PROprac: Personal site is up and running!

I finally managed to publish my site today! Super exciting. You should definitely check it out!

ahhrealdesign.com - it's real alright.

Artist Statement, Round Two

I classify who I am as an artist based on my eclectic interests and zany personality. I love everything from printmaking and ceramics to book design and photography. Although I am capable of designing for screen-based applications I have an enthusiasm for printed artifacts cannot be shaken. I am a quick thinker with a side of task-juggling madman. Humor makes everything more interesting, so I toss it into my work whenever I can. I'm kind of like a design jester without the tights.

ProPrac: Business Cards Round 2.0 mockups (2-17)

A little bit of humor, some Batman yellow, a mini-scale, and a super swell url. 

PROprac: Handbook Response

Shock #1 came when I started flipping through the book and realized it was ALL text and that it was all important and pertinent information. Working at Tonic, I never realized how much actually goes in to billing people and all of that jazz. I can't believe that I should charge an average of $300-1,000 for designing an ad that is just a Quarter of  a page in a magazine. The additional fees for charging someone as well were kind of interesting to look at. I was surprised by how extensive that section really was (rush fees, unlimited use for the client...). I also was not expecting a textile design section. It never would have crossed my mind. It's weird that there are different prices  for bath towels and wash cloths.

The whole book seems really helpful as a resource for a case-by-case basis. Knowing that there is one compiled collection of this knowledge is awesome, especially if I ever do anything freelance. Luckily for me I'm perfectly content working for firms, so they should have most of this figured out for me so I never need to deal with it. Just flipping through the book was almost enough to give me a headache haha.

This combined with the "should you work for free" mind map can really help keep designers on track.

Artist bio:

I tend to classify who I think I am as an artist based off of my inspirations and the things that make me happy. I'm constantly listening to music while I work. It distracts from the comings and goings of the world around me and allows me to focus on the task ahead, not to mention that it puts me in a super swell mood. I am an eclectic sort of person and am able to find joy in any sort of project I am allowed to work on (from book design, to postcards, to tshirts or from museum pamphlets to rock band shenanigans). I enjoy humor and try hard to show that off in my work. If my design is fugly, I have no compunctions about calling it roached and starting over.


Resume content

PROprac: Career Path

There are many things that I want to do over the course of my life, so it's quite difficult for me to say in three years I want to work here or here, or live here or there. The following outline is one generalized path that I hope to take, with basic time line goals that will probably change as time goes on.

One Year From Now:
In one year I want to be employed somewhere where I make enough money to keep on top of my bills, support myself, and start paying back student loans.

In order to do this I must:
-I could just keep the job I have, which would require hard work, putting forth the effort to keep the job, continue making myself indispensable in the firm 
-Network with the people I know now in order to get my foot in the door somewhere that I can be employed.
-keep in contact with my design friends (school friends and professional friends)
-Have a portfolio worth hiring for
-Continue working to build my experience levels.

Three Years From Now:
I want to have a job that I really enjoy at a place that produces work that inspires me (Sagmeister Inc, Whiskey Design, Liquid 9, Monsters Are Good...)

In order to do this I must:
-Keep building my portfolio
-Apply to all the jobs I'm highly interested in, don't take "no" for an answer.
-continue to have a job where I can keep adding to my portfolio and hone my design skills
-network like a madman
-surround myself with things that make me happy (so I survive in a mindset that allows for me to be my most productive/creative self possible)
-possibly have a savings account I can relocate with if necessary (Sagmeister Inc would require relocating to NY for example...)

Five Years From Now/Eventually:
 I would like to move back to Maryland or move to Ireland and get a design job in one of those locations.

In order to do this I must:
-research firms I'm interested in in those areas
-secure a job
-secure housing/living
-secure transportation
-have a savings account I can use to relocate with
-network with friends I met in MD a while ago through the MICA pre-college program
-visit firms when I travel to Ireland this summer then keep in touch and try to make friends that I can network with in the future.
-accept opportunities that could further myself as a designer/person worth hiring before then