Hi students let me start by saying a Big thank you for agreeing to help me with my research. Please could you all keep a journal for the next 3 weeks, i know thats hard to do so you can all just post your daily activities here on my blog that way we don't have to retype things later. Could we start by blogging our ideas around these questions below and could you keep the numbering.
1. What do you expect to do in the work place during your work integrated learning period?
2. What do you think is the most important skill or element needed for the work place ?
3. What do you think you would want to learn or experience in the work place?
I so look forward to your input!!
Hey Cheri
ReplyDelete1- Well, Learn I suppose. A person can only make so much of an opportunty, Depending if your Challenged or Not. Also doesn't allow you as a Designer to be Limited to thinking.. With Good Research comes Good Results!
2-haha!! I think Mantaining/Preserving your Energy!!! Shit! Without that you'll die of DEAD___'s. You sorta have to be Constant when Presenting and Representing the Company.
3-Like it says Experience!
P.S Great JOB Cheri**,
Hi Cheri - here are the answers to your questions.
ReplyDelete1. I definitely expect to learn a lot about how a publication works. I am very interested in printing and publishing, and fortunately received a intern post at Glamour Magazine. As you know, Glamour is for the contemporary girl so i expect to learn about the trends for fashion, beauty, life and of course the major trends in publication design.
I expect to learn about the time demands for a magazine and how it gets put together. You always admire the end product but you never get to appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into putting a magazine together.
2. The most important skill needed for my chosen work place is definitely time management, professionalism, a clear head and eagerness to learn. You won't be doing the glamorous jobs, but its important to do your best at every opportunity you have been given.
3. I would definitely like to learn about the publishing world and what it takes to excel in this field. As i mentioned earlier, I am very interested in this particular field and would love to learn the in's and out's of what it takes to make it here. I would like to know if this is really what i want to do, once i have completed my studies - its all a big learning curve.
Hope this helps
Day 1:
ReplyDeleteThought i would quickly blog during my lunch break. My time here is awesome - i was a bit nervous but luckily every one has been super friendly and helpful.
The senior designer is in fact a CPUT 2010 grad student, so seeing her make it was so inspirational. It just makes you realise that you can actually make it. I've been in charge of a couple of things - I had to sort out Hi RES images for the book, sort our the layout of September's issue, help place and file the pages for the new issue - which by the way is TOP SECRET. Ill be doing layouts next week so im excited for that - for now im just finding my feet.
I was also part of the Monday meeting - which basically allowed me to meet with every person who is responsible for putting the magazine together. These include Copy writers, design, photographers, fashion, beauty etc. From there, we just had a break down of the work still needed for the months issue etc.
It was nice to see - they work by a strict time frame and by lists.
Ok think thats all -
Will do some more blogging when i can.
Beatha
wow these comments are so in sight full, im so glad it is all working out so far please could you ask around who i need to contact if i want to come see you in the work place, please. Could you please consider the following question:
ReplyDelete1. what skills is needed.
2. what tools (software) skills were needed.
3. what are the work place rules compared to university rules.
4. How are the attitudes of other workers towards you.
5. What are you really good at and what did you need to learn on the job.
Thanks i look forward to hearing from you....
I will inbox you the contact details of the creative director. She is abroad at the moment and im not entirely sure who exactly when she will be back.
ReplyDeleteAnswers to the questions:
1. The skills needed as a designer is definitely a thorough knowledge of the Adobe Design Suite - especially Indesign. You should be capable on both Windows and Apple Mac, Glamour only uses Apple computers so being knowledgeable on both computer systems is most definitely an advantage.
Also, you need to be very organised and systematic. You should have outstanding planning skills as often you are sent back to touch up certain things, or change the whole layout all together. Mentioning that leads to patience within the design space. I also feel that one should know and understand the basic theory behind design e.h. colour theory, layout, type and copy.
2. Adobe Design Suite - the designers use InDesign most of the time. A basic Illustrator and Photoshop background is a bonus.
3. Time management and deadlines are set in stone. It takes a lot to change a deadline, since they work on a such a tight schedule. At university, sometimes hand in times are a lot more flexible. Secondly, the attitude is always proffesional and orderly. When you sit at your desk it is always work first, party later.
The work place rules are far stricter and allow for a lot of work to get done, in a systematic orderly fashion.
4. The attitudes of the other workers around me is always professional, but also very nurturing and caring. Although they are all busy, they have allowed me to be part of the entire process, helping and guiding me every step of the way. I am so grateful for that.
5. Last question i cannot answer just yet. When i can i will mail you the answer.
xxx
Day 2
ReplyDeleteI was really busy today. The final stages/components of the magazine are coming together and so every one is rushing and trying to finish their parts before the Wednesday deadline.
I am really surprised at how well every one works together, and how they constantly communicate with one another about the things they have designed. No one is shy to show what they have done. I really like this open attitude - its really cool to see how the team all work together.
I was given a massive amount of work to do today, which included ordering and downloading the Hi Res images for the September issue. There will be a hair supplement added for September so there is a lot more to design. I was basically given all the images and asked to order and download - this had to be completed before my Wednesday deadline.
Also i was given the new and final signed off designs to be placed in the dummy. The dummy is basically a mock copy (to scale and in full colour) of how that months magazines will look like), in addition to this i had to sort and place the newly edited designs onto the wall.
Glamour has a wall where designs are shrunk down to 80% and then slotted into little panels, in the order of the book. This is basically like a dummy but not in book format. It allows you to see if the magazine has a consistent look and feel with regards to type, layout, colours, mood/tone etc.
This for me was just nice to see how everything comes together and how the separate components end up working as one.
The other things I did involved some admin, where i had to photocopy, paste, organize and sort out some things for the entire design department.
Work day was super long.
Oh yes Fashion Week is coming up
13 - 17 July - hope i get to go.
That's all for Day 2
wow b these comments are so use full please continue to blog every day
ReplyDeleteDay 3
ReplyDeleteDay was really busy. Met the editor at large Panina Foster - really eccentric lady. Came in wearing a long velvet dress - hahaha looks like Isabelle from 7de Laan hahaha.
Anyway, she literally just stepped off a plane from Dubai and came into the office. I had to update the wall, with the Hair Supplement included so that Panina could see, how the entire months issue looked like.
I worked with the beauty department, and i had to scan through about 50 CD's to find HI RES images without any branding. Branded images mean you have to pay, so in efforts to be as cost effective as possible I had to do this very tedious job.
The final layouts are basically done so there was not much to do today. I got to leave early as well because all the staff had a meeting, which the interns were not allowed to be part of.
Made a friend - she is a copy intern.
Anyhooo - thats about all for Day 3.
Hi every one we almost at the end of week one, today i would like to you to write about the rules and regulations of you work place. It can be in any context. From rules of behaving at work to rules about doing jobs or anything but focus on rules.
ReplyDeletehi every one hope you had a nice weekend and ready for work tomorrow, please could we make arrangements for me to come out to see you in your work place setting, thanks
ReplyDelete