Hot New Things 2020 – Danielle Kane, Wintec
Each summer DA profiles a selection of the top design graduates coming out of our tertiary institutions.
We welcome these talented emerging professionals to our industry, learn about their passions, final projects and dreams for the future.
Today we speak with Danielle Kane from Wintec – Bachelor of Media Arts (Graphic Design)
You completed your full time studies at the end of 2019. Can you tell us what your final year’s project focussed on?
I love branding and identity design as well as large publication design. During my last semester I chose to push my skills and design a bi-lingual annual report for a multinational bank that I would also then design the branding and identity for. I wanted to get creative and have fun with type setting, layout design and data display (tables/infographics).
What were some of your most exciting or unexpected discoveries to come out of your project?
I found that working with two languages in a large publication was a bit of a puzzle; finding a grid structure and layout for text and tables that would work for both languages took time. It was unexpectedly fun and super satisfying to see everything eventually fit into place.
What did you love doing most?
Printing! I loved seeing my work printed and having it in my hands to feel and flip through. Printing is my favourite part about graphic design, I enjoy planning out how it’s going to be printed, what paper stock, what colours, etc when I begin each project.
What was your biggest challenge while studying and how did you overcome it?
There were moments where I lost my momentum due to lack of inspiration. It may not sound like a huge problem, but it completely stops your progress.
I found researching and gathering inspiration from various sources helped boost my creativity. When I got stuck on projects, I could then reflect on my research or gather some new inspiration for fresh ideas.
What does your dream job look like?
I would love to get stuck into a print-based job where I can be around the aspect of design I love most. I want to discover ways to expand my design so that it shines with the finishing and printing stage.
Why did you choose to study at your design school, and what do you feel you can take away now that you’ve completed your course?
Wintec offers a more “hands-on” approach and that is exactly how I learn. I didn’t want to go somewhere that would make me write essays on how to be a good graphic designer. I wanted to learn by physically designing, cutting, gluing and binding my own projects. I think doing projects that required me to design, print and assemble things from scratch like packaging or booklets equipped me with the skills to be able to think ahead when designing.
Where to next for you? What does 2020 hold?
I am continuing working at Gravitas Media after completing my internship with them this year. I am aiming to become more experienced with pre-press and print design. I am also working on a few freelance projects to explore my creativity and gain experience working with my own clients.
Email: daniellekane1998@gmail.com
Instagram: @dirk.designs
Behance: behance.net/daniellekane
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