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MAINE COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN,
PORTLAND ME

The work here showcases the studios I have undertaken since 2021.
All work credited to student.

DESIGN BASICS: FORM & MEANING

Graphic Design Major

This course will introduce students to basic principles, elements and laws of graphic design. Throughout the semester we will focus on enduring understanding of the Design Principles along with Design Elements. Design Elements like Point-Line, Shape, Form, Colour, Value, and Texture gives aesthetic look to a concept, while GESTALT LAWS (Proximity, Similarity, Continuity, Closure and Ground) defines the psychological behaviour of the concept. The studio delivers deeper focus on the Design Principles like Harmony, Emphasis, Variety, Contrast, Movement, Hierarchy, Scale, Symmetry and Asymmetry, which helps in building the exquisite personality to the concept along with composition. Coursework will include in class discussions, readings, research and studio work. During the semester, we will look at many examples of design from both a contemporary and historical context. Regardless of your background, the goal of this course is to give you a foundation in making and critiquing design solutions. This class will offer you opportunities to better understand how to define a design opportunity as well as what makes work successful. You do not need to have any specialized knowledge, but are encouraged to bring your individual skills and interests to your work.

XYZ: PERPETUAL PLAY

Graphic Design Major

This studio engages with the elements and principles involved in graphic design. Communicate complex / layered / unstructured information with clarity and intent, in various media and processes that inform the technical and communicative canon of graphic design. Acquire a strong grasp of the dynamics and principles of grids, typography and content structuring as applied to multi-tiered and multilingual information with eg. projects like interpretive exhibition design, signage systems, and packaging. Emphasis will be placed on the potentials for artistic/conceptual expression within assigned or individually created projects. The class promote the development of a critical analytical vocabulary through group and self critique as well as a rational method for image generation in contexts of various media in visual communication.
The goal is to explore the indivisible connection between the media and methods of design that inform the meaning of design work across 2D and 3D environments. The class amplify the inherent similarities of design methodology throughout media to promote thinking across platforms of making work.  By the end of this class, they will have interesting studio projects or portfolio pieces. These pieces will start conversations during portfolio reviews and demonstrate unique creative approach. By the end of this class, students  will have experienced and developed their own approach to graphic design methodology, design iconography, tone, contextual design, typographic systems, and international applications.

DESIGN ISSUES AND HISTORY

https://www.meca.edu/stories/design-history-issues-lecture-series-created-by-prof-zenab-bastawala/

This course will research, explore and reflect on the evolution of Design from the perspective of diversity in design and its practice since the early 19th century (flexible with era) and its journey to the present regardless of its language, script and colour. It will look at the myriad influences that Design has on society, the role that history, culture, economics plays in shaping Design into continental and intercontinental approach and the pivotal role that it plays in defining the zeitgeist of the times. It will drive through readings, discussions, presentations, with an open approach of new ‘ISM’ as a studio project that will explore and examine contemporary issues and design history that affect the way we perceive the practice of design. Topics and projects will engage the student in the critical thinking and research specific to design methodology. This serves to expand the individual student’s personal palette of form and context.

2D FOUNDATION

Excellent Results

This course cultivates an understanding of design and composition through an in-depth investigation of two-dimensional phenomena and perceptual color. Through the successful completion of carefully sequenced exercises, students will gain an understanding of composition and design while developing the manual dexterity and fabrication skills necessary to create work with intention and precision. The course works in conjunction with all Foundation studio, Liberal Arts and Art History courses.

LETTERFORM DESIGN

Satisfaction Guaranteed

An immersive letterform design workshop in order to gain a better understanding of what it takes to produce professional typeface at a high level of quality. Understand how and why letterforms work seamlessly when they are used to set words, sentences and paragraphs. Prototype letterform drawings to build a foundational understanding of Type Design as a craft and profession. Consider context and intent in developing letterforms. This studio course introduces the student to the creation and adaptation of letterforms to various tool and medium applications in the design of communications. Understanding the structure of letters will be investigated in traditional and contemporary media – both static and time-based. Projects will be framed to allow the student to learn the design of letterforms towards both traditional and conventional in Latin and Global scripts work will be 95% analog, 5% digital.

METHOD MOTIVE MAKING

Practical Solutions

Engage with print and production processes and techniques for a variety of print-based communication mediums prevalent in the graphic design, publishing and advertising industry today. Identify an appropriate production process, a suitable substrate and then generate error-free, print-ready documents. Gain an understanding of the intricacies of print-production and post printing processes through visits to local paper, printing and finishing industries. This course explores the materials and methods of working in design through a series of intensive hands-on workshops. Processes may include various print production techniques like Risograph letterpress, cyanotype, lino print, 3d, laser, CNC cutter, screen print, offset printing,  stencil printing and introduction to the Fab Lab. Conceptual exploration of a semester-long theme will be a common tying narrative to a visual language that is material specific. Industry visit for understanding the process of printing and production.

Academic: Services

SRISHTI MANIPAL INSTITUTE OF ART & DESIGN, BANGALORE, INDIA

This is the showcase of my studios and workshop, undertaken during 4yrs of span.

THESIS PROJECT

Final Year

The project dives into the centuries that translate Bengaluru as a global city with written records of 1500 years of its past. These historical "documents" are writings on a stone in Kannada, Tamil and Telegu languages. These writings (called stone inscriptions) are records of significant events at that location when the inscription was commissioned. The important event could be building a lake, a village, a temple, a person's martyrdom in battle, etc.
The summarization of all of this information in its inscriptions in the history of Bengaluru. Therefore, Bengaluru is uniquely fortunate to have even the history of many of its localities well documented. Unfortunately, these inscriptions are in archaic or old Kannada scripts unreadable to most localities, so their worth is neither understood nor appreciated. Almost 60% of these are lost, and the remaining few are on the verge of erosion. Despite this, the majority of these stones are showing signs of severe deteriora­tion, fallen into decay. Appreciating the writings and historical value requires to conserve them before the city loses its historical memorials.  

The Mythic Society carries the recent archiving project that has been initiated on the prospects of 3d scanning the stone and making replica on a 3d modeller, which helps to secure the stone into its original form. Also, because of a much integrated 3d software, it is possible to extract very detailed information about the chisel movement and intricate detail carved on the stone. The project offers a digital replica of the inscribed old Kannada letterforms, which helps to understand the stone's narrative. Supporting this project will initiate a lot of learning and understanding from the historical and futuristic perspective.

PROJECT- SECOND THOUGHTS

Yr 2 & 3, UG


Reimagine, Reform, Rejuvenate, Invigorate

Are we going back to business as usual? How can we look at the obvious around us—that which with familiarity is mundane and invisible--and see it again with new eyes, to understand its core, the interconnections, as well as actions and consequences. How would the world be if we reimagined and reinterpreted the historically taken-for-granted materials, communications, theories, practices and processes? The studio is the springboard to leap into new directions having engaged with what was and then reimagining what could be?

VISUAL DESIGN

Yr 2, UG

In this studio, students will be prepared to learn and understand the Design Elements in coherence with  Design Principles and Gestalt Laws These combine classifications will act as stepping stones in the perception of a visual language to develop a concept through the layout. It will, in turn, aid them in their ability to observe and perceive ideas visually which directly leads to iterate and moderate in the process work. 

TYPOGRAPHIC FORM AND ITS COMMUNICATION

Yr 2 & 3, UG

Typography is a unique and fascinating combination of art and science in the visual medium — the course teaches about the type and how to apply typographic principles in visual design and communication. The course is equipped with a holistic approach to working with typography across various languages. It also clarifies typography terminologies, which help to create eye-catching and impactful designs.

LETTERFORM DESIGN

 Yr 3, UG & PG 

Letterform design is an immersive studio, which gives better idealistic views about type design. It highlights the professional type designs ethics and values as per type terminologies, intricate details, structure, and formation. This studio builds a conceptual understanding of how and why letterforms work when they are used to set words, sentences and paragraphs, along with offering an introduction on how to prototype letterform drawings with the help of type design software. The studio covers regional scripts along with Latin letterforms drawing and developing.

LETTERPRESS

Yr 2 & 3, PG & UG

Letterpress engages with the process of manual printing and typesetting. It also provides a deeper understanding of the historical contexts and impact of it in the profession of typography, type design and graphic design. The studio focuses on building conceptualise design and craft artwork utilising the metal fonts, materials and processes, forms and formats, that are specific to Letterpress printing.

EXPERIMENTAL TYPOGRAPHY

Yr 2 & 3, UG

Experiment typography gives a variety of approaches to explore letterforms. It examines a range of possibilities in expressive form, and connect language syntax with visual communication. The studio offers the opportunity to question the traditional meaning of a letterform and focus on an expanded abstract idea. It also encourages to explore type in unexpected ways and through unusual mediums.

PUBLICATION DESIGN

Yr 2 & 3, UG

​The publication design studio extends and expands skills in layout design. The process of designing a publication, as it requires deep engagement with the content and the viewer to present robust, thoughtful and informative layouts. Ability and advanced level understanding of the relationship between Colour, Form, Type, Space, as well as Hierarchy, and Structure is the core focus of this studio. It also covers design considerations for the creation of multiple page documents as well as production processes and post-production issues, including the availability of different papers for printing.

LAYOUT DESIGN

Yr 2 & 3, UG

To understand the form as an element, which will follow with its functionality and purpose with print. The studio focuses on to build awareness about the different aspect of layout, which will include grid, typography, imaginary, and composition. Ability to apply principles of Gestalt, Grid Systems, Perception and Cognition. Semiotics to create an informative yet imaginative piece of communication along with understanding materials and processes, forms & formats, and their impact on the design.

CALLIGRAPHY – FORM, TECHNIQUE AND DESIGN

Yr 2 & 3, UG

Explore calligraphy as a creative and artistic interpretation of hand-writing. Practice the art of forming language symbols by hand and arranging them in aesthetic and meaningful ways. Position and inscribe words to reflect integrity, harmony, ancestry, rhythm and creative expression. Work with traditional as well as contemporary techniques and tools, and investigate different styles of calligraphy to develop personal and customized visual forms.

PRODUCTION PROCESSES FOR PRINT

Yr 2 & 3, UG

Engage with print and production processes and techniques for a variety of print-based communication mediums prevalent in the graphic design, publishing and advertising industry today. Identify an appropriate production process, a suitable substrate and then generate error-free, print-ready documents. Gain an understanding of the intricacies of print-production and post-printing processes through visits to local paper, printing and finishing industries.

Academic: Services
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