For this project, my partner and I created a company called Odyssey that takes those interested in exploring the galaxy on a cruise through the cosmos. The skills and tools I learned through this project were Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, as well as how to create compelling logos and graphic designs. This project aimed to teach us how to use these programs to create logos that are attractive to the eye while being simple and clean. Since this was a group project, we had to balance the workload with each other. Since I had some previous experience with Adobe programs, I was the project's primary designer while my partner worked on sketches and typefaces. That being said, my most significant contribution to this project was the creation of the logo and the style of the company’s design. When it came to creating our company, my partner and I decided the first step we needed to take was to determine what our company should be named.

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Since it was a space-based company, we wanted to choose a name that fits the product. After many uninspiring names, I suggested that we name the company based on an ancient Greek epic written by Homer: The Odyssey. The definition of an Odyssey is a long adventure filled with notable experiences, which we feel fits our product perfectly. Once the name ‘Odyssey’ was finalized, we moved on to the logo. This process wasn’t as long as deciding the name, as my partner and I had a definitive idea of the logo. The company's name is accompanied by a ‘swoosh’ and a star. With this specific placement, the customer can first be drawn to the logo by the swoosh, and then having it act as a leading line, the customer follows the swoosh to the star and then to the company's name. Those who know the meaning of the Odyssey may be able to understand that this company has something to do with an adventure into the stars. Once the logo was finished, we could quickly proceed with the remainder of the project, as the logo was used for the business card and the letterhead.

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While creating this project, we did come face to face with some design challenges. One design challenge that caused us to change our logo was how well the logo would be reduced. Initially, instead of a star on our logo, we had a rocket. However, when we reduced our logo to the business card and the letterhead, the rocket became squished and messy. Then, we decided to change the design slightly to include a star instead of a rocket, as the star was straightforward to reduce. Another design challenge during this project was deciding on the colour scheme. Having already been limited to greyscale colours, we had to determine how to make the logo stand out with just greyscale colours. We tested many different greyscale schemes until we finally decided that the company's name should be in a solid black colour while the swoosh and star should be in a grey colour. In the end, my partner and I were very pleased with the final product and thought that we had achieved more than what we had set out for with the design and style of our product.

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The logo looked simple and clean but stood out to the eye, which was our primary objective. Throughout the project, I learned I had the necessary skills to work with online programs to create our logo and other needed applications. I also learned that I work well in a team and can lead a team when required. I found myself taking charge and leading my partner and I into a well organized and balanced work structure. I constantly contacted my partner as we asked each other for critiques and questions on our work. We were able to complete the project in a timely manner and with full confidence in ourselves. Next time, I would like to explore more abstract ideas outside my comfort zone as I feel that I stuck to my comfort zone more than I would have liked. I would also like to apply the work habits that I discovered during this project to future ones, whether school assignments or workplace projects, as I feel that they would make for a far more enjoyable and organized experience.​

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