“The comfort zone is the greatest enemy to creativity; moving beyond it necessitates intuition, which in turn configures new perspectives and conquers fears.” (Dan Stevens). 

Recently I had a project for Graphic Design III class that was meant to take us out of our comfort zone. Our professor, Stephen Brower, challenged us to create a poster advertising a play by Shakespeare by hand and then on the computer. He told us that this project was meant to challenge us and make us escape our comfort zone. Along with that he said Graphic Designers can rely too much on the computer and that we should have skills on and off the computer. 

I decided to do the play, As You Like it. I chose two quotes from the play and illustrated them and tried to convey the feeling of the quote. 

For the one by hand I used the quote:

“The worlds a stage.”

To do this one I used card stock paper, watercolor paint, acrylic paint, string and paint markers.

This definitely was a unique process and fun. I tried to use things I wouldn’t normally to create this. I am happy I did.

For the one created digitally I used the quote:

“Don’t you know I am a woman? When I think I must speak.”

I created this one fully in adobe illustrator. This was a bit easier considering I am so comfortable working from the computer.

I am happy my professor challenged me to work differently. It is always nice when you not only learn no concepts or styles for a project, but also a life lesson. Here we learned to escape our comfort zone.