Part 1

  1. Graphic Design –  Prof. Jimmy Lou: Within this presentation, he discussed the benefits, maintenance, and use of the Risograph and the Lab that coincides. He also brought students’ attention to advertisement and publishing, as in how we think about the world and how it thus effects us. I think that it makes quite a good bit of sense, and that as someone publishes something to be shown and brought out into the world, they should be aware of not just what they accomplished, but how it impacts (and was impacted) by everything that surrounds it.
  2. Photography – Prof. Bill Kennedy: This presentation had much less talking, and chose instead to communicate through images. By taking photographs of just basic things lying about (for example, old sticky notes at the bottom of a drawer), Professor Kennedy was able to manipulate the images into something completely different, yet still with the same basic shapes involved. He included design elements inspired by a historical way another culture would create meaningful images, that he has been fascinated with. One could not have been able to figure out what the images were beforehand without him explaining, but once revealed, the answer became very apparent, causing an “Ohhhh, yeah, duh” moment. Working through what I believe to have been primarily Photoshop, Professor Kennedy uniquely edited the images in the way he describes as being whenever he was in the right state of mind. To force oneself to continue with a project that feels off or wrong is illogical, and can even be damaging to the resulting creation.
  3. Graphic Design – Prof. Tuan Phan: As a designer who created much of the ads/posters used by the school, along with many other companies, Professor Phan utilized not just well thought-out and elaborate images, but simple doodles as well. He brings many working students on board with his projects as well, allowing them to have a growing experience with that kind of work, and the demands such a job holds. It was fascinating seeing how his doodles could be brought to the worktable and become an image displayed on a bag, and keeping all his work in mind when approaching a new topic or job. Normally, doodling is just seen as a way of procrastinating or avoiding death by boredom, and not something to be taken seriously. With Professor Phan’s examples and demonstrations, this shows that while hard work through the creating process is a measure of genius and imagination, and should be used within every available aspect, creating for fun and relaxation isn’t something to be discarded immediately, and never taken out of the radar for any possible jobs.
  4. Graphic Design – Prof. Kimberly Garza: An experimental filmmaker, Professor Garza focused greatly on the different jobs she earned and how she managed and thought differently about each one. She also discussed the laborous process of re-animating an old technicolor film, of which she accomplished alongside her husband. Professor Garza focused most predominantly on the three words: curiosity, passion, and wonder. These words she brought with her on every project, and by having this mindset, was able to accomplish each goal she set out for herself. She pours herself into her work, and thus by being completely surrounded mentally and physically by the backgrounds, people, and customers she is working for, is able to create exactly what they want in the way where it honestly and completely reflects the things the companies want to portray. She demonstrates the ability of going the extra mile, and as such loving every aspect of the job of a graphic designer, especially when it comes to the obstacles. By setting one’s mind to a task in a wholesome way, there is a definite result of finishing the task with the utmost accomplishment and gratitude.

Part 2

My five year plan is to finish St. Edward’s with a degree in Fine Arts, and minors in Business Administration, Creative Writing, and alongside these Psychology. Also, I will take comic/storyboarding classes. I will need all these, as each is influential in what I plan to be after college, and pertains in their own way to my skillsets and abilities. Though I don’t expect to be hired immediately after university, I will go into movie-making and/or storyboarding through novels, animated films, or simply live-action films. I will start as a PA and gain basic skillsets, and then hopefully begin to move up in the ladder.