New job

So I recently started a job at a place that I really enjoy shopping at. They told me that there is a credit card. I have to ask the customer until they sign up. They call it the 3 no's. So basically I have to ask them to sign up for the credit card until they absolutely hate me. Awesome. I was getting pretty regular hours (10hrs) until like last week. I got ONE Sunday shift for 5hrs. They highlighted my hours in pink and said that it was due to my IC performance (Instant Credit applications). To date I have only gotten one credit card because I don't feel comfortable asking. So since then I have continually gotten just one shift per week on Sundays. Cool.

Is it just me or do you hate shopping at places when you know that the girl at the register is just going to sell you a credit card until you finally say no three times.. I don't understand why companies insist on associates selling their credit card! I think it should be about customer service. Does the associate relate to customers well? Not, does the associate convince people to give us all their information so we can charge 24% interest.

So of course, I have like umpteen bills coming up and like zero money saved up. Example, my car insurance is due on Oct. 10th and its $850!! I got a darn speeding ticket and thats $175 due on Oct. 16th. I have 240$ I spend my money on gas to drive to Columbus for school. I drive there once a week but thats about 26$ / week. Not including all the materials I need for school. I cannot wait to get a real job.

Which brings me to this point, I am so nervous about finding a job. Like OHMIGAWD. I can't even find a good retail job! I also feel like it's because when I get a design job I can show how much I am worth in work that I have done for a company. In retail it's their way of doing operations.

Transformation

On a complete whim this past Monday, I decided to start p90x. Literally, I just popped in the Chest and Back DVD then from there decided to actually go through with the program.

For those of you who don't know what p90x is, Beachbody.com is the first place to look. This is a link that is directly to p90x. Its an extreme home fitness program. They aren't kidding when they say extreme. I have just completed my first week. Unfortunately due to my extreme soreness I wasn't able to do Day 6's workout (I had it such that I was going to do the legs and back workout but because I work a retail job my legs were already shot from my 5hr shift.)

My schedule is such that my Tuesday is my off day. (because I have class from 9a.m.-8:50p.m.) Broken down here is my Tuesday

Drive downtown at 8a.m.
Graphic design III 9a.m.-11:50a.m.
Drive to Columbus, IN  (it's about an hour-ish drive)
Digital Production 1p.m.-4:50p.m.
Drive downtown (Dinner? In the car while driving)
Portfolio Prep 6p.m.-8:50p.m.

Obviously I am exhausted by the end of the day and there is no way in hell I am doing a work out.

So I have my next 96days mapped out in this little pink notebook, by the end of it I will be in the best shape of my life (due to p90x) and I will have my degree in Graphic Design. YAY.

All roads that lead to success are uphill.

Yay School!!

I am in my last semester of school.. YAY I can't wait to graduate.. BUT I have a feeling I am not going to like my classes too much. Especially two of my classes (that's half) There are people in those classes that I think are just ew.. And when there are people like that in my classes I tend to disregard what they say in critiques. The good news is that in my Graphic Design III class the teacher is just as crazy about fonts and poorly designed things as me.. Example

He was talking about different logos and their meanings. We started talking about the the Ivy Tech logo.. It was a very interesting conversation I might add..
He was like, "What is this logo? What does it mean?"
And me being the outgoing loud-mouth I can sometimes tend to be with design I say, "I was told it's an Ivy tree."
He says, "When was the last time you've seen an Ivy tree?"
I say, "I have no idea. I actually don't think I've ever seen one."
He goes, "Class, when was the last time you saw an ivy tree??"
Silence.
I chime in and say, "I was actually under the impression ivy was an invasive vine and not a tree."
He goes. "EXACTLY! So how does this logo even makes SENSE?!?! Ivy isn't EVEN A TREE!!"

He proceeds to google the alleged 'ivy tree' and read the Wikipedia entry.
He then tells us that an Ad Agency designed it and didn't design it well considered the given facts of the ivy plant.
He asks what font the logo is in.. Of course I know what it is.. Futura.. Obvi.

He was like, "So tell me what is wrong with this logo. Why isn't it within design standards?"
I say, "The proportions are incorrect."
He says, "Good observation, but not the correct terminology. The WEIGHT isn't the same. The Y is very thick, the V is medium thickness and the I is scrunched and scrawny in comparison to the other letters."
I was just sitting there laughing, only because he is so right.


It's going to be a good class let me tell you!!

What annoys me..

People who have too much time on their hands.. 

More specifically people who have too much time to bitch about stuff.. Especially companies and big corporations.

→ I recently found out from my mom that McDonald's stopped putting toys in their happy meals because mothers were bitching that it was encouraging their children to eat McDonald's and that it was contributing to obesity.. Are you serious? They have changed their options to make it such that you're children can eat healthy at McDonald's. How about this instead of bitching about obesity and what not.. Order your child some healthy.. Or DON'T GO THERE AT ALL if you are just THAT concerned about it.

→ There are forums for different products.. Example, there are forums for work out videos and what ever. People FLIP out if one thing goes wrong. Companies have even to some people said stop pre-ordering from us  if you don't want to wait. They give out prerequisites to pre-ordering the DVD but for some reason people don't read them.. Or the lights on but nobodies home then when the very thing that the company warned the customer about goes wrong they seriously FREAK OUT.. These people have entirely too much time on their hands.. Like seriously, get a hobby, some interests.. ANYTHING so you'll stop publicly expressing distaste that you were warned about!! LIKE FOR REAL


I used to work at a few retail stores... HOLY MOLE-Y. Talk about some seriously ridiculous parents. One place I worked at was Abercrombie & Fitch. I worked there for a long time, as a SALES ASSOCIATE. I can't do anything except fold clothes and work the cash wrap. But apparently people seem to think that complaining to me is going to do something.

I will never forget this one woman who was so offended by the picture in our store that she was yelling at the manager. The display is CORPORATE. There is nothing that anyone in the store can do. She was going on and on about how her young girl shouldn't be seeing that sort of thing. So my manager directed her to Abercrombie Kids (two stores away)

She was saying how her 13 year old couldn't fit into the kids clothing. I don't know what else to say about that. I have nothing against fat people but I mean if we have options for your child but for some reason it doesn't work for you.. The adult Abercrombie is not meant for 13 year old girls so in that situation it is not Abercrombie & Fitch's fault. They have altered Abercrombie Kids to specifically suit that sort of audience.

When I worked at ULTA it was a nightmare with the coupons. READ THE EXPIRATION DATE A LIMITATIONS BEFORE GOING INTO THE STORE! Ohmigawd women would flip out on me because they couldn't use a $3.50 coupon on prestige make-up purchases. Read the limitations please.

People are so expecting too. They expect you as an associate to 'bend the rules' just so they can get a discount, or free something. My job is not worth a $3.50 coupon sorry. If you really have such a problem with it call corporate, send an email write them, idk something. But do not complain to a cashier or server. They didn't make the rules, they can't change them either.


http://brucine.blogspot.com/2010/07/comcast-customer-service-chat.html
Normally, I wouldn't do this but this is a good example of someone who is just complaining to someone who can't do anything about their problem.

More often than not if you complain to someone and they say "It's company policy." You are going to hear the SAME exact thing from a store manager.. Seriously.

Marcie and Silla

Young Audiences Logo

Here is a logo I did for the young audiences national conference 2011 the slogan "Full STEAM ahead" 

The first one shown is the railroad crossing sign with the two red lights underneath. The other one below it is the railroad tracks.

I wanted to make something that said 'train' without actually putting a train in the logo.

Crossword by a designer

This is what a crossword looks like when you are obsessed with fonts.

The cost of Education.. (Parents aren't stupid)

2006 - Fall - She starts school. All seems to be going well but she seems to be getting into the party scene and drinking because she's not getting involved in other things that would be better for her. She makes pretty decent grades. No student loan at this point.

2006 - Spring - She gets into drinking and party scene even more. As an example, she comes back to the room and throws up on the floor; can't even make it to the bathroom. She spends good majority of weekends sick all the time from too much alcohol and does not get schoolwork done. Her grades take a drop but she says she's going to work harder next year and not do what she did. No student loan at this point.

She has to take summer school class which mom and stepdad pay for.

Both sets of parents have paid in excess of $18,000 for her education at this point.

2007 - Fall - She goes back to school, proceeds to get heavily into the party scene again. Sleeping through class, going out on weekends to get blackout drunk, spending weekends in bed, not studying. Her grades take a sharp downward turn. January 2007, She is informed that she needs to get a 3.0 for the next semester or she will have to leave the university. Still no student loan.
Education has cost parents $27,000 by this stage.

2007 - Spring - She returns to school after getting involved with boyfriend A and knowing she must get a 3.0. She strikes up friendship with friend A who doesn't have to study in her courses. She doesn't study, sleeps through classes, goes out to purposely get blackout drunk, constantly obsessing over drama with  boyfriend A, doesn't do homework then tries to pull it out at the last minute. She fails class and grades do not meet requirements. She also rushes sorority and allows parents to pay in excess of $2,000 for her to join but then never does anything with the group because she thinks she's too good for them and is obsessed with partying with friend A.
Education has cost parents (including sorority) in excess of $38,000. Still no student loan.

Late Spring 2007, Her father stops paying educational support and stepdad says fuck it. We will not put out our hard-earned money for education when father has stopped paying and she is not applying herself, clearly does not understand the value of getting an education.. is more concerned with drinking.
We apply for student loan for following school year.

Summer 2007, She gets arrested for alcohol consumption for second time. The picture shows even more that She only cares about drinking and partying.

2007 - Fall - She goes to a commuter campus. Student loan does not cover entire costs of attendance. Mom and stepdad have to make up difference and buy books, parking, incidentals. Mom buys a membership for her to the commuter campus sports and fitness center for the first semester. She never sets foot in the place. Yet more wasted money. Her grades are marginal, further confirmation that she does not care about education. Education costs are running in excess of $40,000.

2007 - Spring - She still at the commuter campus.  Once again, student loan does not cover entire costs. Mom and stepdad have to make up difference. She starts going out with boyfriend B who has to tell her to do her schoolwork. She is more focused on social life. She skips classes and generally doesn't apply herself. She gets better grades because someone (boyfriend B) was telling her to do her work.
She clearly doesn't want to work. Education costs totalling more than $42,000 (on the low end).

She and boyfriend B break up for various reasons not the least of which is her problem alcohol consumption.

2008 - Fall - She's again at the commuter campus in a Business program. Student loan doesn't cover costs. At this point, She has received money for three semesters. Mom and stepdad step in to make up difference. She knows going in, semester will be hard and take a lot of work. She sleeps through classes regularly, doesn't do homework, blows off meetings with business group and focuses on drama with boyfriend C. Her grades are abysmal and clear indication of her lack of work ethic.
Education costs have run more than $44,000 and stepdad says "you're done".

In all more than $44,000 has been spent on her education which does not include the brand new (honda civic '08) automobile purchased for her to drive which she regularly says she does not want and gets into car accidents due to her lack of attention on the road.

In the meantime from summer of 2008 through December 2008, She screws around at no less than three different jobs and gets fired from all three (in one year) for showing up late, using cell phone when specifically told not to, etc.  She then struggles to find a job right after the holidays and has been digging out ever since. Now She feels the need to attack mom and stepdad every time she gets mad about money because she can't have her money all to herself.

She has the nerve to question Mom and stepdad's decision to get a student loan and attack them for asking her to pay rent and act as though not enough has been provided to her when more than $40,000 has been spent on her. She has the nerve to bring up her sister's education which has cost in the neighborhood of less $8,000 as compared to her expenses $40,000+.. but She thinks mom and stepdad haven't been "fair to her".

She still does not have her degree and her sister is graduating with an associate's degree of applied sciences in December who has made the dean's list.

In closing, that is 44,000$+ WASTED on someone who clearly was not that serious about school and are being punished for the consequences. Her friends tell her it's BS that the parents are making her pay rent but they don't know how much the parents have thrown down the drain for her to (from what it seems) just ruin her education and party all the time.

Starting Over..

I am really nervous to move out of state. I don't know anyone outside of Indiana. I don't even LIKE that many people in Indiana, but at least I know people!

It's like I wouldn't even know enough people to hate anyone!

I am nervous also because it's difficult to meet people. Well normally I meet people at the place I work at, but sometimes that isn't the best place to find people to hang out with, outside of the employment place.The craziest thing is that my high school was H U G E so I know a lot of people.. that went to my high school. Aka in INDIANA. I have more than 1,000 friends on facebook that I know (there were approx 750 people in my graduating class alone)  not including the people I know from other graduating classes, cheerleading, other high schools, sports, etc.

It has been gradual.. I have gradually gotten to know all of these people. It's taken me about 13 years to meet that many people. So I suppose it isn't as scary as I think it may be but 13 years from now I will be 34! AH! Old fart!

It is scary also because my 'support system' (family) will be in Indiana.. If something happened they would be at minimum 4hours away. I have never lived away from home. In fact, I have never lived anywhere (more than two weeks) away from our current home.

 

Here is a part of our backyard

Love the landscaping. It's grown quite a bit since I have taken this picture, but it's like when I move that's all I will be able to see to reference the place I call my home; pictures.

Quote

"Here's to the crazy ones.
The misfits.
The rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.
They're not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status quo.
You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can't do is ignore them.
Because they change things.
They invent. They imagine. They heal.
They explore. They create. They inspire.
They push the human race forward.
Maybe they have to be crazy.
How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?
Or sit in silence and hear a song that's never been written?
Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?
We make tools for these kinds of people.
While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

- Steve Jobs, Apple C.E.O.

Timing...

Life is all about timing..

I have come to the conclusion that this statement is so very true. Obviously, it's not all that decides your fate but I believe it has something to do with outcomes now more than ever.

I got fired from a job as a receptionist, I was NEVER late for more than six months except the day after my 21st birthday. I went out some friends from work and apparently they couldn't keep their mouths shut about it, ipso facto, my manager found out about it. I drove the whole way there to just get fired on the spot. They had no reason to fire me. My personal life is none of their business and I was late ONCE, you have to give the person at least a warning before you take such drastic measures.. Well it seems that's just my rational mind being kerazy again! Oh silly me. Going on another tangent.

I haven't had a job for two months. God only knows how I have been able to pay for stuff (i.e. my unpaid internship where I have to drive more than 30 minutes each morning AND pay for parking four days out of seven) but because all of these college student are still here in Indy every place I've applied to is well staffed if not over staffed. I got fired in late May, I wish they would've fired me BEFORE the summer started. I have like zero time to fit in a job and I made my schedule around that damn job. I have 20 hours a week at the IBJ then a summer class, which takes up a lot of time, so it is difficult for me to find times that I can be available to employers, except on weekends.

Once the college students go back to school I am hoping it will be a little easier to find something. Although, I am not too hopeful because there was a point I was in limbo and it took me forever to find a job (the next job I got was only because I knew someone who knew someone that worked there). For me it's timing.

I dropped off some clothes at Plato's Closet, obviously because I am so broke I can't think, and in the past they have taken everything unless it was really worn or was damaged in some way shape or form. I dropped off some clothes I have had in my closet for more than a year that I only wore twice (some abercrombie stuff and bebe stufff) it was about 25 articles of clothing, I thought for sure that I would get minimum 40$. I walk up to the register excited to finally have some money to think straight. She gives me back a full bag... ummm what the fuck? There is nothing wrong with this clothing, I think to myself. She tips the bin towards me to show me what they want to buy from me. One A&F sweater in navy and white, a HCO hoodie (I hated that thing) & idk about the rest.. non-descript.
She goes, "We'll give you $12.17"
I thought to myself.. For real? What the hell? Normally, they tell you whats wrong with the stuff but she just said,
"We are looking for denim with embellishments.."
then proceeds to point to herself showing where the embellishments would normally be on pants and says
"You know, like rhinestones."

Good thing I am a complete idiot and I nooo earthly idea what embellishments could be.. I was just so spell bound that my bebe stuff wasn't 'purchased' from me. I thought those would be the items they would definitely take. I thought about it a little more and thought to my past experiences.. And came to the realization if I had given this stuff to them a year ago all of it would've been bought from me. Rawr.. How annoying.. It's that timing thing again!

Design?

Q:What is good design? 

What constitutes are great poster? A great logo? Brochure? Etc. This was a serious question I was asking myself.  I began to think about it a lot. I even thought to myself, what did I think about the font 'Brush Script" (I despise that font and I see it everywhere) before I became a designer? And from there are was supposed to come up with some enlightened sense of design. From the answer to this question I will be able to design anything and it will be loved by all. I kept branching from that single thought "What is good design?" 

For that matter what is good music? What is fashion, What is a cute outfit?

My experiences:

When I re-create stuff for others they say well I like this but I don't know if the client will. So many times I have had to make very readable and well-designed things 'dumbed-down' (that's what I call it) just so the ad can be approved by the client the first time around.  
Marcie's Solution: Educate the client as to why this design works over the one that's is not so successful, but this is for another discussion.

I've had many opportunities to re-design things for clients, but I've found that 're-designing' really means re-make the ad but keep the same look as their old ad so it will be approved. There have been times when I have disregarded their version of 're-designing' and used my own version of it to only be shunned by the middle person that is the connection to the client. I want to say, " How about you send it to them anyways and see what they think."

Example. I got this ad from a representative and the client wanted to change the previous ad, it was heinous in every sense of the word. The lack of imagery made it difficult to understand what the ad was for. So the client wants us to add in some imagery that relates to golf. It was a thank-you ad to thank their sponsors for some event. For some reason they included a roster they had from the event, it made me confused. But whatever, I am going to re-design this ad and blow their socks off, well I still had to exercise restraint but it finally wasn't some dinky text change.

I design three versions of the ad.. show it to the rep. and they say, "Oh, make it look like their roster." Good grief.. Their roster wasn't ugly but I made one ad look like the roster except so beyond ugly there was nooo way they were going to pick it. I made another one where their logo was on the golf ball and the text was Bookman Old Style and it all nicely fit in the lay out (my favorite of course). The other ad was similar to the one I created but with a different image (I wasn't in love with it, but it was bad either). The picked the Bookman Old Style text (yay!) but the other image. (????) I had to force the rep to send all three versions to the client (how annoying!). It came to my attention that the design was, in fact, to the sales reps liking, not the clients. I think this is so backwards.

I've made some things for and arts & entertainment sort of thing, I made three versions, as always. One of my ideas was so outrageously awesome that it's a portfolio piece, for realsies! Every designer I have shown it to thinks it's the best concept EVAR! But is it going to be used for that? NOPE. One of the people that pretty much do everything (write the editorial, decide the theme, etc.) for the supplement didn't like the idea. Either that or it was never shown to him. Frustration at it's high.

I am OBSESSED with a certain collection of fonts.. One being Georgia because of it's old style numbers. I am not particularly fond of sans-serif because I think that they can start to blend and look the same. Whereas with serif fonts there are a numerous amount of options to experiment with serifs, stress on letters, etc. (love) A lot of people like sans-serif which is completely fine but not my cup of tea. I especially don't like the mix of sans-serif and serif. It just doesn't fit to me, but I see it all the time...  
Q: What is a great font?
A: What are you using it for?

Ultimately, I came to this conclusion...

A: Who are you talking to??