Print experiment

I am currently working on diagramming how I am going to do my senior project and stumbling upon this was a fun little piece of inspiration:
Print Experiment By Swiss Miss

GreenSail Reality

Like I said in my previous blog entry I have been working with Nasuti+Hinkle a bit over break helping them with some odds and ends, most recently working on a logo for a client who had been driving the designers mad. I spent all day Friday working on logos(and fighting, and then trying to compromise with the notorious N+H printer)

The three components I had to consider while working on these were:
1. Sailing (don't ask me why)
2. Reality( homes for now but may move to commercial)
3. "Green" ( the word of the year )

My favorite design was this:

The client wanted something a bit abstract, and I thought this had just the right amount of abstraction showing trees, sails, and the sharp angles of buildings.
Along with this I created a file with about 4 other designs to show the client( which I may or may not post at a later date)

Today heard back that yay, the client liked all my sketches! As always though, there were a few "little touch ups" which I worked on today and sent back to Karen.
As far as my favorite design went, it was not the client's favorite( the one that I thought would be her favorite in fact was, but I'm not going to address that design in this entry...)
Regarding my favorite, the client believed it too closely resembled a regatta. I do not completely disagree with this, though I personally think the regatta feeling does not outweigh the tree or building, but I am not the client so who cares what I think : )
Anywho, I like where this ended up going anyways. I morphed everything keeping a similar shape turning the logo into almost a landscape, with a house in the front, tree behind it, and mountain/sail in the background.

So fingers crossed for this design, but I think if she goes with any of mine it will probably be the one she currently favors, possibly because of the gradients...

Lessons Learned at Nasuti + Hinkle

Over break I have been interning a couple days at Nasuti + Hinkle as I've been doing over a few breaks since first interning with them two summers ago. It has really worked it's way into my heart. They make good ads and they are wonderful people to work for and with. The other day as I was saying goodbye and talking with Woody he commented on my blog article about Debbie Millman and how I had interviewed him as well but posted nothing. At first it seemed obvious, she's like a deisgn super star while Woody is the owner of a small Bethesda Ad agency. However after thinking about it, logic kind of smacked me in the face. So what if it is a small Bethesda business and not a huge new york company? They have been in business for I don't even know how long, have won piles of award(literally they are piled up in the office), and they, unlike a lot of people, genuinely seem to love what they do. So, in the same style as my interview with Debbie Millman, here is my interview with Woody Hinkle(the creative director/co-owner of Nasuti+Hinkle:

Q: How long have you been in the field, how did you get where you are?
A: 21 years in advertising, started news reporting 8 years, cooperate public relations

Q: What tasks did you preform?
A: writing(ads, brochures, creative writing, strategies plan writing, brand development(creating strategies), work with designer to make sure work is right, work with clients

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: creative writing, especially for radio
do not enjoy managing or running business

Q: Creative directors are seem to be more writers than designers, can they be designers too?
A: Creative directors (tend to be) more writers, but can be designers

Q: What is the worst client experience you have had and what did you do about it?
A: Worst client Comsat, series of ads using illustrations. 3 levels between them and people making decisions. Lower levels trying to figure out what higher ups wanted + they did not want to see sketches. Had to pay artist a kill fee( spent as much on that as the actual art) couldn't really do much except do it.

Q:What do you look for when hiring?
A: The way they think, conceptual thinking( more than experience or portfolio) want to make my words beautiful...ad art directors take basic course but are more focused on advertising( not as good in other areas), designers focused on what looks good, advertising art directors just care about idea behind it

Q: How much should I expect coming into the field?
A: Mid 30s average, more depending on the size of the business and how much they want you

Q:What type of work/tasks should I expect coming into the field?
A: smaller ads, re sizes, take approved work and do it, be part of a team rather than doing it on your own

Q: How do I work my way up in the field?
A: Don't turn down projects, use every opportunity to make something good. Be open to other ideas, don't be thin skinned, always learn, and look at everything around you


That was the interview with Woody, however there are other things I have learned at Nasuti + Hinkle such as:
-Double Check everything( especially spelling for me)
-The hours are as long as you make them, if you get it right the first time you won't have to stay until midnight getting it right
-Don't overload yourself with clients,and if you have any demanding clients( we want a complete identity change in 1 day) make sure they are a good, trustworthy client
-Work with people you enjoy working with, it will make your job and your work better
-Dogs brighten up any office... especially Basset Hounds : P

Currently I am working on a logo with them, and I will post some images when we hear back from the client as to what direction they want us to go... hopefully they'll pick something this time

Spring Internship

So after spending the last 3/4 days checking my phone and computer hoping to hear from Mission Media I got the email I had been hoping for! I will be interning with them in the spring, wOOt!

Interview with Debbie Millman

For anyone who does not know, Debbie Millan is a co-partner at Sterling design. She is both a writer and designer. She has published books, created pod casts, ran blogs, and done numerous other things based around design and the design community( as well well as the non design community). Because of her success in branding and her ability to gather and share information to the interested masses she is one of my favorite ( kind of role-model-like) designers. Around a month ago as some of you may know, I contacted her to interview her for an internship credit. I was very excited for a phone interview when I checked my email and saw that she had invited me to come to her office to speak with her. At first I had planned on responding saying I was in Baltimore and a phone interview would be better, but then I realized a phone interview was not better, it was easier. It took me about five minuets and a quick text to Sean to decide that I was going to NY to interview one of my personally most inspiring designers.

Impressively when I got to NY I kept managing to not notice the Empire State Building( Debbie Millman's Office) and almost passed it. Honestly, I have no clue how, maybe the huge line and huge building were just too obvious... but that is neither here nor there. I was very nervous for meeting Debbie and very excited. Sean and I had passes to go to Sterling Brands and I must say, I felt special with my little pass, like I was on important official business or something of that nature( it was pretty cool).


Sterling brands took up most of the 17th floor and had a crazy queen bed -sized door that had a pole or something in the middle and rotated open and closed which was both a little intimidating and kinda awesome. I think middle schools should look into getting their vice principles doors like that, just as incentive to never be sent there.
Anyways back to my interview, actually meeting Debbie was crazy. I have seen her picture many times on the internet, but I did wonder what she would look like and how she would act in person. At first glance she was very much like the woman I have seen pictures of on the internet, serious, well dressed, ready for business. However once we got talking she was much more like the person I imagined from her writings. She was very pleasant and easy to talk to. She was very willing to share her story and opinions and also was interested in me and what I was all about. I was more than happy to talk about myself, a little too much, I started rambling on like some school girl meeting her favorite rock star, but she did not seem to mind which was nice.
So I had a little list of questions and once I can scan the image I will put it in, but for now I will just type my Qs and her As
(note these are notes, not quotes.. I typed them exactly as I wrote them, except for anything in ( ) that is stuff i remember but did not write)

Q: How did you become a partner at Sterling Brands?
A: came in 15 years ago Sr VP in Sales
promoted to prez then partner

Q: You went to school for writing how did you make the change to design?
A: (did not go to school for writing) worked on school news paper

Q: Do you like either better? How do they compliment each other?
A. (no) design has to be as good as writing & writing as good as design,( they do not "compliment" they ) work together & fully integrate

Q: When did you decide logos/branding is what you want to do?
A: more by accident( started out hired as VP in sales)

Q: Do you have any favortite interviews?
A: a few- Eric Kandle
Barbara Krugar
Malcum gladwell

Q: Why are they your favorites?
A: mind blowingly smart

Q: Any advice for interviewing people?
A: Make other person feel as comfortable as possible, go with own vibe

Q: Do you still get nervous?
A: (yes)
" Being nervous means it's important to you"

Q:Key Advice for someone to be successful in the design world?
A: Work hard, harder than everyone else, when you are done, keep going, do as much as you can and do not worry about failure

Q: Can you spot people who you think will be successful?...interns, applicants, jr designers?, what are their qualities?
A: Work ethic, ask questions, keep working till perfect, curiosity, someone who is not afraid to work hard

Q: What literature do you find inspirational?
A: Print Mag, notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci, Bernard Malamud --can't remember the name of the essay she said, I really should get a recorder--

Q: At a portfolio review a woman told me I could not do advertising and work to help the community because the style and work is too different, do you agree... is there some super difference where these things will never be able to work together?
A: Don't listen( people told me I couldn't write and do design)

There was some more talking and question asking in addition to this, however that was everything I wrote down. She then offered me a copy of her new book " Look Both Ways", which I took without hesitation and she signed that as well as the copy of " How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer" which I had brought for that purpose, as well as reading on the bus. She then walked me out and gave me 2 brownies, 1 for myself and one for Sean and I was on my way (skipping down the hall). Seriously, that was probably one of those events I will always remember, it was so cool and like nothing I had ever done before. Listening to Ms. Millman was so inspirational and she really made me feel like I was on the right path to do what it is I want to do. It was wonderful meeting her and I hope we cross paths again, I will most likely apply for at least an internship if not a job at Sterling somewhere down the line : )

After my interview Sean and I went out to get dinner and wine, and check out the bottle!

We brought it home with us because I couldn't bare to part with it, and later found it is was an award winning design which I think it well deserved! Really look at that kangaroo eagle, who couldn't love it!

ps while researching this wine I stumbled across this really cool site about brand news, for anyone into that

Interview Tomorrow

So I just finished up my portfolio to show to the people at Mission Media tomorrow because I have an internship interview : ). I need to rework the envelope since I am changing my identity a bit, but this will do for now. The red book is my portfolio and the 2 sheets of velum are my resume and cover letter, they will be neatly packed and carried in my hand made envelope..yay( at least it's more fun than a big black portfolio case)


ps, tomorrow I will post about my trip to NY and visit with Debbie Millam( it was excellent)

Christmas Shoes

It's impressive that they were actually able to make a video as bad as the song.... it's fantastic really