Joel

Blandon

Graphic

Designer/Artist

background

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Experience

I was born and raised in NY, Bronx. A few years ago, I found my spark for graphic design. I joined a program called A Better Chance which allowed me to attend Amherst Regional High School. There, I took classes that pushed my talent beyond what I thought possible. I took advanced video production, animation, and computer graphics classes. Anything that got me behind a computer, I was there. Posters, advertisements, if there was a graphic T-Shirt contest, a million ideas would flash through my brain. All to say, my work oozes passion. I can't wait to see what I can design next.

MSAN Poster

I designed this poster for the advisor of this club. She commisioned me to produce a poster that informed the observer about all the topics they wanted to talk about, while also maintaing a flashy design.

Action Plan:

We will create a BIPOC student lead group, including adult co-conspirators to facilitate some of the conversations, to discuss topics we find relevant. We will meet once or twice per month. We will pilot the "Speak Out Conversations" this Spring semester and fully implement them during the next school year.


Goal:

The goal of our conversations is to provide BIPOC students a safe space and opportunity to discuss topics often ignored and/or silenced in our predominantly white institution.

Topics:

  • Current Events
  • Racism
  • Social Justice
  • Restorative Justice
  • Politics
  • Leadership
  • Health/Fitness
  • Future Planning
  • Community Service
  • And more

Co-conspirators:

  • People Of Color United (POCU) and other Student Organizations
  • ARHS BIPOC Alum

(Future Planning)

  • Deidre Cuffee-Gray (College & Future Planning)
  • Cedric Gonnet (Health/Fitness)
  • Aaron Buford

(Restorative Justice)

  • Evelin Aquino (Social Justice & Empowerment)
  • Tem Blessed (Social Justice & Sustainability)
  • Mary Custard (Dean Of Students/MSAN Advisor)

Smiley Project

This was one of my designs in my computer graphics class. My professor wanted us to use ideas from his "smiley-face calendar" to make our own unique day. At this point, he taught us all the basics of adobe illustrator, and the world was my oyster, so I decided to think outside the box and go for a superhero design. I came up with the title, "Have a double life day." So I began looking for a superhero that was recognizable but also had a secret identity. And so, I found the perfect reference image from the comics and replaced key features with smiley-face properties. Still one of my favorites to this day.

Print Ad

This is another one of my designs in my computer graphics class. Fully made in adobe photoshop. This time finding a brand we liked or knew, and making an ad you would see in various settings. I chose Squarespace, the website building website, created mockups of real world scenarios.

Original Logo

  • Turtle
  • New beach
  • Color concepts

Logo redesign

Finding different ways to improve on the Turtle Beach logo

Final Design

(couldn't find original)

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Animal hybrid

In this fun project, I took a brown African buffalo and combined it with an emperor penguin. I was inspired by their similar fur color, as well as similar head positioning.

Get in touch

New York Adress: 3620 Webster Ave Apt 3A, Bronx, NY 10467

Massachusetts Adress: 18 Montague Rd. Leverett, MA 01054

jblandon@umass.edu

joel.blandon18@gmail.com