I keep reminding myself of why I’m here. I want to give myself the best chance possible at learning how to create a life where graphic design is my career. But I’m not the kind of person that wants to do a job simply to make good money. I never have been. In fact, I left behind a six-figure job because it didn’t feed my soul. And given how much time we spend doing our jobs, I want to merge my life passions with that of my career. Whether that be in the outdoor space, connected to fitness, the tennis world, or in the food industry, I would be happy if my lives converged.
One project that I could see myself investing time on would be working on a series of posters (maybe 3-5 different ideas) or print advertisements that promote the mental and physical benefits of being connected to the outdoors.
The gains for undertaking such a project would likely reap more than a single benefit. It would help me to conceptualize a larger scope project, thereby helping me to further advance my design skillsets. And perhaps it would be even place my work in front of the sort of business eyes that I hope to impress one day soon. Maybe helping to open up avenues I hadn’t previously thought of.
ROUGH OUTLINE (WITH TIMELINE TOO!)
A rough timeline for this personal project would look something like this.
- Research (1- 2 weeks) – This would be my first step, as it would inform most of the steps below very directly. There is a lot of information out there on the health benefits to spending adequate time outdoors, being disconnected from the interwebs.
- Develop Concept (1-2 weeks) – Here I’d spend time looking for inspiration, to see how others have tackled a similar project. Mind mapping ideas for headlines, subheads, fonts that fit the theme of my posters.
- Design (1-2 months) – Combining images, illustrations, typography, I’d work to create posters that effectively communicate my intended vision.
- Write Copy (2 weeks) – This might be my least favorite part!
- Revisions (1 week) – Review and revise until my posters are ready for print.
- Print (1 week)!
RESOURSES REQUIRED
Based on the outline provided above, the resources needed for a project like this might include:
- Research materials – books, articles, studies, demographics
- Design software
- Images and illustrations
- Copywriting materials
- Printing materials
PROJECTED COST
Although I’m not entirely certain what a project like this would cost, I don’t think it would exorbitant. Especially considering many of the resources are already available to us in our program studios.