The Designer’s Shadow

What an amazing experience!

This is the second year that ASID does the Real World Design Week (RWDW) and hopefully will continue to do it for years to come. During this week students can register on the ASID website with a designer or showroom for a one day internship. I shadowed Ms. Diane Mallory, who just so happens to be the ASID Texas Chapter President.

We walked various showrooms with a client of hers, selecting furniture in the morning. Then in the afternoon, another student designer from El Centro College in Dallas joined us and we then went to a tile showroom to make selections for flooring and wall tiles for the bathrooms in another client’s home.

Ms. Mallory was able to give me a tour of a home she was designer for her client, and it was amazing! From a student point of view, where you make selections for a space and put it on a presentation board with drawings and images, and having to imagine what the finished space would look like, it is absolutely amazing to see selections installed and in action! WOW! WOW! WOW!

This experience has truly renewed my passion and has motivated me to strive for more creative options, and too look at my current school projects, and jump into them even deeper. I am absolutely glad I decided to take advantage of this chance to shadow a designer, and I will remind my fellow students to do so next year. This is truly an experience that helps us as students realize what the Real World in our design industry is like, and to help us know what to expect.

Change of Plans

OMG! Today is a day to remember!

I started the day expecting to have a one day internship with The Gathering Antique shop, and due to unforeseen circumstances, I wasn't able to. Instead I went to the ASID office here in Dallas, and was connected with a designer, Ms. Diane Mallory.

Now I will complete my Shadow Day for ASID's Real World Design Week with her, tomorrow. So, though my plans were changed for me, I am excited how everything is turning out.

I also attended the Pittsburgh Paints lecture on this years color trends, and I had a great time! I was really nervous because I went alone, (none of my friends could go, they had class) but I met some really great people there, and learned a lot about how the color forecast is predicted, and received great tools that I can use on my projects for school and for when I graduate.

I feel very proud of myself for staying, and while I was there I learned of an event that I otherwise would not have known about.


Thursday November 5-
Design on Dragon
from 6p-9p

This event will highlight a variety of art galleries, antiques stores and design showrooms. There will be food, drinks, and music. This event will become a part of the new First Thursdays on Dragon. There will be shuttles available for transportation.

For more information call (214) 647-5681 or visit www.DragonStreetDallas.com. Proceeds from the event will benefit Big Thought.

Big Thought is a nonprofit organization that is focused on improving public education through creative learning.

Sadly, I won't be able to attend but I invite and encourage y'all to.



Please follow the links below if you need more information:

The Big Thought
Design on Dragon in Dallas

Week of November 1-7:

I have a lot going on this week! I am both excited and nervous! Through being a student member of ASID and attending many of their events like MetroCon and NeoCon, I have submitted my name into so many things, and I think this has given me the opportunity to be aware of a few events in my area.
Dallas is one of the major design hubs in our industry and this week is busy with events and seminars:


NOVEMBER 3: FOLLOW THE TRENDS, with PPG Pittsburgh Paints “The Voice of Color”.

This is a special CEU presentation on the 2009-2010 color and design trends, and this presentation counts for 1 CEU towards NCIDQ, ASID, and IIDA. Ruthanne Hanlon, National Color and Design Manager, will discuss the new color and design trends in residential retail and commercial.


NOVEMBER 6 &7: ASID TEXAS: Student Career Days.

During these two days there will be seminars, panel discussions, vendor table-top displays, a review of portfolios, and competitions and prizes. There will also be tours of Decorative Center Dallas.

The tickets are $15 each for ASID Student Members and $20 each for Students who are not members of ASID. Ticket sales will end at 10pm on Wednesday, November 4. And because there is limited seating, tickets will not be sold at the door. Please follow the link below for more information.


NOVEMBER 2-7: ASID: Real World Design Week

This is an event that is all week long, where a student member of ASID has the opportunity to have a “shadow day” with a design professional. It is a great time to get real world experience and to learn hands on, as well as a way to begin a mentoring relationship and perhaps an internship or entry level job opportunity.

I have the great chance to work with Mr. Jack D. Caffey from Whole Sales of Fine Antiques on November 3, and I am extremely excited!

I will keep you posted on the experiences and hopefully have more events to share.

For more information follow these links:
ASID Student Career Days
ASID Real World Design Week

lost in work!

wow, finals are over. I really was ready to just give up! I had to turn in all my final projects a week early b/c of my trip to NeoCon. I had to final design presentations, and 4 notebooks, and a speech, and man o man, but luckily thats all over!

Now, I find my self in Chicago, and waiting for my rental car. I'm excited and nervous!

The Schedule

It is definitely more than just planning your day, sometimes I think you have to plan your week.

I have 2 great kids, an 18month old (Feno) and a very active 5yr old (Nes). Nes, is in baseball and soccer, and involved in school events likes talent shows and things like that. My guy, works at night and most of my classes are at night too, but its only a few days of the week. Luckily I don't have to work. But being a student and running a house full, and everyone on different schedules, its not easy.

Normally its me delegating who needs to be where and at what time. But I don't' know where it got so hard. Its like now I have to decide what class I have to miss, so Nes doesn't miss an event. or the guy has to leave work early.

I'm not complaining, I'm just venting, and I am realizing that perhaps I need to not just take the schedule day by day, but organize it at least week by week. Yea I think that's what I'm going to have to do, and I'm going to have to call some reinforcements (Grandma and Grandpa).

So next task: Design a schedule!

Technical Difficulties

My computer recently crashed, and my life is a mess becuase of it right now. So I just want to remind everyone to back up your work. I am sure kicking myself right now becuase I didn't! AAARRRGH!!!!

My school recently hosted a Myth-Busters session regarding find a job, or an internship. Student services invited many professionals in all aspects of the design industry form an expert panel. There was a lot of information given, much of which is a little common sense, but is still worth being emphasized.

The first topic discussed was networking, and Kim Scott, who is a Director of Human Resources from Gemmy Industries offered a lot of advice from the perspective of an employer looking for an employee. She first suggests a few sites:

www.gain.net
www.dsvc.org
www.linkedin.com

She suggests to do everything you can to get "face time". Go to events, be willing to give up your time, and on these network sites you should get involved in discussion, but always remain professional. Because these discussions are like interviewing without actually being on an interview. And getting yourself noticed is definitely going to get you hired.

Many experts on the panel agreed that networking is the best way to get exposure, and in your quest be sure to look at the "best in the business" because it will help you become professional faster.

A senior graphic designer on the panel suggested we find a mentor, someone with a work ethic that we want to emulate. And the true secret is to be sure you dress the part, so even if you don't have the position your looking for, behave as you do, and be grateful for what you do have. Because, as he explained, we aren't looking for a JOB but BUILDING our CAREER.

Mr. Dave Powyszynski, AIA, a senior vice president at Aguirre Roden, Inc. explained what he is looking for in an intern, or assistant, or in any position for that matter is ATTITUDE. Remember that your potential employer is going to know a lot about you before you even walk in, thanks to Google, MySpace, FaceBook and other networks. And if there is anything that they find that doesn't reflect what their company is or stands for, you already lost the position before you even walked in the door.

A question was asked in regards to our portfolio's coming out of graduation. As he explained "quantity does not equal quality" so don't show every piece of work you have done since you started school, only show those relevant to the position available, and be prepared to show your thought process.

But the most important thing is to be honest. Don't say that you are proficient in something you are just learning, because in these times we can't afford to "fake it" until we "make it".

FOCUS, FOCUS

Today I had the hardest time to focus on my work. I sat in front of my computer and opened my CAD files and just stared at the floor plan I was working on for 10 minutes, just not knowing where to start.

Has this ever happened to you? Where you start on an objective for the day and as soon as you start to choose where to start, you begin to think about how to do it, then why that way, and then you begin to wonder if there's a better way becuase the quarter is almost up and you only have 4 weeks before you have to turn in the project and . . . well the train jumps tracks and your thought process and focus is just out the window. AARGH!

I decided to take a break and come back later, and the next thing I know the day passed . . . .

I just feel so frustrated with myself becuase I didn't accomplish anything! Help, anyone!

Organization is KEY!

It is very important to be organized in our field. And the thing of it is, that you have to start organized and maintain it. Everyone has their own way to organize themselves, and there isn't a right or a wrong way to do it. Whether its a large notebook with a spiral for notes, and dividers for handouts, or a folder and a binder or an accordian file system, just find what works best for you and stick with it.

I am the worst person when it comes to organization, and I think many of us left brain thinkers, like designers and artists, are. You have to almost force yourself to get organized.

This is my method. I have a folder. A bright colored one (so it'll stand out) and a black binder (so it looks more professional). In my folder I put all my sketches and doodles, and bubble plans, and anywork I did on trash paper, you know rough drafts, of any kind. And in my notebook I but all final work. And its organized in the order of the creative process. Commitment (the project requirements), Programming (adjacency matrix) Research (codes and trends). Then I include specification sheets, for everything that called my attention when designing, such as: appliances, furniture, wallcovering, fabrics; everything. I try to use as many color copies as I can, and if I get a chance to visit vendors, and showrooms, I include swatches and samples, whether I include them in the design or not, will be determined later.

At the end, I begin to sift through, and make selections from what I already have put together. This way I'm not hunting and searching when it comes to putting the final notebook together, or my presentation boards.

Now, I'm not saying that its the right way nor the only way, but its what I've developed after being stressed the heck out for 3 studio classes. But whatever works for you, stick to it! Once it becomes a habit, it will make your life easier as you move on to your more indepth and rigorous courses. It'll show when you present.

How do you get organized?

Questions are Good!

Its true there aren't any stupid questions, but sometimes you can't help but feel stupid asking them. Its hard to know your on the right track if you don't ask, and the worst, is feeling like you can't ask them.

I've been in a few classes, that are interesting, and engaging, and very informative, but I don't feel like I can enjoy it. There were many students in such a hurry to leave, because they had shows to watch, or people to meet, that I just can't focus because I am so engulfed with questions I just don't feel comfortable asking!

I know everyone has lives outside of school, believe you me, I am managing three lives right now; not only my own but also my kids', so I know how precious time is. But I also know not everyone lives the same way I do. And I have to be honest and tell you that there are many times, when I wish I could just run out of class, and take care of some other stuff I have going on. But the reality is that we are all paying for these classes, to learn because we will need to use that knowledge in our future careers as designers. And to be good designer you have to know more than how to hang draperies and how to select a good color pallate.

So slow down, breath, remember that these classes can't be DVR'd or TIVO'd and they can't be rescheduled. You have to try to absorb as much as you can while you are there, and if you don't understand, or you just can't seem to wrap your mind around it, ask. If you feel like you can't ask your questions, because other students are rushed to leave, write your questions down while lecture is still going. At the end of the lecture, read over the questions you jotted, and if they were answered during the remainder of the lecture, great! But if not, now you can ask. And guess what, the students that were in such a hurry to leave, won't be around to rush you.

Try It!

Networking. . . What to do

The most heard advice at school is, "get involved" "start networking" "start bumping elbows with members of the industry." But we aren't given a clear cut instruction on how to start this important step in our career. Personally, I began by joining the ASID student chapter at my school, and all I did was pay my dues and, well, the year passed and I didn't do much. Then I began going to meetings, which were great, because we always had a guest speaker, and I learned a lot, but thats as far as that went. Then our chapter began to be more involved in the community; we gave a "face lift" to a nearby Senior Living Center in Dallas, and that was the greatest experience for me. Now, however, I'm taking a bigger load at school, and don't have the time to go to as many meetings and get as involved as I would like to. . .

But the fact remains, it is important and helpful to get involved in the industry, but you don't have to be physically somewhere to do it. There are online networking tools that can help you meet a great array of people at different levels in the business. Many of these sites offer webinars or podcasts that students can attend, or groups with discussions that you can get involved with and follow. There are online communities, much like MySpace, where you can bounce ideas off of each other on projects, or if you have questions as far as products or environmentally conscious design, or well, anything. Many of us Twitter, and Facebook, and that's great, and fun; just be sure to look for designers or designer groups to follow, this will help you keep up with the ever changing trends.

It is still a good idea to attend meetings any chance you get. Just try not to limit yourself to school chapters. Go to area meetings or if its available to conferences or markets like METROCon or NEOCon. What I love to do is, to go to showrooms, just be sure to call before you go. Let them know you're a student, and that you just want to come and look around. If they want your business when you are a designer, they will let you in. This will also help get your foot in when your looking for internships.

Try these sites:

http://www.linkedin.com/
http://www.ehow.com/
http://www.asid.com/
http://www.iida.com/
http://www.zabitatz.com/

Just to name a few, and if you know of any others please let me know. . . .

Happy Networking!

Finding Time

A mother of two boys with busy schedules on weekends and weekdays. it sure is hard to find a good time to get, even a little, work done. I'm up working on my architectural floor plan for my Adv. Contract project. I have so many ideas moving in my brain: space planning and universal design concepts and environmental impact . . .

This is what I call a design high. And I love it! (even at 1:30 in the morning). When do you find time to work?