Tucker at Krush!
Krush got a live visit from the Youth Design team(Ivan Richiez and David Brade)! Ivan and David were introduced to Meghan Sherry (Mentor), Nick and Liz (Krush designers), Alexis and Aalyn (Krush web developers), and Aneisha Malcolm and Wendy Darling (from the marketing department). Krush is a startup, created by Gina Ashe. It is a website designed to give sneak peeks on brand products that are not yet released. It is a site where consumers can post items, rate, or get ratings, it provides valuable data not just to see their development, but also provides informational feedback for the brands as well. Krush keeps members of the site entertained with weekly games in which prizes can be won. Krush continues to grow daily. You can join Krush simply by going to Krush.com and logging in using your Facebook account. Krush was a right fit for me! Once a devoted athlete, I am now transitioning to becoming more of a devoted artist. It is satisfaction to see my developmental progression contributing to the development of Krush as well. Because Krush is a startup, I was introduced to all fields of the work: creating help tiles, or facebook profile pictures, sending out emails, packaging, etc. I definitely learned a lot from this job, especially now looking back at how clueless I was when I first started trying to figure out how to even get an image on photoshop, let alone play with it. Youth Design help get my KRUSH on in the art world (thats for sure)!
Thanks to our Youth Design mentor Meghan Sherry
Dahrell at Continuum
Being in the Continuum has helped me learn a lot about myself and more technology that I can use. I have learned a lot about how these professional designers got where the are today, and this will help me plan my future in a more realistic view. I have become a better designer in learning how to use Adobe Illustrator while also improving my use of Adobe Photoshop. In addition I learned what materials are commonly used for a product and I have seen the tools that are used to make them. I have met a very broad type of designers, who do a lot of amazing work; this would include things like designing an entire store for a company and building a new product to be used. I’m glad I have helped with many different kinds of projects, and I hope to learn more about the people I work with and their design talents.
Thanks to our Youth Design mentor Pete Strutt!
Cierra at Continuum
So, this is the blog entry, eh? Well, I suppose I should introduce myself: My name is Cierra — or Cee, my preferred title — and I spend my weekdays at Continuum (Innovation), which is a consultancy firm for large companies to help improve their brands.
My goal in life is to be a jack-of-all-trades, which is why I love this firm; the high level of freedom and initiative that seems to be culture here. If I wanted, I could make a chair, a dress or even a magazine. That’s just how it is here. Mistakes are encouraged, and prototypes vary from one step to production to crude foam pieces taped together to simulate the feel of whatever the particular person is attempting to make.
I think the coolest thing I’ve seen is the project room. Boards of inspiration for whatever the project entails cover every room. Sticky notes are plastered everywhere. Every thought is taken into account, no matter how silly, or experimental; small or big. I work in the X-Lab, which in my opinion is probably what would happen if Tumblr were an actual place. It’s colorful, vibrant and always full of energy. In my office I admire all of the people on my floor: Abby, Bryant, Pete, Joey and Will. They’re all extremely eclectic, talented people who do are amazing artists in their own individual and shared fields. This experience has truly helped me to open my mind that much more, and think in perspectives other than my own, or ones usually impressed upon me; I feel honored to be able to share space and converse with them daily.
Hotep, Cierra
Youth Design at Kirkwood Printing!
This week’s Youth Design Professional Development Workshop started with an early morning bus ride to Wilmington where Kirkwood Printing is located. Wide awake by David’s great icebreaker- pairing students who still don’t know each other very well, the bust ride was great fun and we got to Kirkwood eager to find out the logistics behind printing high quality work. We ate breakfast and were introduced to Robert Brown. He then began to explain to us the 4-color process (CYMK) when printing digital files. We learned that plates are layered with the individual colors; Cyan, Yellow, Magenta and Black. He passed around examples of plates for us to look at closely, he also explained that they are printed in small dots- a full black or colored page would be called a 100%, and the less dots in the area the less percentage. After the students gained full understanding of the 4-color printing process we split up into groups to begin our tour through the Kirkwood printing facility. It was really eye opening to see the size of the printers and the speed in which they print. There was also machinery that took care of stapling, folding, and color correction. The process for clients to print out their work in abundance was once timely, but with the technology and the state-of-the-art printing equipment they have at Kirkwood it is now shorter. Kirkwood does have great spaces for clients to relax in while waiting for their work to be printed. Students asked questions while trying to understand processes of certain printing jobs regarding cost, color and the amount of copies. It was really important for the students to be exposed to the printing process at a high-end company like Kirkwood because they have emphasis on quality printing. Being the designers that we are, it is imperative that we have at least some understanding on printing different jobs, whether it may be a mailing document or a brochure.
We also learned that it was Kirkwood who printed Denise’s new book, 10 Who Mentor, as well as the Time To Design Competition note cards in 2010, and that Kirkwood is a great supporter of Youth Design over the years.
Thanks to Kirkwood Printing
Lisa at MetLife!
Hi, my name is Lisa and I work at MetLife. I’ve been working here for a few weeks and in that amount of time I have learned so much about the company and its brand standards. How we can use the logo and different elements that are part of the guidelines. I feel like part of the team and the creative process. It’s nice to have my own space to work in as well. I’ve been working on different projects, including a logo, a presentation, doing some research, selecting colors, and reviewing proofs.
Thanks to our Youth Design mentor Emily Parent
Youth Design at the ICA!
The ICA, Institute of Contemporary Art: Boston is one of a kind, from the exterior of the building to the many spaces inside that hold the exhibits created by the renowned artists. We spent sometime outside the museum on the back steps discussing what each of us is doing at our respective firms. Everyone has been learning and gaining skill sets from their mentors and the people who they work with. Everyone spoke about the projects they are currently working on aside from the “Time to Design” contest and the contributions they are making to their firms. Shortly after, we entered the museum for the tours- splitting into 2 groups. Everyone was excited to check out the exhibits as we waited for the Huge glass elevator to make its way to the 4th floor where we began our tour. The tour went through all the exhibits, from the simplest to the most complex. After the tour we gathered up in the art lab to talk about the “Time to Design” contest. Everyone shared his or her concept and ideas. This was moderated by Mark Feldman, President of Cause Consulting, who also shared great advice and gave feedback to everyone’s’ concepts. He explained and emphasized that the issues we are choosing have to be close to us and also to do research about it in order to have a strong design for the competition.
Everyone had a great time and we can’t wait to go back and visit the ICA!!
Thanks to the ICA: Boston and Mark Feldman, President of Cause Consulting
Marietta at Communispace!
Hi, my name is Marietta Esquerdo. This summer I’m an intern at a company called Communispace. Communispace creates communities to connect brands with their customers. So far I’ve been having a great time here, learning and exploring new things that have to do with design. As soon as I got to my desk/ work area (which I was super excited about!) My co-workers greeted me with a warm welcome. I felt comfortable from the start to ask anyone here for help, whether it had to do with projects at work or with my time to design project. I feel like I have more than one mentor here at Communispace apart from my mentor Christi Gorelli. Christi has helped me so much and has pushed me to dig deep and really think about my projects, especially for the Time to Design project. I have been assigned a couple projects so far and each was a new challenge, but a great benefit for me. One of the projects is for a first time event here at the office called “Take Your Kids To Work Day”, where I have to design the posters to hang up around the office. Another project that I’ve worked on is making a Master head for an online community of a real brand called Hasbro. I have also been working a lot with programs like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop. I’m glad that I get to work at Communispace for the summer. This opportunity has made me a more experienced designer. Thank you Youth Design!
Thanks to our Youth Design mentor Christi Gorelli!
Ena at Boston Children’s Hospital Graphic Communications Dept.!
Although my time at Children’s Hospital Boston has not been long, it has been an amazing experience, and I am lucky to have been placed here in the Marketing and Communications’ design team. In terms of design, I’ve learned so many different things. Before this summer, I had never even heard of Illustrator or InDesign and I barely knew my way around Photoshop. My mentor, Patrick, as well as the other two members, Javier and Jeff, of the design team here at Children’s have been more than helpful and patient with me. I have a better feel of typography and just how to make things visually pleasing and presentable to consumers. Now every time I’m on a bus or a train, I tend to notice the different kinds of posters and advertisements.
Before coming to Children’s, I did not know what to expect; my mom joked around and asked if I was going to be painting the walls of the hospital for the kids. I never really noticed that every single institution or company needed a team of designers. That’s a huge thing that I learned; that design is incorporated into almost every aspect of society. In this day and age, we live in a world that would not function without design. Design shapes the world, and because of Patrick, everyone at Children’s, and especially all of Youth Design, I know I definitely want to incorporate design into my life.
Thanks to our Youth Design mentor Patrick Bibbons
Tuyen at Harvard Press!
I’ve been working at Harvard University Press for nearly three weeks and my experience here is absolutely amazing. I have a chance to work on a book cover design and learn a lot more about the process of book production. My mentor, Eric is a genius. He showed me a lot of Photoshop and InDesign techniques that are really helpful for my working process. Everyone at HUP is really nice, and they’re always helpful when I have any questions regarding my designs. I’m looking forward to learn more cool stuff this summer from my mentor!
Thanks to our Youth Design Mentor Eric Mulder of Harvard Univerity Press
Checkin’ out West Elm
West Elm is a modern-contemporary furniture & home decor store. It has many locations throughout the States- and I got somewhat of an exclusive look into their new seasonal collection for fall and familiarized myself a bit more with what West Elm is about. Aside from their various selections in decor and furniture, they have a great sense of translating seasons into colors and moods. I met Vanessa Holden, the Creative Director of West Elm who was in visiting from the West coast. She gave us a tour and talked to us about the new lines I also met Abigail Jacobs, Director of Public Relations. I learned that each collection is actually called a story rather than a collection; each collection includes different colors, materials and themes. West Elm does a great job in producing home decor and furniture that target a widespread of consumers from all over the country; they even have a store in Puerto Rico! They are also a bit famous for their owls in this falls’ story, which is a bit whimsical.
Ivan Richiez (me) with Jo Swani, our host from The Moxie Agency in the West Elm Boston store, holding one of the signature owls.
Thanks to Denise Korn and West Elm