Synonyms creating graphics; graphics for branding; teaching graphics; graphics applications Definition

Use Real Example Graphics

As part of the class, real graphics are shown that the professor made or had made for specific purposes. One of the main messages is to have a purpose for the graphics that are produced. For example, the International Space Development Conference of the National Space Society (www.NSS.org) in 1991 was chaired by the author. She worked with a graphic artist to develop an image that was used on posters, shirts and brochures where the idea was to depict the Archimedes statement to give him a lever long enough and a place to stand and he could move the Earth. The conference theme was Space: A Call for Action. The conference was presented as the place to come find out about the actions large enough to get us moving and living off of the Earth. Figure 1 shows the resulting poster.

Figure 1: Poster for ISDC 1991

Many software development projects that included the development of graphics are presented such as an educational game called Dr Phsio⁶ that taught middle school children better health behaviors included graphics for baboons, a lab, a savanna, basketball, food, scientists, a locker, a couch, exercise equipment, and a magazine. A recent example is from the San Antonio Ultimate Frisbee Leagues⁷ where a design is put on discs, bags and shirts. That league is put on by a group of volunteers and the graphics are typically made by them. Figure 2 shows a design for a league from 2014 that had the theme of lost in space. The team names and colors were planets.

Figure 2: Ultimate Frisbee League design for Lost in Space
Student Example Graphics
Students have developed brands for all sorts of companies and organizations. Here are just a few of the ideas that they have developed:

• 
  Book club
  
• 
  Bookstore
  
• 
  Brewing Beer
  
• 
  Clothing sales
  
• 
  Cloud services
  
• 
  Coffee
  
• 
  Computers
  
• 
  Day care
  
• 
  Family photos
  
• 
  Flower shop
  
• 
  Food
  
  • 
    burgers
    
  • 
    dessert
    
  • 
    healthy
    
• 
  Guard service
  
• 
  Graphic design
  
• 
  Help homeless
  
• 
  Library
  
• 
  Nuclear medicine
  
• 
  Photography
  
• 
  Resort
  
• 
  Seaworld
  

Figure 3 shows many of the very creative business cards that have been developed by students that express their brand and include the logo that they made.

Figure 3: Student business cards

As an example, one student developed a business he called Handy Cloudware. His name is Ken Handy and he created a company to offer secure cloud solutions for businesses. His values were convenience, flexibility, simplicity and safety. He first created the logos shown in Figure 4, also showing the progression and improvement. Figure 5 shows a screen capture of his animation that showed the oval cloud spinning slowly between the hands. He used these graphics in his brochure and website for the company. He create some slogans and tag lines as well.

Figure 4: Handy Cloudware logos

Figure 5: Handy Cloudware animation
Conclusion

The students who have completed this computer graphics class are from many walks of life and many cultures especially from the United States, India and Saudi Arabia. Students from various backgrounds and cultures can learn to make computer graphics in a meaningful way to express their values in a brand that they create.