Week 6

For this assignment, I will be redesigning the packaging for Brooks Beans. While looking at products this week, something bothered me about their packaging. The main thing was the logo. What I will actually be redesigning is a label that will go on a can. I will design this label using techniques similar to those used in the Russian Constructivist movement, which branched off of Russian Futurism after World War One. Constructivist art was directed toward social purposes, rather than being made to be something nice to look at.

Week 5

Assignment: Create an information Graphic about Abraham Lincoln.
Craft: The graphic was made using Adobe Illustrator, and printed on paper.
Composition: I wanted to keep the graphic simple, yet still convey the information effectively. I showed how much time Lincoln spent in each state by scaling the states according to the total number of years he spent in each. Also, I put in text the exact number of years, and cities in which Lincoln lived in each state.
Concept: The concept behind this graphic is the more time Lincoln spent in the state, the larger it would be in the picture. The hat icons mark the approximate location of the cities Lincoln lived in.

Week 4

Infographics about where Abraham Lincoln lived from 1809-1837

Week 2

My design company is Splash Design. The concept for this came to me as I was trying to think of a design company name. I was trying to think of something clever relating to music originally, and as I was trying to think up something, the name "Splash Design" popped in my head. I thought it sounded pretty good, so I wrote it down and continued to try to think of something related to music. When nothing came, I settled on the splash idea. Not only is the name simple, but it instantly evokes ideas of logos that would relate to it. I thought about drops of water and cresting waves, and decided to pursue the water drop idea. I found an image of a water drop, and made a simplified illustration of it, which became my logo.

Week 3

Related facts about Lincoln:

1. Feb. 12, 1809- Abraham Lincoln is born near Hodgenville, Kentucky

2. Soon moved to Knob Creek, a few miles north

3. 1816- Moved to Little Pigeon Creek, Indiana

4.1826- worked on Ohio river as ferryman's helper

5. 1828- Travelled to New Orleans, Louisiana via the Mississippi River

6. 1830- Moved to Illinois, near Decatur

7. 1831- Travelled to New Orleans, returning 3 months later.

8. July 1831- Arrived in New Salem, Illinois

9. 1832- Runs for legislature, loses (places 8 of 13)

10. 1834- Runs for legislature again, loses (places 2 of 13). Elected to Illinois House of Representatives, moves to Vandalia, Illinois

11. April 1837- Accepted into law, goes to New Salem for last time before traveling to Springfield, Illinois.

Week 1

I chose this photo because I have quick access to it from Facebook. It was taken in Honors Science last year. It is also the only good photo of me on Facebook that doesn't have someone else in it. I used this template because it is pretty well balanced and straightforward. 

I am Mike Uher. I am from Evergreen Park, Illinois, and have lived in the same house my whole life. I enjoy listening to music, playing guitar, playing video games, especially old ones, watching football, and doing a lot of other things. I am a graphic design major, and became interested in the field during high school. 

One thing that makes me the happiest is going out with friends and just having a good time. This differs from what gets me the most excited or "pumped up"- that would be football.

I come from a family of four in Evergreen Park. I have one older brother. My dad is a painter/drummer and my mom works at Saint Xavier University.

The last time i was tested was the first day of class this semester. There wasn't an actual test in the class, which is Spanish, but I hadn't listened to Spanish or spoken it in almost four years, and the instructor said two words in English all class. In this respect, this was a test.

The reasons I get out of bed in the morning differ with what time of the year it is. For example, I get out of bed in the morning during the semester because I have a responsibility to attend class. If I didn't get out of bed, I wouldn't attend class, and I would flunk out. During breaks, I get out of bed to see what the day will bring (Will I think of a really good chord progression or riff, will I go out with friends, will I simply lounge around and watch TV all day, etc.)

The question of how I get what I want is also conditional. I really believe in helping myself, so if I want to get some food or something, I generally make it myself. If I simply want something, I usually just ask nicely.