awesome links

more advice and then some..

(Side note: That's Matt Klimas's hand writing; not a typeface.)

Also, I thought it was a good idea to let you know how to figure out your dimensions when matting your work. Usually you mat your printed work so that there are two inches of space on top, on the sides, and three inches on the bottom. I usually draw myself a diagram before I go to Plaza or where ever to buy and have my mat board trimmed. So yea, check out this diagram:

More teacher advice

Haha. I agree, but I have to add that you ought to know the some of the rules first, just so you know that you are breaking them. And when you're at that point, you know how you want to break them.

Also, naps are good. But full night's rests are even better. Make sure to plan for yourself, think about your projects in terms of work weeks instead of work days. It's all about time management really.

From a teacher's point of view

So. One of my teachers wrote me an email, and here's some of her advice to the graphic design students:

1. Unplug yourself. It's hard to learn with your head in your laptop while the rest of the class is engaged in discussion.

2. Participate in critiques and ALWAYS show something. Hang up your work as soon as you get in.

3. Work on good craftsmanship from the beginning, this is very important to your final portfolio and is a good habit to get into from the beginning. Buy a box of sharp x-acto blades on day one.

4. Ask Questions!

5. Manage your time well and try to never turn in things late.

6. Read as much as you can.

7. Always work from a concept and the details of the work will fall into place.

If you had to give one piece of advice to a student just getting into the gdes program, what would it be?

So I took another poll today in my first two classes. And i think it's funny when you ask a student to answer this question, they can start writing right away. Then you ask a teacher and they look at you, intrigued with many things gears turning in their minds, and they say, "Hmm. I'll email you." Well, here are a few more answers from the junior class.

Survey says

I wonder if this image is bigger when you click on it. But anyway I took a poll on a random number of student in my classes today and here's what they said.

Some of these I agree with, some I can't relate (like the double major), and some I think need a little more explanation. Even though it is necessary to have a mac for gdes, I know someone who had a pc (but certainly had the adobe programs) for the first 2 semesters who did great work.

As for mind maps; I never thought stuff like that was important. Even in AFO and the last school I transfered from, I thought of my sketch book as a book for sketches. Meaning: that it was just a book to draw pictures and practice your perspective drawings. Your sketchbooks are like the origin of your projects so you should use it to it's potential. Seriously, if you have an idea, no matter how dumb you think it is, just write it down somewhere where you'll see it again later. The way I work with mind maps and other process work is, I have an idea and i write it down and then that idea triggers another idea thats just as good or even better, and then that idea spurs another, and so on and so on til I'm satisfied on my topic for, say, my next project. It'll exercise your creativity and keep a record of your ideas and plans. Also, it makes for a great conversation piece.

And using your hands is something I agree with. Only recently I've gotten back to drawing things by hand. Granted, I scan them into my computer to manipulate them on photoshop and illustrator. But. There is this personal quality when you use your hands to make something, like a drawing, or something handwritten, or sewn, or crafted. It's very enriching to know you've done something physically to progress into your project.

As for thinking about your portfolio. Yea, portfolio reviews are stressful. So, once you finish a project and there are still more things you want to fix to make it better for review, either do it then and there or make a record of what changes you want to make. Just write a note like, "change the color from blue to light blue, move the title to align with text" and store it with the project so when its time for review, you'll know how to manage. With all honesty, I don't do that. But now that I'm writing it, I think I will and I'm glad I came to that conclusion. See, ideas bring you to better ideas.

"Why is EVERYTHING due on the same date?!"

I don't know where to begin. But I will anyway. In the beginning of my gdes experience, I took each assignment on a day to day basis. For example, homework due on Thursday, I would do Wednesday night, and homework due on Monday, I would do Sunday night. Just like in high school, I wouldn't think about the assignment til the night before.

Bad idea.

One time crunch after another, I've realized that I can't simply isolate when it is design time and when it isn't. Design time is all the time. Which doesn't have to be a bad thing, you and I chose graphic design because we love it and we've got to embrace it. And so, time management is essential. Instead of work days, consider work weeks or work months. Example: "This week I have to finish my book so next week I can go out and have it bound." That's a little drastic, but sometimes gdes is drastic especially when you realize that you had procrastinated on two or three projects that are all due on the same due date...which is tomorrow. Managing time and putting in a certain amount of work on a consistent basis is so ideal, but if you do it, your sleeping pattern will thank you.