Project 3 Update

Antje Gray

Guest Speaker

Antje Gray is a design from Design Matters.  In her presentation today, she stressed the importance of connections with people and helpful advice that incorporates with Design Practicum.  Being a member of AIGA, Antje suggests that becoming a member is a great way to make connections.  If not AIGA then, ADAI is also another option.  Details, Details, Details!  Antje is very particular to details: making sure stationary and portfolio are consistent, website is key, and job researching before interviews.  A stationary system and portfolio must be consistent in order for the representation of yourself is successful.  Colors and style should fit together, but also be able to print in black and white.  Many employers don't always print everything in color.  For digital in pdf format, Antje suggested that the cover letter and resume should be a separate document from the portfolio pdf.  All of the documents should be 8.5x11.   The portfolio should have 3-5 great pieces to show off your work for the potential employer.  

Website is key! CD portfolios are out of style and just to click is more efficient. Plus, Antje says this will show off that you can build a website that is functional and impressive.

Research a job before an interview is very important.  If a potential employer ask how you can be a asset to their company, you should be able to describe how you would fit into their specific company.  Using key words that the company uses will help your resume and cover letter stand out from the rest. Contacting the company before showing your portfolio shows not only that you are organized, but you are respecting the companies time.  If you show up, don't always expect a person to drop everything to look at the portfolio. When doing the interview process, be assertive and show you want to be involved.  Presenting the portfolio to the employer shows off the communication skills and problem solving skills with the piece.  Antje suggests to describe the assignment and then say how you find the solution to the problem.  Everything must have a reason: color, font, and imagery.

Antje's presentation was well done like the presentation done by Andy Cusack.  Her stress on connections, presentation of yourself, and attention to detail has helped me to move forward in my design process for design practicum.

Project 3 Update

Andy Cusack
Guest Speaker

Andy Cusack's presentation gave insight to types of jobs are available for a graphic designer.  He started with an introduction of himself and two different jobs that he has worked as a graphic designer.  The first job was with Principal Financial Group where he worked in house and the second job was with Integer Group at an design and marketing agency.  At Principal, he explained that he worked primarily with a small group of people on design projects.  Majority of designs were done by him and he worked an normal business day of 8AM-5PM.  This was different in comparison to Integer.  Andy explained at Integer that a thorough process is done to ensure the best quality of design.  Throughout the complex process, he stated the importance of specialist, designers, copywriters, account service managers, and editorial staff working as a team.  The agency required more hours of work, but he had more liberty on design work.  Besides Andy's work experience, he also gave tips on interviewing skills and portfolio presentation.

For interviewing tips, Andy presented thoughts that employees had Integer, questions that Integer would use for an interview process, and reiterating that detail was essential for success.  When presenting your portfolio, he stressed the importance of telling the company why you designed a project a specific way.  This helps the potential employer to see your design reasoning and thought process for a work.

Andy's presentation was insightful and encouraged me to research the type of jobs available in the career field.  I think I will take Andy's advice about starting in house and move into an agency position.  This way I gain experience necessary to push my knowledge as a graphic designer. I can't wait to get started on this journey!

Design Statement

       Graphic design is important to me because of how well can I get an idea across visually. This drives me to do graphic design work because I want to take ideas that people have and turn them into design that will help get them the results they want. Being a very visual person, graphic design has helped share all the different ideas I have with the world. Graphic design has really given me a chance to express my personality through well thought out design. As I develop as a graphic designer, I hope to take my work and make eye catching designs for a client, but also to help show my growth as a person. I want my designs to grow and impact the community.
     When first diving into a project, I like to do is research. Research is extremely important to get an exact feel of what the client wants. After careful research on I start out with numerous designs and then develop ideas. One of the biggest obstacles that can occur is when the client doesn’t know what they want. As a graphic designer it is my responsibility to solve the puzzle and design what I know the client will want.  My work shows the use negative space and its supporting role to the main content on the page. Many designers fill up space to draw intention where I feel my pieces are more eye catching because of well I can incorporate negative space.
    In my works, I feel there should be a good harmony with in my designs. When I say good harmony, I mean the relationship between my design and what the client wants. As long as I have a little bit of myself with in each piece, then I know that I will be content.   This way the client receives what they want and I know that a piece of me is the design. As a designer I hope to show my personality and my growth as a person with each piece that I design.