For this project, I was tasked with making a family crest using Adobe Illustrator. Other than the timeline, there were very few written limitations on what I could and couldn't do with this project. However, due to the learning curve and my inexperience with Adobe Illustrator, I could only design and use simplistic, basic icons. 

Inspiration and Ideation Phase:
The first step in my ideation process was a phone call with my grandmother, who is well-versed on our family's history. 
I took inspiration from the crests in these two Behance collections:
https://www.behance.net/collection/133628841/Crest

https://www.behance.net/collection/166365959/BCP-Crests-spring-2017

I also did a Google search on various professions, places, and objects I wanted to incorporate into my design. Seeing other people's symbols gave me inspiration for my own symbols.

Google searches linked here: (https://goo.gl/Z8qcH8, https://goo.gl/akzseo, https://goo.gl/yixRCh, https://goo.gl/pK5YPv, https://goo.gl/rzGTBM).
After these preliminary google searches, I then made sketches of the symbols I wanted to incorporate, thumbnails of my chest, and one very detailed rough sketch.

Final PNG(s):

(transparent background on first PNG)

Although I used simple icons and a basic color scheme, everything in this family crest somehow relates to the Aarestad family. My first design decision was to use the outline of Minnesota as the outline for the family crest. I thought this gave the crest an untypical, attention-grabbing profile as well as reflecting the Aarestad's residence in Minnesota. To reflect my family's history in farming (the flat farmland is one reason my ancestor's immigrated to Norway), I incorporated both the pitchfork and tractor into my design. These icons serve multiple purposes in my design. First, they reflect the old (pitchfork) and the new (tractor) history of farming in my family. Additionally, because of its orientation, the pitchfork creates movement to the right. The tractor, due to its orientation, creates movement to the left. Lastly, I made numerous references to the Aarestad's migration from Norway to Minnesota in 1888 (source of EST 1888). For example, I modeled the entire color scheme around the Norweigan flag, using only red, navy blue, and white in my design. In addition, the background for the white icons is an edited, stylized version of the Norweigan flag (pictured below). I chose to use the Viking longship as the icon which best represents our Norweigan roots. I like this icon in particular as it could also represent my ancestor's migration from Norway and their sturdiness and steadfastness.  The sturdiness and steadfastness of my ancestors is also shown through the thick, block letters making up "EST 1888." I chose to use Tofino Black for this phrase because Tofino Black is sturdy, practical, and legible. Overall, I am very happy with how this project turned out. 

Citations:
Typeface: Tofino from losttype.com (http://tofino.losttype.com)