PRACTICUM: Design Bootcamp Day 1

An Actual Testimonial:
“Growing up, I remember sitting around the television with my family, watching commercials like “Got Milk” or “Wasuuuup?” and thinking to myself, one day I’d like to be involved in making commercials. 

My professional experiences have been in building engineering. 

While earning my subsequent business degree, I took a required public speaking course. I remember our professor telling us, “This will be the most important course you will ever take. You will use these skills throughout your life.” Coming from an engineering background, I was a bit skeptical, but I soon realized the importance of communication. It’s an interpretative process; from the clothes you wear to the way you walk – you’re always communicating a message. 

After receiving my associate’s degree in business, I transferred to a university where I am preparing to graduate in a few weeks with my degree in Communications after completing an internship with a local advertising agency. With the current economy, I have seen many businesses constrain individuality. Creating new advertising campaigns is an outlet that enables me to think abstractly. 

There aren’t many boundaries within advertising; we do whatever it takes to get results. There is so much growth potential in new media. Literally, hundreds of billions are spent every year on advertising in the US alone. I am hungry to learn the ins and outs of the advertising/marketing field. I want to know what it is really like to pitch a campaign to a client. I hope to gain contacts and make relationships with people that will be long lasting. Surrounding myself with the right people is an important aspect in the professional world.” 

NOTICE THE PATH THAT THIS PERSON TOOK ^^^ 
THEY WENT FROM ENGINEERING, REALIZING THAT THEY NEEDED A BUSINESS BACKGROUND, THEN GOT SOME TRAINING IN PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND SUDDENLY DEVELOPED A CAREER INTEREST IN ADVERTISING. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO REALIZE HERE? IS THIS AN EXAMPLE OF STEM TO STEAM?

The Challenge: With so much emphasis being placed on the importance of getting a STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS) education, your job will be to create an awareness of a STEAM (adding ARTS to STEM) educational choice. Here is an important article that I would like for you all to read: http://stemtosteam.org/

 

CREATIVE BRAINSTORMING: Having a quick conversation and doing a bit of research on the STEM to STEAM movement is important. Come to some conclusions of the benefits of this idea, and then your job is going to be to name your campaign to create an awareness. You MAY NOT use "Stem to Steam"... Products needed on DAY ONE include the following to be used in BRANDING your individual program of awareness:

1. NAME
2. VECTORED LOGO (B/W and COLOR versions: 5x5" at 300 dpi.
3. Another product that you will need to produce is a POSTER 18x24"and a corresponding 
4. WEB PAGE that continually introduces people to successes in the world of STEAM based programs (like the one at this location: MOUSE )

“[STEAM  is] an education in getting your hands dirty, in understanding why you made what you made, and owning the impact of that work in the world. It’s what artists and designers do.”

— John Maeda, President, Rhode Island School of Design

Graphic Design and Illustration Studio / Assessment

Here is the survey that we discussed during class yesterday (Thursday)
If you are present in the studio today (Friday) please take a moment to write your responses and forward them in a word document to me at adteacher@ymail.com

Just so you know, I will also forward these to our front office so they can read and assess your answers.

SELF ASSESSMENT SECTION:

1. a.) Think about all aspects of the class from interactions with your studio mates to interactions with the teacher as well as the completion of your individual class/project assignments. What do you think that you got better at during the course of this class, and what do you think you needed to work harder on?

b.) Is there anything that Mrs. Harman might have done to help you get further along as a student of graphic design? What did she do that seemed really helpful, if anything?

2. a.) If you have particular art / design / creative / presentation strengths, what do you think that you could do to use them in a job?

b.) Have you learned anything new this semester about yourself?

c.) What are the things that being in a collaborative studio environment has helped you to understand better?

d.) What has been your own personal favorite part of this class and of the general atmosphere at Career Center East in general?

e.) What specific things have you not enjoyed about being a student at Career Center East?


CLASS ASSESSMENT SECTION:

1. a.) Are there some specific individuals in the class that you have particularly grown to admire, and if so, who? What are the things that you admire about that particular person? Is this a personal friendship or is it more of a professional admiration?

b.) What quality makes a great student?

c.) What quality makes a great teacher?

2. Would your recommend this class to anyone else? What is the main reason that you would or would not recommend the class? Anything else you feel would help Mrs. Harman with her teaching style or the content of the class?

Some yes or no questions:

• The instructor provided clearly defined expectations in the online Course Description. Yes or no.
• The instructor used various teaching strategies that helped me learn. Yes or no. 
• The instructor was responsive outside of class times either in person during scheduled hours, by appointment or communicated with me electronically (email, blog, etc.). Yes or no.
• I would enjoy taking another course from this instructor. Yes or no.
• I would recommend this class to a friend. Yes or no.
• The facilities and equipment were adequate for this course. Yes or no.
• Are you taking the advanced or practicum (next level) course? Yes or no.

• If you are not, why will you not be taking the advanced (next level) course?
• If you are, what do you hope to get from another experience here in our studio?

Thank you for your thoughtful responses and for becoming a significant part of the studio here at Career Center East Graphic Design + Illustration Studio. 

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 

- Maya Angelou