Graphic Design

I began with – what story do I want to tell.

So, I started with an “S” shape from my name. I chose to depict it as a snake as I’m fond of them and their representation of transformation and growth.

I then added a star. I’m a bit of an insomniac and I find the night beautiful, but I also want to be a light to other people. Then came the lotus.

I love lotus flowers, but they’re also reminiscent of my love for nature, connection and natural shapes. Lastly came the color choice. I associate myself with green jewel tones and reflected that in this design.

All of the things I make begins with thumbnail sketches. I try out multiple different ideas, options and layouts to towards creating something I think is visually interesting.

When I enter illistrator, I begin by making my background a midtoned gray. I do this to get truer colors, like when I draw, but also for eye strain. My favorite thing is to design in black and white first as I believe a good design will always be best in black and white.

The “E” and “R” in this design are from two separate fonts. I didn’t feel like the original letters went together and I thought it looked better (and made more sense,) for me to find an alternative. In the end, I went for a geometric design and turned it into a pattern.

There are two book covers, one related to The book “Brave New World” and the other of my own design, a poetry book named “Scrap”. There’s also a project from my sophomore year where I was still learning about type, a birthday card.

Graphic design has been an interesting way to learn about the world. I enjoy understanding why things look the way that they do, and now that I know more about it, I see it in everything. Some of my friends will send something my way so I can pick apart why it’s good or bad design. It’s become a joke in my friend group which is fun. But, truly, understanding design and the things behind it has helped me across multiple fields. I love learning how and why things work or why they exist the way they do, so I’m always willing to learn.

If you’re interested in more of my process, try checking out the illustrative page!

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