Portfolio & Practice

This week in my portfolio class, I was chosen to put up a mini version of my entire portfolio for the class to review and critique. I was a bit nervous to see all of my work together for the first time since I'm always hyper-critical of my own work, but the response from the class was very positive. Bill called my work very thoughtful and deep, while Bob commented on my strong writing skills. It's so amazing to see the work I've been doing for three years come together in a final portfolio. I know that when I graduate, I will be coming out with an outstanding portfolio, in which every project within was art deliberately chosen and art directed by me. It sounds a bit dramatic to say, but the portfolio you create at Syracuse's Communications Design program is very much a visible/tangible piece of your soul.

Passing the Torch

This past Wednesday, Sam (my good friend & partner in crime) and I turned over the reins of SU's AIGA club to a new executive board. It was time. However, feeling the withdrawal, Sam suggested that we start our own design blog about what it's like to transition from a student to professional designer. The goal is to update once a day (sadly I've been a little lax in this), and we have some interesting topics lined up.

Check us out:
Design In Progress

Communication is Key,

especially when living with in the same house.

As some of you may know, I've opted to live off campus with three friends this year. Now, luckily, we all get along wonderfully (for the most part), but this weekend I was very much ready to kill one of my housemates.

The issues began when he first informed me that he was moving back to the house Monday. Then, as it happens, Monday became Tuesday and Tuesday became Friday. However, when he said he was coming Friday, I was under the impression that he meant Friday at a REASONABLE time and not Friday at 11:59pm, when I'm half-awake and vegging on the couch. He also neglected to inform us that his entire family was coming with him...and that they were planning on staying in our house overnight (which I assumed anyway after they showed up at midnight).

Now, when I said he brought his entire family, it's not a figure of speach. He literally rolled in with his mom, his older sister, his younger sister, and his dog. And then they stayed from Friday night through Monday morning, waking up at the crack of dawn (7-8 o'clock in the morning for us college students) and banging around in the kitchen, creating noise, chaos, and extra dishes.

I can tell you, the homicide would have been completely justifiable.

It's the Final Countdown!

I've successfully navigated past my first week back from break and am super excited for my final *gasp* final! semester as a CommDesign student. My class schedule still isn't locked down yet (as I like to overload on classes the first week or two and then decide which ones I like best), but the classes I'm signed up for right now are...

1) CMD 452: Portfolio & Practice
2) CMD 450: Design Problems
3) MFT 400: Love, Lust, and Relationships (psychology course for fun :-)
4) PED 200: Box Aerobics (which is exactly the same as cardio-kickboxing)
5) ADD 3??: Digital Design

I've been trying to get into a writing class as well, but unfortunately none of the classes I'm interested in fit with my schedule. I'm hoping I'll be able to audit or have an independent study to keep up my writing, so we'll see.

The Porfolio & Practice class rejuvenated my love of CommDesign, but I think the emotions of the senior class run the gamut from excitement to dread.

I'm excited.