My Résumé

24Jun11

Here it is in all it’s glory!

I’ll be unemployed as of June 28, 2011…  Grab me while while i’m hot!

My 2011 Résumé

Download Link:  JPhoenixGispan2011

 

 

 

 

 


Filed under: Design Work, Supposed Reality   |  Leave a Comment

Consequences

20May11

I made my own little public service announcement campaign today in my downtime at work :)

Feel free to share  ;)

See, i can create without a deadline!


Filed under: Design Work   |  1 Comment
Tags: , , , , , ,

Surprise ButtSecks

19Apr11

Something to watch out for, and it gets me every time, is the Sneaky Anal Client…

This client comes in and is very relaxed about what he wants. Very nice, very respectful of your talents and interested in what you have to offer in the way of design…  he might even tell you something like “I want to see your creative vision for this project”. So you go into the project with an upbeat attitude and, feeling free, you really let your creativity fly for him.  You are so happy that such a great client found you!  :D

but then…

Feeling confident you deliver your first proof and it comes back to you with a few minor changes (font changes, color adjustments, move this photo over to the other side) and you think to yourself, “Well of course MY vision isn’t going to match HIS vision completely” so you happily make the changes, though some of them you are a little more hesitant to make…  and you send it away for another proof, still feeling like you are awesome and you have provided some quality design work for this nice gentleman…  :)

and then…

The proof somehow comes back to you again with more edits, some contradicting the first edits and some are just silly like “move this up .05 inches” and “can this font be less bold but more bold than regular?”…  but it’s ok, you are a professional, nothing can get you down… You make as many of the changes as you understand how to make, and send it away again… You feel slightly confused now and aren’t sure if the client will like it because now you aren’t even sure if you like…  :|

and now…

you open the clients email with a knot in your stomach and when you see that pdf file with all the red notes all over it your hands start to shake a little bit and you remember reading in the email that he just had a couple more minor changes, which this obviously isn’t and you feel overwhelmed and heartbroken and you realize that this current monster of a design in front of you is nothing like your original vision and that indeed this client is nothing like his original portrayal and then you realize:

You’ve just been the recipient of  Mental Surprise Buttsecks, from the Sneaky Anal Client…

So be careful out there designers, some people like to schmooze everyone and like to feel like they’ve “Won” every social interaction… protect yourself by not being fooled by any false praise… I’m sure you’re awesome, but be careful who you let you that you are awesome, some people do not have the best intentions…


Filed under: Creepy / Freaky, Supposed Reality   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: ,

Consistency People… A Major Element of Branding…

27Mar11

I LOVE BevMo, they are a truly great alcohol and accessories and cocktails snacks shop… they are truly truly great…

BUT:

Every time i see their logos it drives me crazy…

Lower Case "m"

Capital "M"

Why? Why isn’t the “m” in “more” capital?   This just drives me crazy…


Filed under: Design Why   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: , ,

When you grow up…

04Mar11

What did you want to be when you grew up?  (no really, i’m curious – tell me and then tell me why you are or aren’t doing it?)

I always and as long as i can remember told the world i would be an artist… i was laughed at and told things like: “oh sweetie, artists don’t make any money” or “not everyone gets to be an artist, you have to be really really good“

hmmmm… that last one is kind of a mean thing to tell a little aspiring artist now that i think about it… i knew my creations were good, yes i was born this cocky, so i guess i didn’t take it as a criticism at the time…

if you promise not to laugh i will show you a sketch from my childhood:

What i was doing instead of paying attention in class

you weren’t laughing right?  anyway… onto the point…

Recently I applied for several jobs in Detroit… My husband has been there since December 09 and well i miss the guy… I was lucky enough to get an interview and flew out there and everything sounded great until i realized that this was not a design position, it was more of a customer service position… right now i design 80% of my time at work and am involved with customer service the remaining 20%… This is the first design job i’ve had where the majority of my time is spent actually creating and designing…

This new job would have been a flip of my blue-print for happiness at work… You shouldn’t go around flipping blue-prints, it really confuses the contractors… I love my customers, but i think i love them so much because i am creating things for them… You may skoff at me but i pour my heart into my print projects… I do get satisfaction from creating brochures with the parameters of a corporate style guide… no really, i do!

So i weighed the pros and cons of moving from the promised land to detroit (where despite having the nickname “motor city” nobody seems to know how to drive well)…  and in the end it came down to art… what is an artist without the ability to create art?

she is a driver with no car

she is a farmer with no crop

she is a blacksmith with no iron

she is completely lost…

Since it took me some 20 years to find a job where i am taken seriously as an artist, why would i go wandering off into artless territory?

ok here’s more little drawings from childhood me:

pastels on printer paper - i was probably 13 when i drew this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

pencil - i was probably 11 or 12 when i drew this

Colored Pencil in an actual sketch book so i was probably in jr. high

 

I might have been a little obsessed with Asia…


Filed under: Design Work, Supposed Reality   |  3 Comments

Logo of the Month | January 2011

28Jan11

I don’t do these as often as i should… oh well…

This Month’s lucky winner (of my approval, sorry, no real prize)

McLean Electric!

 

Simple, to the point, and exciting…

I picked this logo for those reasons and also because they were smart and chose a logo that works well on print, on signage, on their trucks and on their uniforms…

It’s 2 color which works great for printing… We actually did their business cards using Thermography (the raised ink that was popular in the 90′s) I try to veer clients away from Thermography these days as it’s a little outdated, but it worked for their logo…

More info on McLean Electric:  http://www.mcleanelectricinc.com/

Their website needs some work… but they just moved so i’ll cut them some slack on that ;)


Filed under: Design Work, Logo of the Month   |  Leave a Comment

So you say you want a revolution?

14Oct10

I don’t… does anyone really…  but some stuff needs to change and some stuff should REALLY stay the same… don’t chuck the baby out with bath water people…

ok let’s start with the Propositions:

19 – YES Individuals age 21 or older could, under state law, possess and cultivate limited amounts of marijuana for personal use. In addition, the state and local governments could authorize, regulate, and tax commercial marijuana-related activitites under certain conditions. These activities would remain illegal under federal law – Tax Revenue, Money saved on imprisonment

20 – YES!! The responsibility to determine the boundaries of California’s districts in the U.S. House of Representatives would be moved to the Citizens Redistricting Commission, a commission established by Proposition 11 in 2008. (Proposition 27 on this ballot also concerns redistricting issues. If both Proposition 20 and Proposition 27 are approved by voters, the proposition receiving the greater number of “yes” votes would be the only one to go into effect.)

21 – SURE? An $18 annual surcharge would be added to the amount paid when a person registers a motor vehicle. The surcharge revenues would be used to provide funding for state park and wildlife conservation programs. Vehicles subject to the surcharge would have free admission and parking at all state parks. I am willing to pay $18 per year to keep the national parks open and protect all the little animals… This one is pocketbook vs. morals – therefore it will probably not pass…

22 – NO! The state’s current authority over state fuel tax and local property tax revenues would not be affected.  Unnecessary Bureaucracy

23 – NO! NO! NO! NO! - Certain existing and proposed regulations authorized under state law (“Assembly Bill 32″) to address global warming would be suspended. These regulations would remain suspended until the state unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent or lower for one year – This was obviously paid for by corporate and oil money… We were the first state to get on the right path, don’t let them de-rail us please!

24 – NO! Three business tax provisions that were recently changed will not be affected. As a result of maintaining current law: (1) a business will be able to deduct losses in one year against income in more situations, (2) most multistate businesses could choose to have their California income determined based only on a single sales factor, and (3) a business will be able to share its tax credits with related businesses – This would hurt a lot of already struggling small businesses and either close them or move them out of state…

25 – YES The Legislature’s vote requirement to send the annual budget bill to the Governor would be lowered from two-thirds to a majority of each house of the Legislature – Helps streamline the budget process and cut out a little of the back door deal making

26 – NO! NO! – Waste of time, waste of money! The definition of taxes would be broadened to include many payments currently considered to be fees or charges. As a result, more state and local proposals to increase revenues would require approval by two-thirds of each house of the Legislature or by local voters

27 – NO! – If this passes it would leave the redistricting up to the assembly and there could be some favoritism and special interest involved in the redistricting… it’s better to just use prop 20

Now on to the State Officials:

Governor – DALE OGDEN (libertarian) – I’ve got a bad feeling about Jerry and Meg…  We need to tighten the belt, but not at the expense of our morals…  oh did someone say fiscally conservative and socially liberal?  why you must mean those new kids the libertarians!

Lieutenant Governor – GAVIN NEWSOM (democrat) – Well he did a good job running SF maybe he can do a good job helping to run the whole state… I’m not a big fan of Maldonado…

Secretary of State – Debra Bowen (democrat/incumbent) She didn’t fuck anything up as far as i can tell…

State Controller – Lawrance G. “Larry” Beliz (independant) – Seems like a guy that would be good at handling our finances…

State Treasurer – Bill Lockyer (democrat/incumbent) – Again, not sure that he messed anything up, this seems like a thankless job – if he wants to keep it i’ll let him…

Attorney General – KAMALA D. HARRIS (democrat) - District Attorney, City and County of San Francisco,  Consumer protection, Tough on crime.

Insurance Commisioner – MIKE VILLINES (republican) – This guys looks like he means business! He’s super mad at the health insurers in the state and wants to crack the whip on them! :D

Superintendent of Schools – TOM TORLAKSON – Seems like he’s got his priorities straight on how to stop this trainwreck that is our public schools

ok that was fun, Now on to Legislature…

State Senator – BARBARA BOXER (democrat) – i know… i know… but Fiorina is REALLY scary!

Representative District 15 – MIKE HONDA (democrat) – he can keep doin what he’s doin –  i feel very well represented

State Senator - I don’t really care, just vote with your party i guess, i’m voting libertarian to try cut some spending, while reserving our high morals (as in stay out of my private life government) same for:

State Assembly - See above

California Supreme Court - um?  this is a weird vote Yes or No for each and i don’t understand what it means… the most Yes stays or the most No goes?

last but not least some city and county stuff…

Gavilan College Board of Trustees Area 1 - ELEANOR S. VILLEREAL – She seems very educated and forward thinking… and the other guy hasn’t even bothered to put forward a statement…

Gavilan College Board of Trustees Area 2 – KENT L. CHILD – He wants to expand service of Gavilan into Morgan Hill and Hollister, i approve of this idea

County Supervisor – FORREST WILLIAMS – i actually did a lot of research for this one… This guy seems more experienced and more even. Supervisor is responsible for a lot more than i thought they were…

Gilroy City Council (pick 3) – Dion Bracco (is my uncle, btw, full disclosure) and Russ Valiquette or  Peter Leroe- Munoz Esq.  (is the Esq. for Esquire? because that’s a little awesome)  so all 3 of these guys want to fix up downtown and focus on keeping gilroy safe…

as for the measures: Yes on Schools, No on more Bureaucracy - sorry, Measures bug me…


Filed under: Supposed Reality   |  2 Comments

…KrChk… Welcome to Kinko’s, can I take your order? … KrChKgh…

29Jul10

I hate what Kinko’s has done to the printing industry…

Much in the way fast food ruined the burger, Kinko’s has ruined the business card.

I have worked in print shops off and on for the past 11 years. I have been a graphic designer the past 10. Printing is an art, an art that requires talented and creative people. I try my best to accommodate my clients, 80% of the time i succeed, 15% of the time i go far beyond their expectation and they are thrilled to the point of squealing, 5% of the time i want to kick them in the shins… but end up saying very humbly “I’m very sorry, but what you are asking for is just not possible”

There is a new breed of print customers out there who feel that WE PRINTERS are just tiny little uneducated minions who simply push buttons and stand back as the machine does all the work. They don’t understand all the intricacies of printing. For example even a paper weight change from 10 pt. to 12 pt. can completely throw the color off on a print job which can require an hour to adjust within the file. Most people are reasonable and once this is explained to them they understand why we must charge them for an additional proof. But there’s that god-damned 5% that doesn’t understand and somehow this turns from them not understanding into me not catering to them enough or me trying to price gouge them.

There is a new breed of print customers out there who feel that WE DESIGNERS are just trained psychic monkeys that can take any screwball idea straight out of their head and make it a reality. They don’t understand that while the machines we use are made of metal parts and shiny plastic buttons, Designers Are Artists. When you come to me for a brochure design for your dietary supplement, you are indeed Commissioning A Piece Of Artwork. Please don’t talk to me as if i were inferior to you. I have something you want, something you do not possess and cannot buy, but you may borrow mine: Artistic Creativity.

All we printers ever want is to be treated with respect and dignity. It would be nice if you could recognize that what we do is very difficult work that we charge proportionately low rates for. We want you to be happy and succeed because we have created beautiful marketing materials for you.

Printing is an art. It takes many years to master. It requires artistic creativity and problem solving creativity. It requires patience and excellent listening skills. It requires the ability to learn from expensive mistakes.

So let me bring this back to the burger analogy… You would hopefully not go into a five star restaurant and proceed to tell the chef how to prepare your meal. You wouldn’t tell him what temperature to bake the fish at… how long to stir the herbs into the sauce…

So why do you think it is acceptable behavior to argue with us printers over what will and what will not work for a print job? If i tell you your borders are too close, i am telling you this because i have YEARS of printing and design experience. I simply do not want you to end up with an ugly business card. Nobody wins in that situation. Also, nobody wins when you argue with me over silly points such as this. I have and will fire a customer… so please, just take it upon yourself to remember that we are artisans, and please treat us with the proper respect.

here is the design job that sent me over the cliff this week:

click the link below to see the entire image

onesixteenth inch white border

here i was nice enough to provide him examples of alternate designs and an explanation why he could not have a 1/16″ white border. He emailed us to tell us he was going to our competitor. Well there are no competitors in the print world (except Kinko’s) so i called our friend ahead of time and warned him of the problem headed his way…

p.s.

i did NOT design that logo, and if i had i would not show it to anyone…


Filed under: Design Work   |  Leave a Comment

On NOT Stifling the Creativity of Youth…

18Jun10

so there is this commercial that i see constantly for Lowe’s…  it irritates the hell out of me!

-Link pending-

Where this mom is with her awkward looking teenage daughter complaining that she wanted to paint her room a really dark royal purple…  ”she wanted to paint her room THAT color.” (Points to sparkly purple rubber iPhone cover)

So she takes her to Lowe’s where the ever-so-helpful sales associate talks her into a more mellow shade of purple called (condescendingly enough) Rocker Girl…   So they paint the room and it’s all so great and the mom is happy and the daughter is happy… Then is cuts to them still in the store where the daughter asks: “Can i dye my hair purple?” to which the mother looks so annoyed and so “oh, i can’t believe i have such a weirdo for a child, save me again Lowe’s employee”

Soooooo irritating!

when i was that girls age, i was OBSESSED with Orange… Orange Artwork, Orange Clothes, Orange Paint… i think i even wanted to change my name to Valencia at one point… But, when i asked my mother if i could dye my hair Orange, and i mean Orange orange…

She said, well let’s try temporary dye first in case you don’t like it… She bought temporary dye and even HELPED me color my hair… I LOVED IT! i wanted it permanent! so, without judging me at all, she and my grandmother took me to a salon and had a professional dye my hair Orange orange…

I'll see if my Grammy has a picture of me with orange hair, but it looked like this...

It was awesome! not only did i look so freakin’ cool in 7th grade with punk rock, neon orange hair, which made me instantly “cool” – It made me know that my creative ideas were respected within my family… my mom knew that though Orange was a temporary phase,  having a slightly out-there, artistic daughter was a permanent state…

So, this commercial makes me so irritated! jeez, let her have a little fun before she is forced to grow up… Why is it such a horrible idea to let her dye her hair?  your knitting group would look down on you? how about your daughter looking down on you because you are basically telling her that at her age, she is a joke to you and can’t be taken seriously, my god you can’t even trust her to pick out a paint color!

_________________________________________________________________________________

how the commercial should have gone:

Mom: “She wanted to paint her room THAT color, (Points to sparkly purple rubber iPhone cover) which is really hard to find! so we went to Lowe’s”

Cut to them entering paint department- Employee: “Oh our color match system can make ANY paint color for you, even your daughter’s cell phone cover”

Family smiles at each other – cut to them painting the room the REAL Rocker Girl color

Cut to back in the paint department - Daughter: “Can i dye my hair purple?”

Mom to Lowe’s employee: “Does your paint matching system do hair dye?”

_________________________________________________________________________________

I think people treat children and especially teenagers like they are not worthy on respect… but at the same time these same people complain that teenagers are so disrespectful to their parents… has this group of people ever tried giving respect? True, it’s something that is earned, but the way young adults earn respect with each other, is by respecting each other… when having a conversation, try talking to young adults as if they were your equal…

I was always polite and respectful toward adults that treated me with decency and respect and i was usually a little bitch to the adults that treated me like i was an ignorant child…


Filed under: Uncategorized   |  Leave a Comment
« Older posts
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.