TYPE STUDIES
Typography was my introduction to the Graphic Design program at MSU, and it played an important role in beginning my adventure as a designer. Through projects like the letterfold assignment, I was encouraged to think more abstractly, get past the obvious, and build confidence in Adobe. Typography allowed me the opportunity to experiment with color theory and explore how abstract forms can still communicate clear ideas and evoke a strong reaction.
POSTER FOLD
When creating the poster project, it was important to me that the final piece felt both like a companion to the event. I felt personally connected to the project because I have attended Riot Fest every year since 2023. The assignment challenged us to create a poster using only type, and my goal was to find how I could break that rule while keeping typography as the focus. My decision to Risoprint on black with white ink was to gain a texture to my final print that made for a poster with a grungy feel.
MAGAZINE
LAYOUT
The magazine layout project was an exciting project for me. I still read magazines such as Nat Geo, CREAM, & I have a weird fascination with what I call the airport zine or any magazine that is probably only carried at the one kiosk in that one airport in that one corner of the world. I feel my layout carries that design philosophy. A large photo of the destination and an article selling us on the benefits of traveling more with their preferred airline. The image is my own a photo I took while in Ireland and the article is one about the benefits of getting better at design through travel.
PACKAGING
For the packaging exercise, I created three different designs. The first two were inspired by more original ramen packs but it was the third, more unconventional concept that stood out during the iterative process. I pushed myself to experiment with software I was not very familiar with, using Adobe Neo to model both a custom font and a character. The bold color palette, a rough and slightly chaotic quality of the process, and the positive reactions from my peers encouraged me to keep developing the piece and lean into its unconventional presentation. The end result became a piece inspired by the artwork of Naughty Dogs “Crash Bandicoot” & David Carson.
ALBUM
I look forward to this album project band I hope I may do something for some of my favorite local bands!
ARTWORK
Since beginning the Graphic Design program, I have worked on a range of personal and client-based projects, including reels, graphics, and a billboard for local businesses and organizations such as the Skateboard Association of Montana, Mystery Ranch, and Courtney Collins Fine Art Gallery. In classes such as ideation and creativity I worked with a studio arts major to create the artwork while I worked on game theory and UI for the board game. I created a video explaining the rules for our DND based board game.
BIO
I’m Jed Sanford, a photographer in pursuit of becoming a graphic designer. For a long time, I have been drawn to the way designers think. How an experienced designer can think deeply, about the most mundane objects, find their beauty, and improve it. That way of thinking motivates me. I want to move beyond simply making images and grow into someone who can build visual systems, guide perception, and create work that is both expressive and functional.
Before returning to complete my degree, I served in the U.S. Army for six years, then spent a year backpacking through Europe. Those experiences gave me a broader perspective on people, place, and communication, and they continue to influence the way I approach creative work. After that, I built a niche photography business focused on helping small businesses and non-profits tell their stories and connect with their communities through images.
As I continue my adventure into graphic design, I am especially interested in discovering how designers can take software and make it easier to understand. Photography has been my gateway into design and now design is teaching me how to shape my storytelling more intentionally, and create visuals that not only attract attention, but also solve problems, carry ideas, and leave a mark on reality.