Design Foundations Course (2022-2023).
The task was to design a Converse (™) shoe using two of my own interests as the design core. I thought about my enjoyment in walking and my love of trains. My brainstorm tools were a sketchbook, color markers, and cardboard paper. As I progressed, I added my second interest a love of nature, in particular, flowers.
The challenge was to establish and formulate a design pattern that would have a unique vibe and highlight my skills in layout design. Researching the company's target audience and their shoe designs helped create a parameter. Even as a methodical researcher, I learned to focus my expanding ideas while simultaneously being true to my design.
The process of trains and flowers took many twists and turns. First, I brainstormed and sketched various shoe samples with different patterns. As the process unfolded, I could envision a train moving through agarden of flowers, combining movement of walking and the speed of a train. The execution appeared simple, beautiful, and unique.
Once I envisioned the movement of the train through an abstract flower garden, I chose colors that would show vibrance and enjoyment. I explored flower gardens and the nearby railroad in my neighborhood. I chose the placement of the train near the shoelaces for perspective and to highlight the laces as an abstract pathway to an imaginary destination. I love trains and they remind me of my path and the directions that it may follow. To visually display my artwork, I cropped and resized it as an actual shoe size 9.
The professor was impressed by my final execution. He clearly stated that I was telling a story which was exactly my goal. Combining two favorite ideas was a challenging and fun task, allowing me to see what my visions can produce by using the lessons and skills of the course and trusting my own creativity.
One of my biggest takeaways was the importance of brainstorming ideas and learning that not all that comes out can be used but can be adapted, played with, recycled and formulated to become a work of art. At one point, I thought I was overcrowding the design with too much pattern, but it did not have to be a pattern, it can be a design that follows a story. My creative skills are continuously evolving, and I need to respect that and trust my vision while respecting the rules of design. I am proud to say that this project helped me bring my creativity to a new level in the designing world.
