Front cover of logo lookbook
What does identity systems mean to me? At the beginning of the identity class, I would say it means to identify systems. Completing the identity class my answer has completely changed. What identity systems mean to me now is being able to provide a rememberable, unique design for someone to use and create a connection with people.
I did not know all the signs, posters, and basically, everything I see while either walking or driving was created by graphic designers using identity systems. If someone asked me to describe identity systems in two words, I would say community builder. The workers who design the logo, brand extensions, brand marks, etc. are being brought together and the people on the street who see the design are being brought together too because of the billboards, signs, posters and so much more. Being able to be one of the people on the street looking at all the identity systems and now being the one to design them fascinates me to see how far I have grown and how much I have learned.
Brand mark for final design of my own emoji
Walking into the identity class I expected to be able to understand what identity systems meant and how graphic designers use them. I did not know what I was going to be designing or how the class was going to go. After the first assignment of making an emoji without using words was assigned, I was expecting the rest of the class to be the same easy paced, and only working by myself. Then the first real project was assigned.
All finalized brand mark designs from the style project
My classmates and I were told to create icons using single lines, circular, typographic and geometric ways of drawing. I was confused within seconds and expected by the end of the assignment to still not understand anything. However, I was not the only one confused my classmates and I helped each other at almost every step and by the end of the project, I was confident in what I had created. Before the first assignment, I had never had someone look at my work before it was finished and after having all the extra help, I asked for feedback on each assignment afterward. Each assignment brought its challenges, but I knew all my classmates had their challenges as well and I was never alone if I needed to ask for feedback or help along the creation process.
My original design and finalized design with help from classmates
Being able to have people bounce ideas off each other and always being there to help was my all-time favorite part of the identity class. I am enjoying my major in graphic design not only because I am learning something new and interesting but it’s allowing me to make new friends who are interested in the same major as me and always have people there to help when I need it.
All finalized brand marks from multiple daily practices
I liked the daily practices we did in the morning of each class for a different reason though. The daily practices consisted of being provided with a name of a brand or sometimes just numbers and only having ten minutes to quickly sketch ideas for a logo. I liked these daily practices because we were not allowed to talk to our classmates for those ten minutes and it allowed me to see how my knowledge of logo making improved. Another favorite part of the identity class was seeing myself improve with each assignment and building my confidence in knowing that I chose the right major. I also loved being able to help someone by teaching them things that I learned and seeing them improve and build their confidence as well.
Two finalized brand marks from forced connections project. Create a logo using positive and negative space
Of course, I cannot love every part of the identity class but that doesn’t mean I have to hate any parts either. I am referring to the times when I felt I was at my lowest and could not see how the result was going to be. I felt I was at my lowest in the third project which was creating a music festival. In this project, my classmates and I were told to create multiple sketches, brand extensions, proposals, logos, icons, primary brand marks, and much more.
Finalized design from the music festival project. Primary brand mark for my music festival
I was overwhelmed at the beginning of the assignment and felt that there was no way I could complete all the assignment in time. However, I quickly learned I was not alone in feeling this way and was able to work through every part with the help of all my classmates. I completed everything before its due dates but still felt defeated because, after each work and progress, I had to change some parts of what I had already designed. I did learn through the work and progress how to look at the feedback and redesigning as a good thing because the result may turn out better than I could have ever planned.
Brand mark made for proverb "absence makes the heart grow fonder"
When I look back on the identity class, I will always remember how it brought people together and all the friendships that were formed. I will remember the times the room was filled with conversation and the times it was silent from concentration. The memories of how everyone interacted with each other will always be remembered before the skills I learned in the class because the skills that I do learn are meant to create things that bring people together.
Video of the lookbook
