I’m a graphic designer and for 365 days I’m creating one design a day using song lyrics that inspire me.Tumblr (3.0; @creativejmcgee)http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/<p>One year ago today I started a 365 project in which I would design a song lyric every day for the entire year.  I decided to do this to reignite my passionate about design.  I love music and thought that joining my love of both would be a fun idea that would spark&#8230;who knew what? </p> <p><!-- more --></p> <p>This project was never about creating a final product, but rather a year long experiment that would push me, open my eyes to new techniques, inspire me, and help me grow as a designer.  Looking back on my work, I feel like it has.</p> <p>It&#8217;s a weird feeling looking back at the progression of the year. Most of the pieces really feel like it was yesterday that I worked on them&#8230;yet I look at the date and see it was last Christmas, last July, last May.  I can tell from the pieces which days I was dragging creatively and can find things I would change about a piece or want to scrap the piece all together. I can also tell the days when I was so inspired by a song that the final product was something that I just adore. That&#8217;s been the fun part of this project&#8230;.taking something that inspires me and creating something without limitations that usually happen in &#8216;real world&#8217; projects.</p> <p>When I started this project I really had no idea what tumblr was, how to use it, or the benefits it provided. I also had no expectations for the project other than to make myself create something every single day.  A year later I am amazed at the things that have happened because of this platform and the amazing inspirational sources I have stumbled upon.  </p> <p>This past October, 49 of my lyric designs were displayed as part of an alumni art show at the University of Louisville, my alma mater.<img alt="image" src="http://media.tumblr.com/8c979fd1fae7f09882c7e8acace43a47/tumblr_inline_mm3du8j8AF1qz4rgp.jpg"/></p> <p>In January, a very close friend of mine asked me to design a lyric from the song &#8220;<a href="http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/38981594796/jennifer-mcgee-graphic-design-365-lyric-a-day" target="_blank">Parade</a>&#8221; by Matchbox 20. While checking out twitter one day, I saw that MB20 were doing a quick Q&amp;A. I tweeted the link to them and got a &#8220;very nice!&#8221; response&#8230;which was more than I ever expected! I was in shock that a band I have loved since 1997 acknowledged my work.  I&#8217;m also pretty sure my friend still hasn&#8217;t recovered from this!</p> <p>The other big highlight happened in early March. My design for &#8220;<a href="http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/44473622278/jennifer-mcgee-graphic-design-365-lyric-a-day" target="_blank">Scream and Shout</a>&#8221; by Will.I.Am. and Britney Spears was reblogged onto Ms. Spears&#8217; official tumblr page. My inner 15-year-old will never get over this! </p> <p>My most popular design was &#8220;<a href="http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/42543540861/jennifer-mcgee-graphic-design-365-lyric-a-day" target="_blank">All You Need Is Love</a>&#8221; from The Beatles, which has always been a little funny to me because I made it in about 5 minutes&#8230;.literally. But that has shown me that trusting my instincts is always a good thing rather than working and working and working over a design.</p> <p>I want to thank every single person who reblogged/liked one of my designs and to those of you who have followed my blog. It makes me so happy that something I created is something that you could connect with and feel moved enough by it to display any of my pieces on your own blogs. </p> <p>While the concept of this 365 project is technically over, I have decided to continue this on a less rigid schedule.  I&#8217;m going to take a little bit of a break, but will be continuing to create a design based upon lyrics because after 365 days I can&#8217;t help but hear a song and see a design take form in my mind&#8230;.it&#8217;s just the designer in me!</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/49409753663http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/49409753663Wed, 01 May 2013 22:37:23 -0400365 projecta year in reviewmusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/05ce37a931e23782a95e66d83c0ec748/tumblr_mm5g2cz2fv1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 365 | Natasha Bedingfield | Unwritten</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/49408754402http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/49408754402Wed, 01 May 2013 22:25:24 -0400natasha bedingfieldunwrittenthe rest is still unwrittenmusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography365 project<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/6cb8ede6e297560374d94fbc1f676e2f/tumblr_mm3clmhZHA1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 364 | Hanson | In A Way</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/49311854066http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/49311854066Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:15:22 -0400HansonIsaac HansonTaylor HansonZac Hansonfansonin a waylife's when you start to livemusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypographythe walk<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/423f10d32eb24c169c3211d772826426/tumblr_mm1jor76hj1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 363 | <span>Calvin Harris Featuring Florence Welch | Sweet Nothing</span></p> <p><span> </span></p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/49216053834http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/49216053834Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:53:15 -0400calvin harrisFlorence Welchsweet nothingi'm tired of hope with nothing to holdhopemusicLyricslyric designTypographydesigngraphic design365 project<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/d1fdc4c861d6f01a297ab88fba01a6ff/tumblr_mlzur49WWS1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 362 | Macklemore | Can’t Hold Us</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/49145854634http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/49145854634Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:57:04 -0400macklemorecan't hold usthe heistso we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold usso we put our hands upmusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography365 project<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2c48e881719934c6132019652febf393/tumblr_mlxmx8che81rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 361 | Icona Pop | I Love It</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/49035767212http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/49035767212Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:12:44 -0400icona popi love ityou want me down on earthbut i am up in spacei don't caremusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography365 project<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2d8fbdce8d0bb3c936464bec97eadcbf/tumblr_mlvz44LZ6H1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 360 | The Undertones | Teenage Kicks</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48963443721http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48963443721Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:40:52 -0400the undertonesteenage kicksteenage dreamsteenage dreams so hard to beatmusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography1978Feargal SharkeyJohn O'NeillDamian O'NeillMichael BradleyBilly DohertyIrishpunk rocknew wave<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/224c780e6e9d1d72127ab43ed934cc02/tumblr_mlu0qxBKl71rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 359 | Gwen Stefani | Hollaback Girl</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48882077826http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48882077826Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:20:57 -0400gwen stefanihollaback girlthis shit is bananasbananasmusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography365 project<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/64d71a8bf4b6a0de4dc5ed4df3a85f8f/tumblr_mlscasadpL1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 358 | Muse | Madness</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48814224577http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48814224577Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:35:16 -0400musemadnessi have finally seen the lightmusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography365 project<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/17b78e404154742ea8ba7794e38446a2/tumblr_mlqeszyqjP1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 357 | Mumford & Sons | Awake My Soul</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48729642252http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48729642252Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:34:00 -0400mumford & sonsawake my soulhow fickle my hearthow woozy my eyesmusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypographymumford and sons<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/d0a602f355a2870b834a1dc8d5c5105f/tumblr_mlokqj1fiG1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 356 | The Bangles | Manic Monday</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48649733050http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48649733050Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:47:07 -0400the banglesmanic mondayit's just another manic monday80smusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography365 project<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/880112750cd467e440369ebad0ba5fde/tumblr_mlmh1kObS41rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 355 | U2 | Stuck In A Moment</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48552838499http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48552838499Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:32:08 -0400U2stuck in a momentBonodavid evansAdam Claytonlarry mullenmusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography365 project<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/11d3feb3fa88700fabb5ae496a49abc2/tumblr_mlkvlt00bF1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 354 | The White Stripes | We’re Going To Be Friends</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48478823999http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48478823999Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:51:29 -0400the white stripeswe're going to be friendstonight i'll dreamwhile in my bedwhen silly thoughtsgo through my headmusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography365 project<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/aa0806d72cb675fa24c58a21a9cf6664/tumblr_mlj4dq0hVq1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 353 | Jessie J | Who You Are</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48398804598http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48398804598Fri, 19 Apr 2013 21:05:50 -0400jessie jwho you aredon't lose who you are in the blur of the starsdon't lose who you areblur of the starsmusicLyricslyric designgraphic designdesignTypography365 project<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/015c918a5a39ab78ba3c4127c3d4192e/tumblr_mlh4qgJtzS1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 352 | Cake | Never There</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48312014568http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48312014568Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:18:16 -0400cakenever therei need your arms around memusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography365 project<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/7e6fd9dcb278a8148b8a3732db0d04a1/tumblr_mlfelrZk0r1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 351 | Simple Plan | Perfect</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48241079752http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48241079752Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:56:15 -0400simple planperfecti'm sorry i can't be perfectmusicdesigngraphic designTypographyLyricslyric design<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/2cb9a2ce2462f61455ad3939320aa248/tumblr_mldiyrFKVz1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 350 | The Romantics | What I Like About You</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48160594618http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48160594618Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:35:15 -0400the romanticswhat i like about youtell me all the things that i like to hear80smusicLyricslyric designTypographydesigngraphic designtell me all the things i wanna hear<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/77fcba300e6467b38ada5f35dadaf5cf/tumblr_mlbmmnHica1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 349 | Boston | More Than A Feeling</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48078759392http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/48078759392Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:59:11 -0400bostonmore than a feelingpray for bostonmusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography365 project<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c5ee6556dfff93557d002b56252154b3/tumblr_ml9h06CgOK1rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 348 | Hanson | One More</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/47979696893http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/47979696893Sun, 14 Apr 2013 16:02:30 -0400HansonIsaac HansonTaylor HansonZac Hansonone morethe walkmusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography365 projectfanson<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/a36d77510194da6c94dd8c31e3dd9a60/tumblr_ml7o2dNlY71rv7hwto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jennifer McGee | Graphic Design | 365 Lyric A Day Project | Day 347 | The Script | Breakeven</p>http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/47905958455http://creativejmcgee.tumblr.com/post/47905958455Sat, 13 Apr 2013 19:49:14 -0400The Scriptbreakeveni'm falling to piecesmusicLyricslyric designdesigngraphic designTypography365 projectdanny o'donoghueMark SheehanGlen Power