Colten Nelson

I decided to take a break from my usual routine and go for a walk on a short trail near my house. It was a sunny afternoon, and as I walked along, something caught my attention that sparked my creativity.

Along the trail, I stumbled upon some old cars that were slowly rusting away. Now, you might think rusty old cars have no business inspiring a creative expedition, but there is so much to be enamored by.

The worn-out paint, the rough textures, and the layers of rust intrigued me. I couldn’t help but imagine how I could incorporate those elements into some of my work. I have a personal interest in the beauty of all things vintage. It helps me stray away from the world we commonly see in the modern day.

I envisioned using the roughness of the rust as a unique texture in my digital artwork. The peeling paint inspired ideas for creating distressed backgrounds. It was an unexpected source of inspiration that reminded me to add age and a touch of character to my work. It’s ok to be imperfect, and that’s what makes something unique and visually interesting sometimes.

This experience on the trail reminded me of the importance of observation and finding inspiration in unlikely places. Seeking out distinctive textures and elements is crucial for creating compelling designs that stand out.

So, my takeaway from this adventure is to keep my eyes open to the world around me. You never know what might spark your creativity—a weathered wall, a forgotten object, or even a simple leaf. Embrace the beauty of the unexpected and let it fuel your creative process.

With my design concept for the Petcube Bites 2, I aimed to create a mood board that captures the essence of the product and its unique features. Inspired by the bond between pets and their owners, I curated a collection of images that reflect the theme of the special bond that we share with our pets and all the joy they bring to us.
The color palette I chose is vibrant and lively, with shades of cheerful orange, sunny yellow, and vibrant green. These colors evoke a sense of energy and enthusiasm, symbolizing the excitement and happiness that pets bring into our lives.
In terms of textures, I incorporated elements that represent the different aspects of pet ownership. Soft, fluffy textures of pet toys and cozy blankets evoke feelings of warmth and comfort. Smooth, polished surfaces and sleek lines represent the modern technology and innovative design of the Petcube Bites 2.

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As a graphic designer, there are unique pros and cons to each type of employment arrangement, including freelance, part-time, contract/agency, and full-time work. Here’s a breakdown of each:

1. Freelance – Freelance work allows graphic designers to work on a project-by-project basis, offering flexibility in terms of scheduling, work location, and the ability to work with a variety of clients. Freelance designers can also set their rates and fees and have more control over their work. However, freelancers must manage their own business affairs, such as finding clients, managing deadlines, and handling finances.
2. Part-time – Part-time work is ideal for graphic designers who require more flexibility in their schedules or have other commitments. Part-time designers have the opportunity to work on a regular schedule, and the reduced hours may help to avoid burnout. Part-time work also provides the opportunity to explore different design projects and learn new skills. However, part-time work usually pays less than full-time work and offers fewer benefits.
3. Contract/Agency – Contract/agency work is ideal for graphic designers who enjoy a variety of work and clients. Contract designers are typically hired for a specific project or period and work for a staffing agency or a client company. Contract work offers flexibility, higher pay rates, and the opportunity to work on a variety of projects. However, contract designers may not receive benefits, and their employment may end after the project is complete.
4. Full-time – Full-time employment offers the most job security, regular income, and benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. Full-time work provides graphic designers with the opportunity to work on longer-term projects and develop relationships with clients. However, full-time employment may limit the flexibility of a designer’s schedule and offer less variety in projects.

Personally, I think starting off with Contract/Agency work would be good for me to get a good mix of experience off the bat. It maybe feels like it would be a good starting experience in the industry. Working with little to no benefits would be a struggle so I would probably scrounge around till I found the right fit for me to work full-time with one company.

Contract/Agency Work:

• https://recruiterflow.com/smartdept/jobs/1914?source=Linkedin&location=14

• https://cmg.jobs.net/en-US/job/graphic-designer-kiro-tv/J3V6646360V6HTN87ZC?idpartenaire=10121

• https://performdev.clearcompany.com/careers/jobs/c1ff964e-47b1-3f9e-2aa0-bf39efc77f6b/apply?source=2428209-JB-1018

Textures, Patterns, and Shapes.

So with my warmup jersey concept for the Coachella Music and Arts Festival, I wanted to encapsulate the vibe I got from the Coachella website as well as some photos I found online. The color palette gave me a warm and inviting kind of vibe. Coachella seems like it is a very bright and expressive festival so I wanted to hammer down on that. The checkerboard pattern of pink and yellow was used to represent the festival having both music and arts. The checkerboard design also ties in with the hot air balloons and funky patterns that are seen throughout Coachella. Having the skyline of Coachella and the famous palm trees and ferris wheel helps advertise the event and gives the jersey a little more uniqueness to it. All in all, the warmup jerseys are very out there in terms of design, so I just had fun making something that was so eye-catching and in your face.

Panel Images:

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Link to my AR video:

https://youtube.com/shorts/5AcZAFIKZ0w?feature=share

Who are you?

My name is Colten Nelson and I am an aspiring design student at Seattle Central Creative Academy currently.

What is it that you want to do?
I want to make a positive impact on the world through my art and leave an everlasting impact for the better. I want to start a clothing brand and build a personal brand so that I can help others.

Why?

I just love the creative process and all the facets. I am mostly self-taught and there are some things I always have questions on. I find it satisfying to help others because it just benefits everyone in becoming a better version of themselves.

Where do you want to go?

I want to go to Texas or Utah. I have been in the Seattle area my entire life and want to take a leap after I am finished with the program, but I am not opposed to staying in Seattle if there’s something I can’t pass up.

What would you want to say?

Be true to yourself. Your experiences and your journey are unique to you and make you special. And always stay curious when it comes to the creative world.

Wanna Kicks is an app that lets you use your phone’s camera to try on sneakers before you buy them. It’s a cool idea, and I have to say, the app executes it pretty well. The AR technology is surprisingly realistic, so you can get a good idea of what the sneaker will look like on your foot.

One thing that stands out about the app is how easy it is to use. The interface is intuitive, so you can quickly find the sneaker you’re looking for and try it on. The AR technology felt really convincing and moved with my feet better than I initially expected.

On the downside, the time to load some of the shoes took a little longer than expected. There were a decent amount of shoes to choose from, but still felt pretty lackluster to me. I wish there were a little bit more to choose from.

Overall, I’d say Wanna Kicks is a solid app. It’s fun to use and can help you make more informed purchasing decisions. If you’re a sneakerhead, it’s definitely worth checking out.

For a YouTube channel similar to “Cut,” I propose a game called “The Blind Taste Test Challenge.” Participants would taste a variety of foods and drinks blindfolded, and then guess what they are.

Our goal would be to explore how taste works, as well as how our expectations can influence what we consume. In addition, it will be interesting to see how people react to different flavors and textures, and how they express their preferences or dislikes.

In order to make the game more exciting and challenging, participants could be given a score for each correct guess, with the winner being the one with the highest score. You could also arrange the foods and drinks in a specific order or theme, such as sweets vs. savorys, healthy vs. junk food, or even exotic vs. common foods.

It is ideal for this game to include both food enthusiasts and picky eaters, as well as a diverse group of people with diverse backgrounds and preferences. It would be interesting to see how people with different cultural or regional backgrounds respond to unfamiliar foods, and how they identify the tastes and flavors based on their past experiences.

For the game to be more engaging, I suggest having five to ten participants. The game can be played in teams or individually, depending on the number of participants and the duration of the video.

Ultimately, I think “The Blind Taste Test Challenge” could provide some insightful information about taste perception and preferences, while also being entertaining and interesting.

Link to my AR Card: https://youtube.com/shorts/gYq6yLpExsM?feature=share

For my Aero Project, I wanted to go for the Space theme. For my 2 interactive elements, I had the triangle at the beginning as a tap element, and the “CONGRATS” text as proximity enter. For all the space assets I wanted to give it a floating vibe as if everything was in outer space. I didn’t run into any major issues, just a lot of flipping back and forth from the tutorial we did in class to remember how to setup the “Behaviors”. Overall, I thought it was an interesting program to work with as it was pretty straightforward but felt a tad clunky at times. It was really cool to see my Project come to life in the physical space.

Link to my Aero experience: https://adobeaero.app.link/VG7LLvvSQxb