In Between (Wed 14th)

As we all know, finals is on Monday. Finals is probably the most horrible word for students like us. Midterm is one of them but finals is the worst.

I am not too fond of this partnership idea. With the life style I have right now, it is hard on me physically. I am exhausted and woken up late because it is the only time I get to sleep. This affects my part for the project. When I first started this project I was so excited. But after having to do many revisions to the offline piece, I become negative toward it. Revision is a good thing because design keeps improving.

The more and more I think about, I don't think I like graphic design very much at the moment. I believe I feel this way because every time I show something, teachers and classmates always criticize them in a way that discourages me. I have never seen my peers saying, "Wow that looks great!" But then who is that to blame? Me, me, me.

I can see that in graphic design, there are rules. And when I break these "rules," I will get scolded and lectured, "Have you forgot everything you learned?" But then I see another classmate breaking these "rules" and their works are not criticized. I am just a bit confused with everything that I've learned.

Last quarter should by my last one. I am not mentally prepared for this. I don't even want to think about it. I wish I can be more in love with graphic design. I do not know if this is just me talking because of finals week or my true inner feeling. If that is so, what am I doing in this major?

For final project, my group is doing a video to promote Fine Arts option in Graphic Design/Visual Communication. Our offline piece is an invitation to come to an orientation. I must say the offline piece came a long way to look like what it does now.

Perhaps I am over thinking this whole thing.

Doubting (Mon 12th)

Our professor pointed out something important today and it really struck me. Everyone is too concerned about not being able to produce the idea/vision they have. We kept saying, "How are we going to do that? We don't have this or that." I'll be honest, I also have that kind of attitude. I have ideas and visions in my head but I am always too concerned of how to produce it instead of just go with it.

Jimmy said we have an option of cutting it down or change it to what we can do instead. A lot of times we are stuck on a project and become frustrated instead of having fun and learn something out of it. Remember, your brain is your best design tool.

Currently my partner and I are doing our own separate parts and we will critique each other. I will admit that I become irritated when my partner dislike or want me to change the design. I ended up with at least 3 or 4 design. However, I will also admit that her critique made my design better and better each time. I might not like the process but it's coming along. I am very thankful to have a partner who challenges me to do better.

Missed (Wed 7th)

I missed class today because of family situation. However, my partner informed me about what happened in class. Right now I am a bit nervous since we do not have a solid piece online nor offline yet. We are definitely working on them. I cannot wait to see how they will look like. Sometimes the process of making makes me anxious. Do you feel that way too? I was so excited about it in the beginning. Now I am just jumpy and restless. I believe I will have a peace of mind once we are done with this project.

Finals in one week. Are you ready?

We Are Design Thinkers (Mon 5th)

At the beginning of the class, we all sat in circle to discuss our briefs for the final project. We pretty much had an intervention with our professor. The class thought it would be better if everyone work on one video together since we think that every group is going to have the same kind of video promoting Cal State L.A. Fine Arts program. With that being said, individual groups still have to make the offline piece separately. This idea was shot down though.

Jimmy asked us all why we are hesitating to make this video? It is only two to three minutes after all. Then the whole class discussed why we do not think we can promote our school. All of us have our reasons whether it would be lack of resources or etc. The class then discussed what we like about Cal State L.A. and compared it with other schools such as CSUN.

Jimmy advised us all to stop talking, and start making!

Literal is bad advertising, he said. Figurative and symbolic are more engaging and memorable in advertising. We should all know this by now since he kept repeating this. When you say "this is like this," "this represents this," you are comparing two things.

By the way, did you know that writing a brief takes a lot of time? but it is actually the easy part. That is where all the critical thinking is. I am going to be honest here. I find this process a drag sometimes. However, I do know that without a brief, I do not know where to start at all. A brief is necessary regardless. "If your life is easy, you are doing it wrong," said Jimmy. By being frustrated and going through it, makes you grow! I think back of all the things I once was frustrated about such as printing works. It is true. Because I struggled, I learned from it. What have you struggled with last quarter? Did you learn anything out of it?