University Advising Center
Nineteen Custom Wall Panels
Mission
Collaborate with another designer to design and illustrate 19 unique wall panels representing each college at the University of South Carolina and the majors within. Work through all phases of production from design to print.
Research and Process
To start a large project like this, I first sat down with the illustrator I was collaborating with, my supervisor, and staff at the University Advising Center. After our initial meeting, I did research and went through many rounds of sketching to find the best way to represent each college playfully, while also keeping an academic feel. We used university stock photography, and I decided that the best way to bring the playful feel into the designs would be through typography and interesting arrangements of university typefaces in combination with illustrations that Erin, my design partner, made. After a few weeks, the initial panel designs were completed, and we pitched our ideas to the Advising Center staff. Following this meeting, we went through two rounds of revisions, including moving panels around, changing typeface sizes, changing images, and adding the list of majors to certain panels. This was about a 16-week project.
Outcomes
Nineteen custom vinyl wall panel designs printed on foam core and adhered to the wall with experimental use of typography and illustrations as well as a collection of illustrations to be used by the University Advising Center in future applications.
Personal Reflection
It was an honor to be selected to work on this project! As this project was installed a few weeks before my graduation, it was an amazing way to reflect on my time at USC and honor the university. Seeing these panels come to life from concept to execution was so special. I took away many valuable experiences from this process since I had the opportunity to be the designer, creative director, visionary, and main point of contact between the School of Visual Art and Design and the University Advising Center. I pushed myself out of my creative comfort zone with typography and design, and balanced it with Erin’s illustration work. Working with different people, on different timelines, required excellent time management and communication on my end, as well as challenged me to articulate my design ideas with purpose and confidence. Overall, this was one of the best projects that I had the chance to work on during my time as an undergraduate, and I am continuously excited thinking about 27,000 USC students passing by this wall at some point during their time at the university.