SDSU HOUSING MOVE-IN GIFT

Context

This project focused on designing the 2025 SDSU Freshman Move-In Gift as part of my role as a Graphic Design Student Assistant at San Diego State University. The goal was to create a modern, clean, and vibrant T-shirt design that fostered building pride and community among incoming students. The design incorporated SDSU’s official red and teal color palette, university typography, and a minimalist aesthetic to ensure both visual appeal and cost-effectiveness.

Challenges

One of the main challenges was balancing creativity with brand consistency. Early in the process, I explored detailed illustrations of each housing building, but these designs became visually complex and impractical for large-scale printing. Additionally, maintaining a strong connection to SDSU’s identity while keeping the design minimal required multiple rounds of refinement and feedback.

Process

I began by researching SDSU’s visual identity and gathering design inspiration that reflected both school pride and modern aesthetics. After sketching and mocking up several concepts, I narrowed the direction to two ideas: individual building illustrations and a minimalist Aztec calendar motif—an iconic symbol found across campus. After presenting both options to my supervisors, we selected the Aztec calendar design for its simplicity, cultural resonance, and timeless quality.