a rude awakening

I am so excited to say that I have completed my final project.  The next step of course is to go get the calendar printed.  I walked into Office Depot and mentioned that I needed five copies (one for the class and four as gifts to the girls at Perry's Ice Cream) and I was shocked at the cost. 

The calendar is 12 pages so I would need 60 copies at .70 cents per page.....only $42....WHATTTTTT!
That cost did not even cover cutting the page or the actual printing.

The only other option I had was to get the calendar printed back to back and insert a binding of some sort.  The binding is "only" $2.30 per calendar. 

I understand that printing is pricey but as a college student I cannot afford to print out my beautiful artwork.  As a result, I have decided to only make one or two copies for my final presentation for the course.

YIKES!

The future

I thought I would take a different approach to my usual posts and write about what I am feeling right now.  I think that it is important to write down how we feel about the present and our future so that we can read it later in life.

I keep thinking about graduation day and finally finishing my college experience.  I have an overwhelming fear that things won't turn out the way I want or expect in the future. Although I'm not the only one consumed with these emotions, I wonder what will happen after May 12. 

I find myself thinking more and more about what the next few weeks will bring.  I would like to say that my final weeks as a senior at Buffalo State will be enjoyable but, the course load doesn't allow me to feel joy.  I have completed my calendar for this class, I just have to get them printed for my presentation. 

Since we are about to embark on the journey of real world experiences I have been asking myself the following questions:

1) What am I going to do after I graduate?
2) Should I move to Charlotte or stay in Buffalo?
3) Is grad school a good option for me?
4) Am I going to make enough money to pay back my loans?
5) Marketing? PR? or Advertising?
6) Am I going to be happy with my career?

So, I leave you with this thought...dreams are important, but, what are you supposed to do if you don't have a dream of the big picture?  I do not know where my future will take me but, I know the future is bright.  Whatever happens, will happen.  Fate is a beautiful thing.

Excitment about Final Project

Ok....So I have started my project and it will be a set of mini calendars.  It will look awesome.  I want to make a petit calendar so I can hopefully give them as part of my gift basket for the girls I intern for at Perry's Ice Cream.  The theme of each month will be my favorite patterns and scrapbook paper. 

I think that the only part I'm going to have trouble with is the numbering for the days of the week.  Originally I started out making a grid for a full sized calendar but that was a bust.  For some reason InDesign would not let me make a table.  Oh well!  If it wasn't for that idea failing I wouldn't have decided on making these awesome petit calendars.  Here is the link where my inspiration can be found.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/81955364/2012-petit-calendar-colorful-print

Final Project ideas

Hey Everyone!

I wanted to share some of my ideas for the final project in COM 322.  I really want to make a calendar but I am wondering if that would be too advanced for me and if there is quite possibly a template available with adobe.  I was also tossing around the idea of making a CD cover and a mixed CD of my favorite songs.  (lol) 

If I was an amazing graphic designer I would want to make a calendar with cute kitty cats like this one...(just kidding).  In all seriousness I thought that a calendar would be a great idea since Mother's Day is coming.  My boyfriend's mother loves hand made or personally made crafts and such....She would probably cry if I made one.  My mom on the other hand might like to show it off at work and talk about what an amazing daughter I am for making her this great calendar....ANYWAY, If I were to make a calendar I think I would want to add personal touches of special days throughout the year that mean something to me and my family.  I would also like to make it sort of themed monthly depending on whose birthday or event is coming up.

If I were to design a CD case I would use this as my inspration...(just kidding again). So many fond memories of this album and this band.  haha.  This album came out on my birthday and I was beyond thrilled. 

In all seriousness...again....I want to design something that I can use in my porfolio or give as a gift to someone.  We shall see what my brilliant mind comes up with in class today.

muahahaha. 

Project 4

ok, So I found the greatest video series to help me with my tri-fold brochure....There's only one problem....only the first 3 videos are free.  Anyway...I have a grasp on how to format my brochure to ensure that the sizing of each panel is perfect when I print and fold.  The trick is to decrease the size of the fold on the left by .16 of an inch. 

Now that I have that settled, I am ready to make an awesome brochure about Habitat for Humanity.  I figured this would be a perfect topic because I am also working on Habitat for Humanity in my Public Relations Writing class.  I want to blow my teacher away with my graphic design talents....if you can call them talents.

Anywho, I am excited to work on this project and hopefully create a masterpiece!

For anyone who is interested, here is the link to the video series:

http://www.digitaltutors.com/11/training.php?pid=401

Also, I wanted to showcase an effective brochure that I saw.  Habitat for Humanity in Knoxville made this great brochure that has a natural feel.  I like the wood background and the trees.  Check it out here:

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Knoxville-Habitat-for-Humanity-Tri-fold-Brochure/903132

Project 3

Project 3 already?  This semester is just flying by!  Anyway, I wanted to discuss my feelings about this project.  At first glance,  I think that it is going to be extremely tough creating a poster that is as effective as the "Uncle Sam" or the Rosie the Riveter" examples.  I want to put my focus on either drunk driving or animal abuse.  Both have a lot of examples that can be helpful or harmful to my creative approach.  I want to create something that is not yet out there but I don't know where to start.  I think that I want to focus on a single image with a catchy tagline.  I just have to figure out what that tagline will be. 

All in all, I am decently excited for the project, I just hope I can create something amazing.

Instant Books

So, here we are again and today I want to talk about the instant book project....

I am sort of lacking in the creativity department but, I have some sort of concept in mind.  I started out by looking up "weird" words that being with the letter B.  I found some decent stuff.  This project would be much more fun for me if I had a brain that could do some creative thinking!! 

Today, I am hoping to work on my project further during class and come up with a solid plan of how to execute my ideas and hopefully create some new ones.