Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Closing One Chapter

I'm having a great time doing absolutely nothing. I have slept, watched movies, done a little laundry (my happy chore), and read books - lots and lots of books.

I can't promise any exciting posts over the next few days, but I can promise that I will be relaxing, starting my new job, and keeping my mind clear for the next week and a half.

On January 12, I will start my senior year of college - and it only took 10 years to get here! 2008 ends today, 2009 begins tomorrow.

Happy New Year everyone!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Today is Today

The semester is over!
Every final item "checked!"

Our Christmas tree is up.
I have figured out how to drape garland.

Our city got its first real snowfall of the season today.
Too bad today was the day I picked to do all my errands!

I have become enamored with reed diffusers.
A beautiful scent without the flame - who knew?

I yelled at the dogs today.
It was only because Sadie spilled my Cherry Coke Zero which I had left in a precarious place.
We've since made up.

Our Tiny House has once again become cozy.
Three inches of snow outside.
Christmas lights inside.

What were the highlights of your day?

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

"Check!"

Let's direct our attention to the list, shall we?
  • New advertising campaign for Apple (18 pp)? CHECK!
  • Case Study Presentation on the use of stereotypes in editorial cartoons and the ethical theories that should guide our decision to run or not to run? (24 slides - 20 minutes long)? CHECK!
  • Magazine article about traffic and why we drive the way we do? (4 pp)? CHECK!
  • Ethical case study paper discussing the above presentation in literary form (9 pp)? CHECK!
  • Comprehensive Publication Design final? CHECK!
  • Design campaign for client - 8 pieces in all? CHECK!
  • Presentation on above campaign? CHECK!
  • PR Case Study Final? no check...
  • Creative Advertising Final (because an 19 page advertising campaign is not enough)? no check...
  • Mass Media Ethics final? no check...
As you can see, the end is nearly in sight! Celebratory post coming soon!

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Too many finals...

...so I'm going to blog!

I'm looking through my informational binder and gearing up to finish my final projects, presentations and tests. I'm just a little Type A and neatly draw a line through each class period I sit through, each assignment I turn in and even each vacation day. My daily planner is filled with diagonal lines through each day and little check marks when the activity has passed.

I hope I'm not the only one who does this! (Sidenote: it reminds me of the way my former piano teacher kept tabs on the things in her life. Checkmarks, notes, and lots of lists!)

I think my favorite class this semester has been Publication Design and Graphics. I think this class has strengthened my resolve to work in design in some form some day. Although I can write copy (really well) and take pictures (not really well), my talents shine when I get to incorporate both words and graphics on a page.

I learned C.R.A.P. in Pub Design this semester; which stands for Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity. Those four principles working together are what takes an awful design to tolerable and a good design to great. Leave out any one element, and the whole thing can flop. Use each one appropriately, and you've created a design that looks like art!

Not that these all look like art, but I am VERY proud of the finished products! I'll be presenting this campaign to an actual organization on Tuesday. I have to pitch my work and my abilities, then ask them to choose my pieces for their campaign! (That will be the hard part for me - I'm not good at selling.)

A little background: the middle school/center is hosting a community financial literacy night - where students teach the seminars - and needed materials to promote the event and educate the community.

Remember, this is the culmination of 4 months of hard work, my nerves are frayed and I haven't had more than 6 hours of sleep a night for the past week. Be kind! And enjoy!

A banner announcing the event...



A business card that students could hand out...



The front page...



...the second page...

...the third page...

...and the back page...



A poster for the event...




A general ad for the school...


And an event-specific ad...


I also designed two pieces of stationery, but am too tired to post them tonight. Check back tomorrow. (My favorites are the ads!)

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Cowboys and Horses and BBQ

(Pre-Note: Too tired to fix caption/photo layout. Sometimes blogger drives me crazy!)

A school/work/life update is coming soon! But first, a trip down south...


Our hospitable hosts...

















Eric standing on a rock...






















Some good Texas scenery...

















The cockpit...

















An infamous Texas sunset...

















Our Thanksgiving feast...
















The Bird (G450)...

















Posing at the falls...















The B-Dog after a long walk...

















Mule deer playing soccer...

















Note the disappearing edge...



















The best BBQ in Texas...



















The falls...



















Eric meets a cactus...

















Me - on little bits and pieces of sleep...
















Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! And now, back to my homework...