archive six

GeekGirlConnections

The GeekGirlConnections schedule is live and I’d like to talk about it for a hot minute. I personally think a program like this is a very important step forward because it encourages women to pursue careers they previously thought were unattainable due to a lack of female presence in “geeky” careers. GeekGirlConnections breaks down the wall between attendees and guests and offers attendees the chance to get real world advice from people they look up to, and people who have the jobs they want. At the very least, I hope attendees realize that there are so many opportunities available to them and I hope they leave feeling empowered and inspired.

On Sunday, I will be hanging out in GeekGirlConnections (RM101) from 1:30pm to 3:00pm:

Graphic Design with the GeekGirlCon Design Team!
Graphic Design is more than just making things look shiny. Join GeekGirlCon Design Manager, Tammy Vince Cruz, and Associate Design Manager, Rachelle Abellar, to discuss what it takes to start your career in graphic design!

Gail Simone, Ashley Eckstein, and editors from Dark Horse are just some of the incredible geeky professionals that will be there to answer your questions! I am honored to be able to be apart of the first year and to be in such good company. For more information about the program, please visit the link above. Pass it along. Encourage your friends and family to visit and make some connections. Whether you’re just starting out or you want to take your career to the next level, this is seriously an opportunity you don’t want to miss!

Geek Girls Support One Another

GeekGirlCon has seriously been my life for the past 2 years and I want to share a post that really moved me, and makes me so incredibly proud to be on staff. I won’t be in the exhibitor hall this year, but you can find me at GeekGirlConnections in room 101 on Sunday, from 1:30pm to 3:00pm. Tammy and I will be discussing all things graphic design and what it takes to break into the biz. I’ll also be cosplaying as Henchman 21, working the merch table, and generally running around like a chicken with its head cut off. This weekend will be one of the most important weekends of my life, and I hope I will see a bunch of your gorgeous faces at the con.

Finally got around to getting new slim biz cards! I decided to keep it simple this time around. Love how they turned out!

seanblr:

Design Bureau of Amerika // Another Day. Another Dropshadow.

Pretty much.

(Source: smooth)

Dream Job

If I could make a comfortable living working from home making nonsensical animated gifs everyday, I would be happy. Hopefully red wine and comfy chairs would be involved as well.

Non sequitur post

I’ve got a job interview tomorrow… kinda nervous. Also, potential interview for a Vis Comm teaching position in December! TOTALLY EXCITED FOR THAT. I hope one of these works out. Moreso the latter, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?
I’ve decided to move in with my friend Chelsea in Bremerton. We get along great and her daughter keeps me on my toes. Sure beats being lonely and depressed everyday.
I’m so excited to geek out next week! Jonna is coming up to Seattle and we’re going to see the Harry Potter Exhibition @ PacSci and the Battlestar Galactica Exhibit @ EMP!!!
I finally decided to suck it up and buy a badge maker. I’m pretty stoked! I’ve been tracking it like a hawk. Scheduled arrival on Wednesday! YESSSSSSSS! I’ve got plans for you, badge maker! Muahahaha….
Tiramisu is thriving and it pleases me greatly. If you enjoy sci-fi, desserts, animated gifs, rainbows, and general wtfuckery, I definitely urge you to check it out.

On Focus

“I need some advice on a few things, do you want to have lunch?” my friend asked me.

My friend, who I will call Tim, was in a rut. He just graduated NYU and had trouble finding a job. Not only that, his major was something he took on to make his parents happy, he really wants to do design.

We talked for at least an hour and a half, at which point I began to notice a pattern. Nearly 80% of his problems were other people’s successes.

“My friend is making so much money doing some really bad photography for people.” he would say. “This other guy is totally ripping off my ideas for this clothing line.”

At that point, I had to tell him.

“The fastest way to crash your car is to keep staring at how the driver next to you is holding his wheel.”

get rejected, swallow sadness

Holiday - Frank Chimero

I’m of the belief that most designers go through what I call a quarter-life crisis. It’s the harsh realization that comes after a few years of working in the industry. They realize that there is a discord of experiences. It is the realization of the differences between the utmost value of design that students’ mentors and instructors have proclaimed in school, and the reality of the ambivalence (or, at worst, stark undervaluing) of many clients once they leave university’s heralded doors. It is the confusion and heartache caused by leaving an environment where everyone cares if something is beautiful, useful, and of the highest craft, to a place where you’re the crazy one because you’re the only one who cares about that sort of stuff. It’s moving from one universe where mediocrity is the devil to one where average is, well, common-place.

Frank articulated everything I’ve been feeling about my career in the past year better than I ever could. Read the rest here.

Insecurities

At 25, I really thought I’d have most of my life figured out by now. Turns out I have no idea what the hell I’m doing. I am starting to have doubts about whether or not I even have what it takes to continue pursuing a creative career. Some days I feel like a fraud, like everything I’ve manage to accomplish up to this point has been a result of luck and circumstance, not talent. I feel like I’m good at a lot of different things, but not GREAT. I want to believe I could be great someday and inspire others, but right now I’m having a really hard time getting into that mindset. I’m at a major crossroads in my life. Moving out here has helped me clear my head and has given me a lot of time to reflect on my life. Now I need to take advantage of this downtime to work on building my confidence and figuring out my next move. I’m not posting this publicly to fish for compliments, but any advice would be much appreciated. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way…….