Digital Age

Advertising.com has an article about how they have the best way for Cross-platform optimization.  (sharing things over several devices)  I really just liked their graphic showing the process. (shown above)
Click here to see full graphic and for access to the article.

Linkedin

I've been posting a lot on linkedin today.  I believe anyone in a professional field should get one.  I use it to keep updated on what is going on in my field, what my competition, coworkers or possible future employers are up to.  I've learned a few tricks.  I've also been able to apply a little bit of my knowledge from classes by commenting on articles and evaluating and giving feedback to other's work.

Closure

So I was doing an assignment in my Art 130 (Intro to Graphic Design) class.  I'm supposed to take pictures to show the principles of design.  I didn't understand the principles of design.  I'm kind of blind when it comes to things that are right in front of my nose, because as it turns out It tells you right on the page what the definitions of the principles are.

I was having difficulty finding the design principle of Lost and Found it turns out it is the exact same idea as the Gestalt principle of Closure

It means that you don't see all of the edges, but you see enough that your brain fills the rest in.  The example they gave was of a panda bear.

This is where I got the picture

See the lines between the ears aren't filled in but you see them.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

As this semester comes to a close in the next couple weeks I have come to wonder, what have I really gained from the experience.  At first I was inclined to believe that I had acquired very little from specific classes such as my I-comm class due to the revamping of the system and the chaos of transition and change.  However, after filling out my evaluation in which I was responsible for documenting what it was I really did in I-comm,  I realized I have gained far more than I had initially realized.

• I have learned the basic workings of an Advertising agency.
• I have acquired real skills and real experience to put on a resume.
• I have increased in confidence and credibility.
• My networking has increased (although I would do better if I would actually carry around my buisiness cards.)
• My social media and marketing knowledge has increased.
• My awareness of the world in general has changed and grown.

I am sure I have learned more, but that is what comes to mind.  I feel as though I have learned much, but I could have learned more.  (Isn't that the way of things)  I have this desire to throw myself at projects but my projects are winding down, so that would be less than effective.  Thus I must begin, once again, to look to the future, by assessing my current goals and reevaluating my direction.  I AM SO READY FOR THIS!!!

http://images.pictureshunt.com/pics/d/darth_vader-11324.jpg

Analyzing like an Analyzer

I just read an article in commarts.com about Singing like a Singer, by Wendy Richmond, a visual designer and writer, about how she attempted to sing along with one of her favorite songs like she was actually a singer, and she learned things that had never before occurred to her, in the many times prior, listening to this song.

I find that any time you try to change your perspective, you learn new things.  If you are upset with a room mate, sibling, spouse, or co-worker, but then genuinely try to see things from their point of view, you learn a little bit of how their brain works. You learn their motivations and desires.

The more you learn, the more varied your perspective is. It's like "the cow principle" in Econ:

Once you see the cow you will always see the cow (your perspective is changed forever).

Now you can choose to ignore it, and look at what looks like a fence behind the cow once you have seen it, but you know the cow is there.
Similarly with advertising, once you know the principle you can't help but look at commercials and think, "they're using this principle."  One example for me is fast food logos. Many of them are red due to color theory: red psychologically and subconsciously makes people hungrier.
Or with statistics, once you learn basic principles you become more wary of ambiguous statistics.
Or with music once you know what a final cadence sounds like you are apt to notice when it is used.

Basically this principle applies to every aspect of life.  Perspective is everything!