The Self-Education Process (So Far) 

I’ve been spending a couple of hours each day exploring various resources to begin to immerse myself in the vast world of graphic design. I’ve been reading Ellen Lupton’s Graphic Design: The New Basics, The Principles and Practices of Graphic Design, and Graphic Design Thinking. I am also taking introductory level courses on both Udemy and Coursera in addition to exploring videos that interest me on Skillshare. 

Another aspect of this exploration has included forming a big collection of my favorite brands and looking further into their various influences. In this way, I am learning a lot about the branding process across product lines as well as learning about designers who inspire me.  Something I thought is interesting to note is that radically different art forms, no matter how abstract, can inspire the brands we know and love.

 I’m also trying to get involved in Boston’s design community by attending events held or sponsored by Boston’s branch of the AIGA organization, which advocates for design as a vital cultural force. This month I plan to attend an evening lecture on the significance of the ampersand. 

Finally, today marks the beginning of my final school year, my last first day of school. I have never been so excited about my semester schedule because all of the classes feel more relevant than ever. I will be taking branding, integrated marketing communications, and a design strategy elective, all of which support what I think my specialization in graphic design will be…

Specialization

Through my ongoing exploration, I have gravitated towards product packaging design. The tactile process appeals to me. It is artistic and complex. I’m intrigued by the challenge of establishing a cohesive brand identity from a series of creative elements, not only for a single product, but across many different types that collectively form a product line. I’m a little intimidated about learning to think in three dimensions, but I’m excited by the prospect of being able to hold the physical design in my hands and see it on a store shelf. I like the idea of giving life to a brand and influencing people’s interactions with the products they encounter. I want to make strong impressions and establish relationships between people and the products they live by or choose in general. 

What also appeals to me about package design in the dynamic process it entails. I’ll have to consider color pallet, which translates to ink considerations, and paper textures. I’ll need to work with printers to transform the design from behind the screen of my vector program to physical reality where it can be touched and handled. I’ll have to develop a mindset that can visualize the design at each stage it’s in.