When I grow up I want to be a…

Graphic Designer.






What is Graphic Design? >>
I found this excerpt on the AIGA site and would love to have this printed on a business card. I can't tell you how many times I've had to "explain" my title. To our accountant, my children's teachers and even my own family. They all want to know, so what do you actually "do"?

As the end of semester gets closer the graduating seniors seem to have elevated stress levels...stressed about upcoming interviews, no interviews, where to go for interviews, what to take, what to wear, how to present their work, and on and on and on.

Graduating Senior or soon to be, you should find something useful on this post:
Your First Time…
Get it in writing
Ten Common Mistakes

Excerpt from AIGA
One of the most important things a prospective graphic design student can do is to discover for themselves as much as possible about the profession outside the college curriculum. Early in their college studies, students should visit design firms and talk to people successfully practicing graphic design. This will help them know what to demand of the curriculum, will put them in touch with the reality of the profession, and in turn will make them more marketable to an employer…read more here

Internships & J.O.B.S.
Guide to Internships
Graphic Design: A Career Guide
Salary Guide
Your Competition
Where to work

How Design Conference

Yes, it's pricey, but worth every penny! This is the type of experience that you would benefit from as a student or professional! Certainly worth taking a peek at. . . .just in case you happen to be near Denver during June 6-9!

Just a few of the featured sessions:

6. Creating Five-Alarm Concepts - Von Glitschka

FOCUS: Student , My Career , Creativity

Blurb: Print-On-Demand and the Evolution of Book

FOCUS: Software , Technology & Production

12. How to Create and Deliver Your Best Portfolio - Donna Farrugia

FOCUS: Student , Freelance , My Career , Creativity

13. Good vs. Great Design: A Reprise - Cameron Moll

FOCUS: Web and Interactive Design , Creativity

Pump up your library

Check out this website for great selections of all price ranges on books related to design. Right now they are promoting free shipping on some orders, and a category of books $15 and Under! I've ordered from this company and am very pleased with their products!

I purchased an earlier version of this book 7 years ago and have found it hard to live without it. This new version has just been released.

Team Project: The Flower Bed Florist Shop

Both classes are participating in a team web design project. The goal is to experience the process of designing a site, dividing up the responsibilities, and staying on task to meet their deadline. In researching the blogs, I've stumbled upon two valuable resources: 1. 35 Excellent Wireframing Resources 2. Free Printable Wireframing paper You are welcome.

The color scheme.

In class brainstorm session results: Word Matrix based on Flowers

In class session: Site map thought process

Winning logo design after revisions.

Portfolio Suggestions

Excerpt from You the Designer: The One Page Graphic Design Portfolio Guide
Tips for Creating a One Page Graphic Design Portfolio
1. Register your own domain and get a paid hosting plan, don’t try and use any free services
2. Keep the layout of the site simple, but don’t be afraid to let some of your personal design style out
3. Find the right balance between low file size and quality for your images
4. Make your contact information easy to find at the top of the site
5. Write a brief 2-3 sentence bio about yourself to personalize the site
6. Link to a downloadable PDF version of your resume that is under 2mb in size
7. Don’t add an excessive number of items to your graphic design portfolios, twelve or so pieces should be fine, but you could go a little higher or lower
8. Add a case study (brief description) under each project
9. Validate your websites CSS and XHTML
10. Do not put any Google ads or other advertisements on your portfolio site

Check out their site for more helpful suggestions. 

Copyright:
I would also suggest you add either a For Creative Commons or Copyright statement to your blog since you are displaying your own work.

What do mouse tracks look like?

This image is a graphic representation of a mouse path after working for 3 hours in Photoshop. 
Want to make one of your own…

Questions about the Addys

Why
I cannot stress to you the value of competing in the Addy Awards, and of course WINNING! For any winner, but especially a student to list an award on their resume, it is truly a gold seal of approval to your potential employer.

Judging
For those of you who do not know, each entry is judged on set criteria; no one wins by default. It is also possible for more than one gold award to be given in a category.

I also want to note that the judges are from the "region" but not local. This year judges came from Tulsa and NW Arkansas. All gold winners have the chance to go on and compete at the National level.

Event
The event is typically held in February, so entries will be due in January 2011.

Anything entered has to have first been created in 2010.

Cost
This year, student entry fees were $15 and the event ticket was $15. To qualify for the student category entries have to be a classroom project. You may enter freelance work, but as a professional not as a student.

More Info
Check out the Joplin Ad Club site for additional details. They will have a PDF list of the winners, as well as a link to the Contest Rules.

More details about WHAT the American Advertising Federation is can be found here. More about ADDY Awards here.

DO NOT HESITATE to contact me for more information about this event or if you want help with your entries!

2009-2010 Joplin Ad Club Student Categories:
STUDENT CATEGORIES:
SALES PROMOTION
1A. Packaging
1B. Point of Purchase

COLLATERAL MATERIAL
2A. Stationery Package
2B. Brochure, Annual Report
2C. Poster
3. DIRECT MARKETING

4. OUT-OF-HOME

5. NON-TRADITIONAL ADVERTISING

CONSUMER or TRADE PUBLICATION
6A. Single
6A. Campaign (2 - 4 ads)

NEWSPAPER
7A. Ad
7B. Insert
7C. NP Ad or Insert Campaign (2 - 4 ads)

INTERACTIVE MEDIA
8A. Website
8B. Interactive CD/DVD
8C. Online Advertising (Pop-Up/Banner/Email/Other)

EDITORIAL DESIGN
Any two-page spread. One editorial spread or feature per entry.
Not intended for submission of entire book or magazine.
9A. Cover
9B. Editorial Spread or Feature (One editorial spread or feature
per entry)
9C. Series (Covers or spreads or features)

10. RADIO

11. TELEVISION

12. CAMPAIGNS (Mixed Media)

ELEMENTS OF ADVERTISING
13A Logo
14A Illustration
14B Digitally Enhanced Illustration
15A Photography
15B Digitally Enhanced Photography
16 Animation