Meditate... just do it

With so many people talking about or living by meditation, it must really be some powerful force.  I occasionally have attempted a meditation session where my boredom gets the best of me.  I think my longest attempt was 5 minutes.

Scott McDowell talks about the importance of meditating in his post on the99percent.  He, like me has attempted meditation and at first found no effects.  I feel the majority of people who dable in it, don't continue due to the lack of feedback that is given.

The more I think about it though, the more I realize that's kind of the whole point.  Meditation is supposed to be a release from all the feedback that we receive on a day-to-day basis.   Without even achieving the "bliss" as McDowell calls it, I can see what a strong impact meditation could have on the body if one sticks with it long enough.

After reading his article, I am determined to start a CONSISTENT meditation routine, regardless of any feedback I do or don't receive from it.

.... now if only I could get my feet to sit on top of my legs like that.

The evolution of GPS

So apparently people are still getting lost, regardless of GPS now being available on any internet device.  I know I turn on my GPS in my car when driving to a new place, even if I know I could probably find my way without it. I also use it often while walking in NYC to navigate with ease.

GPS is now being taken a step further by MIT Media Lab Research Assistant Jaewoo Chung.  Jaewoo has developed a GPS navigation system on cell phones called Guiding Light.  It is to be used primarily for walking indoors and navigating through buildings such as offices. The technology combines GPS similar to that of car navigation, video games and a flashlight.

Guiding Light projects an arrow using a light on your phone as you are walking.  The arrow changes based upon which direction you need to walk to reach your destination.

The prototype uses four sensors attached to the body that recognize what position you are standing and even what floor of a building you are on.

Once you reach your destination, if you cast the arrow onto the door of an office Guiding Light will display a pre-programmed picture of who's office it is, their name and any other information you wish to save about that person.

The future development of this technology can expand to extreme lengths.  It could be used not only to find an office, but to find an actual person based on the location of their cellular phone.  It could also be used outdoors while hiking or (as I would love), in a city.

The next step to life

Everybody goes through an interview or two at some point in their life.  But why does an interview still seem impossible to walk away from successfully?  It seems that every interviewer expects something different, and there is no way of knowing who will want what.

Scott McDowell talks about a way that will impress an interviewer every time in his article The Interview Prep Cheat Sheet. In his article, he describes that although a list of skills is great, it does not prove to a future employer that you can handle the job at hand.

McDowell describes that what an employer wants is CONFIDENCE IN YOU.  They want to know that you have previous experience that will make fully prepared for what you will need to do working for them.  The best way to do this is not to describe what you "would do" at the job, but what you have "already done" at previous jobs.

Describe to the interviewer experiences you have had in your life where you have overcome a problem that in at least some way relates to the type of problems you will face working for them.  Express to them your initiative and be confident in yourself.  If they see you have already done work that would help solve problems in their own company, then the employer will develop CONFIDENCE IN YOU.

You mean I can't just throw it all in a book?

Apparently a design portfolio has evolved into its own art form. 

I have spent a lot of time slaving away at attempting to put together a respectable graphic design portfolio. In the end my book looked like a child's "glue stick" arts and craft project.  After this failure I was introduced to creating a website which only ended up to look more boring than my book.

After reading A Knockout Portfolio, I have realized that developing a successful portfolio is not so cut and dry as well, arts and crafts.  Matias Corea describes how an online portfolio should tell a story about your work in a way that still represents you.  

He continues to explain that your website should be simple and not cluttered with information about the piece or about you.  His advice made me take a step back and realize I was trying to hard to follow a guideline and I need to just express my work by grouping it into one large online piece.  I look forward to getting creative with my portfolio and making an appealing online work. 
                                                    - Greg Borowiak

Time for a Freshpair - an interview with Freshpair Graphic Designer Brian Echeverri

"My best advice is choose a more stable career."

Brian Echeverri is a self-motivated, talented and savvy young man living in NYC.  Although he may see himself as somewhat introverted,  he is very kind and welcoming.  Brian was very open to helping out a current design student and was very easy to talk too.  Not to mention hilarious and witty.

Brian attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City for a major in Graphic Design. Graduating in 2008 he spent many years scouting a job suitable for a career.

While doing jobs on the side, Brian worked at MBPS BlackBook and SharpLeft Marketing.  At SharpLeft Brian was able to work in a variety of projects with companies such as Skyy Vodka, Nickelodeon, MTV and Disney.

His job at SharpLeft did not express his abilities in a way that he desired.  The structure at the company did not allow him to express his talents. The projects were strongly reviewed and reedited numerous times until it was just what his managers preferred.  Also, many of the projects such as designing t-shirts for adolescent girls did not interest Brian and caused him to look forward for work.

In 2011, Brian chose to leave SharpLeft and obtained a job with Freshpair.com.  Freshpair is a popular website that sells a wide variety of underwear and swimsuits for men and women.  Although the description may not sound the most appealing, it is a very well known company and is especially popular with gay men.

At Freshpair Brian designs advertisements for the company to be displayed as banners and ads on other websites.  This work allows Brian a bit more freedom than he previously had and it "pays the bills." 

Brian has created a wide variety of work which are featured in his online portfolio.  Brian describes his style as clean, modern and a bit funky.  Further down I will feature some of Brian's work that he has done throughout the years.

Working as a Graphic Designer has proven rather stressful for Brian.  Even with access to NYC for opportunities, landing a full-time job that is enjoyable and pays well has not been easy.  Although he enjoys being able to express his talents through design, often he wonders about going for a more stable career.  He finds it hard to believe that people live day-to-day doing just free-lance work.

Brian seems to have established himself enough to continue a successful career in the graphic design industry.  I personally look forward to seeing his future designs and progress as a designer.

Below is some of Brian's work featured in his portfolio

Design OFF the web - Part 2

So back to the admiration of the Graphic Design section of the Hofstra Library.

Book 2 of the series will be......

Designing Logos: The Process of Creating Symbols That Endure by Jack Gernsheimer

 Oh if only I found this book at the beginning of the semester.  Considering our entire project this year in New Design III was designing a logo.....

 This book is basically gold.  Jack Gernsheimer, who has been desiging logo's since the 1960's, goes into detail about everything he has learned along the way.  His book touches upon everything that has to do with designing a successful logo.  Lets put it this way, he starts at 35,000 BC and discusses how early cave drawings suggested signs of ownership and to identify by association.

One tip I will point out from his book is his 10 characteristics of a logo that endure.

1) Distinctive - a logo should have an appearance unlike that of other logos.

2) Sophistication - A logo should reflect a sense of good taste and sophistication. (Sophistication does not mean stuffy).

3) Conceptual - A logo should contain elements born of intelligent thought, it adds a positive dimension.

4) Relevant - When imagery relevant to the product, service, process, or entity is selected or developed, either photographically or illustratively, the logo relates more clearly to that which it represents.

5) Versatile - The logo should read well, no matter the size.

6) Cohesive - If you feel the need to draw a box, circle or other shape around the logo, chances are it's not cohesive. The symbol should not require an additional containment element to hold it together.

7) Attractive - Symmetry, composition, proportion and balance.  Appealing to the broadest range of people.

8) Memorable - A symbol simple in its construction but not necessarily in its concept.

9) Legible - The more readable the letters or words, the clearer the message.

10) Enduring - Stand the test of time.


Gernsheimer goes into numerous other aspects including the design process, presentation preparation, classic logos, typography and evolving designs.

There simply too much information to list here, so GO OUT AND GET IT.

Design OFF the web - Part 1

So I was recently browsing the Hofstra Library and found basically the best section ever.

Two full rows of Graphic Design books.

Who knew graphic design could be researched in physical books... unreal.

So I am going to dedicate my discoveries to a 4 part post (one on each book I checked out).

The first book I will discuss may be the most exciting. Graphic Design Since 1950. I'm pretty sure I didn't even realize it went back that far.  This 800 page encyclopedia of six decades of design is amazing.  Published by the Alliance Graphique International, they took their time and found some inspiring work that has influenced many work seen today.

Graphic Design Since 1950 by AGI

The book goes decade by decade, showing work designed in the era and explains the status and development of the industry at the time.  What is really cool is that it does not just focus on America, but of what went on around the Globe.

AGI has filled the book with work from everything from the Olympics to toothpaste ads, organized by designer.

Each decade has dozens of designers with biographies and selections of their work.  It is a great display of different designs from person to person, year to year and country to country.  I feel it is important to be aware of designers that have existed in the past and associate their name with their work.  They are in fact artists after all.

I highly recommend this book to improve your style and to be inspired by creative work desgined before you were born.