Programming… 25 years ago I took a class in Basic and Pascal and said “never!” Here I am … living my “never”. The thing is, I still don’t like it and that is that, pure and simple. However, it is a “need-to-know thing” for a technical writer / web designer.
We spent 5 weeks in a program called Scratch culminating in a midterm game that we created ourselves. Mine is a simple child’s matching game.
Scratch doesn’t work smoothly or respond quickly and the graphics stink, so I am not exactly crazy about the program. What we are to “learn” on this project is the basic concepts of how programming language works and fits together.
Corporate ID is all about branding via logos. I am not amused. In fact, I have been dreading this course almost as much as the video class for 2 reasons: I feel very inept with the software, and I am intimidated with branding concepts.
My request to the teacher, Beth Remsburg, is that she help me get over this intimidation and then I would view the class as a success. [Retrospective comment: Beth did this beautifully but it took nearly all quarter! She has got to be the best teacher at AI with the patience of a saint!]
Our first logo was around the concept of using an assigned animal as the basis for a logo. I received an orangutan. I did a little rework since Beth couldn’t guess what it was (and she assigned the confounded animal!), but I refuse to be embarrassed. My focus at this school is web apps and I am not a graphic designer for a reason! It scares me!
One really cool thing was that many of my very favorite people were in the class with me. Granted, they are fantastic graphic artists, which can add to the nerve-wracking aspects of taking a class with them, but that is ok… I am there to soak up their greatness and I love them dearly! I just laugh at my struggles (when I am not crying!)
Voila… an orangutan logo in black and white and 2 color. It is what it is, and I am not apologizing!
Alex Overbeck and I teamed up for this project in which we were to create a tv commercial.
I had the film (thanks to our Toby who can look pretty pitiful and Merry Farms Labrador Rescue) and Alex pulled the overwhelming amount of shots together into what I consider is a really nice tv commercial for the Indianapolis Humane Shelter! He also found appropriate music.
Yeah for teamwork!!! My nerves calmed tremendously after this project was completed! I won’t say I am having fun yet, but we are working our way that direction!
What is neat is how Alex can see a shot I would consider a flop, place it in the right spot, slow it down a bit, and it works!!! That is evidenced in how he slowed Tag down and put writing over the top (the pup was running around like a ping pong ball, so I thought that was a lost shot.)
I almost feel I need to apologize for 6 weeks of silence! Homework this quarter has been a killer; in addition, my job at Harrison college has been extended, so I have been busier than I expected. So as a first post of the quarter, I will do my introduction video.
My Intro to Video class was met with much trepidation. I had heard “stories”! On top of that, while still photography is an absolute thrill to me, taking video shots has never sparked the slightest interest.
One plus on my side is that Lainey uses video cameras at work and always owns the newest, latest, and greatest. She happily let me borrow her brand new JVC that uploads directly to the computer and uses SD cards (as opposed to cumbersome tapes). That is making this new experience much more pleasant than it would have been if I had needed to borrow the school’s cameras.
These shots were taken on Mom’s farm and the pile of kids are a few of my beloved nieces and nephews.
First video – take some specific shots (long shot, close up, zoom, etc.) at 10 seconds each, put the clips in iMovie (software), manipulate, and save it for viewing. It was nerve wracking as a first project, but I got it done with only 1 point off for some shaky camera work on the zoom.
Note: I have also learned how to use YouTube for more than just viewing other people’s videos! This video is uploaded on YouTube and then linked into my blog. I am moving into the IMD (interactive media) side of my degree this quarter.
I do have a little time to goof around on break! I saw this Washington Post Peeps contest posted on a Facebook page and found it fun and creative enough to pass on. My favorite is number 2 and the Georgia O’Keefe (#20). #22 is also good… oh fooey… many of them are really good!
Ok, so I wasn’t planning on any great learning happening this quarter… 5 classes, several of which I have either had or even taught before. However, it ended up providing more learning opportunities than expected!
Typography is a pretty cool subject! (Thanks Kevin! Great teacher!)
30 hours working a job while carrying a full class load is too much (how do people do it?)
Syncretism in Christianity is still going on today (look at the attempt by Christian leaders to balance just how much the faithful should embrace current culture and bring it into our lives including the splits over lifestyles to the music such as Christian rock.)
I love history!
Sculpture and architecture is much more interesting than I thought.
Sometimes you have to jump through hoops and spend a lot of unnecessary money to get a degree and I am working at not resenting that.
Web Design was the right choice after all.
I love writing (oh…I knew that)
I still do not like marketing even though I had fun with my topic.
Whatever made me get an Associates in Business anyway? What was I thinking?
I don’t like writing scripts or much of anything to do with advertising.
This one, according to the instructor, was a pleasure to view (which was my intent) but was a bit light on written content, so I took a small hit for that. There is a lot of reading and, yes, learning that goes into these presentations. I just need to spend more time sharing that learning.
That’s ok… I really enjoyed putting it together and have a new-found appreciation of the great medieval cathedrals!
Create a poster in black and white for a charitable organization using typography rules of hierarchy etc.
This one was a no brainer – Indiana Sheltie Rescue! They have been the subject of several of my projects since not only do we support them, I can get high quality photos quite easily! Our most recent rescue, Toby, just turned 1 and he makes for a great poster pup! What do you think?
We had to write up what a typical day would be like for us in the Medieval times. All the women were writing about typical farm life and I wanted to do something different (of course!) When I got to thinking about it, I really doubted that I would be a typical farmer’s wife. Sooo… what do you think??? Plausible? How well do you know me? <big grin>
Flexing My Wings 