Selfie vs. Self-Portrait

Project Description
Create a self-portrait illustration for a social media profile (Facebook). This project consists of two parts - A. profile image and B. cover image.

Process
Part A
  • ​Use a creative photo of yourself from the shoulders up that expresses your personality. Be creative, the more creative the more interesting your self-portrait will be. 
  • ​Use tracing paper, draw over your image breaking it down into its basic forms—highlights, mid-tones, and shadows. 
  • Digitize your photo and drawings.
  • Using only the basic shapes and pen tool form vector paths for each color tonality - highlights, mid-tones, and shadows. Use the pathfinder to eliminate overlapping paths.
  • Design the forms and color to emphasize your concept (i.e. express your personality). 
  • Remember to follow the Design Process - (listed below).

Part B
  • Expand on the definition of self created in part A.
  • ​Visually tell the audience your story. 
  • Avoid the cliché and material that is copyrighted. 
  • Design so that the form and color create a consistent message with your profile image.

Project Specs
  • ​Part A - Dimensions / orientation: 170px x 170px / square
  • Part B - Dimensions / orientation: 828px x 315px / Landscape
  • Color space: RGB (this project is meant to be viewed on a screen); use color swatches.
  • Your file should be organized in layers - do not forget to name them appropriately.
  • Document all image sources. You are required to submit a bibliography with your project.

​Prohibited Elements
  • No driver's license, passport, "super-modelesque", etc. photos.
  • No text / words allowed. Must express your concept using visual language.
  • No gradients in the profile image, however, gradients can be used in the cover image.

Artists to Explore

  • Robert Arneson
  • Francis Bacon
  • Chuck Close
  • Leonardo Da Vinci
  • Albrecht Durer
  • Lucien Freud
  • Lorenzo Ghiberti
  • Frida Kahlo
  • Judith Leyster
  • Yan Pei-Ming
  • Julian Opie
  • Elizabeth Peyton
  • Rembrandt
  • Jenny Saville
  • Cindy Sherman

Design Process

Define the Design Problem
  • What concept are you trying to communicate? 
  • Who is your target audience? How do you want them to feel when viewing your work? What should they take away?

Research Topic & Collect Information
  • Gather reference images keeping track of all sources).

Conceptualize Possible Design Solutions
  • thumbnails & sketching
Develop Appropriate Design
  • Break down images into their minimal components. 
  • Design considerations:
  • Composition using the Principles of Design and Elements of Composition.
  • Choose appropriate colors.
  • Bring your idea into the software and begin your design.
  • Technique matters.
  • Use the correct tool to solve the design problem.
Get Feedback
  • In this course we will seek feedback throughout the entire design process.

Improve the Design
  • "Digest" feedback and improve your design. 

Submit