Biby Reyes Blog

  Creativity. I tried a creativity exercise from the  Adobe Illustrator Creative Challenges  on Adobe’s official site. The challenge I chose was to create  an imaginary logo  using basic shapes and colors no photos or brushes, just simple tools. I started by sketching ideas on paper, then opened Illustrator and used the  Shape Builder Tool  to combine circles, rectangles, and triangles into a fun logo. I experimented with different colors and layouts until I found a design I liked. What I learned is that Illustrator creativity isn’t just about knowing tools it’s about exploring ideas and trying combinations without worrying about perfection. I discovered that playing with simple shapes can lead to unique designs, and that the Shape Builder Tool makes it easy to turn basic forms into something original. This exercise improved my confidence and helped me see that creativity in Illustrator comes from experimenting and having fun!

 Design. One of the most important things I’m learning about design is that it’s not just about aesthetics, it’s about purpose. Every color, font, and layout decision should support a message. If it doesn’t communicate clearly, it doesn’t work. I’ve also learned that strong design starts with research and strategy. Before opening any software, I now ask: Who is the audience? What problem am I solving? What feeling should this create? These questions guide the visual choices later. Another big lesson is the importance of systems. A logo isn’t just a logo, it has to function across websites, social media, print, and packaging. Good design is flexible, consistent, and built to last. Overall, design is becoming less about decoration and more about communication. The more I learn, the more I see that great design is thoughtful, intentional, and strategic.

  Creativity.  To better understand Intro to Marketing and Self-Promotion, I tried a creativity exercise called  SCAMPER , which I found through the Creative Education Foundation website. SCAMPER is a structured brainstorming method used to generate new ideas by asking specific questions.  The Exercise I Did SCAMPER stands for: S ubstitute C ombine A dapt M odify P ut to another use E liminate R everse I applied SCAMPER to my personal brand as a design student. Substitute:  What if I substitute traditional portfolio posts with short process videos? Combine:  Could I combine branding projects with storytelling about the strategy behind them? Adapt:  How can I adapt trends from social media reels to showcase logo systems? Modify:  What if I modify my tone to be more conversational instead of overly formal? Put to another use:  Can class assignments double as promotional content? Eliminate:  What unnecessary information can I remove from my...

  Give it a Voice. Typographic Direction 1 – Embered Craft (Confident, modern, crafted, restrained) Headline Sample Smoke. Herb. Balance. Subhead Sample A slow-fire dining experience blending Southern smoke and Vietnamese freshness. Body Sample At Ember & Leaf, our menu celebrates patient craft: meats slow-smoked daily, broths simmered with fresh herbs, and dishes layered with bold flavor and lift. Every plate invites discovery, comfort, and connection. Rationale This direction pairs a  humanist sans serif  for headlines with a  warm serif  for body copy: Headline type:  Acumin Pro (Adobe Fonts)  Modern, highly controlled, excellent for hierarchy Neutral but confident, communicates authority without coldness Body type:  Source Serif 7(Adobe)  Warm, readable, excellent for menus and long copy Supports layered storytelling without competing with headline Tone & Guest Feeling:  Confident, refined, intentional, grounded. Communicates...

  Design. Design isn’t just about visuals it’s about how we communicate ideas, values, and personality. As I’ve been learning about  Intro to Marketing and Self-Promotion , I’ve realized that the principles guiding good design clarity, balance, and intentionality apply just as strongly to the way we present ourselves and our work. One exercise that really brought this to life was a creativity challenge from " Free Range Creativity Exercises" The task was to take a standard self-promotion statement and redesign it as if it were a visual project: what story does it tell? How does it feel? What stands out? I approached it like a design problem: Hierarchy:  Just like in a poster, I structured my message so the most important qualities are immediately clear. Contrast:  I experimented with tone and perspective writing in first person, then as a narrative, then as if someone else were describing me. This helped key traits “pop” like elements on a well-designed page. Consist...

  Creativity Marketing and self-promotion aren’t just about listing skills or shouting achievements—they’re about storytelling, connection, and presenting your unique perspective in ways that resonate. To explore this, I tried a creativity exercise from " Free Range Creativity Exercises ", a resource designed to help people break habitual thinking and generate fresh ideas. The Exercise: Reimagine a Familiar Task The challenge was simple but powerful: take a routine task—in this case, writing a personal promotion statement—and approach it from playful, unexpected angles. Here’s how I tackled it: I wrote my bio as if I were a character in a story, imagining my skills and experiences as part of a narrative arc. I described my work in the style of a musician advertising a concert, emphasizing energy, creativity, and impact. I also wrote from the perspective of someone encountering my work for the first time, highlighting what stood out and made an impression. This approach forced...

 Put a name on it!  50 Restaurant Name Ideas Smoke & Herb Fire & Fresh Ember & Leaf Hearth & Hanoi Lantern & Ash Char & Cilantro Cinder & Basil Slow Fire Kindling Kitchen The Smoking Bowl Smoky Lotus Pine & Pepper Brine & Ember Rice & Smoke Flame & Fronds The Smoking Pho Smolder Ash + Aromas The Ember Table Basil & Brisket Smokeleaf Hearthstone Kitchen Smoke & Stem The Golden Smoke Fire & Lime Smoked Harmony Cedar & Chili Slow & Fresh Emberwood Smoke & Balance Charred Roots Leaf + Fire Smoke House & Garden Fiery Herb Smoke & Stream Ember & Vine Cinder + Citrus Brûlé & Basil The Herb-Smoke Project Ashwood Table Smokestem Fireleaf Smoked & Seasoned The Warmth Kitchen Smoke & Rice Char & Chopsticks Ember & Essence Smoldering Lotus Hearth & Herb Ash + Herb Top Five Names Ember & Leaf Hearth & Hanoi Smoke & Stem Cedar & Chili Emberwood Final Name Ember & Leaf ...

  Brand Behavior.  Warm, intentional greetings Guests are welcomed with eye contact and a brief introduction to the restaurant’s concept—highlighting smoke-driven Vietnamese flavors and the slow-fire cooking approach—without overwhelming them with technical details. Guided exploration of flavor Staff offer context for dishes and ingredients, describing spice profiles, herbs, and cooking techniques in a friendly, approachable way. Curiosity is encouraged through suggestions and stories rather than quizzes or jargon. Respectful storytelling of cultural heritage Culinary influences are explained with care and accuracy, emphasizing tradition and technique, crediting cultural origins, and avoiding exoticized language or simplification. Measured service pacing Courses arrive in deliberate rhythm: enough time to savor layered flavors, share plates, and experience the aromas, yet attentive to guests’ pace and cues to ensure comfort and flow. Calm, solution-focused recovery Mistakes, d...

  Position, Values, and Mission.  Brand Positioning Primary audience: Culturally curious urban professionals ages 27–45 who appreciate bold global flavors, value craft and authenticity, and choose restaurants as intentional social experiences rather than convenience. Secondary audience: Food-driven friend groups and couples seeking relaxed but elevated dining—places that feel thoughtful and distinctive without being formal or intimidating. What feels meaningfully different: This restaurant offers a smoke-driven Vietnamese fusion concept that balances slow Southern barbecue technique with herb-forward Southeast Asian freshness. Unlike traditional BBQ spots that focus on heaviness or Vietnamese restaurants that center primarily on light fare, this brand merges depth and brightness in a way that feels cohesive, intentional, and immersive. Emotional / lifestyle role: This restaurant serves as a grounding social space—where guests can slow down, share plates, and feel nourished by ...

  The Experience. The first thing you notice is smoke—soft, sweet, and slow. It isn’t heavy or aggressive. It curls through the air gently, carrying the scent of smoldering cedarwood and caramelized pineapple. Underneath it, something herbal lifts the space—fresh cilantro stems crushed between fingers, a hint of mint, and the citrusy brightness of lemongrass. Then comes warmth: star anise, cinnamon bark, and black pepper blooming quietly in broth. The aroma feels layered and comforting, like something that has been simmering all day with intention. This restaurant fuses Vietnamese street food with Southern American smokehouse tradition. At first they seem distant, but both cuisines rely on patience, depth, and bold contrast. Vietnamese cooking contributes freshness, herbs, and delicate balance between sweet, sour, salty, and heat. Southern barbecue brings slow fire, smoke, and rich, savory depth. Together, they create a dialogue between brightness and comfort. The food centers on s...

  Project 2

  Expressive Typography

  The 7 Deadly Sins Gluttony , traditionally one of the seven deadly sins is defined as the overindulgence, excessive consumption, or intemperate consumption of food, drink, or material items. Rooted in the Latin  gula , it represents  a lack of self-restraint and a, often, sinful, idolatrous devotion to satisfying personal appetites .  

   

  Creativity Exercise in Adobe Illustrator o practice creativity in Adobe Illustrator, I used a creativity exercise from  The Creative Self Workbook  on Behance The exercise focused on generating ideas quickly without overthinking. I started by sketching simple shapes and symbols on paper, then chose one idea to recreate digitally in Adobe Illustrator. I used basic shapes, the Pen Tool, and color to turn my rough idea into a clean vector design. This exercise taught me that creativity works best when ideas come first and tools come second. By sketching before using Illustrator, I felt more confident in my design choices and spent less time second-guessing. It also helped me see how Illustrator can refine creative ideas into polished designs.

  Blog Post 4 – Design Working in Adobe Illustrator has helped me move beyond just making visuals and start thinking more intentionally about design decisions. Learning how vector graphics work has shown me why scalability and precision matter, especially when creating logos, icons, and layouts that need to function across different sizes and platforms. I’ve been using tools like the Pen Tool, Shape Builder, and Type tools to refine shapes and typography while paying closer attention to alignment, spacing, and visual hierarchy. Using layers and guides has also improved my workflow and made my designs more organized. Adobe Illustrator is helping me understand that effective design is a balance between creativity, structure, and clear communication.