FANTASTICAL CREATURES CALENDAR
Skills:
graphic design, visual identity
Tools Used:
Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, sketchbook
Course:
Images in Communication (DES 321)
Duration:
2 weeks
How can I incorporate my personal interests and unique design style into a classic, simple calendar?
My role: designing, illustrating, printing, and assembling the calendar
INTRODUCTION
For this assignment, we were tasked with creating a calendar in any form we chose - 3D, 2D, physical, or digital - encouraging us to experiment and dive into our personal design styles. The goal was to explore and express our creativity in a medium that best suited our strengths and interests, considering elements such as functionality, aesthetics, and user experience.
RESEARCH
After exploring various forms of calendars and mediums, I realized that I wanted to focus on my interest in 2D media rather than 3D building. To gather inspiration, I turned to Pinterest and explored different styles of paper-on-the-wall calendars.
DIRECTION
I decided to create a standard paper calendar and challenge myself by using no color, as most of my designs heavily rely on it. My goal was to master the basics and focus solely on the essential details of a calendar. I aimed to personalize each element in my unique style, taking risks with the small details. I wanted the final product to be straightforward, yet unique. I also wanted to improve my illustration skills and explore a niche interest of mine - fantastical creatures.
DESIGN
After deciding that I was going to make a paper-on-the-wall calendar, I dove into the details. I decided to do one month per page, use 11x17" paper, and bind them together with a spiral on the top.
The lower part of the sheet will consist of the month name and days of the week, while the top part will leave space for the illustrations. I researched fonts and came across two that I liked, and i felt complimented each other well.
ILLUSTRATION
I then focused on the visual illustrations for each month's page. I considered the essence of each month, including its themes, holidays, and personal references. To organize my ideas, I made a list at the top of 12 separate pages, each representing a month, detailing the relevant visuals, animals, or characters I wanted to draw for that specific month.Next, I created a list of the final creatures and sketched them out in pencil. Once satisfied with the sketches, I finalized the drawings in pen.
After scanning and digitally placing the illustrations onto the pages, I created the cover page with one of the 12 illustrations. I made sure everything was perfect, then went to the printer. I printed three copies and picked the best prints of each month from all 3 copies.
ASSEMBLING
I got 10" spirals and manually punched holes in each sheet since no hole puncher matched the sizes and proportions I desired. Despite the tedious process, it was worth the effort. After threading the spiral through the holes, I hung up the finished calendar.
CONCLUSION
The 2024 calendar features Roman numerals for each month, unique illustrations, and a monthly calendar in Gothic typography with a "salty" effect. I achieved this effect by mimicking letterpress printing and inking.
I distributed copies to family and friends, who suggested that the spiral needed a hook for hanging. This feedback made me realize I need better mounting methods for future versions.
FINAL PRESENTATION
