Hey all,
Maybe it is the realization that I am radically shifting directions in life from a scholastic lifestyle to the corporate digital design world but I feeling a mixture excitement and anxiety. Due to my motivation to start my new career, I have agreed to begin working the day after graduation. Even though this only leaves me 1 week off between the end of classes and the first day on the job I am excited to begin the next chapter of my life.
After reading chapters 1 and 2 Professions and Adaptation, I think that I made the right choices toward choosing the right career for me. Though I enjoyed gained insight into the vast creative fields, I did not agree with the strict categorization of jobs and their portfolio requirements. I believe that the creative field are fluid in their ranges of specialty.
I was surprised by the simplicity from www.deluxepaint.net or currently http://www.fistik.com/cemre_website/ but the level of skill the artist possessed. http://www.cefaratti.com/ demonstrated a greater technical proficiency but like deluxe paint, the website is dated. It is too small to navigate effectively and makes the user feel constrained. The work is easily accessible but neither visually striking or entertaining.
Thus far the only site that provided both a visually appealing and technologically advanced means of providing a conduit for a well crafted breadth of creative work is Jamey Stillings' web portfolio. His site is elegant in its ability to retain an air of simplicity and white space in a complex website. It is the type of site that I sit back and wish I had the ability to design such an elegant design.
Other than the web examples shown in Chapter 2, I like the notion of picking a real world client and create mock presentation for said company. While creating my own portfolio I invented my own products to created an entertaining advertising campaign. Instead of inventing new entertaining products, I should create advertisements for companies I enjoy.
Well folks thats all for that post!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
A Final Direction
Hey all,
If not previously stated, I am a double-major in both Interactive Digital Design and Media Production. With such a diverse portfolio to present I made the choice of creating a portfolio website and a professionally packaged DVD demo reel. In addition to these two mediums I designed a series of custom baseball caps to be created in mass quantity by my grandfather's promotional products agency. Lastly, as an inexpensive solution to a means of adding style to my already stylistically created mailer, I designed both a sticker and a refrigerator magnet with my logo and contact information.
Looking at the non-traditional portfolio chapter in Building Design Portfolio gave me design inspiration for my DVD demo reel's packaging. The work of Eramos Tantos gave me motivation. I wish that I came up with such a creative solution to physically presents one's own design work. Though I cannot and don't want to utilize a film 35mm film canister, Tantos' product definitely got my mental juices flowing. I will let you all know as soon as I (hopefully)come up with an innovative solution.
As for my portfolio websites re-design; I am still in the process of conceptualizing a means of finding the happy medium between style and simplicity. But for now let me show you where I am finding my inspiration. I love the look of the website for Vision Street Wear, a skateboard and clothing company. I find the navigation a little on the confusing side, but website itself is still masterful in its presentation. Though even more confusing in its navigation than the previous website, Organic Grid has a very dynamic approach in showcasing work and information. The portfolio site for Javier Vidal is incredible in its overall look, but again like the others, the site is difficult to rapidly access his work with ease. Lastly for an opposite approach, is One Over, focuses only on a series of complex navigational techniques.
Well its time for me to get some sleep. Good night everyone!
If not previously stated, I am a double-major in both Interactive Digital Design and Media Production. With such a diverse portfolio to present I made the choice of creating a portfolio website and a professionally packaged DVD demo reel. In addition to these two mediums I designed a series of custom baseball caps to be created in mass quantity by my grandfather's promotional products agency. Lastly, as an inexpensive solution to a means of adding style to my already stylistically created mailer, I designed both a sticker and a refrigerator magnet with my logo and contact information.
Looking at the non-traditional portfolio chapter in Building Design Portfolio gave me design inspiration for my DVD demo reel's packaging. The work of Eramos Tantos gave me motivation. I wish that I came up with such a creative solution to physically presents one's own design work. Though I cannot and don't want to utilize a film 35mm film canister, Tantos' product definitely got my mental juices flowing. I will let you all know as soon as I (hopefully)come up with an innovative solution.
As for my portfolio websites re-design; I am still in the process of conceptualizing a means of finding the happy medium between style and simplicity. But for now let me show you where I am finding my inspiration. I love the look of the website for Vision Street Wear, a skateboard and clothing company. I find the navigation a little on the confusing side, but website itself is still masterful in its presentation. Though even more confusing in its navigation than the previous website, Organic Grid has a very dynamic approach in showcasing work and information. The portfolio site for Javier Vidal is incredible in its overall look, but again like the others, the site is difficult to rapidly access his work with ease. Lastly for an opposite approach, is One Over, focuses only on a series of complex navigational techniques.
Well its time for me to get some sleep. Good night everyone!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Anticipation and Hope
Good afternoon all,
Tomorrow is almost upon us (sort of) which means my important interview at 10 AM in Stamford. I have been eagerly waiting in anticipation for this hard sought after day to come and I am prepared. The only issue that I face is the climbing level of nervousness. It feels similar to the slowing clicking ascent of a roller coast reaching the first roaring drop (in a good way).
I read over the section entitle "Professional Portfolio," In Building Design Porfolios and looked over the work of highly skilled graphic designers. If I was seeking a career in solely Graphic Design, I would have found this section vital to the creation of my own portfolio. In my case I am looking towards motion graphics as my chosen career path in which a Portfolio Website and DVD Demo Reel would better suffice the printed medium. What I did get out of the section was on ways to package my DVD Demo Reel. As of now I am beginning to sketch ideas.
I found reading The Graphic Designer's Guide to Portfolio Design far more helpful in my endeavors this week. "Maneuvering Around Your Site" I found very helpful in gaining insight to how I may create much more user friendly and better navigable re-designed version of www.julioarata.com. Simplicity is really key to portfolio website, the site is should be utilized only as a means of presenting one's work. By creating elaborately ornate pages (like I did in my site) the user is hindered to getting to the work being showcased.
I really like the RGA Site it shows two examples of how a portfolio page should be made. Primarily the site is simple within two clicks one arrives immediately at the work. There is only one page to navigate which is well organized so the user will never get lost. The second most important thing is that the page is visually appealing without creating any extra confusion.
Tomorrow is almost upon us (sort of) which means my important interview at 10 AM in Stamford. I have been eagerly waiting in anticipation for this hard sought after day to come and I am prepared. The only issue that I face is the climbing level of nervousness. It feels similar to the slowing clicking ascent of a roller coast reaching the first roaring drop (in a good way).
I read over the section entitle "Professional Portfolio," In Building Design Porfolios and looked over the work of highly skilled graphic designers. If I was seeking a career in solely Graphic Design, I would have found this section vital to the creation of my own portfolio. In my case I am looking towards motion graphics as my chosen career path in which a Portfolio Website and DVD Demo Reel would better suffice the printed medium. What I did get out of the section was on ways to package my DVD Demo Reel. As of now I am beginning to sketch ideas.
I found reading The Graphic Designer's Guide to Portfolio Design far more helpful in my endeavors this week. "Maneuvering Around Your Site" I found very helpful in gaining insight to how I may create much more user friendly and better navigable re-designed version of www.julioarata.com. Simplicity is really key to portfolio website, the site is should be utilized only as a means of presenting one's work. By creating elaborately ornate pages (like I did in my site) the user is hindered to getting to the work being showcased.
I really like the RGA Site it shows two examples of how a portfolio page should be made. Primarily the site is simple within two clicks one arrives immediately at the work. There is only one page to navigate which is well organized so the user will never get lost. The second most important thing is that the page is visually appealing without creating any extra confusion.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Assembling and Producing a Spastic Portfolio
Hello all,
Through out my four years at Quinnipiac I created a truly diverse collection of works in studio art, digital design, media production, outside work/internships and independent projects. Before I set about the creating and publishing my portfolio to the web I carefully thought over what would best represent my work. At first I set out to create a sleek but simplistic site as a means of easily showing my work to potential employers.
Next I created a site that I thought would represent my artistic design elements. I found myself trying to fit my website into the constraints of artistic design. Feeling a overwhelming sense of frustration I went back to the raw material of my portfolio and set out to create a third website. Through a process of mind mapping, creating wire frames and sketching I managed to organize my website into a third and final iteration (a this point). My third website is easily navigable and represents my artistic style in better way than the other two website truly could not.
I certainly found the two sections, "Creating Interactive Portfolios and Websites" and "Motion Graphics and Broadcast Design Portfolios" in "Building Design Portfolios" very helpful. I set out to find a happy media between the work of Lucas Walker(Artistically Oriented) and Louise Fili (Design Oriented).
Through out my four years at Quinnipiac I created a truly diverse collection of works in studio art, digital design, media production, outside work/internships and independent projects. Before I set about the creating and publishing my portfolio to the web I carefully thought over what would best represent my work. At first I set out to create a sleek but simplistic site as a means of easily showing my work to potential employers.
Next I created a site that I thought would represent my artistic design elements. I found myself trying to fit my website into the constraints of artistic design. Feeling a overwhelming sense of frustration I went back to the raw material of my portfolio and set out to create a third website. Through a process of mind mapping, creating wire frames and sketching I managed to organize my website into a third and final iteration (a this point). My third website is easily navigable and represents my artistic style in better way than the other two website truly could not.
I certainly found the two sections, "Creating Interactive Portfolios and Websites" and "Motion Graphics and Broadcast Design Portfolios" in "Building Design Portfolios" very helpful. I set out to find a happy media between the work of Lucas Walker(Artistically Oriented) and Louise Fili (Design Oriented).
Cleaning Up
Good evening world,
I had fairly unique week-long spring break experience. Did I spend my time inebriated on some nondescript tropical paradise? Conversely, did I travel to a culturally rich European country?
I chose to fill the void of my seven day vacation by meticulously assembling my portfolio on my new website, www.julioarata.com! Coincidently, reading chapters seven and eight of Designing a Digital Portfolio became very relevant in terms of the exact timing of assembling the massive task of putting together a web portfolio within a week.
Without going too far before explaining the rational of spending my spring break dedicated to portfolio completion; I applied to my first major career job with positive results.
For seven days straight I spent the entirety working on assembling and scanning my various forms of artwork and video. Chapter Seven of of Assembling a Digital portfolio came in handy when scanning both my black and white pencil illustration a sketches and large artworks that were too large to scan. I followed the advice that the book provided on "Stitching with Software" in order to take three pictures of a large art piece that created and seamlessly assembled them in Photoshop. As for my lengthy series of black and white illustrations I depended on Photoshop's Levels function to properly display my work.
Though the book's advice was useful I depended on Deke McClelland's, "Photoshop: Beyond the Basics", Advanced techniques, Channels and Masks, Advanced Channels and Masks, and Portrait Retouching Essentials to assemble my work best.
I had fairly unique week-long spring break experience. Did I spend my time inebriated on some nondescript tropical paradise? Conversely, did I travel to a culturally rich European country?
I chose to fill the void of my seven day vacation by meticulously assembling my portfolio on my new website, www.julioarata.com! Coincidently, reading chapters seven and eight of Designing a Digital Portfolio became very relevant in terms of the exact timing of assembling the massive task of putting together a web portfolio within a week.
Without going too far before explaining the rational of spending my spring break dedicated to portfolio completion; I applied to my first major career job with positive results.
For seven days straight I spent the entirety working on assembling and scanning my various forms of artwork and video. Chapter Seven of of Assembling a Digital portfolio came in handy when scanning both my black and white pencil illustration a sketches and large artworks that were too large to scan. I followed the advice that the book provided on "Stitching with Software" in order to take three pictures of a large art piece that created and seamlessly assembled them in Photoshop. As for my lengthy series of black and white illustrations I depended on Photoshop's Levels function to properly display my work.
Though the book's advice was useful I depended on Deke McClelland's, "Photoshop: Beyond the Basics", Advanced techniques, Channels and Masks, Advanced Channels and Masks, and Portrait Retouching Essentials to assemble my work best.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
1: Thursday January 24th 2008 - Instant Thoughts
Greeting to all,
I am caught between sentiments of both excitement and terror upon coming to the realization that undergraduate experience will soon be completed and the REAL world lays in front of me. Right now I have pondered over only a thought and nothing more, hopefully more comes to me and I get rolling towards a method for getting my dream career.
Thats all for now!
Adios Compadres
I am caught between sentiments of both excitement and terror upon coming to the realization that undergraduate experience will soon be completed and the REAL world lays in front of me. Right now I have pondered over only a thought and nothing more, hopefully more comes to me and I get rolling towards a method for getting my dream career.
Thats all for now!
Adios Compadres
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