Good morning, favorite students! 

I wanted to reach out and provide some reassurance or a sense of calm. We are all having a lot of anxiety and sense of unknown about new words like “self-isolation,” “quarantine” and of course “COVID-19”. Please know that ultimately, your main job is to take care of yourself and your loved ones. We are all in this together, even if from 6 feet apart.

Also, let me state the obvious – this semester is going to be different. None of us know exactly what to expect, or how long this will continue. We have to be adaptable, realistic, and stay positive. For most of us artists and designers, quiet time is a virtue. I know I need a lot of it to keep producing beautiful things. Use this to your advantage!

Here is the plan for all classes:

We are going to continue with our assignments as posted here.

We are going to continue with 2-3 posts on the main page for inspiration, questions, and great resources to share.

We are going to commit to communicating regularly. (Through email, commenting on blog posts, anything!) I’d like for you to use this website to comment on blog posts and assignments so that they are public and we can set up some sort of dialogue.

We are going to make beautiful and well designed posters, patterns, animations and branding projects.

I will make sure each class website is updated weekly (as I would have anyway) – your job is to ask questions, comment or email any resources you’d like to share with the class and keep up your work.

Most classes have 2 projects left:

•  Intro to Mac: Illustrator Branding and InDesign Newspaper Project.
• Animation: Creative Animation and Character Animation
• Design Fundamentals: Illustrator Typographic Self Portrait and Photoshop Collage
• Illustrator 1: Pattern Design and Music Poster Design.

Im thinking I will set up a dropbox folder or google drive folder for you to turn in your projects – as I don’t want to overload my email with all of your large files. A link will be sent later this week. I’m also considering figuring out a way for us to have a critique

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and lets start chatting (virtually of course) .

All the best, Professor Hopkins

I know some of you have concerns about not having the programs to be able to work on your projects.

Adobe announced that you can download them for free until March 31.

• We are working on IT getting us access on this, as we need their permission – stay tuned. 

Also you can download a free 7-day trial also.

If you have personal concerns about this, please don’t hesitate to email me.

Look at that visual hierarchy!

What do you think? What are you planning on using your time for? I’m going to let my mind wander, work in my sketchbook, read, have dance parties with my kids and bake muffins. Follow me on Instagram – @kristinmillerhopkins if you’d like to see my studio practice – I’m going to try to post one thing a day. (We will see!)

Hello students,

I hope that you saw this article, but just in case – this is not only one of the most effective and informative articles I have seen on COVID-19 in the last few days.. but also really speaks to the power of graphics. These simulated animations of how self-isolating effects the spread of the virus REALLY HELP in the VISUALIZATION process.

What do you think? (****Let’s start commenting on these blog posts in the comments sections!****)

Hello students,

Just communicating to stay alert to changes in our courses as PBSC makes decisions regarding COVID-19. PBSC announced today that we are going online. I will email each individual class with a plan of action on how to work from home and how we can stay in communication with each other.

The good news is, for our graphics class, I already have this great website for you to use and find our projects, videos and instruction on! I will be adding to it and altering it as needed.

Talk with you soon. Stay safe and wash your hands.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Best, Prof. Hopkins