#lmwetzel

[lmwetzel]

Portfolio Website: www.lmwetzel.com

Post 4 of 4 – Week 4, Month 12 – Professional Practice with Colleen Cleveland

Assignment: Embed your “About Me” video in your journal with the link to your portfolio website. Under your video, write at least three paragraphs reflecting on your experience in the MDMFA program. Highlight several key learning experiences that you gained, and how you plan to use them to advance your career goals.

1. "By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." ~ Confucius

I’ve completed many reflection posts in the past year. However, I’ve never been as excited as I am now to be writing one. It’s over! It’s done! Woot Woot! Pop the cork and let’s drink! In all seriousness though, writing reflection posts has been one of the things I’ve enjoyed most as of late. In the beginning I regarded it as a silly exercise and a waste of my beans, but as months passed I slowly realized the value in reflecting what I had accomplished each week and really started to embrace the wonders of writing. It allows you to step outside of yourself and view life from another perspective (at least it did/does for me). You can make notes to yourself on what did or didn’t work for you at a particular point in time. You can use it as a form of therapy when the brick walls around you seem, well  ...  I think you get my point. Anyway, when all is said and done at Full Sail, reflection will be one of the exercises that I continue to complete in my life’s journey; not necessarily publicly, but will continue for my own personal satisfaction and growth.

2. “Self-worth comes from one thing - thinking that you are worth.” ~ Wayne Dyer

I’ve never been one to boast about my talents or to claw my way to the top of a corporation for the sake of having a fancy title next to my name. If anything, I’ve been the chameleon on the wall trying to blend into the background as much as possible; in fear of someone judging me – worrying that I wouldn’t stand up against my competition. However, if there’s one thing I’ve learned to value this past year, it’s ME. Why did it take me so long in life to embrace myself and what I have to offer, personally and professionally? That is an answer I will never know, but I do know that my time at Full Sail was just the beginning of my journey to greater things in this life. Those who are confident, advance.

3. “There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.” ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

Despite it being the end of my Full Sail journey, my education is not complete by any stretch of the imagination. Having spent the past year of my life immersed in projects requiring me to learn new software and new approaches to my work, I’ve realized that there is still much to learn for me to be able to continue down the path I want in life. Most people consider an online education to be less demanding than physical attendance at a brick and mortar establishment. However, I know otherwise! It requires massive amounts of self-discipline, dedication, and a constant desire to succeed. I’ve watched several around me (without said attributes) flop and flounder, while others (with said attributes) have skyrocketed – filling their jars with awesomesauce! Continuing my pursuit of perfection via education will forever and always be a part of my journey moving forward.

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Post 3 of 4 – Week 1, Month 12 – Professional Practice with Colleen Cleveland

Assignment: Reflect on what you've learned from the readings and the research on creating an online portfolio. Elaborate on the three most important concepts or ideas that you can take forward in creating your own online portfolio.

1. "Raised lettering. Pale Nimbus. White." ~ Timothy Bryce, American Psycho, 2000 (Aslett, 2014)

Ah, yes. One of several classic movie scenes that makes every real designer's heart skip a beat. So, why am I choosing to focus on a quote from a movie that is fifteen years old? It's very simple. Heart-breaking, but simple. **BEGIN RANT** Gone are the days of toting around a portfolio or book of work that you poured your heart, soul, and bank account into making. Gone are the days of seeing, feeling, and smelling the fine selection of papers you chose to print your work on (or those that you drew, painted, or inked on by hand) – the wonderfully thick, (textured or smooth) matte boards that you carefully selected and then tediously cut 45º edged frames into to complement the colors in your work. (Yes, I still keep a styptic pencil in my box of goodies to stop bleeding from razor blade cuts. I'm guessing 75% of our class doesn't even know what that is. Or if they've read this far, have probably already consulted Google to find out.) Gone are the days of sitting face-to-face with someone that is reviewing your work for the first time – ever. Call me old school, but I can't help feeling that a certain amount of magic is disappearing from our industry. Technology is wonderful and it's allowing us to do many great things. However, there is a large part of me that has been and probably will be forever unwilling to let go of what was once a great process. There are great benefits to having your work posted online. The articles we were given to read highlight many of them. But let's play devil's advocate for a second ... or for 8 seconds, to be exact. Google "adult attention span" and you will see this (below) in your results:

Hooray! (stand up and clap your hands along with me now) Technology has put our attention spans below that of a goldfish!!! THINK ABOUT IT. SERIOUSLY, THINK ABOUT IT. Now, ask yourself, "How long will a potential employer spend reviewing your work online?" IF you're lucky, they'll spend more than 8 seconds on a piece you've posted; or more than 8 seconds flipping through galleries you've posted. Having spent a great deal of time interviewing with potential employers the past few months, I've come to discover many different things about the world we are now fighting to be employed in. Yes, EVERYONE and their mother wants a link to your work before they will even waste 8 seconds of their time determining whether or not they want to speak to you on the phone, let alone in person. Will they read the explanations you post with your work? IF you're lucky, maybe. Really, it's all about key words, not actual meaning. Will they review everything you have posted and remember it enough to ask you questions about it later? IF you're lucky, yes, but chances are no and you need to be prepared for that. We ALL need to be prepared for that. Here's the point I'm getting at/to – it's great that we have the resources we do to exhibit our work to, basically, the entire world. However, that is where the line is drawn. Seeking employment is about way more than having an online presence. It's about networking. It's about actually talking to and meeting with others. And yes, it's still about having a portfolio or book of work that you can whip out at a moment's notice to awe someone with, explain your work to, face-to-face. As I reflect – which is what we are supposed to be doing for this assignment – I can't help but feel that there is not enough attention paid to the things we should be focusing on at this level in our careers. If you haven't established an online presence at this stage of the game, you're already out of the game and should consider something else to do with the time you have left (Reference link to a video I featured in last month's reflection post: https://youtu.be/BOksW_NabEk). **END RANT**

What I learned: Always be prepared; online or off.

2. "In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different." ~ Coco Chanel

As mentioned above, this week's articles presented great points regarding an online presence. However, the one thing missing is this – BE YOURSELF. And by that I mean, BE DIFFERENT. This is a crucial point that has yet to be covered. Don't be afraid to experiment. Don't be afraid to be who you are and to show who you are to others in ways that work best for you. What works for one person, may not work for another. Ever wonder what would happen if you actually snail-mailed an example of work to someone? (GASP, THE HORROR! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scream#/media/File:The_Scream.jpg) Well, you'll never know unless you try!

What I learned: Be different. Be confident. Forget about the lemmings.

3. "How a person masters his fate is more important than what his fate is." ~ Wilhelm von Humboldt

Again, as mentioned, this week's articles presented great points regarding an online presence. However, I have found several other articles and resources to be more helpful with my personal needs, as a "Master" of my craft, when it comes to pushing myself to the next level in my journey.

Here are a couple (for those interested) to reference:

Crazy Ways Top Creative Pros Landed Their Dream Jobs

4 Creative Ways to Attract More Visitors to Your Website

The following e-book is an older one, but it has some valuable information in it and interesting responses to questions asked: Careers in Graphic Design: Creative Ways to Fine Tune Your Perspective in Graphic Design by Steve Stanfill

Examples:

What I learned: A degree is a another piece of paper. It's what you want to do, what you actually do, and who you are that counts.

References:

Aslett, W. (2014). 7 ways to make your portfolio sing. Retrieved July 6, 2015, from http://www.creativebloq.com/portfolios/ways-sing-21410640

Ravenel, M. (2012). 6 Steps To Creating A Knockout Online Portfolio. Retrieved July 6, 2015, from http://99u.com/articles/7127/6-steps-to-creating-a-knockout-online-portfolio

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Post 2 of 4 – Week 1, Month 12 – Professional Practice with Colleen Cleveland

Assignment: Create a map diagram as an infographic. In the map, mark your current location and mark three local/regional design firms as 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3, respectively. Locate and mark three national firms as 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3, and three international firms as 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3.

Local/Regional Design Firms

1.1 – Beyond Spots & Dots: http://www.beyondspotsanddots.com/

1.2 – Brunner: http://www.brunnerworks.com/

1.3 – Smith Brothers: http://www.smithbrosagency.com/

National Design Firms

2.1 – CBX: http://www.cbx.com/

2.2 – Chase Design Group: http://www.chasedesigngroup.com/

2.3 – DDC (Draplin Design Company): http://www.draplin.com/

International Design Firms

3.1 – Landor: http://landor.com/

3.2 – Meta Design: http://www.metadesign.com/

3.3 – Pentagram: http://www.pentagram.com/

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Creative Leader

Post 1 of 4 – Week 1, Month 12 – Professional Practice with Colleen Cleveland

Assignment (Part 1 of 3): Create a site map diagram (flowchart) of your portfolio website.

[lmwetzel]

You're not through yet. You've got a project to finish.

Dick Martin

Reflection Post for Month 11 – Presentation of Design Solution with Bartley Argo

Ah, the end of thesis. YAS! I finished my presentation book and was flipping through pictures of famous Dicks in an article I saw online (actors, of course; What did you think I meant?!), when Dick Martin swiftly reminded me that I still had one more project (e.g. presentation video) to complete before I could consider my thesis project officially done and over with. And with that being said, it’s DONE.

So, here we are! It’s the end of Month 11 and there are so many feels! I’m finding it incredibly difficult to describe the wave of emotions I’ve been riding the past few months. So, as my farewell for the month, please enjoy the following lessons learned ...

Learning Takeaway – Highlight #1: It’s not about doing what satisfies you. It’s about doing what you LOVE! Being the visual obsessive-creative that I am, the video posted below beautifully captures one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned to embrace in recent years (especially in the past year). Stop all the worrying and just go do what you love!

Learning Takeaway – Highlight #2: "The Artist Is Present” Life is art.

Learning Takeaway – Highlight #3: “When life gets you down, you know what you gotta do? ... Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.” ~ Dory

When you think you can’t, you CAN! We’re all capable of accomplishing AMAZING feats in life, but sometimes you have to be willing to swim in the darkness before finding the light.

Here’s hoping you enjoyed reading, watching, and peeking at the linked treasures tucked away throughout this month’s post! I know I did! TTFN!

“Onward and upward!” ~ Bartley Argo

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Reflection Post for Month 10 – Measuring Design Effectiveness with Bartley Argo

Like the 6-year-old ram ready to compete, I taunted thesis in previous months with body kicks and tongue flicks. Thesis, seeming to walk away in submission during Month 9, was merely posturing the low stretch before turning to me to say, “You want a piece of me? Come get it!” Having two layers of skull wouldn’t protect my brain from the repeated battering thesis delivered this month. After countless hours and many sleepless nights, the fight rages on!

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” ~ Reinhold Niebuhr

“Onward and upward!” ~ Bartley Argo

Learning Takeaway – Highlight #1: Dotting my i’s and crossing my t’s! – When it comes to sourcing materials for use in a project (e.g. images, fonts, graphics etc.), there are three types of designers. Those that play by the rules, those that don’t, and those that fall somewhere in between – whether it be consciously or not. We generally don’t start out in our careers knowing all of the do’s and don’ts. We learn the rules over time, hopefully in educational environments where it’s acceptable to make mistakes. Education leads to professionalism and professionalism to best practice. Although imperfect, I strive to be a leader for example of best practice in the field and I encourage those around me to do the same. Give credit where credit is due and ensure your work is never false or misleading to those viewing it (i.e. If it’s not yours, don’t claim it is!).

For legal purpose(s), you will see the following statement (and varied versions of this statement), as it relates to Las Vegas Enforcers, on my tumblr posts, social media (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), and any website(s) in association with my work:

DISCLAIMER: Las Vegas Enforcers is a fictitious minor league hockey team created by Lenore M. Wetzel for her thesis project (MFA, Media Design, Full Sail University, 2014-15) and is not in any actual association with professional sports organizations.

Learning Takeaway – Highlight #2: Transformative Process – I know, I know – you’re probably thinking that the record player stashed in the dark depths of my mind is either broke or stuck on a deep scratch – the tune playing (in case you were wondering): https://youtu.be/c71RCAyLS1M – but I can assure you it’s not. I not only think about this subject often, but find that I talk to myself about it as well. No, I’m not crazy. Really, seriously, I’m not.

When I enrolled in Full Sail I didn’t expect the past 10 months to go as they have nor did I expect to feel such a deep change, emotionally, throughout. I’ve learned – or perhaps realized – that it wasn’t entirely about obtaining a degree to teach. In fact, teaching is no longer an immediate goal for me. If another teaching opportunity presents itself, great, but I’m more than happy to continue blazing my own unique trail in the field. This journey was, or rather is, an opportunity for me to prove to myself what I am, but have never been able to see myself as – a Master of my craft. It’s a channel of sorts for reflection, self-discovery and acceptance, as well as grounds for the stabilization of my emotional connection to and views of the world and those around me.

Learning Takeaway – Highlight #3: Reflection – In the beginning of the program, I scoffed at the idea of keeping a blog. I didn’t want to “reflect” on my journey (i.e. educational experience) on a monthly basis or post my school assignments for anyone and everyone to see that cared to read what I wrote or review what I posted. I started out by posting cool things that inspired me. I wrote dry posts with little content that truly reflected on what I actually learned and/or how that learning experience made me feel. I was going through the motions for the sake of going through the motions to receive a grade. The thought of sharing my actual feelings with my distant peers, instructors, and strangers online – terrified me. What would people think without actually knowing me? What context could/would one have to the voice behind the writing? That was then; 10 short, but long months ago. THIS. IS. NOW. #puckit #getoveryourself #whothepuckcares #holypuck It was month 6 when the light bulb flickered for me. Since then, I’ve learned to let go of the fear and can now clearly see the value behind this monthly assignment. #puckyeah THIS. IS. ME. This is my journey and I am proud of how far I have travelled.

P.S. For fun and inspiration:

Tiny Tim: https://youtu.be/8DEoOdcYKbc?list=RDc71RCAyLS1M

Matthew Silver: https://youtu.be/Y7rXlbHtcqM

Wayne Coyne (The Flaming Lips): https://youtu.be/GQUIKceh-kA

[lmwetzel]

Reflection Post for Month 9 – Multi-Platform Delivery with Bartley Argo

As month 9 comes to a close, I’m suddenly much more aware of how significant my transformative process has been since my entrance to Full Sail’s Media Design program. The transformations that have occurred in my life (personally and professionally) reach far beyond the classroom, for sure.

Learning Takeaway – Highlight #1: Pitch – Let me put this in Yiddish terms; No, I’m not Jewish, but I like to borrow fun phrases from other cultures to emphasize emotional content for reading pleasure – OY VEY! The hat is fine, but the head is too small! I’ve had my fair share of struggles along the way, but pitch, without a doubt, was one of the more difficult sheep to herd from pasture. Distilling information from large amounts of research and placing it neatly into succinct or direct statements has never been a strength of mine. Nor has writing been a strength of mine either! I’m a visual thinker, a visual learner, and a visual communicator. Wading through the muddy waters of learning pitch during thesis will forever change, positively, how I approach “big ideas” in my work. Which leads me to ...

Learning Takeaway – Highlight #2: Power in Numbers – I always chuckle to myself when I see or hear people moaning and groaning about having to work with others to solve problems. I saw a drawn image on Facebook one day that simply stated, “There is an “I” in TEAM, but it’s hidden in the “A”-hole!” So many people run away from and miss out on the value of turning to your peers for help with problem solving. There truly is power in numbers people! Teamwork is nothing to shun. Having spent several hours workshopping with my peers Friday night to fully understand the idea of “pitch” was a tremendous learning process for me; one of the best and more fun ones I’ve had in this journey. Thank you! #TWLLBHI (e.g. Two Word Long-Legged Big Hairy Idea)

http://melissagridley.tumblr.com/post/118078125808/course-wrap-up-multi-platform-delivery

Learning Takeaway – Highlight #3: Lights, Camera, Action! – If you asked me 20 years ago what I would be doing right now (e.g. 2015), I’m sure I would’ve spouted off some wildly absurd answer that involved living the high life in NYC as Editor of Vogue magazine; or some other ridiculous nonsensical story, I’m sure. Never did I imagine myself holed up in my bedroom, dedicating every spare minute of my time to playing with sound and animation to produce videos for my MFA. WOW! https://youtu.be/11e8XyUBqRQ = MIND BLOWN. Learning how to use movement and sound – like I would with any other medium in my work – to communicate a message or convey emotion, has been anything but boring, to say the least. I heart sound! #awesomesauce

“Onward and upward!” ~ Bartley Argo

[lmwetzel]

Reflection Post for Month 8 – Design Integration with Bartley Argo

With the closing of this month’s class, events of my life, and the start of … (insert sound effect here: https://youtu.be/bW7Op86ox9g) … THESIS – I can’t help but ponder the various perceptions/interpretations of The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost, as they relate to my current journey/mindset.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173536

http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/frost/section7.rhtml

Learning Takeaway – Highlight 1: Sound – Sound is an extremely interesting medium to work with. Initially, in month 6, I was intimidated by even the thought of having to figure out sound. However, by familiarizing myself with new software (Audition) over the past couple of months, I have come to embrace it and its potential in my professional and personal work moving forward. I still have much to learn; but what I’ve come to understand, thus far, has been and will continue to be invaluable to my growth.

Learning Takeaway – Highlight 2: Radio/Narrative – Radio is a media that exemplifies the importance of narrative. Without visual queues, the content of your narrative must stand alone in the delivery of one’s message to a broad or generalized audience. Taking a step away from visual media to work with audio only, allowed me to recognize/foster the basic power of written/spoken word(s).

Learning Takeaway – Highlight 3: Critique – Critique serves to grow an individual’s work. The assignments and creative exercises we complete in school serve a greater purpose for our professional roles in real life. To continue to develop and grow our skill sets (e.g. transformative process), as professionals and Masters of our craft, the work we present in class should meet and/or exceed the same standards a real life client would come to expect. Good or bad, critiques are a vital part of your work’s development and growth – as well as you, the creative being critiqued.

I’m looking forward to the start of … (insert sound effect here: https://youtu.be/bW7Op86ox9g) … THESIS and watching everyone’s work develop as we progress.

“Onward and upward!” ~Bartley Argo