Student Work: Graphic Design Education

Web Design Education

The following are a mix of student projects from the Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts (BUCDIA) and the University of Minnesota. In the case of BUCDIA, these projects served as capstones and real-life websites for non-profit clients. Graduates worked directly with their clients to establish visual commu­ni­cation parameters and establish a schedule and workflow up until the launch of the site. Design teams were assembled based on each project’s needs and the students came from their respective majors which included Graphic and Web Design, Web Devel­opment, Photog­raphy, and Digital Filmmaking. The Minnesota projects are part of the Graphic Design curriculum and were done by first-year design students.

Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
Danielle Gasmen, PhoHolic Branding and App Design, Univ. Minnesota, Spring 2023
Phoholic Vietnamese Restaurant Branding and App Design, Danielle Gasmend, Univ. Minnesota, Spring 2022
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
310 Pub, Logo and App Design — Allison Kolstad, Univ. Minnesota, Spring 2022
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
Top: Franky’s Cafe, Logo and App Design — Ethan Pichardo, Univ. Minnesota, Spring 2022
Bottom: Crave Restaurant and Bar, Logo and App Design — Karli Young, Univ. Minnesota, Spring 2022
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project
Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts Capstone Project

The Web Design classes that I have taught are intended to integrate the profes­sional practices and processes of creating and devel­oping websites with the objec­tives taught to students in their respective Graphic Design and/or Visual Commu­ni­ca­tions courses. The devel­opment of the following web design concepts is investigated:

  • analyzing and processing a web site as a solution for a visual commu­ni­cation problem
  • identi­fying website anatomy and critiquing its aesthetic and functional makeup
  • project management through simul­ta­neous projects
  • making use of resources for better use of a design process and an awareness of production issues involving coding
  • wireframing and site mapping
  • usability testing and accessibility
  • proto­typing
  • discussion and lectures of inter­active philosophy
  • HTML, CSS, jQuery, PHP (and what these may mean to a designer)

Web Design

Joanna Mahoney, Graduate Student, Graphic Design, Fall 2017 — Suffolk University,
Redesign of New Yorker
Joanna Mahoney, Graduate Student, Graphic Design, Fall 2017 — Suffolk University
Redesign of New Yorker
Joanna Mahoney, Graduate Student, Graphic Design, Fall 2017 — Suffolk University
Redesign of New Yorker
Joanna Mahoney, Graduate Student, Graphic Design, Fall 2017 — Suffolk University
Redesign of New Yorker
Joanna Mahoney, Graduate Student, Graphic Design, Fall 2017 — Suffolk University
Redesign of New Yorker
Abby Shobajo, Suffolk U.
Abby Shobajo, Under­gradute Student, Graphic Design, Fall 2017 — Suffolk University
Redesign of Fader, a Music and Lifestyle Magazine

Students choose a News Website (eg’s: NYTimes, NPR, Slate, Huffington Post, CNN, FoxNews, ESPN, etc.) and redesign the site following profes­sional practices. Current infor­mation published, presented and organized by the news organi­zation is evaluated and critiqued according to what is assumed is the publi­ca­tion’s intended audience and weighed against the students’ experi­ences and sensi­bil­ities. That infor­mation and feedback may be reorga­nized and presented with modifi­ca­tions to the publi­ca­tions categories. Students also inves­tigate hierarchy of infor­mation through typog­raphy and layout.

Editorial Illustration, Research, Image Optimization

Editorial Illustration, Grace Olson, Univ. Minnesota - Duluth, Spring 2023 image
Editorial Illus­tration, Grace Olson, Univ. Minnesota — Duluth, Spring 2023

Kim Gaskins, CTU, Graphic Design, Fall, 2017 —
Suffolk University

Editorial Illustration, Jenna Walsh, Univ. Minnesota - Duluth, Spring 2023 image
Editorial Illus­tration, Jenna Walsh, Univ. Minnesota — Duluth, Spring 2023

Natasha Quijano, Graphic Design Graduate 2018 —
Suffolk University

Editorial Illustration, Omar Negrete, Univ. Minnesota - Duluth, Spring 2023 image
Editorial Illus­tration, Omar Negrete, Univ. Minnesota — Duluth, Spring 2023

Cree Daniels, Graphic Design Graduate 2019 —
Suffolk University

Assignment: Design, Illus­trate, or Montage a newspaper or online article (editorial illus­tration) pertaining to an article found in the news.

Icon Designs

Dungeons & Dragons Gaming Appli­cation Icons,
Brendon O’Brien, CTU, Graphic Design, Fall, 2017 — Suffolk University

Daily Yoga Appli­cation Icons, Natasha Quijano,
Senior Graphic Design, Fall, 2017 — Suffolk University

Good Reads Appli­cation Icons, Kim Gaskins, CTU,
Graphic Design, Fall, 2017 — Suffolk University

Abby Shobajo, Icon Designs
Abby Shobajo, Under­gradute Student, Graphic Design, Fall 2017 —
Suffolk University, Icon designs for a health application
Icon Designs for Restaurant App Designs, Univ. Minnesota, Spring 2022
Icon Designs for Restaurant App Designs, Univ. Minnesota, Spring 2022

ICON — Iconic signs are those which resemble the object they represent.  It is directly related to what it repre­sents, the meaning is immedi­ately evident. it can be a smaller part that repre­sents a whole. An icon is a graphical repre­sen­tation of a word, concept, object or operation.  note that your app icon will always be presented with the name of the appli­cation. Icon design is all about expressing yourself clearly in a confined amount of visual space. What is your appli­cation really all about? If you could only show people one thing that would represent your entire appli­cation, what would it be? Selecting a single object can work for some apps. If you must have several objects inter­acting with each other, make sure each and everyone of them is clearly defined and that the inter­action is unmis­tak­ingly clear. Don’t clutter the space with unnec­essary noise. As with all design, the more you take away from it while still keeping your message, the more clear that message will be.