There is demand for good graphic designers in many, many areas. Every product you buy, every advertisement you see, every sign, publication, package, or just about anything else you can think of that isn’t a part of nature has some sort of design behind it. Someone made choices that helped you to notice, use, or buy something. When you see something, you make choices about whether to pay attention to something and what to do with the information you get.

I want you to think more about the role of the designer and the things that he/she has to consider when completing a design. What kinds of things does the designer have to know or plan in advance? What kinds of decisions have to be made in advance? Then through the process of the design, there are choices about the tools used, the way things are done, how things will be presented/put out there, etc.

Your job is to find something that a graphic designer would have had a hand in. It can be basically whatever you want it to be, but you have to be able to explain that person’s process.

For example, as I write this, I’m drinking a can of Pepsi. A designer came up with the design on the can but also for the can itself. What kinds of thoughts/discussions went into the planning and design?

You will come up with a way to explain the designer’s process (or what you think it might have been.) In doing so, you will have to make your own decisions about how to get your information across. We will look at these things and discuss them, so you want to do a good job of explaining yourself to the class (and the guy who’ll give you a mark!) so think carefully about what kind of information you need and how best to explain it.

Remember that you’re working independently and doing things your way, but that it’s good to seek feedback or just share ideas with others as you go. You’ll have to explain the designer’s process AND yours, so be conscious of your choices as you go!