Followed on from the first part of this article I have tracked down talented designs students from The USA, Singapore, South Africa & Russia.
Daniel Hunninghake, 21, United States
Tools: Photoshop, Illustrator, TextEdit
Studying at: Saint Louis University
Specialising in: Graphic Design and Sociology
What do you like and dislike about your design education?
I like how studying graphic design is limitless. Every other class I’ve had is reduced to facts or figures or what you read in textbooks. It’s all spoon-fed information, with little critical thinking or creativity. But graphic design…well, I guess I can sum it up by saying I feel most alive when I’m creating meaningful things. And my graphic design education affords me that opportunity. What I dislike is that, sometimes, design assignments can box me in…restrictions on type, certain colors and ways for creating images. It wrecks my flow!
Can you give us a little background about your featured project?
My featured project was a social awareness poster, where each student had his/her choice of any social issue the world is facing today. I chose child soldiers, a topic that has strong imagery and appeals to emotion. I took finger painting (an innocent children’s activity) and skewed it to communicate a very real message that blood is being shed…children’s blood, nonetheless! I added an extra long drip to lead the eye down to the text, where I paired a bold font for impact with my own handwritten text for a kid-like feel.
Do you feel that your course has fully prepared you for gaining a job in the design industry?
Fully? No, I don’t think any type of education can fully prepare you for a job in the design industry. I’ll discover what that’s all about once I take that step. But I can say that I have learnt important skills that will remain with me throughout my entire design career, especially the ability to conceptualize.
In terms of a design career, where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
In five years I’d like to be running my own studio. I enjoy thinking big, so I also have a business venture stored in the back of my mind that I’d like to pursue eventually. For now, though, it’s all about dragging out my education as long as possible to avoid the real world and doing freelance work to make ends meet.
You can contact Daniel by visiting his website www.danielhunninghake.com or you can follow him on twitter via www.twitter.com/dhunninghake
JJunio Nguyen Gia Hai, 23, Singapore
Tools: Photoshop, Illustrator
Studying at: Lasalle, College of the art
Specialising in: Advertising Communication
What do you like and dislike about your design education?
One thing I have to say is that I love Art & Design, so that is why I chose to study it. I love it, it is my passion. It is about ideas and creative thoughts which is, to me, the most important solution for every porblems in everyday life. The study life of a design student is fun, really. However, there are still a few restrictions that we can freely to express our ideas…nevermind then…i know the life of designer out there is also like that. If u are preparing to go to design school I will advise you prepare your pocket first.
Can you give us a little background about your featured project?
The integrated campaign for MAA 2009 ( MTV Asia Awards 2009 ) is the most effective way to arouse the awareness of the target audience. This type of campaign uses many of the tools and channels to send the message. It increases more chances of reaching the target by the strength of different media. Strategy statement: to provoke the target audience by daring them to strip down their shy ego, unleash their wild side to enjoy the music. Single Minded Proposition: The event unleashes innovative music in style.
Do you feel that your course has fully prepared you for gaining a job in the design industry?
Yup, i do think my course achieves that by giving us challenging assignments and they also teach us how to survive and sustain in this industry, which is helpful.
In terms of a design career, where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
An art director in an advertising firm. I just do not know which firm yet.
Jjunio can be contacted by email via giahai@[at]gmail.com
Reghardt Grobbelaar, 22, South Africa
Tools: Indesign, Illustrator , Photoshop
Studying at: The Open Window – School of Visual Communication
Specialising in: Communication Design
What do you like and dislike about your design education?
The thing I like the most would be the fact that the school focuses on the practical side of things, we only have one theoretical subject; at time this does become one too many. The downside of my education I would have to say is the way in which the lecturers project their styles onto the student, but I suppose its the only way how one can learn in the beginning.
Can you give us a little background about your featured project?
The project I chose was an assignment on the creation of corporate Identity, in my case, the client was an organic deli which hosted live bands. We had to create the name, which had to be approved first, the logo, menu, juice bottle designs along with their corresponding labels. The last object we had to create was some form of promotional Item. The chosen name was Attune Cuisine and the theme was birds and bird watching. The menu was designed so that the food was on one side, and the drinks on the other. The juice bottles were created out of glasses, so that once you have finished the juice, the glass could be kept and reused. The pormotional item was a CD featuring some ofthe songs played by the live bands.
Do you feel that your course has fully prepared you for gaining a job in the design industry?
On the whole, yes. In our country and especially the town, Open Window students are well known for the fact that they have more practical experience than most of the students from the other institutions. Another point in our favor is they fact that we cover most of the software which gives us a broad design knowledge from print to video and everything inbetween. We are also expected to complete a six week Internship before we graduate.
In terms of a design career, where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
In five years I expect to have a steady job, along with completing my honours in Visual Communication and most likely my degree in fine arts.
You can contact Reghardt by visiting his website www.cakesama.com or you can follow him on twitter via www.twitter.com/cake_sama
Olga Balina, 21, Russia
Tools: Fontlab, Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign
Studying at: British Higher School of Art and Design
Specialising in: Type & Typography
What do you like and dislike about your design education?
The good side of my education is that I have really professional teachers which is really important for a young designer, because they help you progress much quicker. I’m studying at the best higher school of Moscow and I consider it gives me more and more every day. When I was studing in the Type & Typography course my curator was Ilya Ruderman, who is really good type designer. He helped open my eyes to the world of type design. After this course i’ll study Graphic design and Illustration, I always want to learn more than what I know.
Can you give us a little background about your featured project?
This is a type family for different magazines. I think it’ll be suitable for Another magazine or Dazed magazine. The type is very similar to my own personality .The Meringue family consists of two fonts: Meringue Regular & Meringue Italic. I also implemented Meringue with some particular features, such as old-style figures, alternative characters and ligatures etc.
Do you feel that your course has fully prepared you for gaining a job in the design industry?
Yes, i think so. I want to have a brilliant career and i’ll strive to achieve it, but at the same time I know that it’s only the start and I must do more. Eventually every student must think about their education, because only they know, what they want. I guess it isn’t difficult, if you know your specialisation from the beginning, for other it takes time.
In terms of a design career, where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
I’ll complete my education and i’ll go to London, because I want to work in the Wolff Olins studio.
It is my dream, whether it will happen or not, we’ll see.
It is my dream, whether it will happen or not, we’ll see.
You can contact Olga by visiting her website www.behance.net/Ollga/Frame
I am currently seeking talented design students for parts 5-8. If you would like to be featured and you are located in Ireland, Poland, India, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, China, Japan, Spain, France, Croatia, New Zealand, Egypt or Romania please email students [at] downwithdesign.com with a sample of your work.
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