It was bitter sweet

GRA 617 has been a journey of discovery and second glances...but it was also one that was as addictive as it was repelling!

I really enjoyed the discussions on the fundamentals of graphic design, a subject I must confess I took totally for granted. In the past I never gave much consideration to white space, grids, widows and all the little nuances which make good design. Now I do.

I lack the creative eye which makes for exceptional artwork... my sketches are testament to that...but in completing GRA 617, I have gained an appreciation for the level of talent and thought that goes into producing good layouts. And, I know how much designers should be able to give; and the elements they can draw on to produce the kind of work I would want to use in a campaign etc.

I realise that graphic design is a package, and every tiny element combines to produce artwork that communicates with the audience in the way it is meant to. It is interesting that despite the "randomness" of human nature, we can all look at a piece of graphic work and understand the subtle messages of color choice and page layout.

I never knew typography was so complex! Nor did I realise it was all around me. I simply took these things for granted... and was totally oblivious to the Helvetica invasion.

On the flip side, I felt boxed in by the deadlines for the projects. I feel like there wasn't enough time to properly think through the concepts before putting pen to paper. I guess in the professional world, graphic designers complete the project is about the same time as we got in class. But, we're not professionals though... so that aspect was challenging...at least for me. Sometimes it seemed like as soon as I was getting really into the assignment, it was time to submit.

My creative juices were severely stemmied by the rigors of Bootcamp. There were many times when I was physically present, but miles away mentally, thinking about how to shape a story for the news writing course. It was a bit challenging balancing both without sacrificing one for the other. While I did not miss any lectures to do interviews, I must confess my attention span waned, despite the antics of some lecturers.

Overall, it was a great experience. It was clear the course was well thought out. The presentations were very relevant and well-researched. I also think the level of support received in lab was excellent on all levels.

I think I'd like to do another graphics course... in the normal semester though, when I don't have the limitations of bootcamp.