A few weeks ago I received an email from a student – Joi West of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She had a few questions about education, and careers in design. It was a great Q & A and I thought it may be valuable to others in the same situation.

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What college did you attend and what was your major?

I attended SUNY Purchase College, in Purchase NY, and I majored in Graphic Design.

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Did you originally want to study to become a graphic designer or was it a change of passion?

Many people start out being as fine artists, then realize it may be easier to get placed in jobs as designers. I actually started out wanting to become a designer. My father is a designer as well, so I was always exposed directly to that world. It just sort of “clicked” with me.

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Were you involved in any extra-curricular, honor societies, or professional organizations? Were you in a Sorority or Greek System?

Not during college. I was 100% focused on working (designing). When not in class, I worked. When not sleeping, I worked, When not eating, I worked. Working on design was my extracurricular activity. I tried to learn and grow as much as I could because being a student, you have no real obligation to do anything else (i.e, no rent, minimal bills, no dependents, etc.) Learning is your job. I wish I had the time (now) I did back then. There’s always so much to absorb, so many ways to grow as an artist.

I always wondered about internships, if they were necessary to get job placement in a company. During your final year of college or as you graduated, did you take any internships?

When I was a Junior, I took a class (Advanced Flash) taught by an adjunct who was an alumni of my college. It was a fun class and we became buddies. He told me he had started an agency and needed an intern. I definitely wanted those extra credits, so I interned for them that summer. At the time his agency was made up of four guys, so they were really just getting off the ground. But I definitely learned a lot of valuable tips and tricks of the trade, things you can only get by experience. Several years later, when I was working at VH1, my former professor contacted me. He was looking to hire an Art Director. Shortly after, I left VH1 to go work for him as AD, and I’ve been there for the last three years. Yes, my professor was actually Executive Creative Director, Charles Bae, of Rokkan. So, you see, interning is not only good for experience, it’s good to make connections as well. The design world is small… very very small. You will see.

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Is graduate school necessary? If so, how did you decide on a program to better you knowledge and skills as a designer? I have thought about graduate school after I graduate, but I have mixed answers from professors here.

I don’t think it’s 100% necessary. I mean, is college even necessary? If you manage to learn and master your craft and tools, you should do well. It all depends on the individual. I know some folks who are pretty successful, running their own (small) agencies, never having gone to school for art/design at all. I also know some people who went to college and graduate school, and their work is pretty horrible. They manage to find jobs, but they can only go so far. I think the real motivator here shouldn’t be a degree. I think it should be knowledge. That’s not to say graduate school is not beneficial – if that’s the way you want to learn and grow. But you can just as easily start working and start getting (invaluable) real world experience right away. And that’s something school can’t give you…

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What I worry about most is getting a job right out of school . Could you tell me about your first job? Did you work for more than one company? What was your decision-making process like at this point in your career?

My first job was for a small design shop in suburbia. There were only four people working there, including the founder. I started doing mostly print design. I worked on projects for local hospitals, colleges, charities, law firms, etc.. It may not have been the most glorious job, but it was great to work with a small group and really hone in on my craft. I worked there for about a year before I took a leap to the “bigtime” –  Rockstar Games – to start my career as a web designer. After which I hopped around a bit from job to job until i found my way to Rokkan. During those seven years I really got to find myself as a designer. I think it’s good to jump ship early on, not to settle in one place for too long. Get your feet wet and discover different things. Discover yourself. You’ll eventually find your niche.

And you have to do what feels right. Don’t just think about the big clients or big money. I’ve turned down many many amazing opportunities because they didn’t feel right at the time. Everyone is different. In the end just be true to yourself and things will work out.

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Working at Rokkan seems like an interesting atmosphere, with the work in video games,  web design and advertisement, it seems like everyday would be busy.  Could you describe a typical workday for me?

The best thing about Rokkan: the atmosphere. No stuffy people. No egos. No hangups. Don’t get me wrong, our clients are amazing, and I love the creative freedom we have, but we aren’t a typical agency. Everyone is super easy to work with and really laid back. I think that’s really important, if not the most important thing to consider: it’s not all about what you’re doing, but how you feel when you’re doing it.

A typical work day? It’s probably the same for most… Sitting in front of a computer, pushing those pixels around, haha. Nothing fancy. But it is busy, I’ll tell you that. You better get a comfortable chair…

How did you get promoted from a junior graphic designer to Art Director? From the articles I have read on design blogs and websites, being an Art Director takes years, more time than people stay in the business of graphic design.

The process of moving up the ladder varies per agency, and per person. I think even after a few months, feeling the dynamic of a place, you can see your options. There may be some room to take on more work or more responsibility and you can climb right on up.

Sometimes things are very set in stone, people are very comfortable and set in their ways – and no one’s going anywhere. In that case, just move on out. When you feel like you can’t learn any more from an agency/shop, it’s time for the old heave-ho.

I mean, generally, you’re not going to become Creative Director right out of school, so don’t expect it. Don’t expect people to owe you anything. No matter if you are good or not, you have to just pay your dues, do grunt work, be somebody’s “bitch.” I mean, everyone goes through it. You have to crawl before you walk, yeah? Just be patient. But also be smart. If you’re at a place for a while and it’s the “same old same old” start looking at other options.

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I have a couple of more questions concerning advice to get my foot in the door. Do you have any advice for me concerning the following areas: 1. Classes I need to take and 2. Possible internship or extra-curricular opportunities that I need to take to get ahead of this competitive crowd? I always hear about a portfolio being crucial when a person is looking for work. Are various types of technique needed, including web design, animation, illustration, and graphic design, for a portfolio now?

Do as much as you can. Learn as much as you can. It will only help, never hurt you. There aren’t really “requirements” to help you get ahead. Just learn what you like and do more. If you can learn an extra skill set, why not do it? The more you know.

Of course a good portfolio is crucial. No one really cares if you went to Yale if you can’t draw a box. As far as presentation of your work? Less is more. Don’t go overboard. Be yourself but have a discerning eye. Edit edit edit.

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Thank you so very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer these few questions. I really appreciate receiving answers to all of these mind boggling questions in a field that seems to change and grow so much in a short amount of time.  Is there anything else about the field of graphic design that you would like to offer some advice to someone like me?

Two things:

1. Don’t forget how to speak, read or write. You need to communicate properly with others and convey your ideas to (clients) without all of that “design jargon.” You can’t forget basic language and social skills.
2. Real. World. Experience. I can’t stress that enough. You can be the most talented and amazing artist, but if you can’t roll with the punches what good are you? There’s no place for divas in the design world. You gotta deliver.

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If anyone has any other questions, I’d be happy to answer them.

Thanks Joi! Best of luck to you.

Is the iPad really worth it? Only you can answer that. That’s like asking – are $120 pair of jeans worth it? $25 bottle of sage honey? $400 vinyl toy?

People have a tendency to ask “the public” if a price tag can be justified. Everyone has different priorities. Some people love video games. Some love to eat out. Some love to travel. Others shop. Everyone has different opinions, experiences, preferences and needs. So please, take all those iPad reviews out there with a grain of salt. Even my own…

WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL?

When the rumors of Apple’s tablet device started to surface, the fantasies began: VIDEO CHAT, GRAPHIC TABLET, PHOTOSHOP, TIME TRAVEL, TELEPORTATION, CURE FOR CANCER… And so began the hype. There was nothing that Apple could release that would satisfy everyone. The expectations were too high. If the new device didn’t make people walk on water then it was going to fail.

The fact of the matter is there isn’t anything else on the market right now to compare it to. So we get a chance to focus and hone in on what new content gets created and pushed out. We are at the beginning of this digital push for a new way to discover and  interact.

WHAT IT DOES WELL

It Uses iPhone OS

I think this is great. This is an operating system users are familiar with. Mac OS X is too hefty and complex for these types of portable devices and why have another OS altogether? Just keep it simple.

Simple Tasks and Mobile Computing

Browsing the internet, reading email, scheduling events, storing contacts and taking notes feel like they were made to be done on the iPad. And Apple’s native applications are perfect for the job. I don’t need much more than they provide, and I think neither does the average user.

When performing other tasks like twittering, instant messaging, RSS feeding, etc. there are some other third party apps make that stuff perfect for consumption.

Iconfactory has done a great job of getting us a solid, nice looking client for Twitter feeds, Twitterific, and it has subsequently be added to my dock. (Though I’ve secretly still got my sights set on Tweetie, my app of choice.)

AIM‘s chat client is actually pretty good as well. There are a few glitches, and no image sending support, but it’s decent enough to use. (FYI: The app I’m waiting for is Beejive. Pricey, even on the iPhone, but well worth it.)

The iPad is also great for productivity tasks, word processing and other jobs you don’t really need a laptop for, but couldn’t possibly manage on an iPhone. Any great amount of typing or reading is not that comfortable or efficient on an iPhone.

Things is a wonderful app. I use it on Mac, iPhone and now iPad. It syncs with your Mac as did the iPhone version. LOVE IT.

Apple has given us a fabulous suite of apps to wet our appetites – iWork – completely designed from the ground up and specific to the iPad platform. The interfaces are great and usability is high. Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are must-buys.

Point is, there’s some pretty good stuff out there on Day 3 – and that’s pretty impressive. AND it’s only going to get better.

New Content Delivery

The iPad isn’t just a big iPhone/iPod Touch.  To start, it’s a much more powerful machine. Everything is faster and more responsive. Battery life is excellent. (I can perform a whole day of computing and still have juice for more.) The screen is definitely larger, yes. Ah, but the better to see with. Interactions on a large screen are much easier and more fluid if there is more physical space. Take the keyboard as an example: Typing becomes worlds better now that the keys are nearly the size of a physical keyboard. Just think of how clicking items in a game or on a website will be… quite a different experience.

One application I’ve seen that is definitely a step in the right direction is Yahoo Entertainment. The content is basic – TV guide, news, videos. The presentation is fabulous. Not only do we get amazing design and information architecture, the experience and simple interactions are great.

If other developers follow suit, we’re headed into exciting territory. This not only elevates the content and overall immersive quality an application can give, it elevates design as a whole. That is great news for us (designers) out there. I’m very eager to work on unique interfaces for this new platform.

And then we have the publishing industry… We have yet to see how magazines and newspapers (and books) will really be expanded upon (I’m looking forward to WIRED, myself). Right now we have a few applications, but honestly I don’t think they take advantage of the platform. They’re all a bit boring in my opinion. I mean, can we do more than have a page flip animation? Can we give users a richer experience than a page swipe/scroll?

The news apps are quite stale and leave much to be desired. Sure some may think they are merely “no frills” but I’d also say they are “no fun.” I’d rather point my browser towards their home pages instead. USA Today has one of the better apps, and it is probably worth checking, but it’s still lacking creativity.

I downloaded the first wave of digital magazines as well – Time, Popular Science, GQ, and Men’s Health. I must say, overall, I’m not impressed. They mostly look like ports of their analog (printed) versions. Very predictable. At times, frustrating – you’re given a tiny printed magazine layout (facing pages), which you have to zoom in and pan to read – annoying. Some layouts even change (quite drastically) depending on the orientation of the iPad. That may sound like an interesting idea, and it does help readability in some instances, but it has yet to be resolved. Again they need to push forward to create a special and seamless experiences for users.

I’ve been reading that many people have been gravitating toward Popular Science magazine, but I just don’t see the fascination. To me the interactions are a bit uncomfortable and drab. OK , so you hide the text and see the background imagery. It’s the same every single time. Maybe it needs to grow on me?

Fun Stuff

After work is done we’ve got a whole barrage of fun stuff to play with. iPad gives us movies, music, books, pictures, games, and much more. Too much to go through, but we all know Apple handled these things well.

As with the iPhone, we’ve learned it’s really limitless. We can create whatever kind of apps we want.

Other Highs and Lows

1. Glossy Glass Screen – Bothers many, still doesn’t bother me. I actually like it.
2. No Flash – Yes, this is pretty frustrating for us all, but at least now we are seeing other technologies being utilized.
3. Size – screen size feels enormous, but the device is quite small and thin. It’s so light and easy to tuck away. I don’t now why people keep saying it’s heavy! It isn’t!
4. Keyboard - Amazing in landscape mode, practically feels like a “real” keyboard. I’m using it right now (and this is a long post!)
5. Capacity – Brilliant. You can really dump a lot on the iPad and still have space leftover, no matter what size you choose… Although bigger is always better, right?
6. Battery – Thus far it’s performance has been pretty impressive (especially considering that huge screen). Whole day, going strong.
7. Charging – My main computer is a 2007 MacPro. Apparently the USB ports don’t supply the iPad with much power. Charging is so minimal, “Not Charging” appears in the title bar. Even a powered USB hub didn’t do the trick. Fortunately everything syncs just fine.
8. Slippery – Not a deal breaker but as much as I love the aluminum casing, it tends to want to slip out of my hands.
9. No Camera – Yea, this is kind of sad. It’s not going to make me hate the iPad, but it really seemed like a no brainer. The funny thing is, Apple had created space for it in the frame. Not really sure what happened there.

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The iPad is not just a “Big iPod Touch…” It’s got everything I need and more – Now if I could only find a nice case…

For the past few months I’ve been taking pictures for my buddy, Matt. He customizes tons of vinyl toys and needs pictures for his store. As a “thank you” for all the pictures I’ve taken, he made me this little “Honey Dunny.” It looks awesome. Thanks Matt!

Yesterday I made three pizzas, some (non-traditional) cannolis and watched the Godfather Part I on Bluray. Just wanted to share some pictures… (I barely got any shots at all. We were so eager to eat, I had to rush Ha!)

First Pie: fresh mozzerella, ricotta, spinach, broccoli, loads of garlic

Second Pie: home-made bruschetta, fresh mozzerella, basil

Third Pie: marinara (made with sausage), sausage, fresh mozzerella, basil

Dessert: cannoli shell is a pizzelle turned into a tube, and the ricotta filling is lightened with whipped cream. Inspiration from Nick’s Pizza in Queens

The digital age is upon us (ahem) and publishing is becoming more expensive. In this struggling economy, ad sales are down and it’s proved too much for publishers to withstand.

Gourmet Magazine (after 70 years), I.D. Magazine (after 55 years), Jane Magazine, and a slew of others have all folded. Why buy a magazine when you can get all of the content online for free? And not have to deal with disposal/recycling/waste buildup? (I myself I have over a years worth of Bon Appétit sitting right next to me.) New content can be pushed daily, or even up-to-the-minute. Overhead costs are lower. It’s just too hard to compete with.

OK, so magazines will eventually become extinct. It makes sense. But what about books? Good question. Well, I think books are a different animal. I think their content and motives are quite contrasting. You can have a book for twenty years, as they were designed to be read and referenced and passed on to the next. Magazines are more ephemeral, pushing new content – the newer, the latest, the current, the better. Sure you may find something to hold on to, but generally, I don’t think that’s the motive.

I’m not the avid reader, so you won’t find tons of New York Times Bestsellers on my shelves, but I do have quite a number of design/art books – a handful of which I keep referencing over and over.

I browse tons of design portals daily and gather a lot of resources for reference, inspiration, and such. I have it all organized by type, date, etc. It’s great. But there’s something about having an object in front of you, and making a direct physical connection with it. Sometimes it’s easier to just turn pages of a book – put it down, pick it up, flip through some more. It just feels good. I don’t think books will disappear for a long time… at least not from my shelves.

Books I can’t live without:

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth

I can read this graphic novel 800 times and still discover nuances new to my eyes. I think I love anything Chris Ware does. I have tons of his other books and I can never get enough of his crazy stream of consciousness.

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Los Logos Series

I love this series for one simple reason. Tons of great logos. And that’s it. Just pages, upon pages of awesome logos you can flip through in seconds. Tons of ‘em. Yes.

Los Logos | Dos Logos | Tres Logos | Los Logos 4

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ABC 3D

You can’t really recreate the mood of this book. Sure you can make a nice 3D motion graphics piece but it won’t feel the same. You can’t interact with it in the same way. Also, check the YouTube Video.

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Mutabor Iconography

The language of imagery. These books are more about communicating through icon imagery, rather than just “a book of logos and icons.” Sure that is/can be a part of this, but the books are really about reducing imagery for universal comprehension. Very interesting and always a part of a designer’s life.

Lingua Graphica |  Lingua Universalis

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Pixar: At the Museum of Modern Art

The Pixar exhibit in 2006 at the MoMA was brilliant. I’ll never forget it. This book brings me back to those moments. Those maquettes, the sketches, the paintings, color studies… It just created a beautiful atmosphere. All of it. The book is a compendium of artwork, not just a book about animated 3D movies.

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Sagmeister: Made You Look

I remember in college I’d borrow this from anyone who had it. It was just so raw and vivid and different. It still feels refreshing to look at, even after all this time. I never actually owned this book until recently (it’s been out of print for years). I was walking in SoHo and passed a street vender. I looked down at his stack of books and continued to walk on by. Not more than five steps later I paused, walked back,and looked down at the pile again. There it was… Made Me Look.

I prefer Silver to Gold and Dunnys to Diamonds. My favorite Christmas gift this year is this doughnut link necklace in silver from Tiffany & Co. with a silver Dunny charm from Kidrobot. That is all. Thanks my.

Ah, Magic Mouse. How beautiful you are. How I’ve dreamed of you… I’ve had three days with Apple’s new mouse, Magic Mouse. Check out my review.

Concept:

Pushing the boundaries and redefining products has always been on Apple’s agenda. I think they’ve outdone themselves yet again with this mouse. No physical buttons and no scroll wheel/ball? Pretty amazing. And with the Multi-Touch surface, Apple sets a new benchmark in mouse usability. They give users the fluidity that previous products did not achieve (industry-wide, not just for Apple).

Design:

People always underestimate the power of simplicity. Simplicity is not simple. Reduction is one of the most difficult tasks in design. It’s easy to add functions or buttons – but try to take them away, scrape the design down to it’s bare bones. It’s not as easy as it seems.

I really don’t have any major complaints about the design. It’s fantastic. A minimalist dream. It feels modern, progressive, and smart.

Ergonomics:

Some users feel the mouse is too thin. Some don’t like the multi-touch surface, they need tangible buttons. Somehow, for me, the mouse feels great and intuitive. Maybe that’s because I’m so used to the new glass trackpad on my MacbookPro. Maybe it’s because I don’t have large hands. Maybe it’s because I want to like it so much.

Battery Life:

Not sure about this one yet. TBD. It says about 87% after only been a few days. This thing is supposed to last a few months, yea? The outlook is bleak.

Cost:

Competitive pricing. It’s definitely worth the cost of just $69.

Precision:

It’s really worlds better than the Wireless Mighty Mouse. I didn’t have a problem with the wired predecessor, but the wireless version lacked the precision and control that I need when designing. This mouse comes close to the Wired Mighty Mouse but just doesn’t hit the mark.

I’d say if you are a casual Mac user, then definitely check this one out. Browsing the web and doing everyday functions are a breeze. But when you really need to get down to the nitty gritty, a laggy mouse just won’t cut it. I’ll definitely give it more time before I consider reverting back, but just something to note from an early adopter.

Function:

The right and left clicks work perfectly despite the allusions of appearances. 360 degree scrolling is excellent. Scrolling with momentum is a nice addition. Two finger swipe is definitely a step in the right direction, though its applications are a bit limited right now. Other than in Apple’s native applications, there’s not much use for this. (I don’t even use this function on my Macbook Pro.)

It would be fantastic for Apple to add some alternative (or additional) multi-touch gestures. I’d love to have a command to show the desktop (much like 4-finger swipe up on Mac Laptops). Perhaps 2-finger swipe could be programable?

Also, I don’t think removing a Middle/Third Click was smart though. There should be some way to have 3 button options. Right Matt? Know what I’m sayin’?

Summary:

Many years ago, I had the Kensington Studio Mouse with its trackpad-like Scroll Sensor. While it seemed revolutionary at the time, it was kind of a hot mess and never evolved.

Since then I’ve autonomously decided to use Apple mice, and it worked out pretty well. They seem to keep making strides in the right direction. Shall I continue that trend? Should I stick to the Magic Mouse? I think it’s worth trying.

But what about everyone else? Well, if you can work at a moderate pace with no care for lag, this is the perfect mouse for you. If beauty and ergonomics weigh more heavily than precision and speed, go out and grab the Magic Mouse.  Or wait and see if they release a wired version.

Now if only Apple updated their displays…

Epilogue:

I returned to the office today (Rokkan) and to my good trusty Mighty Mouse. I didn’t think I’d notice any difference when using it, seeing as how I wasn’t using the Magic Mouse for very long. I was 100% wrong. It feels like a big blob under my hand. While clicking around in Photoshop was fine, holding the thing was a bit uncomfortable. Who would’ve thought?! Now I’m not even sure what to do. Keep using the Magic Mouse at home, become more comfortable with it, and eventually switch my mouse at work? I feel like I need to just “deal” with the lagging and precision issue. I never imagined reverting would be this bothersome. Crazy.

I’ll keep you updated…

My boss, ECD Charles Bae of ROKKAN, was in my neck of the woods this evening. He was giving a lecture at our old alma mater, Purchase College, talking about agency life and what to expect coming out of school. It went pretty well. Oh, and nice to see Bill Deere again.