For the 18th annual BGSU Graphic Design Portfolio Day, I worked on a team responsible for creating the event branding. We each developed our own concepts and shared them with the class and our professors for feedback. In the end, my concept was chosen. Since the review took place online this year, we leaned into a strong virtual theme. The branding takes inspiration from old computer visuals and early digital systems, giving it a throwback feel while still reflecting the transition from school into the professional design world.
I worked with two other people on this project, and we each made our own concepts and shared our branding styles with one another. I started by researching possible names that captured both the spirit of our class and the moment in time when the review was happening. From there, I explored how different typography choices could help support and strengthen the meaning of the branding.
We narrowed down our favorite ideas and continued developing them for a final presentation to the class. Since everyone in the program is required to attend the show, it was important to us that the class had a voice in the branding. After conversations with both our classmates and professors, we ultimately chose my concept, Flux. I wanted the final branding to feel formal but still playful, creating space for more meaningful connections and engagement.
Because the Portfolio review this year was virtual. I wanted to create a way to allow participants to feel connected to the event and its theming. In person events allow for things like custom name tags and printed programs. I came up with the idea for custom zoom backgrounds that students could choose for the review to help carry the branding throughout the entire review process and for participants to have a custom experience.