Craig.S.Amell

Save Time, Save Me

2008-05-01T07:50:00.001-07:00

Sara Eiseman couldn’t be more straight forward when she said “organization isn’t sexy, but it will make your life easier” in the book Digital Design Portfolio. Well she couldn’t be more right. I have to admit that I stay away from organization like the plague or an angry ex girlfriend. For me, organization is like going to the dentist, I know that its necessary, but I am still going to cancel the appointment two or three times and I will only end up going when my teeth hurt.

Sara focuses her organization on his it pertains to Digital Portfolios. Before you can assemble your portfolio you obviously need to organize your work. You cant build a portfolio if you don’t know what you are going to include. For me this starts at actually gathering my work. Thankfully unlike the dentist metaphor I am extremely poinent about backing up my work, two or three times preferably.

As most or all of my work is on the computer I was able to organize it into files depending on the application with in a matter of hours. In fact this has surprisingly been the quickest thing that I have done for my portfolio so far. It took me longer to set up my website template then to get the work to put in it.

Resume, plain and simple, or so I thought

2008-05-01T03:19:00.000-07:00

So when I started my resume I though that I knew what I was doing. I had attended resume workshop in the business school, I had slaved over my mission statement and neatly organized my credentials in tables on Microsoft Word. I had even set up my recommendations in advance. That concept of a resume however went right out the window the second I walked into the door in Pattie Belle’s class.

Now this resume is coming close to being my arch enemy. I am currently on the twelfth draft and I still hate each one. Since when was there color, design elements and logos on a resume. What madness is this?

After reading the section in Building Design Portfolios I do feel as though I have to tools in order to create a great design resume. I have to admit that the idea of expressing myself visually and not just in black Times Roman font type does appeal to me. The pressure though of actually getting exactly what I want down on paper is starting to take a toll. I find myself second guessing every decision and then once I print that decision, well needless to say I am back to square one.

In the end however like I have said time and time again, the resume, just like the design portfolio (both web and print), are only tools. These tools are going to do nothing but get my foot in the door. The real aspect of getting a job comes down to the interview. Now no matter how much you actually practice for an interview, going through sample question after question, even practicing a mock interview, you cant be certain how it is going to go. This lack of control to an extent is what intimidates me the most.

One thing I have decided to do and have ordered are my leave behinds. I am going to be doing Moo Cards. From the second I saw them in class I knew thats exactly what I wanted to do. I love the idea of leaving behind almost a thumbnail of your work for something to keep. This tool allows me to showcase my work without actually showing anything. Thumbnails leave so much to a persons mind that it is amazing how different people can generate different images with a well done thumb nail.

What To Do

2008-05-01T02:50:00.000-07:00

Throughout this semester I have focused the majority of my blogs on my design portfolio. What is it going to look like, how is it going feel, what is the navigation like. Looking back however I never started answered the most simple question. What is an actual design portfolio?

Sara Eisenman focuses the majority of her chapter on this main issue. Not answering so much what a design portfolio was, but what it is today. Design portfolios have evolved over the years. In todays digital age with the mass acceptance of the internet application like safari and firefox have replaced the print portfolio, which was the once commonly excepted form of a graphic design portfolio.

With this being said however I could not help but wonder why do a print portfolio at all. Although I obviously need my portfolio to bring to a perspective client or employer doesn't the practice of assembling a print portfolio seem outdated to an extent.

Even with this in mind I took a trip to Hulls this week in New Haven to check out the print portfolios they offered. Keeping Sara Eisenman’s suggestions in mind regarding hard shell or soft shell, complex or simple, or even color choice. I couldn't help to compare myself, as embarrassed as I am to admit this, to Harry Potter picking out a wand. In the end I decided that I to set everything I had learned to the side and pick out a portfolio that defined who I was. What better way to show a potential employer who I was then to have a portfolio that expressed me. In the end I went with a black leather case, soft shell, that fit my clean image I wanted, but still allowed me to explore with very forgiving layout pages.

Ultimately my print portfolio, just like my web-portfolio is just going to be another tool in order to get my foot in the door. Over the last couple weeks however I have really started to turn inward more, focusing on deciding what exactly I want to be. Here I am a senior in college and I am trying to figure out exactly what I want to do with myself. Do I want to be a graphic designer, do I want to be a motion artist. Funny how I have spent four years in college working on getting my major just to realize now that I have no idea what I want to do.

Hello Again

2008-04-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

After finishing Building Design Portfolios I have to admit, my head is spinning. After exploring just about every option possible I have finally ordered my alternative portfolio. To say that this was a journey within itself is an understatement. Now all I need to do is actually construct it, so basically I am at step one.

The portfolio that stood out the most to me was a graphic designer named Will Staehle. What I liked so much about his portfolio was how he integrated his own work into the actual presentation of his case. He used different elements from his work to put on his portfolio which gave you a sample of his work before you even open his case. This is something that I want to integrate into my own portfolio. I really want to focus on the packaging and presentation of my portfolio not just the work itself. This is something that most people according to Adrian Shaughnessy, forget to do.

On a more positive note however my digital portfolio is done. Although Sara Eiseman suggests to do your digital portfolio in html because some people who are viewing your website might not have flash, I have respectfully decided against it. I have to admit that I am going with what I feel most comfortable with.

One area that I know I need work in however is my written content. As I start to write the descriptions for my work I find that I more and more start to developer my work as I write. Writ ting about your own work has a cathartic feel for me. I was taken back at first how much thought goes into each different element of my design.

El Kitsch Tasso

2008-02-24T20:30:00.000-08:00

In East Germany in the 1980's the sale or distribution of spray paint was illegal. Politicans and goverment officals were fearful that people would go around spray painting propaganda images or political signs. In this time of goverment control however lived an artist named El Kitsch Tasso. More of an artist then a street tagger his work to this day is some of the most photographed graffiti art of our time. It was not until 1991 that he was able to legaly spray pain his first peice when markers and materials became available again. He specializes in still life lifes, focusing on nature and what is commonly reffered to as enviormental art. "I am not afraid of diversifying my technique and developing from the brush and the airbrush. All that matters in the end is the quality of the piece."

Graffiti World

2008-02-17T20:10:00.000-08:00

My personal favorite graffiti artist has to be hands down Inkie. He is credited as one of the first British artist and was actually the first graffiti artists I ever came across. His work incorporates a strong blend of elaborate colors and gradients all blending together in a harmonious mixture of art. The one strong visual element that he brings to the game is a the mixture of both figures and typography. This mixture brings his work to life and goes beyond the element of just art and adds personality to each painting. His work isn't just visually appealing it actually tells a story. His work alone is credited with inspiring Wild Style and Beat Street. Inkie has now tagged about every street in London and his work can be seen up and down the coast.

Week Three

2008-02-13T22:39:00.001-08:00

There is a reason that the saying most commonly associated with an artist is “Starving Artist.” Job security, although possible in bigger design firms, is not why people get into this field. Although design firms just like every other industry have lay offs and massive hirings, as mentioned in “How To Become A Graphic Designer With Out Loosing Your Soul” they do not offer the job security that most people desire. But in the end as in any profession, talent purists. If you are talented enough and are a hard enough worker you will be able to find your knitch in this exclusive community.

The best resource that you have as a designer is your portfolio. Your portfolio is your non verbal expression to either your client or design firm who you are and what you are about. Your portfolio is your best promotional tool. It must speak to the clients in a family and unique way. Two adjectives that usually are not linked together.

Another thing that these sections, both in How To Not Loose Your Soul and Digital Design Portfolio, focuses on is exploiting your connections. Every contact could be your key to the next big break or lead. The unique thing about the design field is it is BOTH who you know and what you can do. As we have learned your entire portfolio comes down to the first impression which in many times is the smallest (by dimension) detail. Your Logo. Think of famous logos, Apple, Ve

rizon, Target, they all are branded by that logo. With that logo comes a certain standard that each company sets. Now I am not going to go and compare Apple to Target, but within that logo each company has is the defining aspect of their company. My logo which I create (after around 200 designs) is going to define me. If this is going to be the first impression that my clients and my boss has I want to make sure its the strongest I can present. Although it is important to shape to your environment and client, the logo is the one area that has to be and will be, the defining image of my personality.

To be or Not To Be? Working in the Design Field

2008-02-06T23:46:00.001-08:00

The worst mistake designers can make is to sit down in front of a computer and start to work. Designing is a process. When done correctly in my opinion it is a group process. What is appealing to my eye may not be as satisfying to another. A designer designs first with his mind and not just his hand. That is why tools such as Mind Maps and story boards are so vital to the overall success of a project. You can not reach a destination if you dont have a map to get there. The issue of freelance vs working in a design firm was the focus of Chapter Two (How to be a Graphic Designer without loosing your soul). When you collaborate with other designers on a project or problem you are gaining the in

put and experience of those around you. It is similar to training for a sporting event. Who do you think would be more successful, a runner who trains alone, or a runner who trains with a team? As Mike Eagle says, “there are no famous individual graphic designers”. There are however famous graphic design teams and companies such as Pixar. When you work in freelance you embody the corporation. This means that every day you are wearing several different

t “hats,” there is no “division of responsibilities” (62). In turn your work suffers because you cant focus souly on your design. As a new member of the design community I have allot to prove before I would consider striking out on my own. How do I know my specialty if I dont have any full-time experience in the field. It is vital as Cynthia Baron states, that you know your strengths and more importantly your weaknesses as Graphic Designer.

I feel that my portfolio should be a representation of both my body of work and my personality. It must be a nonverbal representation of who I am and what I stand for not just here at Quinnipiac but in the design world.. Throughout reading this chapter I constantly reflected back not just on my work but on who I am as an individual. I want my future employers to get a good idea of who I am before I begin to work for them. This can only be done by making my portfolio as strong as it can be. This can

be done she states by including individual work (which shows a passion for design beyond an academic level) and limiting your selection to between 12-20 pieces. In the end Quality beats Quantity.

Welcome to the Real World

2008-02-06T18:08:00.000-08:00

For the last twenty one years my life has followed relative the same path. When I was in elementary school I knew that the next step was high-school. Then once in high-school I knew I would go to college. Now here I am on the brink of graduating college and I have no idea what or where to take that next step. All around me my roommates are signing job offers and my parents are pressuring me to figure out what I am going to do next.

Thankfully these two books (Designing A Digital Portfolio and How To Be A Graphic Designer Without Loosing Your Soul) at least has given me for the time a degree of perspective as what that next step is (in between panic attacks of course). These books cleared my tunnel vision and gave me insight into a community which at times I feel as though I am on the outside looking in. Although I have always been inspired by design such as graphic art or work from companies such as R/GA. Being part of that community is a different story.

The first chapter of DDP challenges you as a reader to question who you are as a designer. According to Cynthia L. Baron the design profession is made up of six different categories. These categories are Art, 2D Graphics, Design, Freelance/Full Time Production, Motion Graphics, and Performance. While reading this all I could do is question myself as to where I belong. After taking so many IDD classes at Quinnipiac I almost feel lost as to what my true passion is. To be honest all I have focused on is for the most part is what I am required to do not what I want to pursue. But finally I realized that my passion a wide range of fields is an asset. As a Graphic Designer (which is how I classify myself according to Mrs. Baron’s guidelines), I am free to explore both web and print. Graphic Design allows you as a designer to push the envelope creatively without having to focus on one specific program or one client.

Another focus of both books was the skill of communication and cultural awareness. The challenge as a designer is to non verbally communicate with your audience only using the parameters of your given surface. In many ways it is this challenge that fuels my passion for graphic design. It is the challenge to say more with a simple image then I could communicate verbally.

Another form of communication that appealed to me as a designer was the opportunity to interact with your client.

I have a profound fear of going to work at 8am every day, sitting in a cubical, and working for a faceless corporation. I want to be able to interact with people beyond how was your day and hows the weather. Being a designer gives me the opportunity to put a piece of myself out into the world. As said in the documentary Helvetica, “Graphic Design is the battle against the ugliness of the world and is the war on the plane.” In order to communicate with both your client and his target audience you have to be culturally connected. This means being able to interact with both people and the culture around you.

In your portfolio the challenge is to show the world around you who you are and what you stand for in the context of a webpage or booklet. The piece are not just drawings or images they are an extension of your personality. In DDP they talk about how your portfolio should have a strong concept and style. The challenge for me which is outlined in DDP is to not make my portfolio to diverse while still showcasing a wide range of technical and design skills. Hopefully in my portfolio I will be able to find my own “creative voice.”

Some works that have influenced me

http://www.camper.com/web/en/diversification.asp

http://vds-communication.com/

http://www.comcastic.com/

New York Graffiti Art

2008-02-05T20:05:00.002-08:00

The Fantastic Partners is a Bronx based crew formed during the early 1970s and exists to this day. Counted among the early members are BOT 707 and his brother SOLID 1, ERA 165, SAL 2000, VOE 56, PROF 165, STICK 1, KINDO, HINT 707, HASH 161, HYDRA, SLUG and DOE aka DERBY. Two of the most famous members were BUTCH 2 and CASE 2. This partnership made major contributions to the whole car phenomenon on the 2s and 5s. They did it all top to bottoms, scenery, characters and incredible lettering.

TFP is possibly the oldest crew that is still active, much credit is due to CASE 2 "King of Style". CASE embodies everything young writers idolize . A fierce respect commanding physical presence, go for broke attitude, legendary status and endless lettering ability. Through out the years CASE has quit and comeback many times. During these periods CASE always mentored new talent, ensuring the CASE 2 and TFP style remained active. PHADE 2 is a CASE student who was one of the original members the crew TNT.

New York Graffiti Art

2008-02-05T20:05:00.001-08:00

Graffiti Art

2008-01-31T17:19:00.000-08:00

Graffiti Art History

Graffiti started off as an expression of street gangs to identify their territories. As it evolved the symbols and warning signs started to mold into personal expression and art. Graffiti Art as we know it today started in 1967 in Brazil when an artists nick known as the DNS Crew started to tag the the city walls with elaborate unreadable typography. Although their names are still unknown due to the nature of their art, their influence rapidly spread throughout the country. In the early 80's late 70's it reached the streets of New York. New York was the first area that started "tagging" buses and subway cards. It was seen as a badge of honor to tag a car. Although this art form has not yet been accepted by main stream society it is impossible to deny this uncorrupted art form. In many ways this is the only true and pure artist art platform left. With art such as painting and illustration corrupted by financial prosperity, graffiti stands alone as the last artistic form of rebellion.

"There are four broad types of graffiti. The simplest form is tagging, in which the graffer simply writes their calligraphic signature. Tags are often written repetitively on walls or windows. Stenciling is another prominent form, in which the graffer uses a stencil to quickly spray-paint a pre-formatted design. Sometimes graffiti is politically motivated and takes the form of a slogan to protest or raise awareness about an issue. A final form of graffiti is often referred to as graffiti art - complex illustrations in graffiti style painted on large surfaces."

First Posting

2008-01-24T07:57:00.000-08:00

First Post