Hi, I’m Gabriela Aprile. While I’ve always had an affinity for the arts since I was young, my father can be thanked for introducing me to computers and technology at an early age. I ended up exploring not only the ins and outs of basic web design (anyone remember FrontPage?) but dipping my toes into digital art.
As I grew older, I decided that I wanted to marry my love of design with my love of technology and the union between those two would be characteristic of my ideal career. I honed my skills as an artist, carrying my attention to detail as a double-edged sword. Many years, and a couple of awkward degree changes later, I finally found and settled into the Graphic Information Technology program at Arizona State University, with focuses in web design and 2D/3D animation.
What I can do for you
Web Design
Graphic Design
Illustration
Pixel Art
3D ModelSuzanne Collins Books
User Research, User Personas, Usability Tests, Brand Identity, Responsive Design
Case study
Suzanne Collins, author of the Hunger Games, needed a facelift for her website. The author lacked a proper brand identity/style and, after conducting various methods of research, users reported that the content on the original website felt disorganized and repetitive. The logo that was proposed is the author's signature, which not only ties into writing, but gives a sense of personability. Brand colors were built upon pre-existing ones within the website, along with complementary colors to serve as accents, and existing typefaces were replaced with sans-serif to improve readability. The end result is a responsive website which introduces new elements and features, such as updates, newsletters and a contact form, so that Suzanne Collins' fans would feel more connected to her.
Korra
Autodesk Maya, Photoshop CC, PaintTool SAI
A 3D model of the character Korra, from the TV series The Legend of Korra. 10910 triangles.
See the model in 3D on Sketchfab →Game Level
Level Editor, Photoshop CC
A small level designed for a platformer game, with assets made from scratch.
Game story
Fledgling mage, Rayen, has studied and practiced the forces of magic under the tutelage of the best professors of Arcana Preparatory Academy since she was a young child. After many years, she is now ready to undergo the Arcane Trials, a final test to determine whether one will be given a license, permitting them to use magic outside the halls of the academy.
In the Arcane Trials, Rayen is to fight her way through chambers of hostile creatures in order to seek and obtain gems containing the essences of each of the 4 primary elements of magic. Obtaining these gems grants a mage greater control over the corresponding elements, allowing one to use more powerful magic. Once all gems have been collected, Rayen will be granted access into the final chamber where she must use her knowledge and skills to defeat the Headmaster's minion, an amalgamation of elemental magic.
Phoenix Zoolights
Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, InDesign CC
Case study
The Phoenix Zoo needed a flyer to increase awareness of their night-time winter event, Zoolights. The target audience of the flyer would be parents with young children. Working with the brand’s existing assets, we focused on the night-time aspect by utilizing dark colors to make the bright colors pop. Keeping in theme with the Phoenix Zoo's logo conventions, a howling wolf was designed to take the place of the letter "I." The imagery of the ape zoolights invokes a sense of fun and is symbolic of groups coming to “hang out” the zoo.
Evian Water
Photoshop CC
Case study
In order to increase revenue, Evian sought out a new advertising angle that appealed to health-conscious people. A poster was designed featuring elements that are similar to their brand (mountains), with the product as the center focus, and a catchy new slogan was created with the intended target audience in mind.
Finding Paradise Mementos
PaintTool SAI, Photoshop CC
A selection of objects illustrated for use by Freebird Games in their game Finding Paradise. These objects are referred to as “mementos” within the story, and are considered important for progression.
To the Moon
PaintTool SAI, Photoshop CS6
A 3-frame set of images used as part of a cinematic scene within the computer game To the Moon, by Freebird Games. A boy and girl, the main characters, were illustrated star-gazing while sitting on a log. The boy then points to the sky.
Natural Moments
Brand Identity, Interactive Prototype
Case study
Alexa is a nature photographer who was in need of an online portfolio to jumpstart her "Natural Moments" photography studio. She wants the portfolio to be designed mainly for mobile use and wants visitors to be able to like and share any of her photos to social media. The design for the portfolio was kept minimalistic using a simple text logo, and the colors chosen for the branding of "Natural Moments" are of earthen tones to represent nature.
Artist
PaintTool SAI
A cel-shaded full-body self-portrait of an artist known as Gabriela Aprile. That name sounds familiar to you, for some odd reason.