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Samantha Stephan

PORTFOLIO OF WORK - 2015

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1st EditionCopyright 2015

Century Gothic RegularCentury Gothic Bold

University of Nebraska-Lincoln PrintWoods HallLincoln, NE68588

COLOPHON

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12 18 24WATCHFULNESS IN THE CITIZEN

SOCIAL CAUSE POSTERS WITH JUSTIN KEMERLING

DESIGN + SOCIAL JUSTICE

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28 32 46 72SCREEN PRINTING WORKSHOP

PASSPORT OF HUMAN RIGHTS - PHILATELIC PROJECT

DESIGN A BOX TO THINKOUT OF

THANK YOU LETTERS

CONTENTS

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In the Fall of 2015, the Advanced Graphic Design course at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln engaged in research about the role of design in creating social change. This course was an investigation of graphic design driven by research. Projects were socially and civically engaged, and focused on the production of communication systems, investigating history and theory of graphic design for social change, and the publishing of self authored work. ollaborative exercises and activities created an understanding of identity systems, social values and how to promote “justice for all” through visual communications. Deliverables for the course consisted of designed artifacts that documented, reflected, analyzed, and synthesized design research.

The first half of the course integrated the series of exhibitions, lectures and presentations relating to the topic of art/ design for social justice that occurred on campus through October. The second half centered around publication and experiential design, and the development of identity systems. The course outcomes provided opportunity for students to be innovative, culturally critical and otentially create social change.

Themes for Exploration~ Graphic Design + Social responsibility / Message + System + Identity / Striving for liability / Designer as Preservationist + Conservationist / Designer as Witness, Ethnographer and Journalist

ADVANCED GRAPHIC DESIGNFALL 2015 FOREWORDBY STACY ASHERASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ART

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The idea for the creation of this book started in class with our project brief. We were to create a portfolio of work that documented our process during class for each project as well as thefinal result.

The main goal for this portfolio was to document my creative process and develop the best design solutions through exploration and research.

Special thanks to our professor Stacy Asher for design ideas and guidance and thanks to fellow classmates. We all helped each other during class by offering suggestions, tips, and ideas. This book would definitely look much worse without their help.

PREFACE AND INTRO

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WATCHFULNESS INTHE CITIZENOur first assignment included a visit to the Nebraska State capital where we explored various ways the ideas of equality, freedom, and justice for all can be expressed. On our journey to the capital, we captured a lot of imagery relating to this topic which we then used as inspiration for our poster.

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Final poster design. Font used was Adobe Garamon Pro, as the Declaration of Independance was typeset in this font which worked aesthetically and historically. I thought the image worked because my idea was to celebrate how salvation for the state is similar to how lighthouses are the salvation of ships at sea.

FINAL POSTER

-H.B. Alexander

“�eSalvation

of the State

ofthe

is theWatchfulnessCitizen.”

17-H.B. Alexander

“�eSalvation

of the State

ofthe

is theWatchfulnessCitizen.”

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SOCIAL CAUSE POSTERS WITH JUSTIN KEMERLINGFor this project we were visited by the amazing graphic designer Justin Kemerling. He gave us great advice about mind mapping and coming up with ideas that inspire social change.

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DESIGN + SOCIAL JUSTICE!During class, we visited the Love Library here on campus where works of art from Justin Kemerling as well as those from the Black Panther Party were exhibited. We were able to pick up and flip through these highly designed magazines and get inspired by their imagery.

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REFLECTIONFor the assignment we looked at a collection of underground newspapers and articles as well as books discussing even more publications involved in this movement. The imagery in the articles contained a host of interesting typography as well as illustrations that accompany the stories and add to their message. I was especially interested in a Volume 7 No. 11 Seed magazine which contained many variations of hand lettering type. I am particularly drawn to page 14 where the letters show the craft of the artist and their unique style. It is edgy and not perfect at all, which is what I want my typography to be in my project.

These illustrations also showed extensive illustration in many different styles. They serve to extenuate the theme of each article and further understanding. I want my project to also include a lot of illustration to tell my narrative. The goal of my project is to tell a story about me, yet can relate to the lives of other people and spark thought. Similar to these newspapers and articles, I don’t need to explicitly tell a linear story but each side of the cube should spark thought that creates a unique understanding for each person.

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SCREEN PRINTING WORKSHOPThis event as part of the Design + Social Justice Symposium featured a screen printing workshop that local students could be a part of. Our class helped them design their own social justice apparel, and we were able to join in as well. It was a great experience and I’m glad that so many people were able to attend.

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PASSPORT OF HUMAN RIGHTS - A PHILATELIC PROJECTFor this project we were to design a system of postage stamps that communicate about human rights and liberties. We were to explore typography and imagery in a way that spoke to others and sparked thought.

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ALL HANDS ON DECK!In order to brainstorm for this project, we had to design a presentation deck that would solidify our ideas on this project that we were then able to present to our peers in a professional way. The feedback we gained from this experience helped us further our design process and come up with the best solution to the project brief.

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Social JuStice - the Gender waGe Gap Design Deck by Samantha Stephan

Currently, there is no country in the entire world where women consistently make as much as men for doing the same job.

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obJectiveSDesign stamps that inspire social change

Reflect current problems in gender equality

Develop a methodology for a design process driven by research

proJected budGet

Stamp Sheet $22.75Shipping $5.99

total $28.74

Stamp Sheet $22.75Shipping $5.99

total $28.74Schedule Schedule

october1 12 13 15

Present design deck

Work on stamp design

Send stamps

to zazzle

Finalize and

review

Present and turn

in

2 11 tarGet audience

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Working class men and women

Young adults and up (18-50)

Votors and policy makers

Working class men and women

Young adults and up (18-50)

Votors and policy makers

Working class men and women

Young adults and up (18-50)

Votors and policy makers

overall Style equal

equal equal

pay

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Will explore the gender wage gap through a stamp series that includes:

factS

font StyleS

typefaceSSource Sans Pro Extra LightSource Sans Pro RegularSource Sans Pro BoldSource Sans pro black

Source Sans 89ptSource Sans 55ptSource Sans 34ptSource Sans 21ptSource Sans 13pt

Stamp deSiGn

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W

definate “donotS”

do notS:Should not look cute or innocentNot too basic to provide little informationBe inconsistant

a m n E S t y i n t E r n a t i o n a L . o r g

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EQUAL WORK FOR EQUAL PAY!Let’s close the gender wage gap - 2015

A 5 stamp series designed to address the gender wage gap in 5 di�erent currencies: the European Union Euro, the American Dollar, the Chinese Yuan, the South Korean Wan, and the Italian Lira. Each stamp reflects their respective country’s gap between men and women in the workforce. As illustrated it the above poster, the country’s flag determines the color scheme of each stamp, featuring their respective

currency symbol rotated in a sign of distress. The bars going through were inspired by the double lines represented in each currency sign, which can also be interpreted as an equal sign. The break in the “equal sign” represents the gender wage gap.

U.S.A. FOREVER

EU: EURO

U.S.A. FOREVER

PAYWORK

for

EQUAL WORK FOR EQUAL PAY!Let’s close the gender wage gap - 2015

A 5 stamp series designed to address the gender wage gap in 5 di�erent currencies: the European Union Euro, the American Dollar, the Chinese Yuan, the South Korean Wan, and the Italian Lira. Each stamp reflects their respective country’s gap between men and women in the workforce. As illustrated it the above poster, the country’s flag determines the color scheme of each stamp, featuring their respective

currency symbol rotated in a sign of distress. The bars going through were inspired by the double lines represented in each currency sign, which can also be interpreted as an equal sign. The break in the “equal sign” represents the gender wage gap.

U.S.A. FOREVER

IT: LIRA

U.S.A. FOREVER

PAYWORK

for

EQUAL WORK FOR EQUAL PAY!Let’s close the gender wage gap - 2015

A 5 stamp series designed to address the gender wage gap in 5 di�erent currencies: the European Union Euro, the American Dollar, the Chinese Yuan, the South Korean Wan, and the Italian Lira. Each stamp reflects their respective country’s gap between men and women in the workforce. As illustrated it the above poster, the country’s flag determines the color scheme of each stamp, featuring their respective

currency symbol rotated in a sign of distress. The bars going through were inspired by the double lines represented in each currency sign, which can also be interpreted as an equal sign. The break in the “equal sign” represents the gender wage gap.

U.S.A. FOREVER

CN: YUAN

U.S.A. FOREVER

PAYWORK

for

EQUAL WORK FOR EQUAL PAY!Let’s close the gender wage gap - 2015

A 5 stamp series designed to address the gender wage gap in 5 di�erent currencies: the European Union Euro, the American Dollar, the Chinese Yuan, the South Korean Wan, and the Italian Lira. Each stamp reflects their respective country’s gap between men and women in the workforce. As illustrated it the above poster, the country’s flag determines the color scheme of each stamp, featuring their respective

currency symbol rotated in a sign of distress. The bars going through were inspired by the double lines represented in each currency sign, which can also be interpreted as an equal sign. The break in the “equal sign” represents the gender wage gap.

U.S.A. FOREVER

KR: WAN

U.S.A. FOREVER

PAYWORK

for

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PAYWORK

for

US: DOLLAR

U.S.A. FOREVER2015

US: DOLLAR

U.S.A. FOREVER

US: DOLLAR

U.S.A. FOREVER

EU: EURO

U.S.A. FOREVER

EU: EURO

U.S.A. FOREVER

EU: EURO

U.S.A. FOREVER

EU: EURO

U.S.A. FOREVER

US: DOLLAR

U.S.A. FOREVER

IT: LIRA

U.S.A. FOREVER

IT: LIRA

U.S.A. FOREVER

IT: LIRA

U.S.A. FOREVER

IT: LIRA

U.S.A. FOREVER

CN: YUAN

U.S.A. FOREVER

CN: YUAN

U.S.A. FOREVER

CN: YUAN

U.S.A. FOREVER

CN: YUAN

U.S.A. FOREVER

KR: WAN

U.S.A. FOREVER

KR: WAN

U.S.A. FOREVER

KR: WAN

U.S.A. FOREVER

KR: WAN

U.S.A. FOREVER

2015 2015 2015 2015

2015 2015 2015 2015

2015 2015 2015 2015

20152015

2015

2015

2015 2015 2015

A 5 stamp series designed to address the gender wage gap in 5 di�erent currencies: the European Union Euro, the American Dollar, the Chinese Yuan, the South Korean Wan, and the Italian Lira. Each stamp reflects their respective country’s gap between men and women in the workforce. As illustrated it the above poster, the country’s flag determines the color scheme of each stamp, featuring their respective currency symbol rotated in a sign of distress. The bars going through were inspired by the double lines represented in each currency sign, which can also be interpreted as an equal sign. The break in the “equal sign” represents the gender wage gap.

PAYWORK

for

Gender Wage Gap - % of Currency Earned by Men & Women

10079%80

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40

20

0U.S. Dollar EU Euro IT Lira CN Yuan KR Wan

80%

94%

69% 63%

There is no country inthe world where womenconsistently earn asmuch as men.

Holloway, Max. “Global Gender Wage Gap.” MoveHub.com. March 6, 2014. <http://www.movehub.com/blog/global-gender-pay-gap-map>. “The Situation in the EU.” Eeuropa.eu. 2012. <http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-equality/gender-pay-gap/situation-europe/index_en.htm>. “Women in the Labor Force in China.” Catalyst.org. Apr 4, 2012. <http://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/women-labor-force-china>.

For more stamps and collectibles, visit usps.com/stamps

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DESIGN A BOX TO THINK OUT OFOur second project involved the creation of a cube that we were to design based on the ideaologies of Mr. Fred Rogers. We were to explore the way in which a two-dimensional design could be translated into three dimensions, and then back into two-dimensions through photography.

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INITIAL INPIRATION

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STORY OUTLINE WITH INITIAL CHARACTER

DESIGN

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BOX ITERATIONS

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CHARACTER REDESIGN, EXPERIMENTING

WITH STYLE

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FINAL SKETCH, SOLIDIFYING STYLE AND STORYBOARD

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EXPERIMENTATION WITH INK ON WATERCOLOR

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BOX CREATION IN FABRICATION LAB

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FINAL DESIGN

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THANK YOU LETTERSWe finished out the semester by writing a series of thank you letters based off of our stamp designs. We sent these out to all of the people that were inpiring to us as well as those who played a big role in helping us with our projects.

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This class was invaluable to me as it helped me develop a more involved sense of exploration and research. Instead of diving right into designing I instead took a step back and really focused on how helpful the design process can be when you are open to change.

CONCLUSION

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