The Sweet Sound of Silence

Ah, the sweet sound of silence.  Never have I appreciated it more than now.  As I sit working, adding the final touches to my first book, next to a sun-filled window I am enjoying a cool and gentle November breeze as it blows in from time to time crossing my bare feet and arms.  In the distance I hear the soothing song of some birds along with the tinkling of a chime and I think to myself, "It just doesn't get much better than this."

Hey Ma! Look at Me I'm a Writer!

So, I'm discovering as a Graphic Design student that even when our courses seem to have little to nothing to do with design our professors try to have us incorporate our design skills into our projects.  This is the case with my Typography class.

We've been asked to conceptualize, write, design, and layout a book of an alphabet of sorts; have it printed and bound for our mid-term project.  There have been several check in sessions so far and I'm really amazed at the concepts being thought up and executed.

My concept in a typographical alphabet delivered in the style of a reference book done in the style of a periodic table.  I am totally diggin' this experience.  I am really having fun.  Today is the day that I am working on the final adjustments and getting my product over to the print/bind shop for completion.  I can't wait to see the finished product.  I'll share pics when I get it back.  For now here's a snapshot of the cover.

Until my next post...keep creating....and having fun!

The Addiction of Creation

I believe this is the first time I am checking in for the Fall semester.  I accepted a (non-design) position two days before the semester started and my schedule has been busy, busy, busy.  Originally I envisioned myself being joyfully unemployed and had scheduled five classes for the semester.  I have since dropped two of the classes in order to have breathing room (which I now have a bit).  So, hello.

I've been assigned the task of created a book.  That's right, a real live book, from copy, to style, to binding, to printing....the whole shabang.

I decided to begin at the end first.  So, I've been online, on the phone and in person visiting w/ printers, binderies and paper distributors.  There is so much to know.  I've allowed the available materials and the talents of others to dictate (only just a bit) which way my content will flow.  Now, I am ready to begin execution of my concept.

I'm in the midst of laying out page one in InDesign and am getting more and more excited by the minute.  I cannot wait to see the final project.

I'll keep you posted.

the end of summer

summer is definitely over.  the fall semester started a couple of weeks ago, days after i moved.  it's been a difficult transition.

seems my coursework is a bit more academic this semester.  lots of reading.  LOTS!

off to crack spines (of books that is).

keep creating.

press check

i got invited along by mr. d on my first press check.  i had no idea what this meant initially.  i was just happy to be invited along to a meeting...another level of learning the design business.  for anyone who may not know (like me); a press check, as i now understand it, is performed by designers at the actual press (in this case we met w/ jimmy seiford at signature media during a live print job.  jimmy was fantastic.  he took the time to give me, the summer intern, a tour of the whole facility - explaining each piece of equipment and its process along the way.  what a wealth of knowledge he was/is.  he told me he had been in the print business since 1967.  did i say he was fantastic?

anyway, our primary purpose for performing a press check was to grant the printer our approval to run the full print job (tens of thousands of copies of a 12-page brochure).  the way mr. d explained it to me was we were there to verify the quality of the print job in process.  we checked our original images against the printed ones looking for any discrepancies in color.  we were also there to look for any flaws that may appear in the paper.  jimmy held our hand as we took loupe in hand and reviewed selected sheets.  there were very few small adjustments that were to be made.  mr. d his approval whole-heartedly trusting jimmy's team to deliver a  flawless end product.

on the drive back to the office we discussed different aspects of print preparation and of the process of ordering and we both agreed how critical it was to seek stellar people who can support and execute your vision successfully.  it was a good trip.  i am looking forward to tomorrow's adventure.  i'll keep you posted.  until then...keep creating.  

spare change

Just wrapped-up my third week as a summer intern at Douthit Design Group and I am hanging in there.  And so far I've been invited to work on two logo redesigns for two different clients.  Four of the logos I designed for the first client were even submitted to the client.  And the second redesign is still in the works.  I really can't believe it...I am actually in the game.  Unbelievable, I'm doing it and it feels good.

This past week the firm was asked to participate in the Ad2 Houston's Bowl Your Ads Off! Bowl-a-thon Fundraiser's Art Pin Auction.  Different firms around Houston were given a bowling pin and asked to design it for the auction.  The proceeds go toward design scholarships being offered to up and coming design students by the AAF-Houston.

Dwight Douthit brought our pin in and asked for help as his schedule was extraordinarily full.  I practically jumped out of my chair begging...and he willingly handed over the project.  A few of us sat down together to hear Dwight's concept of Spare Change.  He envisioned change attached to the pin.  All of us began to brainstorm how this would look.  It was so much fun.  Ideas were flowing left and right.  Steven Chrisman had the best idea...loose change "tossed" as in a change dish, totally random.  As we all chatted Dwight absent-mindedly played with the change on the conference room table.  A gradient pattern developed.  This pattern was to be incorporated into the design on the pin.  There it was.  It was genius!  I was to be the hands of the project.

I began feverishly adhering coins to this pin making sure to arrange the coins in a non-intentional pattern.  The curves of the pin and the inflexibility of the coins dictating my every move.  The first day I worked at this pace for three hours barely getting the foundation laid.  The second day another six.  It was amazing.  Extreme patience was required.  From time to time the guys would stop by and offer comments, design tales and encouragement.  Eventually the pin was done.

Dwight delivered our pin to Ad2 Houston and attended the auction this past weekend appropriate held at Palace Bowling.  Needless to say I was on "pins" and needles waiting to hear what had become of our group project.  I received an email yesterday updating me as to the fate of our baby.  Our pin had auctioned for the highest bid of the night!!!  Our little pin received over double the next pin's booty.  Crazy!  Our labor of love (for design), our meeting of the minds had been a success!  Fabulous news!

I am still smiling as I write this.  Check it out!  Isn't it fun?

my first week as an intern

So I've made it through my first week interning as a Junior Designer at one of the top 25 firms in the city.  Wow.  I believe I am already addicted to being a creative for a living.  It took me a long time to embrace this part of myself but I am finally here and loving it.

When the owner of the firm (whom I'll call Mr. D. for the purposes of this blog) and I met to discuss the particulars of the internship he informed me there would be a delay w/ my start date due to his upcoming business travel.  Before he left, and after prodding, he gave me an assignment.  He asked that I work on a logo re-design for a client.

I don't believe he expected me to come up w/ anything as he was quite surprised when I showed up on my first day w/ over a dozen options for his review.  He actually liked a couple of the logos I created.  After making some suggestions, giving me the client's color choices and he asked me to rework these and bring them back.  I did.  And after only two revisions, he said he would like to submit four of my logos to the client on what he calls "Round 2".  He asked me to prepare PDF's so that he could send them over right away.

I don't think I even care whether one of my logos are chosen or not.  I just so super excited (and flattered) to be included in the game.  I'm actually a player.  Unbelievable.  None-the-less, I will keep everyone posted as to the outcome.

Now I'm off to play and see what kind of cool things I can create w/o limitations.

Keep creating!

the beginning

Ok...here's the background story.  I have been an executive assistant for years and I've worked for individuals, mom-and-pops, boutique firms, start-ups and big oil.  Just a few years ago it started getting old; really old.  I was feeling trapped.  Serving others was no longer serving me.  I even started my own business thinking this was a solution.  It was not.


To make ends meet I began working for different employment agencies as a "temp" while still working on my own company.  Ultimately the business failed and I was back working as an assistant full-time.  At first I had a feeling of gratitude for any assignment the agencies provided.  But my enthusiasm began to wane when on assignment my skills were not being utilized.  I was simply filling a chair (and watching a clock).  Argh!  How frustrating.


Once the recession began, the market became flooded w/ overly qualified applicants and corporations began seeking degreed individuals (which I was not) to fill positions that typically required no formal education.  This trend found its way into the temporary market as well.  Thinking about returning to school and taking classes in Secretarial 101 seemed futile (and insulting).  Strangely the thought of school would not leave me. 


About this time I received a blessing in disguise; I was hired to assist an individual on a part-time basis.  I accepted the position (and grossly reduced pay) w/ faith.  As I no longer could afford my customary luxuries, I spent my new found abundance of time just "being".  I walked a lot, me and my little dog.  I took my camera with me and took pictures of odd and interesting things.  I met new friends.  I got to know the neighborhood homeless people by name and helped out whenever I could.  I rode my bike.  I went to museums and parks.  I even treated myself to a movie from time to time.


Then one day it dawned on me that I could spend this time at school, learning something more.  If only I had the money.  Hmmmmm......money.  After years self-sufficiency it was alien for me to think of doing what all young students do and apply for financing.  Duh!


I started last summer by enrolling and taking the mandatory "get acquainted w/ college" class and paid out of my pocket until I found out whether I had been approved by FAFSA or not for a grant/loan/whatever.


That first class at our local community college was startling and amazing.  I realized that I am a lot older than I thought I was...or the kids are a lot younger.  Who knows?  Then I learned that everyone...EVERY ONE...has something to give to one another.  Those kids in that class taught me how brilliant kids are today and how accepting they are as well.  It was an amazing experience even though I had no idea what I would major in yet.


One of our class assignments was to pick a major.  I panicked.  At 44 I still did not know what I wanted to be when I grew up.  How embarrassing.  I began to comb the course catalog for degree plans that interested me but I didn't feel interested in anything.  Oh no! What to do?  What to do?  I knew that I wanted something different but what?  Something creative.  Yes!  Something creative.  


As I looked through the catalog I thought film making...yes, that's good.  I wouldn't have to be a Speilberg or a Scorsese to make a decent living.  I could film web-mercials or PSA's and stay local.  It sounded good to me until I began talking w/ my sister.  She happened to be studying graphic design at another local college.  The classes she talked about sounded so fascinating.  And the more we spoke the more I realized she was so much more of a film buff than I was.  If I've heard the story about her first trip to the cinema once, I've heard at least ten-million times.  


I suggested a major switch or a switch of majors (either is apropos).  And a light went off for both of us.  The rest is history.  But its not quite yet; it is present day and here we are.


My new boss turned out to be super flexible and accommodating as long as I met my hours each week (which I did).  He was so supportive (a closet creative, one suspects).  We made it through my first year together juggling schedules.  And then just before the spring semester was over I quit work and became a full-time student no longer afraid to embrace my education whole-heartedly. To achieve this, I've moved to the burbs w/ my super generous and supportive oldest sister.


Now here we are in summer and I've landed an internship at a well established, well respected design firm.  Amazing!  I am super excited.  This whole year has been like this.  Everything has simply fallen into place without any help from me.  Confidently I rest in the wisdom that this is my path and I walk it gratefully.