Back on Solid Ground

Back on Solid Ground

Blogs are always rinsing and falling on the internet, am I right?
Thankfully mine stayed neutral. 
Success.

With this being the final post of this very short blogging segment, it's time to reflect on the overall experience:

I'll start by saying that I'm not opposed to blogging or sharing my opinions, it's just that it's not for me personally. Like I said back at the very beginning, I was raked over the coals in my previous blogging endeavour, and don't care to ever really try again. Although I enjoy reading other people's blogs and views, I'd prefer to keep mine to myself, or at the very most, within my immediate group of friends. 

My current social media presence is very indicative of this belief. As an example: I was recently and candidly, photographed and posted on the Vancouver Instagram feed known as "Man Bun Mondays" (make of that what you will), and due to this posting, my Instagram and Twitter feeds exploded with follow requests. I was averaging around 4 requests an hour for the next week or so; none of which I accepted. 

The reason I have any social media presence at all, is again, to primarily share things with my friends and family. I'm not in it for the "follows" or "likes", and I'm sure not about to accept any follows from randoms. This attitude spilled over into this blogging exercise, and clashed somewhat with the purpose, which was to share as much as possible and get engagement from the posts. Is there anything wrong with not wanting a huge internet following?

At the end of the day, even if no one read these Design Life & Struggle based posts, these blogs did help me to solidify and refresh my own personal love for graphic design and the web, so I'd say "job well done". 

Until next time (which there won't be),
All the best.



—tom

Continue Blogging?

The question is will I continue blogging? As of now, the answer is no. I'll stick with focusing on my own social media platforms at first. It can be difficult to think of ideas on what to write with a restrained topic area. For all these blogs on here we had to focus writing on new media, social media, or our portfolios.

 

Writer's Block

With already having writer's block, one of my first posts was about that. Definitely not a good start. It does not help when my head is swarming with a whole bunch of items in my life at once, it's just how I am.

I do not have a problem writing once I get into it and I am passionate for it. Sometimes it may take a bit to get going, but I will get it done in the end. 

 

Other Topics

If I did write blogs in the future, I'd use what I learned during my social media campaign which was write about events along what I was passionate about. Even though I'd probably write about events I do love, hockey being one of them. 

 

Views

Lately I feel like many people are obsessed with views. I admit I had an addiction when I saw the Facebook page likes going up, but I think if you focus on what you're passionate about.. people will eventually see that. The way I think about it is from a youtuber's perspective. They do what they love daily and many of them have millions of views and subscribers. Sure, some of them cared about a bit of views at the start, but they generally enjoyed what they made. Same thing should go for whatever we post online, on any platform. Yes, even if it's a cute cat video. 

Photo by fousik

 

My Future?

Who knows what the future will hold, but I may continue. We'll see. The time I had learning in Social Networking, whether be from blogging here or from other social media, it was a good experience.

Whatever happened to...?

If you've read my first blog I have ever posted, you might have seen that I would keep you update on my progress in the, “New Media and Web Development” program and even show you my After Effects project.

Coding Crazy

 

Its been a crazy few weeks. Especially PHP.. I've learned how to use bits of the terminal which was cool and learned how to make a database. The rest of it is kind of a blur to be honest.

I haven't just been working away on coding, I've been working on my skills in Illustrator and Photoshop. Also helping out in group projects with project management and social networking.

With all these different varieties of work thrown at me and having to deal life outside of school, it has definitely been an experience. However, I am getting through it and will continue on. As long as I don't have to take my brother to the hospital again..don't worry, he's fine. Let's just say gamer rage and glasses do not mix.

After Effects Project?

I did finish the project I was mentioning and was going to share it, but I feel like the voice over work did ruin the overall project. In the future it could make its appearance on youtube, but has for now.. it will not.

Currently though, I am working on a new After Effects project and it will be a lyrical music video with different typography effects. I'm hoping this one will turn out better.

That's a mini update I had to share.

A Rule to Remember: Target Audience

Whether it be designing a website or doing a social media campaign, the first thing that should always be remembered is who is your target audience?

Planning for Social Media

I found this out with a social media project. We set goals for different social media platforms. To be honest, my first impression was that no one really uses Facebook to post anymore. I was starting to feel as though it was being more used as a messenger. In my group of four, I guess the others felt the same way.

Facebook

 

That's the thing, Facebook has the most used users on any social media platform. Even if it does seem relatively dead on our feeds at times.

Most users for our client's demographic was men from the ages of 22-34 that were the most common fan of the page, which makes sense considering our client is a realtor and most buyers are around that age.

For general Facebook demographics they're saying that ages 18-24 are the most active user for their site.

Graph from Testini Real Estate's Facebook

Twitter, Google Plus..

You also have to do some research if your target audience even use other platforms as a ways of finding information or communication. It can be a rough start, but if you follow people with similar interests, it could be beneficial.

Goals

Make sure your goals for the social media platform are obtainable when you think about your demographic. Find out what your target audience uses the most and focus the most on that. Eventually you'll really create a community on one network and hopefully the others will follow.

Welcome to January and... the rest of your life?

Welcome to January and... the rest of your life?

New year. New career?
It seems that with each passing year, I re-evaluate my life and second guess the career path that I'm on. Am I doing the right thing? Do I even like it? What else might I be interested in? What do I do?

All these questions usually drive me wonky and, until this year, I've always ended up completely switched my focus. On the bright side, being interested in so many subjects is never a bad thing, or at least that's what I tell myself. The realization though, is that until someone offers me a job as a professional career switcher, I have a feeling I'll have a bad time. 

This past holiday season was especially rocky with major family changes, and heaps of external stress; all perfect conditions for a "life re-think". Surprisingly though, the 2014 to 2015 career blues never came, and for once I actually felt good about where I was headed. Obviously the stress of finding work after school is still lingering...hard, but that being said, I have no plans to change my focus anytime soon. Web design and development is still the game for me.

I also realize that this post is a purely selfish one, and offers no advice what-so-ever, but I guess that's just how it is this time. If there's anything can be taken away from this, it's this: If you're trying to make it in an overly saturated career field, with heaps of tough competition, long hours, little pay, and that requires a small amount of luck; and you aren't having second thoughts, you must be crazy... but you also must be doing something that you love, so it's 100% worth sticking it out.


Happy new year.

—tom

Kitchen Surfing

This was a class project where my Partner and I decided to create a fictional cooking show where we show you how to make delicious pizza. This idea was derived from our passions for food. Since my partner was the head chef and main actor and I was the cooking show host. I was in charge of all the camera work. From shooting stationary shots, to getting different angles, and perspectives of the creation of the pizza. I also was in charge of editing a majority of the footage and making sure all the transitions were good. I chose the music from a royalty free library on the internet, and thought it was quite suitable for the purpose of the show.

This project was a lot of fun to create and really gave me an idea of the complete process of video production. From making sure all the audio levels and mics are working, to lighting, and having a shot list for different perspective was a great way to exercise my production skills.

Drop Dead-lines

Drop Dead-lines

Missed the post for last week... which ends up being a perfect segue into this(last) week's topic: Deadlines

Everyone endures deadlines. Whether it's with school, work, your taxes, even library books have them, but following them perfectly, that's a whole other story. We all miss the occasional one, and usually it's not a big deal; but what about those rare times when it is a big deal? 


Step 1: Own up to it.

No one cares about the miraculous chain of events that occurred, causing you to hand in your work late. Excuses sound like just that: Excuses. Own up to your error. Admitting your own mistakes will be a far better representation of character than any crazy situation you were involved in.


Step 2: Fix It.

Take the necessary steps to complete/submit the project. Whether it's asking for additional time, skipping other engagements, or pulling all-nighters, you need to finish and submit the project quickly. 


Step 3: Plan more effectively.

Take more time in the future when planning your schedule. Whether it's being more realistic with your time-estimates, taking on less work, or sacrificing your social life, your schedule is everything. A hectic schedule is far more prone to missed deadlines than an organized one. If you haven't already, try employing the calendar trick mentioned back in blog #2.


At the end of the day, procrastination is a punk and being able to hit deadlines will either make you or break you in the creative industry. No one hires anyone who, 60% of the time, delivers on time. 


—tom

Four things I've learned on the (social media) campaign trail

It's alive!

It feels like it has been a long time coming but in reality it has only been about eight weeks. Eight weeks since we began this social media project. And now, eight weeks on, we have a functioning website and five active social media channels. It's an accomplishment and something I'm proud of. I'm also grateful for my team. Without their enthusiasm and hard work this project would not be where it is today.

Here are some things that I've learned on this journey:

1) It takes time.

Or more specifically, it takes more time than you might expect it to. This is primarily in reference to social media. Everything from branding to following to posting, it all takes time so it is essential to use people's time efficiently to get the most out of that limited resource.

2) Wordpress can be a challenge.

Mostly in terms of customization. The system is largely designed so that people don't need to make significant changes to the design. Themes are designed with minimal customization in mind, layout and colour options aside. This need not be limited only to Wordpress. Drupal and Squarespace, and other CMS's have similar issues so it is important to know going in that the theme needs to be very close to what you or the client wants, else it can become a major headache.

3) Not everyone knows (insert social media platform X)

And that's totally fine, but it is crucial to not make assumptions about anyone's knowledge of a platform. Each service is different, has its own language and quirks, and users expect something specific from their chosen platform. This becomes even more important when working with others who may never have used social media, or may have never used that one in particular. Further, even being familiar with using, let's say Facebook, in your personal life is far different from using it as a business or cause. The interactions differ and it is important to not assume that someone might be comfortable on it just because they may have used it before.

4) Remember that it's about interaction

Which means that your audience may react to what you say or do and that they're going to expect a response if they do. How you deal with their reaction impacts not only their perception of you (or your brand), but also how others in your audience perceive you. If you react swiftly and positively, even to negative comments or problems, it shows that you are concerned and care about your product or service. Ignoring, or worse, denying or antagonizing can lead to mistrust among your audience, which may in turn make your message carry less weight among your perceived supporters.

And now, we begin the social media campaign and try and apply these lessons to make the most of it!

When Creativity Flatlines

When Creativity Flatlines

Stoked! 3 views last week (instructor, mom, and me). And the show goes on...

This week: How to stay inspired. 

Amid your busy schedule, it is essential to keep the creativity flowing; a feat much easier said than done. When you're constantly designing, the "well" has a tendency to sometimes slow to a trickle, if not dry up completely. Fear not. Here are two of my favourite ways to hit refresh and escape a creative drought.

Pocket Pics.
These days, everyone has a camera in their pockets and it's time you took advantage of it. Use your phone to take quick pictures of anything and everything you find interesting. Like the pattern on your take-out box? Snap it. How about the graffiti scribbled on the side of the bus, or the design of that old sewing machine? Snap those things too. So many of my design ideas come from my phone's camera gallery. I scroll through it from time to time and find all sorts of cool things I've taken pictures of. I recently used a colour scheme that I had seen on a can of peaches, ages ago.

Become a Card Collector.
So much good design can be found on other people's business cards, and usually goes unnoticed. Mind you there's heaps of bad design too, but that's the beauty of business cards. I find myself keeping any cards that intrigue me, even if I don't know why, and I file them away for later. Looking back over your collection can help you identify styles or trends that you didn't know you like(d) or realize that you actually don't like a certain style. Either way, the card comparisons can provide a starting point for a project that you may have never even considered. 

Basically, just try to analyze everything you look at or interact with. Take that extra second to make a mental note on why you like it, or what you like about it. Chances are that, if you put the effort into thinking about it in the first place, somewhere down the line, the thought will pop back into your head when you need it, thus saving the day. Theoretically of course. 


—tom

#Hashtags?

Remember when the # symbol meant pound? Or when it meant number sign? Now a days it’s usually referred as a, “hashtag”.

What is a Hashtag?

A hashtag is usually a short meaning of an event, place, thing, or saying. It’s used in social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and so on.

Top Five Weekly Trends

Each week there is a pattern to the some of the most used hashtags across these platforms.

Monday: #MCM (Man Crush Monday)

Where people post of a picture of their current guy crush.

Wednesday: #WCW (Woman Crush Wednesday)

Where people post of a picture of their current woman crush.

Thursday: #TBT (Throwback Thursday)

Where people post a picture of a past event and would like to share what happened.

Friday: #FB/#FBF (Follow Back Friday)

Usually used when you want people to follow you back, but keep in mind people may unfollow you if you do not follow them back. It’s kind of a trade off.

Sunday: #Selfie (Seflie Sunday)

Where people post a picture of themselves.

Why I mention these?

Right now I am currently working with a group to promote Robert Testini’s social media accounts in hope of bringing more traffic to his real estate website. What I found out while working on his instagram account is some popular hashtags.

Popular Hashtags?

#sunset

#skyline

I learned that these got the most likes on his Instagram account, which is one of the goals that my group and I wanted to achieve. It seems to me that people enjoy seeing nature shots around the world.  Anything to do with weather or nature will generally do well.

Before I used to cringe at the word, “hashtag”, but now I’m starting to realize the potential it has to bring in an audience for yourself or clients.

Planning For Chaos

Planning For Chaos

One week later: Still floating.

Now, as anyone in my class will know, this past week was ridiculously tight on time in regards to school. Mid-terms, big projects, presentation prep... even the Tim Horton's lines were longer. Add to that, 2 part-time jobs, several freelance projects, and moving; and now you have my past week. This crunch on time though, is a good lesson to anyone starting out in the graphic/web industry. 

Anyone getting into the field has to first learn how to manage what limited time they have appropriately. Example: I have several projects that I'm super keen to work on and develop, but I also have some far less "fun" projects to complete for school... blah. How do I complete everything on top of working 2 jobs? Simple, I don't. I look at everything on my plate to get a sense of what's there, then I work as hard as a can, as fast as I can, and not worry about the rest. Everything that slips through, means that it isn't crucial at that point in time, and just gets pushed onto next week's plate; then just work from week-to week. 

This is all fine in theory, but putting it into practice is another thing. This is where, if you're into graphics, you can have a bit of fun. Design yourself a personalized schedule or calendar and live by it. Whether it's on your phone, or on your fridge, a list will help you to separate those "must-do"s from the "want-to"s and provide a good look at the weeks ahead. 

I know this sounds like something your parents might have told you when you were younger, but contrary to what you may have thought, your parents weren't full of shit and they ACTUALLY knew what they were talking about. Calendars work, and you should try them.


—tom

Time Management

As the saying goes "their aren't enough hours in a day" it really seems like this is true when living a busy lifestyle. Balancing work, school, your social life, eating, and even sleeping, can really start to get you unorganized and exhausted. 

In this blog I will show you a few tips and tricks to make time work for you. 

The first tip and one of the most important is, keeping notes, either in a journal, a white board or even sticky notes on your fridge. it may not seem like its that important but this is the easiest way to stay organized.

the second tip is to prioritize your projects and most important stuff going on in your life. I know it can be a burden and seem like a chore but starting with cleaning your personal environment doesn't only help improve your time management but will help you work more comfortably in your own space which will lead to better time spent. 

The third tip I'm going to share with you is to get a regular routine or schedule. This will come as second nature but sometimes its easy to fall back on bad habits and procrastinate what really needs to get done. Start by creating a daily hourly schedule. this will really give you a great visual representation of what you need to accomplish in a day, enabling you to manage your time in the most effect manner.

If you follow these three simple steps in your daily routine, you will find your time being spent at the utmost potential.

cheers!

Afloat Once Again

Afloat Once Again.

Hello blogosphere; my old nemesis. It’s been years since my last visit, and for good reason too. Last time around you chewed me up, spat me out, and left me for dead after only a month of what was supposed to be “fun”.  Alas, it seems that I’m now back, reluctantly, for another round of punishment. So, without further ado, let the “Blog Experiment 2.0” begin… 

I’ve learned from my failed past, and this time around you wont see generic photos with attempts at wit slapped on them, but rather just…me. Cliché I know, but in the few short entries to follow, I’ll try and share my own trials and tribulations as an aspiring new graphic designer/web developer. 

Follow along if you wish, or happily choose to never read again. Either way it doesn’t really matter. I’ll still live. If you’re a classmate of mine then I feel your pain and just remember, we’re all on this same blogging-boat together, and there’s only 8 more weeks of paddling.


—tom

Leverage Social Media for Your Business

Social media provides the opportunity to build brand awareness, transmit messages to key audiences, and drive traffic to your website at a low cost.  Social media can offer big returns through more leads which promote increased sales and revenue.

There is a large variety of social media platforms existing on the internet, but not all of them are helpful for your company. Choosing the right platforms is very important for the effectiveness and efficiency of using social media sites. The statistic below shows the amount of active users and activities daily/monthly among different social media platforms.

#1 Facebook

• 1.35 billion monthly active users
• 864 million daily active users on average
• 703 million mobile daily active users on average
• 1.12 billion mobile monthly active users

#2 YouTube

• More than 1 billion unique users visit YouTube each month
• Over 6 billion hours of video are watched each month on YouTube — that's almost an hour for every person on Earth
• 100 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute

#3 Google+

• 359 million monthly active users
• 1.6 billion registered users

#4 Twitter

1. 284 million monthly active users
2. 500 million Tweets are sent per day

Ideally, social media sites should be updated on a daily basis to engage with your customers or clients.   Choose the best social media networks for your business, and then harness their unique audiences to leverage your business.

The use of social media networking for your business with enhance brand awareness and increase recognition in community.  Through daily use of these referral channels, you will communicate your brand message to key audiences which in turn will drive more leads to your website.