Interactive Empathy

Interactive Media Management Student at Centennial College | Knowledge is power, Experience is fuel

[krysgayle]

The Purge

his moment is a purge -- rid (someone) of an unwanted feeling, memory, or condition, typically giving a sense of cathartic release.

In my previous posts, I've talked about my professional development while lightly touching on the personal. Some cookies included strengthening my confidence and putting more emphasis on self care. Without turning this into a therapy session, i believe my hesitation to perform contradicts by desire to excel and I believe this stems from the lot of negativity I experienced growing up.

Putting yourself out there through networking, lead generation is positioning your business asa service for those who may not usually come across your business. its seeking opportunity and

[krysgayle]

Dealing with ‘boring’: The Attitude Check

It's not boring, it's part of the job.

For the past few weeks, I've been sitting at my desk, research, sending emails, writing, and repeat - did I mention research? I find it difficult to stay motivated and maintain my focus. This isn't the most exciting part of being a producer, but it is a necessary evil. I usually meet up with a girlfriend after work and we chat about life and careers. She is an account coordinator for an Ad agency - similar to producing, her job is to manage projects, and manage expectations.

After venting for a while, we discovered that it's not the task, it's our attitude that makes it draining. Job's aren't fairytales - it's not always

[krysgayle]

The Evaluation

This week, the other interns and myself went through a performance evaluation. This was both nerve-racking and exciting. I’ve always looked forward to evaluations because they serve as a benchmark of my work to this moment. It also gives me an objective perspective of my performance.  Usually, our performance may not match our perception of our work. Through this evaluation I discovered three things about my performance. 

First, while I am ready and willing to take on any task, I lack professional confidence in my ability to execute. Now, I’ve mentioned this before, and it feels like an ongoing battle until I am able to shed my fear of failure. As a junior producer in-the-making, it is my task to manage the creative team and my own tasks. I am often caught up on the fact that I am not an expert which produces a lot of hesitation. 

Second, because of the learning curve I am not the most efficient or effective delegating my time. When learning about a new industry, the best approach would be just to throw yourself in and perform by trial and error. While this is ideal for most, as a critical over-thinker, I can focus too much on perfecting my research with the task dwindling at the back of my mind. As you can imagine, this is time consuming and not so productive for the company overall. 

Third, my task motivation fluctuates which may inherently be a fault in my self discipline. Typically, with new tasks, I sprint through the beginning phase until I burnout mid-way.  Typically, I will take a break and then sprint through and burnout again. While this type of behaviour doesn’t sound terrible, it is. It lacks consistency and it isn’t as productive as it sounds. This is also physically draining. As a producer, sometimes I’m faced with mundane tasks. Call it a hazard of the job, nevertheless, I need to manage my ability to manage tasks. 

I have to shed the habits of my student life. Late nights, early mornings, skipped meals and tons of caffeine is not healthy for the body and it's not healthy for the mind. Today's work culture is enforced by the drive for success. The conversation centers on sacrifices for the greater good. My interpretation is to put your physical needs at the bottom of the totem pole forgetting that at the centre of everything is my physical needs - Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a perfect reference. 

We must satisfy our basic physical needs before we can satisfy anything else. By the end of my evaluation, I gave myself a reality check. I’m so used to the student life - 22 years of putting my education first - now I need to take care of my body in order to perform the way I want to perform. MY body isn’t as resilient and it’s showing through my performance. Everyone has different needs, of course, so it’s important to listen to your body.  I need to find balance. 

[krysgayle]

Establishing your digital presence with personal habits

A well thought out social media strategy today can make the difference for a small business seeking space in the marketplace. The trope of making your entrepreneurial ventures personal is actually critical to take off. This isn't just about taking work home with you. This involves utilizing your network, and making your business interests your personal interests. There are two major goals of implementing a digital strategy: establishing yourself as a thought leader and building a community. Let's talk about why and how it will shape your personal habits.  

Establishing yourself as a thought leader --

Viewers are interested in new perspectives. Talking with our digital strategist, he always mentions "connecting the dots" for readers where connections have never existed. Establishing your organization as a thought leader is a large part of adding value to your reputation. One of my tasks involve scouting blog topics for our weekly blog posts. This can actually be very challenging for me. Finding the balance between current and unique means thinking outside of the box. I've also noticed that this can be a time-sensitive task. You have to keep up with news and events. But the issue is time - do you have the time to prowl my media channels? The turn around on establishing these conversations needs to be quick in order to stay relevant. For example, after the launch of Pokemon Go, everybody and their mothers, were chiming in on the conversation. After about a week (and it hadn't been released in Canada yet), the conversation began to dim. If your turn around for a blog post is a week, it is more likely your voice will be irrelevant by the time you post. Solution? Business interests = Personal interests. If you're short on time, which most businesses in the development phase are, then make your business interests your personal interests. It sounds time consuming but it is effective. If you don't have the funds to hire additional support, like someone dedicated to your content/digital strategy, then take that commuter time to scout trending topics. (Maybe this is why they suggest your business ventures should align with personal passions). Furthermore, I'm so used to academic writing, and blogs are meant to reflect the personality of the writer. My biggest challenge is finding my written voice, which means it takes a lot longer for me to write something I am satisfied with. Nevertheless, no hope lost, I think this will come with experience and practice.

Building a community --

Building a community of followers is a quantitative way to measure your exposure and thought leadership. This is also a gateway to expanding your business. This week, we are rounding up for first call for submission to fill our game writer vacancy. By utilizing our networks, I've noticed an increase in interest in the position since we first published the opportunity. I've also noticed that when a small business is starting to build a community, your existing personal networks are critical to get the ball rolling. Lesson: It is always necessary to establish your personal networks regardless of where you are in your career - you never know when they'll be useful. Because it's not about what you know, but who you know. Someone's gotta share your content as you establish your reputation.

Establishing your business in a market without bounds means the possibilities are endless. It can be overwhelming but it's possible. Last note, progress can be slow -- celebrate the little successes and pay attention to your analytics as they'll tell you what works and what doesn't.

[krysgayle]

The Life of Producing ...

Now, I’ve discussed this before - I’m referring to the distance between the classroom and real life.  In my new adventures working towards becoming a junior producer, I expected a learning curve. The two project management courses required primed me for what felt like a very administrative role. It would consist of managing and maintaining project “change.”  So far, my day to day is full of emails, and research.  My activities this week were primarily research. I’ve begun looking into funding available for interactive projects in Ontario.  #FunFact: There are tons of funding opportunities for content producers in the digital domain. It was also nice because our Business Strategy course involved researching and interviewing with these funding bodies. I interviewed with the OMDC (Ontario Media Development Corporation). They seek to support content creators with products that will contribute to the cultural industry as well as, the economic development of Ontario. While I’m not quite seasoned enough to handle some of the other more higher profile tasks, I am managing our IP projects as part of my responsibilities. It forces me to take the lead and step out of my comfort zone. However, there hasn’t been a ton of related activity. Since these projects are new, it is so interesting to be able to capture the process from ideation all the way through.  I am involved with the pitch process but find that my hand is further from the creative decisions than I anticipated.  Furthermore, my prioritized roles and responsibilities are subject to the state of our business affairs. Since we are in the business development phases, I am also acquiring entrepreneurial experience by overseeing how a company takes itself to the market for new business.  While this isn’t the most creative work, it is engaging and I am fascinated by the strategies implemented. I look forward to seeing how the efforts convert to numbers.

[krysgayle]

What’s the Job? It depends...

This marks the first week that I will be working towards a career as a junior digital producer. This journey is a work in progress due to my lack of experience. My main task will be managing the IP projects as well as working along side the producer to assist in business development.  Our IP focus is game development.  Although I’ve never pictured myself in the game industry, I enjoy the storytelling, strategy and layers of design that contribute to the final product.  That being said, this was my first crack at writing and pitching a game concept of my own.  At the beginning of the week, I had my first group meeting with a creative brainstorm. In this meeting we pitched our ideas and provided feedback on the proposed ideas.  I love the ideation process.  However, pitching an idea is not as simple as it seems.  There are so many ways to marry story and game; it was difficult to find the appropriate pairing without scope creep. In my role, I am responsible for meeting preparation, and maintaining the progress of new projects.  I handle meeting agendas, and I follow up with the team prior to the meeting to ensure proposals are reviewed with feedback from the entire team.  We are also seeking collaborators for this project. So, this week I had to draft our call for writers who are interested in sci-fi and horror to collaborate on our new adventure game projects. I also have a hand in content creation, I draft web copy for our new website redesign, social media, blog posts centered on thought leadership in addition to pitch and design documents. Although I didn’t anticipate this much writing in the role, I’m grateful for all the writing assignments during the year that kept me in practice. Another big task on my plate this week is coordinating our demo reel video shoot. I was very thankful for our Videography course, which prepared me for the essential planning elements.

 The lesson of this week is that every organization has their style. All of the tasks I am presented with are tasks that I initially felt comfortable tackling based on my training.  However, the tone and voice of every organization varies, and as content strategy dictates, communications should reflect your identity.  When presented with tasks, I completed them according to the way I was taught. Hwoeber when I sent them for review, I received a lot of feedback that often required me to re-do the task.  For example, document set-ups and formats also vary based on personal preferences.  So instead of just jumping into tasks, I have to take my time to learn the unique differences that are true to their preferences. While it takes me a little longer to complete tasks, it’s important that I ask as many questions as possible up front in order to complete the task accordingly.   All in all, I can’t help but hear the echo of the industry whispering “it depends.”   As haunting as those words are it reminds me that the industry is evolving and as a producer, you have to stay flexible. Especially moving from organization to organization, every thing has a different style and different constraints. It’s my job to learn and adapt.

[krysgayle]

Finding Focus in your Experiences

This marks the end of my first week full time in my internship with Embreate. In fact, I began dropping in every now and then in the beginning of May to familiarize myself with the team and operations. As a smaller agency, I find that I am not micromanaged with tasks and it forces me to be accountable for myself. So far, I have had a range of tasks. For the fact that I was interested in more of a project management role, I work closely with Alison, the producer. Embreate, as a digital agency, is focused on developing their business this summer, and so while I’ll be working on client projects, I’ll also have the chance to see how a company brands, and markets itself to acquire new clients. That being said, I’m very excited about having a hand in both the creative and the business aspects of an upcoming digital agency.

This week I have had the opportunity to exercise a few practices I’ve learned over the past eight months including drafting a social media strategy, light consultation on the new web design direction from a UX perspective, in addition to the definition phase of a project.  This week we also had our first team meeting with everyone involved. It was a creative meeting to brainstorm some skunkworks ideas for games that we would develop for the company’s portfolio. Interestingly, I was presented the task to brainstorm some game ideas to pitch at the next meeting. Although I am not as experienced with game development as the other members of the team, I am excited to dive in and be creative.

 One thing that I do realize is that I often think without limits and while this is great in the brainstorm session, the availability of resources will conflict with those ideas. I first noticed this about myself when we had our initial conversations about the new website design. Overall, I appreciate this “reality check.” Reminiscent of the triple constraint we learned in project management, this is a very real scenario of how the scope of work can be affected by the cost and resources available (i.e. humans and time.)

 Fast forward //

At the end of the week, Alison, Scott and I sat down to have a conversation about my focus over the next few months. Aiming to ensure that we all benefit from my experience over the next few months, we fell into two streams that not only fit the needs of the company but also fit my needs as well. Would I be more of a digital media specialist, or work towards becoming a junior digital producer? It was difficult making the decision on the spot and so I chose to take the weekend to review my options based on what my ultimate goal was.  I initially thought that the experience alone would help me find my focus. But, after this meeting, I think it’s important to choose a goal and work towards that. I’m always afraid of limiting myself but much like my ideation process it doesn’t hurt to evaluate the resources I have available to make that happen (i.e. time).  I’m confident that with this focus I will be beyond satisfied with my experience.

[krysgayle]

Squarespace vs. Wix vs. WordPress: Which is the lesser of all evils?

For the past few months I have been curating my work and building my portfolio. Like many interactive media professionals are advised, having one digitally is an automatic assumption.  With little experience coding for the web, I was exposed to three platforms that on the surface appeared to be viable options – WordPress, Squarespace and Wix. This post will be centered on my experience and experimentation with all three platforms while trying to create my web portfolio.

First, let me define my needs. As a graphic designer, passionate about UX design and storytelling, my portfolio was going to be diverse. I wanted something that said “Digital Consultant” yet still highlighted my skills. I wanted something clean, simple, and visually intriguing.  But, I also wanted something that embraced the art of storytelling.  I needed something user friendly. I didn’t want to spend most of my time figuring out how to use the platform when I should be designing my site. I wanted something with beautiful templates that are both customizable and responsive to multiple devices. I wanted a platform that supported me in the middle of the night when I’m trying to figure out why my site is broken. Above all, as a student, “ballin’ on a student budget,” I needed something affordable.  As a result, my experience and ultimate decision was based on these four criteria: ease of use, template design, customer support and cost. 

Ease of Use and Design

I have been trained in WordPress.org and so I naturally thought that this would be the platform to host my portfolio. I had already installed the software on my computer and had a rough portfolio etched out from class assignments.  For the most part, it was user friendly, and offered a ton of plugins to play with. I was comfortable with the platform and there were so many free and paid templates to choose from. But then the templates… In WordPress, templates are called themes. WordPress themes have a way of looking like “WordPress themes.” As a platform used by many Fortune 500 companies, it is not necessarily an insult, but I wanted a more authentic look that represents who I am. So this meant I would need to customize my code to truly feel authentic. However, the process is an investment and is ideal for someone who is fluent in HTML, CSS and Javascript, at the least.  Moreover, not all themes were responsive or responded to customized code. To add to that, if the creator updated a theme and you updated the theme on your platform, you’re site could potentially break.  

Feeling unsure about my platform selection, some collegues recommended I check out Wix and Squarespace.  Starting with Wix, I loved the fact that I had so many templates to choose from.  What I didn’t love was my inability to change templates once selected, if I wanted to. Content was not transferable and there was no way to apply customized CSS. Furthermore, while Wix has an easy-to-use mobile editor, none of the templates are made mobile ready.  In the end, I felt overwhelmed by Wix’s interface, and I found the workspace too limiting for what I had envisioned.

 In contrast, Squarespace offered far less selection with their templates. However, these templates were beautifully designed with rich features and mobile ready. In additional, I can apply custom CSS to any design.  The imagery, font styles and layouts were clean and simple yet bold.  And, I loved how uncluttered the workspace appeared.

 In regards to blogging, WordPress and Squarespace are equipped with great content management systems.  Having used both, I feel they are both easy to use.  While WordPress offers more features in their CMS, the overall experience was comparable.

 Cost

 For WordPress, hosting was not included and so that would be the only cost I would have to incur. On the other hand, Squarespace and Wix offered packages that included hosting and I found their prices to be quite competitive and economical. Wix also offers a free version aside from four paid packages, which are discounted on a yearly plan.  Note that Wix’s free for a lifetime service includes displaying a permanent ad and use of their subdomain. While Squarespace has no free plans, you can use it for 14 days free of charge.  With plans starting at $7/month, the choice rested solely on the type of website.  

 Customer Support

 In terms of customer support, all platforms have been praised for their assistance.  In my experience, I noticed differences that ultimately made me feel differently. With WordPress, they have a great online community for support but I found the support on particular themes to vary depending on age and popularity.  This is a pain point especially after committing hours to customizing a theme you may not be able to work with in the end. Offering premium help, Squarespace support includes tutorials, live chat and email support – it’s just unfortunate that it is difficult to find help when you’re in your workspace. By far, the Wix support is friendlier to its audience with their built-in help engine on each editable element in the control panel.  In addition to that they are equipped with videos, how to articles and a community forum.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.

I chose Squarespace. While I could have saved a couple dollars monthly with Wix or WordPress, I found that Squarespace had the most well-rounded user experience while satisfying my needs.  I felt inspired, supported, and relaxed (for the most part) using their interface.  I also felt great about the end result.  When choosing the right platform for you, first assess your needs, do your research and then experiment. All platforms offer a trial period – take advantage! (FYI: Try one trial at a time lol).

BTW - My portfolio – coming soon!

[krysgayle]

Why Creatives miss Funding Opportunities in Canadian Media

The beautiful thing about media in the Canadian economic landscape is the incentives that exist for small businesses and entrepreneurs to emerge producing Canadian content.   Billions in funding, grants and tax credits exist for the sole purpose of relieving the financial burden creators feel when planning their projects.  However, very few actually access these opportunities because they overlook the most critical piece of their application – their budget.  Finances are often overlooked or handled once money has already been spent but with good planning and the appropriate management, the burden could in fact become a blessing.  According to representatives at the OMDC(Ontario Media Development Corporation), the part of projects that need the most work is often the budget. Without a properly structured and accurate budget, it is difficult to first, determine how much funding to grant a project, and second, to hold them accountable.  There is no shortage of passionate creatives trying to bring their ideas to life, but money keeps a project alive.  Financiers need to understand the projected flow of funds in order to approve applications.

Check out Canada Business Ontario for more information on the various grants, and contributions available for Arts and Media. 

On an operational level, creative projects are notorious for running out of money when no one is assigned to be accountable to the budget.  As a result, costs incur, and spending is unmanaged until it is time to gather the receipts and find out where all the money went. Now this is a mistake we all will probably make, especially if mathematics is not our forte. As a freelancer and an aspiring digital project manager, bookkeeping including the management of invoices, and tracking of expenses, is critical to my overall success.  

Now, I speak about the importance of bookkeeping not to discourage those who fearful of accounting. As a matter of fact, I was introduced to a few cloud-based bookkeeping software applications that actually eased my own reservations. Whether you are a freelancer, or small business, there are solutions that take the novice and equip them with the necessary tips and tools to stay on top of their books. For freelancers with a lean budget, I suggest Wave Accounting.  Simple, and easy to use, the pleasant interface provided the right tools to keep me in tune with my income and expenses. Wave is best for simple procedures like invoicing, payroll and payment processing. Plus, the basic package is free! For those with a little more experience and room in their budget, Freshbooks and Quickbooks are viable solutions with a broader range of integration with eCommerce and, a few more features including time tracking, point-of-sale, and inventory management.

As a planner, it is important to assess the needs of every project. While “accountant” may not formally be in your job title or even in the description, it’s an implication. Bookkeeping is important even before you have money to spend.  (Disclaimer: This does not mean you should eliminate the job of the accountant totally. They are not there to manage your budget; they are there to ensure your accounts are in order. Are your accounts balanced? Are your papers in order? Taxes ready to be filed?) And to be frank, you wont be an expert. Have an accountant on speed dial to ask the tough questions. What about HST and hiring in different provinces? What credits and write-offs can I file for? Frankly, tax season might even become a happier season now that you’ve been keeping track of your books.

[krysgayle]

Field Placements in Interactive Media

Interactive Media // Me

The aspects of interactive media that capture my interest involve problem solving and storytelling in the digital space.  The peak of my interest is designing experiences that cater to the needs of the user in creative and adventurous ways by using emerging platforms and technologies. I’m fascinated by the creation of stories and the dynamic way we can visually express messages in different spaces.  

Interactive media is more than what exists; it is also the possibilities.

For the last eight months, user experience design and storytelling strategies have been at the center of my learning experiences. I’ve enjoyed exploring design through wireframes, placing content first, understanding usability as well as, what it means to manage a digital projects. LESSON: designing user-centric experiences and catering your content to your platform.  Using design to elevate the message will captivate and strengthen audience engagement. While understanding the know-how is important, the last eight months also heavily considered the business development and management aspects of digital agencies.  Professionalism, and networking, finance and legal, marketing and entrepreneurship have been an on going conversation as expressed in the curriculum. I know how to apply these skills and techniques I’ve learned to develop thorough plans and strategies for all types of digital projects.  While digital has existed for decades, very few have recognized the need for user experience specialists on their projects.  This void in the industry is in fact an opportunity for folks like me with the user-centric knowledge and expertise. Paying attention to the purpose, I can design to support the content and implement strategies that successfully carry a project from initiation through closing.  I want to be recognized as a digital strategist and UX designer. Although my long-term is not clear, my goals are entrepreneurial in nature. I want to create a legacy and nurture something of my own. Nevertheless, I enjoy collaborating with different people; I work well with different people.  While I pay my dues, I want to contribute innovative storytelling experiences that are creative and socially impactful.

The Secret Sauce // Choosing the Right Opportunity

Choosing the right organization involves a level of introspection and some negotiation.  In my search, I felt as though I was constantly unsatisfied by either the job description or the company. Thinking of it like a recipe, it’s about catering the ingredients to suit your taste buds. I want something sweet, spicy and savoury. In other words, stimulating, challenging and valuable.  A place that will give me a voice, nurture my interests and challenge me. A place that will give me hands on experience with real projects.  

The negotiation is essentially between the size of organization and the quality of experience that I’m looking for.  While bigger organizations with established reputations are great for your resume, you may find it hard to develop personally and professionally. Not only are they more competitive, on the job, they usually have more resources that can elevate a project.  Bigger organizations have found their flow and function more like a machine. In this environment, you fit into the machine. On the other hand, smaller organizations offer more flexibility and can are more willing to cater the experience to your needs. You have a chance to create more valuable relationships, be hands on with real projects and grasp the process.  Check out this great graphic that summarizes the tradeoff.

Hopes // Dreams

 I get excited about the process of creating and executing digital projects on emerging platforms. I want to learn about the nuances of business development, client relations, project-based execution and the overall day-to-day operations.  Especially since I am less technically inclined, I hope to see how these digital dreams come to life.  I am not a coder, but I am fascinated by the skill and creativity of the development team.  I’ve spent so much time in school learning about so many different aspects of digital projects. Now, I want to see how it all comes together in these real world situations.

Pulling together my academic and professional experience, I enjoy problem solving and brainstorming creative solutions for the digital complexities of our world, but what do I bring to the table?

Communication skills (written and oral)

Content Strategy (including auditing, writing and planning)

Functional understanding of Development Tools

Graphic Design / Adobe Creative Suite

Prototyping and Wireframing

QA and Usability

Social Media Management

Research and Analytics

Videography (Editing)

Above it all, I have a passion for learning and acquiring knowledge.  I believe knowledge is power, and experience is fuel – this is at the center of my personal philosophy.

Challenges //

Challenges are to be expected and with every decision there is a tradeoff.  I have chosen to intern with a smaller organization that operates with contracted experts. This means less exposure to a team with different specialties.  This also means the resources are limited. Nonetheless, I believe there is more to learn from working through a problem.  With this team, I am able to diversify my skills and tasks. Another challenge I face is more of a personal conflict.  With no previous experience working in the digital/technical domain, I will be experiencing a learning curve. The classroom is a safe environment to learn, and I am walking away with a great portfolio of work to showcase my skill set.  However, I question my ability to execute in the real world.  Another challenge may be software related.  

[krysgayle]

Interactive Narrative Reflection

Interactive Narratives is a gem in the program design. Although initially confused about its place in interactive strategy, I quickly appreciated the way it opened our minds to the relationship between non-linear narrative, technology and the user.  Exploring design constraints and balancing tradeoffs for the final project made ideas more feasible.  It allowed us to evaluate our ideas in the real world recognizing the constraints that exist for creators. We ask ourselves questions that take our ideas from the cloud of imagination to the real world. What are the capabilities of the technologies we have available? What are we willing to compromise on? What are our non-negotiables? It allows us to evaluate how technology mediates our ideas as user experience creators. How do we involve the user in the process? How do their actions modify their experience?  For example, the mixing deck is a great tool to visualize the content and technology relationship in relation to the user.  This allowed me to consider the purpose of the content and the goal of the project.  What is the most critical deliverable for the user? Is it the message or the performance?  This process allowed me to consider the way I express my ideas and communicate them for others. I was able to visualize the user experience and craft an experience that offered them autonomy within my design.  Another component of the course that brought ideas to life was the day we experimented with the tech toys.  When talking about interactive technology and its purpose in everyday life, it was great to see the way other creators brought their ideas to fruition.  Ultimately, I believe the relationship between technology and the narrative is strengthening every day and in order to craft the quality user experiences, we must first understand the constraints and tradeoffs of digital storytelling for the user and not just the creator.

[krysgayle]

Reclaiming Control and Managing my Time Using Productivity Apps

I’m so easily distracted and find it hard to focus when I’m exhausted and losing grip of motivation that sometimes I need a little extra assistance keeping on track. Using productivity apps to manage my time and develop my skills are necessary for my personal and professional development. It helps to avoid the burnout that comes with balancing tasks. Life is not just about completing tasks and finishing your checklist – that doesn’t contribute to personal development. On a bigger scale, I  want to develop my skills and turn my passion into a hobby. There are two major avenues of my life that can develop my skills: on the job and off the job. It is important to pursue my passions aside from pursuing a career nevertheless, if I can do both it is ideal.  In the digital age, there are apps to help manage my time and my tasks while managing distractions.  Plus, pursuing a career in digital strategy I need to create and mature my digital presence in order to build my expertise.  Finding the right tools will not only assist my day-to-day productivity but also my effectiveness as a digital strategist.

Here is a list of apps I’ve recently adopted that some working professionals use to contribute to their productivity.

1.     Unroll me. As a recovering shopaholic, and student turning professional, my inbox can get cluttered. It takes time to scroll through my emails now, which isn’t as tasking as someone who is working fulltime, but nonetheless, the sight of 40 emails in the AM and deleting 90% of time because they are irrelevant is taking time and focus away from other things.  With Unroll, I’ve cleared 35 subscriptions with a few easy clicks and now I can scan my inbox without being overwhelmed by unnecessary subscriptions.

2.     Hootesuite. This is not a new discovery for me, but it is a new implementation to my lifestyle. Creating a digital presence means being present digitally. I’m not inclined to be on social media every hour of the day in order to post clever content regularly. With Hootesuite, I can dedicate a chunk of my time weekly or even daily to schedule my regular posts.

3.     IFTTT. For the shopaholics of the world that are constantly looking for the best deals, I love what IFTTT offers.  As a student balling on a student budget, sales are my life. But scanning through websites searching for deals is not the most efficient or effective way to use my time or your money. So instead, I can shop ore effectively and efficiently by monitoring particular items and receiving alerts when the price drops using the Shop Smarter feature.  

4.     Trello. I’m a fan of to-do lists. Love them on paper, along with my 4 different calendars. Trello is a great interactive to-do list with webbased and app based versions that I can keep with me at all times.

5.     Forest. Finally, Forest is for the ones who find it difficult to focus and are easily distracted by the plethora of ways to spend your time online and offline. Forest targets the number one culprit of procrastination – your phone.

6.     Self Control is the alternative for your laptop. Unlike some other apps, it gives you some control over the websites, and applications your block on your laptop using a timer.  

These apps may not work for everyone but they work for me. The lesson here is to make your work work for you.  Utilize the very things that are distracting you to keep you on tract and achieve your goals.  Every successful professional has a list of apps in their back pocket that help them achieve their ultimate level of productivity – what are yours?

[krysgayle]

Learning outside of the classroom

I had a light bulb moment that illuminated my paths and offered some clarity.  I had an internship opportunity that asked me the question I that made me most anxious- what do you see yourself doing? Prior to the interview, I knew I had to confront that question.  Speaking organically, in the moment I let my desires flow through.  One of the first things I mentioned was my desire to sit in a vantage point that allowed me to taste project management while having a hand in the creative aspect of designing and storytelling. I want my hand in many buckets.  Since I am at the beginning of my career, I’ve been told that this is the ideal time to experiment with my options so I wanted to ensure they understood that my interest goes beyond a particular skill set.

Corporation Culture vs. the Start-up Culture

The organization is just as important as the position within it. Whether you join the big corporation or a smaller entrepreneurial climate, there are advantages and disadvantages that will impact your experience.   The corporation is great because you get to understand the operations of a successful entity producing for large audiences. However, you run the risk of being pigeon holed, with little hands -on opportunities. Not only are they also more competitive, there is limited room to grow.  On the other hand, smaller companies typically have less structure and require employees to wear multiple hats to smooth operations. This is a great opportunity for very hands on experience and the diversification of skill set. However, these organizations usually have limited resources and are just establishing their reputation.

Lesson: Education is everywhere and just like choosing the right program, you’ve got to choose the right school that suits your needs.

For someone like me, I enjoy the collaborative nature of a smaller organization and so I would love a place where I could explore not only what I want personally but professionally. This nugget of knowledge has helped me to target my opportunity search without limiting myself. While every organization is different, the experience is what you make it.  Regardless of the opportunity I pursue, I’m constantly told that I should continue to engage and explore the community to learn from others.  I appreciate the knowledge I’ve gained from others in the industry. I am being introduced to new ways of thinking, software, and techniques that not only help me with my senior project but also help my portfolio.  For example, Twinery is a great open source software for game developers and storytellers who want to explore creating interactive non-linear stories.  I learned about this program from an experienced UX designer who consulted on my senior project. It produces a basic HTML output that can be layered with CSS and JavaScript to amplify the experience. With this software I was able to visualize user paths, the layers of the narrative and transitions.  I would not have discovered Twinery if I didn’t seize the moment and reach out to the community.

Lesson: School outside the classroom is just as important as school inside the classroom.

[krysgayle]

The P&P of Life: Personal and Professional

Personally, I find it difficult to mesh the personal and professional. It feels like walking with two left feet. Where do you draw the lines? Don’t get me wrong; I love an office environment that doesn’t shun the denim and Converse look that would compliment my summer aesthetic and overall creative comfort. But when if I need to, I wear my suit well. Professionally, I favour an environment that welcomes and nurtures the individual as much as it does their ideas.  And it also doesn’t hurt when it can professionally nurture my pockets all while appreciating my time. My apprehension stems from a fear of being trapped on the “wrong path” and the line gets thinner and thinner depending on its direction - personal and professional appear on opposite ends of the spectrum. I consider what will satisfy the human, the soul and the mind. But no solution satisfies them equally – the triple contraint.  One of the most valuable things I’ve learned in my studies thus far is in fact a concept that stems from project management. It represents a fragile balance between the scope, cost and time of any project.  Essentially, it claims that every type of service comes in three forms – cheap – fast – good - but you can only choose two.  What is good and cheap wont be fast. What is fast and good wont be cheap. What is cheap and fast wont be good.  For me this parallels the way we experience milestones in our lives. What makes them milestones and how did you get there? Our life is our most important project. We are project managers the minute we take our first breath.  On average, 18 years of our life is spent in a prolonged internship wherein our influencers share their wisdom in order to teach us how to take the wheel when it is time. The triple constraint is both principal and pervasive.  I detest limitations; nevertheless, I can work within them. In order to feel liberated, I must choose between time and cost.  I can make a claim about the ability to have it all but the quality of my personal and professional aspirations would suffer. I was not born with a silver spoon. And while it is possible, very few have the chance to exercise that privilege as well.  But this state is not permanent.  My motivations shift, which requires the most critical PM skill - the ability to manage to change.  

 Ultimately I feel that balancing personal and professional is the management of change. Finding the right balance is key but that comes with limitations. How do I define quality? Learning from professionals who are in the place I aspire to be has taught me just that. Nothing is without compromise. So leverage my personal goals and professional goals in order to maximize quality.  Flexibility.  To be static is to be stagnant.  Project management is truly the balance of change.  Successful project managers gauge their constraints to find the place between the ideal and the I-deal. The more I recognize the value behind these skills, the more I feel like the better path is one where my professional is an extension of my personal.  When I started these journey, I had a taste of it all – project management, design, content, development, strategy.  I found it difficult to focus because they all satisfy the need to be in leadership, be creative and to problem solve.  So I am considering placing myself strategically in a position that allows me to have a taste of it all. I am a big picture thinker who’s got an eye on the details. This past week of exploration has fueled my interest in project management as the first career move.

[krysgayle]

“Confidence is Key” so says the peanut gallery

Balancing my schedule has been a challenge so far and I have not engaged with as many mentors as I initially anticipated. This is a tough time of year for many. There are some that I have reached out to but have not received a response, while for others, it’s a holiday weekend coming and so the opportunities are far and few in between. This journey is also a personal challenge.  I have some social anxiety. While I am eager and love the concept of reaching out to people and making connections, I get a lump in my stomach that holds me back from pursuing the things I want. “What’s the worse they can say – no?” Absolutely, but I don’t think I fear “no.” I think I fear the questions they would ask me in return. Questions I have had a hard time answering for a long time. “What do you have to offer?” It is a blessing to have supportive people around you to remind you of your worth but sometimes it is so easy to get lost in your head. I grew up a free spirit in a world where children are to be seen and not heard. I felt silenced for a long time.   I’m not sure what places me here, maybe it’s that I’m modest to a fault.  I constantly overthink – which is in this business is both good and bad. I often create my own obstacles too. Knowing all of this, I know that I need a mentor who is patient and willing to see beyond my presentation.  I crave honesty and someone who is willing to talk my ear off as much as I will them. But another barrier that will affect this process is how long it takes for me to open up to others.  I can talk about work - no problem, but I don’t view mentoring relationships as strictly professional talk.  I want to challenge myself push through those barriers in order receive the relationship.

I know I am capable, essentially because I want to be capable.  I appreciate this challenge because it’s another force pushing me in the right direction.  I am always a cheerleader for those around me who need the push, but it is always harder to take your own advice.  The first lesson of this journey so far is confidence.  EVERYBODY knows that confidence is key.  And it is far easier to say it than to do it. But if you can say it, you can do it (please excuse my cheesiness *fist of encouragement*)! What I am learning in my personal journey is that negative thoughts exist in spite of greatness.  While I can’t change my ability to fear, I can turn up the volume on the positive thoughts and use them to motivate me. I’m becoming more comfortable with my uncertainty because I recognize that it is not insecurity. “Confidence is Key!” so says the peanut gallery…

So, my next step… although I drafted a list of a few contacts that I am interested in engaging with, I want to drop as many seeds in the soil as possible in hopes that the right ones will sprout.  I’m eager and there is no better time than now. 

[krysgayle]

The Thin Line Between Truth and Intrusion

Close your eyes and imagine your favourite place. Now imagine you are standing in the middle of the space; now turn around, look up, look down. What do you hear? If you have tried any type of virtual reality technology, by now you would have reached out and tried to touch the things around of you. You may have even stepped forward if you weren’t sitting. Most of my experiences have been with the Samsung Gear VR but anyone who has $25 they can spare can try this with the right content, their smartphone and a Google cardboard. Virtual reality is immersive. My first experiences with virtual reality actually frightened me – disclaimer: I frighten easily. Nonetheless, the experience is the closest thing I believe we have to existing in an alternate reality. These simulations can offer a spectrum of emotional experiences, which is why I believe virtual reality can elevate storytelling.  However, the growing ethical battle and genuine concern with emerging virtual reality technology and its place in storytelling and journalism is a fine line between truth and intrusion.

Storytelling is a retrospective experience with the power to change real world behavior.  Storytelling with the power of VR is journalism that serves the public. It is honest and truthful with minimal harm nevertheless, critics have argued against the safety of the experience.  The experiences can provoke emotions that are triggering and damaging because it appeals to low-level thinking.  Some have even argued that it can cause PTSD and the creation of false memories because of that. 

In regards to my senior project - #passionproject - I have my own mental distress about creating raw VR content that places users in the center of domestic abuse for the sake of cultivating empathy. What is it like to be angry, but actions prevail louder than words? Is the benefit of immersive experiences worth the triggering or inflicting emotional damage? Is it possible for viewers to passively engage with VR like they would a traditional movie in the cinema? Should users fear these experiences? Understandably our social locations will alter the ways in which we handle real world experiences. Everyone’s story is different, and everyone has a unique emotional threshold. For example, the way one handles the passing of a relative will differ from the way I would. Or even the way individuals handle bullying will differ.  I can’t argue against the development of the technology for a few reasons, including that it has already emerged and captured interest.  Samsung, Sony, HTC are just a few big names placing VR in the consumers hands this year alone.  I also believe that the technology is empowering and not just for entertainment purposes. VR has a place in education, as well as rehabilitation just to name a few purposes.  

Moving forward… treading the line between truth and intrusion…

There is a need to set guidelines before it touches the hands of the consumers. Although I don’t feel we should fear the way real experiences challenge our existing notions, I think it is important that users understand the consequences of their engagement. Similar arguments are made for gaming experiences that involve violence because they fear the influence that type of aggression can carry over into real life. Furthermore, experiences can be a trigger for victims – this is not a new concept.  Content creators have to be transparent about the content they are producing by providing the appropriate disclaimers and trigger warnings. They should understand what it means to create safe spaces by offering the appropriate resources. Consequently, this means now their content has to be produced with a degree of localization. For example, VR projects exploring sexual violence will need to offer local resources for those who are triggered by what they are viewing whether it is the local community centre or a web link that connects them to more resources in their area.  Furthermore, VR content creators will ultimately need to pay closer attention to the user experience.  Think about the user before, during and after their VR experience.  What predispositions do they have? How will this experience affect them? How will this impact them after the fact? Matt Waite touched on the intrusive nature of VR journalism.  Is it ethical to send drones in the middle of war in order to give viewers a front seat to the destruction of lives half way across the world? Will this just enable the voyeuristic nature of the privileged? Will this actually provoke change? Can this promote a stronger global community? While we have explored the intrusive nature of technology since the emersion of social media, virtual reality amplifies exposure while simultaneously breaking down geographical barriers.  Being able to see bombs crashing around you can be life changing, but knowing you have the ability to remove the headset at the first inkling of discomfort is not a privilege those in fear half way across the world possess.  Seeing is believing, but with so much at our fingertips can it translate to action? Can it provoke change?

There is no telling what virtual reality in the realm of storytelling and journalism can do. While the technology is emerging, the content is limited.  As the demand increases, it will be more accessible – Moore’s law; and as content creators, we have a responsibility not only to our projects, but to our audience. As we continue our exploration, remember to tread lightly as the thin line between truth and intrusion will surely diminish.

References

http://www.thememo.com/2016/01/08/taphobos-virtual-reality-coffin-experience-vr-ethics/

http://www.poynter.org/2016/virtual-reality-the-next-frontier-in-journalism-ethics/390280/

 https://medium.com/@tjrkent/an-ethical-reality-check-for-virtual-reality-journalism-8e5230673507#.e24yj2f71

https://medium.com/thoughts-on-media/the-ethics-of-virtual-reality-storytelling-7ff84b2a5812#.5wzen1vmr

 http://journalism.unl.edu/matt-waite-1

[krysgayle]

A Letter to my Industry Confidant

December 17th, 2015

A Letter to my Industry Confidant

Dear Industry Confidant –

I went to my first industry-networking event - AgileXD hosted by Rangle.io!

There were two speakers: Fatima Remtullah – an emerging UX designer and developer, and Matthew Tobiasz – an established UX designer with expertise in lean product design.

For my first event, I was thrilled but nervous so I took a back (well rather far left, second row) seat in the conversation and decided to observe. Fatima was the first speaker. She introduced her journey to Rangle.io  and I was instantly comforted. It can be intimidating to meet people who have known all their lives that this is where they wanted to be. It is comforting to know that her journey, like many others, was a winding road much like my own.  Her journey was inspiring but what I enjoyed the most was that she was transparent about the hurdles.  

She discussed the challenges of an emerging interactive media professional and she discussed the challenges of working in the industry. Her advice was relevant and relatable.

Fatima’s Tips for Success:

1.     Trust and establish yourself as an expert.

2.     Your team is an asset … collaborate

3.     Live style guides bridge the gap for clients

4.     Don’t refactor based on assumptions - remember to sell the process!

5.     Talk to the users (use empathy maps as valuable resources to challenge stereotypes)

6.     6-8-5 rule to iterate- iterate-iterate!

7.     Protoype !

Matthew Tobias – of ThoughtWorks, an industry leader in UX deisgn, was obviously a more experienced professional. His work was engaging and he offered a ton of information.  Matthew offered experience in UX design coupled with agile project management skills. He illustrated how the two disciplines compliment the design process offering dynamic results.  I loved his project approaches – one of which really stuck with me. He said, “when thinking about competitors, have clients think about how their competitors plan to put them out of business.” This is a great way to compete with the market while thinking about the next step.  His talked about his dynamic team – which sounded like a dream – and he suggested organizing my own team based on experience design capabilities: design, interaction, visual and product.  The industry is filled with experts with diverse perspectives – utilize that by choosing a focus.  Finally another tip that resonated with me was to “design as needed.” As a designer, and many designers can related I’m sure, I can tend to focus and fixate on the details running wild with creativity and not necessarily designing for the need it’s boundaries. While thinking outside of the box is fantastic, it is often unrealistic. Matthew’s approach to anticipate the usage and align with the business values is a mantra for designers of all kinds. It allows for more realistic exploration.

It’s a euphoric experience when I leave the classroom and hear working professionals utilize the same skills and tools that I am learning to use. It makes me excited and it makes me feel closer to the end goal. But I suppose that is the difference between a university and college experience. I spent years at Laurier sitting in a classroom and then writing papers and taking tests. Although I explored the work force, it was never quite the same experience because there was always a learning gap that left me feeling unprepared. Within a few months in this new college experience, I feel growth, experience and advancement. I feel my ambition resurfacing.

My take aways…

Branding yourself is key. Even down to their presentation deck, I could tell that both individuals had distinct identities. I left that presentation also realizing the importance of an online portfolio. In an industry like this, digital should be in my brand DNA. (CHECKLIST: develop my online portfolio) I also know that I need to refocus and turn my passion into my hobby and not just a job.  I am not privileged enough to forgo the need for part-time employment during school and so I have the dreaded retail position to sustain the lifestyle. (There’s no shame in retail BTW – you have to do what you have to do).  But what this does is take time away from my personal development. I have often contemplated leaving work to spend more personal time on skill development and the more I absorb from the experiences of those around me, the more I realize that in the long run, these types of personal sacrifices may in fact be more beneficial. (CHECKLIST: spend more time development skills) This means investigating and practicing things outside of the classroom.

Overall, my first meetup made me excited for more to come. I feel reenergized.

Sincerely,

A Seed in the Soil.