1) What is the difference between hard and soft skills? (it mentions this briefly at the beginning, you might have to look it up elsewhere) Hard skills are technical abilities, whereas soft skills are personality qualities or "people skills". Soft skills are more difficult to quantify than hard skills For graphic design, hard skills could be knowledge in Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and other software. Soft skills consist of communication skills, time management skills, or flexibility. 2) What are 5 hard skills you have? For those 5 skills list a specific example of when you demonstrated that skill. -Photoshop - At my internship at William Frick and Company, I edited and cropped photos of products for promotional materials. -Illustrator- I worked on Illustrator every day at my internship. I designed logos, tags, labels, etc. using measurements and colors from the client. I also used CAD tools to trace and recreate technical drawings. -Photography- At my internship, I photographed products for promotional and marketing materials. I also have won awards at Carthage College for photographs I have taken. -HTML/CSS - I am in a Web Design course learning the basics of HTML and CSS. We are currently creating our own personal webpage. -Microsoft Office- I work in the Advancement office at Carthage, aiding in planning alumni events and programs. We use Powerpoint, Excel and Word to organize information. 3) What are 5 soft skills you have? For those 5 skills list a specific example of when you demonstrated that skill. -Communication- I lead tours and work as an administrative assistant in the Advancement office. Both of these jobs require professional communication, leadership and public speaking skills. -Time-Management- At Carthage, I have two on-campus jobs, I am involved in a sorority, I play Varsity tennis and maintain a 3.6 GPA. I am able to balance my variety of involvements with a positive attitude. -Desire to Learn- While at Carthage, I have traveled to India and Africa, which allowed me the opportunity for hands-on learning. I was able to open my mind to a variety of new cultures. -Motivated- As part of the Carthage tennis team, I have worked hard to obtain the player of the week award, as well as the all-conference award in 2015. I was motivated in all matches to be the best tennis player I could be. -Leadership - I earned the Character Quest Leadership Certification. This involved a weekend of training and hands-on learning through team-work and leadership. The program also consists of weekly training sessions and mentoring students in groups and individually. Tell me a little about yourself. (should be at least 3 paragraphs- look at your writing assignment 1 for inspiration)
I am a senior at Carthage graduating in May of 2015. I am a graphic design major with a biology minor. I am originally from Minneapolis, where I went to Southwest High School. At Carthage, I am on a Student Ambassador, meaning I give tours to prospective students, host overnight visits, speak on student panels and mingle at receptions. Along with this, I am on the varsity tennis team and hold positions within my social sorority, Pi Theta. I also work part-time in the Advancement Office, acting as a receptionist for donors, students, families and guests. I work hard to balance my jobs, schoolwork, sorority positions and tennis. During the summers of 2013 and 2014, I was a graphic design and production Intern at William Frick and Company. During this internship, I aided the design team by conceptualizing solutions to fit clients needs. I was able to gain knowledge in Illustrator, Photoshop and many different print procedures. Along with gaining technical skills, I learned professional writing, speaking and teamwork skills. Since Carthage is a liberal arts college, I have become a well-rounded individual, learning about all types of people and subject matters, ranging from graphic design to biology. I have also had the opportunity to study music and global heritage in Namibia and religion in India. My experiences abroad broadened my mind to unique and inspiring cultures. Overall, I am a open-minded and personable individual, hoping to conveying versatile subject matters in a design or communication position. What are your five greatest strengths? I believe I am a very open-minded person. I listen carefully to directions new ideas, differing perspectives. I am well-rounded and passionate about all types of people and subject matters. I am honest and authentic, which allows me to embrace my individuality with confidence. I am very hardworking and will never give up on a project or task. I am also a friendly, personable individual, which allows me to communicate with just about anyone. What is your greatest weakness? I am a flexible person, which can be both a positive and negative quality. Sometimes other people persuade me in certain directions, which may lower efficiency levels or lack of focus. However, being flexible allows me to be adaptable, easy to work with, and react well to change. How are you culturally aware? I believe I am very culturally aware. Growing up and attending school in the city of Minneapolis, I was exposed to individuals of different religions, ethnicities and backgrounds. I embraced the differences, allowing them influence my life outlook. Along with this, I have global experience and obtained knowledge from traveling and studying in Europe, Africa and Asia within the past 5 years. I stay up to date with current news and major world events in order to maintain my cultural-awareness. How would your best friend describe you? My best friend views me as an independent, free-thinker who enjoys having fun and working hard at the same time. She describes me as genuine and intelligent. Another friend describes me as a creative individual who enjoys challenges. What are your short and long term goals? I am searching for a career opportunity where I can apply my academic training in graphic design and biology, leadership skills developed through mentoring, and personal passion for art and science. In 5-10 years, I hope to have a job with an exciting, progressive and innovative work culture. This may be working for a Hospital in the communications department, since I am passionate about science. I want to to be able to apply all my skills, even beyond graphic design. What type of work environment do you prefer? I prefer an open environment work environment that invites collaboration and discussion. I also prefer a positive environment that allows a balance between work and life outside of work. I believe change is good, therefore a versatile and developing work environment is the most appealing to me. Lastly, I think it is important to have supportive group atmosphere in order to achieve goals. What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? I am a calm individual, therefore I deal with conflict in a respectful and peaceful manner. I typically approach the situation with a calm tone and address all aspects involved in the problem. I am not typically involved in conflict, however if involved, I remain level-headed. In general, I strive to understand the root cause of the issue by communicating in the most polite and relaxed manner. Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond to get a job done. I went above and beyond when I was the head of our week-long sorority recruitment. As the head, I assigned tasks to committees within the sorority, planned four recruitment events, and managed/spoke at all of them. On top of this, I ran a 2 hour long discussion after each event. In order for every member to be part of the selection process, they each were able to vote. I stayed extra late tallying votes, submitting selections, and cleaning after out events. I went above and beyond my duties of planning and leading the recruitment events in order for each sorority member to have a voice. Tell me about two memorable projects, one success and one failure. To what do you attribute these outcomes? -Success: I assigned a project to work with a client who was looking for a label with a symbol to represent the harmful run-off that is effecting our environment. I research similar symbols and signs for awhile. Before beginning the design, I spent time conceptualizing the needs and aims of the client. This turned out to be successful due to preliminary brainstorming, as well as good communication, specifically listening skills. -Failure: I was in charge of designing a sales goal chart for the cafeteria within the office at William Frick and Company. I completed the project and it hangs in the cafeteria, however the theme of the poster does not depict the company's culture. Instead of focusing on the culture during the preliminary steps of brainstorming, I jumped into the project to quickly. I learned that success requires of relevant brainstorming and research, despite the scale of the project. Why should we pick you over the other candidates? I am a free-thinker due to my cultural-awareness and global experiences. Through my travels, I have learned about a variety of religions, businesses, economies, societies, social structures and cultures. I have learned to open my mind to new perspectives and a adapt well to new environments. In our faced-paced progressive society, it is important to have a solid cultural background and the ability to adjust in times of change. Have you had an internship or job experience that really affected you? As a Student Ambassador, I had the opportunity to meet a wide range of families from all over the United States. Not only did I gain leadership skills, but I learned how to adjust my tours to specific families. I discovered marketing strategies and professional speaking skills that I will carry with me forever. Who is your favorite specialist in your field and explain what traits this person has that you admire. My favorite graphic designer is Paul Rand because of his famous corporate logos. I have always admired his balance of innovation and simplicity. He is able to challenge the design boundaries, while still executing tasks in a professional manner. There is a concept and structure within each logo within the simple look. He had confidence of his minimalistic style, allowing him to create some of the most successful logos still visible today. You are given several rush projects to be completed in a short period of time. How would you establish priorities? I would first speak with the clients, discussing their timeline and the urgency of the project. In certain situations, it is most logical to complete the smaller projects first, leaving the larger projects for a time when my mind is clear. It is important to communicate with the client as much as possible to ensure they will not receive their project late. How well do you cope with criticism? Through my experiences on the Carthage College varsity tennis team, I have learned to cope well with criticism. Often times on change-overs, my coaches will give me advise on how to improve my game. I look at is a outlet to further improve my skills and succeed. In most instances, I notice positive results based on criticism. I take these comments as ways to focus and challenge myself to excel to the best of my ability. When creating graphics, what do you feel is the most important aspect: Planning, design or implementation ... And why? I believe planning is the most important aspect within creating graphics. I believe that as a designer our tendency is to immediately start designing. Through my interning experience, I have learned that proper planning and research generates successful execution, hence leading to more accomplishing outcomes. Without the plan, there is no design or implementation, which is why it is the most crucial aspect when creating graphics. In the past, what was your favorite project and why? My favorite project was designing the magazine layout for my Graphic Design 2 course. The project was to create a magazine spread representing a certain segment of American Culture. I chose "The Radical Liberalist Movement" within certain cities in the United States. I enjoyed this project because I was able to apply my research skills and passion for exploring new cultures. I spent a lot of time researching, planning, brainstorming grids, creating images and collecting photos to put this project together. I enjoyed the final product because there was a well-researched message behind the spread. Where do you go for inspiration? I enjoy exploring unfamiliar places because this is where I get most inspired. I find my inspiration outside of my comfort zone. When I am exploring a city, meeting a new person at an event or even observing a different environment than I am comfortable in, I get inspired. I also enjoy the outdoors so often times I will go running to clear my mind of distractions and get inspired by the natural world. https://www.behance.net/gallery/17528443/Theater-La-Cartoucherie
https://www.behance.net/gallery/22320015/LIMPID-Skis 1) Sum up what Stefan stands for as a designer.
Stefan Sagmeister represents a design lifestyle that allows a flexible work setting self-motivation within a flexible work setting. He notes the importance of taking sabbatical in order to discover new ways of thinking and uncover new solutions to projects. He emphasizes the successful outcomes when employees step back from the work setting and pursue their own goals. Stefan stands for an alternative lifestyle. This lifestyle allowed him to pursue interesting projects with a different and more open mindset, which ended up leading to some of the most acclaimed work of his career. The lifestyle he proposes requires planning, self-motivation, prioritizing, and focus in order to produce these outcomes. 2) What is this book about? This book is an experienced designers outlook on the profession of graphic design in modern society. Shaughnessy focuses on aspects that are rarely discussed and often overlooked or misconceived. He lists many tips and other useful information that he has learned from mistakes and successes during his career. He gears this book at the young designers and students that have not been exposed to all aspects of the design world yet, hoping to give some preparation and insight into the profession. 3) List 3 points you found most interesting from the two Introductions. -I found it interesting how Shaughnessy notes how graphic design now has a major social role, making the world a better place. The evolution of the graphic design has created some negative effects, however it has become so much more recognized by the world. -He argues that the message designed for a client is best communicated when the designer takes a “different” approach. I found this interesting, especially in the world where there is a lot of uniformity due to client’s needs, etc. -I found it interesting how Shaughnessy refers to all “glossy design press” avoiding any problems faced by the modern designer. There is no job that is perfect so this book aids to provide a practical approach to the issues one may face when becoming a graphic designer. 4) What are the attributes needed by the modern designer? In order to grow, a modern designer needs -Cultural awareness: Learning and experiencing the world will allow designers to be more in-tune with their peers and audiences. Without watching the news and keeping up to date with world news, a designer will be much more successful. -Communication skills: A designer needs to successfully speak about their work and fully listen to clients. It is important to have the sources to back up and defend designs and thoughts. Developing professional speaking skills and the ability to elaborate is essential for a designer. -Professional and personal integrity: Modern designers need confidence in their beliefs so they can back themselves up. 5) List 3 points you found most interesting from Chapter 1. -“Designers sometimes imagine that the world revolves around graphic design… But the best designers are always characterized by an interest in life beyond their subject” - I found this interesting because it relates a lot to how I am currently struggling to combine design and biology. Every designer needs a combination of design and other interests in order to be culturally aware. -“We have to learn to present these ‘inner convictions,’ these ‘intuitions’ as rational and objective”. I found this section on communication because it goes beyond the simple speaking and listening, but gives advice on the best strategies to communicate with clients. As a modern designer, one must listen and communicate carefully with the client in order to create the most satisfying design, not simply a job the designer believes is fitting. -The section on integrity was interesting to me. I have always struggled finding the balance between my own personal stance and client’s needs. He states that by ” having beliefs (creative and ethical), and by questioning what we are asked to do as designer, we can acquire self-respect, and self-respect is the first step on the path to earning the respect of clients and other designers.” No one’s voice should go unheard, however a designer needs to be professional when standing up for their beliefs in order to gain the self-respect. 6) Who is your favorite designer mentioned in this reading & why are they your favorite. Paul Rand- I think he is a good example of how graphic design has changed over the years. His logos and work represent the freedom to effectively create a design without the strict limitations that exist . In a world of uniformity, we have lost a lot of the personality in logotypes and other designs. His logos were capable of the balance between the client’s needs and personal style. TED Talk
a) Were you surprised by the results of the research on motivation? What did you find interesting about this talk? I thought this research on motivation was interesting, focusing on a different approach to success. One part that stood out to me was the way he relates intrinsic and extrinsic factors to the candle experiment, showing the power of incentives. I have always been in a believer in open-minded thinking, therefore this study really struck me. When given rewards, people tend towards a sharp minded approach. When there are no incentives and more freedom, an individual tends to broaden their mind and apply innovative thinking to the task. I think this extremely important especially in classwork and in the workplace. From my internship, I have realized that the projects with the most lowest incentives allowed the art department to brainstorm ideas that would never be brought up if we were under more pressure. It is interesting how a sharp minded vision for a goal can often detract from the creative journey of that actual task at hand. b) How does the candle problem relate to taking on a new design project? The candle problem can represent any design project. For instance, when an individual begins a design project, there are many different pathways to satisfy the requirements. In the candle problem, there are many different ideas people consider before figuring out the solution. If an individual begins the design project by simply focusing on final product (the reward), they will neglect to apply innovative thinking throughout the brainstorming process. This was critical in the candle problem because at first many groups were so focused on winning that they did not even consider using the cup with the tacks. It is important to consider all options and focus on the task at hand, rather than the reward at the finish line. When beginning a new design project, the motivation should stem from purpose rather than reward. Without the pressures and incentives that occur in many companies, an individual has the freedom to think creatively and independently throughout the whole project. |
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