Catherine Schultz's Media Portfolio

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Reading & Writing: It’s Tricky, but It’s Not Magic

This whole topic is tricky for me. I have had many places in my personal life where I never thought I would be able to do something. Whether that was out of anxiety or uneducated teachers it was all the same. As I mentioned in my “about me” spiel, I have dyslexia which affects my reading and writing ability. If this post was just about my personal life I would say that nobody expected me to fall in love with writing, yet I did. My grammar is still not perfect and my mom still helps edits my work (which is pretty embarrassing to admit). I know that I need to talk more about my professional life otherwise known as my internship. Well, unfortunately, there’s a lot of things to discuss.

First, let’s talk about Illustration and design I never thought I would be able to do anything in this field. My original plan was to be a programmer and illustration would be a side gig. I didn’t think this field of work was compatible with my skill set. Honestly, I never really believed my designs would be good enough or that anyone would want to pay for them; I also thought my art was not as good as “those other people”.

One summer, to help me figure out if I had talent (or not), I attended a summer art college. Surrounded by people who had worked and practiced at art for YEARS, and appeared to have far more skill and worked harder to develop their artistic talents, I was surrounded by amazing artists. You might think that being surrounded by talented artists would increase my anxiety, but actually, their talent gave me the confidence to post my artwork online. I look back every once and awhile and am proud of how far I’ve come in my art and the improvements I’ve made.

I’m very excited about my new internship — it’s my first real “almost” job! I developed a client logo and postcard and learned so much from this experience. I am still constantly learning and cannot count how many times I’ve had to look up size formats for social media.

Earlier I mentioned I have trouble writing. Some teachers didn’t think I would ever be able to write and that I might always need a scribe to write for me. Somewhere, somehow, I started writing for fun — and that’s when the magic happened; nothing tricky about it really. Teach me how language works, teach me using the “science of reading and language” and I will learn to read — and I will succeed. I didn’t think writing would be something I would enjoy, but I was wrong.

Featured

About Me

Hello, I am Catherine Schultz. I’m from Maryland. I am a recent graduate from Muskingum, majoring in digital media design. Now on to who I am.

I enjoy writing. I really, really wanted to participate in “Novel November,” where students are challenged to write 50,000 words by the end of November. I was able to eke out 5,259 of the 50,000 words required for the novel event and realized the depth of my passion for writing. Most of my friends raised their eyebrows and said: “are you crazy?”

I explained I was not exactly crazy and was doing this while also doing my classwork. Although the time for the competition has ended, I am still working on “that story” and hope to get it to 50,000 words one day.

I am also an advocate for Decoding Dyslexia MD for dyslexia since I was 12, even helping with events and advocating for the statewide legislation that requires all Kindergarten students to be screened for reading difficulties and provided early interventions before they fall behind. The Ready to Read Act passed in 2019, and my home state, Maryland, is in the process of implementing the law.

I have a passion for illustration and creative writing, which drove my choice of major, classes, and electives. I worked at the Muskingum’s Alumni Office as a graphic designer and was working on a project postcard for “The Day of Giving.”

My portfolio spans three years of work on illustrations, graphic designs, and other artwork under the guidance of teachers at Moore College and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. I have also been writing and drawing creatively since I was in second grade (or nine years old)

“I started writing because the story I wanted to read wasn’t available,” I explained. I realized that I had difficulty finding the vocabulary and background knowledge to draw on to build the world I wanted to give readers. This is where art comes in — it allows me to expand on my ideas and bring people into my life more. Learning that I could use illustration, design, and drawing to express myself and tell a story, at the same time, in tandem, to create a world that people might use to escape life, is something I’m after,” said I. “Creating a blog for my work and progress will help me reach my goals sooner.”

I joined the dyslexia advocacy group because I have dyslexia. Though I struggled to use my accommodations because it seemed like cheating (oddly enough), I realize it’s similar to adding a wheelchair ramp to a building — if there’s a ramp, everyone can enter.” Not using my accommodations was only cheating myself.

I thought, “if I just tough it out, I will be like everyone else; but this was a wrong assumption.

My father recommended that I go on a trip with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), to help boost my confidence and to know it’s okay to rely on others for help.

The NOLS trip was through the Wind River Range in Wyoming. This was a 30-day trip which amounted to 101.10 miles of stressful walking. However, I was able to get some confidence through this experience — I’m not dead. I learned that girly girls pretty much avoid me and that I can hang with the boys. a ton of life experience and have stories that could and perhaps will, fill future blogs since I want to write 50,000 words someday and oh, I love creative writing.

If I were to interview myself, here’s what I would say: “I learned a lot from the NOLS trip and truly wish I could do another one sometime in the future,” said I. “The whole adventure was amazing even though we realized that Mother Nature is scary.”

Nature can really shape a person, and I’ve been raised in more rural areas with not a lot of people or other kids around (with the exception of San Diego and Vienna, Virginia). My dad was in the military, and we moved around a lot. From Florida to California, to Maryland, to California, to Virginia, and back to Maryland again, my world is always moving. Not surprisingly, I chose an out-of-state college in Ohio because of my love of adventure and seeing new things.

During my travels, I spent a lot of time in the car, which may explain part of my love for drawing — I had plenty of time to do it.

My goal is to USE my passions and experiences to add value to the Alumni Office during my internship. Also, I hope to use my passions to get out of my parents’ basement, especially since they don’t have one.

School of Fish

Book Cover Design

For my creative writing portfolio, I decided to create a captivating cover design featuring a school of fish as the background. This visually engaging design would be more enticing than a plain PDF document filled with text. Interestingly, this particular design holds a special place in my heart as it became my mom’s favorite.

Moreover, I took the concept further by transforming the design into fabric, which I used to create masks. Surprisingly, this unique fish-themed mask has become my mom’s preferred choice and the only one she wears. The fact that it resonated so strongly with her highlights the personal connection and emotional impact that can be achieved through design.

This cover design showcases my creative abilities and demonstrates my willingness to explore unconventional avenues and create designs that have a meaningful impact on others.

Miracle’s Fall

Book Cover Design

During my final year of college, I embarked on the exciting journey of writing a book and creating its cover design. This project holds a special place in my heart, and I take immense pride in the result, which I have included a rough sketch of for reference.

While working on the book cover, I encountered an essential lesson regarding color selection. Despite carefully choosing colors within the same range, some appeared darker than intended when translated into the final design. This experience taught me the significance of color testing on my computer, as the display on my iPad can sometimes alter the perceived brightness.

Through this project, I honed my skills in book cover design and gained valuable insights into the intricacies of color reproduction across different mediums. It serves as a reminder of the importance of meticulous attention to detail and continuous learning in my creative process.

I am thrilled to present this book cover design as a testament to my growth and dedication as a designer.

Military Platoon Patch

I designed this logo as a special request from my brother for his Army platoon. It involved updating their existing platoon patch. I created four different design options for the project.

I worked closely with my brother to ensure the new design accurately represented the platoon’s identity and values. We discussed their vision and incorporated meaningful elements into the logo.

I paid careful attention to detail throughout the design process, ensuring the logo captured the essence of the platoon’s mission and camaraderie. I utilized my graphic design skills and software, such as Adobe Illustrator, to bring the concept to life.

The Problem Goblin Podcast Logo & Cover art

I developed a professional logo and cover art for a podcasting venture that my friends and I embarked on as a creative endeavor. In the initial stages, I explored the possibilities offered by Tailor Brands, an online platform known for logo creation and LLC assistance. While I enjoyed experimenting with fonts, I couldn’t find a pre-made design that truly resonated with our vision. It was then that I recognized the opportunity to leverage my skills as a graphic designer and create a unique logo from scratch. The main challenge was finding a font that closely matched the aesthetic of Tailor Brands.

Initially, the logo featured a goblin head seemingly vomiting on a book or text, but after valuable input from my group members, we collectively agreed to veer away from this imagery due to its lack of coherence and potentially suggestive connotations. We replaced the vomit with six-sided dice, aligning the logo more closely with the podcast’s theme. Additionally, we transformed the logo’s shape from rectangular to circular, with the accompanying text positioned below. I am genuinely pleased with the final design’s outcome, as it successfully captures the essence of our podcasting venture.

Turning to the podcast cover art, I adopted a straightforward approach, creating a rough depiction of an alleyway in London, which serves as the setting for our current podcast season. Our podcast centers around a tabletop roleplaying game set in the captivating world of Valsin. I cordially invite you to tune in once the podcast is live on this platform.

These meticulously crafted logo and cover art designs embody my deep passion for graphic design and my unwavering commitment to delivering visuals that align with the specific themes and goals of a project.

Science Fair Logo

Team Graphic Design Project

This collaborative project involved working alongside a team of four individuals to create a captivating and child-friendly logo for a science fair. Our primary goal was to avoid a conventional mascot design while still capturing the essence of the event. We collectively generated 60 rough sketches to explore diverse concepts, meticulously refining them to four promising options.

Ultimately, we unanimously decided on a robot concept that incorporated a minimalist body shape and a magnifying glass, symbolizing curiosity. I was responsible for finalizing the logo design and ensuring its print readiness. Additionally, we extended the theme of curiosity by integrating the magnifying glass element into the accompanying brochure.

Working with such a dedicated and cooperative team made the project highly enjoyable. Each team member contributed unique skills and expertise, producing a well-rounded final product. Although the client didn’t select our logo, we received their approval for the brochure.

The collaborative nature of this endeavor allowed us to leverage the strengths of each team member and foster a cohesive working environment. It was gratifying to witness the culmination of our collective efforts and the positive reception our brochure received.

Muskingum University Alumni Office Logo & Postcard

During my internship at the Muskingum University (MU) Alumni Office, I had the opportunity to hone my graphic design and marketing skills. One of the key projects I worked on was the development of an event logo and marketing postcard for Muskingum’s prestigious annual alumni fundraising and social event, “A Day to Remember.” This experience provided me with practical challenges and the guidance of supportive mentors who taught me how to design materials under specific stylistic requirements.

The process of designing the event logo and materials involved utilizing the Muskingum University Style Guide to create a logo and marketing postcard that exuded class, fun, and adherence to university standards. To capture the essence of the event, I revisited the previous year’s theme and incorporated a circular element to symbolize “the world.” I carefully selected an easily legible font, integrated hashtags and the school logo, and designed an eye-catching backdrop using vibrant colors from the “magenta spectrum.”

For the postcard intended to be sent to all Muskingum alumni, I sketched out the background and brought it to life using Procreate. Although Procreate doesn’t support vector art, it allowed me to experiment and adapt the MU color gradient to create a visually striking and complementary design for the logo.

While my internship primarily focused on in-person, real-world graphic design work, the onset of the pandemic forced me to adapt and think flexibly in the face of the unforeseen closure of our campus and my new virtual work circumstances. The “Day to Remember” event evolved into a virtual event, and our team adapted the materials accordingly.

The logo and postcard stand out as two of my favorite designs due to their vibrant colors and ability to serve as a focal point that draws the viewer’s attention to the text. Throughout the design process, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring different creative possibilities, although I must admit that trimming excess color from the edges posed a challenge. Nevertheless, I recognize the importance of this particular task in delivering a polished, professional final product.

Overall, my involvement in this project allowed me to demonstrate my proficiency in design, adaptability in the face of unexpected circumstances, and attention to detail. I am proud of the outcome and its positive impact on promoting Muskingum’s “A Day to Remember” event to alumni.

If you want to see more of the ruffs and iterations of this design, click on the button below.

ADayToRemeber

First Circle Literary Magazine Logo

The editor of First Circle commissioned me to design a new logo for their student-run literary magazine First Circle. Throughout the logo development process, I reviewed the existing logo starting with interviews with the editor to learn about their goals and expectations for the new logo. I also researched specific elements that needed to be incorporated.

The logo had to meet specific requirements, including being easily recognizable on Instagram and featuring Muskingum University’s color scheme. Drawing from my experience as an Intern in the Muskingum Alumni Office, I was well-versed in the school’s style guide and color palette. I utilized Adobe Illustrator and my sketchbook to bring the vision to life.

My creative process began with sketching numerous ideas, which I later digitized for further exploration. I delved into multiple design concepts, experimenting with various focal points until I settled on the combination of a book and a quill graphic. One aspect that truly excited me was the design of the font and the crafting of a unique typeface. I opted for a fancy serif cursive “F” that harmonized with the other letters and complemented their rotation.

Throughout the logo development journey, I explored various design possibilities. This included creating nine digitally-rendered rough versions as well as some initial sketches. Collaborating closely with the editor, we evaluated and refined these designs, carefully identifying the most promising options.

Thanks to the editor’s invaluable assistance and feedback, we narrowed the selection down to the most impactful designs. This collaborative effort ultimately led us to the final logo concept, which captures the essence and vision of First Circle Literary Magazine.

Incorporating the editor’s insights and feedback was pivotal in shaping the final logo. It serves as a testament to our joint dedication and meticulous attention to detail, resulting in a visually compelling and representative logo that will resonate with the magazine’s audience.

One of the old Iterations

Design Portfolio

These are a few of the designs I did as an internship for the Alumni Office at Muskingum.

Design projects. Like a postcard and logo.

Drone pilot’s routine during quarantine

Retired Naval helicopter pilot, John Schultz, explains how COVID-19 has affected his work environment.

The former Navy pilot flies drones and is considered an essential worker.

He is concerned about his family’s safety: “It makes me nervous because there is nothing I can really do except for…um…wash my hands and try to keep clean,” said John Schultz, Avian drone pilot/retired Navy helicopter pilot.

Schultz lives in Maryland, 22 miles away from the Webster Outlying Field airbase where he has worked for several months.

John Schultz leaves for work at 6 a.m. He was previously a helicopter pilot for the Navy before he got his current job.

Schultz is considered an essential worker because he is a contractor for the U.S. Navy and their job is to protect and defend the sea. As a pilot focused on that mission, the work must continue despite the pandemic.

Schultz’s job includes testing drones that have a similar size to a news helicopter.

The workers who test the drones stand close together in a confined space the size of a shipping container.

To keep workers safe from contamination from COVID-19, the Department of Defense ordered that all people on military facilities and within 6 feet of each other wear a cloth mask.

This order was issued on April 6 in Maryland.

As part of the government requirements and regulations, Schultz’s workplace created a number of policies to eliminate large meetings and move meetings online using video conferencing.

“We don’t get to eat as a group like we used to, which is kind of isolating,” said Schultz.

Since Schultz works both at the office and at home he has to constantly think of the possibility of getting sick.

Because of this consideration, Schultz always has his mind on washing his hands and keeping his hands away from his face.

“I volunteer [to go shopping] since I’m exposed to everything anyways. So when you do things like touch your face and, uh, when you’re conscious about it, thinking about it the entire drive home, ‘Don’t touch your face, don’t touch your face’. It uh, it brings the reality of this uh virus situation,” said Schultz.

Schultz is concerned by a recent death in his family and how the lock down impacted his ability to properly mourn their passing.

“A lot of disappointment [about a death in the family] and a lot of anxiety and a lot of overall um well uncertainty [about] what’s coming in the future,” said Schultz.

Schultz and his family have been affected by the lock down and he continues to worry about the well-being of his family and workplace safety.