Category: Practicum Work

This was my final full 4 day week at Danica, things have slowed down now. But just like real work that happens, so I have been mainly asking if others need an extra hand or some help on a project. On Monday I handed in a packaging update, and I passed it onto another person to work on. I finished some final packaging update edits I needed to do and worked on a typographic Swedish sponge cloth design for Ecologie under Danica. 

I also helped someone out on a project which was a website banner ad for Mothers day. What is really nice is whenever the team needs feedback or help we can post our work on basecamp under different project sections and people are pretty fast at responding. I would say so far using basecamp and slack for communication has been pretty good and that is also where tasks are assigned and project briefs are assigned too. I guess what I realized through this process is that project briefs aren’t formatted exactly like school and sometimes the information will be in different places or you will have to ask for more clarity but I suppose that is the transition from school to work. 

I also worked on a quick packaging template design for someone, and on Wednesday handed in my final surface design project which was the typographic design for Swedish sponge cloth. For all my work I have been using my sketchbook, pencils, watercolor, illustrator, procreate, wacom tablet, and photoshop. Out of all the programs I probably used illustrator and InDesign the most so this was definitely a learning curve with illustrator and I realized how much I need to learn still regarding shortcuts and how to work quickly and efficiently. I actually realized with my final surface design project I didn’t hand it in properly, which I found out Wednesday night so I handed it in on Thursday morning. I hadn’t placed the actual artwork into the template but used a jpeg instead. Luckily we had wiggle room with time so it wasn’t an issue but never be afraid to ask more questions and clarity because sometimes miscommunication can happen even when you think you know what your doing it never hurts to double-check your work. 

Lastly, I helped a few other co-workers out on little assignments, such as Pinterest image saving and uploading to server and Pinterest hunting for image inspiration and word ideas for the taro card project. And at the end of my Thursday I was working on a few edits for the internal Danica cards before I put them on the server. The cherry on top for this week was a zoom event we had for people in the Danica office, I attended the Woman in Beer History event which was very interesting learning about how influential and prominent women were in the beer world. It was really nice to just hang out with my co-workers and have an awesome host for the event. Even through the pandemic, you can still manage to have fun, even on zoom.

Stay tuned for my last two days at Danica 🙂

This is what a packaging template can look like and where all the information will be replaced.

This was the Mothers Day banner ad for website I was working on.

This was the taro card inspiration I was adding to.

This is a sample of the internal cards I am editing.

This week was very nice and smooth. Since my check-in meeting, I started looking at some Skill-Share videos and realized how helpful this resource is and would definitely recommend using it. I plan on watching a lot more videos to learn and build some more skills in my tool kit. This week I got feedback from the key account buyers on a specific doormat design I was working on. They must have liked it but wanted some modifications made. The project actually got passed along to another designer to finish it off and do the final touches. But I am excited to see the final artwork and if it gets printed on a doormat in the future.

I continued working on packaging updates for various templates, organizing information, and styling it with certain fonts and icons. I am working on my last surface design project for a Danica Ecologie Swedish Sponge Cloth. This design is very typographic and playful so I can have a lot of fun with it. Mid-week I was working on some trend research and Pinterest pinning for fall 2022 and was a part of some meetings to discuss trends that are happening and what the future looks like design, colours, patterns, and more. I finished off my week by finishing off packaging templates and did a Mothers day banner ad for Danica’s online website.

Everyone at work is very busy and looking to hire more people to expand the Danica team in many areas. I am working on chipping away and finishing projects since the practicum is flying by and I let my team members know if they need extra hands or help I am available. I was hoping to learn some more about pattern design but if time gets away I will probably watch videos on Skill-Share about it. This was actually my last week in person at Danica as we decided it would be best I work from home to leave the workspace more open for others and because of COVID risk increasing so, I will be working at home for the remainder of the time which is okay but I will definitely have to come back and visit the office again when things are more normal and say hi to everyone.

Stay tuned for my last full week at Danica 🙂

My computer workspace area.

Waiting room area at front desk area of Danica.

Me and the Danica sign 🙂

My mom bought me a Danica tea towel which I am in love with. This is a Water colour design by Caitlin who is a surface designer at Danica.

Me very happy about my new tea towel. Love that this packaging is all paper and no plastic. It sort of looked like a picture frame.

This was an interesting week. Monday was a rough day not going to lie, I am like an open book so I am going, to be honest, and not sugar coat it. Monday was my check-in day with myself, the practicum host, and the practicum instructor from school. I am not sure what I expected going into this meeting but definitely wasn’t in the right headspace because there were a lot of tears on my end haha. I can laugh about it now but at that moment I honestly just felt embarrassed. Reason for crying, hearing critical feedback from people you look up to or care about is hard, and I tend to beat myself up over these kinds of things because I care too much and it hits the heart more than the professional surface layer.

My practicum host had so many positive things to say but when it did get more critical I focused more on that. I have insecurities about my skill level in executing projects fast and efficiently and working in various programs. So it is one thing knowing this about myself but hearing it from others is another thing. I know it was a good thing to hear and remind myself of where I am at and what I can grow and improve upon. And I hope to do a lot of growing after my practicum ends. What I need to learn to focus on is the little successes and goals rather than the whole picture because sometimes it can seem overwhelming and too much. And I was told some wisdom that we are still students in this process and it’s okay to be learning, making mistakes, and asking lots of questions.

This practicum experience has flown by and I think it’s because I am have been busy and having fun. The team at Danica has been so kind and supportive and I wouldn’t change a thing about my practicum placement.

My path after practicum or school ends may sound like an unconventional one compared to my fellow classmates but I intend to do volunteer work, work in a summer arts camp, start my own dog walking company (do the branding of course myself) Learn and grow more as an illustrator and build up more clientele and go back to school to become a high school art teacher. Now that I believe is my destiny but I wouldn’t know that unless I had all these different experiences up to this point.

Quick rewind back to my week though, sorry I got a bit sidetracked in the future after Monday my week continued with working on packaging updates handing in a key accounts surface design project for a doormat. And lastly, I ended the week by making some procreate sketches for my next assignment. For the remainder of my time at Danica, I am going to ask for tips and tricks on learning the adobe suite from the team and watch skillshare videos each weekend.

Until next week 🙂

New dog visiting the office!

Sketches for project on procreate at home.

Coloured rough sketches for sponge cloth design.

This week was a slow and steady one. I finished up handing in the firework illustration surface design project by taking all the various layouts I made and plopping them into an InDesign presentation and handing in the PDF to be sent to the buyer to look over. I also worked on my novelty cat designs for two doormats for a key account. (sort of a big deal maybe..) I was given a fast deadline to look at inspiration images and start making designs with cats and catchphrases that were given to me. Everything I sort of put on hold to dive into this project because it has the quickest deadline ( 1 week and 1/2). I worked a bit on the weekend to get a bit more ahead than I would be starting Monday.

This project this week I was mainly doing sketches and more refined sketches in procreate. I realized though going back and forth between making sketches and getting feedback is a bit of a process so make sure to leave yourself a lot of time. If I were to go back I think I would have worked some extra hours after work. But that’s apart of the learning curve, to be fast and efficient. I also tried working on some packaging design updates but didn’t get too far on that due to back and forth as well. And I also did some interesting inspiration hunting and shared some thoughts and ideas on trends and current movements. I participated in a few more meetings and future plans for Danica and new surface design projects. I am doing my best to contribute but am hoping to be even more involved and put in my thoughts or insight when there is an opportunity to do so.

There was a very strange day that happened this week and that was when I went into the Capilano University building to do some computer updating with my teacher to get the newer adobe suite. After waiting, updating, waiting and then it was done I tried to use my “H” key on my keyboard but it wasn’t working properly… Found out I will need to get it fixed but after my practicum, because it takes two weeks to replace the whole keyboard.

On a final good note, I enjoyed spending some time on my Thursday basking in a sliver of sun on our deck. So take advantage of those sunny days and get outside! ( I keep telling myself to do that)

This is the front entrance of Danica, I never actually enter from the front but the back entrance where I park 🙂

These are sketches from novelty cat doormat surface design project.

Lastly some revised sketches I did in procreate.

I do have more artwork revisions but I think they should remain a secret. You never know one of these developed sketches for the doormat design could be chosen to be sold in store.

Stay Tuned… 😀

This week was a busy one! Jam-packed with new projects. I am wrapping up danniversary internal cards for employees and then working on updating some packaging templates followed by two surface illustration design projects. Monday I had many meetings such as a creative team meeting, a meeting about how to bring in hand-drawn artwork into photoshop and illustrator. I also had a training session on updating packaging templates. And through that training session, I realized how much I do not know about illustrator lol, or photoshop for that matter haha. I must learn my shortcut keys, planning to do that after I graduate hehe.

On Tuesday I ended up working from home instead of going into the office which I normally do on Mondays and Tuesdays. My back was sore from the weekend of swimming in the winter ocean water and doing exercise which I am not used to and am sitting too much. Sooo I need to work on taking more breaks from work and not sitting for hours on end. But it is definitely hard when you are in the zone and having fun. I realized for the illustration projects it sort of feels like the same process as school with making thumbnails, getting feedback, making an inspiration board, and presenting different concepts and layouts. Just a more elevated professional version. I liked seeing that connection though, it made me appreciate school and everything we have learned.

The rest of the week consisted of packaging updates, finishing rough card design drafts, and watercolor firework design which I did by hand and had to create a couple samples to use and bring into my computer to create layouts. This process made me realize how much work it must have been for illustrators and designers back in the day where they were making designs or illustrations all by hand which made it so difficult to edit or make changes and now a days we are spoiled with this luxury to fix things digitally.

This is another example of the inside environment of Danica Studio. Gorgeous bathroom designs.

This is the warm and welcoming kitchen facility.

Here are samples of Danica Heirloom brand. Checking out colours and quality of material/design.

More samples to look at, identifying the different illustrations styles of Danica and how they work as prints on different products.

Here are my rough thumbnail sketches for watercolour firework design.

Practicing making watercolour firework illustrations to bring into psd/ai to make digital for project.

Stay tuned for more next week at Danica Studio 🙂

This week was busier and was picking up by the end of the week with 4 projects assigned to me. I had more training sessions over zoom, I got to participate in team meetings and they actually took one of my suggestions for the team meeting to mix it up and have some fun. We did rose, bud, thorn which is a nice group activity to see how people are feeling and what’s on their mind. For example rose means: something good that has happened, bud means something you are looking forward to in the future, and thorn is something that happened that wasn’t so great but if you don’t have one even better. So everyone enjoyed that and I met more of the team members.

I have been working on Danica birthday cards and danniversary cards (for internal use only) I am using already existing artwork and reworking the layout and adding some new typography.

They were kind enough to give me one of their Danica branded masks.

Front desk of Danica Studio.

Showroom of Danica, containing all five brands they have. Danica studio, Danica Jubilee, Danica Heirloom, Danica Ecologie, and Now Designs.

My practicum host treated me to a Poke Bowl with a gift card she gave me. Very Sweet!

I was also learning about their process of how they make their artwork and then put it onto their products and how it can look on different materials. A lot to learn for sure, I am trying to take lots of notes but at the end of the day I ask lots of questions 🙂 I am going to be working on the card designs, some packaging updates, and two illustration projects.

I feel more at ease this week, and everyone is very kind and supportive which is great. Even though I have more projects which means more stress, I don’t have time to overthink but just work and do. I was lucky enough to be apart of a meeting that Danica had with Anthropology buyers. I just sat and listened but the process was interesting and the Anthro team seemed very nice as well.

This coming week and the next couple weeks will be very busy.

Stay tuned 🙂

I showed up early for my first day, I didn’t want to be late. My travel time consists of 20-25 minutes driving to Danica Monday and Tuesday (depending on traffic of course) I found parking behind the studio and had a warm welcome by Andrea my host into their office. As you can see below I have my own desk setup, I am using someone else’s desk on the days they do not come in. I had a tour of their showroom, kitchen, and washrooms and was pleasantly surprised by some goodies at my desk. I also received catalog books to go through and I had no idea Danica had become so big! They have branched off into 5 companies but will still be under Danica. The rest of my week consisted of meeting more people, having some zoom training sessions, and learning more about what they do, what they want to do for the future, and the platforms they use. I have been introduced to my first project which is using their existing artwork and reworking it to make some birthday/danniversary cards.

Their space is about 10,000 square feet, which is nice a roomy. Everyone works in either office rooms or cubicles. This below is the view from my desk.

I received a lovely tin box container, with a cute cat sketchbook and notebook. Followed by a gorgeous water bottle and a little rainbow tray.

On Thursday we went to Main street and checked out different stores that carried Danica products. Some stores did carry their products and some stores didn’t but we still checked them out for product inspiration. It seems that they are always looking for new innovative products and multi-functional and sustainable packaging (which I like 😀 )

This week has been a nice introduction to the team and potential projects I might be working on. I will be honest I was and am scared to make a mistake because this really feels like the real world. (which it is) But I can’t forget this is still through school and we are learning and have so much to learn and now is the time to ask lots of questions.

Until next week… 🙂 stay tuned