Better Blog

CARP

CARP stands for contrast, alignment, repetition, proximity. 

C: Contrast can be between fonts, colors or other aspects of blogs. 

A: Alignment involves how things are aligned. Grids play a huge role in the alignment of blogs. Posts should also be aligned left and ragged right. 

R: Repetition is also involved in the layout of blogs. Repetition can be used with images, fonts, colors or other aspects of graphic design.

P: Proximity is the spacing between things. It's important to have white space. Having good proximity makes a blog easier to read.

Layout

I made some minor changes to the layout. I checked to make sure everything was readable and looked professional.

Functionality

The main functionality adjustment I made was adding label and portfolio pages. The labels make it easier to find posts. The portfolio pages also aid in finding posts.

Improvements

On some of my old posts, I added headings. I broke the text up into smaller groups to make it smaller and more readable.

I also added a favicon, portfolio ages, labels, and other gadgets. I customized my template and messed with the header. I really like how it looks now.

Before and After

One of the pages I changed greatly, was my first post. I added headings and broke the text up. I made the entire post more readable and better overall. The top one is my original and the bottom is the improved post. I think the improved post is easier to read and more organized.

I applied the rules of CARP.

Before

After

Text Container Tutorial

This tutorial was also very easy to follow. The directions were simple and explained well. I learned a lot about outlines.

Tutorial: http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photoshop-text/text-effects/text-inside-text/

Sugar Bag Tutorial

I did the sugar bag tutorial. It was very easy and quick. The steps were very descriptive and easy to follow. I added my personal touch by changing all of the colors but the accent to blue. I learned a lot of keyboard shortcuts. This tutorial was very helpful and I'll be able to apply a lot of the knowledge in the future.

Tutorial: http://pshero.com/photoshop-tutorials/text-effects/the-sugar-bag-effect

Movie Poster

Process

I started this project by brainstorming movies and sketching different options. Once I decided on Frozen, I thought back to a previous tutorial that I have done. It was a firefly brush tutorial but I knew I could manipulate it to make it appear as snow. I applied the brush to text and used what I learned from the "working with type" tutorial to add icicles. I added the snowflake inside the "o" and moved onto the next step.

I laid out a grid. Creating the snow and icicles at the top was very difficult. I used the snow brush but manipulated it more to make it thicker. Then, I created and added the icicles. Once I did that, I added the random snowflakes in the background, still using the snow brush.

Finally, I added the snowflake. I used the snow brush again and manipulated it until it looked how I wanted it to. I had a few different options, including a swirl but ultimately, I decided on a simple snowflake.

What I Learned

I learned how to manipulate brushes. I also learned how to create straight lines with brushes. I learned a lot about Saul Bass. I learned a lot about movie posters. I learned a lot from the "working with type" tutorial. I learned a lot about manipulating text.

Favorite Part

My favorite part of this project was creating the individual elements to create a cohesive poster. I liked that I created everything by myself. I loved manipulating the brush.

Boundaries

It wasn't difficult for me to meet the creative boundaries. It was easy to choose a movie from the past five years. It was easy to have it inspired by Saul Bass. I used three different shades of blue, repeated. All of the elements on my poster reflect the story. I was able to create a custom graphic as well.

Music Helps Brighten Other People's Days

Working with Type

For this tutorial, we had to learn to manipulate text. We had to mess with the kerning and the tracking. We learned how to create outlines and to add anchor points. Then, we used our own names to have the same effect. I curved the "y" and the "s". I extended the "h" and cut off part of the "o". I learned a lot about the manipulation of text.

My Top Ten Favorites

My Top Ten Favorites

Values, Consumption, and Identity

This project was to create a poster showing our top ten things we cannot live without to determine our values. Values drive consumption. If the values match the buyer, they will be more likely to purchase your product. Identity helps us understand the different roles we play.

Typography

I learned how to pair typefaces. I enjoyed pairing typefaces. It was interesting to see how typefaces looked together. It was hard to choose which fonts to use, but ultimately I decided on Pistilli and Arial.

What I Learned

I learned a lot about how values affect decisions buyers make. I learned how to use InDesign to create grids. I learned how to create type palettes and apply them. I learned a lot of new terminology. I gained many valuable skills that will be helpful in the future.

What I Liked/Disliked

It was very difficult making a list of ten things. There were so many products I had to choose between. It was also a challenge to use InDesign for the first time. I liked that I was able to be more creative and have it be personal. The poster is unique to each person. I liked gathering the images. I thought it was fun to choose what would look good together. I also enjoyed pairing typefaces. Overall, I really enjoyed this project.