Time Piece

Since my actual website must be doing some sort of update, I have resorted to my old blog for now. I hope to be able to get this on my real website soon. For the past few weeks in my Vector Graphics class we have been working on designing a time piece. I chose to base my time piece loosely off of one of the few watched I own and love.

Sketches:

I started this project two weeks ago with some sketches of features I might want on my timepiece. The structure of the watch stayed pretty consistent in my overall concept of the piece throughout the entire project, however the face did not.

Rough Draft:

Next, I took my ideas into Illustrator. I decided on a color scheme similar to the watch I own. I created the shapes for the watch as well as details for the frame and band.

Creating the watch:

I have been sick this week and my mind and has caused me all sorts of silly mistakes. I made a pretty unfortunate one and forgot to save my illustrator file from my rough draft. I had to start all over again. This took a very long time and caused a lot of frustration; however, I am pleased with the results and improvements made from the rough draft. We were asked to design our watches using photorealism which is a concept I really struggled with while I was in the Interior Design program four years ago. This intimidated me, but considering my previous struggles with this concept I feel like this project was successful. I used gradients as best as I could, creating highlights and shadows to make the image look more life-like. I also used rasterized textures of brush metals and leather to complete the look. I called my mom, who is a graphic designer, countless times to ask how to rasterize certain textures correctly or for help with clipping masks. It was difficult getting each item in the right layer so the image made sense. There are so many little pieces in the image that it made keeping track of layers very difficult, but very necessary. I was using a higher resolution image for brush metal and my file ran out of space. That was extremely frustrating considering it took about thirty minutes to even move one image with a brush metal effect on it. I fixed this problem in photoshop then brought the vector files back into Illustrator. I did not like this metal as much but it was a lot easier to work with.

Overall, I am happy with my results. I spent a lot of time on this project, there were tears, time restraints, and the business of life that made this project very stressful. I think I am grasping a better idea of how to achieve photo realism and don’t see the concept as complicated as before. If I had more time I would make the details on the frame and face a little more photo realistic. I have learned a lot from this project in such a short and stressful amount of time. I now know how to create a watch in Illustrator and that is rather useful skill that I intend to make use of later in my life.

To my Loyal Followers

Tags

Domains, Facebook, Goals

Hey everyone,

I converted my WordPress account to an actual domain about a month ago! I’m one step closer to my goal. Now, my loyal followers I need you to visit my wonderful new website and continue your loyal following there!

http://www.designersvoyage.com

I hope to see you and all your friends follow my Voyage! Share it up! Like it up! I have also got a Facebook page ready for my audience:

https://www.facebook.com/designersvoyage

-The designer, the voyager, Marisa Faye Reeves

School Bound

Tags

College life, Dreams, Event Planning, Goals

I move back to school in one week! I can hardly contain my excitement! These past two years have had their challenges and some moments of absolute delight! I’ve had several life changing experiences, I never thought I would be one of those people to ever switch my major, or ever go through a period of time where I was utterly confused about what I was going to do with my life because I’ve always had a plan for myself. I have always been a goal setter, my goals are straight forward and very specific, sometimes they sound unreachable, but I assure you they are not. I have decided that New Years is just plain bad luck for me, I have not had a great New Years Eve since I was 16, It’s not a time where I really feel motivated to set a lot of goals. Instead, my big life ideas, dreams, goals and plans to reaching my dreams hit me around mid- July so for now on I am pronouncing July as Marisa’s official time for New Year’s Resolutions! I just wanted to share a few goals I have been thinking about for the past few months and how I plan to conduct this year in school.

1. Get a job!

I have never worked through school due to some complications that I’ve seemed to figured out. I have always wanted too! I have my sights set on one job in particular. I would like to work somewhere where I can increase my business and communication skills, some place that will help me gain experience in my Event Planning Career.

2. Get good grades!

This should be a no brainer for every student! I am a really good student, I am able to accomplish all my assignments and often I take them to the next level and turn them into a blog post like this 🙂 (ps-this is not a homework assignment). I want everything I do to show that I have a bright future a head of me.

3. Obtain my own Domain Address

I’m a poor college student, I have not purchased my own domain because I fear that I will not have the money to do so. I have been managing Designer’s Voyage for two years now! I think I use my blog, I am passionate enough about it to take it to the next level. This blog reflects who I am, what I will do with my life, this is my life portfolio, this is what the world is going to see of me so I better make it pretty!

WordPress recently made some changes so that it’s not as easy for WordPress users like myself to make personal revisions to the appearance of their blog without purchasing a custom tool (I learned this while attempting to help my sister spice up her WordPress site) I  can’t even upload my own banner anymore! I feel like I’m 8 years old again and my favorite play site has pretty much been taken away from me because they have started to charge for the doll’s backgrounds, hair, accessories and make-up (I’m referencing a girl’s website called Kiddonet if anyone is familiar with it, it does not exist anymore). The thing is now, I’m a big girl, I don’t have to ask my mommy to keep my toy running, and I don’t have to ask my mother to let me keep my toy. I have my own money, I can manage it. I think it would be great to learn more about managing my own website, not to mention that the website would really belong to me and that I can do whatever I want with it! I will become a WordPress Pro!

4. By January 1st have my WordPress Portfolio beautiful enough to send off to the World Market Center in Las Vegas Nevada and apply for my dream internship!

I have mentioned before that I would like to combine my communications and Interior Design studies to fit one career: To work for Interior Design Market shows. I need to score an Internship to get my foot in the door for my dream job!

5. Buy a car that can safely allow me to drive across state boundaries.

My car right now stays at home, it does not travel to school with me because I am not sure it would even get me to school. I need a reliable car. I need to be able to drive to my internship, drive to work and drive somewhere where I can work on homework in peace.

6. On my off track (Summer Vacation) take at least 4 credits, or as many credits available online.

This will be tricky considering I plan to work, live in an entirely different enviorment than I ever have and take on a time consuming intership. I need to graduate ASAP!

7. Be involved!

If there is a party or event, I need to either be part of the planning process or attending to get a feel for the event and give it a mental (or written here) evaluation.

8. Take care of myself!

I am so fortunate to be rooming with a wonderful friend who has made a plan with me to eat better and exercise! I also need to be sure I’m eating on a regular basis (I’m weird and don’t carry much of an appetite), getting enough sleep, waking up at an appropriate time and managing my time properly.

9. HAVE SO MUCH FUN!!!!

I am so excited for school! I really miss school, right now I am just working, I get bored, I get frustrated mostly because I don’t have any outlet. I need my friends, I need school. I need college life! I am rooming with a fabulous friend! I hope to meet a lot more people, to have the energy to form lasting relationships and wonderful memories!

10. Make this the best year yet!

It’s really going to be a great year! I can feel it!

-The Voyager, Marisa Faye Reeves

1920s, Art, Design and Life

Tags

arts, Arts Festival, clothing, Design, fashion, Interior Design, Photography, style

Roaring 20’s

My Birthday was just a few weeks ago, to celebrate we went to Park City Utah to do some Window shopping and we hit the town just in time for the Park City Arts Festival! While I was still in the Interior Design Program I had a teacher that would always tell us that everything about us should scream designer, and looking back from the pictures on my birthday, everything about me does! I saw a cute birthday idea on Pinterest for a 30th birthday, the theme was, “Out of the Roaring 20’s” well, I’m not thirty but I have just stepped into my roaring 20’s! I had to dress the part! I made do with a dress I had bought a few days prior and some accessories. I had so much fun at the Arts Festival and a wonderful birthday.

1920’s long hairstyle.

From head to toe I am most certainly a designer! I adapted a 1920’s hairstyle to fit my own hair-type. I have long thick curly hair and I made it work. I’m quite pleased with the outcome.

Up-do

I did my cousin’s hair as well. Her hair was a little more difficult to work with, I could not perform the hairstyle I wanted to on her hair so I used my problem solving skills and came up with this fabulous Up-do! She looked so adorable. It looks like I accidentally used too much CMYK in a few of these layouts.

Art from the festival

Above is some art from the festival. In the top left corner there is a display of silverware jewelry, I even purchased a necklace and ring made out of silverware! There were sidewalk chalk pieces, lovely jewelry boxes and my sister captured a picture of a random minion.

Interior design

I was able to hit a few of the shops and found some great design! The chandelier on the top left corner was amazing! The fixture was modern industrial but still oh so chic and classy! The next set of lights were decorative but very interesting. The last light fixture has a very industrial military feel to it.

Design

I met an indian, found a really cool mirror and ended up with a funky picture, and took pictures with work from the artists.

Birthday fun!

The festival was great, my birthday was great!

– The Voyager, The Designer, Marisa Faye Reeves

Barbie Pants!

Tags

Barbie, Clipart, Design, girls, Graphic Design, Logos, Themeing

Recently I created an icon and a banner for a group that was inspired from an inside joke (and I am sworn to secrecy as to what these designs are used for or how the name came to be haha). I just wanted to share the designs I created here:

Logo/Icon

The images were designed with a very clip-art-ish/ cartoonish/ childish/ playful sort of style in mind, lines are not very well defined realistic or clean and of course BARBIE was the theme! I was even able to find a Barbie font to work with! I’m pretty sure I will have requests from my roommate to add Barbie text to just about everything now haha! 

Barbie Banner

I hope you enjoyed these fun designs!

-The Designer, The Voyager, Marisa Faye Reeves

Landmarking Logos

Tags

Accomplishment, arts, Business Logos, Confidence, Designer, Logos, Photography, The Event of Blogging, Voyage, Watermark

Two years ago today I created “Designer’s Voyage” The Voyage truly has been a blessing in my life. The goal for my voyage has not changed from the beginning, however like any voyage there were some unexpected turns and obstacles that crossed my path. I am still an aspiring designer but I am also working towards being an event coordinator for large design events.

Through all the mysterious winds in life posting my work, my accomplishments and my life here has been a wonderful confidence booster! Seeing my work come together and being published where others actually admire and read my work is truly exciting for me! Seriously, I get so excited every time I beat my record of viewers here on The Voyage or increase my number of followers. I love hearing from my audience and knowing that there are people out there at are looking at me, my work and what I’m capable of. I love knowing that I am not going about life being unnoticed. This is my passion.

For the past month or two I’ve had several posts I have wanted to publish, but I did not want to post any more of my work without a watermark that I felt confident with. So here is a new milestone in my Voyage. I have been tweaking, playing with and redesigning logos for my own personal Voyage, and I believe I finally found the one I am confident with so…..

TADA!

The official Designer’s Voyage Logo!

Inspiration came when I spoke with my dear friend Kylie, who is an aspiring photographer discussing photography and design. I was telling her about my watermark dilemma and also encouraging her to create a WordPress account of her own to display her photography (Kylie Mae, if you do I guarantee I will make a post to brag about your work and helping you set up your account!) Anyway, suddenly an epiphany occurred, she got the same idea as I did. Designer’s Voyage…..There are so many logo possibilities with that….A BOAT! YES THAT’S IT! So I have been playing with the idea of a boat voyage for sometime now and have finally gotten somewhere!

I tested out my new logo as a watermark on a picture I took not to long ago :

I can play with the opacity of my watermark and placement if I need to.

I am so pleased with the results I have gotten in the past few years through this Voyage and will continue to progress in this crazy life’s journey. I look forward to more adventures!

– The Designer, The Voyager, Marisa Faye Reeves

Light up the World

Tags

Design, Good Design, Lighting, Photography

As many of you may know, I am always taking pictures, pictures of people and pictures of design that I enjoy or find interesting. A few months ago I went out to Dinner for a friend’s Birthday when one of my roommates pointed out the light fixture, me, being me felt the need to snap a picture of the fixture. Ever since then I’ve been noticing light fixtures even more than before and feel the need to take a picture of every light fixture that I enjoy!

This is the fixture that started it all:

Smart Light Fixture at Texas Roadhouse

This isn’t a fabulous picture, overall the lighting was pretty poor in Texas Roadhouse, however this particular fixture was very fitting for a table setting. There was a Dark shot over the bulb that was designed to keep the glare out of the eyes of the guests while still allowing enough light for guests to dine comfortably.

About a month later my roommate pointed out another fixture with a similar design at Red Robin, sadly I can not locate a picture of the Red Robin Fixture at this time.

Blue Lemon Bathroom Fixture

Blue Lemon Mirror fixture Task Lighting

Blue Lemon Fun Lighting

The three pictures above were all taken at Blue Lemon. The first two pictures are examples of lighting that was placed in the restroom. This bathroom had to have been one of the most brilliantly designed bathrooms I have ever seen. The mirror had lights surrounding the fixture to create a perfect place for ladies to primp and view themselves in the mirror accurately. The second picture is my favorite bathroom mirror picture! The last picture was lighting just outside the bathroom which served as more of a decorative feature.

Highlighting product

This lighting example was found outside of Tiffanys, this is a great way to empathize a product or company. Tiffany and Company is a very classy place, and even their outside display will testify of its class.

City Creek Center Overhead lights

If you have been following the Voyage, you may have noticed that City Creek Center is one of my favorite places to take pictures of design materials. This is the overhead lighting at City Creek Center Mall in Salt Lake City Utah. The Mall has an outdoor, well landscaped atmosphere with all the comfort of an Indoor mall. Natural light is allowed in and lighting is added to assist guests when natural light is not sufficient.

Here are two more fun examples of City Creek Center Lighting. City Creek has a light show every night at its water fountain. The fountain was designed by the same designers of the water fountains in Las Vegas.

City Creek Center Fountain

City Creek Center Light Fountain

I have another project I am working on that I am very excited about, it involves a little bit of everything so make sure you are following the Voyage because this post will not be one you will want to miss!

-Marisa Faye Reeves

The Camera I finally can call my own!

Tags

DSLR, Perspective, Photography

I am so beyond excited that I bought my very first DSLR camera! I have not used an SLR camera since my Senior Year of High School (So about 3 years) and so I have a lot of learning and re-learning to do. I got a Nikon D3100 with two lenses for a screaming deal. Before all of you try to tell me that I should have gotten a Canon, I’ll just tell you I’ve had much more luck with my Nikon cameras than my Canons.

I got the D3100 because I am still learning, as I progress in my learning and also earn more money I can buy a better camera.

I just wanted to Showcase some of my first pictures I took with my brand new camera! Also a few that my sister and my mom took of me- (I’m the one with the brown curly hair 😉 ) These pictures belong to me and my family, which is why they all have a “Designer’s Voyage” watermark (which I may improve my watermark in the future).

You may also notice that in my “About me” Section I finally have an updated picture of me that is not displayed here. The last picture  had up was me with blonde hair, and I haven’t had blonde hair for about 2 years now.

Enjoy!

Marisa Faye Reeves

Little Girl Hanging

Girl posing on a bench

Close Up

Little Girl Playing

Children

Perspective through a Lamp-post fixture

Crazy Little Girl!

My Sister wanted me to try Food Photography, I love my sister’s expression in the background!

Girl sitting on a Bench

Little Girl Drinking Apple Juice

Monkey girl hanging

Girl above

By the Window

Looking Down

Head Shot

Through the Lamp-post

Home Show

Tags

community, Home Show, Interior Design, madison county fairgrounds, paint samples

While I was out with some friends doing some shopping we noticed that there were people walking around with signs on them advertising a Home Show. My friend and I got very excited about this event, seeing as we both love Interior Design and design of all sorts. We convinced our friend to take us the following day to the Home Show. The Event was on the Madison County Fairgrounds and cost $2 for addmission. All the businesses were looking at us pretty funny probably because we are pretty young college students and neither of us are close to owning a home. We enjoyed looking at flooring, landscaping, paint, clubhouses, etc. We even got super stylish bags ;), We were pretty excited about that.

We were so excited for our friend to take us to the Home Show!

On our way we saw a student in his set up for finals week.

Me and some pretty stone landscaping. Plus that awesome bag! 🙂

Checking out some carpet!

Awesome Retro Bathtub! I would love to own one of these!

And What is bath-time without a rubber duck? I found this over by the paint samples. A quirk of mine is a love for rubber ducks (but I don’t really bath with them). I had to get a picture!

Between doors that were being displayed

Clubhouse time!

We had a lot of fun and enjoyed looking at all the products for the home! We also purchased some delicious fudge and brought back free candy for our friend who was generous enough to take us to the event.

-Marisa Faye Reeves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business Expo

Tags

business, business expo, connect, Design, Events Management, expo, marketing, promote, prosper, Rexburg, Self Promotion

I’m back at home for the summer, my semester ended about a week ago. I’m waiting to hear from a company concerning the job I would like. While I have the time I decided I should post about a project I have been working on all semester long! The Rexburg Business Expo was Tuesday April 11th of 2013. I was able to assist the Rexburg Area Chamber of Commerce in producing the Business Expo as well as four other students. I was able to participate in the planning process of the Business Expo through my Events Management class, this was a great opportunity because planning real and valuable events is what I would like to do with my future.

As students we started this project in January, the beginning of the semester. We were able to produce logos, programs, a raffle ticket, flyers, posters etc. We were mostly in charge of the advertisement process for this event. Our main responsiblity was to target students on campus who were starting a business of their own or perhaps needed   assistance in promoting their business.

The purpose of the Business Expo was to help smaller Businesses in the community self promote. There were many businesses in the community that were outsourcing their products simply because the businesses of Rexburg were not aware of the businesses in their own community and were finding other outside sources when they could have been taking advantage of the businesses the community already had to offer. Rexburg values businesses that can be beneficial to the community without feeling the need to outsource.

This years theme was: “Connect, Promote and Prosper”. We had speakers that covered each key aspect of our theme. Connect focused on the importance of networking, the business expo was a great place to network. Promote focused on self-promotion which was the Business Expo’s main focus. And Prosper focused on making your business a success.

I was only fortunate enough to attend one of the sessions, I attended the “Prosper” workshop where Aaron Peterson of Prosper & Partners spoke of the importance on being successful and doing something worthwhile. I learned that true success is not measured by income or status but rather if you made a difference in the world. If you have been following my blog for a while now or have read my “About me” section you may know that I feel that everyone has something to contribute to society that no one else can give, and if we use what we have exercise our abilities entirely we can change the world.   My motto and goal in life is, “I just want to make a difference in this world by just being me”. I believe that I can do it!

Some of the responsibilities I had included; managing the Rexburg Business Expo Twitter page @RexBusiness_exp , assisting with the design material (I was design manager in our group), contacting the school newspaper to convince them that the Business Expo needed to be featured in the paper, assisting with set up/take down, managing the front desk at the event, attending the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce area meetings, just to name a few.

This was a great experience to work with a real event! We were able to work with professionals who had experience with events. I hope there are many events to come that I can be involved in.

Marisa Reeves Managing the Desk at the Rexburg Business Expo

Rexburg Business Expo

Rexburg Business Expo

Rexburg Business Expo Student Event Management Group with our supervisor Donna Benfield of the Chamber of Commerce (black dress)

Rexburg Business Expo Student Events Management team being silly! Celebrating our success! PS- I was not ready for this picture…

-Marisa Faye Reeves