Exercise 3

Over the past year in graphic design, I’ve worked on everything from magazine covers to ads and advocacy posters. To reflect on my growth, I created a collage of 8 pieces of my work. As I looked at them, I noticed common themes like bold visuals, emotional tones, and strong storytelling. My classmate described my style as intentional and message driven, which matched what I was seeing.

From this, I realized I want to focus more on three qualities going forward. Playful imagination to take more creative risks. Cinematic emotion to deepen my storytelling through mood and visuals. And a bold visual contrast to make my designs even more eye-catching.

This process showed me how much I’ve grown and how much more I can still discover in my style.

Impressions of Work 

(“A Year in Color, Contrast, and Creativity”) 

 energetic, colorful, confident

National Geographic cover

futuristic, educational, bold

The Conjuring IV poster

 eerie, cinematic, suspenseful

Photoshop User cover 

technical, urban, creative

Beats by Dre ad 

 emotional, sleek, powerful

Veterans Services poster 

 respectful, patriotic, structured

The Santo Domingo Bistro ad 

elegant, luxurious, warm

Legal Aid PSA (hofla.org) 

 emotional, raw, serious

Noticing Patterns

Adjectives that repeat  

bold, emotional, cinematic, structured

Color use

 Strong contrast is a theme of deep blacks, bright whites, and pops of red, yellow, and teal

Design range

You cover editorial, advertising, advocacy, and promotional work, showing clear versatility

Storytelling

Many pieces use people or figures as focal points, suggesting empathy and human centered design. 

Outside Perspective 

“Your style feels cinematic, confident, and emotional. Even when the subjects shift from space to food to headphones, there's a sense of intention and presence in each one. You seem to care deeply about how the message lands with the viewer.”

Three Qualities

Cinematic Emotion 

 I want to tell stories visually with drama and clarity

Bold Contrast 

Try to use more color and light to grab attention and guide the eye

Purpose driven messaging 

I notice my work often connects to people, emotion, or causes, but I would like it to not just look good but say something.