2.28.2014

SX: getting work done

Basic Renderings for the first wall

Initial writing for History summary
—
With Art Nouveau came the first major stylistic movement in which mass-produced graphics, as opposed to traditional forms of printmaking, played a key role. Techniques of color printing were finally reaching fruition with lithography with the introduction of new forms such as Style Mucha which inevitably became known as Art Nouveau.

Print advertisement and posters were now commonplace in culture, the creation of these forms allowed for the promotion of events such as stage performances at theaters such as Mouvlan Rouge. These primordial prints allowed for the development and fruition of expression found in contemporary poster design. 


This event celebrates the roots of modern poster design, recognizing the artists who paved the way for promotional event pieces (or “gig” posters, if you’re so inclined) by annotating the connections they have to the work that followed them.

2.26.2014

PP: What Interviewers Wish They Could Tell Every Job Candidate

The interview.
That scary, nerve wrecking experience you must go through to get a job. Its always one of the hardest thing to prepare for "What do I where? How early is too early? Do I them them about that job?". That list can go on forever.

This reading answered so much of my questions, yet its opened much more questions in a good way. I have always wondered what was going on inside the interviews head and this is exactly that and I wanna touch on a bit on a few of these sections.

Standing out is one of the toughest things to do especially when you know the person you need to stand out to has tons more people trying to do the same. The idea of hooks was so obvious I felt stupid for not thinking of it. Working in valet I see tons of faces and hear just as much names. Of course, I rarely remember names but what I do remember are hooks "That guy with the poodle, the really annoying roadtrip family, The girls whose car smells like pot". I use hooks all the time and never thought of how others use it to remember me. Being able to control what that hook is going to be is a brilliant strategy.

One of the last things I consider while planning an interview is what I'm going to ask them. Like many I assume they are the only ones allowed to ask questions, but that can't be more wrong. Asking questions will for one, help me get answers I and curious to know about the job and while also show that I am genuinely in the job. I guess it could also create a more back and forth conversation which may be helpful in being likable.

Finally the follow up."How long do I wait to call? What should I say?" Its all just like dating isn't it? I never enjoyed making that generic thank you call. Following up with something from the discussion sounds much more appealing. I'm a pretty casual person and says more about me to follow in this manner.

Honestly, even with this new knowledge I will still most likely get sweaty hand right before the interview, except now I can start preparing ways to not make my nervous, sweaty hands the hook.

2.23.2014

PP: Find+Share

http://mrcthms.com/
Build from scratch using an app call Middleman which from quick research I think is an HTML framework build for rapid coding.

http://www.mug.pl/
tons of jquery. As for CMS from looking at the code I don't see evidence of wordpress or any other common CMS so it could be hand-built.

http://carlphilippebrenner.com/
hand-built. Ther less jquery but a lot of skillful css.

http://pierre.io/
also seems to be hand-built. There seems to be some jquery for the interactive bits but I can't locate the plug-in

2.19.2014

PP: Me

Check out that pondering look.

2.18.2014

PP: How Awkward People Can Start Non-awkward Conversations

I should have read this a week ago when I was randomly tossed into a member's networking event at my internship. After reading this I was able to spot the stuff I did wrong and now I can use some of this knowledge to prepare for next time. I do think being sincere will be helpful I tend to overthink things when I tell myself that I should talk to someone and usually that ends in failure. I do know that from experience desensitization therapy works thanks to my valet job. Before that job I was terrified about having to work with random people, but I needed the money and now its cake I don't ever feel afraid not even that one time I met William Shatner.

PP: Branding + interview contacts

So I have continued to work on my original marks and even though I was pretty attached to one of them I decided to execute my one non-rooster logo just to see if I can create something that adds more of my personality.


Its just a simple gif but I really enjoy the kinetic feel this has I would like to push this further and see how I can translate this to print (hologram foil?). 

Informational Interview contacts

Local designers/studios

out-of-state designers/studios

2.12.2014

pp: bio.cover letter. resume.


As an interdisciplinary creative, Edwing Mendez brings a wealth of knowledge and interest to the field of design with a focus on branding, motion graphic, and information architecture. Being born and raised in Miami Edwing carries his culture with him proudly which gives him an advance with a Latino audience and has lead to great opportunities such as working with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City. Moreover a heavy interest in technology supplies Edwing has considerable skill in digital interaction such as web, user experience, and experimental projects. Edwing hopes to push the limits of design culturally and technologically.

2.05.2014

PP: Branding

I guess you can say took some of Frank Chimero's advice on this one. 
"If you need an analogy, use an animal."
And that animal is the rooster. I could list tons of reasons why I decided to used this bird but I will try to keep this short. For one, its the "wing" in my name, thats the literal analogy but the rooster is also a strong ethnic cultural figure. For me it hold strong connection to Mexican culture and is often seem and a symbol of fortune and leadership.

As for color, I chose mostly vibrant hues, its a part of my style which is often described by others as colorful. The use of these colors will be more subtle with certain content such as portfolio and resume.


1.31.2014

sx: Monument to the Synth

A Monument to the Synthesizer
One of the earliest electric musical instruments, musical telegraph was invented in 1876 by American electrical engineer Elisha Gray. He accidentally discovered the sound generation from a self-vibrating electromagnetic circuit, then he invented a basic single-note oscillator. This musical telegraph used steel reeds, whose oscillations were created by electromagnets, and transmitted over a telegraphy line. Gray also built a simple loudspeaker device into later models, consisting of a vibrating diaphragm in a magnetic field, to make the oscillator audible.
This instrument was a remote electromechanical musical instrument using telegraphy and electric buzzers which can generate fixed timbre sound. Though it lacked arbitrary sound-synthesis function, some have erroneously called it the first synthesizer.
The Monument
A dimensional space which allows for the user to physically interact with elements of a synthesizer in order to educate and commemorate its importance to music. The monument will offer the opportunity for collaboration of multiple users to depict the importance of all of the elements of a synthesizer and how they work together to create one sound. The overall focus is how influential the synthesizer has been on music over the years and honor the shift from analog to digital forms of making sound.
The Location
The exact location is still in the works. Considering the interactive aspect of the monument, obviously a well populated area is essential. The possibility of a setting like Union Station or some type of public space with lots of foot traffic would be ideal. Also, the monument would most likely be housed in doors in some type of environment which enhances the content. The electronic component would likely also need some sort of security and cover from the outdoors.
Mind Mapping and Resources
We began mindmapping for the monument on Mural.ly:

1.28.2014

PP: Goals + jobs

Heres a list of my short/long term goal nothing is in a specific order.

Short term

Get more sleep this semester.

Find an excuse to do more motion, web, interactive work.

Develop a routine for effective work and play.

Make a strong portfolio.

Get my degree.

To stop parking cars(valet) and get a design job even if the income isn't amazing.

Make more art.

Long term

Make my parents proud they always worry about me and I don't want them to be worried.

Study more things because I like learning. I want to have a collection of cool knowledge even if I don't have any necessary use for that knowledge.

Travel more, even if I have to hitch rides and backpack it while sleeping on couches along the way. There's too much in this world to not want to see it all firsthand.

Be Successful. For myself but also for my parents they left their family, home, culture, and life for the "American Dream".

Job listings

Wordpress Web Designer / Developer [Jupiter Highway NYC]

Rich Media / Flash Developer [Grok NYC]

No idea what exactly the job is but I kinda want it [72andsunny LA]

Interactive Designer [Trigger LA]

Junior, UI/UX Designer [‹html› Fusion LA]


PP: What Advice Would You Give a Graphic Design Student?

*finishes reading article*

Okay. Well, that was weird...

I approached this reading expecting it to be like the usual academically written articles and excerpts we are assigned, but this was just the opposite. It was quite informal it was almost as if a mildly hungover (but in a good mood probably from having mixed drinks with friends the previous night) design professional was asked to give advice to students right now and in under two minutes.

I disagree with some stuff in here and I think Frank will be cool with it, he did tell me to be suspicious of advice. Nonetheless, there is still plenty of good advice in here:

"You will get conflicting information. It means that both are wrong. Or both are true. This never stops. Most decisions are gray, and everything lives on a spectrum of correctness and suitability."
There are so many time when I question whether the decision I made(design relevant or just life in general) was right or wrong. Its nice to know that its not wrong even though it isn't right either and thats okay because everything is subjective. Right? How can someone say that something is black or white, there is always some gray in there.

"I have no idea what I'm doing, and everyone is just making it up as they go along.

This about sums up everything I know."
 This can be interpreted in so many ways but for me Frank is just trying to say that everyone is different and his thoughts are no more valuable than the next person's thoughts. So all this advice can be useful for one but do nothing for another.

So, I am not sure if I should take any of Frank's advice or not; I will probably just take the stuff I want, keep it in my mind until that advice completely fails me, at which point I will dump it from my brain... or still keep it, who knows?

12.03.2013

VA: Swap Shop reflection

With such a crazy semester I don't think any of us has had the time to really sit and absorb what he have all been doing at Manheim Park. For me none is it felt 100% real 'till the day of our presentations at the neighborhood association meeting as I was getting back in my car one neighbor walking by said "great job young man, thank you for all the help". It felt good that the people there actually took something from our ideas as my classmate were giving their presentations I was looking around the room and there were tons if smiles. That day seemed like a complete 180 of the usual treatment of their meeting, we didn't talk about crime rates, we didn't about slum lords, we talk about the future, a future many of the member could not envision. I proud of that, even if our ideas never become reality I still feel that we did something great we showed this community the potential of their neighborhood, a potential that most of them probably could not see.

Swap Shop is a big thing, me and my partners first brainstormed ideas that would not be impossibly costly and through that this really cool idea of repurposed crates came out. We thought "why can't something this trendy live in a space like this?". We didn't see an area known for high crime and dirty streets, we saw a cool new market space on a busy road in a historical part of town and thats the vision we wanted others to see.

11.11.2013

MX: Bluesky ideation process

30 sec questions

  1. I would probably continue going to school, I actually like learning.
  2. Music production which includes recording and beat making.
  3. Probably my upbringing, not just my ethnic background as a Hispanic but more so my experiences growing up.
  4. I am always reading about technology I try to stay above of the average understanding of technology.
  5. That's a long list but the first on the list is probably computer engineering.
  6. Well obvious is hunger and basic healthcare. 
  7. Once again basic healthcare, as a superpower there should be no reason what a citizen should have to deny themselves healthcare because of financial reasons. 
  8. I'm not to familiar with KC but from what I have experienced I would say all the city needs is to continue investing in the youth it seems to be working quite well.
  9. ...parking.. Google fiber.... possibly a bit more security.
  10. Money. I come from a severely low income family and I am struggling to get the education I believe I deserve regardless of it being way out my financial reach.
  11. Probably my father to me he represents the working class individuals who believe in the American dream.
  12. the ever growing Hispanic community, Crate-digging community, and the community of tip dependent workers?
  13. Hispanic communities still face an unacceptable amount of discrimination. The rise of digital music is making records rarer and harder to find. Tipped wages are set too low even with tips it's impossible to make a living a living wage.
  14. Youth educators and modern day urban nomads.
  15. That's another long list but I'd say historic artwork inspires a lot of my work
  16. Web design has been something I always come back to.
  17. Well I'd have to say Folly Theater was the most memorable, it was first crit with guest that I had at kcai as a transfer, so I was extremely nervous but it went great which sort of boosted My confidence and motivation to keep at it. 
  18. Last semesters online collection exhibition was a big one for me I pushed my self a lot on that project.
  19. I like to tackle the research role a lot. Most client I work with are often surprised when I ask them questions even after they've briefed me.
  20. I like to break rules a lot so my work my not always be as "clean" but I do feel it's still successful.
  21. Branding has become a huge topic for me lately and it is definitely a side of design I want  continue doing during my career.
  22. I'd say presentation of my work. I usually prefer to step back and let my work speak for itself  it's both good and bad because if if I get my message across without having to explain then I did my job well but in the real world I will always have speak about my work.
  23. I think I'm still rusty on my typographic skills but I am feel I have improved a lot in the past year.
  24. That's tough to say but I think jumping straight to real world clients will help me the most.
  25. I came here with a focus on digital but I think I have started to appreciate print as well so possibly objects that span across all mediums.

Five-min Questions

  1. Well the obvious answer is online but in recent years with a boom in more younger individuals starting new businesses the demand for design is rising. They understand how important design is to a business. So I believe branding is going to grow a lot more especially in to small business network. The same applies for web design and UX. More and more businesses are realizing the need for an online presence so having a website for your business is going to be a necessary asset.
  2. I want to work with small businesses and communities in need doing anything and everything I can bring to the table. This is a decision I made as a teenager, I saw my father attempt to start his own carpentry company, it was something he was extremely good at . I was optimistic about it I remember making him business cards from a printable template and a small website (all designed terribly) but his company failed because he couldn't get enough clients to keep running. I always feel as if I knew what I know now I could have helped him have a successful business. From that experience I have always wanted to help the less fortunate. There are many people in low income communities who have great skill or talent but are never able to have the opportunity to put it to the best use. That's where I believe design can help, even if it only helps a bit. I could probably work for a firm that has big name client but to me that won't be as rewarding as helping the little guy.

Reflections:

1.Well I retyped it all up and reviewed it as I did that so yea...
2 helping, interaction, digital, building, business, hispanic, youth, technically-challenging, large, internet, branding, experimental UX, visually active, [will continue updating]
3. I will continue you add to this on and on.
4. look down [will continue to update]

Content
  • Business
  • Helping
Media
  • Internet
  • UX
  • Digital
Audience
  • Hispanics
  • Youth
design topics
  • experimental UX
  • branding

10.24.2013

MX: WEbuzz brand standards and design assets file

So as a way to help us be consistent in our designs while we are not working in the same room we set up with file where we begun to drop it all the designs assets we are making along the way and as a way to see if there something that has already been design so that we could just drag and drop into our design. I'm hoping this will streamline the process. It also serves as s brand standards document so we know that we are using all the right colors fonts and such.




DS: Music exploration for narrative


So I've wanted to create a narrative piece that would have a cheerful rhythm and look & feel to contrast the style of the designs I have here some songs I'm considering.




"he was so fat he could almost not see, he could eat 12 tacos(switch to conchas) when he was only 3"



I have this song on vinyl but I could only find the live version online


Theme music from a Mexican comedy show from the 70s that is still very popular today


this song may be a stretch but the first of the lyrics are a famous childrens rhyme in Mexico its the equivalent to the "eenie meenie miney mo" in english actaully now that I think about it might go well with the concept of not being able to make a desision with all the breads to choose from

DS: Logo update

So my attempts of redrawing my overstuffed friend has proven difficult so I desided to go in an clean him up a bit  the arn is more noticeable there is more detail and I tried to give him a smile. I'm pretty happy with it I think I should explore the container of the logo i currently have this rounded rectangle but it may be worth it to go beyond that.







10.23.2013

DS: Proposed items List

Business cards


  • moo sized cards


Stationary

  • Envelope
  • Letterhead
  • Invoice

Menus

  • To-go menu
  • Catering menu
  • Wall menu
  • Bread name labels

Wearables

  • Apron
  • Hat?
  • Name tag

Large-scale

  • Building Sign
  • Catering vehicle 

Interactive


  • Website(maybe make tumblr the website)
  • Facebook
  • Twitter/tumblr Hashtag promotions

Video

  • Stop Motion commercial (15 sec?)
  • Gif animation set for tumblr

Gift card series

  • $5
  • $10
  • $15
  • $20
  • 3 Custom refillable cards

Paperware

  • Coffee Cups
  • Single item paper bag or paper sheet
  • Small to-go bag
  • Box
  • Seal sticker