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@juliaread
Sketching with #adobedraw #ipadproart #surfart
Check out my newest #AfterEffects animation on Vimeo! A short bio about me that showcases my skills.
Fitness Challenge
I am a certified group fitness instructor for Aquatic Fitness and Pilates and have been teaching fitness for 10 years. Since starting my full time program for New Media, Web Design and Development at BCIT I have found it increasingly hard to incorporate exercise into my busy schedule. I used to teach 8 classes a week, now I only teach 2. With summer coming up, I have become increasingly aware of my need to step it up in the workout department. I have discovered a few ways to include some stretching and exercise into your usual daily routine.
Warm-up with Active Stretching:
Stretching is often overlooked, but it is vital before and after a workout. There are many stretches you can do while remaining seated at your desk. It’s a good idea to start off your day or prepare for a strenuous workout with active stretching. Rather than holding a stretch in the typical manner, your movements will be long and dynamic. It will prepare your muscles for exercise, increase flexibility and decrease your risk of injury.
Remember Your Posture:
Even when you are just sitting at your desk, it is important to be aware of your posture. Using your core and back muscles to maintain a good body alignment will ensure stress is properly distributed to your body. This will allow your muscles to work more efficiently and will decrease the chance of discomfort and injury. Poor posture can be caused by a number of things such as weak core strength or tight muscles.
While sitting at your desk working long hours on your computer try the following tips. Sit with your feet firmly on the floor and your knees and hips bent to 90 degrees. Roll your shoulders down and back so that you feel your shoulder blades come together and move down your back. Use your abdominals to tilt your pelvis forward ensuring that your back is in proper alignment. Avoid hunching forward with a rounded spine. Imagine there is a line from your ears to your shoulders and then your hips.
When I first started my program at BCIT, I noticed that working on my laptop was forcing my posture to be hunched. I purchased a laptop stand that is ergonomically designed to lift the laptop to the appropriate height for me to encourage better posture. Furthermore, to engage my abdominals I like to sit on an exercise ball when I work. It also allows me to stretch out over the ball occasionally. There are lots of chairs, balls and ergonomic devices that help you to achieve better posture, all you have to do is find the right solution for you!
Exercise Intermissions:
Sometimes I like to leave in the middle of a project for a quick workout. It can be as simple as standing up and jogging in the spot for a couple minutes or blasting some music for a quick dance party. Some of my favorite exercises include: squats, lunges, stairs, push-ups, tricep dips, planks and sit-ups. For a list of exercises you can do at work, check out Emily Milam’s blog Deskercise: 33 Ways Exercise at Work.
Cool Down with Static Stretching:
It is always a good idea to cool down your muscles and stretch following a workout. This is especially important after strenuous exercise and cardio. It is not good for your body to go from 0 to 100 and back to 0. This is why warming up and cooling down is so important.
A cool down will gradually allow your heart rate and breathing to lower to a comfortable level. For example, if you were doing a fast run, you should end it off with gradually slowing down into a walk. Cooling down and stretching after working out will decrease the chance of injury and allows your muscles to relax. It will also decrease muscle soreness.
You should hold each stretch for about 20-30 seconds and remember to breath comfortably through your nose and out your mouth. Use smooth and controlled movements and avoid bouncing stretches. You can deepen the stretch after a few seconds, but never to the point of pain. Try to stretch out your whole body paying special attention to the muscle groups you targeted the most during your workout. You can follow along with Fitness Blender’s cool down stretching video if you are unsure what to stretch.
Overall:
If you make fitness a routine part of your day, it will give you more energy in the long run. It is easy to fall off the fitness wagon; we have all been there. The goal is to make exercise a priority. Make time to go for a walk, bike ride, run, swim, fitness class, hit the gym or even just take a 5-minute exercise intermission every time you finish coding a new webpage.
When working out, ensure that you are aware of the proper posture for each movement so that you do not hurt yourself and you get your desired results. Warming up, cooling down and stretching is very important in order to avoid injury and increase flexibility. And now it is time for me to take my own advice and make sure that fitness becomes a regular part of my day again...
My newest upload to #Vimeo - showcasing some of my #AfterEffects skills and my side project #CarveBoardArt http://vimeo.com/99760085
Creative Allies: Slightly Stoopid Contest
I came across a tweet about a merchandise design contest to create a t-shirt for the band Slightly Stoopid. Since I am a big fan of the band, I decided it would be fun to enter for the chance to win cash prize and 2 tickets to their Summer Sessions Tour. It was at this time that I discovered Creative Allies, a community of creatives who enter design contests to make posters and merchandise designs for bands, brands and festivals. I am stoked about the possibility of creating art for Slightly Stoopid and the discovery of Creative Allies contests.
Sean O’Connell, the CEO of marketing and publicity company Music Allies founded Creative Allies. O’Connell explains, “Our goal for Creative Allies is to give artists access to creative opportunities and, by doing so, expose their talents to the world (Creative Allies - About Us).” I think that Creative Allies has achieved that. Creative Allies past and present clients include: Jack Johnson, G Love, the Hangout Music Festival, Justin Timberlake’s label Tennman Records, Hard Rock Café, Cat Empire, Slightly Stoopid, Imagine Dragons, Beastie Boys, Dirty Heads, One Republic, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Brushfire Records, Concerts for the Coast and more! As a result, it is a great place to get your designs discovered. Even if you don’t win the initial contest, your artwork gets exposure. Creative Allies may even choose to use the submissions to create merchandise for their store. If your design is chosen for the Creative Allies official merchandise, profits are shared between the designer and contest holder.
Pictured Above: My Submission to the Slightly Stoopid Merchandise Contest on Creative Allies.
I had a lot of fun designing a graphic for this competition that tied together bright summery colours and a beachy theme with a shark, a blazing octopus and a hot surfer girl. The submission was created in Adobe Illustrator CC, hand drawn with my Wacom Tablet and the Pen Tool. The fonts used were found online for free use but I also emailed the font creators to ensure that I would be allowed to use them for this competition. Although I had a lot of homework to do for my courses at BCIT, I am glad I participated in this contest. With so many great submissions to the contest, I am not likely to win the first prize but the ability to expose my art, the possibility of profit and the discovery of such a cool artistic community made it a great experience. Best of luck to everyone with submissions on Creative Allies!
New Media Storytelling: A History
(Above: Image of my Dad reading a story to my sisters, cousins and I when were were young.)
Storytelling traditions go back to the beginning of humanity and are present in all communities around the world. Since the first cavemen painted images that told their story on a cave wall, storytelling has played a significant role in societies throughout time. As a result, people are hardwired to connect to stories and it makes them useful vehicle for communicating a message and engaging people worldwide. Therefore, stories are a powerful tool for learning, conveying a message and entertaining.
The History of Storytelling is long and varied. For example: in Ancient Egypt hieroglyphics were used to document histories and in Medieval times stories were conveyed in the Bardic or Homeric tradition though the use of song that would enrapture and entertain (Alexander, 2011). Eventually, these oral and artistic traditions were written down to create historical volumes, novels, poetry and plays. With the advent of the printing press, written stories became more prevalent. As technology advanced so did the way that stories were told. Photography, film and television are still a popular medium, but in the modern age computers and mobile devices are increasingly used as mechanisms for storytelling.
Therefore, storytelling has not changed but the technology by which it is disseminated has evolved from cave paintings, body language and oral histories to screens. New Media Storytelling is present all around us in today’s world. Some examples of New Media Storytelling include: blogs, podcasts, books downloaded to your mobile phone, stories shared on social media, videos, twitter conversations, well crafted power point presentations and animations. You may not think that you use storytelling, but in fact you probably do on a daily basis.
Consequently, “as the stories once told around a campfire are now being told with the glow of a computer monitor, we must ensure that new forms of storytelling are as compelling as the old” (Ottler, 2013). This quote by David B. Thornburg highlights the importance of not getting caught up on amazing computer graphics and special effects but rather remember to focus on the storyline and message since this is what people want to connect to.
References:
Ottler, Jason B. Digital Storytelling in the Classroom 2nd Edition: New Media Pathways to Literacy, Learning and Creativity. London: Sage Publications Ltd., 2013.
(Forward by David B. Thornburg).
http://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=jcUFHjESDZUC&oi=fnd&pg=PR1&dq=new+media+storytelling&ots=1DaQDu0Bz_&sig=c6tDXxD3yZc8inknulZLGfR39lg#v=onepage&q=new%20media%20storytelling&f=false
Alexander, Bryan. The New Digital Storytelling: Creating Narratives with New Media. California: Greenwood Publishing, 2011.
http://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=kwi2WavppOUC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=new+media+storytelling+history&ots=KEGnuKywNA&sig=4Kkx6xX82iRryYbex4MtbzXsBnY#v=onepage&q=new%20media%20storytelling%20history&f=false
Logo Design Tips
Logos I have designed:
Above: Carve Board Art Logo
I created a logo that both uses the C shape of the brand name and looks like a snowboard carving into the slope or a surfboard carving the open face of a wave. This logo can be used as simply the carve shape without the rest of the type or with the type included. The Carve shape was drawn in Illustrator with the pen tool. The font used was converted to outlines and manipulated in Illustrator.
Below: Julia Read New Media and Web Design Logo
When signing my initials, I always combine the J and R in this way. To make it more interesting and representative of my identity I included a mountain and wave into the design. It is simple enough to scale with some extra personality included into the design. When I first developed the concept it included a lot of extra colours, details and thin lines but was simplified so it looked good at any size. It was also hand drawn in Illustrator with the pen tool.
Logo Design Tips:
Logo design is an important consideration for any business. In every day life, logos are everywhere and it is hard to come up with an original and timeless concept that will stand out. Consequently, it is important to make a memorable and simple logo that can be recognized at any size, in both colour or black and white.
For designers, Logos are a challenge since you must create a logo that is:
1) Recognizable
2) Memorable
3) Establishes or reinforces a brand identity and ideology
4) Scaleable
5) Simple
6) Recognizable in both a black and white version and a colour version
7) Works on both dark and light backgrounds
8) Attractive
9) Unique
Brainstorming and Sketching:
The first step is to begin to research the client's brand and target demographic. Some businesses will have already created a brand identity style guide. This may limit your logo ideas since you are required to create a cohesive look that follows the established guidelines.
After this, start sketching thumbnails. It is a good idea to talk to the client about what requirements they want for the logo and get feedback on your ideas at an early stage. This will ensure that your ideas align with their branding and message before you spend too much time developing a concept.
Make sure you keep all your sketches for a couple of reasons. First because you may need to show proof that your ideas came from brainstorming and not during a google search for logo ideas. You may have came up with a logo that has a doppelganger somewhere else in the world that you were unaware of. It is important to protect yourself from future legal action by keeping all your sketches. Secondly because there are no bad ideas when you are brainstorming! Those sketches could be a jumping off point for better ideas and you may be able to use them as a resource for future projects.
Remember that sketching means sketching the old fashioned way - with a pen and paper! Although not all designers have the best drawing abilities, it is the fastest way to get your ideas down and move on. They do not need to be very detailed or beautiful as long as you know what they represent. One of the best tips I got in my Illustrator class at BCIT was to create logo sketches with a thick black marker instead of a thin pen or pencil. This would ensure that you were not tempted to create a design that was too intricate with thin lines that would make it hard to recognize when scaled to a small size.
Adobe Illustrator:
Once this is done, it is time to pull out your computer and open Adobe Illustrator. Why Illustrator? Illustrator is a vector based program that allows you to create images that are infinitely scalable. This means if you blow up the logo and put it on a billboard it will not become pixelated or look any different than it would when scaled to the size of a dime. In other words, the quality of the image will remain consistent at any size.
Spend lots of time practicing in Illustrator and becoming comfortable with all the tools available to you. One of the best tools to master for logo design is the pen tool because it offers you the flexibility to create a shape and then tweak it afterwards by manipulating the anchor points.
Typefaces:
If you are creating a logo out of a typeface you have three options. The first is to use an existing typeface that you have the rights to use. The second is to adapt an existing typeface by converting it to outlines in Illustrator and moving the points to create your desired look. The final option is to create your own typeface!
When selecting a typeface consider the following:
1) Do not to create or use a typeface that is too fashionable or overused since you are trying to create a memorable brand and unique identity.
2) Logos should be timeless so it is important to use a typeface that will not go out of style or look dated in a few years.
3) Aim to use a font that is simple and thick enough to use at a small scale.
4) Ensure the typeface matches the brand and follows any established brand styles and typefaces!
5) Consider the use of only typography in the logo.
6) Don't use more than 2 fonts.
7) Legible
K.I.S Principle: Keep It Simple
K.I.S is self explanatory yet often overlooked in logo design. Do not forget to apply simplicity to your design. Try not to overdo it and ensure that you strive for a simple, clean look with a good use of negative space. Though intricate designs can be amazingly beautiful, they are usually not right for logos. After you have finished your design always ask yourself - does this logo need _____? If the answer is no, then simplify! Think about all the most recognizable logos in the world and remember the K.I.S Principle because it works! Don't try to show or do too much.
Some good examples of Simplistic, Recognizable and Memorable Logo Designs:
A couple of good examples where logos have been simplified after a redesign include the following:
Get Feedback on your Design
Once you have finalized your design please get feedback on it from as many people as you can. One google search for logo disasters will make it evident that different people see different things when they look at an image. Sometimes as designers we have blinders on and do not see our own mistakes until it is too late.
The following examples of logo disasters do not need much of an explanation. Yet, there is a lesson to be learned. Before they became a logo a designer and client failed to see what others do when looking at the design. It can't hurt to show your design to a few people to ensure that it cannot be misinterpreted in an unintended way...
AVOID becoming another Logo Disaster!
In Conclusion:
There are tons of logo resources online and in books that can help you hone your logo design skills. I have only touched upon the basics of logo design that I have learned during my studies in the BCIT New Media and Web Design program. Follow these guidelines and educate yourself by looking at the many other resources available. Think outside the box! Some of the most memorable brands and logos have names and images that don't necessarily go with their products. For example, Penguin Books and Apple Computers.
Overall, try to create something simple, scaleable, functional and memorable. Have fun designing!
Chilling at #bcit with my homies between classes. #vancity #hellosummer
After Effects - Pug Lovin'
Pug Lovin' (pictured above) is a screenshot from my second attempt at animating in After Effects. It was produced for BCIT's New Media and Web Design program in Burnaby, B.C. When I entered this program I was excited about possibly learning some Animation techniques. It is something that I have always wanted to know how to do. Now in my 3rd semester of the program we are beginning to learn Adobe After Effects. Here are my first thoughts.
Though it still takes me days to complete a few seconds of one of my weekly assignments, I find myself really enjoying After Effects. Every class we have I think to myself - oh man, I wish I knew that last week before I key framed everything by hand instead of using some awesome tool. Because of this, it feels like it will take me a very long time to know everything that After Effects can do.
My one complaint is the fact that cutting a piece to sound is a bit of a chore. Why is it that After Effects will only playback once it has rendered - through the RAM Preview? It also seems to crash my friends computers a lot, though I am lucky enough to be on a New Macbook Pro. I am beginning to realize why I was told I would need to upgrade from my 3 year old Macbook Pro when I enrolled for this program.
Now I just need to learn how to more effectively use the pin tool so that it doesn't look like my pugs have broken legs made of noodles...
Created as a student project for BCIT New Media and Web Design. Intended to portray what it is like living with a panic disorder and to show the difference between…
ROBOTS OR DINOSAURS?
Robots! Technology is awesome.
Filmmaking is fun! #indiefilm #lovemygh3 #bashocafe
Making a short film! #indiefilm #lovemygh3
Beautiful day in Vancouver #kits
My Hitler info-graphic depicting the groups targeted for extermination from 1939-1945 is beginning to come together in Photoshop! #infographic #photoshop
May have been a little bit optimistic in my footwear choice for the day. It's sunny but my toes are cold. #flipflops
Bottle design and logo for my fictional dream surf hotel. #logodesign #packagedesign #irienightssurfcabanas