Thursday, July 30, 2009

Competition?







More submissions from other applicants.

Among all the other submissions, I only find 2 to be decent and all but one didn't follow the directions. WEB 2.0 DESIGN. If a lot of applicants are like these, perhaps I've been selling myself too short. I set a very high standard for myself which can be helpful and frustrating.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Brief Update

It was brought to my attention that the comment button didn't work. So I've changed the template. The comment section works but you still have to go to the post itself as there is no "comment on this post" on the main page. I might look for another one but for now this will do. I'll try making my own template next time. Maybe.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Color Blind


(images taken from wikipedia)

These are simple tests to determine whether you're color blind or not. You should see the numbers 37, 44 or 49, and 56. If you're not able to see:

37: You're protanopic. You have difficulty distinguishing between blue and green colors and also between red and green colors.

44 or 49: You're deuteranopic. Red and green are the main problem colors, there are also for example some gray, purple and a greenish blue-green which can’t be distinguished very well.

56: You're tritanopic. People affected by this confuse blue with green and yellow with violet.

There are many different degrees of color blindness so not all color blind people miss the same colors.

I am color blind! I'm deuteranopic. I used to think color blind is just seeing everything in shades of gray. Apparently, that's only one of the different kinds of color blindness. Should I look for another line of work? How bad is it for a graphic artist to be color blind? I feel I've been robbed. I won't be able to see some things in life the way they really are. I wonder if being color blind has an effect on one's optimism or personality? Dull colors, dull world. They should make a study about that.

References:
wikipedia.com
www.colblindor.com
_________________________________

I received a mail from PinoyGSM about a job. They gave this sort of test. Design a conceptual website for myBundyClock.com (a time keeping and payroll website). The only thing specified is they wanted a web 2.0 design. I didn't google for images to use. Just made a random text logo as a placeholder. I only focused on the web 2.0 design and the placing of information.



The thing I like about this test is no need for a portfolio. :D At least this way I can show what I can do. I know that's what a portfolio is for but I was lazy back then I just did things to pass. Am I regretting it now? Not really.

Holy.... they're posting the works submitted by the applicants. In my opinion, they shouldn't be doing this. Here are the other applicants' submissions.



Sunday, July 26, 2009

Tiring But Fun

It all started when I got a call after dinner from a friend asking if I'm doing anything that night. The original plan was for the three of us to go uh... somewhere but I declined. So from a plan to no plan, from three guys to five, winning some money at the casino, pizza and beers, playing at the computer shop til morning, two hours of sleep at a friend's house, the farewell lunch at greenbelt (also saw the guy who interviewed me for a job at the resto) for a friend going to London, more computer games, dinner at Mcdo, I had a blast. Here's to more adventures to come! :D

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Up, Down, Up, Down

I'm in a slump. I don't know when it started going downhill. I'm having a hard time sleeping again (a never ending cycle) and my eagerness to design "fake" companies is slowly fading. I did nothing but watch movies the past two days. Mostly downloads and one treat from my sister --- movie and dinner. Guess which movie it was? Here's a conversation from the movie:

Boy: You said that ______ would try to ______ me. Do you want me to let him?
Old Man: Yes.

Hmmm.

Then there's the job hunt. Bad news is still no word from the company I liked. Good news is I got an email from an advertising company about my jobstreet application. I'm not that excited though because they asked for sample works/portfolio for a preliminary screening. I sent some including the latest but I need more! I'm not really expecting them to call me for an interview. I want to work in an advertising company but with my current works I'm not getting my hopes up. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying I'm not qualified. I am. I just need more projects.

EDIT: Logo design for an old product "Honey Beetz". It's not being sold anymore.



I need to make more! If you would like to help me, you can give me a "fake" project or a real one. Logos, websites, brochures, posters, anything that involves graphic designing! Give me the name of the company, nature of the business, color theme, do you have a specific look or feel you're aiming for, etc. I know I could give make up those details myself but it's practice. I might subconsciously cheat if I do it myself.

This post for help would work better if there were a lot of people reading my blog. Right now, I only have one follower and she's a real life friend. Hey friend! Help me!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Final Design: Nine Deep Website



Again, Nine Deep did not hire me to design this. I only used their name and business as practice.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe

I've been to 3 job interviews.

First one was for the position of graphic artist for a Chinese company in Roxas Blvd. I would say the interview went well. I was given a test. I was to create a logo for one of their brands. I did okay but the boss himself wanted the logo to be like Sony's. Just letters, no illustrations. So they gave me homework. 4 logos each for their 2 brands. It was hard conceptualizing because I don't know what those brands are and they never said what they wanted aside from "just letters". So I made some random ones and sent them. Still no word from them. I'm not really fond of the working environment. There are a lot of Chinese working there. Not Chinese like me, born and raised in the Philippines, who only knows basic fookien and mandarin but ones that were made in China. Hardcore ones. I imagine myself hanging out with them during work. Painfully awkward.

Co-worker: Ni hao. (How are you?)
Me: Wo hao. (I'm fine.)
Co-worker: Ni chu lu xia ba la nan ni? (Some random deep chinese words)
Me: Wo pu hao le. (I'm not fine anymore *nosebleed*.)

Second one was for a telecommunications company in Libis. I was suppose to have the final interview already but the CEO, who was going to interview me, asked for my portfolio. Good thing, I made one. It's my temporary (rushed) online portfolio. I only have a few works on my computer. I uploaded the ones I think to be mediocre at least. I admit none of those works show my true *ahem* awesomeness because I never gave it my all when doing my school exercises. Most of the stuff I uploaded were school works and random works I made when playing around with Photoshop. Only one work there was serious. He scrolled down quickly to the bottom and clicked one and asked, "Is this all of it?"

HOLY SHIT BALLS! I didn't finish my MMA degree and I never made it to the PORTFOL subject. The one where they require you to create a portfolio showing your works. So I really don't have much works to show. So in my head I was thinking maybe I still have some in my computer. So I told him that and he said I go home and send it to him by e-mail. Since I am applying for the graphic/web designer position, he won't be able to interview me without seeing more of my works. It took at least an hour to go to the company, at least 10 minutes waiting while listening to the HR interviewing three other applicants applying for the Asst. Accountant position, and it took less than 5 minutes for the supposed to be final interview. I sent some more works and made one quickly (hopefully it will help but rushed work qualities are usually mediocre at best). So now I'm waiting for their call again. I really would like to work there but it seems chances of being hired are low. And to top it off, my friend just had an interview there too. My way in just got smaller. :(

Third and least was for a logistics company in Novaliches. It took me at least 2 hours to get there. LRT, LRT2, jeep, jeep, jeep, walk. Apparently, I took a detour somewhere. The interview went well but I wasn't fond of the position they offered. The online ad said graphic artist but what was being offered was digital printer operator. It was more on the technical side and just a little bit of graphic modification (if there's something to be modified). I don't mind learning the technical stuff but after that what else is there? I don't see any opportunities working there.

After the portfolio fiasco, I realized why I always feel my works are missing something. It's a goal. When I design, it's usually free flow. There's no direction. As long as it looks okay, I'm fine with it. So to change this way of designing I asked a fellow designer friend to pretend to be my client. He made some logos for a company that sells surfing t-shirts and asked me to do the same along with a website. The theme is vintage.

LOGO DESIGNS

First one is clean and professional looking but uses a modern design.



WEB DESIGN

Photo of the wave (although I did the white edges and vintage effect) and the illustration of a man in the lower left corner are not mine. I just googled them. The red shirt is not a product of Nine Deep. I got it from www.zoozoo2.com since Nine Deep's current site doesn't show surfing shirts.



I have a more satisfied feeling with this design. I did some research on vintage designs. The design is more detailed than my free flows. I definitely gave more effort. But I still feel it lacks something. That something is probably content. Mainly, the area below the "SHIRTS UP!" I'll try to make up some content for it tomorrow.

If I don't get the job in Libis, I should start doing more of this "pretend client" practice. So next time I'm asked for my portfolio, I'm ready. :D

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Can't seem to catch the zzZs


So yesterday I got a phone call for a job interview and 10 minutes after that I got another one! I was surprised and felt a tiny rush of excitement. Finally, after more than 2 weeks of sending resumes, I was called! I have some things to prepare: resumes, 2x2s, NBI clearance, answers for questions they might ask like :

Tell me something about yourself.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?

How do you feel about Michael Jackson's death?

Excited and nervous. Maybe that's the reason why I only "slept" for 2 hours.

I wouldn't call it sleep though. It felt like I was half awake most of the time, like I was stuck in the "drifting off to sleep" part. So I woke up. Thrashed around in bed. Took a sleeping pill. Played PSP. Watched some TV. Ate some leftover pizza. Checked my facebook. Read some new manga chapters. And now I'm writing a post. Time is 5:39am. Four hours and a half from the time I took that pill. Should be working right about.... nope, still awake. It would be funny if it started working while I'm taking my 2x2.

Ready? One, two an.... *crash*

I guess I better go get ready. Hope I don't fall asleep while taking a shower. (-_-)

EDIT: People who have a hard time getting some sleep should try this. I know I will.
Acrupressure For Insomnia

Friday, July 3, 2009

When I grow up, I want to be a/an.....


2 weeks has passed since I started looking for a job. Still no luck. Still a bum (hence the image) It's so damn hard to find graphic designing jobs that accept people with no work experience. If that's not annoying enough, some even prefer experience working in advertising.

I like graphic design and all but I like to try other things as well. If companies were open-minded and know that the skills of a person don't come from a degree but his/her passion for whatever he/she is pursuing. I've seen lots of good graphic designers but the course they graduated from had nothing to do with arts. In fact, most of their knowledge are self-taught.

So here's a list of what I would like to do to earn money aside from graphic/web design:

Photography
I like taking pictures and it would be better if I'm getting paid doing it. I have an entry level DSLR (thanks to my dad) and I don't get to use it much except when I go out with my friends. The place where we live doesn't have a scenic view; just buildings and a crowded busy street. I plan on buying different kinds of lenses for the camera (not in the near future). It would be nice working for a magazine or an advertising company.

Advertising
Ads. Billboards. Commercials. It seems fun conceptualizing for a product or something. Advertising is about getting people's attention. I see lots of advertisements but rarely do they get my attention. Smart, funny or witty concepts are rare. Sex ads (ads that only show lots of skin) are common. A professor of mine said using sex in an advertisement is like cheating. You don't need to conceptualize much. Just get a gorgeous woman and pose sexy.

Movie Producer
I'm not sure if producer is the right word. I could direct but it's much less of a hassle if I just find the right director and co-direct. I could write a script (I have great ideas but I don't entertain it much because it's not practical to do it as a way to earn money) but I'd rather find someone who wrote a great script and edit it if necessary. Am I right in saying this is producing? If someone is crazy enough to take a risk by making me a co-producer or something, that would be awesome. Dream on, I know.

Scriptwriting
Like I said, I have ideas that I would like to be made into movies or series but it's hectic and doesn't guarantee cash. Hectic because there's a format when writing scripts and it takes an estimate of more than 120 pages for a one hour movie. But if I were to be working with a team filled with original, funny, creative, smart, and witty people it will be much easier and more fun. Sadly, I think they're quite rare here in the philippine movie/showbiz industry.

Acting
One of the easiest thing to do. Just pretend to be somebody you're not. It's much easier too here in the Philippines. If you don't have any acting talent, it's okay. As long as you're good looking and the masses love you. I guess that's what attracts most people to it. It's not that hard (except crying, for me anyway) . Easy money! Two words everyone likes to hear. If I were given an opportuniy to be an actor, I would take it. Although I would only take supporting roles and also no drama. Crying is hard. Who the hell enjoys thinking of sad, hurtful things so tears will come out? The only downside to this is fame. Yes, fame brings more money. I like money but I also like walking in public places where no one gives a shit about you. Oh, and also no nudity. :P

There are a lot more things I'd like to try but these are the top 5. I can only dream of getting some of these jobs because in the real world you need a degree that relates to the job. That's one of the reasons why I decided to get another degree (Multimedia Arts) so I could get a job as a graphic designer. But then I realized that I'm wasting my time learning almost nothing from uninspiring professors. That's one of the reason why I decided to stop studying (I'm on leave indefinitely) and started looking for a job. I took the chance that somebody might take a chance to hire me (not a graduate of an art course) as their graphic designer.

Tomorrow morning I will be calling these job ads I found today. Good luck to me and all the people looking for a job.