Fitting

I found it fitting that I read Mark Busse's article Travel IS School (about the importance of traveling for creative professionals) the same day I had planned to write about my magazine Arriba. When I was initially assigned this project I wanted to do a women's interest or knitting magazine. After some thought I realized that both had a much smaller audience and that a travel magazine would be a better piece for my portfolio. 

I took the majority of the photos for the magazine while I was on holidays in Barcelona and the Northern coast of Spain. The trip was amazing, a perfect mix of cultural attractions in Barcelona and Bilbao along with beautiful scenery during my hike along the coast. I am proud of the magazine from a design standpoint but I cherish it more for the memories it captures both through the photos I took and the articles I wrote about my trip for the magazine. 

Design School Didn't Tell You

Design Edge's new blog Design School Didn't Tell You is a blunt and humourous blog for newcomers to the graphic design industry. While I disagree with some of the things author Mark Busse writes, it is a fun, light read that reminds you others are in the same boat.

This week's article was about the importance of joining design associations, it offered great reasons to join and equally valid reasons to stay out. Busse urges young designers to join if they are committed to the industry, are looking for a mentor or inspiration, want to stand out against the crowd, or if they want to demonstrate their belief in the value of design. His reasons for not joining, stated with just a touch of sarcasm, include not being willing to place importance on your career and make time, as well as believing you have already learned everything you need to know. Busse wisely concludes that, "If being employed as a designer is all you seek, then you may never need to join an association. If you wish to achieve significance in your design career, you’ll need to understand we never stop learning. Those who engage fully in their community with the humble attitude of the perpetual student will benefit the most."