reflection#7

This weeks reading material had surprising very convenient timing. It covered both design business and partnerships in the designing field. What makes this so convenient is that it tied with our poster assignments. Since our assignments was to design an 18x24 poster, it required us to search for a source outside of school that can print our poster, which meant exploring designing business. Most designers usully begin their own business because they crave challenges, presonal growth, and creative freedom. In addition, the material also covered partnerships, as a method of easing into the designing business.
while owning your own businesss can be an exciting chapter in a designers life, its often full of challenges. It is very rare for young and fresh out of school designers to start a business and make it successful. This is because this business demands several factors in order to pay off. Most designers usually work in firms and learning how studios are successfully run before desiding to spread their wings and fly solo. In addition to experience, clients are vital, and every business, no matter what size, need clients. Developing regular clients can be difficult if your just fresh out of school, and have yet to make an image of yourself. Another essential elemet is referrals. If a client does not have a big enough budget, or his or her designing needs are not met, they will often "referred" to another studio that can meet their needs within a budget. It is important for designers to have a good relationship with bosses or other designers in order to benefit from this method. while I was searching for a place to print my assignments, I found myself being referred to someone else business. I learn something else that the book does not mention. Being referred has its downfall. By which I mean, who refers you is vital. in one of the shops i visited, they could not meet my needs, and when they referred me to someone else, they were completely oblivious to any vital information, like directions or the name of the shop. I did not had time to put the pieces together, so I moved on to another store. I learned that even when your running your business, design will always depend on your connections.
The next section my materials covered was partnerships. This usually consist of two or more people who work together in order to ease into the designing business. Partnerships are often build on relationships that have common interest, such as friends, coworkers, and even intimate relationships. The key to making it work is balancing the work load, Each of the members must have equal share of the responsibilities, and different essential skills. Business can become more successfully when partners work together as oppose to an individual. However, it is foolish to assume that this method is fool proof. Business between partners should be handled like a relationship. If there is issues between partners then they must be addressed. other wise it will not only be a burden to the business, but it will also put a strain on the relationship. I Know this first Hand. Before I was a graphic design major, I was an animation major. Among my friends, there was another animation major, and we agree to make a comic together. At first it went smoothly. We had great ideas, had a story line, and a strong sense of the characters. As time went on, things took a turn for the worst. Our creative differences, got the better of us. Eventually, our idea for our mic died, and sadly our relationship was never the same. To this day we do not speak.
Both these options have given me a small amount of hope and thrive. I cannot say that I want to open my own shop, or get into business with someone. what I can say, that perhaps going into a small firm or studio can be something to look into. I notice that I am more drawn to a close working environment. Small might be a good start for me to begin my career.

Cynthia Murnane's Spot Light Review

Last Thursday's class was extended due to a special guest speaker, Cynthia Murnane. Murnane serves as a founder and creative director for Magnitude. In addition, she has spent many of her career years in different locations, such as San Fransisco, New York, and Los Angeles. Ideally, speakers with her experience are invited to speak to the (graphic designer) students, and inspire with their wisdom and passion for their profession. I wish I could say that I was one of those students. Truth be told, it was the longest two hours I have endure. Being in school for 15 hours, not only worn me out, but it made so difficult to pay heed to anything she had to say. what most got in my way, I was feeling completely defeated, and anything that she had to say my ego would not listen to. However, I did manage to listen to four important highlights.
The first of her highlights was, and I quote "Who's Your Daddy?". While humorous, it brings an vital piece of advise for young designers to be to consider. It refers to having a mentor, someone to guide you into the complex world of graphic design. As a student I could use all the help I can get, but most recently I have encounter difficulties. I have had difficulty interacting and sharing my thoughts and problems with those around me, especially with teachers. While I appreciate advise and guidance, I will ultimately end up doing what ever it is decide to do at that given time. The second piece of advise was "obey the food chain". As designers students, we are as low as you can get in the chain. Therefore, our survival in the real world usually means making a few trips to Starbucks, and doing the tedious jobs that no one wants to do. The third piece of advise she offered was "Deny the Lizard Brain". This one confused me until she explain the small part of out brain that has the need to scamper away in fear. I am shame to admit, that I have yet to deny that part of my brain. Emotions run my life, and sadly fear is a dictator. One of my biggest fears is not getting over my fear in time. The last of her highlights was "Find Your Euphoria". In other words, Find your passion. This is most difficult, because its a question everyone changes, and so does our passions. If we choose one passion, will that mean we have to spend the rest of our lives with this passion. The though of a long term commitment, while stable it might be, can be terrifying. Human begins cannot make a commitment to one another, let alone to a passions. Sometimes I wonder, why am I doing this for? And its scares me to say ... I don't know.
Once again, I became intimidated by someone who was once in my shoes. While I take comfort in knowing that every great designer started out the same way as any art student, I also fear not being able to reach their level of success. Although I do not thrived to have my own business or work in in a huge multi-billion dollar company, I want to be successful. Despite my intimidation issues, I want to take what Murnane said to us last Thursday. I just hope that I'll be smart enough to take it.

relfection 6

The graphic design professions of the week was type design and lettering. these prestigious fields were done by hand, and only the best and dedicated could survive. Designers would spent months designing and developing set of letters by hand. Today, modern technology has made it possible for anyone to design. However, that does not guarantee that anyone can make a career out of it. At least not a successful one.
Typography design requires both aesthetic and function. It takes years to master and perfect type design skills. While most art classes cover typography, it is essential for anyone who wants to work in this particular field to work as an intern or apprentice. Even a level entry-job can expose a designer work along side an experience typographer. Designers must also be skilled at lettering. This skills is essential for all designers because they are essential for logo design, book tittle, package labels, and more. despite the technological advances, this field is extremely time consuming, and requires passion and dedication from the designer.
Fore this weeks material, I feel indifferent. Mostly because Ive been writing alphabets since childhood, and I have yet to take a typography class. Perphaps once I do, I'll have more appreciation for this art, and one more career choice. A teacher once told me, we learn all our alphabets not for using them all at once, but to use some when necessary.

reflection #5

Motion was this week's topic. The entertainment industry is a creative challenging that requires the talents if graphic designers. It hires graphic and advertisement designers for the development and promotion of movies and show that we enjoy. In addition, some graphic designers even go into a new profession known as motion designers.

Graphic designers are hired to provide film titles, trailors, bumpers (short promotional sequences between programs), and opener programs (main titles for a TV show). some times, designers are hired as storyboard artist. While this profession offers creative opportunities, its also a high pressured and unstable career. They are extremely competitive to work for, especially if its for a popular company like Dreamworks or Nickelodeon.

Further more, a budget will often dictate the creative processes and the outcome. While big time Hollywood companies can afford to go all out with its special affects and promotions, small time productions have to work effectively within a budget.it seems to be the case with most artistic careers, or any career in general. Money just makes the world go around, and it is unfortunate that as we make the transition into the real world, I am sadden to think that i will be trading in my on pinion for a gallon of gasoline (sick puppies, cancer).

reflection #4

This week's reading covered three more branches of graphic design: The hardcore advertising profession, the innovative enviormental field, and the more welcoming web design vocation. As you can guess, each one is different, and offer a different role of creativity and opportunity. As new designers, we need to be open to the possibilities that is offer. However, to learn more about the possible fields can help a new designer find his or her way in this demanding field.
The advertising business is what most people think about when they hear the words graphic design, and yet they do not take into account the intensity behind ads. To work in the advertising, designers must be willing to bare with the intense competition and uncertainty of the industry. For starters, creativity orbits around money. It takes money to make money, and the loss of a client can be especially painful for employees, if not to the whole company. Furthermore, designer's depend on the strength of their portfolio in order to get another job. Majority of the time they get hire by the rival companies, though nothing is for certain. When I finish reading this section, I cried. For a moment, I had no future. I quickly stopped when I came to the realization that this was only one option.
The next section covered enviormental design. when I first read the title of the section, I immediately thought of working with plants. How wrong I was. Enviormental design gets involved in a wide ranged of design activities of billboard and map displays. This field in fuses function and creativity in order to deliver information. this practice is more elaborated than slapping a label on a map, and hope that the tourist at the zoo will find their way around the monkey cage. Designers in this profession need to create designs that can be easy to read for the majority of the audience. Not everyone reads the same, and everyone process information differently. It is an enviormental designer's job to create something functional and creating in order to guide the general public, and people like me who can bearly read.
The final section explored the web design field. Out all the fields that I so far have covered in this text, this seems to be the most welcoming of new designers. while anyone, from children to amature adults, can design a web page. Being good or not, is another question. web page design requires skills to appeal to an audience, but it also helps to know the software from the inside out. On the one hand, since every business needs a web page, graphic designers of different talents and styles can try to find work in for any company, though being flexible helps to find more job opportunities and a stronger portfolio. In addition, web design hires hundreds of interns, which makes it a good opportunity to begin a career.
This weeks reading gave me some new insights on the career path that I am on. While I am still expanding my educational horizons, I am fill with pessimistic feelings and and few drops of hope. As usual I hoping that what does not kill me can only make me stronger.