Thesis Timeline

Greetings from grad school in Bergen, Norway! Just in case anyone was wondering if I am alive and what I’ve been up to….

Organic Design

Just got back from a 10 day trip through Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, which included visits to Yellowstone & Glacier National Parks.  Although I took a ton of photos, most of them don’t do justice to the beauty and grandeur of what I saw. My favorite photos from my travels actually ended up being detail shots. Below are some striking patterns and colors I found– all made by nature.

Portfolio Website

I know that it’s been awhile since I’ve given my blog any attention, but I am back with a big udpate…

http://kellysullan.com

CHECK IT OUT!

...because everything looks cooler on an iPad

Kelly applies to grad school, Pt. 2

Another application done & on its way to the Bergen National Academy of the Arts in Norway! This time, the application required a digital portfolio instead of a printed book. I put 8 of my design projects on a CD and presented it in a really rough, brown paper envelope. I just cut the template out of a paper grocery bag (loving this raw texture), ran it through my printer, and glued the flaps together. Also, I think I’ve rediscovered my love for the bold and beautiful Clarendon.

geeky

Made a bunch of real-life ‘pen tools’ to give out to special peeps at SXSW. Hehehe.

block party & thoughts

Below are my two poster drafts for Syracuse’s annual “Block Party” concert, which are based on a retro-futuristic theme. I know this sounds silly (aka nerdy), but I think this is my first time playing around with lots of triangles in a design.

Also a disclaimer, there are a lot of kerning and alignment issues that need to be fixed before these get printed.

Anyway, I’m pretty sure the concert board is going to end up using the second poster since it features Kid Cudi’s image and is more vibrant overall. I like the other one better, but understand their reasoning:

Although I’m happy with how these posters turned out, I think it is time to retire this color palette (or at least use it VERY sparingly from now on). Whenever I’m stuck on choosing a color scheme, it seems I usually resort to ‘mauve/teal/cream’ because I know it will look sexy. While it’s nice to have a voice as a designer, it’s also bad to appear lazy and stubborn.  The same sentiment applies to my use & abuse of the Knockout/Gotham typeface combo. Time to break out of the box!

Kelly applies to grad school

Anxiety, impatience, excitement. My first application will arrive in Helsinki later this week. I’ve realized  that the hardest part of this whole application process, by far, will be waiting to hear back. And that says a lot because the rest of it is pretty overwhelming.

And here is the cover of my portfolio. My entire college career whittled down to 22 pages.

Lust

A collage using imagery from a sleazy 1970s Vegas scene to illustrate “lust.”

This is part of a “7 deadly sins” series/project.

Cut&paste

This semester, I’m taking two Flash courses: one mostly focused on functionality (action script and designing for the web), and the other mostly on form (making animations look pretty). In the latter, our current project is to visually interpret and illustrate Shel Silverstein’s “Rain.”

Here are a few frames from what will soon be my “Rain” animation. I’m using lots of texture and rough edges to achieve a ‘Kindergarten art project’ style, because Shel Silverstein’s work either appeals to young children, or brings older readers back to their childhood.

in motion

My birthday present to myself: completing my After Effects animation.