SMA all the way.

Today I went into the Spencer Art Museum for the first time. I have walked passed it numerous times on my way to HA 100, but never had the time to go in. It opened at 10 AM and I had to meet my best friend at 11:30 for brunch. All I needed to do was go in, observe and take notes on a sculpture, and leave. Before going in I told myself that's all I was going to do, no looking at anything, just in and out. But, it didn't work that way. While passing a doorway on my way out (I was so proud of myself, I finished note taking early and took two pages worth, it was great) I looked over and saw a pseudo black wall, coming from the right, and another tilted back more, from the left. It looked like a maze. If there's one thing I can't resist, it's a maze. So I went in, and there was so much ART! One piece caught my eye, so I looked at it for a while, then another, and another. It just kept happening. Needless to say, I lost track of time, and at 11:21 my friend texted me with "Seeya soon?" she knew I was with art, always dangerous. Then I made it, not too late, and ate a hamberger. It was great.

Here are my favorites:

Much to do about nothing.

Until a presentation in my art class Junior year, I didn't really know anything about Graphic Design. I had no idea what to do with my life, I knew I wanted to help people, and started to look at art as something that could be more than just an intense passion. Before then, I said I was going to be a social worker, because it would fulfill my commitment to the human race, and I wanted to save children's lives. The more I learned about it, however, the more bureaucracy I found, and I could actually make much of a difference, everything is controlled by higher ups, and it turns into nothing but endless paperwork at a desk. The only other possibility I had was the military (I'm currently in Army ROTC). I've always had a strong desire to serve my country. Not to mention, war pay as an officer is ridiculously high, and with no bills or dependents I'll have massive savings when I'm out, and I can pursue what I really want, Graphic Design. It allows me to communicate to others, use composition, color, and other elements to grab their attention and make them think.

I didn't have much going for me when I entered high school, as a result of my childhood, I was very angry and wandering with no focus. I slacked off in school, but made friends with teachers so I wouldn't have to go home after my last class. My sophomore year I had an English teacher that really made me want to try, so I got nearly 100% in her class. I also started taking art (because it was required, I liked to draw, but I was absolutely horrible, and I thought I could never make something good). My art teacher, Mrs. Schmidt, encouraged me and worked with me, she always said, "Drawing is not a talent, it is a learned skill." that anyone could learn how to draw, the only difference in talent was creativity, and I had that going for me. I worked with her for hours and hours outside of class, stayed after school until 8 at night some days and improved considerably by my senior year. I had gone from draw a shoe that looked like a deformed brick, to mixed media paintings rooted in emotional expressionism. I was always working on independent paintings simultaneously with assigned work, always in the art room, even after I graduated. At graduation she presented me with a "Most Improved Artist" award and medal.

During the same time period I discovered and became enthralled with organization such as The Joyful Heart Foundation (Started by Mariska Hargitay, the actress who plays my favorite character on Law and Order: SVU) and Safe Horizon. These organizations provide information and assistance to survivors of domestic and child abuse. It is my life goal to be a Graphic Designer for one of these or another like it. And with my intense savings from the Army, I can paint outside of my work and not really have to worry about much. I also want to work with Big Brothers Big Sisters and after school art programs with kids.

IDEO designs things good.

Where is IDEO?
Palo Alto, California.


Who is the founder?
Dave Kelly

Who is on the team, what are the roles?
Peter Skillman - Project Leader

Design Team Members:
Whitney Mortimer - MBA
Peter Coughlin - Linguist
Tom Kelly - Marketing Expert
Jane Fultonsurie - Psychologist
Alex Kasax - Biology Major

But everyone is equal.


What is the deep dive process?
Total immersion in the problem.
They split into groups and find real experts on the subject in the field like anthropologists. Then they all go back to IDEO and tell each other what they learned. Based on that, they all come up with and present every idea they have, no matter how insane and put them on the walls. Then they vote and merge them into one.


What are the rules (montra) written on the walls around?
One conversation at a time, stay focused on topic. 
Encourage wild ideas.
Defer judgment, build on the ideas of others.

What is the motto?
Enlightened trial and error succeeds over the planning of lone genius.


How can this process work in your major? (it can work in every major).
In graphics, the designer has to find a way to communicate what the client wants or needs to say in an effective way. So, he is always required to come up with new ideas. This process is the most creatively nurturing for ideas and new concepts just waiting to be discovered.

I love Banksy. So excited.