Weeks # 8, 9, 10 & 11

Weeks # 8, 9, 10 & 11

Welcome back!

(This post will expand and cover 4 class sessions – 4/1 – 4/8 – 4/15 – 4/22)

Forward motion on completing assignment #2 and introducing Assignments #3 & #4 – Exciting!

The Assignments Page has all of the current Assignment Details and Criteria as well as our blog posts that feature all of the inspiration and supporting content to take action! This post covers the new details about Assignment #3!

Let’s begin our classes with some solid lab /working time to prepare your work in progress or any un-shown work / revisions.

Exciting stuff below! There is a lot to see here so please allow me to present everything over the next few classes.

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Assignment / Project #3 –

Building with Adobe Illustrator – from flat design in 2D to 3D -> Shapes, Forms, Composition & Color.

Exploring the 2D / 3D tools with in Illustrator. Project outcomes will instill the skills and techniques to design a new Toy(s) or a Collectible object ).

Process – This is a 3 Part series of exercises

PART 1 – Working in Adobe Illustrator we will create a new document sized at 11″ X 17″ (or something similar but keep the orientation vertical) Consider, how will you set your guides to equally balance and format the graphics evenly? Will you use a grid? Do you have a preferred method for layout? Let’s explore what this means.

Generating shapes and forms with Illustrator is endless!

Digging into the “tools” and developing contrasts..

Allow yourself to be experimental! There are numerous ways, methods and techniques to generate shapes and forms. I suggest working with one single color to emphasize the forms and use of positive and negative space.

Generate a new series of “subjective” graphic Icons following the layout and arrangement example. (Don’t re-create my example) make your own, but follow the balanced composition. Experiment! Make an entire page full of shapes and forms! (see my example from class) Select the 6 – 8 most interesting or compelling forms and use those to layer and compose your icons with. Limit yourself to 6 values of 1 complimentary color scheme. Referring to the adobe color wheel for reference.

Limit yourself to creating and composing your graphics with no more than 6 – 8 shapes created with the pen, pathfinder or the shape builder tool. Begin composing without using a “stroke” around your shapes and then apply a stroke for contrast later. Save your production work as an Ai. file (adobe illustrator) as well as a .pdf – the PDF files are for viewing on the web and printing.

PART 2 – Pattern making, composition and color exploration – each student will follow the images in the example shown in class as a guide to further extend and develop their icon designs.

Size – Use a square shape for this series of designs. I suggest 10″x 10″

Students will select and isolate their strongest single icon/graphic(s) from the original layout in Part 1 of the assignment – 1 version will include a stroke and one with out (example). Students will explore a 4-part color variation drawn from their selected color palette as well as 1-3 balanced patterns using their icons. (We will discuss the examples in class)

PART 3 – Design a Toy or Collectible Object using the skills practiced in parts 1 & 2. Experiment with bringing your 2D forms together to “build” structure and composition. The subjective forms will be used to design recognizable imagery, applying the 3D tools in Illustrator is exciting. The final design work will function as both a “product” and a “digital Illustration”(or a series of them) of your choice that combines a series of your forms together.

Part 4 – (Advanced – Extra Credit ) Explore the ability to Export a 3D Mesh .OBJ file directly out of Illustrator and apply various materials using a 3D application of your choice! (Adobe Dimension? Adobe Substance? Blender? Maya? Other?)