DFX452 | SP26 |Blog Post 2
Halfway Already
I just finished my first critique, and honestly? I feel amazing. I went in with a list of targeted questions to make sure I got the specific feedback I needed, and it worked so well.
Leaving class, I felt a massive boost of confidence. It’s such a blessing to see that my hard work isn't going unnoticed. I realized during the session that I have such an incredible opportunity to capture these visions in high definition, and I’m not taking that lightly.
Where do I even start? I have been grinding through the weeks to make continuous progress, so I want to take it back to the beginning to show where I am currently at in this process. Right now, the goal was to have three logos and a solid set of mockups ready to go. During my recent critique group, I really wanted to receive targeted feedback to make sure my problem-solving was actually on point. This all started with a formal outreach phase where I reached out to clients that I thought could use a serious brand revamp or those that didn't even have a brand to begin with.
After that outreach, I officially decided on my big three: Belle Cosmetics Clinic, Pixel 19 Vintage, and the Cincinnati Couture Collective. I didn't just pick them and start drawing; I assessed them and did extensive research on brand guidelines to figure out which color palettes would work best for their specific industries. Once we finished our Zoom meetings, I dove into even more research and sent them back style guides to make sure the "vibe" I was going for actually matched their vision. This step took an insane amount of time, finding fonts, colors, widths, and heights of logos.
To keep my sanity and make sure everyone got the attention they deserved, I created a strict time block every Sunday. I spend my mornings from 9 to 11 with Bell Cosmetics, hit the 11 to 1 slot with Pixel 19, and finish off the day with the Cincinnati Couture Collective from 1 to 3. During these conversations, I did even more research into the logic of letterforms, pictorial symbols, and wordmark logos to see how they could be transformed into a dynamic system.
All that research led to a lot of sketching and eventually my first round of mock trials. When I showed the class my mockups and informal texts, I got some seriously valuable insights. For example, the group suggested that for Pixel 19, I should try out physical tags and other "extra" deliverables that would really make the brand stand out. I think i drew a B at least 200 times. My time is now limited as I am entering the last stages of my college careers and I'm having a lot of senior portfolio that I have to tend to. I think that I need to be consistent in present when it comes to this project so I can continue to have high-quality renders and mockups.
The finish line for this phase is in sight, but the work is just getting started. Now that the Crit is over, I know exactly what is next for me. I’m heading back to the lab to revise those mockups with fresh ideas and knowledge, finally get this blog post live, and prep for a huge meeting with the team from Procter and Gamble. It’s a lot to juggle, but seeing these brands start to actually "live" makes all those Sunday blocks worth it.
