The Ask: Use handmade marks to create an image that expresses a meaningful idea or concept. 

To kick off this project, I used random household objects and black paint to make marks. I was given freedom of choosing my paper medium, objects, and technique. Some marks were made by simply stamping, some by dragging, others by twisting. 

Next, I spent time analyzing my marks, trying to find words that expressed their mood, tone, and attitude. I met with my small group to discuss which word choices were most appropriate, creative, and effective. 

After discussing my concepts with my small group, I had chosen which marks I liked the best and had a general idea of the kind of mood I wanted to experiment with. I continued ideating with word choice and composition until I felt that the design would effectively communicate what I hoped to express. I began to sketch, by hand, some ideas before I began to move digitally. 

Using Adobe Capture, I scanned in my marks and began using photoshop to create digital designs. Bringing the images into Photoshop, I used the selection and masking tools to arrange the composition. Once I started working digitally, I noticed that my design might work better with a different word choice. I chose the word "seep" and selected the letters out of the wood grain from another mark. 

This design works because it represents the mark in several different ways. The letters aren't simply spelling something out, they are acting it out as well. By creating a design that engages the viewer in several different ways, I was able to accomplish what was asked of me: to create a meaningful concept from something that was once entirely obscure. 

This project introduced me to my own design process, allowing me to take a look at the way I work and how I could best alter the design process to accommodate my own unique needs. By the end of the project, I had designed something completely different than what I had originally planned. Throughout the process, I was constantly changing my ideas. If I had spent more time concepting and ideating at the front end of this project, I might have come up with this design solution much earlier, saving myself a lot of time and self-doubt. Yet, knowing what I know now about my personal process, I will be able to design much more effectively and efficiently!