For this assignment, we were tasked with designing an artistic self-portrait by using mind maps and infographics simultaneously.
Data Gathering Process
I began my data gathering process by examining examples that were given to us from other designers. I found myself particularly drawn to three specific examples, each with a single element that I wanted to incorporate into my own design.
I began to think about my career and my future, so I started jotting down the design applications that I currently use and that I know I’ll use throughout my rest of my career. I then wrote down a few quotes that mean the most to me and have had a lasting impact on my life. I concluded my data gathering process by writing down some of my biggest fears and any other words, quotes, or phrases that represent important moments throughout my life, both good and bad.
Assembly Process
I began the assembly process by taking a personality photo of myself against a white wall. I then brought the photo into photoshop for some major editing. I wanted the overall feel of my portrait to be dark and mysterious, so I cut out the background and replaced it with an all black layer, changed the image from color to black and white, manipulated lighting to better blend my face with the background, and altered the texture to smooth out my skin.
I then began to play with the background. I wanted to do something similar to the middle piece in the first example of designer portraits, so I started drawing different types of lines radiating from my head. After trying numerous different designs, I had a random thought of extruding the lines to give the portrait a little more depth and ended up loving the end result.
Now it was time to incorporate the rest of my data. I started by downloading the Icons for adobe photoshop, illustrator, and indesign. I then placed these icons over both my eyes and mouth, and utilized the divide function to give them a mysterious looking finish. I then began to add the typography. To further compliment the vibe of my portrait, I downloaded the font used for the “Ha Ha’s” in the batman and joker comics. I was able to warp the typography along the extruded lines to create a better flow of information and give the background a wavy aesthetic. Once I finally got all my data in, I decided to add a little bit of color to the words that I wanted to stand out. I chose to color these words orange because it’s the color I most like to identify with and because I believe it is a representation of sociability, confidence, and success.
The Final Piece
