Project 1: Stamp Design

PROJECT 1: STAMP DESIGN

 OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate your understanding of the following course concepts:

1. Apply fundamental concepts of vector image composition to create professional digital media.

2. Identify and describe vector image editing techniques and their use in the development of digital media for current and emerging applications.

3. Use industry standard software to create and manipulate vector artwork following workflow processes for delivery across multiple platforms, including print, Web sites, interactive projects, and video.

4. Produce vector artwork following ethical principles and legal guidelines.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project is designed to incorporate the main tools that a designer uses to create vector art, such as the pen tool, colors, and shapes. It is key that you show your knowledge of tools like the pathfinder tool, fill/stroke, creating shapes and using color.

 PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
There is a stamp design contest at your local Post Office. The contest requirement is to create two unique stamp designs. Each stamp should be unique in design but has a unifying theme. You are given the following specifications:

Two stamp designs
Document size: 6”x6”, CMYK 

Stamp Size: .87” x .979”, portrait or landscape
Both stamp designs should be placed on one artboard.

Include “USA”
Create the stamp designs, keeping in mind good design principles, using a recent version of Adobe Illustrator (or approved alternative application: InkScape or Affinity Designer).

Stamp Design

The theme of stamps is your choice. Some ideas include: favorite cartoon, sports, music, cultural, pop art, art deco, famous landmarks or places. Remember: each stamp is unique in design but has a unifying theme. Also keep in mind, that you are graded on the overall design of the stamp. The stamp design should follow good design principles. It should be detailed and visually appealing.

The expectation of the design is that all of the design elements are created by you using the tools in Illustrator. This includes using shapes and the pen tool to create the line work. Do not use any raster graphics.

Postage Stamp Edge
The stamps should look realistic, so you will create the perforated stamp edge.
1. Create a postage stamp edge.

2. Duplicate the postage stamp for the other design.

Development
The stamp design should incorporate a demonstration of:
3. Pen Tool: at least two design elements in each stamp must be created by the pen tool. The lines created with the pen tool are smooth, including the creation of Bezier curves.

4. Fill: each stamp design should be in color. A minimum of 3 colors should be used in each design; CMYK color mode for the colors.

5. Stroke: a minimum of one design element in each stamp must have a stroke.

6. Gradient: a minimum of one design element on each stamp must have a gradient.

7. Shapes: use the shape tool (i.e. rectangle, oval, circle, etc.) to create one unique design element in each stamp. Use the pathfinder to unite, minus front, intersect, divide, exclude, merge.

8. Type: incorporate type into each stamp design. Use create outlines to modify the shape of the type to fit the theme of the design.

9. Layers: each stamp should be placed on its own layer. Layers should be named appropriately.

10. Swatches: create a minimum of one custom swatch of a color used in each stamp design. Name the swatch.

11. Optional: If the design allows, incorporate the use of the brush tool.
Artist Statement Rationale
12. After you have designed the stamp, write an artist statement that includes:
a. Discuss your design in terms of visual appeal, creativity, and readability.
i. Discuss why the design appeals to the intended audience.

ii. Discuss why you used certain design elements and fonts.

iii. Discuss what you like/dislike/will change about the design.

iv. Discuss your experience in with the design process.
Submission Requirements
13. Submit the source file (i.e. Adobe Illustrator-.ai, Inkscape-.svg), PDF, and .png of the stamp designs. Also submit the Artist Statement in .docx/.doc or PDF format.

14. Submit your completed project to the Assignment folder on or before the due date.
Revision

Keep in mind that design is an irritative process. Often there is a back and forth between the designer and client before the design is in its final form. This project offers an opportunity for revisions. Consider the feedback from the instructor and revise the design. You may re-submit the assignment until the final submission deadline at the end of Week 7.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Please submit your completed assignment to your Assignments Folder in our CMST 320 LEO Classroom before the due date.

HARD DUE DATE: LAST DAY OF WEEK 7, TUESDAY – 11:59 PM | RECOMMENDED DUE DATE WEEK 2 | ET (EASTERN TIME)
Late Penalty: There is no late penalty for this project. You can submit (and resubmit) this assignment until the end of Week 7, Tuesday 11:59 PM ET. The Assignments Folder will then be closed and you will not be able to physically submit (or resubmit) the assignment for a grade.

Exceptions may be allowed, on a case-by-case basis, for life situations (military deployment, medical illness, death in the family, etc). In all cases, timely notification of a “life situation” is critical to the approval of any extensions. All exceptions must be accompanied by official documentation, which is subject to inspection and approval. Workload, course load, vacations, or bad memory are not acceptable excuses.

Running Close to the Deadline?: Please do not wait until the last minute to submit your assignment. Give yourself at least a 5-hour window to account for any technical difficulties that might arise. If you experience technical difficulties beyond your control that do not allow you to successfully complete the assignment, immediately follow the steps below:

Step 1: Contact UMGC Technical Support (888-360-UMGC). Inform them off the problem you are having. Get a REFERENCE NUMBER from them to document the situation.

Step 2: E-mail me ASAP and include a description of the problem you are having and your REFERENCE NUMBER from Technical Support, so I can investigate the situation.

Step 3: Attempt to attach your assignment to a message to me inside of LEO.

Step 4: E-mail the assignment to me.

GRADE VALUE

This project is worth 25 points or 25% of your total grade for the course. 

GRADE REDUCTIONS

You will lose points for issues such as: not following directions, not submitting your work on time, and failure to include all required elements. Each omission will result in a partial point deduction.

SUBMITTING YOUR ASSIGNMENT

To complete this project and receive full credit, you must submit your completed presentation to your Assignments Folder unless you encounter problems–discussed above).

CYA (COPY YOUR ASSIGNMENT)

Please make sure you keep a copy of your project stored on your computer. Technical difficulties do happen–you may need to resubmit your assignment for a number of reasons. It is always a good policy to CYA!

HAVING PROBLEMS?

Please contact me in advance if you are having problems understanding what is required of you.

DO YOUR OWN WORK
UMGC has strict policies regarding turning in work that is not 100% your own creation. I will enforce these policies.
NOTE 1: If you do not plan to use a recent version of Adobe Illustrator, please inform me in advance, so we can discuss these issues in greater detail.
VERIFY YOUR ASSIGNMENT HAS BEEN POSTED ( *** VERY IMPORTANT *** )

It is your responsibility to make sure you have posted your assignment CORRECTLY! Once you have posted your assignment, immediately attempt to view it, just to make sure your post was accepted by LEO, that it is formatted correctly, and you have posted the correct file.
NOTE 2: You will be held responsible for posting your assignments correctly.