STA Blog

By

GOV350K Statistical Analysis in Political Science: Course Graphics

I’ve been tasked with creating a Tier 1 (Base) package of course graphics for Professor Stephen Jesse’s course GOV 350K Statistical Analysis in Political Science!

➜ Design Drafts: I started out this assignment by ideating on a few designs that could be used in the different components of this course graphics package (including Canvas banner, dashboard, ect). My instructions were to use blue tones, and blurry imagery of data/charts. I used Adobe Photoshop to combine different stock images I found, and added different effects and elements until I came up with these designs:

Here is a visualization of what these graphics may look like on a Canvas Homepage Banner:

➜ Project Status: In progress (11/14)

https://sta.laits.utexas.edu/blog/2025/11/14/55401/

STA Alumni Network

By

STA Alumni Network Website

Client: LAITS

Task: Design a website that contains information about the STA Alumni Network.

Status: In progress

Understanding the Situation

Figuring out the core needs and goals.

Comparing what we currently have with what we need:

Figuring out information architecture:

Research

Gather insights that will inform the design.

I took a look at other alumni websites for a baseline/inspiration:

From there, I compiled the content that we would need to have:

Design & Prototype

Brainstorm and narrow down the visual + functional components.

I sketched out possible layouts for the different screens:

Then I made some low-fidelity prototypes:

Implement

Transfer the designs over to WordPress.

Live site: https://utw11313.utweb.utexas.edu/

The ChiLDS Lab

By

The ChiLDS Lab Site Redesign

Client: Maria Arredondo, The ChiLDS Lab

Task: Complete a site redesign for The ChiLDS Lab. The client wanted to keep most of the content, but wanted a refreshed and “cuter” design overall.

Status: In progress, low fidelity mock-ups created

The Old Site

What we’re working with.

Logo Redesign

An updated look.

A moodboard

Initial designs

Abstract Banner

For separating content.

Possible Site Mock-Ups

Several options of implementations of the above assets.

Client Feedback

Receiving edits and revising.

The client ended up choosing the “lego block” logo design, with some minor edits. After revising to meet her requests, the logo ended up looking like this:

Low-Fidelity Mock-Ups

A more complete plan for the layouts.

Summer 2025

By

Summer 2025

Summer Marketing

First Day of Classes

Juneteenth

Freshmen Orientation

Transfer Orientation

HIS 315L

⋆｡°✩ Full course package

⋆｡°✩ Prof. wanted to show the continuities between the past and present

⋆｡°✩ Original course imagery –>

v.1

v.2

Sepia, grid lines

Sepia, blurred transition

☆ B&W and color, grid lines ☆

v.3

Fall Postcard

Initial Drafts

⋆｡°✩ Played around with the messaging, “my summer” vs “your summer”

⋆｡°✩ Explored different imagery (graduation, on campus, talking with friends)

Exploring Layouts & Taglines

⋆｡°✩ Collage allows for greater expression of summer (internships, staying on campus, traveling, etc.)

⋆｡°✩ The vertical column layout was a lot more balanced and easier to read

⋆｡°✩ Felt the original tagline didn’t align with our message and research. Needed to focus on the fact that students want to use summer to get ahead and complete course requirements

Final Tagline

⋆｡°✩ After settling on a tagline, we’re now focussing on which text should be the main tagline, our organization or message?

july projects

By

✿˖° ⋆ July Projects ⋆˚✿˖°

── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──

Studio Backdrops Redesign Update

── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──

Last time I talked about the studio backdrops redesign, I had created and edited these four designs as well as selecting stock photos that fit the news anchor style! Now it was time to studio test!

After studio testing with De’sha, the main revisions we thought of were:

── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──

  • narrowing down stock images selection
  • repositioning the designs to fit the screen better
  • either blurring or making more designs visible depending on the backdrops
  • incorporating more of the jewel tone colors

── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──

For the next revision, I was intrigued about how the current designs would look in different colors! I gravitated a lot towards topaz blue at first, but maybe some other colors might suit other designs better!

── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──

── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──

On July 1st, De’sha and I tested the revised backdrops! The variety of colors was a great addition to the testing as well! Again, we did feel like we can make some more changes for next time which were:

── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──

  • some colors needed to be more saturated
  • replace or remove textures
  • bring up the opacity and blurriness on some designs
  • photo edit some stock images
  • gather more stock images

── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──

── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──

On July 9th, De’sha and I went back to studio testing with the updated designs! I found some more stock images that captured the news anchor style but we decided to narrow the selection more for the next studio testing date! However some designs still needed some updates like:

── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──

  • bringing up the opacity of texts
  • revising tints of stock images
  • reformatting the display of designs

── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──

── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──

Before my summer shift ended, I updated the background based on our revisions! Until we go studio testing again, this is where we left off! Overall, this project really let me practice my graphic skills and was such a fun project to end summer with!