STA Blog

Week 15 – Thang

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Week 15

Project: Conference Website 

Started on: Feb 3, 2022

Completed on: Feb 3, 2022

Staff Guidance: Maddy, and Stacy

Description: For this project, I was tasked with designing a sample conference website from scratch. I went online to search for inspirations or something that could implement in my website. I found some interesting designs that I could implement in my Figma design.

 

For the project, I used black and white as the primary color palette. I want to limit the use of colors in order to see if my design still stands out, and for now, the color and design match really well with each other in my opinion.

The website has three important sections that every conference website has: introduction, speaker and agenda. I plan to add Demo Page in which it instructs the client on how to change different components of the website like the color, the font and the image. However, before going into too deep with the details, I want to stop to ask for feedback regarding the content and the design, so I stop on Friday after mocking up the design.

 

Week 14 – Thang

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Week 14

Project: Texas German Dialect Project

Started on: Nov 24 , 2022

Completed on: Nov 27, 2022

Staff Guidance: Maddy, and Stacy

Description: For this project, I was tasked with redesigning Testimonials Section for the page.

I come up with different layouts and designs for the project. At a first stage, I proposed three different layouts.

  1. Grid Layout with cards
  2. Grid layout with chat bubble
  3. Accordion layout: when the user click on the user row, the text below it will expand.

 

 

 

 

But after taking with Stacy and Maddy, we went ahead with version 1. However, through the process of designing, Maddy suggested a design with bigger portraits. Therefore, I try to explore and see if I can make the design looks better with images of people. Again, I come up with different layouts.

 

 

After a lengthy discussion, I settled with the first design and here is my final outcome.

The final outcome involves a column that displays 3 cards. Then, the user has an option to read more when he or she clicks on Read More button. It will direct the user to a new page that contains 3 different cards and more cards below it in a grid layout.

https://www.figma.com/file/UsknIkSZ4JkwQkOccviCUj/TXGP?node-id=0%3A1&t=vw2XrKNLIDXX8vY2-1

 

Save the days

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Save the Date

Start: Jan 18th 2023

To be Completed: Jan 25th 2023

Client: LAITS

Staff Guidance: Maddy

Description: This project aims to create a design in the form of sports tickets and invite people to watch the event via e-mail for 2023 STA presentation. The necessary information on the tickets includes:

  • Title: 2023 STA Presentation
  • Date and Time: Friday, April 14th, 3pm
  • Location: CAL 100

Maddy also includes some additional text to be add on or as decoration elements with low hierarchy:

  • Save the Date
  • Learn about the fantastic things LAITS does!
  • Audio Video Design Web Development
  • College of Liberal Arts
  • Student Technology Assistants
  • 25 years of LAITS (confirm)

For the first draft, I utilize the color code from the LAITS logo as the background and play with black and white to limit my color palette. Since there is no image to place on the ticket, I’d like to use typography to evoke the expression and emphasize the important information. In terms of the title, I used an extra bold font with black color to create contrast between other line decorative lines and other low-hierarchy info on the green background. I also divide the tickets into two sections with its form of stub and main ticket. On the left ticket, I explain on the content and context of the event whereas the right part only showcase the time ad location. I also enlarge the date and location to capture the attention from the first glance.

The use of font and use of color, black and white, has high contrast between each element and therefore creates the sense of illustrated/graphic look in the first draft. However, The STA presentation has a sports theme and therefore needs a more photo-realistic/collage/textured look.

  • One to approach the vintage style is to add more flowing ribbon or plaque-type elements from the 19th or 20th centuries.
  • At the same time, utilizing art-deco fonts and complimenting color with the background color (as well as avoiding the use of black and white) portrays the sense of the age and times.
  • This time I replied with the typeface called Espiritu from Adobe fonts. The type family has three different styles with heavier strokes as headlines, condensed type for the main content, and dingbats as decorative fonts (data point). I also use orange to distract the flow of black and make the picture full.
  • After research on other vintage tickets, I found out the ponderous line weight is more suitable for art deco fonts and therefore used a 2px line weight for decoration. 

When I took a deeper look at the second draft, I realized that the use of black and white is too serious and differentiate from the antique tickets with poor printing quality and yellowing paper. For the new draft, I chose the lighter tone of blue from LAITS logo and play with dark shade color and complimentary color. 

The last change I made to the design is to make it more rectangular and blocky as a whole. I get rid of some additional texts but kept with the event title, date, time, location, associated department, and the teams engaged in the LAITS team. I also prioritize the text in terms of importance by color, font weight and focal point of the tickets. I also made a simple mockup and added the antique texture to the tickets as the final outcome.

To fit for LAITS color scheme and emphasize the role of LAITS, I created five version with different team color and add LAITS logo on the side of the banner.

Final:

Week LVIII

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Week LVIII

This week, settling back in, was a lot of small stuff. I helped onboard a new STA, gave a tour, and troubleshooted my Box issues in terminal, between tiny course graphics edits and exports for old projects. Coming up for the spring, I have 2 big things.

Save the DATE!

Project: Course Graphics – 2023 STA Presentation
Client /Prof: LAITS
completion status: WIP
staff guidance: Maddy K
STA team members: Leilani, Louisa, et al
description/plans: TBA
To be completed: TBA

So, we have our first official STA presentation since… 2019? The theme is sports, and I’ll be in charge of a lot of prep and graphics, but for starters I’m just drafting a promotional ticket stub. Most of the text isn’t done yet, but I spent a lot of time getting the shape perfect.

Basic Training: Create your own 8-bit Animated GIF

With most of our After Effects human capital departed, I’ve been suggested to start some animation trainings. This one was short and simple, and I’ve done similar stuff before.

Something that did come up was our organization system for STA trainings, and the forgotten training spreadsheet… Valerie, Maddy and I are meeting this week to draft up some better organization systems.

Intermediate Training: Animate Simple Course Graphics

This is where the actual Ae skills come in. I haven’t gotten past the drafting stage, with Save the DATE! taking precedence, but my idea is making an intro for Introduction to Greek Archaeology, one of my favorite electives I’ve taken at UT.

See You Later

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See You Later

Wow! I can’t believe I am leaving such an amazing team!! This semester went by way too fast and I’m going to miss every single one of y’all!!

Even though I am leaving, I don’t want to say goodbye because I feel like our paths might cross again in the future. I’m sad to be leaving but I have grown so much from working for LAITS for the past 2 years and I’m truly blessed to call myself a design STA. When I first started this job, I was filled with ambition and dedication but very little technical skills. But Valerie, Maddy, and Suloni believed in me and saw the potential I had to grow into a level 4 STA. I cherish all the projects I got to work on and all the AMAZING designers I got to meet. Y’all are superstars and I saw that when y’all created those beautiful posters. I couldn’t be prouder and I’m so thankful I got to see it.

Rules for Success

  1. Always be true to yourself! Embrace your unique qualities and never stop shining!
  2. See the potential in yourself! Don’t be afraid to try new things!
  3. Use college as a learning opportunity. Learn about yourself and others.
  4. “Can’t” is your motivation. If you don’t achieve something at the beginning but you are truly passionate about it, keep trying!! See failure as an opportunity to grow.

Letters:

 

Adrian:

You are a powerhouse! From creating a new intake system for Photo IDs to creating so many visually appealing course graphics! You always take a fun and unique approach to your creations that I know all the clients love. I also love how knowledgable you are on so many animal creatures. I know you are going to do amazing things and you are going to lead your fellow STAs well.

 

Thang:

Wow!! I am always so speechless after your present in our weekly check-in meetings. You are sooooooo passionate about learning new things and the way you share that information to your peers is amazing! You are such a great web developer and presenter. I also know you want to start designing as well and I have full confidence you can. By knowing how to develop an easily accessible website, you will be unstoppable when you began adding design elements.

 

Carrie:

Your attention to detail and design is amazing!! When you created the design STA poster I was shocked at how fast you were able to create such a beautiful design that captured our team so well! You also create such amazing website designs that are thought out and really capture what the client wants. Continue being amazing and creating beautiful work!

 

Lorena:

Wow! For the past couple of months your designs have grown so much. I appreciate your attention to details and unique style. You are such as sweet person and I absolutely loved working with you. Continue asking questions and learning new ways to create effective designs.

 

Marissa:

Your illustrations are soooo beautiful! I absolutely loved seeing your voting illustrations! I love how passionate you are for design and I see you doing big things in the future. Don’t be afraid to explore new approaches and gain as much knowledge from your fellow designer and managers.

 

Luisa:

First, you have such an amazing style!! I love your leather coat and boats that you wear!! Absolutely beautiful!! You are so kind and caring to everyone you meet. You are also an amazing designer!! From the postcards to the brochure, I’m blown away with your attention to detail to create such amazing physical designs.

 

Leilani:

Wow!!! You have grown so much from when you first started as an STA! You are such a strong leader and have so many great ideas for art direction. I know you are going to do amazing things for the STA team! You are going to manage the the UTFC project and find new approaches I couldn’t think of. You are so smart and talented!! Also, I hope your online print business is extremely successful! Your artwork is so beautiful and I know everyone will enjoy it.

 

Valerie:

You are such an amazing manager. You create such as welcoming and inviting environment for all the designers. I love how you play lo-fi and engage in fun conversations with everyone. Thank you for having the confidence on me to take on the UTFC project and help the STAs in anyway possible. I know that the Design team will continue to reach new goals because your passion for this team really shines!!! Thank you for being you!! Also, please start making art again!! You are such as talented illustrator and the world deserve to see your work!!

 

Maddy:

First, the mural is going to be sooo beautiful! I think it will truly create a peaceful environment for the designers to create freely. You are such an amazing art director and I love how you encourage the designers to go for new unique approaches to their projects. You inspired me so much with your leadership style and your dedication to the team. Thank you so much for encouraging me to take new risks with my animations and allowing my to take the lead on the STA posters. I’m truly thankful to have had a manager like you in my work career!!

 

Suloni:

Thank you for everything!! You have created such as strong foundation for the design STAs and I’m truly blessed that I was a part of it. Your wisdom and encouragement is so beautiful and the love you have for all the STAs shows. I know the design team will continue to be strong because they had you!! I hope you have a fun, relaxing, and adventurous retirement. You absolutely deserve it. Thank you for sharing a piece of you with your beautiful presentation of your work. I don’t know if I would have believed in myself to take on art direction without you putting me in those roles and believing in my abilities. I honestly can’t thank you enough.

 

New Beginnings

Y’all keep being amazing and creating wonderful designs that will be showcased all throughout UT. I’m so happy that I was a part of this team and always remember, y’all are LOVED <3

 

Week 11

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GOV 336M Course Materials

Client /Prof: Rob Moser
Completion Status: Started on Nov 3
Staff Guidance: Suloni
Completed on: TBD

Continuing to work on the GOV 336M course materials, I’m closing in to a final design. This is what I have so far:

And this is the lecture background in action:

UTFC 8.4B: Spices and Seasonings

Client /Prof: Yazz
Completion Status: Started on Nov 14
STA team members: De’Sha
Completed on: TBD

I’ve been working on a new UTFC slideshow, this time on spices and seasonings! Attached below is only a draft 1, hasn’t yet been approved. I had trouble finding a few images, one of which was for the elusive “la vinaigrette”, so I just have a placeholder picture in for that one.