Katie Phippen
BFA Graphic Design
I most often find that my designs are the product of both feelings of nostalgia and change. People tend to connect their ideas about what they see with their past experiences. As a designer, I strive to use this relationship between mind and reality to create a parallel between my work and the viewer’s attraction to it. My designs should feel elegant but natural, as I work in an intricate style that combines bold line work with vibrant color. I can apply this style to any subject in order to reach a modern look that is unique to each design. Much of my work is tattoo-like and maintains the same personal connection to the client as a tattoo does. My goal is to have my visual designs flow through the mind as smoothly as music, which is always an influential part of my process. My design process is comparable to that of a musician; I mix comfortable material with new branding skills and my own prominent, clean-cut style. I want to surprise the viewer with more than what’s expected and efficiently produce a satisfying design with a modern flare. In doing so, I offer a bold design that fits the subject matter, but in a style which is both trendy and memorable-flattering but also cutting edge.
My senior show is comprised of a collection of designs I created with the original goal of producing a full deck of cards. I have used my personal design style to recreate all the suits for my own deck, and incorporated imagery from the four elements water, fire, air and earth. These elements have been associated with the original four suits: diamonds, hearts, spades and clubs. The reason I acquired these symbols for my own designs was in correspondence with the name of the mock casino from which I was basing them, “Elemental Casino”. Another important influence here was my personal passion for the Yin-Yang, and evoking the idea of balance within my work. I have made use of the balance among the four elements, as well as the color associations among them. My real goal was to have fun with these designs while simultaneously showing my abilities as a designer, and my versatility among art forms; a logo, branding for a mock company, some package design, and a full deck of cards were included in the full scope of my work for this exhibition.
Online Portfolio:
https://www.katiejdesignd.com/
