Blog #4 - Someone Who Was Almost Known

In the world of words, an email, letter, memo and perhaps even more so instant messaging, may act as precursors to a first impression in person. As such, upon completion of any of the aforementioned documents - and with a potential error lurking that may result in a negative impression of you - it is important to check before you send.

After all is written and done, what better opportunity to proofread than to do so after completion. You have put thought to paper and is ready to distribute. Hold Up. Before you press send or post those combination of words, is it a certainty that they are ready for reading by eyes other than yours? Additionally, with the consideration of other parties involved, will those combination of words represent you well enough? Will they make you or break you?

Considering the whole issue of first impression, after creating a piece of writing to establish an initial interaction with someone - casual IM or perhaps formal letter - just imagine the simplest of spelling error overlooked and disseminated. Upon transfer and in the eyes of a new beholder, what you've written may lead to disturbing confusion, frustration and even render you a laughing stock. A misfortune none of us want. This may very well put you in the 'Someone-Who-Was-Almost-Known' Zone.

ANECDOTE ALERT!!!: Before publishing this little ole' blog of mine, I shared with a friend. She pointed out that 'messaging' in line 2, was actually saying 'massaging'. It has since been amended. That would have been embarrassing. The Importance of Completion in the Writing Process Strikes Again!

Just to establish, there are way more concerns regarding the importance of completing a piece of writing. To name a few, the ability to review and adjust the following: Accuracy of information, appropriate language and even intended recipient. My focus however is the impressions a message could have on your reputation if riddled with error. As such I implore that we take advantage of the opportunity this crucial stage of writing offers, so as to truly have that writing complete.

Completing the writing process

In the final or completing stages of writing, the main thing that is required in order to have an excellent literary piece is to edit and review the work before it can be published.  This stage is most important as it allows us to pay close attention to the fine details that may have been over looked in the initial stages of the writing process where brainstorming, planning and drafting are the main focus.  After the writer has gotten all of his or her ideas clearly communicated it is at this point we must look for spelling and grammatical errors and correct them.

If this is not done the reader of a piece of literature with spelling or grammatical errors, will become distracted by this and the writer then loses his or her audience. For example, an application letter that has been properly edited and has excellent sentence structure and free off spelling errors will certainly gain more attention from a potential employer than on that has errors.

Editing and review is the most important part of the writing process and completes the writing process as it ensures that the writer is able to clearly communicate his or her ideas or point across clearly to their audience. Without it the writer of any piece of literature runs the risk of losing the reader and even might lead to a miscommunication of their ideas.

Blog #3: Difference between a designer's resume and a non-designer's resume

The use of resumes are normally for job interviews or searching and applying for jobs. Often times non-designer's resumes are seen as the formal alternatives for majority of the jobs available. Reasons for this are, it focuses mainly on the data rather than the design. What one must also take into great consideration is that resumes are dependent on the type of job you are applying for that influences the type needed. There are a few differences between the designers' resume and the non- designer's resume and they are as follows:

Non- Designers Resume

• The non- designer's resumes are normally of a flat white color. 
• It mainly focuses on the information rather than the design.
• Lacks creativity
• Often times more acceptable by employers rather than the designer's resume.

Designer's Resume

• Expresses the designer's creativity.
• The design of the resume is often times more important than the actual information on the resume as it shows what the designer is capable of creating.
• Boost the confidence level of a designer in his/ her resume.
• Increases the possibility of the designer getting hired for a design job.

A designer's resume and a non-designers resume are kind of alike as they serve the same purpose as to get a job but its the kind of jobs that they get you that makes the difference.

Blog #3 - The Designer's Masterpiece

A resume requires a certain professional standard. It is "black and white" in appearance and nature. Simple and ordinary. It serves as a supporting document accompanying one's cover letter, which is usually at the end of an application letter, guided by the closing "Enclosure". Its purpose then is to give further details to the drafted application letter, for it cannot stand on its own because there is nothing extraordinary about a traditional resume.

But hey! You know what can stand on its own? A Designer's Resume!

A designer's resume is more than data, it serves as an Ad that demonstrates the best candidate. It is the designer's masterpiece. It is creatively and intricately drafted, with a 2-in-1 purpose, functioning as a cover letter and resume. This stands alone. In addition to its multifaceted nature, it is a 'pitch'. An opportunity for him to market and advertise his abilities- particularly in this competitive world of designing, it is important for the designer to stand out and be counted among the best.  

He has to demonstrate that he has the capabilities to bring innovation, flair and the requisite creativity - both what is designed and how content is written. With that in mind, there is no better opportunity for the designer to prove himself than through a demonstration of his craft. 

In essence a non-designer's resume is data; telling the reader where you've worked. But the designer's resume, is a design in and of itself; demonstrating what you're made of. 

Blog #2: Importance of planning before working on your artwork

When designing or creating a concept, it is always better to have a plan with the strategies you wish to accomplish. In my opinion planning allows you to take into consideration the "what ifs" and also factors that can either hinder or support the creative process of your artwork. A few reasons why planning is of great importance are as follows:

• It improves effective communication with the client and/or other co-workers.

• Reduces the amount of time spent on the developmental and creation process of the artwork.

• Allows you to meet client criteria and deadlines.

• Improves the quality of the work produced.

• Gives you a better understanding of what is needed by the specific client for that specific job. 

• Allows the design process to flow without constant interruptions

Planning for your artwork can be both formal and informal as long as you the designer(s) understand what is required from the client. It also aids in improving your design and creative skills. Your artwork is a reflection of you and it requires patience and proper planning as it reduces confusion in the creation process thus resulting in the production of better quality work.

MIA2002 Blog #3 - Designer’s resume vs. non-designer’s resume.

Since the dawn of employment, strategies in human resource management required measures to separate weak from strong candidates. Employed to separate the numerous applications were resumes. Resumes were formal application that would capture the essence of the applicant in as little words as possible. Traditional resumes dictated standards and formal specifics to cut through the clutter. However traditionally resumes could only convey an applicants skill on his ability to communicate with words. Traditional resumes did not communicative visual designs too well. Visual communication in resumes would lead to resumes being more bulky with the addition of artwork and pieces. The bulky resume had the added weight of being rejected as it was a little too much to read/look through especially for a human resource officer that had hundreds of resumes to look through. Design applicants eventually got smarter and actually started to incorporate their design into the actual resume, reducing the bulk and still conveying design competence.

In today's society traditional resumes are still heavily used but mainly by non-designers, but where designers are concerned they became so creative in their resume designs that an employer can actually use the designers resumes as a part of a marketing campaign. This could potentially present another risk to make the designer irrelevant but no one can actually say the resumes are not creative.

Blog #2 : What is the importance of planning before working on your artwork?

In designing, the process is always going to take time and energy, and in many cases a lot of tweaking will be required before the necessary results can be achieved.  That is why the key to any design project will always be thorough planning, with this stage in the process often being the most important one of all.

Unless one has a clear idea of where they are heading, what they hope to achieve and what the design is actually for, one cannot hope to create an effective design. The plans are be the blueprint of the creation, the foundation on which everything else is built, ensuring that one is always going in the right direction and that  one is targeting the right areas.

Of course, plans will invariably change as one goes through the process but that doesn’t mean you can overlook this step.One needs to have proper foundations before you can hope to move forwards with the design. 

So in remembering the importance of planning in any design will enable one to create an effective design.