This Thing Called Life

This is my blog used for most academic purposes. Currently it is used for my interactive design class. In the past I have used it for my e-commerce class, photography class, design history class and just design classes in general.

[emilyrosesimpson]

The Best & Worst of Interactive Design

Best - The final project because it made us use outside thinking. We were required to finish this and it really lit a fire under us. We learned a lot about how interactive design works both on screen and off. Learning about anonymity helps us learn about how to deal with people as well. Worse - Informational Interviews. Not because they weren't helpful or important, but because they were inconvenient for those who didn't have means of traveling. It was one of the most important things we had to do over the semester but it was just hard to coordinate schedules and figure out ways to make it happen. Plus, a lot of us are very introverted and it is hard for us to get out of our bubbles to get interviews with people we don't know.

[emilyrosesimpson]

Things to Do as a Designer

top 10 DO take advantage of the design community you are in now (profs, peers…) make things you LIKE networking; LinkIn, Info Interviews, VIsiting Firms understand the importance of designer/client relationship get paid for your work be open to learning new things be intentional about putting your work out in the world do research before a project, gather info and options have an online portfolio  be open to whatever job you can find design a strong identity system for yourself

top 10 DONT procrastinate. stay on top of deadlines and keep projects moving  stop making art be a print-only designer don't be boring, embrace being unique and yourself don't be unsure of your abilities don't be disorganized/cluttered don't let intimidation keep you from pursuing jobs or putting work out there don't get comfortable and stop pushing yourself don't be afraid or unopened to change  don't get stuck on "the ideal" overlook whats available right now

[emilyrosesimpson]

In Class Critique

Things Presented Well: Anne's Airplane - she had posters, a model and examples that were very clear. She also said when and where she was going to set up. When Popsillycles was presented, there were a couple things that were lacking. I didn't say when or what day this was going to happen on. Also, it wasn't clear whether or not this was going to be set up in front of the Billy or in front of Totino. Also, I didn't list some of the smaller details of how this is going to work. Like the fact that I am going to freeze them in Acacia's freezer. I also don't yet know how I am transporting these from the dorms to on campus. Also, I need to let my professor know that I will not be in class that day. Oops. Just so it's clear, this will happen on Monday, May 6th. Right now it is predicted that it will be partly cloudy with a high of 64. Hopefully people will still want popsicles then. Also, I need to figure out how I am going to make this work on social media. I need to set up a twitter account for it. I need to have a clear way of documenting this. That looks like having a tripod and a camera, and also a tripod and a video camera. Then those video files will be uploaded to YouTube. I could ask people what their Twitter handle is to tag them in their specific video or photo. Another idea that was given to me was to have separate buckets for girls and boys and another that was gender neutral. I still need a clear way of determining what or how they will get their silly option. Also, I need to print those on brightly colored paper and fold them up.

[emilyrosesimpson]

[emilyrosesimpson]

Alter Ego Project

[emilyrosesimpson]

Proposal 3

Ok, so after really thinking about this project, I don’t see the empathy in the project. It would definitely have been an interruption to see an image of a well-known person on campus with candles, but I’m just not feeling it anymore.

  My new idea: It’s a barter system – I’ll give them a Popsicle if they will do something silly for me. It could be anything like making a funny face or telling a knock-knock joke. And if they aren’t comfortable with doing anything silly, I’ll just give them a Popsicle. I’m hoping to do this during the last week of classes at NWC. Hopefully it’ll be nice enough outside to eat popsicles. On Mondays and Wednesdays I have 2 breaks between classes where I would be interested in setting this up. I would prefer to do it right outside of the Billy. I would document it with photos.

  Any thoughts?

[emilyrosesimpson]

Proposal 1 Notes

Notes from Today:

Ok, original idea – big image somewhere on campus outside. Someone that NWC community would know. 

Brett says that it should be Benji.

Ben pipes in and says that I should have candles. Laughter. Kjel asks, “Candles?” “It turns into a memorial.” There’s something about a shrine in there. That’s an interesting thing: mourning somebody that isn’t dead. That’s an interruption. #whathappenedtoDrew

Ben says “If you can get an official statement from NorthwesternMN’s Twitter saying that nothing has happened to Drew, you have succeeded.”

Kjel says, “You could be really narcissistic and do it about yourself.”

Mark Twain quote: "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." -Mark Twain (this he wrote after his obituary was mistakenly published.)

Ben apologizes for changing my idea. It’s no problem. Kjel, “You went from boring and bland to actually having energy there for a minute. Don’t stop.” Documentation ideas: photos, interviews, social media tracking, something about a Twitter cloud (which is related to analytics, which could be a job someday. Hey I kinda sorta do that already!).

#whathappenedtoDrew Answer: #nothing

Kjel, “Be careful with it. Go to the edge of getting yourself in trouble, but don’t actually do it. Do it in an empathetic way. Build social awareness somehow. There is power in the idea.”

Talks about scale on a building and how that can be difficult. Says that projection can be a good solution. Would be at nighttime.

[emilyrosesimpson]

Interruption Project

What: There is this idea called “rasterization.” Basically what you do is take an image, blow it up, bitmap it, and put it on a wall somewhere. I’m not sure who I want the picture to be of; I want it to be funny, someone who everyone knows on campus (ex: Drew Shepp, President Cureton, Sarah Nelson etc.)

Who: The audience for this project is the Northwestern community. 

How: I would take an image, blow it up, and late one night I’ll post it, possibly on the wall on the side of Totino? It needs to be somewhere where everyone can see it, and somewhere that I won’t get in trouble for doing it.

When: Still trying to figure this one out.

[emilyrosesimpson]

[emilyrosesimpson]

20ish Connections

Emily Ralph (first informational interview) Liz Points (potential second informational interview) Katie Murphy (speaker from class) Kjellgren Alkire (professor) Linda Ashworth (boss-lady) Dave Preble (boss-man) Michael Gehrke (connection/designer from home) Scott Landwehr (photo teacher from home) Diana Lloyd-Dennis (boss-lady) Jane Schettle (designer from home) Doug Morris (uncle/client) Kirsten Sheveland (client) Rachel Hardacre (connection from NWC) Shanda Steere (roommate/designer) Sue Habighorst (client) Amanda Morris (client) Chris Simpson (client) Katie Carder (designer from home)

[emilyrosesimpson]

In Progress Infographic

[emilyrosesimpson]

Interview with Emily Ralph

On February 6, 2013, I met with Emily Ralph, the graphic designer at Do-All-Printing. She graduated from NWC in 2006 with an ICS major, and went to get her associate’s degree from a technical college. She had started as a graphic design major while at Northwestern, but she said that she wasn’t interested in Advertising, which seemed like the only option with that major. Then at the end of her first year at Hennepin, she was offered a job as a graphic designer at a small print shop called Do All Printing.

When I asked her what the most challenging thing about her work, she said that logos are the most difficult thing to come up with. It’s so much information that has to fit on a business card and still look good on a billboard. This was reassuring to me because I really struggled with coming up with a logo last year in Design II. Also, she said that getting over her personal preferences was difficult. I’ve been making a friend’s wedding invites, so I can totally relate to that. Everyone has their personal taste and idea about what looks the best. On the other hand, Emily said that the most enjoyable part of her job was when she takes a unique idea, and it looks really good in the final output. Also, positive feedback from clients is always really encouraging.

Emily’s responsibilities at her job include setting deadlines for herself, making sure payments are received, communicating with the clients and her co-workers, prepping files for printing and doing the design work for the shop. Her office is located in an old gas station, and it consists of five people. It tends to be a loud, busy and flexible work environment.

I am the type of person who gets burned out easily after designing a lot. So one thing I asked Emily was how she overcomes that. First, she said that physical exercise makes a huge difference. She just works all her frustration out in the gym. Sometimes she just works through it, even if she is not satisfied with the result. Otherwise, if she is stuck on a project, she’ll work on a different project, and then come back with a set of fresh eyes.

Also, I asked Emily what additional educational preparation she would recommend as a graphic designer. She said that taking fine arts classes always helps. Also, she recommended to constantly be exploring design online, and to analyze design in everyday life. Also, she recommended the blog called Fudge Graphics.

And to enter this profession, like most people, Emily recommended making connections and networking. No surprise here! Also, she said to do jobs for people you know, even if it’s just for a portfolio piece. Also, she recommended working for a Minnesota nonprofit organization.

[emilyrosesimpson]

Infographic Layout Idea

[emilyrosesimpson]

Internet Infographic Thesis

Twitter is characterized by it's 140-character "Tweets," and is the second most widely used social media site. -What is Twitter -Who uses Twitter -Types of Twitter users -Twitter activity -Twitter marketing controversy -Twitter and politics -History of Twitter -Is Twitter a waste of time -Networking on Twitter -Some Twitter blunders -Hashtags, mentions & twitter things -Twitter vs. Facebook

[emilyrosesimpson]

Games Mind Map

[emilyrosesimpson]

Will You Give a Facebook Gift?

"Facebook Gifts launched for all users in the U.S. Will you be buying a gift to send to a Facebook friend? Take our poll and tell us your thoughts about Facebook's service."

Heck no, I am not going to buy a gift through Facebook to send to a friend. If I want to buy a gift, I will plan it out, before their birthday and then give it to them in person. And 61% of people polled agreed with me.

[emilyrosesimpson]

Twitter Photo-Filters Maker: We Want to Democratize Creativity

Well, looks like Twitter is going to start competing with Instagram, rather than working hand in hand with it. On one hand, it is really annoying because the sites don't want to work with each other. On the other hand, competition is good and important to making technology better.