Candace Luekenga
For my senior project, I took on a creative challenge where I designed a new visual every day for 17 consecutive days. Additionally, I completed 6 days of design prior to this challenge, which I’m considering as “day zero,” bringing the total to 18 days of continuous creation. It was a test of consistency, creativity, and skill. But it wasn’t just about making something visually appealing, it was about creating designs that had a purpose. To achieve this, I designed a business card that recipients would be inclined to display on the front, while featuring the company’s advertisement on the back.
17 Days, 17 Designs
The constraints were simple: each design had to be visually captivating enough to be displayed, yet it had to also subtly incorporate an advertisement for a company.
For example, with this design for the nonprofit organization 4Ocean, I integrated elements from the front of the business card into the back to maintain a cohesive look. To create a connection between the advertisement and the front, I put the phrase “What a catch” within the hook.
Balancing Art and Advertisement
When creating visuals for companies, it’s easy to get caught up in promoting the brand in a way that feels sales-driven. However, since I was designing to have a subtle advertisement I had to approach each piece like an art print with a specific message.
With this business card, I began by focusing on the advertisement and then worked to create it visually. I chose to use a fist holding a carabiner, as the fist is commonly used to symbolize solidarity. The carabiner also serves to convey that the message is specifically targeted toward outdoor enthusiasts.
This approach made each design an opportunity to experiment, think outside the box, and explore new ways of combining design with function.
From Concept to Execution
Previous to the 17 days of creating I sketched out my ideas for each card. I sketched out different possibilities, iterating on ideas, and refining each one.
I then moved to getting reference photos, finding color schemes, testing fonts, getting style references basically getting everything ready for when I started the 17 days.
These are a few of the reference photos used for some of the designs.
Lessons Learned and Future Aspirations
Looking back, during this project I had to be consistent, juggle time constraints and push myself creatively under pressure. As I move forward in my design career, I’ll continue to create with the customer in mind and look for new ways to create designs that are both beautiful and functional.
Designs People Would Want to Display
By the end of the 17 days, I had a series of visuals that were varied in style, mood, and composition. The final result? A collection of designs that had both artistic value and practical use.
Day Zero Designs
Day Zero helped lay the foundation for my creative process and helped refine my skills in balancing aesthetics with functionality.
