The Last 5 hours...

Our new packaging project is about user experience and our focus is shoes. Many hours put in already and many many more to go.

One Month Down

Classes are well on their way and assignments, tests, quizzes and projects are starting to build up. I just finished up my first screen printing assignment and I would share it with everyone if it was actually worth sharing, better luck with the next one I guess. I am in the middle of preliminary sketches and ideation for my first packaging project, for the most part it is going well, I was a little stumped on a name, but after thinking about it non-stop for 48hrs I think I got one!  I'll make sure to keep you all updated along the way. On top of the school load, I have worked some time in to update my identity: business cards, resume, etc. It was a fun little break from school work and overall I am happy with how everything turned out. Not to mention there was a little push to get some business cards before AIGA's Design Camp this weekend!! Oh yes there is more... I am in the middle of finalizing "save the dates" & can't forget about the internships! This month also accounted for my first month ever of working over 20hrs a week and going to school full time. I was a little skeptical at first how it would all work out, but with a little time management everything is working out just great! To add on to the awesomeness of my amazing jobs, I was chosen as Artist of the Month for August. It was quite a wonderful surprise! That wraps up September and if I had to guess October will look very similar with lots of design. Already this weekend I will be packing my bags and headed to northern MN for AIGA's Design Camp, super excited!!!

A successful summer...

New portfolio pieces! Completed my first 1/2 marathon! & Fun with the camera!

#ilovemyjob

    Yikes tomorrow is August and my last post was the beginning of June, oopsies! I've tried to sit down and give you an update on the internships, but I've been so busy that I resorted to making notes in my sketchbook for when I found the time to actually sit down and write an update. I will not lie work has been a little overwhelming, some days I feel like I am in school. It really is nothing to complain about though considering I love everything I've been working on and I've been learning things that I would never learn sitting behind a desk in a classroom. There is especially nothing to complain about when you have at-least one tweet a day that says #ilovemyjob.... we all know that twitter doesn't lie! Trying to juggle two internships at the same time has definitely brought a couple challenges, but at the same time it has in no way been impossible to manage. I work at the EDC Monday, Tuesday, and then I go to the ECPC Wednesday, Thursday, and I split Friday's; morning's at the EDC and afternoons at the ECPC. Working at two different places gives my week a lot of different variety. At the EDC there are major long term projects as well as short little jobs that may need to be finished within the day. My boss came in to me the other day and said "can you fix this? ...and by the way you have 15min." So, I said sure READY SET GO! Whereas at the ECPC the work is more uniform, I usually have a good idea as to what I will be working on over the course of the day. The work is also different because it is mostly small ads, so in one day I may have worked on 20 different designs. Working two different places at two different paces keeps me on my feet. Some days are slower than others, but at the same time some days you have to settle with the notion that not everything will get done and that can be frustrating. The theme of last week was "due date was...yesterday." I don't know how many times I heard this and it was funny because I heard it at both the EDC and the ECPC. My advice is not to panic, you have to just take a deep breath open a new document and begin it is really not that bad. This last week at the EDC was exciting and I'm learning that designers get excited at the littlest things. I had sent off one of my major projects to the printer the week before and on Monday the proof had arrived!! It was so exciting to see my first "real" project in print form. What I mean about "real" is that instead of just printing one and handing it in for a grade, it will be printed in thousands and sent off to people across the country. The second project, a mailing piece,  I had sent off to the printer did not go as smooth and had a few set backs. I just keep in mind everyday that this is a learning process, right? A major thing that I have learned in the past week while sending off files to the printer is how to prepare them. I had a number of different adjustments that I had to make to my files such as color corrections and bleeds. Also each printer has their own specifications on how they would like the files to be prepared. Being able to work one on one with the printers and requesting project quotes is frustrating at times, but it is great experience because it is not something you are taught in school and it will only benefit me in the future. Aside from dealing with printers the project I have been working on keep getting more exciting!! In just this last week I worked on a mailing flier, a magnetic notepad, and a billboard!!! The billboard is pretty exciting I can't wait to drive by it! I have also made some updates to the website and learned what a favicon is and that I will be designing one within the next couple weeks. I have also had the chance to get out and use my camera for a couple of different projects. The project that is being printed now features my pictures on every page including the cover making it even more personal to me. Aside from designing at work I have been trying to sketch as much as possible, above you'll see a little something I did on my lunch break in the park. I am also working on wedding invitations and always looking up new contests to enter. And aside from design entirely I have been keeping busy with my training for the Madison Mini Marathon in 3 weeks!!!! Life is good!     

A Well Overdue Update...

I have been meaning to update this for over a week now, but I have been super busy. From moving apartments to spending time with family and just getting settled in at the new jobs. Packing and cleaning is hard work and I'm not even done with the unpacking or organizing of the new room. That will probably not happen till the end of summer. It worked out nice because my roommate is subleasing my room in Menomonie for now and I am staying in EC which is about 4min away from work which is awesome!! This week I started as the graphic design intern at the EDC (Economic Development Center). The first day was great, the boss took me out for lunch and I got started on my first project!! I'm very excited about the job and I think it will be an amazing experience to say the least. For a little over a month I have been working as the graphic design intern at the ECPC (Eau Claire Press Company). I am starting to get the hang of things a little bit. I have mostly been working on the realtor books and ads for the newspaper. Both jobs are a little different from one another, but the experience is great and the people are all very helpful. My hours are mostly 8-4pm, Monday-Friday, it is weird to have an entire workday in by 4 and not have to work on weekends. Considering all other summer jobs I have had, these don't really seem like work because it is something I love and enjoy doing, the time seems to fly by. It is also weird that I work on a project for a full day and then I don't have to take it home to work on like school. Aside from all the design at work I am also doing some on the side. I designed a t-shirt for the Wausau East Highschool Homecoming for next fall and I will soon be starting on Wedding Invites. I have not been getting out and experimenting with the Canon as much as I would like, but I am really going to try to more. The problem is once I get it out I don't like to put it away, it is such a fun toy!! All in all summer vacation has been awesome!! I think my brother and I are planning a trip to Chicago in a few weeks and I am also training to run a 1/2 marathon in August. I am keeping myself very busy, but am enjoying ever minute. I hope to keep you updated on the internships as much as possible over the summer! =)

Possibilities of "g"

I had a little down time at work this morning and reading for history of design got boring. So, naturally Illustrator just opened....funny how that always seems to happen! And here is what was created...

RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH!!!!!!

It's over! My art history paper was due today. I worked on it non-stop this last weekend. I think it is safe to say I really don't want to write a 10 page paper again no matter if the topic interests me or not. It was one of the biggest assignments I had this semester, well actually one of the biggest I've had in a long time. With it over it almost feels as if the semester is over, but there is a couple weeks left and couple assignments to go. One of my internships begins next Friday, eeeekk, I'm nervous, don't worry I will definitely keep you all updated!

Vacuum Formed Letters

Over the past couple weeks in Sign & Exhibition class we were assigned a letter and had to create it out of anything with the idea of texture in mind. We then had to take it to the vacuum former and pull it out of plastic. What did we do with them then you ask? Made pangrams or sentences that use every letter of the alphabet. We may have got a lot of looks by passerby's, but it was a perfect day to be outside and make art!

  

AIGA's Portfolio 1on1

If I had to sum up my weekend in one word it would be AWESOME! It was super busy and exhausting, but such a positive and fun experience. Friday morning the van left for Minneapolis at 8am. We ended up getting there super early and with the time to kill we decided to wander the streets of the big city. We eventually headed back, got registered and had an amazing lunch provided to us by Solera Restaurant. After the welcoming announcements we split up into smaller groups and ventured to our studio tours. My group got to experience Olive and Company, Morsekode, and Spunk Design Machine. They were all very unique and gave out lots of free goodies, but Spunk Design Machine wins for their beer and brats! After everyone made it back safely, I say this because one group got stuck in an elevator, but everyone made it back eventually and the panel discussion started. I came away from the discussion with 3 pages of notes, that are just full of great advice for the future. Our group decided not to stay for the social because many of us were wore out and knew we had to be up at 5am the next morning. I woke up Saturday more nervous than I was for any job interview. My first review was at 9am, with  Brandon from Sussner Design Company. He definitely calmed the nerves, it was very casual and he gave me so much positive feedback and constructive criticism that will become the basis for my new portfolio. My second review was not as helpful, he basically told me that he liked everything and that everything looked great. Well that is nice to hear, but as I was sitting there I was thinking to myself where is the criticism? and what do I need to work on? That is what I wanted to get out of the weekend and he didn't help with that. The third review was much like the first, I met with a lady who is a freelancer and so she has experience in multiple areas of design and that really helped. She too gave me great advice on how to enhance my portfolio and projects. Last but not least, I was worn out and I think she was worn out as well. The feedback started to become repetitive and it became harder to explain my work without explaining what I knew I already wanted to change about it. In between the reviews I attended a workshop and got many free samples from the French Paper Company! The day ended with a prize drawing and it was funny because majority of the students from UW-Stout walked away with something including me!!! Overall it was an amazingly beneficial weekend. I have a lot to revise and re-work, but I'm ready for the challenge of the blank page, it is exciting and I can't wait to get started!!

Cardboard & Hot Glue All Over Again...

Most of us never wanted to see cardboard again after the cardboard animals, but here we go again, this time making letters out of cardboard. For Sign class we were assigned a letter to create and then use the vacuum former to make it out of plastic. Everyones letters will be combined in the end to make one large installation piece. I have the letter "Y" and have chose to cover mine in rubber bands! Many people have been running into some issues of their original letter getting stuck inside the plastic, I hope this doesn't happen to me. Wish me luck!!!

Procrastination at its best!!

I have yet to open up word to begin my 10pg Art History paper. I had all good intentions to begin it this morning, but my camera was dying to be let out of its box. I should probably put it out of sight until the semester is over, not to mention it is going to be worse once it's nice outside. I began a One-A-Day yesterday which I'm pretty excited about, I've always wanted to do one and I figured now with my new purchase was a better time than ever. Not only will it be neat to see all the different pictures, but also the progress that I make the more I get familiar with the camera. I'm pretty excited about my pictures today! After I was satisfied with a few shots I threw them in photoshop and messed around a bit! It's always nice to just sit down and create something for yourself no deadline or requirements.

Work Never Ends nor Does the Snow

This week was crazy busy. I felt like I never had a minute to sit and take a breath. Monday was my interview in EC for a graphic design internship. That night I also ended the long journey of researching and finding a DSLR camera to buy. It was a headache to say the least, all last week I had been looking around, but no stores had the one I wanted so I broke down and bought the more expensive one. I have not even had a chance to take it out of the box yet, but can't wait to get out on a photo adventure. Tuesday was an accounting test. Wednesday turned into ANOTHER snowy day, just what we needed! Thursday the sign project was due and another accounting test. And I ended the week with an Art History midterm! Most of the week focused on my sign project it called for many late nights, but considering we started over just a week ago, our group really pushed through and it turned out alright. But what was probably the longest and hardest week of the semester thus far really turned out to be o.k. I GOT THE INTERNSHIP! It cuts the stress of the week and the rest of the semester in half. I will be working at the Eau Claire Press Co. starting at the end of the month and for the summer and possibly into next semester. I could not be more excited, it was my goal for this year to find a internship and gain experience in my field. And what is more exciting than doing something you completely love for the summer and not having to go back to a boring old job! I don't think this post could have enough exclamation marks!!!!!!!! ...I would add another if the snow would disappear!

Spring Break Here I Come!!!!!

I have a week off from school, but its not going to be much of a break from school work or personal design work! I need to get my portfolio, business cards, resume, and thank you cards done and printed! On top of that the Sinage critique didn't go so well today and our group is starting over. 2 weeks to come up with a new design and mockups! READY SET GO!

Think I'll call it a night...