Joseph Churchill's Process Book Fall 2022

Churchill Process Book

Joseph

Introduction Statement of Intent

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Dear Faculty & Staff,

Hello, my name is Joseph Churchill from Columbia, South Carolina by way of Des Moines, Iowa.

During my thirty year career in multiple information technology roles, I always found the best parts of my days were: working with users to elicit requirements, building out user interfaces, designing websites, and finding new ways to tell the story of a project’s current and future performance through data visualizations. However, as the aspects of my career continued to become more and more focused on maintaining a status quo I continued to grow weary. My struggles with toxicity in the workplace led me to resign from my position in February 2022. I took a month to myself reflect and contemplate what is it that I wanted to do.

During this time of reflection, I focused on what I loved to do in my free time, occasionally as a side hustle, and what I’d like to do with my life once I grew up, which happened to be photography, website design, and helping friends try to develop their brand. As I pondered how to pivot, I realized how ill-equipped I was to move forward. This led me to apply for readmission to the University of South Carolina after quitting my collegiate career in 1994.

After completing Summer and Fall 2022 classes, I am even more committed to my decision to return to earn my degree in a creative field.

I am very focused academically following readmission I have maintained a 4.0 GPA. Most of this focus can be attributed to having previously worked in a deadline-driven career. Academically it is also my goal to make the president’s list each semester. The professional experiences gained during my career that directly correlate to GD&I are Photoshop, Acrobat, HTML + CSS, problem-solving, analysis, UX/UI development, and data visualization.

I intend to apply to the GD+I program in Spring 2023. The GD+I BFA program is why I returned to school after thirty years in another career. Pivoting professionally is never easy, but I aspire to create a design firm with a focus on editorial illustration. I believe this program will help further my skills and provide additional tools to advance my career goals.

I hope this process book will offer a glimpse of my work, interests, and abilities.

With Regards, Joseph Churchill

Project 1 Six Word Stories

Being Personal Ripping at Chunks Gnawing Visceral

Project 1 involved six-word stories. I developed two quick stories about what led me back to school after almost a 30year break from the university. After collecting the stories word maps were built for each to flush out ideas and words that might help drive the visual narratives image and typeface.

The best part of using the word maps helped with searching through stock images and typefaces to sync up the stories. For example, there are a lot of images of crows, but I happened across an image of crows with a very bold yellow backdrop it felt right. The second story’s search relied on the word map from the word pivot to switch.

Typefaces again, thanks to the word maps I had a fairly good idea of what sort of mood I wanted to set with each story. For the first I want something to be somewhat bold with a bit of movement below the typical bottom, that’s when I found Bree Semi bold, the ‘f’ sold me on this typeface. In the second story, I was torn, the original image had etched labels under the switches, removed through clone brush, but elsewhere on the

Being Personal Ripping at

Chunks

Soul

STORY 1 - WORD MAP

Over and Over looping Carrion workplace job output people co-workers bosses Bosses of Bosses manager going to Desk Pivot redirect Cut flip rotate switch change toxicity yelling swearing demeaning lying Anxiety Great resignation life Change rebirth new leaving quiting LIFE air having family friends color support

workplace job output people co-workers bosses Bosses of Bosses manager going to Desk Pivot redirect Cut flip rotate switch change toxicity yelling swearing demeaning lying Anxiety Great resignation life Change rebirth new

STORY 2 - WORD MAP

toxicity great resignation life pivot

Workplace

Finals

Project 1

Project 2 Typographic Abstraction

I do geek out a little bit about playing with typeface. One of our projects recently dealt with taking three consecutive letters from the alphabet and abstracting the typeface utilizing Adobe Illustrator. Sidebar, we also learned about C.R.A.P. (Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity) this acronym makes the child inside happy. Also, I’ve used Illustrator in the past, but the idea of multiple art-boards same file life changing!

After completing the first three in class, the professor asked that I keep going, this was a blessing and a curse after completing eight and now having to cull down to three.

The first to go was UVW, I had fun playing with the U turning the W upside down into mountains and a V ground, it was an easy first bin. Second to shred was RST, even though I liked the symmetry of the mirror R with little t in the middle and the swirly quality of the S, it didn’t feel as strong. Third, to go was the very first OPQ, I’m still on the fence on whether I like the circular abstract, but I felt the P was just sort of there instead of bringing anything to the party.

Down to five was the easiest part editing down to three was the hardest. So, I tried to determine which of the 5 I liked the most, EFG which uses an illuminated manuscript style typeface, Orbe Pro, just felt right to me. Now only 2 spots left, again I looked at the last four and tried to choose the best for me XYZ, there’s something about the angle of the y next to the X and the way the Z intersects almost like a bow across a string instrument. The final three are JKL (Lion King vibe), ZAB (White Space 3D), and MNO (Skate Deck). The Skate deck for me won but the waffling over the last three went on for days.

If you had to choose between them, which three would you choose and why?

Finals

Project 2

contrast of temperature (arts107)

Complementary Contrast (arts107)

Project 3 Poster Design

In our latest project, we were tasked with developing a poster based on AIGA’s “Get out the Vote” campaign. We got to choose three quotes to develop into word maps and mood boards. The quotes I used to work on my maps were:

“Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world.”

— Sharon Salzberg

“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”

— Thomas Jefferson

“Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.”

— Susan B. Anthony

The world map and mood board that resonated the loudest in a small group was around the Jefferson quote and a lazy guy on a sofa and an idea of a butt print. With the sofa butt print idea in hand, I began sketching out as many ideas as possible. Starting with a brokendown sofa, confused puppy on the sofa, and ending with a word spiral. Again, the butt-print idea moved forward toward the final design.

My red sofa, it’s a well-used sofa, the lip of the cushion just sort of falls off a cliff and that’s what I chose to photograph. Considering our dogs believe this sofa to be theirs getting them off to snap a photo was a major challenge until I took a very low-angle shot. Using this picture to set off the text was fun! A lot of rough drafts, over the next week, went from black and white to a desaturated color pick, and even when I thought I was done, an idea to set the W off in the same style as another famous Jefferson doc.

Project 3 Sketches

e do not have government by the

Joseph Churchill, Columbia, SC

Project 3 Mockups

mockup Also, bonus mockup with doggo.

MAJORITY

PARTICIPATE -THOMAS

Project 4 Character Logomarks

This project had us taking a popular movie, picking two characters, and building logomarks for each. First step was movie selection, I reached back to the aughts for Kill Bill. Then I selected the Beatrix Kido (aka the Bride) and O-Ren Ishii for the two characters.

Word maps

Kiddo’s word maps focused on alias, her sword and her motherhood. There were quite a bit of linking thoughts between the base words.

O-Ren’s word maps drew from her call sign, being a gang leader, orpan, assasin, and her sword. It’s interesting how orphan and gang leader never really linked up.

Mood boards

The mood board for Beatrix Kiddo my initial feelings were muted earthy tones since every outfit she wore in the film eventually was soaked in blood.

O-Ren Ishii’s mood board really tried to focus on the color scheme from the cherry blossoms and the color of her code name in the movie, cotton-mouth.

Sketches

For Kiddo’s sketches I really was focused on the continual motion and the way the katana almost made a K. This informed the rest of the logomark work.

For O-Ren’s sketches I bounced around from bonsai, to cherry blossoms, to assasin/snake, positive and negative themes until finally hitting on the monogram.

decided to decided rest of and on the gang run were added selected, The colors soiled with and a and typeface, elegance logo itself blossoms

Finals

Project 4

Beatrix

Kiddo, Kill Bill Concept Statement

Beatrix Kiddo is a former assassin who became pregnant, decided to get married, and leave the business. Her former boss, Bill, decided the only way out for Kiddo was for her to die and sent the rest of the assassin team to the wedding. Bill had a change of heart and left Kiddo alive in a coma. For the logomark I leaned heavily on the silhouette formed during a fight scene with the Crazy 88s, a gang run by O-Ren Ishii, inspiring the K form. Additional flourishes were added to the mark inspired by the striped jumpsuit. The typeface selected, AngieOpenProBlack, meant to mimic the jumpsuit stripe. The colors chosen play on the suit color from the film once it became soiled with blood and sweat.

O-Ren Ishii

Beatrix Kiddo Beatrix

Beatrix Kiddo Beatrix Kiddo

Beatrix Kiddo Beatrix Kiddo

O-Ren Ishii, Kill Bill Concept Statement

O-Ren Ishii is a member of the Deadly Viper Assassin Squad and a crime lord in Japan. The logomark built represents how clean and refined O-Ren Ishii always appears on the screen. The typeface, Bodega Sans (Light), was focused on trying to capture the elegance of the character and the curvy lettering style built into the logo itself especially the R. The colors chosen are based on the cherry blossoms and cottonmouth.

O-Ren Ishii O-Ren Ishii

Ishii O-Ren Ishii

Beatrix Kiddo

Project 5 Syntax & Semantics

For this project, we needed to select a product anything from shoes to clothing to ink pens. I went with something I know and love guitar pedals. Next, we had to source images of high quality with no backgrounds. Following this, we needed to observe the products and comment about five specific categories.

Syntax

(visual elements & relationships) is a fancy way of saying natural subject matter. Wait which term is fancier? We needed to describe the look and visual relationships of the product.

Semantics

is the meaning which included denotation (specifics), connotation (associations), and Expression (feelings).

Presence

(contextual) is how something stands out in the context of where it’s seen. In what instance does this project have little presence versus a lot of presence.

After sourcing and researching I set up a 17” X 11” layout in InDesign and went about setting up a grid. Part of the fun with this project was tinkering with laying out four products versus each other and trying to keep some semblance of alignment. The layout continually shifted until I was happy with the white space balance.

We’re now onto project 6 and I’m learning even more about grid systems, spreads, and InDesign. It’s giving me a bit of déjà vu regarding web design. Do you like guitar pedals?

Finals

Project 5

Lots: part of an exhibit in a museum

Little: on a pedal board

PRESENCE (contextual)

board

rock / metal / music / sound / live show / pedal

CONNOTATION (associations)

chunky / loud / overdrive / feedback

/ distortion EXPRESSION (feelings)

accessory / guitar / electric / pedal / gain effects

SEMANTICS DENOTATION (specified)

button for mashing.

of the pedal includes a large silver rectangular

knobs for Drive, Tone, and Level. The bottom

pedal includes a power light between three

contains an input and output. The top of the

Green rectangular metal box form. The side

SYNTAX (visual elements and relationships)

Lots: inside a pizza delivery box

Little: on a pedal board

PRESENCE (contextual)

board

rock / metal / music / sound / live show / pedal

CONNOTATION (associations)

hairy / sweet / savory / warm

/ fuzz EXPRESSION (feelings)

accessory / guitar / electric / pedal / gain effects

SEMANTICS DENOTATION (specified)

button for mashing.

Pig. The bottom of the pedal includes a silver

three knobs with icons for Pizza, Pineapple, and

top of the pedal includes a power light with

top contains an output, power, and input. The

Off white rectangular metal box form. The side

SYNTAX (visual elements and relationships)

Lots: door knocker

Little: on a pedal board

PRESENCE (contextual)

board

rock / prog / music / sound / live show / pedal

CONNOTATION (associations)

avant garde / rock / prog / synthesizer

effects EXPRESSION (feelings)

accessory / guitar / electric / pedal / modulation

SEMANTICS DENOTATION (specified)

just above a small silver button for mashing.

to filter the harmonics. Small lights are placed

trol envelope, pattern, rate. A set of fine tuners

and FREQ. The second set of black knobs con -

drive, mix, and output. Two switches for LFO

and power. The top contains black knobs for

sides. The side top contains inputs, outputs, midi,

White rectangular box from with white wood

SYNTAX (visual elements and relationships)

Lots: being used by a string quartet

Little: on a pedal board

PRESENCE (contextual)

board

rock / music / feedback / live show / pedal

CONNOTATION (associations)

deja vu / loop / repetition / distortion

EXPRESSION (feelings)

accessory / guitar / electric / pedal / time effects

SEMANTICS DENOTATION (specified)

bottom for mashing.

type of delay sound. A large silver button at the

at the top control delay, feedback, level, and the

put in either stereo or mono. Four black knobs

of the box includes two plugs for output and in

Light blue rectangular metal box. The both sides

SYNTAX (visual elements and relationships)

Botanicals - macro (arts230)

Colophon

Joseph Churchill arts102

Donna Smith University of South Carolina Columbia SC Fall 2022