Next Week: Field Trips!

Remember, next week we will go to Osborn & Barr and Boston Creative to see an example of a large agency and a smaller design firm.

We will meet at Osborn & Barr at 9 AM (PLEASE don't be late!). Here are the details:
Osborn & Barr
Contact: Fred Kahn
Cupples Station 9
914 Spruce St.
St. Louis, MO 63102
314-726-5511

You can view their site here.

Then at 10:30 we are due at Boston Creative. Details:
Boston Creative
Contact: Paul Boston
34 North Brentwood Boulevard
suite 210
Clayton, MO 63105
314-863-8200

You can view the site here.

REMEMBER for the following week: You should have a digital portfolio to review, and now that you have your letters written for your informational interviews, you need to send them and follow up with a call to set up the interview. In two weeks you should be able to report back and tell us when your interview is. Good luck!'

Beware The Ideas Of October!

First of all, everyone is coming along, getting their portfolios cleaned up. Keep up the good work, stay on schedule.

FOR OCTOBER 8:
You should have your online portfolio up, with at least 4-5 samples.

Have your informational interview letters ready for review. Once we do that, you will send them out and follow up with a call about a week later to set up your interviews.

Next week Lydia will dazzle us with her TED talk pick. Will it be a lecture on microbiology? The intelligence of plant life? The creativity of the platypus? Only she will know, until it is time for her to unleash the full force of TED upon us!

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And what shall your latest blog posting be?
1. Read this:
http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/after-school-special

2. Relate what you’ve read to something that has happened to you in school as it relates to your design work, or comment on a part that surprised/enlightened you. Write a blog post about it, remember to use images.
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REMEMBER THE FIVE SENSES!

On the first day of October, we shall reconvene and rejoice. Yay.

And on the first day of October, we shall also:

Watch the best TED yet, curated by Erik. Thank you Blanche for making us watch the TED talk where we realize that crows are smarter than most of us. Soon they will be our rulers, unless dolphins find a way to defeat them!

Remember that our web portfolios should be up and populated with work by October 8. Everyone decided that CarbonMade was the best choice.

Review our schedules and make sure we are up-to-date.

And we will discuss starting send out letters and then calling your contacts for informational interviews.

BLOG POSTING
Share at least one or two web sites that you go to for design inspiration. Tell us why, and what you like about them. One that I go to is http://ffffound.com which is an image-based site. From design to photography to illustration, there is always something there that gives me a new perspective. Another one that I enjoy is http://drawn.ca which is an illustration site.

REMEMBER:
Wield graphic design like a big club with spikes, and have an idea behind what you are doing.
ANYONE CAN LEARN A PROGRAM. Your ideas and concepts are what separates you from the pack.

OCTOBER 1 BIRTHDAYS
Former president Jimmy Carter
Former slugger Mark McGwire
And the hills are alive with the sound of music for Julie Andrews, who is 112 years old today!

It's not easy being green.

Next Friday is the birthday of Jim Henson, the creator of the muppets. It is also the next time we get together for our Senior Seminar class!

Blanche will share a wonderful, magical TED talk. We will all be amazed.

WHAT YOU ARE DOING BEFORE NEXT WEEK:
- You should have your resume and interview letter/letterhead completed and ready for final review.

- Research sites that offer free portfolio hosting, and be prepared to share the site you feel will work best for you. Remember to evaluate these things: Is it free? Is there a file size or number limit? How flexible is the site?

- Identify two companies that you would like to have informational interviews with. Be prepared to share.

- VERY IMPORTANT: Stay up-to-date with your portfolio revision schedule, we should be discussing the revised work each week, and you are graded on your revisions and following the schedule you set.

- Get plenty of rest, drink fluids, and stay out of harm's way!

- NEXT BLOG POSTING: What are your earliest memories of being aware of design, or when you wanted to be a designer? Do you have any early memories of designing things, drawing, etc? Share.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. AKA What's Up For Next Week.

Remember, you should have your schedule for revising work and getting your portfolio ready posted on your blog, no later than by next week's class. Please make sure the schedule you post is attainable, as you will be held accountable for it. Each week we will review where you are in the schedule and work toward a final completed portfolio.

What will the next TED presentation be? Only Debbie knows, and we will have to live with the anticipation until next Friday.

ASSIGNMENT NUMERO UNO
Bring your sample cover letter in for review. Base the content on addressing whoever you are planning on contacting for your informational interview.

ASSIGNMENT NUMERO TWO
FOR YOUR NEXT BLOG POSTING: Blog about a particular design piece that is out there today that you admire. Tell us what works, why it appeals to you, and, if possible, where the design originated. This can be print, web, or something else entirely. It can be a single piece or a family of work.

And don't forget to celebrate Phil Jackson's birthday next Friday by playing some hoops. It's also Elvira's birthday, so I'll be wearing a black wig and eyeliner. Maybe.

That's it, remember to bring your work with you for lab time, and stay safe out there.

Class Blogs

And here, the 2010 fall Senior Seminar class of Maryville University:
http://lfirestone.blogspot.com/
http://bensmaryvilleblog.blogspot.com/
http://gdseminar2010.blogspot.com/
http://artnarrative.blogspot.com/
http://dhofstein.blogspot.com/
http://graphichaslag.blogspot.com/

And then the assignment rocking began!

For next week:
Laura will share an interesting talk from TED.com, and we will all be amazed by her choice. Thank you, Laura!
As a reminder, this week we watched Dave Eggers talk about 826 Valencia, pirate and super-hero supply stores, and the importance of education. Want to watch it again, or for the first time? Here's the link.

BRING YOUR PORTFOLIO in next week! Bring more than you want to have in it eventually, if you want. Now's the time to look over all the work and start to formulate a plan for the final portfolio as you graduate. We will evaluate as a group, and then break off to discuss one on one. If you have a resume and business card, bring those in also.

First blog posting:
Tell us about a designer whose work you respect, and why. And then tell us how this person has influenced your work and/or how you approach design.

Use visuals to help substantiate your story, and remember to write a catchy headline, too.