Book Burning

After much time (3 years of college and the 4 years of highschool leading up to that) I have come to realize that becoming a graphic designer is not what others would consider a typical career. When I first realized what a graphic designer was, I thought perfect! I could see myself doing that for a very long time. Now that I have finished college, I am often asked what I do. I usually answer with a simple, "I'm a graphic designer", and leave it at that.

Again, after much time, I have realized that a lot of people don't actually know what designers do. I get asked if I design websites, or do illustrations but rarely do people understand the broad spectrum of things designers are capable of. The second question I am usually asked (after I explain my career path, and my interest in publication design), is whether I am worried that the internet will lead books to extinction.

Of course I worry about these sorts of things, I just try to ignore them and look at the great opportunities out there. I've had many conversations with other designers about this and one of the most interesting things that have come from these discussions is that maybe this will create a sort of battle of the fittest. Mediocre magazines will cease to exist and the boundaries of typical magazines will be pushed to further the art form. It's scary of course, I often think, "What if I'm not good enough!" Regardless of all of this, part of being a designer is staying informed, learning new things and keeping up with what is happening next.

To help me with this topic specifically, I decided to sign up for RGD's panel discussion called Book: Burning Questions – The Future of The Book and Book Industry in Canada. I'm really excited to be part of a crowd that is as nerdy about design as I am. I anticipate being overwhelmed with information and inspired by what I hear, can't wait until the 11th!

The Upside of Obsession?

Yesterday I read an article titled Is Obsession a Prerequisite for Success? I really related to what the author had to say, but also really hope it's not true.

After being asked how he became a successful blogger, author Scott Young, took some time to look at other blogs. While it could be said that you need to be a good writer to be a good blogger, he found that over time most writers improved. He also noted that having an interesting story would help make a blog successful, again he countered this saying that the story is shaped once you start writing. In the end he realized that the best thing you could do to succeed at something is to become obsessed with it. While obsessing over one thing may lead to success in that field, it also needs to neglect in all other aspects of life.

I'm the first to admit that I yearn for balance, I work very hard to make time for all of the things I want to do. Before I started college it was a lot easier to balance things, all my friends lived in the same town as me and I didn't have to make an effort to visit my parents. Currently both of these things are at the top of my to do list, but I have to make a conscious effort to make time for visiting. On the work side of things I'm trying to start my career, as well as find a part time job to let me continue with my goals. Responsibilities start adding up quickly and all of a sudden I lose sight of what I want to obsess over.

It can be very hard to stay focused on one task. I don't find that caring about one thing at a time works for me, I want it all. I agree with this article, obsession likely does lead to success, but for now I think I will obsess over my career 75% of the time and spend the other 25% of my time building a fulfilling life that will support me during the lifespan of my career and beyond.

Shiny and New

One of the last projects I created while still in school was called Advance. Less traditional and much more digital than my previous projects, it guides you through a typical day in my life. Here is a more in depth rationale, and a link (you may have to refresh it) to my website. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed creating it.


http://www.amy-eaton.com/WeekDay/weekday_work.html

To communicate what my day to day life entails I took a series of photographs of my surroundings. These photos create one extremely long panoramic photo that shows a sequence of events from the beginning to end of my day. I chose to photograph a simplified version of what my average day has been like for the last three years; sleep, eat, school, sleep, to help me remember what I went through to get to where I am today. While I did not always want to go to school I have never wavered in the fact that I want to be a successful graphic designer. The commitment I have made to school has helped me to prioritize, make time for and enjoy the fun things I do. While viewers will only see one day, each photo represents time spent over the last three years. Minor details are lost over time and the bigger picture becomes more clear. Focusing on the accomplishments I have made overall surpasses the now minor mistakes I made on the way.

The panoramic is distributed to viewers as a 6 minute movie with commentary. The pace of the movie changes, as does the pace of my day. On occassion time seems to fly by, at other times it feels that I am almost at a standstill.

Sequence
• A set of related events, movements, or things that follow each other in a particular order.
• The related events, movements towards bettering my skills and lessons that followed each other to prepare me for graduation are the sequences of my design education.

Series
• A set of books, maps, periodicals, or other documents published in a common format or under a common title.
• A set of photographs published in the same format under the title Advance.

• A set of stamps, banknotes, or coins issued at a particular time or having a common design or theme.
• A set of photographs taken on one day with the common subject of my surroundings.

Magazines

I recently started interning at a magazine company and realized that I've been missing out on a ton of great magazines. After talking to the previous intern for less than an hour I had heard of at least 10 new magazines and nodded along as she listed a slew of artists I've never heard of. I'm excited to learn about new designers and artists, and to broaden my current education. While I loved going to Conestoga (it's in Kitchener), I can't wait to further my education with all the things I'll discover in Toronto.

I knew it!

While I enjoy plenty of reality tv shows, I've always been wary of Jersey Shore. I'm not much of a partier and tend to find the drunken escapades of others to be a bit ridiculous, and not in a funny way. When I saw this article I couldn't help but laugh. I thought the funniest thing about it all was actually the first comment at the bottom. Take a look!

Newbie News

Today I read an article written just for me, a recent design grad, thanks TAXI!

While most of these tips seem fairly straightforward it is a good refresher. Understanding what employers value most makes it easier to predict what my new career will be like and helps me ensure I meet their needs.

Learn from Others

Acknowledge the experience of seniors and peers, and at all costs avoid being a know-it-all. Make a note of the tips and pointers that your peers give you. Remember that more experienced employees have made mistakes and can help you avoid them. Never feel ashamed to ask questions.

Remember Names

Make a point to learn and remember names. This will make a positive impression on your co-workers, will help you gain respect and will create a stronger bond with team mates.

Ask Questions

It may be hard at first but it is important to ask relevant parties questions. Asking questions creates a positive impression, it helps to show that you are an eager learner and enthusiastic worker.

Be a Team Player

While you may be used to calling all the shots, it is important to learn to be a team player and how to work effectively in groups. Learn to collaborate and acknowledge each other's work.

Keep Your Stuff Organized

The workload of new designers can be cumbersome, it is very important to keep everything organized and arranged. A great tip for working with layers is to name layers accordingly, this makes changes quick and simple.

Improve via Criticism

Realize that criticism helps to improve and enhance your skills. Hear out others opinions and analysis about you. Try to take positive aspects from their comments and improve.

Don't Make Enemies

Make your at work personality likeable and avoid making any enemies, this will lead to better performance appraisals. Keep on good terms with everyone regardless of their position.

Share Your Ideas

Express your ideas and opinions, if you believe you could make something even better, share. Keep in mind the fine line between making a point and arguing for arguments sake. Make positive comments that can eventually benefit you in performance appraisals.

With all this in mind, I'm excited to start working at my first full time position.

I Love That Song

Today I read an article called, "Listen Up: I Don't Know What I'm Talking About." Beginning with an antidote about a girl in an antique shop, it talked about how people often speak with conviction regarding things they know nothing about. The author's own personal experience dealt with music and instruments. While Maddux loves music and frequently writes about the subject, she cannot play any instruments. She admits to only half-heartedly trying to learn but also finds her lack of skill to be a redeeming quality. When Maddux listens to music she bypasses the notes and pays attention purely to the sounds. She differentiates what she likes, what she doesn't, what else it sounds like, and what she wishes it sounded like. All of this helps her form her opinion without getting caught up on the actual notes being played.

I relate to not being able to differentiate one note from another, but also take it one step further. When I listen to music I listen blindly, most of the time I don't know what the song is called or even who it is by. While I have learned the names of my favourites, I love the anonymity that comes with this ignorance. I'm not trapped by having to avoid bands that are "uncool" and can relay to friends what I'm liking by singing a few lines or looking it up on the internet.