Positive Statement:
I think I did well in the visual area of my 2 hour presentation. The front of the classroom turned out better than I thought it would and it looked great. The background looked realistic. My Powerpoint was also visually engaging, since I customized it to my liking. It was clean and really supported my speaking. I also liked how my activities were engaging and really utilized that I spoke about in order to execute it. Overall, I think my presentation was engaging for the audience and I really did well to set up a nice learning environment.
Questions to Consider
What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-hour presentation? Why?
AE: because in terms of the rubric, I believe I hit all the points necessary for a P, but I was really knowledgable in my topic and I believe my content was extremely strong; I backed up everything I said with some sort of evidence or visual example and seeing how well the class did in my activities, the information really resonated with them and got to them clearly. I believe that my hard work was really evident in how strong the content of my presentation was– above what would normally be a P. I also believe that my classroom creativity showed my dedication to my project and took my project to the next level visually and really added that extra "umph" that would be "above and beyond." Overall, really, I think I did everything that was required, but I feel that I did it better than what was to be expected and I went above and beyond with the visuals and the activities were strong evidence that I conveyed my message clearly; that's why I feel that I deserve an AE.
What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project? Why?
AE: This is mainly because of my product, which is my internship with Tetra Tech's design team. My senior project was done well, but not only that, it showed that I grew from when we started in August to now, while I'm typing this up. Senior project was a journey for me, and I worked hard and showed passion in my topic throughout that journey. This is evident in my end results– the yearbook, my 2-hour, and my product. Yes, I completed the assignments that was asked of me, but I believe that the passion I put into my project made it more meaningful than just a grade: it's a part of me now, and I believe that alone shows more value than anything else. Aside from that, though, I performed well in every assignment I completed, often getting AE's, so I believe that overall, as a whole, because of the value I found within those AE's, my overall senior project should get an AE. I'm walking away from senior year with something more meaningful than just a grade to graduate, and I believe that is ultimately what the senior project should aim to do. Plus, the quality of my work, if I say so myself, is never less than impecable.
What worked for your senior project?
I think choosing a topic that I wanted to grow more in, rather than learn entirely new, really worked to my advantage in my senior project. Because graphic design was something that I actually wanted to study in the first place, the quality of my work showed that willingness to learn and the passion that goes with it. Had I chosen, say, pharmacy like I originally planned, if I didn't like it, too bad, I would be stuck and the quality of my work would have suffered. That wasn't the case with my senior project, though. Yes, I burned out halfway through he year, but didn't? It's senior year; everyone is tired. But the quality of my work never suffered. The punctuality of my work maybe, but everything I did turned out well in the end, and I believe my 2-hour showed that. Also, because I chose something I loved to do already, my product became something that I can actually be proud to walk away with, rather than some faked "appreciation" for something I don't care about.
What didn't work for your senior project?
What didn't work would probably have to be... scheduling interviews on short notice. The interviews that really paid off were my second interview with Mimi Orth and my third interview with Sylvia Ly. In fact, the two were actually two of my best sources. But, I scheduled my second and fourth interview last minute and really didn't gain as much as I would have liked in the fourth; my interviews helped me out so much and were the best sources I had because I learn best from experience and getting that firsthand talk to someone so knowledgable in the field was so much more valuable to me than books or internet articles. I really wish I could've gotten a better fourth interview, since there were so many more questions.
How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors? Be specific and use examples.
It should be really obvious with my product. I gained a paid internship doing what I love because of the work I've done with my senior project. Both my independent components helped me grow as a designer by increasing my execution skills and the research helped me gain insight to how problems are solve visually and my interviews and service learning helped me gain more of the "design eye" by getting me to constantly be on the lookout for inspiration. Though I'm still interested in pursuing a career in the medical field, this internship is like a window into a career in the graphic design world, and if I like it, I can further pursue it. After all, I'll be at UCLA, which has both great medical and design programs, so either way it works out. Basically, senior project helped me by giving me an opportunity to go into a field that I was afraid that I was not good enough for, even though I loved it. But after getting working all year, and with my product, the internship at Tetra Tech, it paid off and confirmed I'm good enough and now I a great opportunity.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Service Learning
1) Literal:
I worked with Mimi Orth, sales representative at Herff Jones publishing. Contact available upon request.
Interpretive:
The most important thing I've gained from this experience was something to keep me grounded in my work– the ability to edit. In other words, getting rid of excess design. When designing, your imagination can run wild, so you can easily got lost in your own creativity. With Mimi, she constantly critiqued my work and pointed out what worked and what didn't and etc. Most of the time, it was the latter. So, from that I was able to step away from my own work for a second and really look at what others see (since the whole point of graphic design is that you design for others) and really edit my work. I read in quite a few of my sources that editing your own work is one of the most difficult things to do. That being said, I really feel that because of this, it allowed me to grow as a designer and experience a bit of what designing is like in the real world. (In fact, during my interview for my internship at Terta Tech, my interviewer mentioned that my work "can be ripped to shreds" and I better be ready for the criticism. Scary.) I know for a fact that a lot of times, my work can be over-the-top and simplification is difficult for me to do so having Mimi indirectly teach me how to step back and edit my own work to something cleaner. I'd post what my original vision for the yearbook cover was but I can't find it. I can tell you though that editing played a huge role in how it ended up.
Applied:
This helped me answer my EQ because, again, it gave me hands-on experience in designing and I was able to conclude what best impacted an audience first-hand. Working with me gave me more and more options to consider because my EQ mainly deals within the design process (i.e. the making of). I can read books upon books on graphic design but personally, I learn by doing, and working with Mimi allowed me to actually try out and see what works and what does not, rather than sitting and reading and guessing.
For example, my second answer, utilizing strong and appropriate typography, came directly from my experience with Mimi Orth. In fact, I think my third answer, surround yourself with inspiration, came from her as well. Without my work with Mimi, I would not have been able to attend the typography lecture with Lynn Strause, where I learned so much about the impact that the words in a design made. I never would have guessed that the font and color and size and arrangement even mattered. There's so much more I can type but I can't think of anything; this was what stuck out the most. The same applies to my third answer; I learned of this in the design clinic I attended with Mimi in October. Later on in the year, I was hitting a wall trying to come up with ideas for a title page until I made a magazine run with Elissa to Barnes and Noble to look for inspiration. Without Mimi first mentioning it in October, I would have never been able to a) finish the yearbook and b) known seen how important that was until I experienced it myself.
2. Confirmation of Contact Person, Contact Phone Number, and 50 hours completed
Mimi Orth; E-mail and Phone number available upon request; log mentioned above.
The 2012 iPoly yearbook wouldn't have been completed without Mimi Orth. Should be evident of at least 50 hours...
For example, my second answer, utilizing strong and appropriate typography, came directly from my experience with Mimi Orth. In fact, I think my third answer, surround yourself with inspiration, came from her as well. Without my work with Mimi, I would not have been able to attend the typography lecture with Lynn Strause, where I learned so much about the impact that the words in a design made. I never would have guessed that the font and color and size and arrangement even mattered. There's so much more I can type but I can't think of anything; this was what stuck out the most. The same applies to my third answer; I learned of this in the design clinic I attended with Mimi in October. Later on in the year, I was hitting a wall trying to come up with ideas for a title page until I made a magazine run with Elissa to Barnes and Noble to look for inspiration. Without Mimi first mentioning it in October, I would have never been able to a) finish the yearbook and b) known seen how important that was until I experienced it myself.
2. Confirmation of Contact Person, Contact Phone Number, and 50 hours completed
Mimi Orth; E-mail and Phone number available upon request; log mentioned above.
The 2012 iPoly yearbook wouldn't have been completed without Mimi Orth. Should be evident of at least 50 hours...
Friday, April 27, 2012
Independent Component 2
Literal
(a) "I, William Lam, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
(b) I executed various tutorials from Adobe for Photoshop in order to better familiarize myself more with the tools that graphic designers utilize.
Interpretive
It is significant for me to learn the program because it is what is used in order to execute the designer's idea and make them a reality. Without proper knowledge of the program, what might've been a potentially grandiose idea, would end up with the final product not doing it justice. I practiced the following tutorials, all of which vary in difficulty and completion time within the time frame indicated on this calendar here.
Vector masking and background removal - 2 hours/3 days (overall 6 hours)
Radial zoom enhanced eyes effect - 1 hour
How to blend textures with photos in Photoshop - 1 hour
Graffiti - 1 hours/3 days (overall 3 hours)
Silhouette and gradients - 1 hour/4 days (overall 4 hours... it was fun)
Photoshop type: creating warped text - 1 hour
Old school 3-D effect - 1 hour
Photo inside text - 1 hour/3 days (overall 3 hours... needed it for yearbook)
Vignetting - 1 hour
Selective coloring effect - 1 hour/2 days (overall 2 hours)
Alien - 2 hours
Skii masking - 1 hour/4 days (overall 4 hours)
Human puppet - 1 hour/2 days (overall 2 hours)
Ripped paper collage effect - 1 hour
Fake real blood - 1 hour
Urban jungle - 1 hour
Total: about 34 hours
I have uploaded some the work after the jump. (the "read more." I only uploaded some because a few had difficulty compressing. I'm resolving this once I get some free time.)
Applied
This helped me answer my EQ because it helped me explore the possibility that the answer may like in something more literal (the execution) rather than the conceptualization or other concepts and techniques.
Grading Criteria
· Log (calendar or list)
· Evidence of 30 hours of work
(a) "I, William Lam, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
(b) I executed various tutorials from Adobe for Photoshop in order to better familiarize myself more with the tools that graphic designers utilize.
Interpretive
It is significant for me to learn the program because it is what is used in order to execute the designer's idea and make them a reality. Without proper knowledge of the program, what might've been a potentially grandiose idea, would end up with the final product not doing it justice. I practiced the following tutorials, all of which vary in difficulty and completion time within the time frame indicated on this calendar here.
Vector masking and background removal - 2 hours/3 days (overall 6 hours)
Radial zoom enhanced eyes effect - 1 hour
How to blend textures with photos in Photoshop - 1 hour
Graffiti - 1 hours/3 days (overall 3 hours)
Silhouette and gradients - 1 hour/4 days (overall 4 hours... it was fun)
Photoshop type: creating warped text - 1 hour
Old school 3-D effect - 1 hour
Photo inside text - 1 hour/3 days (overall 3 hours... needed it for yearbook)
Vignetting - 1 hour
Selective coloring effect - 1 hour/2 days (overall 2 hours)
Alien - 2 hours
Skii masking - 1 hour/4 days (overall 4 hours)
Human puppet - 1 hour/2 days (overall 2 hours)
Ripped paper collage effect - 1 hour
Fake real blood - 1 hour
Urban jungle - 1 hour
Total: about 34 hours
I have uploaded some the work after the jump. (the "read more." I only uploaded some because a few had difficulty compressing. I'm resolving this once I get some free time.)
Applied
This helped me answer my EQ because it helped me explore the possibility that the answer may like in something more literal (the execution) rather than the conceptualization or other concepts and techniques.
Grading Criteria
· Log (calendar or list)
· Evidence of 30 hours of work
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Helping 2013
Who did you interview?: Jalyssa D.
What was the day and time?: April 25, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Q: What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?
J: I only have one idea and it's dance because I'm in dance and it's something I love and I would rather do something I enjoy rather than something I don't care about for the whole year.
W: So you're not the only junior in dance, correct?
J: Yeah
W: Okay, the advice I have for you is that since no one can have the same topic, and someone most likely will want to do dance too, you should be specific on what kind of dance or what aspect of dance you want to do. Like, do you want to do Tahiti or flags or hip-hop, or...
J: Yeah hip-hop dance!
W: Good good. Cos it also helps with your research if it is more specific because then it narrows it down rather than being like, "Oh my God where do I start?" You know?
Q: What do you plan to do to complete the 10 hours of service learning which is due prior to the start of senior year?
J: Well I've been trying to take a class, but do you have to take a class or do you have to teach a class?
W: I think you have to teach a class or work with the instructor. Maybe taking a class is for you independent component? I'm not too sure. You should probably ask either Erika in ASB or Ashley, who you already know, about it because their topics were dance related as well and I'm not too sure about the details about it. I just know that Ashley worked at this one dance studio in, I think, Walnut. Anyways, do you have a contact already?
J: Yeah, I was planning on going to Nicole [Diaz] who also is in dance and it's a studio in La Puente I think.
W: Okay well just get that solidified. You seem to be good on this. Just be careful not to lag because a lot of our class got killed with their lack of service learning so it's good you have a connection already. Just follow through with it.
Q: What do you hope to see of expect to see when watching the class of 2012 present their two hour presentations?
J: Well I've already been to one but I'm not really sure. Like do you mean up there? Or in the classrooms?
W: Oh, you mean you've been to the product presentations? That's a different component of the senior project. The two hour presentations are us in all the junior and senior classrooms during the last two weeks of May and each senior gets two hours to present what they've been working on all year.
J: Oh okay, well I'm not too sure on what to expect.
W: Okay... Well my advice for you I guess is to just go in with an open mind and really look at how everything is broken down because a lot of our class, I know, have been telling everyone to transfer out so they don't have to deal with it and they make it seem more scary than it really is and whatever.
J: Yeah I was thinking about transferring out because of that.
W: Yeah, well during the two hour presentations, just kind of look at how everything is broken down into sections because that's basically how the whole year. They give us little bite sized chunks to work on of our project at a time. It's not like they give it to us all at once and it's too much and we all die from it, like how people on Facebook have been doing. It's all done throughout the year and it's manageable pieces, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T SLACK. It's like a snowball effect if you just let it pile on. It definitely catches up to you. So don't worry about it. You'll see during the presentations. And just use the opportunity to calm your nerves about next year rather than to intimidate you.
Q: What questions do you have about senior project?
J: Well I just have one. What about if I'm a leader in dance next year? Would that count as service learning?
W: Well the problem with that is that you can't do service learning with any faculty on campus. Like, even though I'm in yearbook, and I'm an editor, I can't have Strand as my mentor. Mimi, that tall blonde lady you see sometimes in the quad, from Herff Jones, is. She comes here ever other week so that's why I do most of mine on campus. But it can count for your independent component because that's what Ashley did. She worked at a studio but still did dance because she's a leader. If anything, talk to her. What you have going on with Nicole and her studio seems good so just go with that.
J: Okay
W: Is that all or..
J: Uh I think so I don't have anything else to ask.
W: Alright, well my advice for next year is to STAY ON TOP OF YOUR STUFF. You have no idea how important that is. If you let everything pile up, that's when you see people complain on Facebook. Like with research, don't JUST do three a week. If you can, like i did, do like 4, 5, or even 6. Cos at the end, you'll be completely caught up because with research counts, a lot of people fall short because all they do is 3.
J: Is that from the library or the internet or...?
W: It can be from both. Like for me, I have graphic design books and I have articles from online blogs. You'll find out more next year. It's definitely the more simple step of senior project but it makes or breaks it too.
J: Oh and what are the interviews?
W: The interviews... There are 5 of them. The first one you can interview anyone that can help your senior project. So if you did dance, you could interview Ashley, so then you ask like "tell me about my topic" and "where can I find information about it?" basic stuff. The second interview is the same questions but with your service learning mentor. Third and fourth interview are to answer your EQ, 10 and 20 equations. It's actually really helpful. OH this also leads me to my next word of advice. Whenever dealing with other people, ALWAYS GIVE THEM A LOT OF TIME TO REPLY. Like your interviews, give them at least a week to reply and sort out their schedule before they can see you. I did my second one last minute and I had to tun it in late because Mimi was busy and the only day she had open was the day AFTER it was due. Yeah. So any questions? I don't have anything else.
J: No, thanks though!
What was the day and time?: April 25, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Q: What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?
J: I only have one idea and it's dance because I'm in dance and it's something I love and I would rather do something I enjoy rather than something I don't care about for the whole year.
W: So you're not the only junior in dance, correct?
J: Yeah
W: Okay, the advice I have for you is that since no one can have the same topic, and someone most likely will want to do dance too, you should be specific on what kind of dance or what aspect of dance you want to do. Like, do you want to do Tahiti or flags or hip-hop, or...
J: Yeah hip-hop dance!
W: Good good. Cos it also helps with your research if it is more specific because then it narrows it down rather than being like, "Oh my God where do I start?" You know?
Q: What do you plan to do to complete the 10 hours of service learning which is due prior to the start of senior year?
J: Well I've been trying to take a class, but do you have to take a class or do you have to teach a class?
W: I think you have to teach a class or work with the instructor. Maybe taking a class is for you independent component? I'm not too sure. You should probably ask either Erika in ASB or Ashley, who you already know, about it because their topics were dance related as well and I'm not too sure about the details about it. I just know that Ashley worked at this one dance studio in, I think, Walnut. Anyways, do you have a contact already?
J: Yeah, I was planning on going to Nicole [Diaz] who also is in dance and it's a studio in La Puente I think.
W: Okay well just get that solidified. You seem to be good on this. Just be careful not to lag because a lot of our class got killed with their lack of service learning so it's good you have a connection already. Just follow through with it.
Q: What do you hope to see of expect to see when watching the class of 2012 present their two hour presentations?
J: Well I've already been to one but I'm not really sure. Like do you mean up there? Or in the classrooms?
W: Oh, you mean you've been to the product presentations? That's a different component of the senior project. The two hour presentations are us in all the junior and senior classrooms during the last two weeks of May and each senior gets two hours to present what they've been working on all year.
J: Oh okay, well I'm not too sure on what to expect.
W: Okay... Well my advice for you I guess is to just go in with an open mind and really look at how everything is broken down because a lot of our class, I know, have been telling everyone to transfer out so they don't have to deal with it and they make it seem more scary than it really is and whatever.
J: Yeah I was thinking about transferring out because of that.
W: Yeah, well during the two hour presentations, just kind of look at how everything is broken down into sections because that's basically how the whole year. They give us little bite sized chunks to work on of our project at a time. It's not like they give it to us all at once and it's too much and we all die from it, like how people on Facebook have been doing. It's all done throughout the year and it's manageable pieces, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T SLACK. It's like a snowball effect if you just let it pile on. It definitely catches up to you. So don't worry about it. You'll see during the presentations. And just use the opportunity to calm your nerves about next year rather than to intimidate you.
Q: What questions do you have about senior project?
J: Well I just have one. What about if I'm a leader in dance next year? Would that count as service learning?
W: Well the problem with that is that you can't do service learning with any faculty on campus. Like, even though I'm in yearbook, and I'm an editor, I can't have Strand as my mentor. Mimi, that tall blonde lady you see sometimes in the quad, from Herff Jones, is. She comes here ever other week so that's why I do most of mine on campus. But it can count for your independent component because that's what Ashley did. She worked at a studio but still did dance because she's a leader. If anything, talk to her. What you have going on with Nicole and her studio seems good so just go with that.
J: Okay
W: Is that all or..
J: Uh I think so I don't have anything else to ask.
W: Alright, well my advice for next year is to STAY ON TOP OF YOUR STUFF. You have no idea how important that is. If you let everything pile up, that's when you see people complain on Facebook. Like with research, don't JUST do three a week. If you can, like i did, do like 4, 5, or even 6. Cos at the end, you'll be completely caught up because with research counts, a lot of people fall short because all they do is 3.
J: Is that from the library or the internet or...?
W: It can be from both. Like for me, I have graphic design books and I have articles from online blogs. You'll find out more next year. It's definitely the more simple step of senior project but it makes or breaks it too.
J: Oh and what are the interviews?
W: The interviews... There are 5 of them. The first one you can interview anyone that can help your senior project. So if you did dance, you could interview Ashley, so then you ask like "tell me about my topic" and "where can I find information about it?" basic stuff. The second interview is the same questions but with your service learning mentor. Third and fourth interview are to answer your EQ, 10 and 20 equations. It's actually really helpful. OH this also leads me to my next word of advice. Whenever dealing with other people, ALWAYS GIVE THEM A LOT OF TIME TO REPLY. Like your interviews, give them at least a week to reply and sort out their schedule before they can see you. I did my second one last minute and I had to tun it in late because Mimi was busy and the only day she had open was the day AFTER it was due. Yeah. So any questions? I don't have anything else.
J: No, thanks though!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Answer 3
EQ: What is most important to impact an audience through graphic design?
Answer 3: Work With What (Programs) You've Got
Evidence/Sources: You need to be able to envision you ideas and then be able to execute your ideas (Interview 4: Chris Green). Photoshop can do many things that most people don't know until they actually need it (Photoshop Resource Guide), so it's better to know your program throughly so then you can get a clear understanding of your limitations. The execution aka this step is crucial because it's what the audience is going to see (Graphic Design Project from Start to Finish)
Answer 3: Work With What (Programs) You've Got
Evidence/Sources: You need to be able to envision you ideas and then be able to execute your ideas (Interview 4: Chris Green). Photoshop can do many things that most people don't know until they actually need it (Photoshop Resource Guide), so it's better to know your program throughly so then you can get a clear understanding of your limitations. The execution aka this step is crucial because it's what the audience is going to see (Graphic Design Project from Start to Finish)
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