The document summarizes the learning process of a graphic design student over the course of a semester. It discusses how the student's knowledge and skills grew significantly from the beginning of the semester when they had vague ideas and preconceptions to the end when they realized their designs needed to be bold and different. The student learned to nurture projects from initial concepts to finished brands ready to launch. The document also provides background on the Kikibon Kids brand and company, which makes handcrafted children's clothing and accessories.

1. ikibonK warterlyK
Vol. 1 No. 1
Nurturing a set of skills over a semester
I equate this semester to the first
year of a first-time parent. As the
semester approaches its first day,
you think you have a good idea of
how your life is going to be once the
big day arrives. Once that happens,
you realize you know nothing and
everything you thought you knew
and all preconceptions you had were
wrong.
But, you learn and you learn quick
and when that milestone approaches,
and you realize you’re on the cusp
of something big and your outlook
and focus have changed and your
knowledge has increased tenfold.
Yet, just as your child is only a
toddler, you, too, are only a toddler as
a parent. There’s still more to learn.
Graphic design
is the production of
a visual idea in an
artistic and creative
manner. There are
normally three goals
in graphic design
– to capture an
audience’s attention,
create a memorable
visual impact and
communicate a
message visually,
using a combination of
illustrations
and photos.
Like a writer,
a graphic
designer
intends
to convey
a message, but
uses visuals instead
of rhetoric to
communicate those
ideas.
Desktop publishing
is a tool graphic
designers use.
Generally, it is a
software specifically
design to allow
designers to create
and manipulate
illustrations to fulfill a
graphic design idea.
The primary
difference between
graphic design and
desktop publishing is
that graphic design
is an abstract, while
desktop publishing is
the tools to turn the
It’s magic!
April 17, 2010
Issues in publications
designs changed my life,
and I don’t just type that
in hopes of buttering up
my professor. I had a
vague idea about what
I wanted to do; I just
never really knew how
to put into words what
that something was.
This class coincided
with a well-timed speech
from someone in the
profession has given
me a new focus for the
future.
I do design everyday,
and I like it. But, my
creativity was stymied
by tradition and I never
thought outside the box.
That was evident in some
of my early projects.
As the semester went
on, I had my eyes opened
by reading the text
books, by watching my
classmates and through
the guidance of my
teacher.
I learned quickly that
what I thought looked
good looked merely
OK. Had I been asked
to design something,
it would have been a
perfect example of the
vanilla world our society
has become. You have
to be bold, you have to
be different, and in the
words of Robin Williams,
don’t be a wimp. The
quality of your product
won’t mean jack if it
isn’t noticed and today’s
fast-paced world of
immediate gratification
will either take notice
immediately or not at all.
As for the individual
projects, the progression
makes sense. We begin
with a brand identity
and conclude with brand
awareness, all the while
learning how they work
together.
Issues in publication
design is billed as a class
to learn graphic design,
but it’s more than that
It’s about finding the
creativity within yourself,
of bonding to your
project, nurturing it from
a newborn, a blank sheet
of paper, into a grown-
up, self-supporting brand
ready to make its on way
in the world.
I’m nowhere near
where I need to be but I
now have a goal.
See Birth on page 4
See It’s Magic! on page 2
Continued from Page 1
Learning is like being born. In the beginning, you’re cold, hungry, absolutely dependent. But
when wrapped in the garments of knowledge, the world is your oyster.
BornnakedWhen nurtured properly, knowledge will grow and thrive like a child
Learning graphic design is a lot like having a child. What
you thought you knew coming in is probably wrong.
Advertisement samples Page 2 Business identification Page 2 Company history Page 2-3
ikibonKKids
720 E. Salvia Street
Mobile, AL 36606
www.kikibonkids.com

2. In business with bunny
ikibonKKids
Contact us today
for free consultation
251-504-4417 or online at
www.kikibonkids.com.
Now taking custom orders!
Unique clothes for your unique child
She
deserves
better
than this
ikibonKKids
You didn’t get your
child in a factory,
so there’s no reason
to have your child’s
clothing made in one.
ikibonKKids
www.kikibonkids.com
All our products are
handmade from one
mother to another.
ikibonKKids
720 East Salvia Street
Mobile, AL 36606
251-923-6554
www.kikibonkids.com
Danna Roper
President
bowenthedog@yahoo.com
Your child
wasn’t made
in a factory.
Why should
her clothes?
President
Danna Roper
Vice President
Treva Newlan
720 East Salvia Street, Mobile, AL 36606 251-923-6554 www.kikibonkids.com
Dear client,
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Thank you,
ikibonKKids
ikibonKKids
2010
The company brand and image started
as a vague vision and quickly turned into
a reality. Almost anything in print about
the company, intended for the general
public, will share the font, Baabookhmk.
Anything intended for intercompany or
industry use implements a more low-key
approach. Above, clockwise from the top,
is the company’s first letterhead, business
card, catalog cover and postcard. Below,
the advertising campaign kicks off with,
clockwise, a newspaper ad, a flyer and a
Web banner.
The company was
conceived when the founder,
Danna Roper, largely
unimpressed with selection
of clothing local retailers had
in stock. Selections found
on the Internet weren’t much
better, so she got to work
making her own creations.
abstract into a reality. Graphic design
is a creative process while desktop
publishing is a mechanical one.
Simply put, if graphic design is the
masterpiece, desktop publishing is its
digital paintbrush. An artist will use
graphic design to create a myriad of
media, including brochures, books,
newspapers, newsletter, advertising
media, Web pages and more. Desktop
publishing software provides a tool
to make these ideas become a reality.
Historically, graphic designers haven’t
been forced to use desktop publishing,
while the existence of desktop
publishing essentially requires the need
for graphic design.
A good example of graphic design
vs. desktop publishing is a newspaper.
A large newspaper will employ several
graphic designers, including layout
designers, ad designers and illustrators.
The layout designers (a position the
industry terms a “paginator”) has to
take copy (written words), photos and
the occasional graphic and determine
the best way to present them in a
pleasing, easy to follow manner. The
ad designer will be tasked of creating
a visual impact to gain the attention of
potential customers. The best ad copy
in the world won’t mean a thing if the
ad doesn’t grab the reader’s attention.
And an illustrator will occasionally be
tasked with creating a graphic that tells
the basic idea of a story by using little
or no words.
All three of these will apply graphic
design to visualize the job and will, in
today’s age, use a desktop publishing
software to turn that vision into
the final product delivered to our
doorsteps.
It’s magic!
As pleasant as the bunny
may be, he’s not universally
popular at Kikibon
headquarters. When a teddy
bear was incorporated into
the original logo, the off-hand
comment, “why not a bunny?”,
was made, Jeff ran with it. Jeff
champions the bunny, Danna
prefers a Chihuahua. Who has
the stronger will? Choose a
side at kikibonkids.com!
Did you know?
Continued from Page 1
Who (or what)
is Kikibon Kids?
Thehistory
of KikibonKikibon Kids, founded
in 2009, is a home-based
children’s apparel company
focusing on hand-crafted
products. Products range
from infant/toddler clothing
to woolen
blankets
ranging from
infant to young
adult. Each
unique product
is made by
hand.
The company
was conceived
when the
founder,
Danna Roper,
was largely
unimpressed
with selection
of clothing
local retailers had in stock.
Selections found on the
Internet weren’t much better,
so she got to work making her
own creations.
The birth of Mrs. Roper’s
child wasn’t the only new
addition in her social circle,
so in addition to outfitting
her daughter, she produced
hand-knitted baby blankets
for friends and colleagues
welcoming their own bundle
of joy. When others saw
the finished product, they
inquired about clothing and
bedding of their own – except
now, people were offering
compensation.
The company is still
in its infancy as it builds a
customer base large enough to
warrant making the company
a full-time endeavor. She
already has a waiting list
for the blankets and the
quick turnaround on
custom clothing presents
the potential for a quick
turnaround and quick
cashflow.
Kikibon Kids is a
subsidiary of Kikibon,
the parent company
founded by Danna
and her husband, Jeff.
While originally a tongue-
in-cheek reference to the
couple’s two Chihuahuas (Kiki
and Bonnie, respectively),
the name stuck and once the
couple started focusing on
various dreams and ambitions,
it became the umbrella
overseeing, what it hopes,
several creative endeavors.
Mrs. Roper has done
extensive costuming work
with the University of South
Alabama drama department
and South Baldwin
Community Theatre.
She was recently recruited
by Fighting Owl Films to assist
in wardrobe for the upcoming
independent film.