Developing my sophomore portfolio was a really good experience. I learned a lot from when I first started till now. Looking back I realized a lot of mistakes, or realized what I could improve from. I tried to design the whole portfolio itself, but eh…
My Portfolio is a collection of my work from Graphic Design Studio 1, Graphic Design Studio 2, Typography Studio 1, some illustrations that I did for my other studio classes, 3 prints from my print making course, and a couple of my freelance work for friends and companies.
I will be showing the links in this blog per portfolio piece to show my research. In my research you will see my sketches and concept development. Overall I really enjoyed the process, and definitely another learning experience for me, because some jobs especially the ones that I will be looking for, will require a portfolio.
Graphic Design Studio 1.
Project 1 Icons.
Research and Concept Development: https://vjbillete.wordpress.com/2017/02/03/gd1-research-project-1/
Final
Project 2 Book Cover Design
Research and Concept Development: https://vjbillete.wordpress.com/2017/02/24/yikes-mushie-breakaroni/
Final
Project 3 Hug A Pup (Group)
Research and Concept Development: https://vjbillete.wordpress.com/2017/03/31/project-3-research-logo-design/
Final:
What I really enjoyed about Graphic Design Studio 1, was learning what graphic design is. Prof. Luttropp has taught me that graphic design, is a process. I was learning the process and I have to say it really helps. I learned more about research than production because I realize that a strong and cohesive research can benefit my whole design. Sometimes my concepts weren’t strong, and I feel like if I did a little but more research, maybe the projects that I developed would’ve been better.
Graphic Design Studio 2
Project 1 Exhibition Design:
Irving Penn the Father of Photography. System Development.
Research and Concept Development: https://vjbillete.wordpress.com/2017/09/26/gd-2-project-1-research/
Final:
Project 2 Package Design:
Research and Concept Development: https://vjbillete.wordpress.com/2017/10/27/gd2-project-2-research-package-design/
Final:
Project 3 Kiosk Design (Group)
Research and Concept Development: https://vjbillete.wordpress.com/2017/11/18/kiosk-design-research/
Final Group_2C_Final_Presentation PDF File.
Overall Graphic Design Studio 2 was not just a learning experience, but was also being able to establish a strong system. The system taught in the beginning of the semester, and I learned that with a system you can create your whole project from it. A system is a very strong tool of design, because the system can show direction, and can also give a designer template style to follow. I actually took a lot from that process because it became a building block structure that I can use for myself, and especially in the future.
In GD2 I was also learning to develop a voice in graphic design. Like, what is my style? Well, if you’ve noticed in my research I have some high end designs in my research. Those high end designs were influencing me to produce clean designs. I wasn’t into the whole doing wacky stuff like a painter splattering paint all over the place, but I was into structure, placement, and being very subtle will my decisions. You could say I was playing it safe, but not really. I did have mistakes in this course. Most of them were rookie ones too. But never to make the same ones again next time. However spelling is something I really, really need to work on (haha) and thinking of image over design. Especially in my 3rd project for the Kiosk project.
Typography Studio 1
Project 1
Research and Concept Development: https://vjbillete.wordpress.com/2017/10/27/calligraphy-writing/
Project 2
Research and Concept Development: https://vjbillete.wordpress.com/2017/10/02/typography-itc-new-baskerville/
Final Billete_Proj 2_Final_Type_01 this is a PDF File
Project 3
Research and Concept Development: https://vjbillete.wordpress.com/2017/11/27/typography-i-project-iii/
Final: Unfortunately I lost the printout for the final.
Project 4
Research and Concept Development: https://vjbillete.wordpress.com/2017/11/27/typograph-i-project-iv/
Final
Project 6
Research and Concept Development:https://vjbillete.wordpress.com/2017/11/27/typography-i-project-vi/
Final
Because this was my first Typography course that I have ever taken, I have to say I still need to understand more. I am understanding hierarchy, placement, rags, and what the characters are according to their x-height, cap height, etc. But those are the back bones of Typography. When I was in high school, I’ve always been doing lettering, but never knew about greeking, and what it was. Lettering has always been something I’ve done fore fun, because I like graffiti. Graffit and fonts to me always had something in common, but never knew what it was. I figured that out myself, and was it blowing my mind. I really enjoyed project 2, because I learned about a font, and trying to understand the designer and what he had in mind designing his font. Some serious engineering I have to say.
Typography has made me understand design in ways that I never new could happen.
Therefore overall taking from GD1 GD2 and TYPE 1 really made me understand design. What design is, what it can do, and everything around it. I thought Graphic Design before was all about generating an image with fonts, and digitizing them and then printing. I never new it was the way I am learning now. This is a huge deal for me because I really love art ever since I entered this world.
When I was a toddler at the age of 1 in a half, this is serious stuff because I am not making it up. I held a pencil for the first time. Then with that pencil I started doodling. From pencils to crayons and then markers. I would draw on everything. As long I had paper, or a blank canvas I was always drawing. Therefore I was born like this. Also my grandfathers are tech people, they know schematics and diagrams, therefore I used to love learning tech things. I also took draftsmanship and graphic design printing in high school. Once I went to a Community College I took art classes for fun, never to be a major, till I took a digital media class and the professor told me “Well if nursing doesn’t work out for you, try graphic design.” Then here I am. I have to say my journey is definitely not finished, because it hasn’t even begun yet. I won’t be able to know until I graduate. But oh man am I excited.
Ok so enough rambling, I will show you some of my other designs and art.
In the portfolio I also added a section for Illustration, Prints, and Freelance.
Therefore first I would like to talk about my illustration.
Illustration
These illustrations are some that I did for classes, and others not. I created shoe concept designs for fun. The reason why I did those concepts was because I am into sneakers, and also didn’t mind making designs of my own. The process was simple, I had shoes of my own, and I was paying attention to stitching, color blocking, and layering. Theres many aspects of a shoe, and designing one was very interesting. The rest were done for classes.
The female model illustration of a with words is my stereotype illustration. Stereotype that asians are not the way as we seem.
The Self portrait is pretty much self explanatory.
The portrait study that I produced was a lot of fun
I have an illustration of a female lying down on a water with waves. This illustration was for for my illustration course at Montclair State. The given assignment was to illustrate the End of the world. In my head was to create something that is close to home for me. Hawaii is heavily Japanese Oriented, therefore utilizing an art style of wood blocking from Hokusai, I wanted to illustrate the same effect. I fused his version of the the “Great Wave of Kanagawa, with Hawaii but making Hawaii being a female as the waves are clashing on her as she lays hopeless. I portrayed a village, and even the people on boats. Overall this project was really fun to produce, especially because its black white and gray. I have to say I am pretty proud of it.
My last illustration actually was a Hokusai Study, that I did for my 2D class. One of the most proudest pieces, because instead of it looking flat and wood cut style, it actually looked more sketched and like a skeleton view of the painting. It’s like I flipped it. Its like seeing the paintings from the old Renaissance having to have drawings underneath their paintings. My professor, really liked this piece and I have to say It was also one of my favorites as well.
Prints
I took Print Making at Montclair State, and I was able to produce prints in that class.
I love the process of seeing my prints, because physically printing something versus mechanically is a very different experience. I learned to appreciate detail, and clarity with print making. Also understanding that rendering things to be exact is a skill.
Sun Dancer
Sun Wave
Hiroyoshi
Freelance
These freelance work are a few logos. I have 1 poster design in here for MSU Class One Week. But the others I have to say were helping out people.
Mad Tiger Academy is my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy. My coach’s name is Eric Goo. He is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Relson Gracie and Helio Gracie. I have been training under him since 2008. Anyways to cut the time short, He wanted to produce team shirts for the academy and he turned to me for help. I designed 3 shirts. The first one sold 200 shirts, the second one sold 200 more, the last one that says Bumbai Shoyu was limited. I have every shirt, and I represent them well.
KOSA was designed for a band, named Kosa which means inmate in Filipino. They wanted to make a shirt, but they never got to because of money. However I still produced what they wanted, which was to copy Anti Social Social Club which is an urban street wear brand. Not my favorite one of the bunch, but interesting to include because it shows that sometimes I had to produce what the client wants, even though I don’t think is what looks good.
DJ Express entertainment was for a DJ. Again that was what the Client wanted. If I designed it, It would’ve been different and better IMO.
Immortal was done for a friend of mine, who is starting his own health and fitness business. He wanted a flame, as a flame to him resembled an eternal fire that goes for ambition. And again, I designed this to fit his specifications.
The class one week poster that I created was to help MSU Student Government Association (SGA) promote their class one week. A friend of mine who is in SGA asked me to make one for them. So I made one just for the kicks of it.
The last one, is one of my pride and joys. And this will leave a mark in Montclair State For a while. And that is this logo that I designed for Montclair State’s Unified Asian American Student Organization (UAASO). This is my mark in MSU and has been there for 2 years now. Their logo was before was not like this at all, and mind you this logo has some problems, and I am planning for my senior year to make a revamp. Because I am the designer of this logo.
I hope you enjoyed my blog about my Sophomore Portfolio, because I cannot wait to show you more. Thank you for your time, and I will be working hard to get better.
Here is a PDF File of my Sophomore Portfolio.
Art From U.S. 