Kate Rosenbaum

kate rosenbaum portfolio 2016/17

self-analytical evaluation

This semester, the yearbook staff was faced head-on with challenges in all aspects of producing the best book possible for our school. As a staff, we were forced to adapt to the circumstances and new implementations that were introduced at the beginning of the year, including a new adviser and publishing system.

These challenges, amongst many others, proved difficult to overcome, but also helped the staff grow together and learn from our experiences.

In comparison to the previous year, I personally think the staff is a tighter-knit group, which is beneficial for communication and efficiency.

As for new knowledge, I learned how to operate E-Design with little guidance other than my peers. I also became a more effective leader after working as team leader. These skills give me a higher advantage for my senior year when I will have more influence in the production of the book. For the first deadline, my team was prepared and had almost all of their assignments on time and the deadline night was spent putting final touches on the two spreads that I was assigned. Second deadline, on the other hand, was slightly unorganized on my behalf due to assignments that were not fully perfected. For future deadline, I will be stricter and more regimented in regards to my team members and their completion of the assignments they were assigned. It was quite challenging to work as a team leader because I struggle with not being in complete control of all that is required to be done; however, this opportunity has definitely helped to improve my skills with being headstrong and expressing what I want to happen.

This year, I experienced, not personally, but through stories in other publications, regarding plagiarism and truthful journalism. These experiences helped to justify the importance of good journalism skills and ethics. As a team leader, I automatically undertook the took of a dedicated staff member, having the task of designing spread and managing other staff members. I have stayed after school countless times and spent many a lunch period sitting at

computer designing my spreads. Also, with the advantage of E-Design, I spent a great portion of my time outside of school working on yearbook tasks from home. I am very passionate about creating a worthy final product for my fellow classmates, which is one of the reasons why I am very dedicated to this specific publication.

Yearbooks are timeless creations and should be well-designed and the best possible publication.

This semester, in particular, was difficult simply because it was spent getting new yearbook members assimilated with the flow of yearbook and the requirements for success. In that aspect, I struggled with confrontation and being vocal in regards to what I wanted to be completed. I grew to become more of an aggressive and organized leader. One of my greatest weaknesses is specifically confrontation and dealing with situations that require direct criticism, which was sometimes not beneficial with my role as a team leader. In order to overcome this negative trait, I will need to learn to face my fears head-on, which is a matter of gaining confidence. In terms of the upcoming semester, I will be more defiant with leading my team members and staying on task with the deadline assignments.

re fle ct io n #1

In terms of significance, I struggle with pin-pointing one specific piece on my spreads that was of true importance; however, the fashion spread as a whole in deadline 1 was one of my proudest final products. I spent a good portion of the beginning of the year working on that spread, simply because it was something that was particularly interesting and was a passion of mine. I created the layout of trending clothing items, wrote the main story on Cava Apparel, and designed the photostrip that showcased students and their personal style choices. This spread was not difficult to create, it was just a matter of designing the final product and creating a spread that was visually pleasing. I enjoyed gathering information from students in regards to their fashion senses because the topic was something that I am passionate about and already implement in my daily life. I am aware that the final product goes against the minimalistic theme of this year’s book; however, this spread is time-specific and is one that I believe will be interesting and easy to read. The content is light and is focused on the more visual aspects of the spread, which I believe to be a positive aspect when flipping through a yearbook.

In specific, there are a couple of pieces that I am truly proud of in regards to the final outcome. On the fashion spread that i was assigned for the first deadline, the photostrip at the bottom of the spread that showcased three different students and their personal styles. This mod, in particular, was fun to create because I got to take pictures that were artistic and interview students on something that I found interesting. It was particularly interesting to learn more about my peers in terms of something plays such a major role in defining one’s self. I am very pleased with the final outcome of the photo strip, despite the simplistic concept.

On the pom spread from the first deadline, I wrote the main story regarding the changes in pom pro-

gram in comparison to previous years.

Despite the boring topic, the interview quotes that I gathered were interesting. I definitely think my interviewing skills have improved after my time spent in yearbook, as I am now able to search for interesting quotes midconversation with an interviewee.

There were not that many of my photos in the spreads that have been submitted thus far; however I am most proud of the photo that I took in the photostrip on the football spread.

I feel that this photo shows my improvement as a photographer in terms of the specific aspects that we were taught.

fl e r

t c e

n o i

#2

deadline 1

main story

design/ photos

design/ photos

main story

design/ photos

photo

photo

deadline 2

design

photo

photo

design

design/ photos

design

all about me