Portfolio

Brenda Wicker

Contact Me
Brenda Wicker
quiltinfrogs@yahoo.com
830-833-2318
323 Bonita Dr, Blanco TX 78606

Table of Contents
4 Brochure
6 Montage
8 Photodesign
10 Flier
12 Web Page
14 Logo
16 Stationery
18 Business Card
20 Event Ad

Brochure
Description

A two sided (duplex) trifold brochure.

Objectives

Create an original, new logo and use it in a brochure. Incorporate at least four quality
images, not including the logo. One should be clipped in Photoshop and text-wrapped
in InDesign so the text follows the cutout shape of the image. Write at least 250 words of
original copy in at least three paragraphs, headers, and subheaders.

Process

I created a two-page document in InDesign, and split each page into three sections,
marking where the folds would be on both the outer and the inner pages. I created a
yellow curved shape on the pages to mimic hills, and to create flow and repetition. I used
an analogous color scheme for the background of yellow, lime, and green to bring out the
colors in the scenery images and to also evoke a hillside. I selected images that created the
feeling I wanted- of beautiful hill country back roads, bicycles, and inviting bicyclists.
I created the logo in Illustrator. For the wheel shape used in the logo and as a text frame
on the inside flap, I used the pen tool to trace the image of a bike wheel, filled it with dark
yellow, and then resized it as needed.
For the textwrap around the bicyclists, I clipped the image in Photoshop using the quick
selection tool. I then refined the edge to make the transition a little softer.

Programs

Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

Instructor
Emily Kunz

Course

Communications 130 Section 11

Date

December 5, 2015

Montage

Description

A spiritual themed montage made by blending two separate images, and adding a
message with typography.

Objectives

Learn to blend two or more images together gradually, using masks. Demonstrate more
advanced Photoshop skills for a layout with multiple elements.

Process

Using the spot healing brush tool, I removed a white streak from the background image.
I clipped the girl image, flipped it horizontally, and then moved it to the background
image. Both images were edited for levels, and I changed the saturation levels to zero. I
then colorized them both to have an indigo monochrome color scheme.
I added a sharpen filter only to the image of the girl, and then added a mask layer. Using
a small brush, black paint, and 50% opacity, I brushed away the hard edges from the
image. Changing to a larger brush and 10% opacity, I continued blending the girl image
into the background image, leaving the hands and the sparkler untouched so they
would remain sharp.
I added the message with two contrasting typefaces, and two different text sizes.

Programs
Adobe Photoshop

Instructor
Emily Kunz

Course

Communications 130 Section 11

Date

October 24, 2015

Photo Design
Description

A layout demonstrating good photography and photo editing skills.

Objectives

Learn basic photography skills. Choose a color scheme, take a photo to match those colors,
then incorporate the colors into the layout. Edit the photo using non-destructive editing.

Process

I chose to work with a triadic color scheme of red, yellow, and blue. Using my Canon SX280
HS digital camera, I went out during first morning light to photograph a playground that had
those colors. In Photoshop, I edited the original image for levels, vibrance, color balance, and
sharpness. Then I imported the edited image into my 8.5x11 layout to begin my design. I also
imported a color wheel from the Visual Focus class and used the eyedropper tool to select
design colors from the wheel, which I adjusted slightly to match the colors in the image.
To repeat the curcular elements of the playground, I created ellipses with a thick stroke and no
fill. I used those ellipses for a color swatch, and then repeated them in a circular design on the
bottom right. The quote on the bootom left is balanced out by a large title on the top right. I
left good white space and breathing room in the design, and created good flow between the
design elements.

Programs
Adobe Photoshop

Instructor
Emily Kunz

Course

Communications 130 Section 11

Date

October 17, 2015

Flier
Description

Black and White flier promoting a Graduate Leadership Conference.

Objectives

Apply the design principles and use appropriate typography. Incorporate basic InDesign
skills to improve basic flier layout.

Process

I began by creating 4 hand-drawn sketches of potential layouts. After selecting which

sketch to use, I created this layout in Adobe InDesign. I used the assymetry of a tilted
black box behind the date, time, and location to draw attention to that information. I
also created repetition with small black boxes, and by repeating the angled box behind
the title to emphasis Leadership. I reserved plenty of white space and left the body copy
small, but emphasized the subtitle and website with a different, bolder typeface. The
logo, body copy text, and image were provided to me.

Programs
Adobe InDesign

Instructor
Emily Kunz

Course

Communications 130 Section 11

Date

October 3, 2015

10

Graduate
Leadership Conference

Do you want to get a

competitive edge in business?
Come learn how at Vouant Communications annual
Graduation Leadership Conference.
Vouant Communications is devoted to helping
tomorrows leaders gain essential leadership skills in
the workplace. During this dynamic three-day seminar
attendees will meet with top executives of Vouant
Communications to discuss breakthrough leadership
techniques, while cultivating attributes of leadership
that will market to any employer.
This conference is available to graduating seniors.
Space is limited.
Registration and more information is available at

http://www.vouantcomm.com/leaders

October 21-23
8am-5pm
Lincoln Convention
Center

Web Page
Description

A web page created to display a custom designed logo.

Objectives

Size and optimize an original logo for a web page. Write content to describe the process of
logo creation and its target audience appeal. Acquire a working knowledge of HTML and CSS.

Process

After I resized and inserted my image into my HTML document, I attached a basic pre-made
CSS document to my HTML. I then changed the CSS code to style the web page the way I
wanted it to look for this logo. I used Photoshop to find the hex numbers for the specific colors
I am using in this logo, so I could repeat them in the web page design. Then I created a font
stack, using Arial as the primary choice.
Instead of centering the logo on the page, I chose to use the float left property, which allowed
me to wrap the paragraph describing the school next to the logo. I created a gold gradient
swatch in Photoshop, saved it as an image, and installed that as a background image in the
HTML file with instructions to repeat only on the x-axis.
I changed the coding for the link so that it would change colors when it was hovered over,
repeating the same colors that I have used throughout. Finally, I corrected alignment issues in
the css, and added padding to create more white space.

Programs

Notepad++, Adobe Photoshop

Instructor
Emily Kunz

Course

Communications 130 Section 11

Date
12

November 21, 2015

Logos
Description

Custom made logos for a school.

Objectives

Create three completely different, original logos to fit a company or personal image that
will appeal to the audience. Use only the Illustrator tools to create and draw your logos.

Process

After sketching out different ideas on paper, I used Adobe Illustrator to draw acorns and
leaves and combined them in different ways to create three unique logos. I presented all
three to friends and family for market research to find out which one they liked best and
why. I chose the top logo to refine because I like the collegiate feel it has. This design also
has good asymmetry, with Lone standing alone in the design, and good contrast in the
fonts and text sizes. I further refined the typography, selecting a different typeface for
Academy to have thicker letters that would still be visible at a smaller size. I also increased
the padding around the design so it would have better white space and flow within the
design.

Programs
Adobe Illustrator

Instructor
Emily Kunz

Course

Communications 130 Section 11

Date

October 31, 2015

14

Lone Oak Academy

Lone Oak
ACADEMY

lone oak

ACADEMY

Stationery
Description

Letterhead for the All Wrapped Up company, designed using a logo created for the project.

Objectives

Create a new logo to fit a company or personal image. Use the new logo to design consistent
layouts for a business card and letterhead. Keep designs simple with light watermarks and
drop shadows and plenty of white space.

Process

After sketching out my ideas, I selected a pleasing font to use. In Adobe Illustrator, I converted
the letters UP to an outline so I could transform them from their original shape. I elongated
the first stroke of U and changed it to an arrowhead. I also drew a bow to include in the logo
using the pen tool. Once the logo was complete, I opened a new document in InDesign and
placed my logo .AI file into this document.
After resizing the logo, I placed it in the upper left corner. I chose to use the same typeface
for the contact information, and placed that in the upper right corner with a right-alignment
for the text. I then placed a gold banner behind the top of the document, framing the logo
and contact information. For good repetition, I used the logo again for a watermark, resizing
it and reducing the opacity to 3%, then placing it so only part of the word UP is showing in
the bottom left corner. I also placed a lighter gold banner along the bottom of the page for
balance and repetition with the top of the page.

Programs

Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign

Instructor
Emily Kunz

Course

Communications 130 Section 11

16

Date

November 7, 2015

All
Wrapped

Mary Johnson

mjohnson@allwrappedup.net
512.331.6817
359 Jermaine Ct
Blanco, TX 78606
allwrappedup.net

Business Card
Description

Business card for the All Wrapped Up company, designed to coordinate with stationery.

Objectives

Create a new logo to fit a company or personal image. Use the new logo to design consistent
layouts for a business card and letterhead. Keep designs simple with light watermarks and
drop shadows and plenty of white space.

Process

I created a new document for the business cards, placing the logo .AI file in it. I created two
rectangles, both 3.52, for the front and back of the business cards. I placed the logo and the
contact information on the front of the card, with a gold background to match the banner
on the letterhead. I made sure that the contact information did not get too close to the edge
of the card, and aligned it with the logo in a pleasing way. For the back of the card, I used the
lighter gold banner from the bottom of the letterhead, and repeated the watermark of the
logo showing in the left corner of the card, but with a 17% opacity to be more visible.

Programs

Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign

Instructor
Emily Kunz

Course

Communications 130 Section 11

Date

November 7, 2015

18

Mary Johnson

mjohnson@allwrappedup.net
512.331.6817
359 Jermaine Ct
Blanco, TX 78606
allwrappedup.net

All
Wrapped

All
Wrapped

Event Ad
Description

A color full-bleed ad to promote a fundraiser. This ad was designed using only a scanner and
Microsoft Word.

Objectives

Learn to use only Word design features without using any Adobe programs, including
Photoshop. Find, scan and import a high-quality image. Choose a color scheme and
typeface(s) that work for your message and audience.

Process

I found an original image to use, then scanned the photo. After importing the image into
Word, I added a black box over the tree to create an area for the body copy. I created the title
with two color choices, so that it would be readable over both the light and dark areas. This
also created a nice Woods Tour subtitle effect. I used one typeface for the title and date/time/
place, and another, contrasting typeface for the body copy. Then I added a green tab behind
the date box and a cluster of green trees over the date box for balance and repetition. In order
to get a high-quality color print, I increased the contrast, brightness, and sharpness of the
photo in Word.

Programs

Microsoft Word, Canon Scanner and Printer, PDF2JPG.net (PDF converter).

Instructor
Emily Kunz

Course

Communications 130 Section 11

Date

October 10, 2015

20

Explore the Woods

Nature Tour

October 16 - 17
9am - 5pm
Cibolo Nature
Preserve

Portfolio
Brenda Wicker