Design Assignments

The Ultimate Merger

Businesses merger together all the time (at least that’s what Mad Men has taught me). For this assignment create a logo in which you combine to famous logos. Humor is encouraged.

PSA Billboard

Using Gimp or a similar program, create a public service announcement billboard on something that really aggravates you about people, society, the world, etc. It can be serious, goofy, but not offensive. Use a 680 x 300 work space in order to mimic the space of a billboard and have fun with how your positioning, font, colors, and images can help get your message across in a small space.

Take it to the next level but superimposing it on a photo of an existing billboard!

Budding Entrepreneur

You just came up with a million dollar idea! It’s crazy! Design a mock-up to show potential investors to entice them to join your entrepreneurial venture for a most unlikely product. You can be pitching to a pre-existing firm or founding your own company. See how well you can sell something like garlic flavored chewing gum or a talking toilet seat.

Motivational Poster!

De-Motivational posters are very common on the internet these days, but people often forget about the thing they were based on–Motivational posters. Why not make one of those for a change of pace? Motivate yourself (or someone else).

Logos for the Zombie Apocalypse

Zombies are EVERYWHERE!! In celebration of Hallowe’en, 2012, designer, artist, and marketing professional Ben Fellowes “celebrated some of his favorite logos of all time by re-imagining them, post zombie outbreak.” You can enjoy his 10 Classic Logos Re-imagined for the Zombie Apocalypse (or check out his site), and then select your own favourite logo and Zombify it. Will your favourite brand be prepared??

Ink

Design a tattoo that includes good examples of at least 2 design element we learned about color, typography, metaphors/symbols, minimalism & use of space, form/function/message, balance, rhythm, proportion, dominance, unity.

Computer Books for Kids

Take a well-known kids book and recast it as a computer book. Look for inspiration here:
http://www.somethingawful.com/d/photoshop-phriday/childfriendly-computer-books.php

Movies from Another Time

Design a vintage movie poster from a modern movie using actors/styling from an earlier era. Try to capture the essence of the modern film by choosing the right actors for the different parts and using imagery that is evocative of the past while capturing the film’s meaning.

Truthful Movie Poster

Imagine if movie posters told the REAL story about the fillm they’re advertising. Redesign an existing movie poster by changing the text/images to tell us the real story. More examples at http://www.holytaco.com/classic-taco-if-movie-posters-were-honest.

On the Cover of a Teen Mag

Take a popular figure from politics, education, that you would not expect to be there, on the cover of a teen fan magazine. Bonus points if the cover includes a heart throb of initials JB and a lot of pink color. Re-edit the text as well to blend them into the style of the magazine. Inspired by a tweet by Cathy Finn-Derecki