Meagan Griffin BFA: Essay

Milton Glaser once said “There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for.”
A part of achieving the “wow” factor in a design is to consider every aspect of the work. Design is like piecing together a visual puzzle, without every piece you don't have the whole picture. Every single detail in a design is essential. Charles Eames said “The details are not the details. They make the design.” Throughout my studies in design, I have made an effort to train my eye to play close attention to the overall concept and composition as well as the details of my own designs and in other designs. This is not something that came naturally for me and I feel that I have come along way in my own work.
One of the main reasons I love design is the problem-solving aspect of it. You start with one idea with which problems occur. As a designer, it is important to figure out the best solutions for these problems. There is a fair amount of exploration and thinking that comes with this and for me it can become  frustrating. When you finally come up with the right solution for the problem, it is the best feeling. Good design does not come so easily and I enjoy these moments of problem solving.
As a design student here at Weber State, I've been given many projects to find solutions for. Sometimes I'm asked to use design theories from history as inspiration for the project or sometimes its using a completely new medium or software I am unfamiliar with. With each new project I've learned to start with the idea of experimentation. I try many possibilities before I come to the best solution. To me, it doesn't matter what the project is or what the medium is, the process is still the same.
As I consider my future as a designer, I'm glad I've learned not to settle. It is so important to make sure every detail is exactly the way it should be, that every part of the design is important to the end goal.  It doesn't matter the project, the problem solving process should always be consistent. I still have a long way to go in my own work and education but I hope that as my career continues I will always keep this process of learning and exploration.

Identification Document

1. Griffin: "Dada & Constructivism CD Packaging", Digital, Poster 16"X 21", CD Insert Standard Sizing, Art 3455 Design, Theory & Practice, 2015

2. 3D Art, Griffin: "Maple Leaf Rag", 2X4's Wood Sculpture, 36"W 24"H 16"D, Sculpture 1,2014
Griffin, "Gift Exchange Project", Scrap Metal / Welded, 3"W 7"H 8"D, 3D Design, 2014

3. Griffin: "Sketch Book", Hand Lettering in Pen, Various Sizes, Self-directed, 2015

4. Griffin: "Furniture: Summer Market Previews", Digital, 11" X 17", Self Directed / Work Related, 2014

5. Griffin: "American Four Square", Mixed Medium: Acrylic Paint, Photo Montage, Pen & Ink, 18" X 24", Drawing, 2013

6. Griffin: "Letter Composition Project", Digital, 8"X 8", Typography Art 3430, 2015

7. Griffin: "Logan Temple Typography", Digital, 11"X 14", Self Directed, July 2014

8. Griffin: "Dichotomy Relief Print", Linoleum Print, 6"W X 12"H, Art 2200 Printmaking, 2015

9. Griffin: "Zoo Pattern Study", Digital, 12" X 12", Art 3455 Design Theory & Practice, 2015

10. Griffin: "Concrete Poems", Digital, 12" X 12", Experimental Typography Art 3430, 2015


11.Griffin: “Peony Skin Therapy Branding”, Digital, 4”X4”, Self-directed, 2015

1. Meagan Griffin BFA: CD Packaging Dada & Constructivism










1.
Griffin
"Dada & Constructivism CD Packaging"
Digital
Poster 16"X 21"
CD Insert Standard Sizing
Art 3455 Design Theory & Practice
January 2015

This CD Packaging was created for my Design Theory and Practice Class. The assignment was to combined the structure of Constructivism with the Photo Montage of the Dada Era. I choose the band Death Cab For Cutie and designed a pop poster, CD label front and back, a cover panel 3 pages front and back and the tray art for this album.

2. Meagan Griffin BFA: 3D Art



                                         








2. 3D Art



Griffin
"Maple Leaf Rag"
2X4's Wood Sculpture
36"W 24"H 16"D
Sculpture 1
October 2014

For this project in my sculpture 1 class, we were assigned to make a wood sculpture with the influence of a song using abstraction. The song I chose was Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin. It is solely made from 2X4's and wood glue. I had it move through space in the way it does to represent Ragtime. Ragtime is where you play the piano with the left hand very steady and consistent where the right hand is all over the place. I also wanted the wood to resemble piano keys.



Griffin
"Gift Exchange Project"
Scrap Metal / Welded
3"W 7"H 8"D
3D Design
November 2014

For this project we were allowed to use any material of our choice and make a gift for another individual in the class. The person I had to give this project to really liked cats so I decided to weld them a cat using old scrap metal pieces. I had already learned how to weld in my Sculpture 1 class. It is made from various pieces. The eyes are bolts, the mouth is two washers, the whiskers are nails, the head is a doorknob and so on.




3. Meagan Griffin BFA: Sketch Book Hand Lettering/Designs









3.
Griffin
"Sketch Book"
Hand Lettering in Pen
Various Sizes
Self-directed
2015

4. Meagan Griffin BFA: Summer Market Previews







4.
Griffin
"Furniture: Summer Market Previews"
Digital
11" X 17"
Self Directed / Work Related
2014

I started this project after going to the Furniture World Market in Vegas this Summer. I worked in a furniture store for 4 years studying the companies, the design and construction behind it. I wanted to create this pattern of all the furniture I saw and loved at market. I combined color, line and shape as ingredients to make this composition. I then took this idea to the next level and created it into a market ad. The photographs are pictures from the furniture store I worked for.

5. Meagan Griffin BFA: American Four Sqaure



5.
Griffin
"American Four Square"
Mixed Medium: Acrylic Paint, Photo Montage, Pen & Ink
18" X 24"
Drawing
2013

For this assignment we were assigned to make a collage of a home, using any medium. At this time, I was living in a house built in 1914 in downtown Ogden and would regularly pass other gorgeous homes from the 20th Century on or near 25th Street. I chose to do this historic home in Ogden as a momentum of a time in my life and a time in history.

6. Meagan Griffin BFA: Letter Composition Project






6.
Griffin
"Letter Composition Project"
Digital
8"X 8"
Typography Art 3430
2015

These were created for my Typography class. We were allowed to use three letters from a typeface of our choice to create a working composition. We had to pay close attention the intersecting lines and how they would interact with each other.

7. Meagan Griffin BFA: Logan Temple Typography


7.
Griffin
"Logan Temple Typography"
Digital
11"X 14"
Self Directed
July 2014

This is the temple where I was married, my mother was married, and my grandmother was married. I wanted to do this project as a gift. I printed them and put them in frames for Christmas.

8. Meagan Griffin BFA: Dichotomy Relief Print





8.
Griffin
"Dichotomy Relief Print"
Linoleum Print
6"W X 12"H
Art 2200 Printmaking
2015

For this assignment in my Printmaking class, we were assigned to make two 6" Square Linoleum Prints to create one composition. The theme was Dichotomy, which means a division between two contradictory groups. I chose to illustrate the idea of water compared to land and how they could interact with one another.

9. Meagan Griffin BFA: North American Zoological Association on Safari Animals









9.

 Griffin
"Zoo Pattern Study"
Digital
12" X 12"
Art 3455 Design Theory & Practice
2015

For this assignment we had to choose an animal and bring shape and line to create various compositions. We were then allowed to bring color into the compositions if they were related to the animal's environment. After that study, we were then assigned to design a poster and conference scheduled for the North American Zoological Assoiciation.




10. Meagan Griffin BFA: Concrete Poems


10.
Griffin
"Concrete Poems"
Digital
12" X 12"
Experimental Typography Art 3430
2015

For this assignment we had to create four original poems and display them in a 6" Square to a grid format. The ending product was intended for all poems to work together because of the grid format. The challenge for me was using font types that complement each other as well as differ from one another, to create rhythm and variety throughout the piece.

11. Meagan Griffin BFA: Peony Body Lotion; Logo Design







11.
Griffin
"Peony Skin Theory Branding"
Digital
4"X4"
Self-Directed
2015

For this self-directed project I wanted to make a logo and design a product. I chose a lotion bottle. The flower and all the letters in the logo are hand drawn. I had a lot of fun with this and I loved how it all came together as a product.


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