Within the final graphic collage, I found it was actually easier to create than the initial draft collage as a result of receiving input and critique from class mates. It really does help to have more than one perspective to influence my own ideas and inspiration. Additionally, viewing my class mates own collages supplemented my own ideas for my final collage. My design process after critique merged from creation to polishing and implementing ideas given to me via comments.

The content of my final collage remained the same – photos of my life narrating one of my favorite quotes, “Live. Love. Laugh.” While my topic is “About Me,” I do feel that these people are especially significant. I do not create myself, and I my life is much more than just me – which is why I found it especially important to include people (my family, boyfriend and best friend) who help shape my life and allow me to live, love, and laugh.

Critique from my peers was so incredibly helpful. A recurring theme in the comments was to create more flow, and so I attempted to do that by making all the images black and white. A specific comment referred me to a lesson we learned during the tutorials assignment, which allowed me to still express my love for color and using black and white at the same time (color selection). I chose to use the brightest colors within each image. I highlighted my pink skirt, the beach background in the middle photo, and my pink hair clip and bottle of booze my best friend is clutching in honor of his 21st birthday this past May.

In addition to color selection, I used: paint brush, styles (font), and blending tools to make the collage flow.