Final Kaleidoscope Logo

Final Kaleidoscope Logo

            My design started as an idea from another class I’m in this semester, PR 412.  As I mentioned in my previous post the class is based on the creation of a PR campaign over the course of the entire semester.  In my group we named our agency Kaleidoscope.  I wanted to create a logo for our campaign materials.

            I started by creating rounded rectangle shapes and filling them with a solid color.  The colors I selected are primary colors to show simple elegance.  I added a layer on top of each rounded rectangle to create depth to the logo.  In my first draft I there were more colors but from the comment left by brettgleason509 I gained the confidence I need to change that aspect of my logo.  The other comments alluded to applying an effect to meld the rounded rectangles together for a more attractive logo.  I agreed with them but was stumped when it came to the execution.

            I began searching through all the effects and tried a lot of interesting effects that didn’t quite work.  Then I found the Zig Zag effect.  I selected all of the rounded rectangles and applied the effect, I loved it.  The effect made my logo feel even more like an actual toy kaleidoscope!  The finishing touch was to add a letter ‘k’, I wanted to use a lower-case letter to be less abrasive.  I also wanted to show that through the curvy font.

            The final touch was a light-grey drop shadow I sent to the front of the logo and gave a radial gradient.  I believe this helps to bring the logo together.

            The comments were really helpful and I enjoyed using Illustrator.  Photoshop was a lot harder for me but I’m still using it to help fine tune my skills.  All of these new skills will help me in my future career and more importantly in my life after graduation!

Draft of Kaleidoscope Logo

My First Logo

                Creating my first logo in Illustrator wasn’t as challenging as I anticipated, although it might just be cool to me.  Once I decided on a topic it became much easier because I was inspired.

                I chose to make a logo for a group project I’m working on in my PR 412 class.  The class project extends through the whole semester and as a group we come up with an agency name.  Our name is Kaleidoscope.  Our name inspired me to create a logo with round shapes to create a view similar to what you see when you look into a toy kaleidoscope.  I also wanted to use primary colors to evoke a simplistic, yet promising feeling upon looking at the logo.  I used a green, orange and purple as well because those are the colors created by primary colors.  I did this to show creation and the sense of building upon what you have to create wonderful pieces of work.  I put an ellipse shape over the whole logo and then added a radial fill to create a sense that all of the shapes belong together.   Without this last touch I felt there was something missing.

                One thing I can’t decide is if I should add the word ‘Kaleidoscope’ in the logo.  I don’t think that’s what a logo is used for though and I don’t want to overdo my logo, any thoughts?  I was also wondering if I should just use primary colors and cut out the green, orange and purple.  Other than that I’m happy with the logo I created for my group.  I just hope they like it too!

                As for how this applies to my life after graduation, well if I don’t graduate then I won’t receive a diploma.  So, the more effort I put into my classes the more likely I’ll graduate.  I also made this silly goal of getting a 4.0 GPA my last semester at WSU.  I don’t think this is too possible, but the higher the goal the more likely you’ll get a better GPA!  I’ll let you know if it happens…

Illustrator Tutorials

 

Finished Illustrator Tutorials

            Illustrator, man…those were harder than they looked.  I thought Photoshop was hard, but starting from scratch was painfully detailed work.  I’m looking forward to testing my newly developed knowledge when creating my own logo for our next homework assignment.  I’m just scared it’s going to keep me up way too late.  I could definitely see myself getting lost in my project, there are so many intricate parts to illustrator and now that I’m more practiced I’m having fun playing around with all of the different options.  I’m kind of a perfectionist though, which is something I’ve worked on since taking on two jobs and a full course load, but technical work doesn’t come so easily to me.  Through this class I’ve learned a lot about myself and how I should take more time to figure out these programs.

            So far, Photoshop and Illustrator proved they can be useful in a variety of different situations in my future.  For instance, if a photograph needs to be used for a PR campaign but is a little dull because of the angle or bad coloring Photoshop can fix it right up without taking away from the message of the original picture.  Whereas Illustrator can be used when it comes to projects straight from our imagination I might need to assist in creating a logo for a start-up company that’s come to our agency for help.  With their ideas and our expertise we need to find a logo to best represent their company and what better technology to help them than Illustrator, at least when it comes to a logo.

            After learning more about the applications of these programs I’m excited to use them more in my daily life, and inform future employers about the foundation I’ve set through this class when it comes to technologies!  Life after graduation seems less daunting every day; I just hope the next set of tutorials won’t keep me up too late.

Final Graphic Collage

Vacation Station

Life Without my Boyfriend…

My first try at Photoshop was, to be honest, a little dull.  I had inkling I was being too safe but I didn’t want my first attempt to be atrocious.  The comments really brought to light the fixes I needed to make to create a piece of work I’m proud to present.

My collage still has the same theme, especially since I’ve included all the same pictures.  My boyfriend Reilly and I spent the Fourth of July weekend with my family at the Oregon Coast.  It was a wonderful vacation but, as I mentioned in my earlier post, the whole time wasn’t spent smiling at each other.  We’re happy with our relationship now, but I’m worried something similar might happen when I graduate in May.  For that reason, these pictures are a perfect representation of how I’m feeling today; reminiscent.

As for the finished product, I’m happier with my second try.  I listened to the comments and spiced it up a bit!  Briehle mentioned that using black and white photos would add more to the overall look, which I decided to try.  I think changing the pictures to black and white made a wonderful contrast with the colorful background.  Another suggestion made by Briehle was to add a border.  By doing that I think the collage looks put together, as if it was always a collage.  To finish the collage I proceeded to include a location and year so always know what the collage represents.

Other changes I made had to do with size and placement of the pictures.  I also used an exhilarating tool to create a cracked look on the background layer.  I believe this added a more artistic feel for the background since I still had three pictures to use to create the collage.

I appreciated the comments from Kelsey, Matt, Cwolken and Briehle for the kudos on my picture choices.  The real kudos goes to my little sister, Samantha.  During our vacation she caught EVERY detail of the trip on camera, at some points it was a little invasive but it’s nice to have these memories captured for future enjoyment.

Photoshop Tutorials

Below are my completed tutorials:

I’ve learned a lot through these tutorials.  Even though I was hesitant about sitting in front of my computer for an hour-and-a-half, it was a worth-while experience.  I might even play around with some of my own pictures!  Oh, and the best part is I can now include, dabbled in Photoshop on my resume.  Watch out real world here I come!

Draft of my Graphic Collage

Vacation Station

Life Without my boyfriend…

Above is a collage depicting my summer vacation with my boyfriend, Reilly.  My family went to the Oregon Coast and Reilly came along.  It was Fourth of July weekend and I was excited to spend quality time with the wonderful people in my life.

Although, we both had a good time our short-lived relationship took a turn for the worst during the last day.  I proclaimed after three months I was getting a little nervous and wanted to take a break.  Big mistake.   My sister caught ‘the talk’ on camera; the picture that creates the bottom border is when we were discussing how things were going to go.

After being apart for a few months we decided to get back together, but this didn’t happen without arguing.  I regret the decision I made on the Oregon Coast but it did prepare me for decisions I have to make in the far-too-near future.

As you may remember I’m preparing for life after graduation and it’s not just a job I’m losing sleep over.  I’m worried my relationship isn’t going to last if we are separated geographically…

I’ve applied to an internship program in London and Reilly is staying in Pullman, Wash., for another semester.  Since we’ve been dating for almost a year now I’m more confident in our relationship than I was after three months.  But that doesn’t change the fact we broke up the only time we were apart.  Will this happen again?

For now, I know I just need to appreciate the last semester of my senior year at Washington State University.  Lately, I’ve actually started to get excited about life after graduation.

Photo Collection

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Life After Graduation

This blog is essentially about me, and the place I’ve found myself in life.  Since I’m about to graduate from Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., I wanted to share the good, the bad and the wonderful experiences.

My story begins with a description ‘About Me’…

My name is Heather Wilson and I’m an overwhelmed-underpaid college student. This being said, I’ll explain in a bit more in detail to help you understand me more completely.

I’m an undergraduate student at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., studying communication. My specific interest is in public relations, which is my emphasis. Originally I came to study drama. That fell flat when the department was cut from the university, that’s when I became a communication major, with a minor in drama.

Now, you might be asking yourself, “How does she pay for this wonderful education?” Well, that’s a good question. With three sisters at home I didn’t expect my single father to contribute too much to my education. I paved my own way. The second semester of my freshman year I became a resident assistant (RA). This occupation paid room and board, and with the help of student loans I was doing alright. But by my sophomore year I was shopping around for other ways to finance my life choice to go to college. I applied for an interdepartmental promotion and became, drum roll please, an assistant hall director (AHD) at WSU. I received a stipend and was lessening my student loan debt.

As we all know this couldn’t pay for it all, so in the summers I worked where I could. One year as a summer RA, another I spent working back at my old high school gig, as a car hop for Sonic Drive-In. This last summer I landed the most fruitful job yet being an orientation counselor for the university. I welcomed new students and was able to stay in Pullman for the whole summer.

But experience trumps money, or at least that’s what everyone says about the job market these days. I thought it due time to search for an internship. For my senior year I was hired as a marketing intern for the marketing department for University Recreation at WSU! I receive credit and am paid for my work.

My senior year of college proves to be a crazy ride, but it’s nothing a spunky women like me can’t handle! There’s just one thing I’m worried about, LIFE AFTER GRADUATION!