poster this weekend. Anxious to see who's going to get picked!

Kit Hinrichs Posters

First comps of a poster I'm designing. Kit Hinrichs is guest speaking at my school next month. Already made some changes to it during class today. Final one due next week so I'll be posting that when I'm done.

Basically, from my research, one of the things Kit Hinrichs is known for (besides being an awesome designer) is his signature beard. I also read that he is a fan of paper and paper making. He used to design annual reports for a paper company. So, my thought was to recreate his beard out of paper. But my professor also pointed out that there's a connection with the paper idea to how the even is about story telling.

I'm actually kind of excited to see how this is coming along. I hope that my poster gets picked for the event. That would be so awesome. And I'm excited to go to this event. =)

Spring 2011 Semester

ART 483F - Design/Interactive Art - Mondays/Wednesdays 9:00am-11:45am
ART 483A - Special Studies, Graphic Design - Mondays 1:00pm-6:45pm
HIST 180 - Survey of American History- Tuesdays 7:00-9:45pm
ART 495 - Internship in Art- Thursdays 1:00-6:45pm

Last full semester! After this semester, I'll have one class left plus some writing test and I'm done. Wow.

Excited for what this semester is going to bring. A bit nervous since this is like the end of the line! Scared and hopeful for what comes next.

Wedding Portraits

After finishing final projects last semester, I was working on portraits of the wedding party for my cousin's wedding. They came out pretty well I think. Especially since I hadn't drawn in a while. Something I intend to get back into.



Photo courtesy of Justin Sun.

Straight A's!!!

Finally, after nine semesters at Cal State Fullerton, I've finally reached my goal of getting straight A's! YAY! You don't know how happy that makes me. I know, once I get out there, it's not going to matter that I got straight A's.. it's all going to count on my portfolio but I'm so happy because I put so much effort into this semester and it shows in my grades. =) I mean, it's not a 4.0 since I have two A-'s but I am still extremely happy! =D

Here's to another great semester in 2011.

Society of Illustrators Competition

Link: Society of Illustrators, Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles

Well, I may have missed the Society of Illustrators LA competition but not the one in NY! =) Actually, for that one, my school has to submit it as a group. My professor wants to submit the mosaic I made (it's a gift for someone so I'll post it after I send it to them). I'm so excited to enter it in! I need to think of a name for it though. I might just leave it as the person's first name... although, that seems a little drab to me.