Renee Alcala's profile

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS SURVIVAL KIT

MOOD BOARD
SKETCHES
FONT RESEARCH
This font combination was chosen for legibility as the A6 field journal would contain a lot of information that encompassed all the nitty gritty that every new designer should know. For the fonts that I didn’t already have I went to Adobe font to find them, and used Adobe capture to get fonts that were close to the fonts needed. I got these images from the ‘Fonts in use’ website by researching the font types that were used in the 1940’s to get that authentic war time feel.

A limited colour palette of red white and black was used, except for the spinning wheel of death illustration, which needed to be in full colour. This project needed to appeal to a broad audience of new graduates and experienced designers who would understand the design references and be eye catching and humorous.

STICKERS WITH CUT CONTOUR LINES
For each element of the kit, I measured the item and then came up with a template for a sticker. The burn cream would need a slightly tapered sticker to fit nicely around the shape of the tube. I looked for a small tube with white edges to fit in with my minimalist designs, meant to evoke a feeling of a medical kit. Apart from the spinning wheel of death illustration, I maintained a colour palette of white, red and black to keep the feeling of a mass produced item for distribution among an army of graduating designers. The font choices meant I could display a friendly, conversational tone, to relate the information in a comical way.

For the chocolates I looked for a product that I could buy at the shops that would be individually wrapped and would fit in the small medical kit I had purchased for this purpose. I came across Whittaker’s artisan squares, which fit the bill. The outer container to hold all the items was ordered off Amazon, and the burn cream tube was a small tube of Savlon cream. The thermal shock blanket also came from the chemist. This carefully curated kit was a hit; it was met with laughter and appreciation from peers who viewed it without prior explanation, achieving exactly the lighthearted reaction I had hoped for.

Thermal shock blanket, with some common shock inducing causes listed on the back. This item can be used multiple times until the new designer develops a creative internal callous, so these issues do not send them spiraling into existential dread. Also handy
for keeping warm in the case of an over air conditioned design studio or office, where
the new designer may find it hard to regulate their body temperature. Perfect for those who haven’t yet achieved the “perpetually annoyed, thus internally warmed” status of
their experienced colleagues.
Emergency stash of chocolates with design inspirations and features common client sayings that might drive you to the brink of madness. This chocolate stash is perfect for those moments when you need a sweet escape from the sour realities of the design world.
Field journal for the newly graduated graphic designer to refer to in times of doubt. Contains helpful QR codes, basic reminders of the elements and principles of design, resources and tools as well as space to jot down personal notes from the field.

Burn cream for the new designer to apply after receiving feedback or criticism. Only generally needed for the first 6 months after graduation, until they become more jaded
by industry.
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS SURVIVAL KIT
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GRAPHIC DESIGNERS SURVIVAL KIT

Published: