Champagne & Ceiling Tiles

My final day didn't go as well as I'd planned...I had to give my MacBook a bit of a restart as it couldn't hack everything going on at once - but to be honest I think I could have done with a re-boot too! I was so frustrated with myself that I was behind...which of course then made me worse & I couldn't concentrate...which led to a bit of a shocker on Photoshop. :S  After a chat with Liz we agreed I should carry the project on so I get an actual finished thing from this as well as the experience of working with the lovely Lingo team. That's the plan for today! :)

The reason I'm writing this today is because we had a launch party for one of Lingo's clients - JK Construction. The big boss was kind enough to treat us all to a meal at Arbuckle's restaurant  to celebrate his website going live. So after some good food & even better banter the Champagne came out, (Mumm's the word! ;)  lmfao!), but when the second bottle came out a ceiling tile got took out! Ooopsy! We then proceeded to remove & sign the back ceiling tile...with my trusty Berol fine liner - ha ha! So we now have a little Arbuckle's, JK construction & Lingo Design time capsule...woo! :)  How many launch parties can say they done that huh!?! 

'Hey I know you...your the guy from the deli!'

I got to play with the white board today...it was fun! :)  When I say play I mean draw out layouts for the website I'm working on, helped by the power of a toasted hot cross bun and a cup of tea - ta very much Chicken. :) I quite liked doing it this way...I don't know why. It could be because it was a different way, (after 4years of the same method it gets a bit repetitive), or maybe I'm just easily pleased!?! I got a good layout out of this, which luckily Liz agreed with, but there was still something missing. 

Liz: 'Its a word, like what you just said...its quite a long word & begins with a vowel.' 

Me: 'Umm...I was thinking relationship...but that doesn't begin with a vowel' 

(Pmsl...sorry Liz I'm just crap at those sort of things!) 

The answer was 'interaction' ...there was nothing relating the client to the content of the page. So out came the white board again, (yay!), and I put together a storyboard. (That's where the title of this blog came from...incase you thought I'd finally completely lost it! lol). Again Liz liked it...but I still wasn't quite there. I'm gonna nail it tomorrow though - well I have too...it's my last day as part of the Lingo team! :(  

Laptop Sandwich by Peanut Jones

I finally did it - I linked the greatest idea ever to the super secret squirrel project...Woooooooo! It was such a relief...Liz had said Friday that she was impressed with how I'd done - & I thought I was gonna blow it just because my brain can't cope with thinking 'website' & goes into sheer panic. I'm not out of the woods yet though...got to get it all finished by 5 o'clock Friday! :S  I'm glad Liz is as eccentric as me when it come to ideas...I mean who else would but my food to put in their laptop!?! lmao...all will be explained soon I promise. All in all I feel I've had a productive day - ok...I had a 'moment' & was called Peanut Jones by Craig, but I've learnt some invaluable illustrator & photoshop skills from Steve, (providing my brain manages to remember them), and I finally know what I'm doing for the website. Woo! :D

Woo Crazy

I felt like I was actually some help today...admittedly I only chose, re-sized & re-named some images for a website - but at least it's one step closer to being finished. lol. The launch party's Friday night...so - yay! Other than that I was still working on the website, but iv gone back a stage to try incorporate more creativeness - so everything on the page will relate to each other more. Well...i hope! :S  

Mischief & Mayhem

Today was a funny ol' day really, it was a Monday thats for sure. Besides the mischievous start, there was the mayhem of technological issues...my macbook being one of them. What was worse though is that I seem to be having a mind meltdown every time I think 'website.' There's nothing wrong with my work according to Steve...so that's good enough for me! lol. I've got all the basics right, by basics I mean - grids, typography, white space, etc...all that stuff we have drummed into us in the first year, I just don't seem to be able to get the creative bit right...which is a bad, bad thing to happen. :(  I'm keeping a P.M.A for tomorrow though...that's a Tuesday - already it's got to be better. *Touches wood, crosses fingers, etc* I just have to keep remembering my pep talk from Steve...& that throwing a 'designer strop' isn't the way forward. 

Chippy Friday & Tunage!

Everyone in the Lingo studio was so relieved it was Friday...since we were the only people in the Downham Market area that were hardcore enough to actually put in a full week. Ha ha ha! I had plenty of work experience duties to cary out, such as: the biscuit run, I was even relied on to choose a pack myself...a challenge I absolutely nailed I'll have you know! ;)  I also was entrusted to do the chippy run & post office run...I didn't mind though - it's part of the experience. Besides, 'there's nothing like a bit of fresh air to sort ya owt!' 

Project wise I sketched a few layout ideas out...even though they look a bit 'tarded I know I have to get the crap out before I get to the good stuff in there. I'm sure I'll come up with something I can work with...I'm not expecting any miracles - but Liz says she's impressed so far! :$  The old skool tunage I imposed on the team went down a treat...so I'm sure that helped my case. He he! Not gonna lie though...my favourite part of the day was the 5 o'clock pint - it was very much needed. So much so that I'm writing this on the Saturday instead of straight after work like the rest of the week. I mean - I had to celebrate my first full week of work! :D  Be rude not too.

Motown Thursday

Today's tasks were pretty much the same as yesterday's - working on the super secret squirrel project...but after a unusual brain wave in the morning, (it was even more shocking that it was in the morning!), I came up with some useful stuff. I think the Motown tuneage helped a lot...I'm sure Craig's display of dance moves did too of course. :S  I definitely know for sure now that I work better in a relaxed, fun environment than in a quiet, solemn one...luckily that's easy in the lovely Lingo studio. Productiveness is of course paramount, but it helps no end that everyone is so chilled out & easy to get on with. Especially since I've got the scariest of tasks to do tomorrow...designing a website - but as in a seriously serious one this time! Argh!!! I'm sure I'll be fine though...no pressure!?! 

Designer - blue jumper Wednesday

Today was rather hectic. First thing Steve was collecting his PowerBook from Mr Mac doctor, occupational hazard for designers, but he also acquired various other computer parts. It was as we were unloading these from his car that Craig pointed out that Steve & I were wearing the same colour jumpers and declared the day 'designer - blue jumper Wednesday' ...which we high fived on to make official. I think he was just jealous because he didn't have a cool blue jumper on like us - ha ha! Liz was out dealing with the photography end of things while this was happening, and returned just before Craig had to go out and do some techy stuff, then Claire had to go see the accountant to sort the financial things. It felt more real, not that it hasn't the past few days, but it was just cool to see everyone on the go doing stuff and then quickly filling each other in. 

My day was quite productive too. I made a mind map to try to keep a complete record of my research & ideas for the super secret squirrel project I'm working on. Then I made a few adjustments to the website I did Monday...this was just after writing some of my sla for my final major project on my lunch break. How's that for dedication huh! Not gonna lie though...I found it a bit hard to switch between the project I've been given & my sla. I'm hoping its just a one off because I thought I was getting better at managing different projects. I think this maybe another skill I need to brush up on...hmmm. 

Cheese straws & swede-ache

Another busy day at the office...but at least I was doing what I do best - research ideas & sketches. I don't think I've ever come up with so many ideas in a morning. Problem is that's as far as I got, yep...a classic case on concept block - the worst thing to happen to creatives ever! I've got the idea behind the best idea ever, (well - Steve liked it anyway), but the best idea ever is still a mystery. No amount of tea & cheese straws could sort it. I even tried going out & about on my lunch break in search for inspiration, you know - that thing we used to do before Google came along, but alas - no joy. 

I think this was a general feeling in the Lingo studio today...well - with me & Claire anyway. Poor Chicken gave herself a swede-ache! Maybe it was a lack of Lingoliz that made our swedes fuzzy in the first place...or it could have been that naughty snow from yesterday that threw us off!?! I mean I was even drawing like a 'tard...what's with that!?! Steve did tell me that it didn't matter & it was a case of getting my brain on the page, (scary though...who knows what might come out!), but my OCD just won't allow it. This is something I think I'll be coming back to - time over neatness. Definitely an important area for Graphic Designers...& definitely something I need to perfect. Oh well...maybe tomorrow I'll be fixed? Let's home so anyway! I'm worried I'll develop a wheat allergy if I work on this for too long, ha ha! Why I hear you ask? Ahhh...that's secret squirrel for now.

Let it snow!?!

No thanks to the snow...I managed to make it to the Lingo studio for 9 o'clock, (Not an easy feat for a student I'll have you know), but with plenty of tea, & crunch creams & chocolate chip cookies, I got that brain I was told to remember to function. Or 'used my loaf' if you will! ;)  

My first task, and main task of the day, was on the area of Graphic Design I fear most - Websites! Lucky for me Liz was looking for a point of view from someone that didn't know anything about designing a website...that I'm an expert at. All in all it went well...had a few minor hiccups due to my own actions - or things that were in Craig's department. Tee he he! Steve did give me a 5 minute crash course in codes...so I now understand more - but there is no danger in me creating my own website from scratch anytime soon. Just goes to show that you do learn more if you ask questions...but be careful not to say anything to stupid, like: 'why can't you just do that in word & paste it in like that bit?' Oopsy! 

MacBook, biscuits & brain...oh my!

Hi I'm EmilyB. I can't think of an exciting display name at this moment in time...so that'll do for now! I'm a third & final year Graphic Design student at the University for the Creative Arts in Epsom who loves design...but is sick of education, and just can't wait to get out there in the big wide world - I think!?! 

The reason I'm writing this blog has something to do with this. I'm about to start my work placement back in sunny ol' Downham Market (Norfolk) with Lingo Design, and this blog will help support the weird and wonderful things I will learn along side the lovely team they have there...as well as help me piece together my presentation I have to do at the end of this unit! :S  (This was actually an awesome suggestion by Lingoliz herself!) 

Anyways, that's all to come Monday - but first comes the weekend...lots of fun to be had there! 

Note to self: Remember - Macbook, biscuits & brain.