self portrait - watercolor pencils

The book cover I created for “Enchanted River” was a very challenging project for me. It really opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of PhotoShop, and I was more than a little intimidated by the drawing process using the application. That said, I was very proud of the outcome – I worked hard to make something beautiful that would convey the theme of the book in question while also maintaining awareness of the desire to be attractive to the largest number of people possible.

We were assigned to create a portrait of a celebrity using typography. I was able to achieve this using Hedy Lamarr as my subject. The words that make up the portrait are all words used to describe this iconic woman, as well as many of her movie titles. I strategized over finding the proper use for this portrait, as it doesn’t stand alone as a graphic design piece. I settled on film festival poster, mostly due to the fact that her movie titles are included in the image.

This was an assignment to create an abstraction of an existing image and is based a close-up of a California poppy photograph that I found on the internet. Images like this could be used for product labeling, promotional posters, etc. I used various techniques to achieve the blending and crispness between elements.

The magazine layout I created for the “Are the Planets Inhabited?” article successfully addresses the goals of the project because it is a functional layout that would appear professional and well balanced in any magazine. The circular callout mimics the shape of the planets in the main image, and the colors use are also highlighting colors used in the image of the planets to create a sense of balance and harmony. The fonts used were specifically chosen to bring life to the words in terms of the subject matter, i.e. space and the future. The only exception is the word “Inhabited” which I wanted to appear more organic since it symbolizes the possibility of life on other planets.

Here are some samples of seasonal freelance work I did for Nike US Sports Camps. I was working with specific layouts, fonts, color palettes, and images. More samples are available upon request.

At the heart of the Upper Crust Bakery’s business model is an elegant and timeless ideology. My logo uses clean, classic shapes, vibrant colors, and a graceful font to convey this message. I felt that the font needed to be upright, extravagant, and easy to read all at once. I think the fonts I have selected (Grenadier, Covent Garden, Tw Cent MT) meet this criterion. The colors orange and yellow are commonly used with bakery logos. The black adds elegance and a nice contrast to the orange and yellow.

These are some of the promotional materials I've done for the California Teachers Association Region I Conference. This is an annual conference, and each year has a theme. For the past several years, I have been tasked with creating the program covers and other items (website and email banners, icons, etc.)

After studying the design brief, what really resonated with me was the concept of “ingredients first” as well as the emphasis on a fun, family atmosphere with food that focuses on traditional Italian dishes “with a twist.” The menu explores the history of the proprietors of Pasta Amore, providing an engaging story line that touches lightly on the restaurant’s recipes being based on tradition, as well as offering a modern twist. Ingredients are highlighted, with images of various ingredients throughout. The back cover represents my concept of what a “perfect” family restaurant would offer for kids’ entertainment.

This portrait photograph successfully demonstrates my photographic and PhotoShop abilities. I selected my best photograph from the class and significantly enhanced it with the use of Adobe software. The photograph is impactful because it is well balanced, and it makes good use of vibrant color. PhotoShop was used to enhance a photo taken during the course.

The magazine advertisement that I created for Amethyst Bay Resort & Spa successfully balances the visual and practical requirements as outlined in the client brief. The client wanted an ad that would bring more awareness of their business to the general public, and the ad I created entices people to participate in a search for a message in a bottle that could contain a voucher for a free stay at the resort. In terms of practicality, the ad is intended to be a collaboration between the resort and the coffee shop, thus the cost of advertisement is shared by both. The ad is impactful because it uses minimal text to convey its message. The focus therefore becomes the image and the logo for the resort.