Speaker : Ray Rivera : Recap

Thanks to everyone that came to Ray Rivera's talk about Resumes. For more information about UW-Stout's Career Service check out their webpage. Here is a recap for those that didn't take notes or those that couldn't make it.

HOW TO GET A JOB

1. Find the positions:

• Networking - meeting anyone and everyone to learn about what they do and what you can do for them. Majority of your time should be spend Networking and Prospecting
  
• Prospecting - calling companies.
  
• Applying to job that are advertised. Internships are almost never advertised.

2. Approach the employer

• Target what your employers want to see
• For Graphic Design majors and Multimedia majors: Employers will hardly ever give you an interview without seeing a sample of your work. You should link a webpage or PDF portfolio when you send your cover letter and resume to a potential employer.
  
• Your work will get you the job. So will your responsibility and dependability and personality.
  
• You have 10 seconds to "wow" the employer so they will read more and call you for an interview

3. Resume

• Contact info on Top. Name, Number E-mail, Address. Make sure your answering machine message is appropriate for your future employer to hear. Make sure you state your name and say in the message that "you will call them back".
  
• Cover letter - some companies read them, some don't. It's better to be save than sorry. For larger companies a cover letter is needed to state your objectives because HR may get to your cover letter before it gets moved to a designer
• Objective - needs to state what an EMPLOYER wants. Not "I want a job that will advance my skill..." Instead: A position in Graphic Design where there is a need for effective client relationships and the ability to create excitement in customers through the use of "client-centered" design.
  
• Highlights and Qualifications. For many job searches they lay out what exactly they are looking for. Tell them that you meet these requirements. Include Highest Education. Include Experience. Include Skills. Include Performance Skills. Under experience: "8 year work history noted for exceeding expectations and promotion" Stating that you have 8 years of working under your belt (even though it is not in a graphic design field) can say a lot about you as an individual. PERSONAL STORY: My first internship gave me the job BECAUSE I had been a server at a restaurant for the past 3 years. The employer knew the people-skills it takes to wait tables, how organized the job required me to be, that I could work under pressure and that I showed commitment.
  
• Education: GPA. List other things that you were also doing during that time. "3.6 GPA while working 25 hours a week".
  
• Computer Skills: Many employers will take your resume and put it into a system to scan for words. Make sure you have listed what they list as needed qualifications and skills if you want your resume to be picked up
• Professional Membership and Activities:
  
• Work History: List all your work histories, what your title was, what your tasks were, what company it was for, where the company is located and how long you had the position
  
• References Available Upon Request

Ray is available for individual critique and help with your resume. If you've never written a resume or cover letter before I would suggest making an appointment or going to the career conference.


Career Service Finding Job Video - in depth strategy on finding opportunities

Other resources:
AIGA- Presenting your portfolio
AIGA- Insights on Writing your Resume
AIGA- 10 common mistakes in resume and cover letters
AIGA- What Designers Must Learn
AIGA- A guide to internships

Contest: Global Solution

AIGA multimedia students (or graphic design students) check out this contest!

Citizens for Global Solutions Multimedia Contest 2009

$4000 in prizes is up for grabs!

This year's theme is "Choose your Global Solution" - we're looking for submissions where:

1) The stories or games have options which can lead to different outcomes and

2) the viewer/player gets to choose between those options.

We all know that the global challenges we're facing right now have many different solutions and we want you to show your audience how different choices lead to different outcomes for them and the world.

We want artists, designers, poets, activists and others to get involved and are looking for submissions in flash animation, spoken word, digital video or any other format. The only limit is your own creativity and imagination (and the rules and the criteria…but they're only there to help you, we promise!)

Message to Newbies
Don't have multimedia skills? Then team up with someone who does! Some of the best submissions in past years have come from teams of people with different strengths - someone who knows the issues, someone with tech/art skills, etc.

Important Dates:
The Deadline for submissions is November 17th, 2009

Entries will be judged by a panel of expert judges AND by all of us! The judging panel will determine their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards, and we will ALL be able to view the top entries and vote on a people's choice winner.

Winners will be announced on December 17th, 2009

Speaker: Ray Rivera from Career Services

Our next meeting is Tuesday, September 22

Ray Rivera from Career Services will be speaking about Resumes, Portfolios and the resources that Stout can offer students looking for a job.

All Art and Design majors are welcome!

After Ray's talk, AIGA will briefly meet to collect checks and answer any questions that you may have about resumes and portfolios.


Poster designed by Junior and AIGA Graphic Design Director Kelli Fox

Monster Inspiration

Katy sent me this link that I would like to share with all of you to get your creative juices flowing! Just a reminder that a vector image of your monster is due by Tuesday September 29th.


Stefan Butcher DAILY MONSTER

1st Meeting Recap

Thanks for everyone for coming to the first meeting. Here are a few highlights:



MEMBERSHIP: payment due by TUESDAY, September 22nd

Option 1) National AIGA membership $50/year
Recommended for Juniors and Seniors who want to start getting involved and gain some experience

• OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP recognized under Minnesota and Nationally
  
• receive discounts on AIGA funded events
• personal profile and portfolio on AIGA website
• access to job postings and member/company listings
• publication discounts
• able to attend meetings
• on the AIGA Stout mailing list
• able to attend University hosted events

Option 2) University membership: $10/semester.
EVERYONE has to pay this fee to be part of the Stout Organization

• unofficial membership not recognized by AIGA
  
• able to attend meetings
• on the AIGA Stout mailing list
• able to attend University hosted events

DESIGN CAMP [link]
If you don't have a National Membership already I would suggest signing up for one through the AIGA site because the checks we are sending in will take too long to process.


MAKE/THINK CONFERENCE [link]


BUSINESS CARD PRINTERS

• Vista Print
• Moo Cards
• Ideal Printers

TSHIRT DESIGN
We voted on a "Monster/Zombie" theme for t-shirts this time around. The goal is for as many people as possible to draw an original monster and submit it to AIGA@uwstout.edu
The board members will then arrange the monsters on a shirt - the front, the back, on the bottom, on the sleeve... Print them and Sell them. Posters to advertise will be up soon.


NEXT MEETING: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22nd
Ray Rivera from the career services will be speak to all Art and Design majors about resumes and portfolios. After the meeting you're welcome to ask the officers about their personal stories and questions because Design resumes are a bit different than business resumes.

If you have any questions please email AIGA@uwstout.edu

First Meeting

Don't miss our first meeting of the school year. Come check us out, ask questions GET INVOLVED!

Tuesday, September 15th :: 5:45pm :: AA 210

Poster Designed by Lindsey Bock, AIGA UW-Stout President and Graphic Design Senior

Designer: Paul Rand on Design

One of our goals as AIGA members is not only to learn about what's happening in the world at this very moment but to also take a look back on some of the most influential designers. This week's short shout out is for Paul Rand, an American graphic designer best known for his corporate logo designs.

[Photo via paul-rand.com]

Here's a short video of Paul Rand. If you like the video style take Stout's Design Course: Type in Motion




For more of Rand's work check out his website

[photo via: denniswilms.wordpress.com]

Competion: Flux 09

Check out AIGA's Flux competition. Entry fee is cheap. Submit things and make us proud!

AIGA at the Backyard Bash

It was great meeting so many new students and catching up with friends at the Backyard Bash tonight. In case you missed our booth our first meeting is Tuesday, September 15th at 5:45 in Applied Arts Lecture Hall 210

AIGA Membership

Welcome to the blog for the graphic design group at the University of Wisconsin Stout!

Whether your an incoming student or have only a semester of courses left, becoming a member of AIGA will bring you opportunities you wouldn't otherwise get without this organization behind you.


AIGA, the professional association for design, is the premier place for design—to discover it, discuss it, understand it, appreciate it, be inspired by it. It is the place designers turn to first to exchange ideas and information, participate in critical analysis, and research and advance education and ethical practices.

AIGA (American Institute for Graphic Arts) is a nationally recognized organization. Stout's student group is part of AIGA Minnesota.


UW-STOUT LEVEL:
Stout's AIGA student group had over 100 members last year, either with a national membership or with a university membership. We have expanded our scope to specialize in graphic design events, multi-media design events, speakers and workshops to bring our organization every opportunity to learn and to expand their skills.

Meetings will be every other week and will focus on getting more involved with design outside of the classroom and allow students to interact with each other to learn. Freelance opportunities will be available for those interested and internship opportunities will be passed on to AIGA members. Subscribe to the blog for future events.

In the past, alumni and professional designers have spoken with the students to share insights regarding job hunting, portfolio building and reviews, freelance work, animation and personal branding. We have also taken part in the Homecoming parade, screen printed t-shirts and had a social BBQ.


PROFESSIONAL AIGA MINNESOTA:
Stout's Student Group works with AIGA Minnesota to coordinate events available to students.
AIGA Minnesota offers events such as Design Camp, Cocktails with Creatives, Studio Tours and Portfolio Reviews. These are for students and professionals alike and are GREAT ways to network with other students as well as professionals to get more information about the design profession.

With an AIGA membership, students can access the designer's directory and job postings and receive discounts on events. Members also can set up a profile on the national website and upload their portfolio and resume to pass onto potential employers.

BECOMING A MEMBER:
National Level: $70 if you mail a check to AIGA UW-Stout Student Group

• Discounts on AIGA events
  
• Design Annual
  
• On-Line portfolio
  
• Access to job opportunities
  
• Access to Designers Directory
  
• Attend meetings for free
  
• Receive e-mails about job opportunities
  
• Able to attend University Funded events and workshops
  
• Network with other students in the organization
  
• Learn outside of the classroom
• much much more!

University Level: $10/semester.

• Attend meetings for free
  
• Receive e-mails about job opportunities
  
• Able to attend University Funded events and workshops
  
• Network with other students in the organization
  
• Learn outside of the classroom.

CHECKS CAN BE MAILED TO:
AIGA UW-Stout Student Group
Applied Arts Building
712 S. Broadway
Menomonie, WI 54751

Please include the student's name, year and UW-Stout email address

Membership fees can also be handed to an officer during the first meeting. First meeting TBA.

For further announcements, news, events, speakers, resources and highlights you can subscribe to this blog. E-mail announcements and meeting minutes will only be sent out to members.


If you have additional questions please e-mail AIGA@uwstout.edu

Design Camp Registration Open

Design Camp Registration is now open.
Sign up now and let us know if you're coming!

Design Camp 2009

It's almost that time of year again to sign up for AIGA MN Design Camp! About 15 of us drove up last year to Nisswa, MN for a weekend of workshops, speakers, karaoke, dinners, networking and an all around great time.

This year the Theme is
Spot-On Inspiration.
Where the stain of an unfinished idea becomes a thing of promising beauty.

October 2–4, 2009 (yes, this is Stout's Homecoming Week)
Grand View Lodge (last year we stayed at a nearby hotel with all the other students)
Nisswa, MN

Here's from their website:
Join us at Design Camp® 2009 and immerse yourself in the messiness of the creative process. There’s a host of colorful events, including enlightened speakers, experiential workshops, beaming bonfires, mouth-watering libations, highly charged activities and civilized conversation with friends and colleagues. It’s a potluck of possibilities.

To tease your designer appetite, look who’s showing up to make their own mark on Design Camp®:

Aaron Draplin
Draplin Design Co., North America
Located in the mighty Pacific Northwest, Aaron Draplin of the Draplin Design Co. proudly rolls up his sleeves on a number of projects related to the Print, Identity, Web Development, Illustration and Gocco Muscle categories. He prides himself on a high level of craftsmanship and quality that keeps him up late into the wet Portland nights.
draplin.com

Ellen Lupton
Design Writing Research
Ellen Lupton is a designer, writer and curator. She is director of the Graphic Design MFA program at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and curator of contemporary design at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. She is the author of numerous books on design, including “Design Your Life” (2009).
designwritingresearch.org

Erik Karasyk and David Schwarz
HUSH
HUSH is a New York-based content creation studio led by cofounders/creative directors Erik Karasyk and David Schwarz. HUSH develops powerful brand-driven stories, award-winning design, animation and interactive content for TV commercials, music videos, broadcast and integrated campaigns. With over a decade of ideation and execution experience, HUSH pushes creative limits to build brand awareness and audience loyalty.
heyhush.com

DJ Stout
Pentagram (Austin)
At Pentagram, DJ’s wide-ranging expertise encompasses the design and redesign of a variety of publications including magazines, books and catalogs. He and his team also specialize in identity design, branding, packaging, exhibitions and website design. DJ’s work has been widely published and has won countless design awards. Prior to Pentagram, he spent 13 years at Texas Monthly where he was awarded the National Magazine Award three times.
pentagram.com

Bring an open mind. Make your mark. Spot on!

*although registration is not open yet you can still take off work, mark it on your calendar and start a countdown until one of the best events of the year. I'll send out an email once registration is open.

Please e-mail AIGA@uwstout.edu or comment to this post if you plan on going. We can arrange rides and hotels once we get a better idea of who all is coming.

Cocktails With Creatives :: What you missed...

Brian and I went to Cocktails with Creatives at Tiger Sushi last Thursday and we cannot wait to go again next month! Seriously, what a great event to combine Creatives, Drinks and delicious food. The best thing about this event is that EVERYONE wants to mingle and get to know as many people as they can. I caught up with people from the Studio On Fire workshop, met new designers and business owners, found a great woman to do all my printing from now on and pried out some information about Design Camp before the posters were sent out! This event should not be missed whether you're an incoming freshman or a graduated senior.

Watch out - What you say on Facebook or Twitter could get your fired

Although the economy is tough right now, some people don't seem to appreciate the job they have or ... umm seem to not realize that just about anyone can see your facebook or twitter posts. A word to the wise: Keep the personal stuff personal and don't post anything that could come back and haunt you.

Here are a few examples:via: http://applicant.com/how-to-lose-a-job-via-facebook-in-140-characaters-or-less/

A recent tweet by one would-be Cisco employee proves that when it comes to placing a permanent black mark on your resume via the Internet, Twitter is now the tool of choice. To illustrate, here’s the tweet the now Web-infamous "theconnor" shared with the world:

"Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.”

It wasn’t long before Tim Levad, a "channel partner advocate" for Cisco Alert, shared this open response: "Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web."
via: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29796962/

via: http://www.resumebear.com/blog/index.php/2009/04/10/30-ways-to-loose-a-job-on-twitter/


So even if you might want to "burn" your boss, you should realize that you look like a fool and are potentially burning bridges that could get you your next job!

AIGA Aquent Salary Survey

Take a look at the Aquent Salary Survey from AIGA: http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/salary-survey

It lists the salaries and benefits for various jobs in various locations.

"An entry-level designer is one to two years out of school and requires mentoring in all aspects of design conception and implementation." Based on the survey, the salary is pretty much the same for entry-level designers no matter where you are in the US. The average in Minneapolis is $33,000.

Check out the other locations and job titles... who knows you may find a new calling to be an art director or a copywriter.

You can also fill in the boxes at Design Salaries to find your idea situation.

enjoy