Critique

I mindmapped this project early on but I believe that I allowed myself to become content with the concept. I realize now that I should've pushed it further but that didn't happen. Instead, I decided that after I came up with a great idea that I would go about executing that. I came up with a back-up idea just in case I realized halfway through the project that I wanted to try something different. I also found it difficult to actually be interested in this article. I just couldn't envision anything for this spread. I also was trying to find something to fit the attitude of Vox. Honestly, you think it's easy until you actually began to design for them. Being a reader or consumer is totally different than being the designer for a beloved publication.


The project as a whole took me about 11 hours. Though from the design, one would probably guess differently. The social security card wasn't a stock photo. Thanks to my boyfriend for being my cooperating guinea pig, he allowed me scan his social security card and use it for this project. It took about 5 hours of my time to airbrush the card and make it look as though it was blank from the beginning. I would post a photo of how it originally looked but for the fear of someone with ill ideas getting ahold to it, I've decided against it.




Normally in the past, I've been afraid to use Illustrator for a project. I've usually opted out to just use Photoshop and create a photo illustration. This time I decided to be different. I realized that Illustrator has filter settings just like photoshop. Some of the effects weren't as good as I hoped, but there were others that were noteworthy. I used illustrator to create the stamps that are used on both of the spreads. It gave me somewhat of the effect as I hoped. All in all, I realized that sometime things are better in theory than they are in actuality.

After finally getting the cover to meet some of my expectations, my mind was exhausted because I couldn't think of anything really creative for the overall spread. I tried to tie it in together by using a stamp in the heading. I realize now that it wasn't enough. I found much of the copy overwhelming and I couldn't get it to fit the few ideas I had for how to lay the spread out(Which is something that you shouldn't let happen). In the end, I realized that a project this big should be done over a period of a few days. Otherwise, you'll overexhaust your mind and find yourself coming up with subpar or stale ideas. I just feel like I could've done a lot better if I hadn't procrastinated.






Since the critique, I've come up with a number of ideas. I plan to include some of those ideas in future entries. Now that I know a little more about what Vox is looking for, I hoping that from this point on my spreads and covers will only improve. This week I plan to work on Flash project, redesign this spread and try to redesign some of the artwork that I did in Magazine Design and previous graphic design courses. Recently I came up with a couple of new ideas for business cards and t-shirts.