A Head Full of Dreams

Cardboard tube, Photoshop

I would consider this piece to be one of the most unique projects I’ve worked on. I was given a tube and some cardstock and challenged to create a scene inside of the tube. My scene consists of a little girl holding a balloon, inspired by a picture of my niece that I had taken a few years ago. I cut out the pieces and glued them to the inside of the tube. Next, I photographed the tube from several different angles. Once I had chosen my favorite picture, I took the image into Photoshop. This was my favorite part of the project because there aren’t any limits with what you can do in Photoshop. The image underwent several layers of blending modes, colors, filters, and textures. Finally, I placed my artwork into a CD mock-up to give the piece context.

The Bluest Eye

Photography, Photoshop

They say “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, but sometimes, it’s
hard not to! The goal for this piece was to redesign a book cover, front, and back. I chose to revamp the cover for one of my favorite books, The Bluest Eye. The story follows the life of a young African American girl, Pecola, who grows up in an impoverished community. Pecola’s idea of beauty is simple: blonde hair, blue eyes, and white skin. She thinks that if she possessed these characteristics, perhaps bad things wouldn’t happen to her. I started this piece by finding a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, white-skinned doll in an antique store. I took a picture of the doll, then distorted it in Photoshop. Finally, I formatted the type using the content on the existing cover.

HRA Rebrand

Brand Identity

The HRA is a local government agency that assists low-income families in achieving affordable housing. My process began with a brief from the client and from there, I began word-mapping and researching. I find that when I’m conceptualizing a rebrand, the more information I know about the client, the more ideas I generate. The HRA wanted to focus on a few keywords that encompassed their brand: safe, approachable, compassionate, inclusive, and affordable. While sketching different logo concepts, I kept coming across the idea of a key. I realized that this wouldn’t work for the brand because keys tend to give negative connotations. What’s the opposite of a key? An open door. I decided to create a logo that depicted an abstract open door to emphasize the brand’s approachability and inclusivity.

Diekman's Jewelry Rebrand

Brand Identity

Getting to rebrand a local business from start to finish was such a fun process. I started the rebrand by learning everything I could about the business. During my research, I found out that Diekman’s Jewelry is a family-owned and operated business that started in the ‘80s by Gordon Diekman and his son, Kyle. Today, Kyle and his sister Kari manage Diekman’s. I decided to create a logo that would depict the top view of a diamond, while each outside piece represented a member of the Diekman family: Gordon, his wife Elaine, Kyle, and Kari. The outside pieces meet in the middle to create a sense of unity. The mark is paired with a decorative serif to provide an elegant yet approachable feel.

Maybe I'm Amazed

Oil Wash, Editorial

This editorial started off as an oil wash painting. As someone who struggles with fine art, this project terrified me, but I eventually grew to love this technique. I began by sketching Paul McCartney, then covering the canvas with a blue oil wash. Then, I went in with mineral spirits to expose the highlights on his face. Next, I used oils to provide the mediums and darks to round out the painting. I chose to transport my painting to the digital world where it went through several stages of Photoshop. Finally, I created an editorial spread to show the painting in context. My favorite part about this project is that everything you see is 100% my original content; from the painting itself to the headline, to the body copy. I decided to write about a Paul McCartney concert that I attended in 2016.

It's Okay to be Different

Poster

These delicious pretzels aren’t just any ordinary snack. Therefore, I wanted to create an advertisement that emphasized the uniqueness
of the product and brand. I began by thinking about what sets Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels apart from their competition: size, shape, and flavor. After a trip to the local grocery store and two bags of pretzels later, I began setting up a composition that would focus on a single Dot’s pretzel surrounded by a generic brand. This advertisement uses my own photography, complemented by an original headline and supporting body copy. Overall, this is a modern, unique, and
straight-to-the-point advertisement that is sure to catch the
audience’s attention.

“At Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels, we pride ourselves in being unlike
the rest. And why shouldn’t we? These delicious, buttery pretzels
are coated in a homemade seasoning that is guaranteed to leave
you coming back for more. Visit dotspretzels.com to get your very
own bag.”