Darren Oregon

Artist statement

This project revolves around designing a music poster on the rapper Rod Wave. As a graphic design major and also listening to lots of music I wanted to focus on creating a digital representation that shows the rapper and the motivational sayings he says. Motivational sayings hold a personal and powerful significance towards me. They represent more than just words, but a reminder to overcome adversity and keep on pushing no matter what. The goal of this project was to select the motivational lyrics of the song to remind people to overcome past struggles and to let hardships define them, to always push forward and show that digitally.

After figuring out what I wanted to do, I began to go to Adobe Illustrator and begin the process as well as adding elements to it as you see in my final design. First was getting a Rod Wave picture then using image trace to make a good design of him. I also focused on the lyrics and where to put them in the design. As well as adding effects like the warp tool in illustrator on the lyrics to make it look clean. Going through the process was very challenging for me but I overcame them by taking a look from a distance and seeing any tweaks. As well, looking at it and asking myself what would I change about this or what would others change? Then from there I started to refine the details that helped me create a good poster in the end.

This project helped me grow in multiple ways as a designer and as a person. It gave me the opportunity to be creative and make something I like and continue to like, which is music. I wanted to create something that spoke about Rod Wave's unique voice as an artist and to also pick out lyrics that remind me and others to keep going and never stop.