Speaking from Experience - Information

So because after realising the typography approach to the designs works the best and keeps things simple, as well as it being recommended by Jo n the crit, I have decided that this will be the design style I go for for what I produce. In order for me to do this I first need to decide on the information I want to include on each of the products and what not, so I began by finding a variety of different clichés that I could alter to relate to graphic design (something I learnt in the Creative Writing elective), and quotes that I could possibly use on there (although this was shot down an recommended I not do in the crit).

• it's not rocket science
• thinking outside the box
• with only seconds to spare
• without a care in the world
• in the nick of time
• put two and two together
• as light as a feather
• mand hands make light work
• you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink
• time will tell
• I thank you from the bottom of my heart
• bitten off more than he could chew
• I am nothing without you
• if your head wasn't screwed on you'd loose it
• a force to reckoned with
• well, there's the whole 'give a hundred and ten percent'
• no one said it was going to be easy
• what the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve
• succes is a journey not a destination
• if you don't know where your going, any path will get you there
• things which matter the most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least
• don't agonise, organise
• a place for everything, everything in it's place
• good things come to those who wait
• to think outside the box, you first must be in the box
• you get out what you put in
• a stitch in time saves nine
• everyone has a photographic memory. some don't have film
• back up my hard drive? how do I put it in reverse?
• I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe
• hard work pays off in the future, laziness pays off now
• if you had a brain you'd be dangerous

• "Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted." - David Bly
• "Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work." - Rita Mae Brown
• "If you want to achieve some really big and interesting goals, you have to learn to fall in love with hard work." - Steve Pavlina
• "Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Alva Edison
• "Always give a hundred percent, and you'll never have to second guess yourself." - Tommy John
• "Do a little more each day than you think you probably can." - Lowell Thomas
• "All the so-called 'secrets of success' will not work unless you do."
• "The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary." - Donald Kendall
• "There's nothing like biting off more than you can chew, and then chewing away." - Mark Burnett

So then I started asking myself a variety of questions relating to the different elements that could possibly be the starting point to what information I decide to include, as well as asking the people around me to also give me suggestions.

Define: Organised

• functioning with a formal structure, as in the coordination and direction of activities
• efficient and methodical and orderly
• formed into a structures or coherent whole
• methodical and efficent in arrangement or functionn

Why is it important to keep organised on this course?

• keep on top of things
• still have a life
• make deadlines on time
• do the best you can
• know what you're doing
• have fun
• manage things
• don't forget anything
• to be able to cope
• to be able to put more effort in
• meet deadlines
• vital in order to survive
• the difference between sink or swim
• lots of things to do at once
• to be able to get the most from the course

How will the pack help a first year student?

• encourage to keep organised
• hint that it will be needed
• make life easier when there's 4 briefs at once
• personally know what needs to be done and what not
• help make their lives a bit easier

Why is a wall calendar useful?

• know what's coming up
• allows you to prioritise
• don't forget things
• keep track of all different deadlines
• know when crits are
• put on personal life as well as uni stuff
• because having a life is important too

Why is a notebook useful? Why is taking notes important?

• write notes from lectures/seminars
• remember important things
• note down important information
• available when ever you need to make notes
• write what your thinking
• know what your doing
• remember things
• reflect back over what's said
• know what is to be done
• write your thoughts

Why is keeping handouts/brief for each module all together important?

• know where everything is
• makes things easier to find
• can find things straight away
• avoid unnecessary piles of work everywhere
• keep track of where things are
• keep things separate
• makes module submissions easier to organise

Why is keeping to do lists useful?

• know what needs to get done
• don't miss out things for deadlines
• keep track of everything
• satisfying to cross things off
• nice feeling as you work through it and don't have much left to do
• don't forget important things

Why is having specific folders necessary on a USB?

• keep files organised
• easy to go back and change something without spending 10 minutes looking for the file
• don't loose files
• reassuring knowing everything will be there if you need it
• keep track of them

From these, I began thinking about the specific information I want to go on to each of the things and began to write down possible things for them.

Folders

The main cover of the folder will consist of the quote as experimented with previously, and will begin with 'Because..'. This is because starting it with this makes it a little less formal and what not, as well as Jo saying it really works well and has something with it starting like this in the crit. As well as this, I will have what module(s) each individual folder is for and a section for the student to write each of the different briefs on there that has gone into them. Also, as suggested in the crit it may be useful to have somewhere on it somewhere for the student to have their name, or a section that is individual to each of them for them to recognise and acknowledge that that specific folder is their if they wish to choose to use it within the college as well as at home.

Quote Ideas

• Because keeping all the briefs, handouts, notes etc, together makes module deadlines so much easier.
• Because knowing where all the files are that you need is easier to find them when you need them.
• Because there will always be that one file that you need the most but can't find anywhere.

Notebook

A notebook is pretty obvious as to what it is, so I think for this I will literally just have the quote starting with 'Because...'. This will keep it nice and simple.

Quote Ideas

• Because we all need to reflect back over notes at some point.
• Because there will always be something in here that you will need to remember.
• Because taking notes makes you look more badass.
• Because there will always be that one thing you can't quite remember.
• Because writing things down helps you to remember.
• Because taking notes is important for remembering.
• Because it's easier to remember this way.
• Because taking notes avoids having to ask questions later.
• Because everyone will need a reminder for something.

Wall Calendar

Aside from the obvious section of the calendar for the student to write things on to, I will also have sections on there that will be available to write down important module deadlines, as well as maybe holidays or somethings. This will also have a quote on there starting with 'Because...'.

Quote Ideas

• Because having all deadlines, crits, etc, in front of you makes it easier to digest.
• Because missing a crit/workshop is bad.
• Because having a social life is important.
• Because knowing when you can have your next night out is important.
• Because having time to have fun is as important as surviving on the course.

USB

Again, the packaging for this will have a quote beginning with 'Because...' on there, as well as maybe a short explanation about the different folder that are on there, and the importance of keeping the files organised.

Quote Ideas

• Because keeping all the different files organised in separate folders makes finding what you need so much easier.
• Because when you can't find the right file you need, it's so frustrating.
• Because having two copies is better than one.
• Because keeping files in on place makes life so much easier.
• Because files will get lost otherwise.
• Because we all loose that important file at some point.
• Because loosing files can sometimes feel like the end of the world.
• Because forgetting to transfer a file can ruin your day.
• Because working on the wrong files wastes time.
• Because not having the right files wastes time.
• Because finding that file you need is bad enough.
• Because remembering where you saved something is not always easy.
• Because saving files in the right places makes life easier.
• Because saving files in the right folders will make sure you don't loose them.

To Do Lists

The basic pages will consist of just the list, and then I will have a front over which will attach to this. This will again have the quote on it starting with the word 'Because...'.

Quote Ideas

• Because making sure you don't forget anything will make sure you get a better grade.
• Because it's not cool to miss things out.
• Because remembering something to do after a deadline is too late.
• Because it's not cool to forget things.
• Because it's not cool to forget things you need to do.