Periodically I am asked to do lectures or training sessions for higher education faculty members. The topics in which I normally speak on are a wide array of technology based learning objectives on how to connect with students while making teaching a bit more fun.

Tomorrow I will present on a variety of topics all centered around BYOD (Bring your own device). In today’s learning ethos it is common for a student to forget his/her textbook, but will always have his/her lifeline to the outside world (ie. their phone). So if students tend to always have their phone, tablet, laptop or any mobile device handy why not tap into that?

The Learning Curve, not to be confused with The Crying Game

• Getting teachers up to speed
• An app for this, but not that

Text to connect

• www.socrative.com

To be or not to be {social}, that is the question

• Facebook/Twitter/Google+

The power of one, plus many

• Khan Academy: Mobile App, iTunes U Lectures
• TedTalks: Mobile App, Website
• YouTube For Education
• iTunes U

I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on how and why you engage your students in the fashion that you do.

Searching for a bit of inspiration? Want to showcase your latest artwork? Trying to find a connection in the art world? The Creative Finder might be the perfect fit for you.

A global search engine for creatives. We connect talent to opportunities, whether it is for collaboration, networking or business.

This is a great place to stop by and see what others are up to and might just spark a new design of your own. The Creative Finder

One of the coolest features is the Past 24hrs of Creativity. It’s basically the past 24 hours of creative content at the The Creative Finder. Gives you a simple overview of it all.

Enjoy.

1. MyrtleBeachForFamilies.com
2. Grand Strand Technology Council
3. Socastee Heritage Festival

Points to think about for the Myrtle Beach For Families

• The site is written primarily for local families and features news, events, and businesses. This isn’t a “mommy blog” site and there is very little, if any, ”my kid is so cool” chit chat.
• I’m trying to give the site a feel that appeals to moms but isn’t too girly.
• I’m writing to families with children of all ages, so I don’t want anything too age-related.
• I’d like Myrtle Beach for Families to appear in some cool font with a graphic beside/under/on top of it that would be recognizable as a stand-alone.  Perhaps something with the text “MyrtleBeachforFamilies.com” around it in small font?
• Myrtle Beach for Families can be broken into two lines if necessary
• I want the logo to feel beachy, but not touristy.
• I’d like to avoid using symbols already taken by other popular sites (sand toys, starfish, a happy sun, sea turtles).  I have flip flops and seashells in my head, but am definitely not married to them.  I saw something recently that was a cool exclamation point with a flower as the period.  A possibility is a seashell in place of the flower?  Just thinking aloud…
• I like the colors purple, green, and blue, but the logo also has to look okay in black and white.

While brainstorming ideas for books for your book jacket design, a great article popped up in my RSS feed. This timely article ties in many of the aspects of what we went over in class from understanding your ideas and core audience to finding that one key idea that conveys the book without giving anything away. It also challenges the idea of who’s job it is to market the book. Please read the following article for better insight in the the world of Chip Kidd.

Smashing Magazine’s article “Beautiful Covers: An Interview With Chip Kidd”

In a piece that is said to be written by British lowbrow street artist Bansky, comments on the role advertising has on society and what role we have as consumers on advertising. While I can see the hypocrisy in Bansky’s words, I still, as both an advertiser and consumer, see value.

“People are taking the piss out of you everyday. They butt into your life, take a cheap shot at you and then disappear. They leer at you from tall buildings and make you feel small. They make flippant comments from buses that imply you’re not sexy enough and that all the fun is happening somewhere else. They are on TV making your girlfriend feel inadequate. They have access to the most sophisticated technology the world has ever seen and they bully you with it. They are ‘The Advertisers’ and they are laughing at you.

You, however, are forbidden to touch them. Trademarks, intellectual property rights and copyright law mean advertisers can say what they like wherever they like with total impunity.

Fuck that. Any advert in a public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours. It’s yours to take, re-arrange and re-use. You can do whatever you like with it. Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rock someone just threw at your head.

You owe the companies nothing. Less than nothing, you especially don’t owe them any courtesy. They owe you. They have re-arranged the world to put themselves in front of you. They never asked for your permission, don’t even start asking for theirs.”

 

For your next project we are going to be working on packaging. I wanted you to go ahead and get a start on your ideas. Above you will find a variety of inspirational packaging design to get your creative juices flowing. I want you to choose a category of either Beer Labels/Packaging, Wine Labels/Packaging, Other Beverage Labels/Packaging, Baby Food Packaging or Beauty Product Labels. For the final product we are going to need a working sample of your packaging. This will be due on March 7th, you will have lots to do and explore before then.

For the longest time I have been contemplating a blog post of what and how I think about photography/photographers. I am very critical about the subject that its hard to hold in my distaste when somebody tell me they are one. However the reason why I haven’t written about it was due to the fact that I couldn’t figure out how to be critical without damaging. I have many students who read this and I don’t want to smash dreams with the punch of keyboard. So instead of me doing it I came across this good article by a photographer that helps put the world of photography into perspective for new budding wannabes.

Its a positive spin on how to become better at what you do. While it is not the post that I feel I want to write, it is a good start to get “photographers” asking the right questions.

Photographers: Chances Are, You Suck