portfoLio

coNtact
Gunnar Tolman
208.206.8920
tolmangunnar@gmail.com
GunnarTolman.com
5100 Brylee Way
Iona, ID 83427

coNteNt
Brochure
Montage
T-Shirt
Photodesign
Stationery
Web Page
Logo
Event Ad
Flier

brochure
Description:

A duplex brochure for a hypothetical sound studio business.

Process:

My first priority was to create a new logo. To do that I had to envision a whole new
business that the logo would be for. This was by far the most challenging part of the
project, because of the initial deadline for the first critique draft. Im grateful for the
challenge though, because it pushed me to come up with the rest of the brochures
design quickly, so I could have more time to gradually improve the design overall.
In the logo, I included some subtle audio bars to emulate the logo of its fictional
parent company, SONNIK Audio (see logo project).
Overall I wanted to use big, full-bleed photos in the brochure to really draw in the
viewers eye, so in order to put text on top of those photos and have it be legible I
added semi-transparent black boxes behind each text box to give the words more
contrast.
I took a part of the top photo (the studio guy) and cut him out in Photoshop and
saved him as a separate .PNG file, which I then placed over the full image in
InDesign so that I could wrap the text arund just him. This was one of the coolest
learning experiences of the project for me.
Finally, I added a duplicate of the sound mixer image on the front (per the request of
another student who was kind enough to critique my second draft) which would flow
into its twin image on the inside to create more motivation on the part of the viewr
to actually open the brochure. Originally I only had a flat gray background so I feel
like this was a great improvement.

Message:

Show off the high-tech yet simple and professional yet fun and creative atmosphere
of a Tolman Sound Labs studio

Audience: Musicians, Producers, Audio Engineers, Sound Designers, as well as

anyone who needs live sound/lights for an event.

Top Thing Learned: How to adjust the opacity of an object in InDesign

Color scheme and color names:

Analogous Purple, Violet, (with touches of other analogous colors in the blue half
of the color wheel like teal and blue.)

Font Name & Category:

Century Gothic / Sans serif

moNtage
Description:

A montage project using two separate photos blended together

Process:

I created this project in Photoshop using two images from Unsplash.com. I discovered
Unsplash because of a recommendation from my teacher, and I started the project
by looking through some of their photos trying to find a few that inspired me. I knew
I wanted to portray an uplifting message that could reach a wide audience, so I
chose the phrase from Psalm 46:10, Be still and know that I am God and looked
for images I could use to portray that message. Once I found two I liked, I used
Photoshop to blend them together using layer masking. I actually sandwiched the
hand image between two copies of the background layer. That way, I was able to
mask out parts of the hand to show the stars underneath, as well as show the hand
by masking the top layer. After applying Hue, Saturation, Brightness and Contrast
adjustments to different parts of the images, I used the Burn and Dodge Tools to both
vignette the edges and brighten the focal point. Finally, I added the text from the
scripture and tried to keep it simple and elegant with a script font/sans font combo. I
originally tried using a sans serif for the title but felt that it stood out too much by itself,
whereas the script font flowed into the rest of the image better. I kept the body sans
so that it could be small but legible.

Message:

I want to convey a message of peace and faith in God in a hectic and busy world.

Audience:

I tried to build an image that would apply to everyone. I am aiming to reach people
who might be stressed out or might feel too busy in life.

Top Thing Learned:

The top thing I learned in this project was how to use layer masks effectively for both
images and adjustment layers. I had never done anything like that before, and
learning how was really exciting. I feel like masking is a valuable skill I will be using a
lot more of in the future.

Filter used and where it was applied:

I used two brightness & contrast adjustment layers: one for the background and one
for the hand. I used heavier contrast on the sky so that the stars would pop out a
little more, while using less contrast on the hand photo so the outlineline wouldnt be
as hard. That made it easier to blend the two images.

Color scheme and color names:

Split Complementary (Gold, Blue, Purple)

T-Shirt
Description:

Three vector t-shirt designs and layouts created in Illustrator and Photoshop

Process:

I started with an idea I had during my Visual Media class at BYU-Idaho. Toward
the end of the semester, I thought it would be cool to make t-shirts for the class
representing some of the design principles we had learned over the course of the
semester. I spent several hours conceptualizing and eventually decided to make
the designs to add to my portfolio, even though it was too late to have them made
before the end of the class.
I created three vector designs in Illustrator: we love whitespace, alignment
is everything, and contrast. I tried to utilize the actual design principle being
showcased in each design (eg. we love whitespace has the most whitespace of
the three, if not a little humorously exaggerated.)
Next, I found a free t-shirt design template on graphicburger.com, and opened it in
Photoshop. I found that it was way more complicated than any .psd file I had ever
worked with before, so figuring out how to make it do what I wanted was a great
learning experience. The template came with displacement maps, which I had never
heard of or used before. Its the component that makes the designs wrap around
the wrinkles of the shirt for a more realistic look. I figured out how to use them and
even how to make my own for future projects.

Message:

I wanted to showcase some of the simple design principles I learned this semester.

Audience:

Visual Media students at BYU-Idaho

Top Thing Learned:

How displacement maps in Photoshop work

Title Font Name & Category:

Bebas Sans Serif

photodesigN
Description:

A design project I created using a photograph I took this week as well as a specific
color scheme.

Process:

I started this project in the great outdoors instead of on paper. I went around the
BYU Idaho campus looking for good examples of photography principles. I took six
photos to use in the Photography Activity. The next day, I went to the Ricks Gardens
and looked specifically for something in nature I could take a photo of that would
convey the musical message I wanted to go for for the final project. I came across
my friend who introduced me to the orchards as a photography location and after
taking several pictures of dandelion puffs, trees, flowers, the sky etc she offered
to be a subject herself. It wasnt until after I took the above photo that I realized the
musical message it contained: it looked like she could be conducting nature itself
like an orchestra, and that was just too interesting of a concept for me not to use it
as my project. I did the four basic edits in Photoshop: Levels, Vibrance/Saturation,
Selective Color, and Sharpening. I went pretty crazy with the selective color editing;
I had a pretty clear idea of the color scheme I wanted to use, and adjusted nearly
all of the elements in the image to follow that color scheme. I added some simple
design elements, such as the quote and various musical symbols to help connect the
audience with my message. I went through a few revisions based on the valuable
critique I received from my professor and classmates, and Im very happy with the
end result.

Message:

There is music to be found everywhere, even the quiet places in nature.

Audience:

Younger people interested in all types of music

Top Thing Learned:

The top thing I learned from this project was how to simplify my design elements
to convey my intended message just enough, while leaving some room for the
audience to imagine and not feel crowded and overwhelmed by too many things.

Color scheme and color names:

Analogous Blue, Indigo, Purple

Primary Font Name & Category:

Century Gothic Bold (Sans Serif)

Secondary Font Name & Category:

StatioNery
Description:

Letterhead and Business Card designs using an improved version of the logo I
created in my last project

Process:

My first step in this design project was taking the feedback I received on my logo and
using that to improve it. I was told that spacing the letters out might make it more
legible, so I did that and Im happy with how it turned out. I completely re-created
the audio bars; this time I used the duplicate action command to improve/equalize
the spacing. On the business card, I originally had all of the bars present on the info
side but decided to replace some of them with the info itself to simplify and declutter. I found three social media icons (in vector format) on iconfinder.com and
included those on the card as well.

Message:

Professional audio production made simple. Sonnik Audio creates audio and midi
equipment/interfaces, as well as cross-platform software plugins that focus on giving
the user expansive creative and professional tools in a simplified, intuitive package.

Audience:

I want this to reach people who are either in an audio/music production field, or are
interested in sound in general.

Top Thing Learned:

Learning to use the duplicate action command in Illustrator to make the audio bars
evenly spaced.

Color Scheme and Color Names:

Monochromatic; Blue

Body Copy Font Name & Categories:

Myriad Pro Sans serif

web page
Description:

A web page created using HTML and CSS in a text editor to showcase an improved
version of my Project 05 logo.

Process:

This was the first time that Ive ever began a visual media project by typing words.
I had never made anything using html before so I was very nervous going into this
project. I started by revising points from my logo project blog post (gunnartolman.
com) and typing them into my html document. <> I then tagged them </> properly
so that everything was labled and ready for the stylesheet. Next I wrote the style
sheet. I decided early on that I wanted a fixed, black-and-white photo background,
with a scrolling body to give the page visual depth.

Message:

Professional Audio Made Simple

Audience:

Anyone mildly interested in Audio Production, or experienced producers and

engineers.

Top Thing Learned:

How to make web pages that look awesome using only a text editor

Color scheme and color hex(s):

monochromatic, blue #34c6f4

Title Font Families & Category:

Myriad Pro (sans serif)

Copy Font Families & Category:

Arial (sans serif)

Changes made to the CSS:

Creating a fixed background

Logo
Description:

Vector logo for a hypothetical audio production hardware/software company

Process:

I started and finished this project in Adobe illustrator. I began by typing the word
SONNIK (which means book of interpreted dreams in Russian) in several different
fonts looking for one that I could use as a basis for the design. I originally created
three different logos: a text-based logo, shape-based logo, and an illustration-based
logo. I ultimately chose my text-based logo as a starting point for the final design,
due to some great feedback I received from fellow students. I also obtained a great
deal of feedback and advice from my instructor, and he generously spent some time
teaching me how to use the different tools in Illustrator. My most valuable takeaway
from that meeting was a basic knowledge of the pathfinder window, which helped
me a lot in this project. After I had chosen the logo I wanted to include in the final
draft, I spent a lot of time editing the main font with the pen, direct selection and
other tools to make it more simple and legible. I worked on improving the spacing
and contrast as well, then created the final project shown here using three different
color variations of the same logo.

Message:

I wanted to portray the message of professional audio production made simple.

Sonnik Audio (if made a reality) would be a company that creates audio and midi
equipment/interfaces, as well as cross-platform software plugins that focus on giving
the user expansive creative and professional tools in a simple, intuitive package.
From Dream to Reality

Audience:

I want this logo to reach a wide audience of people: Musicians, Audio Engineers,
Video Producers and others who work with professional audio that could be either
just getting started in the industry, or looking to upgrade their current setup.

Top Thing Learned:

Learning to use the pathfinder window in Illustrator.

Color Scheme and Color Names:

Monochromatic; Blue

Title / Body Font Names & Categories:

N Gage Sans serif (I modified this font using various tools.), Myriad Pro Sans serif

eVeNt ad
Description:

An event ad for a fundraiser concert to help local high schools purchase new audio
equipment.

Process:

I started with a simple sketch of the piano key design. It was an idea I had from the
get-go. I then went into Microsoft Word and tried to replicate it using a placeholder
image. I felt like it worked well, so I started adding the other elements of the design
around it. I Held two separate critique sessions and learned a few ways I could
improve the design. I ended up making a few subtle design changes as well as
completely changing the event title and target audience before the final draft.

Message:

I want students to want to be motivated to help their school, come to the event and
have a good time.

Audience:

High school students involved in school music and audio programs (band,
broadcasting etc..) students who like electronic music in general.

Top Thing Learned:

The biggest thing I learned in this project was connecting the design to the audience.

Color Scheme and name:

Monochromatic; Purple

Title Font Name & Category:

Impact Sans Serif

Copy Font Name & Category:

MS Reference Sans Serif Sans Serif

$2 with student ID, $4 without

Bonneville High School Gym

Fri. June 17 @ 7 PM

Come join us for a night of

awesome music this
Friday! All proceeds will be
donated to the Gear
System Music Education
Fund, to help purchase
new audio equipment for
local high schools.

Do you love Electronic

Music?

DJ Glowmoji, Chicken Musket, The

Bugs, InTheSink, Akrillex, Lindsay
Karat, Deadr4t, Rave the Missionary,
and Gear System

Special Performances by:

Sound for Schools Concert

Gear System Music

FLier
Description:

This is a flier promoting a leadership conference for business graduates.

Process:

I started by sketching four different designs, then choosing one out of those four
that I felt conveyed the message the best. The photo I chose was one of many that
our class was provided with to use in the project. I feel like it captures a theme of
learning in a friendly atmosphere and working together. Next I placed the photo
into an Adobe InDesign document and started arranging the text and other
graphics around it. After making the original mock-up, I had a friend of mine who
is an art major critique the design for me. I then used the information I gained from
the critique process to improve the final design. I specifically payed attention to
balancing the overall shape by using variations of the same elements and adding
more white space.

Message:

I want to reach graduating business students looking for more skills in leadership that
will help propel them into their careers.

Audience:

College [2016-05-14 edit: graduates who want help] gaining valuable employment
opportunities.

Top Thing Learned:

The top thing I learned in this project was using values to contrast and highlight
important elements in the design.

Title Font Name & Category:

Arial Sans Serif

Copy Font Name & Category:

Arial Sans Serif

Graduate

Leadership
Conference
Do you want to have the

competitive edge

in business?

Come learn how at Vouant

Communications annual Graduate
Leadership Conference.
Vouant Communications is devoted
to helping tomorrows leaders gain
essential leadership skills in the
workplace.
During this dynamic three-day seminar,
attendees will meet with top executives
of Vouant Communications to discuss
breakthrough leadership techniques,
while cultivating attributes of leadership
that will market to any employer.

Conference is available to
graduating seniors. Space is limited.
Registration and more info available at:
vouant.com

October 21 8 a.m. 5 p.m.

Lincoln Convention Center