This was a project I completed when I was still relatively new to design, during my first semester as a Graphic Design major. At the time, I was learning how typography, color, and composition could work together to create something cohesive. The assignment was to design a bottle cap, but beyond that, we were given a lot of creative freedom. I was able to decide what kind of beverage I wanted to create, the flavor, the product name, and personality of the brand.

I was beginning to see how everything I had been learning in my courses could come together in one design. I was becoming more confident using programs like Photoshop and Canva for different parts of the creative process and developed a stronger sense of who I was as a designer.

The final design went through many rough drafts before reaching this point. Through multiple meetings and rounds of constructive criticism, I continued adjusting and refining the concept until I reached a design that both my professor and I were happy with. Since my professor also served as the “client” for the project, the experience taught me about client relationships. Design is not only about creating something that you personally like; it is about listening to the person you are designing for, responding to feedback, and finding a balance between their vision and your own. That process helped me understand how to stay true to my work while still designing with someone else’s goals in mind.