I know it is New Year’s day at some regions/places. It is 22.40 GMT here at the United Kingdom. I will like seize this moment to thank you all for being part of this adventure of mine.
Some of my favourite posts have been Living, Together,Storybook, and of course,Kojo and Not Just a Pretty Faceby Tambu Geeray respectively. I must state that Collaborating with Tambu Geeray brought out the best in my design concept to bring his story to life.
96 posts and counting, I wouldn’t have been here without the amazing followers and readers that have become a huge part of this journey.
My initial intention when I started was to at least have someone have a peek at my portfolio (which seems outdated now) having gone and studied Graphic Design as a mature student and doing the best I could. Life is about learning and discovery, and also rising to challenges. Studying Graphic Design in my mid to late thirties was no exception. It was very tough, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Imaging not trying at all. I gave my all despite my struggles, and in the end I graduated with a First Class Honours in Graphic Design.
In all these, I have met so many wonderful people along the way, and on the WordPress platform I have discovered some gems in people, their writings and stories. Simply amazing!!
This post barely has the space to express my gratitude. But here is to you all that have helped shaped and moulded me to who I have become. I can proudly say that I blog, I design, I inspire (I’d like to think so), I aspire, I illustrate, I……, I TRY.
2019 holds greater challenges but we will all rise to the occasion. Let’s go!!!!!!
Thank you again from the bottom of my heart and have a blessed 2019.
Hello ZedTears. Thank you from the bottom of my heart
Corita Kent. Corita 100. mock up
I haven’t been as active posting blogs or wonderful quotes on my site lately. I am in the process of moving home so it is physically tasking coupled with work and family activities. Although, I still do come across many inspiring quotes that I would have loved to design and post here but obviously things get overtaken by events.
I will love to share in depth why I do what I do, why I love to design quotes and why I use a degree of expressive typography in a subsequent post. But for now let me share my process of how I come across quotes. Leonardo Da Vinci once said that “learning never exhaust the mind”. My approach to learning lead to my path in Graphic Design. The first day I heard of the term ‘Graphic Design’ was the day I pick up the phone and called a few universities if they had vacancy so I could enrol. Thanks to my business partner at the time who mentioned it in conversation and thanks to UEL that had vacancy for me to start a new chapter in my life’s storybook. Learning is never too much in my opinion, we’ll keep learning and discovering new things until we cease to exist.
I try to pay attention to things that I read, watch or listen to. This approach often or most time lead to discovery and a wealth of knowledge. The quotes I post have come as a result. Some quotes posted have also come from some blogs read and from some amazing bloggers on this platform. I wasn’t aware of this platform until I shared my first post. By this I mean a channel where a community of great minds and awesome individuals shared great posts and contents. Sincerely speaking, when I shared my first post it was at the beginning of March 2018. My intention was to have a portfolio website displaying some of the works I had done and something extra that I could share my thoughts and my design process.
Enough of the blah blah blah! Not so long ago, I designed and posted a series of quotes on Corita Kent when she was mentioned in a YouTube video I was watching. I did a research on her and was blown away by this incredible woman, her works, her powerful and inspirational words. I was truly inspired. I could see why Brian Collins mentioned her in that video and why she is an inspiration to many designers, artists, painters, writers, you name it.
Recently, I have started posting on instagram, and shared these quote series there. The quotes had many likes and some comments too to my astonishment. I was discovering another world. The quotes were liked by Designspiration, Corita Art Center and more.
Last week I had a direct message from Corita Art Center based in Los Angeles, CA. saying how they loved my artwork and will like me to submit the artwork as they were celebrating Corita’s 100th birthday anniversary. The artwork is considered for the #coritaartcontest #coritainspired, #corita100. Needless to say how humbled I was by this very kind gesture and for the work to be recognized. This is an indication that some things we put out or share could mean a great deal to others.
I wanted to share why I do what I do in a subsequent post but I might as well spill the beans on why I design quotes. I design quotes because I am inspired by the powerful words (I hope someone else shares my sentiment). I also design quotes because it lets me experiment with type and typography (as a graphic designer). I see typeface(s) as image(s). I design quote because it gives me so much joy in doing so. I design quotes as it has become somewhat of a hobby. I design quotes because I love quotes period.
The reason for the Corita Kent’s quotes was not to gain praises or recognition, it was for the reasons stated above. Words cannot fully express how grateful I am for the likes and recognition though, for the readers of my blogs and for the followers too. Without you I wouldn’t be wholeheartedly enjoying this process, and wanting to post more content.
I will be sharing my design process on how I created the Corita Kent artwork in a later post.
I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to Corita Art Center, and to the wonderful community of readers and followers of creatives.
Design, Art/Creative direction, Illustration, Mock up, Post
By Philip Abang
Philip Abang 