My posts have become rather infrequent over the past few weeks because I've just been pounded with work. It seems like that's all I've been doing since coming back from break. It makes the time go by pretty quickly though, and I'm really enjoying working like a real designer finally. I can't believe it's already February. Well, today's actually the last day of January and it's kind of bittersweet for me each year. I had an ok day. Tons of running around, spraymounting pictures onto boards for a presentation, working on an essay about Frankenstein and watching the Tuesday night lineup, but no matter how busy I was today, the main thought in my mind was that it was January 31st and today my sister would've been 22. It's so strange to think about. I look at my friends with sisters and how they're like best friends that can't be taken away by moving or going to different schools or silly fights. They are there for life. I think that may be the most cruel thing in my life, I was robbed of that person who I'm sure would've been there for me through everything. And that she was robbed of a full life. It's so totally random and unfair. I talked to my mom today on the phone and like every year, she bought a bouquet of colorful flowers and put them by Andrea's picture. She sounded kind of depressed today and I didn't know what to say to her that would be at all helpful. What extraordinary people my parents are to have gone through losing a child and come out of it ok and have been there for matt and me with the same love and support just as if nothing had happened. But you can't live in the past, especially after 22 years, and I'm really grateful for the way my life has turned out.
The rest of the week is going to be spent in the printmaking studio because I have a big presentation coming up and am not at all prepared. I also have a sorority dance coming up on the 10th that i really need to find a date for. I went with some adpi girls to the Norton Simon Museum this weekend and spent the day looking at Degas and then went to get 21 choices. I've always really liked old town pasadena. I'm finally starting to get over that cold that I've had for a week and a half. Anyway, I'll update more friday because I have too much work to do tonight. It has the makings of an all-nighter.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Thursday, January 19, 2006
don't talk to me about couture vintage, I've had enough
Most times I love being a design student. And then there are other times when I stay up til 2 am online researching cultural aesthetic, old vintage signage, packaging designs, and store window displays trying to come up with some kind of branding identity for American Rag and failing miserably. Endless hours. I'm doing the interactive side of things as well so I spent a good two hours tonight researching every clothing brand's website to see how they set it up.
I think this project will be the end to me...
I think this project will be the end to me...
Friday, January 13, 2006
Some people say the industrial revolution was as good as sliced bread
I went to the USC basketball game last night against Washington, but we lost. I didn't really mind though, I was just so happy to be actually going to a game. They play at the Sports Arena a few blocks from here, so a bunch of people from my apartment complex met in the lobby and we all walked over together. I got to meet some nice people who live near me. I'm kind of amazed that I can have lived here in this building for two years and I've never gotten to know any of my neighbors. It's different than the freshman dorms though, you don't do anything with people in apartments. Everyone just goes about their lives. I think that's true to a certain extent about the USC population in general. It was nice to see a sport other than football and there weren't nearly as many people at the game. Maybe I'll make this a regular habit and catch more games this season.
After my last class in printmaking I felt like I should be living in the 1800s. The entire technique of printmaking is very old and mechanical, although I think it'll be fun to get into it. The process involves carving your image onto a linoleum block and then rubbing a thick layer of ink on to table with what looks like a roller pin for baking, then rolling the ink onto the block, sticking it in this big press with paper over it, cranking this big wheel to press it, and voila, your printed image. I think I prefer ink jet printers. And at the end of the class you end up covered with ink and smelling of laquer or "strong mineral spirits" as my teacher calls them, looking something like this, minus the sparks:
After my last class in printmaking I felt like I should be living in the 1800s. The entire technique of printmaking is very old and mechanical, although I think it'll be fun to get into it. The process involves carving your image onto a linoleum block and then rubbing a thick layer of ink on to table with what looks like a roller pin for baking, then rolling the ink onto the block, sticking it in this big press with paper over it, cranking this big wheel to press it, and voila, your printed image. I think I prefer ink jet printers. And at the end of the class you end up covered with ink and smelling of laquer or "strong mineral spirits" as my teacher calls them, looking something like this, minus the sparks:
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
I have never let my schooling interfere with my education
It's kind of amazing how winter break can feel like such a divider between the semesters. This semester already feels like a completely different year and the only change is that I went home for 3 weeks and came back.
My classes, though, are amazing and seem like they're going to make for a good semester. I already love my advanced design class. My teacher is this fairly old guy who was taught by some teachers who were around for the Bauhaus movement so he should be pretty impressive. The first day was yesterday and we talked about our projects that we'll be working for the whole of the semester. The one I'm excited about is working on the new American Rag store that will be opening next fall in Fashion Island. I've always liked American Rag and to be able to actually work with a real life client is such a great opportunity. The CEO came in to talk to us yesterday and he was so nice! He's giving us a lot of creative freedom and is looking forward to seeing what we come up with as long as it keeps in line with the original look of the store. It makes me a little nervous too, but with the whole class working on it, I think it'll turn out alright. We can choose to work on the facade of the store, dressing rooms, clothing racks, bathroom, floor, lighting, interactive website, tshirt design, graphics on the delivery truck, or the denim sales area.
My advertsing design class is going to be fun too because the teacher works in entertainment design which is exactly what I want to go into. She's slanting the class toward that and I talked to her after class and she's going to bring me a list of companies and people to call for an internship this summer. We also might get the change to work on the redesign campaign for CSI Miami. I've never watched the show, but who'll turn up the chance to work for CBS? I'm so excited.
The World of Visual Effects should be great. We already took a tour of the Zemeckis digital arts center and will be taking field trips to Disney animation studios at some point soon. Too bad it's only once a week.
Writing is going to be pretty boring I think and I'm going to have to drag myself there 3 times a week, and printmaking has all the makings of a boring class but it may get better when we get time to work on projects. It's at night and in this room that is all white with florescent lights, and the teacher has this really slow Italian drawl that put everyone to sleep in the class on Monday. Unfortunately I have to go there tonight so I'm going to guzzle a pint of coffee to stay awake through his lecture on relief printing.
The only thing that's really worrying me is that sorority dues are due this weekend and I don't really know what to do. I don't want to quit, but I don't think I thought through how much I would have to pay continually each semester. I don't know where I'm going to find the money this time and it's pretty unfair to let my parents pay for it. I've really enjoyed it and would love to stay, but it's definitely looming over my head this semester. Maybe something will come to mind or I'll find a job
My classes, though, are amazing and seem like they're going to make for a good semester. I already love my advanced design class. My teacher is this fairly old guy who was taught by some teachers who were around for the Bauhaus movement so he should be pretty impressive. The first day was yesterday and we talked about our projects that we'll be working for the whole of the semester. The one I'm excited about is working on the new American Rag store that will be opening next fall in Fashion Island. I've always liked American Rag and to be able to actually work with a real life client is such a great opportunity. The CEO came in to talk to us yesterday and he was so nice! He's giving us a lot of creative freedom and is looking forward to seeing what we come up with as long as it keeps in line with the original look of the store. It makes me a little nervous too, but with the whole class working on it, I think it'll turn out alright. We can choose to work on the facade of the store, dressing rooms, clothing racks, bathroom, floor, lighting, interactive website, tshirt design, graphics on the delivery truck, or the denim sales area.
My advertsing design class is going to be fun too because the teacher works in entertainment design which is exactly what I want to go into. She's slanting the class toward that and I talked to her after class and she's going to bring me a list of companies and people to call for an internship this summer. We also might get the change to work on the redesign campaign for CSI Miami. I've never watched the show, but who'll turn up the chance to work for CBS? I'm so excited.
The World of Visual Effects should be great. We already took a tour of the Zemeckis digital arts center and will be taking field trips to Disney animation studios at some point soon. Too bad it's only once a week.
Writing is going to be pretty boring I think and I'm going to have to drag myself there 3 times a week, and printmaking has all the makings of a boring class but it may get better when we get time to work on projects. It's at night and in this room that is all white with florescent lights, and the teacher has this really slow Italian drawl that put everyone to sleep in the class on Monday. Unfortunately I have to go there tonight so I'm going to guzzle a pint of coffee to stay awake through his lecture on relief printing.
The only thing that's really worrying me is that sorority dues are due this weekend and I don't really know what to do. I don't want to quit, but I don't think I thought through how much I would have to pay continually each semester. I don't know where I'm going to find the money this time and it's pretty unfair to let my parents pay for it. I've really enjoyed it and would love to stay, but it's definitely looming over my head this semester. Maybe something will come to mind or I'll find a job
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Really late New Year's posting
I wanted to write a New Year's post closer to the actual day, but got extremely lazy at home and a little reclusive. Now, I'm back at USC and after spending the entire morning packing up everything to bring to school, I spent the afternoon unpacking it all in my apartment, so I'm pretty beat. I've still got a few more hours of winter break to enjoying before starting my classes tomorrow so I'll spread out on the bed that I need a step ladder to get up to, read, and watch Law and Order SVU tonight. Anyway, I read Connor's post on New Year's and saw that he broke his assessment of his year into life categories so that it wouldn't turn into a rambling mess, so I think I'll take this opportunity to blatantly copy him.
Work/School: I thought that 2005 in this area was overall very good. It was a lot like 2004, but I felt even more comfortable here at this school and being a year older, I better fit in and knew more people. I wasn't as scared of everything or the future and I feel like I came into my own with classwork. This year, I was able to get into upper level design classes and actually focus on what I want to do and I started building a portfolio. I studied with some great design and art teachers and narrowed my focus as far as careers go. I didn't have a job which I had told myself I would get and start earning some money, but without a job I had even more time for other areas of my life. This year, the full realization of tuition debts sunk in, but I think it'll work out alright. I started considering grad school as an option. As the year went along, I became confident that I choose something that both had good job opportunities and also something I loved doing. I have a feeling this upcoming year will be comfortable and exciting in terms of school because by the end of this year I'll be close to graduation and will hopefully have an internship under my belt.
Friends: I can't complain in this area of life either. I've met a lot of people at USC this year and although all my high school friends are going different ways, I still feel like we all get along when we get together at home and I don't see myself not being friends with the same people years down the line. I'm looking forward to going to New York to visit Jess in april. The sorority is still a lot of fun, although I have a lot less responsibility this upcoming year because I'm not doing the website anymore.
Family: I think this has been a year of realizations in terms of family. I think in 2004 I had a lot of reservations about college and how I was supposed to grow up and thought growing up meant seeing less of my family. In 2005 though, I think I've decided that my family is still really important to me and I want to be around them. I guess I'm lucky in that respect, but I don't think that growing up has to mean moving across the country and never coming home again. I've spent some good times with my family this year. We've added a dog to the family and had fun going to pick him up in Sacremento and have enjoyed lots of trips to disneyland over the year. This upcoming year should be fun because we're going to my cousin's wedding in New Jersey in auguest and I haven't seen any relatives in 11 years so it should be awesome.
Love: eh, I debated not putting this one on here but I'm ok with things. I didn't get into a serious relationship with anyone this year which was I was hoping I would, especially when a lot of my friends have boyfriends, but I didn't mind all that much being the type who likes some space. I hope that 2006 will be better though.
Hobbies: I don't think I have any new hobbies. Design is my hobby. Oh, and I learned to knit a little although my projects need a little bit of work.
Appearance: I've been growing my hair out for the entire year, only cutting it to get necessary trims and it's definitely been a long process. It's finally getting longer which I'm liking and I think I'll continue to grow it in 2006 too. I think this year has been one of comfort and consistency in terms of appearance, but i wouldn't mind losing 10 pounds this year. That's my goal.
Overall, my life in 2005 wasn't blotted by any losses in family or friends or health so I can only be happy about the things that happened this year and look forward to this new one.
Work/School: I thought that 2005 in this area was overall very good. It was a lot like 2004, but I felt even more comfortable here at this school and being a year older, I better fit in and knew more people. I wasn't as scared of everything or the future and I feel like I came into my own with classwork. This year, I was able to get into upper level design classes and actually focus on what I want to do and I started building a portfolio. I studied with some great design and art teachers and narrowed my focus as far as careers go. I didn't have a job which I had told myself I would get and start earning some money, but without a job I had even more time for other areas of my life. This year, the full realization of tuition debts sunk in, but I think it'll work out alright. I started considering grad school as an option. As the year went along, I became confident that I choose something that both had good job opportunities and also something I loved doing. I have a feeling this upcoming year will be comfortable and exciting in terms of school because by the end of this year I'll be close to graduation and will hopefully have an internship under my belt.
Friends: I can't complain in this area of life either. I've met a lot of people at USC this year and although all my high school friends are going different ways, I still feel like we all get along when we get together at home and I don't see myself not being friends with the same people years down the line. I'm looking forward to going to New York to visit Jess in april. The sorority is still a lot of fun, although I have a lot less responsibility this upcoming year because I'm not doing the website anymore.
Family: I think this has been a year of realizations in terms of family. I think in 2004 I had a lot of reservations about college and how I was supposed to grow up and thought growing up meant seeing less of my family. In 2005 though, I think I've decided that my family is still really important to me and I want to be around them. I guess I'm lucky in that respect, but I don't think that growing up has to mean moving across the country and never coming home again. I've spent some good times with my family this year. We've added a dog to the family and had fun going to pick him up in Sacremento and have enjoyed lots of trips to disneyland over the year. This upcoming year should be fun because we're going to my cousin's wedding in New Jersey in auguest and I haven't seen any relatives in 11 years so it should be awesome.
Love: eh, I debated not putting this one on here but I'm ok with things. I didn't get into a serious relationship with anyone this year which was I was hoping I would, especially when a lot of my friends have boyfriends, but I didn't mind all that much being the type who likes some space. I hope that 2006 will be better though.
Hobbies: I don't think I have any new hobbies. Design is my hobby. Oh, and I learned to knit a little although my projects need a little bit of work.
Appearance: I've been growing my hair out for the entire year, only cutting it to get necessary trims and it's definitely been a long process. It's finally getting longer which I'm liking and I think I'll continue to grow it in 2006 too. I think this year has been one of comfort and consistency in terms of appearance, but i wouldn't mind losing 10 pounds this year. That's my goal.
Overall, my life in 2005 wasn't blotted by any losses in family or friends or health so I can only be happy about the things that happened this year and look forward to this new one.
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