so just in case i didn't have enough to do planning my wedding, i decided to start graphic design classes this semester at risd...thinking maybe i'd like it enough to work toward a certificate and make myself that much more marketable... :) i was pretty nervous before starting since creativity isn't really my strong suit, but two weeks in i'm feeling much better and actually enjoying it so far. and the best thing...work is paying for the classes as part of my professional development! love being in communications...
digital tools has started out with much more of a basic focus than i expected, which is great. some people in class have never even used a mac before, so at least i've got that experience under my belt. am looking forward to learning how to use photoshop, illustrator, and indesign -- designing and doing layout in word is faaaaar from ideal so will be so nice to be able to use actual design software. think we start photoshop this coming week, should be fun.
intro to graphic form also hasn't been as scary as i thought it would be...and i like that despite the subjectivity of art and design, there is very much a focus on precision and certain rules as well. we've done some work on gradations and letterforms (yay!) and can already tell my eyes have become a little more discerning this week, after some class critique and discussion. below assignment for this week isn't super-impressive but took a while and am happy with the result. we had to lay out three grayscales, from lightest to darkest, using newspaper text, newspaper solids, and pencil. it's amazing how many shades of gray there are...and i'll never look at a newspaper the same way again. okay, have to start working on assignment #2 and then back to never-ending wedding prep!!
