January 31st; In Class Topics;
(Copyright BAmagazine.com)
Thank's to the editors of BAmagazine.com and others for giving me a head-start on preceptualizing my rough draft logo design. Because my name is very unique, I feel that I am going to go with a type-face alteration appraoch to my logo design. An inital thought would have been to begin a brand. For this to be successful, my initial fear was that employers might remember an my initials rather than an icon representing myself. There are very few "Krys'" on the planet, and my last name "Romanczak" is far too long for a quick iconistic approach. Using the letters K, & R however could be a great sollution. I could work on these two letters to create a logo that is both Iconistic and Texual. Take for example these logo's I discovered utilizing the links and PDF's suggested by my professor, Pattie Bell Hastings.
More on these books below: See my Journal Entries detailing my personal weekly readings:
My Mind-Mapping Portfolio Edits: Attached is a new Mind-Map detailing experiences:
The original mind-map was soo extensive, it was thought that I should reduce some of the information on it. After my readings, I can see why "Quantity would hinder Quality" (see recap on my readings below) There were area's of the mindmap that contained more data than needed. This refined version will help employers better focus on the area's pertenant to the positions offered in Interactive and Graphic Design.
MindMap Link
Version 1.1
CH 2 - Adaptation: Designing a Digital Portfolio (DDP), by Cynthia L. Baron, Publisher: New Riders Press;
Adaptations.
The Experienced Viewer; Using Self evaluation to present your work
In this chapter, the author talks about using adaptive skills to present your work towards a targeted audience. This chapter has helped me realize new ideas that I can implement into my portfolio. I have learned that there are several way to overcome this obstacle.
"What are your strengths? What will you need to overcome? Do you have the talents that your target audience wants?" (DDP Ch 2 P.21)
"Soul-Searching" (DDP Ch 2 P.22) is an important process for you to undergo while contemplating your ideals for your portfolio. This important step will help you analyze values, personal strengths, and weaknesses. (See pages 23-25 for the self assessment checklist).
Self reflection is helping me realize my strengths and weaknesses. Stan Richards is quoted on page 26 about a key element sometimes overlooked while using this technique.
"The one thing I won't ignore is a lack of understanding of typography. There are lots of pieces of advertising that we can do without photography, illustration, or even color. There is nothing that we do that is without typography It is the single element that is omnipresent. It must be understood before a person can operate at a professional level.”
Goals are also a very important development that is derived from self reflection. New goals and former goals are strengthened when one realizes his/her area's of improvement. "Begin a portfolio without understanding why you're making one, and it will fall prey to one of the classic portfolio concept errors." (DDP Ch 2 P.28).
Reading on I have a better understanding of the thought process behind the creation of your portfolio. Many things make more sense to me. When you have established goals for your portfolio Values, Quality, Quantity, Reworking, and Rethinking (DDP Ch 2 P.27-31) become pivotal steps in creating something that will stand out well above the others.
Quantity: Be sure you have a wealth of information and examples without becoming a burden to the experience viewer. Being concise, to the point, and ready to display your best efficiently is far more effective than listing a plethora of information and content that may loose a viewer.
Quality: (Followed by Reworking and Rethinking) - Quality is far more important that quantity. Reworking old projects, rethinking old ideas will build a 'thought process' for the experience viewer. Showing your potential employer and or client a thought process can be invaluable to landing that new account or position.
Invention: Your portfolio should be a representation of yourself without the lacking of great navigation. Without clear navigation, you will loose your audience, or worse off, make them feel confused about your site. Make it easy for your audience to remember their footprints with clear, creative direction. When they visit the main page again, you want them to recognize the few steps it took them to get to a specific piece of information.
Balance you content with photo's, color, project samples, and complimentary typography that is easy to read. Your content layout should reflect your target audience. The text uses HPD as an example on page 38. "The HPD site page design has a distinctly corporate/professional feel. The layout is spare and tightly gridded." This effect was to entice the Microsoft audience for the summit 2000 invitation.
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How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul (HBG), by Adrian Shaughnessy, Stefan Sagmeister. Chapter's 3 & 4
Being Freelance.
“Design is either a solitary or a communal activity depending on your aesthetic view and psychological makeup." (HGP Ch 3 P.48).
How do you design? This chapter discusses two types of life styles for the freelance designer. The loaner and the resourceful. The loaner is described as not being of the conventional office/design studio setting, whereas the resourceful is typically associated with specialists such as a flash/java developer or typographer. Those whom are resourceful tent to be very skilled and can charge enough for their services to take some time off in between jobs. The loaner is someone "whom possesses strong personal vision that cannot be comfortably accommodated within the structure of a design group or an in-house studio."
How do I fit into this? I have very aggressive and oral communication skills and am very comfortable, however I see myself looking towards a design experience with other designers and developers. I feel like I have the flexibility to work both inside the confides of my own office space and out in the work with a team of people. This excites me as I feel like I have the flexibility to take my career where the market goes.
The chapter elaborates on how the ability to work from home is appealing, however, if you don't contain aggressively strong communication skills and a way to sell your product from across the country, this lifestyle of the 'loaner' may not be suitable for you.
Stability:
The freelance designer is only stable once he/she has secured enough accounts that provide a continual flow of work. If the work is not available to the client, or the client is not in need of work at a given time, the 'loaner' may have to rely on reserve funds to get by.
One whom is employed by a firm or corporation is only limited to employment if the firm as a whole is suffering due to the economy. The chances of loosing work is limited due to the relationships the firm has established, especially firms that have been in existence for some time.
Clients are also determinants of stability. If the client becomes unhappy with the work from a designer after some time, the position of that designer may be compromised if there are other clients that are moving away from the work provided by the artist. Clients also use outside determinants, such as personality, lower cost from freelancers, and other factors.
When working in a firm, you have the ability to bounce ideas off of colleagues whom are working towards similar goals and whom may not necessarily be in direct competition with you. Bouncing idea's off of other freelancers would pose a problem when trying to develop new ideas with your competition.
Be prepared to do your own business work and take time off from design to manage your business affairs such as taxes, savings, bills, and other administrative tasks.
Having the ability to take on new clients and create your own business freelancing may be the right thing for you! Or it might not. Taking your newly acquired skills out in the world will be a big test. Being able to grab onto clients, establish rapport, and creating new relationships all while managing your personal finances with those of your business is a big task, but if done right, it may be the most rewarding task you have undertaken. Be prepared to use the multitude of resources to bounce idea's. Get creative and be sure to use clear communication skills when communicating with your clients. Taking on freelance work may be the best thing you've ever done, but if it doesn't work out to freak out. There are many other opportunities with firms and corporations that may better suit you.
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