Homecoming collaboration brings ClemsonGC together in preparation

September 29, 2017

GC4900 Digital Media Design class, taught by Jeff Kallin.

Written by Sarah Manning, class of 2017

October 7th is Clemson University’s Homecoming football game against Wake Forest and the Graphic Communications department is buzzing with activity. Godfrey Hall will be bustling with alumni and friends and you will not want to miss it!

Everything you see was planned, crafted, and created by students for our family, friends, and alumni visitors. The Digital Media Design class, taught by Mr. Jeff Kallin, partnered with the department to create eye catching banners, engaging social media, and the 2017 Homecoming brand and logo. We even worked with the Wide Format class, taught by Mrs. Michelle Fox, so they could print and mount the set of sixteen foot banners.

Here is the story of how it all came together:

The Graphic Communications graduate students came to our class with a proposition to do the lead design for the annual Homecoming event. Kallin split us into teams and each team was tasked to create a brand/feeling/look for this years homecoming. We had only 30 minutes to work and create a branding pitch, so there was no time to doubt our ideas! Each group presented their ideas and the graduate students were tasked with choosing which direction to pursue. By the next class, the theme/brand and logo were decided on and each team got busy creating.

The logo team drew inspiration from Godfrey Hall itself and used fonts that would complement the fonts used on the official Clemson University branding materials. They created several iterations and the class had an opportunity to provide input. The final logo was chosen and then several versions such as a one color for Tiger Rags and a 4-color version for T-shirts, were created for all the end uses where the logo might be needed.

The banner team wanted to tell a story that could be understood across nine five foot wide by sixteen foot tall banners hanging along the face of Godfrey Hall. The end-cap banners would have logos, the department logo, and the college name on them. The group used adobe illustrator to begin laying out a visual depiction of the road to Clemson and finding a home in Godfrey. Using a flat design to depict home, the recognizable Clemson campus, and a cityscape, the banners will speak to the transition a ClemsonGC student might take from childhood through to their professional life. These went through a few rounds of approval and were sent off to be printed by the students enrolled in the Wide Format class.

While the banners and logos were being created, the social media team was deciding when and what should be shared to each of the department’s social media channels. We created a posting schedule and generated content for each of the posts. The social team wanted to make relevant and engaging content for each of the GC social media channels. We drew inspiration from football, history, family, fun gatherings, and the Graphic Communications Department. After planning and creating the social posts, we designed a collection of gameday stickers to be printed on the Comco flexo press for the day of homecoming.

Next Saturday stop by Godfrey Hall to see the new building renovations, catch up with old friends and faculty, and screen print a tiger rag. Now that you know the background process, be sure to check out the designs our Digital Media Design class worked on!