BIRDS

The Birds Project was the finale to my time at SUNY New Paltz. The project revolved around simplistic, geometry based bird icons that would be interpreted across different mediums with varying levels of dimensionality.  The base form of each bird (Owl, Pigeon, and Toucan) can be seen below.

For each design, there was an accompanying business card featuring a link to my portfolio site, which at the time had just been unveiled. These cards had to be printed with extremely specific marks and bleeds, as the chipboard they were printed on was then cut to shape via a laser engraver, then meticulously cleaned to remove any burn marks or imperfections.

The accompanying pieces for each bird included a 3D printed version of The Owl with a spinning head programmed on an Arduino board, a variation of The Pigeon with a papercraft-style construction, and a Toucan cut from wood on a CNC Router and painted to match the design’s color scheme.

SWAN

The goal of the Swan Project is to combine two and three dimensional design. While the colored portions of the image were printed directly on cardstock, the thick black outlines are actually a 3D printed element. When photographed in from different angles and in different lighting situations, the raised outline would create interesting visuals.

The swan actually began as part of another project, but was distinct enough to evolve into its own piece. Over time, the project became a catalyst for experimenting with combinations of vector and CAD design methods. Using these same methods and expanding upon them, I plan on creating new logotypes and illustrations that make even greater use of dynamism at play here.

CHAIRS

These chair illustrations are part of an ongoing personal project exploring different
ways of simplifying form. Each selected chair was picked based on its unique shape. 

In each level of the project so far, the goal has been to simplify the form to as few colors and shapes as possible while still retaining an accurate depiction of each design. Future iterations of the project will seek to further simplify the chairs’ forms to the point of abstraction, and through rough, simple animations display a gradient or specificity.

FORM

I find figure drawing to be one of the most useful tools for sharpening one’s design skills. Given that the human body is a mass of constantly adjusting forms, interpreting it can be an excellent way to keep your skills honed and malleable.

These samples are from figure drawing sessions which I attend regularly in order to keep my abilities sharp and accurate. The techniques I’ve learned through drawing
from life have definitely been crucial to the development of my other design and illustration skills.

Going forward I plan to develop my figure drawing skills even further. Using that knowledge, I’ll be able to apply heavier levels of abstraction and stylization to illustration projects.