Final Exam
I made a little scrap book to answer the questions for the final exam. These are just a few pages, but these pages have now become digital. It always amazes me how quickly you can go from analog in to digital out. 
Interveiw with Cristina from Synaxis
Cristina Montesinos is the Creative Director at Synaxis. Andrea and I met with her for lunch last Thursday at Figo, a wonderful little Italian place in Virginia Highlands that serves the best pizza and panini. Christina graduated from Jacksonville University with a major in visual communications and a minor in art history. As soon as she began speaking I knew Andrea and I were in for a treat. This was going to be a great lunch full of thoughts, wisdom and advice from an experienced designer. At Synaxis, Cristina is part of a three person firm and enjoys it there very much. She says a smaller firm is much more hands on and you get a lot more variety where as in her old job much of her time was spent in meetings and not enough time was spent on “fun stuff.” She learned most about design outside of school, through previous jobs and internships. She says “every job you have is a step towards your next job.” A good internship is very important because not only do you get the experience of working in the field you also get to find out what you enjoy to do and what kind of design appeals to you. Networking is also key. Every job Cristina had she got through a friend that knew a friend. The Atlanta design scene is a close knit group where everyone knows one another. Its important to get out there and meet people, join AIGA, get an internship, keep a good reputation.
When asked about the work load, if all-nighters continue after graduation, Cristina says yes they do continue, if you don’t control them. The key is learn how to work efficiently and have high quality. Coordination with clients and coworkers is also very important. Having your own personal creative outlet is a must. Cristina enjoys gardening, hand crafting and painting. Without this personal creative outlet she becomes easily frustrated.
Here is the book she is reading now. Cristina is also a Seth Godin fan and enjoys reading Communication Arts, Print and business 2.0. We talked for a long time about how far technology has come and how fast. It wasn’t that long ago when business only had one computer and when you needed to use it you would go to the computer room and use the one and only lonely computer. So in the future Cristina believes the internet will be with you at all times, on your phone, on your watch. She says technology is changing social interaction. She enjoys learning and working with interactive. She believes learning interactive has made her print better. Communicating with someone is a two way process and print, at times, can be very one way but shouldn’t be.
Cristina gave us key points on our portfolio. She says your portfolio is judged by your worst piece, so don’t put anything in it that you don’t feel good about or that’s not good enough. Don’t make your portfolio too complex. Don’t put so many pieces in your portfolio that your quality goes down. Ten pieces in your portfolio is a good number, present your brand and be confident in your work. Half is the quality of your work and half is your attitude.
Cristina is happy and living her dream she loves her job because she is growing, learning and being challenged and that’s the most important part.
I get a little emotional
After spending weeks and weeks working on the projects of this quarter, rarely leaving my apartment to go anywhere or do anything, shedding tears of frustration over lack of computer knowledge, I just want to be done. So when the last week before critique comes and teachers tell me there is so much to change, so much is wrong, I can’t help but get a little emotional. Just because so much effort, time and thought has gone into what I’ve done. And when I don’t receive just a little positive feedback I get these feelings like it was all for nothing.
So I can’t imagine how the people feel that designed the new olympic logo for London. After years and years of research and thousands and thousands of dollars everyone hates it. I feel so sad and sorry for them. Over 10,000 people have signed a petition to get rid of it. I hope whoever designed it is a much stronger person than I am emotionally, I just don’t know what I would do if I were in that situation.
I want
This
For those of you who don’t have TV, like me, this is the first time I have seen these commercials. Needless to say, I want one!
New Kids on the Block
So much for our computers being the newest and the best. There has been an upgrade. 
There will always be something bigger and better. And I will always want it.
Spooky
I saw this and was reminded of this:
Do you remember this advertisement? A few years ago I remember seeing them in magazines and stuff… am I the only one that thinks this is very weird?
19 cents or 99 cents?
Since I got my computer in January, I have purchased 89 songs on iTunes. Yikes! Here is a Russian site called GoMusic that I have just learned about. Songs are available for just 19 cents. They also have intertational hits as well as Russian audiobooks and other foreign literature. However, because this site does not follow American copyright laws you have to purchase your songs through the Dutch PayPal. 19 cents! I didn’t know you could buy things for 19 cents anymore!
I already have a recommendation for your first download: Hildegard Von Bingen, an 11th century german nun who composes and sings beautifully mesmerizing music and is also very well known in Germany for her herbal remedies. You can get her CD here for just $2.91. Enjoy!
