Job Interview Questionnaire

Hello! for the second part of the job intreview assignment we had to create a hypothetical questionnaire based on the job I looked up in one of the previous posts, my resume and cover letter.

1.What is your main purpose as a graphic designer?
I would say my main purpose nowadays is to work in a company where I can offer all of the experience and skills that I've larned from my graphic design studies.

2.What would you bring to this company?
I would provide new and fresh ideas to every project in the making.

3.What's your current experience?
I'm close to finishing my bachelor degree as a graphic designer in URBE university, so my experience is purely academic.

4.In which branches of graphic design do you stand out the most?
I stand out the most in editorial design, illustration and web design.

5.What are your greatest skills?
One of my greatest skill is the abbility to comunicate when working as a team, I try to solve the problem in the most organized way possible so we can get stuff done.

6.What is your greates weakness?
When working under pressure I get extremely stressed, but in a rather strange way this helps me creating quality products.

7.Why do you think you are the right person for the job?
I have knowledge of the tendencies and styles used in graphic design nowadays, I think that combined with my work ethic would make a great situation for solving the companies problems in a creative and innovative way.

8.What are your motivations?
What keeps me motivated is the lack of really innovative work out there, people are starting to rely on the same concepts over and over, I think it is important to always generate fresh and new concepts.

9.What's your point of view about work ethic?
I think it is extremely important as a graphic designer nowadays to not only benefit from our projects but to benefit the world, we need to express values in our concepts and collaborate with our little grain of sand to help change the world.

10.How do you feel about team work?
I think it is indispensable, I can help you develop your communicational skills.

A visit to UWA 3D Open Art Challenge!

Hi!.. I talked about second life in older posts..well, for this task i had to visit a place in UWA 3D Open Art Challenge!

For what i understood, it's a competition on second life created by The University of Western Australia!

http://uwainsl.blogspot.com/2011/06/journey-continues-machinimuwa-iv-art-of.html

I wrote the name of the challenge and i found a lot of places!...

I was curious about the first place (Mysterious Wave) and i enter... this is what i saw:

At first i was a little freaked out because i thought that there were a few avatars too, but no! There were sculptures... i was fooled.. After touring a lot i started to like the place and the pieces of art.. 

I must say that the place is inspired by circus, fantasy and dreams.

After a looong time i finally found a real avatar!.. I tried to talk with her and i asked her about her favorite piece but she told me that she didn't have one.. i tried to talk with her later but she was unavailable.. 

I really liked a lot of the sculptures, but this is one of my favorites:

I really liked the structure, and the metal effect gave to it..! 

I'm still learning how to use Second Life, for that reason i couldn't find a way to contact the owner about the sculpture :(  But i tried!

At the end, i must say that i'm very surprised about the infinity of things that you can create on this site..

And how people show their abilities and imagination through it..

It's like a different way to show your portfolio!

*If you are interested you can visit this and more good places!.. 

See you!

Job Interview!

For this assignment I had to watch this video: http://www.videojug.com/interview/the-job-interview
And this is what I learned about job interviews


Job interviews are not always alike, every applicant must be 100% prepared for any kind of situation that might arise during the job interview. Sometimes the interview is based in a couple of minutes of small talk, meet and greet conversations and then getting into the point of the interview, which are some questions about your background, education, and benefits for the company. That's a typical job interview, but as I already told you, it's not always like that. In other kind of job interview, you might be interviewed by a group of people instead of one person, sometimes they asked you more about your abilities to handle a particular situation, rather than your background and your experience. For that reason is better to be prepared for any type of scenarios.


Another very important thing is to be dressed professionally. Okay, it depends of the interview, but always be presentable and clean in a job interview. (It's important to be aware to not over dressed, keep it simple but sophisticated).


It's important to look fine physically to make a great first impression, but you must be aware of your personality too. Be likable, make eye contact, smile and give a nice firm handshake to your interviewer.
It might be that the 80% of your job oportunity depends on your personality.

If your interview is placed in a restaurant or a cafe it's more tricky, because the interviewer is not only going to evaluate your backgrounds, but also your eating manners and your reactions... For that reason it's important that you keep your dining etiquette, stay focused on your interviewer and speak at an audible level.


If you have a situation that a few people are interviewing you, first of all, be PATIENT and RESPECTFUL. Make sure that you adapt your answers to those interviewers. (For example, if you are interviewed by a male and a female, remember that males tend to communicate much more directly and concisely, whereas females tend to communicate in stories and they like to discuss more feelings-oriented subjects).


If unfortunately, your interview is going poorly and your interviewer is not pleased, take a few steps back, ask her/him about what can you do to upbeat the interview, and let them to take the lead while you regroup and gather your thoughts with a new sense of energy and attitude. 


If the job interview is by telephone, it might get a little tricky, because you can't see facial expressions or body language, for that reason make sure that you use a lot of inflection in your voice, because that's the only first impression that you would give. 


Lie detector tests, questions related to your ethnicity, family status, childbearing status, gender, and any other thing related to your culture, are not acceptable. You don't have to bear with this kind of situations no matter how great the job is.


So at the end, if your interviewer don't call you back, don't be shy about calling them you! Be proactive about your career search, don't wait, they might be busy or out of the town. Try to keep your name in their minds by writing a -thank you- note to anyone who asissted you... 


Even if you achieve all this steps and you still have no response from the interviewer, don't give up! There will be other opportunities! and remember...practice makes perfect :)


Good Luck!-


-Claret

Chinita's Fair + Second life!

Hello everyone! For this assignment I had to design with my teamwork a campaign for the chinita's fair!
At the end of the project we have to exhibit the products on Urbe EFL Center in Second life.

This is a very important event in Maracaibo, it's on november 18th but most people celebrate all week!


Let me show you our work :)

This is the logo of our campaign. It's the 46th anniversary of this event!
As you can see, it has been added to the logo a slogan (the most significant event of the year!), which in fact I personally designed. This led us to the general concept of our campaign. 

(A slogan is a very important part of the logo, because it gives more support to it. In this case, the concept of the slogan was about cheering the people)

 Once we had the logo and the concept, it was designed the poster of the campaign.

And the last thing we designed was P.O.P Material (Point Of Purchase materials) 

Pins, t-shirts, keychains and napkins to support chinita's fair campaign!


So, let me show you our job in a shorten way through a mindmap:

Then, i wrote an information/report note about our stand and our group and i uploaded on SL:

This way, visitors can see the information about the project and the owners of it!

Let me show you our campaign in Second Life!

This is our stand and my avatar in SL,  as you can see, I uploaded our Poster, P.O.P material, the logo of the campaign and the information note about it!


Creating this campaign about one of our culture events, and promoting it virtually was an interesting experience!.. It's a safe, easy and nice way to show our job and effort to the world!


And it was kinda fun to create crazy avatars! 

This was a screencapture taken at Secondlife...those avatars are my classmates and my teacher! (how cool is that?)


(Pd: If you are interested in this game/chat go to www.secondlife.com)

Have a nice day!:D

My cover letter

Hello again! 
As you saw in my last post, I published two jobs I was interested in.
I finally chose one and I wrote my cover letter and my resumé to apply that job.

You can see both (my cover letter and my resumé) right below.


Resumé

Cover letter

Check out this designer!

This is Manuel Rebollo,

He is a graphic designer and illustrator from Salamanca, Spain.  

He stud­ied Graphic Design at Sala­manca Art School and cur­rently works free­lance in the field of design and illus­tra­tion.

 

His works are based in the woman figure, fashion and beauty, his Style is a mix of sketches, typography and textures.

I really like this type of  "Feminine fashion illustration", the mix of drawing, shapes, colors and contrasts ends up being aesthetically attractive and with interesting results.

Finding a Job Online

Hello again! Well for this assignment I had to search 2 jobs on the internet related with my career. I found them on http://www.simplyhired.com/ and http://www.careerbuilder.com/


SUGAR FOODS CORPORATION
-Graphic Design Intern
 This job is a part-time (20 hours/week) entry level graphic design role, located in NY, provides graphic design support for all Sugar Foods brands under the Innovative Ingredients Division including: The Better Chip, Fresh Gourmet Salad Toppings, and all new products currently being developed at our Mazatlan, Mexico facility...
It requires to design Design sell sheets, brochures, flyers, web banners, advertisements, presentations, tradeshow displays, coupons, packaging, 3D renderings...
I think i would be good at this job because as an intern it would be a good start to the business world.

This Job here



COOK MEDICAL
-Graphic Designer
As a second choice I chose a full-time job on Winston-Salem, The primary purpose of this job position is to support Marketing with design and production of print, electronic and promotional materials, maintaining Cook Medical brand standards. Also, support the Marketing Coordinator with production of IFU labels, printed raw materials, etc...
The reason i chose this job is because it envolves a bigger company and a bigger charge. It would be great if I had a previous experience in other job, because this job its more professional.

The other reason why I chose this job is that they give a Life Insurance and a medical, dental and vision discount.

This Job here

Survival Tips: Doing Free Design Work for Friends and Family

As a designer, you’ve no doubt encountered situations where friends, family members, neighbors or even mere acquaintances ask you for a favor in the form of free design work. If you’ve ever given in to one of these requests, you probably know how quickly they can get out of hand.

How should you respond to these requests and what should you prepare for if you take one on? Today we explore the wonderful world of pro bono design.

The All Too True Tale

Anyone with a job in design knows the story well. Once people realize what you do for a living, favors will be expected. It’s just something small. It’ll only take you a second because you’re so good (flattery always helps).

I know exactly how these things work out, yet still I falter. Just recently some family members contacted me about creating a logo for a little side business they were starting. They had tried their darndest to create something themselves but to no avail. I would surely be able to top their ideas in a matter of minutes right? Because I’m so good at what I do? The work will be free of course.

I gave in. It was against my better judgment, past experience and everything I’ve read but I trudged ahead with a childish sense of optimism. I sketched out some quick ideas, followed one of them to completion and even included a few alternate versions for different use cases.

I had not only successfully fulfilled this favor, I had gone above and beyond the call of duty! Surely my amazingly generous act and obvious talent would win me some major bonus points. It took me a few hours but I felt better having done my good deed for the day.

They wanted something “a little more basic, but still kinda fancy.”

Then I received the email back. They were asking for a few small changes. First of all, they wanted something “a little more basic, but still kinda fancy”, next they wanted me to add a long tag line that would screw up the layout, change the name of the company that they had given me the first time around and finally, change the colors.

To be honest, I’m still not entirely sure how to interpret these vague changes, but I knew one thing for certain: they wanted a complete redesign. Oh and here’s the kicker: I received this email on a Saturday afternoon and they absolutely had to have the changes completedthat day.

My optimism had been brutally stabbed in the heart. The favor had gone exactly where I knew it would and turned into a major annoyance, and a free one at that. Now I was faced with becoming the bad guy and telling them that I couldn’t come through on their unrealistic expectations. Somehow, my good deed had turned into me being selfish and uncooperative!

The Problem with Working for Free

The problem with doing free design work for friends and family is that it’s just that: free. Because you’re good at what you do, it’s hard to put less effort into a project, no matter what you’re getting paid. This leaves the burden of recognition for the favor on the receiver and it’s a long shot that they’ll remotely understand the time and effort you’ll be putting into their “small” favor.

“Suddenly, your free project is going through hours and hours of redesign time and actually eating into your work for paying clients!”

Ideally, your friends would fully realize what they’re asking and do their best to not act like a paying client. Unfortunately, this almost never happens. Instead, as soon as those emails start flying, you take the role of the battered designer and they the role of a high roller client that you can’t afford to lose and will do anything to keep happy. Suddenly, your free project is going through hours and hours of redesign time and actually eating into your work for paying clients!

Tips for Free Work

If you’re a nice guy or gal, at this point you’re probably nodding your head furiously. You’ve been here before and will be again. Every time it happens you somehow manage to get trapped in an ugly situation.

Let’s take a look at some tips for preparing for this unfortunately inevitable situation. Below are some things you need to keep in mind and some suggested actions to choose from.

It’s OK to Say “No”

First and foremost you need to come to the realization that “no” is a perfectly acceptable answer. You don’t have to be a complete jerk to turn someone down when they want you to do some pro bono work, but saying “no” nicely isn’t exactly easy.

“You don’t have to be a complete jerk to turn someone down.”

Some take the route of turning it into a matter of policy: I have a policy not to do free work for friends and family. Such a policy might be awesome to have, but stating that outright might sound like you’re accusing your friend of trying to take advantage of you.

Some genuinely are and need to hear it. Others though simply don’t have a strong grasp of the time and effort that goes into a logo, a flyer or even a full on website, which is exactly why they ask you to do it for free. At this point, try offering up the simple explanation that you’re completely swamped and can’t take on any extra work at this time.

If someone really cares about you and sees their favor as something that will significantly add to the mound of stress that you’re already facing at work daily, they’ll back off.

Be Ready for a Full-Blown Client

When should you say “no” as opposed to giving in and doing someone a favor? When you’re not ready to take on a new client that doesn’t pay you. This may seem obvious, but the key here is to realize that this won’t just be a quick, one time favor for Aunt Sue, but a drawn-out and possibly ongoing client relationship that you’re starting.

“It’s rare that someone can ask you to create something that exists only in their head and be satisfied with your first attempt.”

As my story above illustrates, no matter how great you did on the first round, the changes will come and they will be time-intensive. It’s rare that someone can ask you to create something that exists only in their head and be satisfied with your first attempt.

If you’re interested in doing the favor, say “yes” with the full knowledge that the person will act like a client. They will impose deadlines, snub your work, request large-scale changes, call you at inconvenient times to discuss the project, send you emails at 2am describing a brilliant idea that they just had and engage in every other act that paying clients do, except of course writing you a check.

Be Wary of Unrealistic Turnarounds

Let’s say you’re Mr. Nice Guy and actually want to continue to do favors for people, no matter how many times you get screwed over. The story above illustrates that I’m obviously stuck in this camp. I enjoy using my talents to help people out every now and then, but I don’t enjoy the realization that my consideration isn’t being reciprocated.

One of the major pitfalls here is something I fell into right away in the situation above. Upon agreeing to do a free project for a friend or family member, I tend to jump right on it to get it out of the way. My naive thought is that this diligence will be rewarded with a pat on the back and a nice “you’re a lifesaver”.

“I’ve shown right away that design work can be rushed and turned around very quickly.”

The reality is that I’ve shown right away that design work can be rushed and turned around very quickly. They only just asked me to do the favor and the next morning here it is sitting in their inbox. That means it’s no big deal to ask me to start over and have it done in a few hours!

If you want to keep expectations in the ballpark of realistic, stop turning free work around so quickly. Explain to the person that it’s going to take time and has to come in after paying clients who have contracts in place that can’t be broken.

Once they realize that their free logo will take 2-3 weeks, they’ll hopefully come to the conclusion that the favor is a significant one. Then when they ask for changes, you can kindly explain that, once again, it’s going to have to get thrown at the bottom of the stack and will take some time to get to. All the waiting might just make them turn elsewhere, and trust me, that’s not a bad thing.

Bartering Can Be Great

If the person asking for a handout isn’t someone that you see as fit for charity, then consider setting up a barter situation. Unlike free work, these agreements can be immensely beneficial if you’re skilled in structuring them.

“Unlike free work, these agreements can be immensely beneficial.”

For instance, let’s say your pal Joe wants a logo for his landscaping company. Explain to Joe that you typically charge $X for a logo project and will therefore give him a free logo if you get the same amount of money back in landscaping services.

If you’re good enough, before you know it, you’ve got people mowing your lawn, cleaning your pool and giving you free meals at their restaurant! As long as both parties are professional enough to not get greedy and take advantage of the agreement to their obvious favor, everybody wins.

Conclusion

At one point or another, we all swear we’ll never take on another free project again. If you’re like me, you suck at making good on that promise.

Keep in mind that it’s perfectly acceptable to turn a friend or family member down, that saying “yes” means taking on a full-blown client, that completing the first round quickly only sets unrealistic expectations for change and that, when compared to 100% free work, bartering can be a fantastic alternative.

Do you have a horror story of a free project gone wrong? We want to hear it! Leave a comment below with your story along with any tips you have for working for friends and family.

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The problem with doing free design work for friends and family is that it’s just that: free. Because you’re good at what you do, it’s hard to put less effort into a project, no matter what you’re getting paid. 


First and foremost you need to come to the realization that “no” is a perfectly acceptable answer. You don’t have to be a complete jerk to turn someone down when they want you to do some pro bono work, but saying “no” nicely isn’t exactly easy.

CONJUNCTION    VERB NOUN ADJECTIVE

Sharing time!!

I just found this AMAZING thing... behold! 

Light-Up Wallpaper Illuminates Interior Spaces

What if you did not need to hang things on your wall to have engaging decorations – and could skip buying lamps and installing lights altogether. Addressing both aesthetics and function in a phenomenal way, this light emitting wallpaper design by Jonas Samson combines flick-of-a-switch decor with an all-in-one lighting solution.

When turned off, the wallpaper reverts to a blank state showing no sign of its hidden ability to light up. Turning it on can be performed as a single action or can be set up in an elaborate sequence to make a space more dynamic and engaging – a nifty party trick or simply something more active than your typical still life or landscape on the wall.

The potential patterns are, of course, essentially endless – designs similar to typical wallpapers can be used, or more modern patterns that sync up with a given interior, or various strategies can be layered so that a different configuration is possible for the ever-changing needs of a space.

I think i want one now... thoughts?

Interviewing a graphic designer :)

Name

Johanna Delgado

Date

September 14th

Questions

1. Could you please define Graphic Design in your own words?

Graphic design is a process, it allows you to create whatever you want from nothing and can be use for many purpose.

2. What influenced you to pursue graphic design?

I really didn't have any influence to choose graphic design as a career, i love drawing and graphic design was the most close to the real career that i wanted, illustration.

3. Could you please describe the educational process required to become an graphic designer?

I think that Graphic Design is not a career you had to study, there's some techniques and rules you have to learn but if you want to be a great designer you have to work by your own. You learn more from your teachers from the fact that they are designers than the fact they are teachers, is difficult to explain but i feel that the graphic designer can be made.

4. What are the skills you need to be a good graphic designer?

Well, first of all, you need to have a great eye for esthetic, it doesn't required you to be a great drawer, you just need to proyect your ideas on paper. The most important thing is to be creative and inventive, from that point eventually you'll develope some other skills that will make you a great designer.

5. What job considerations were you looking for after you completed your education?
My ideal job has to be based on editorial, making books or illustration for books, unfortunately in our country editorials doesn't hire many designers for those works.


6. What's something of your school life that you enjoy the most?
Met people, met others students and professionals as my teachers. I learned a lot from them and i made a couple of friends that are my closer friends right now. I think that's the best thing a could get from my school life.


7. From your perspective, what is the most difficult part of being an graphic designer student?
There's a couple of things that people has to think before study graphic design, one is the money, it's a very expensive career for all the materials you have to buy and the tools you need, like a very good computer for example, an average computer is not enough... And the second thing is the time, it takes you a lot of time to make a project, because you don't study a book an that's all, you make things, cut, glue, paint, all that stuff takes you a lot of time.


8. What are your plans for the future?
My dream is making comic books, that's a difficult thing to do in this country so i'm planing to move out of Venezuela to learn more about comic books and make one from my own.


9. Point out your most personally gratifying moment in graphic designer school.
I was a really good student, i'm proud of all my school works but my favorite has to be my final proyect because it was a children's book that represent me as a graphic designer and my style, every teacher that read that book knew that was made by me... It was a great feeling.

10. Why would you recommend graphic designer as a career?

I don't recommend graphic design as a career in this country, there's no work field in Venezuela for it and the public doesn't value the effort and the importance of our job, but it's a beautiful career if you planned to work out of the country.