My work this week

This week was another crazy week. I feel like I say that every week now. But, this week went by so fast and I was busy every second of it!! My Meredith group and I have been working very hard to get our designs done and ready for our publishers by Friday. I love my design group, we work well together and everyone has such great ideas! They’ve had to be very patient with me this week because I was also on to design the Missourian cover story for today (Thursday). Which means most of my attention was focused on getting that done up until midnight last night.
I had a lot of stuff printed this week:


1. The Missourian cover story: was really fun to work with. I was excited because I actually got to use a whole page to design the rest of the story. The story was VERRRRYYYY long, but it was a great story about a social scientist working with the Human Terrain Project. I encourage you all to pick up a paper to see it…or you can read it here. With the cover story, I also was in charge of the rest of the front page, and two more jump pages. I have to say, designing at a newspaper on deadline is not my favorite thing to do (PlanSystem hates me!!), but I’m glad I’m getting the experience.
2. I also had department pages run this week. This week was kind of tricky, I didn’t have final text by Sunday, so I had to just kind of guess about the page based on a ROUGH rough draft I got via e-mail.
Let me know what you think of everything!

Appreciating great design and photography

Do you know how to dance? If you say no…you’re lying! (Is that the correct form for those of you in editing???) We might look ridiculous, but I think EVERYONE knows how to dance. If not on the dance floor, I know we as designers know how to make our pages dance through our creativity! This week on the Daily Heller, he mentions an exhibition celebrating Dance Ink’s and 2wice’sv collaborations with dancers, choreographers,’ and photographers on the unique “stage” of the printed page.
I think these covers are really creative and interesting, and I love how the word “Ink” looks different on every cover. Take a look!

These Crazy Days

It seems like the last couple weeks just after spring break have hit us all really fast. I had a big “Holy crap,” moment this week about what’s going to happen after graduation. Other’s in my situation can probably relate to getting those same questions every day: What are you doing after graduation…What are you going to do this summer…Where are you going to be…Do you have a job yet….AAAGGGHHHH!!! It’s funny, I’ve known that graduation was coming in May this whole semester, but this week, it just sort of hit me like a bag of bricks. I’ve been freaking out about not only school (like I’m not going to get everything done in time!), but also about my future living situation, job situation, etc. I’m just waiting for that sigh of relief at the end of May. It seems like a day doesn't go by that I'm not stressing out about something!!
What are everyone’s thoughts on this? Any major freak-outs?

This week on the Daily Heller: Sappi Ideas that matter

I came across this post on the Daily Heller today. This is the 10th anniversary of Sappi's Ideas That Matter. Head over there and check it out. This initiative helps support designers in their ventures of social merit and help them contribute their talents to charitable activities. Sappi has awarded substantial grants to programs conceived and designed by designers that have made a big difference.

I think this is really awesome. It just goes to show that no matter what you do in life, you can help make a difference. Although they probably contribute more than just their creative talents, these designers are sitting a computers daily, just like you and me, but they're still making a huge effort to help others!

Websites

I'd like to comment on the presentations of the websites in class yesterday. I was impressed with everyone else's sites, and especially with the fact that they all look so different. Each was creative in its own way and they all matched the individual personalities. I feel like I kept writing that on everyone's critiques, but I feel like that's what really stood out. I think everyone is just diving in and teaching themselves...or continuing to learn...about web design their own way. Like we talked about when we did the logos...we each have our own processes.
I feel confident that everyone's sites (including mine) will turn out awesome in time! I just spent too much time over spring break on the little things, instead of pushing to get everything ON the site!! I can fix those things later!! Sometimes I start off doing things in a roundabout way...but I eventually get on the right track!

work...work...work...it never ends...

...but that's good right...I love designing. All this stress will just make me better...right...sometimes I'm not sure.
Anyway...there are two big things at the top of my to do list: Mix magazine and my website. As you all saw Tuesday, the site isn't in great shape. Its a VEEERRRYYY SSLLLOOOWWW learning process for me. I'm feeling a little like I did in information graphics a couple years ago when I was thrown into illustrator without ever using it before. But, that's the only way we're all going to learn...just leap in and it's either sink or swim. Most of you are already at the end of the pool though!! Here's a screen shot of what I'm up to. Most of you saw this already...I'm in the lab for a WHILE tonight working!








I've also posted two of my department pages from Mix magazine. This whole process working on the project for Meredith has been a challenge.Not only coming up with brilliant designs for the publishers' visions, but also to come up with it in 3 months!! I think we've all learned (maybe the hard way) that communication is key! I think or stuff for Mix magazine is coming together well though. We have some changes to make...and a LOT of things to add, but I think it is going to look amazing. Aimee is a great art director, and both Annie and Aimee have been wonderful to work with. Take a look at what I've been working on for the magazine and go ahead and pop over to Aimee and Annie's blogs to take a look at their stuff. We would love to have everyone else's input!!!

This week on the Daily Heller

     I thought this was the perfect thing to come across after what we talked about in class this week. As with the Bringhurst book, I think this type collection is a bit poetic! Only those who really appreciate typography as an art would appreciate a collection lime this one. I love it!! I think it's beautiful! Head over to the Daily Heller to read up on it...the guy is looking for a buyer!! Any takers?!