creative Magazine
R HODE ISLAN D
FEBRUARY 2013
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| Rhode Island Creative Magazine
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about the publication Rhode Island Creative Magazine is a one-of-a-kind publication, designed to educate and promote Rhode Island’s current and upcoming creative professionals. RICM will provide effective advertisements, latest listing for events, workshops, job opportunities, educational programs, inspiring as well as educational articles written by local colleges, universities, businesses, organizations and contributors in this industry. RICM’s mission is to make Rhode Island’s creative industry, and Providence, its Creative Capital, shine! This truly unique publication is an important resource that will highlight the outstanding creative talent of Rhode Island, promote local colleges, universities, small and large businesses, organizations, designers, artists, printers, writers, students and others who are (and will be) an equally important resource for our economy. In The National Arts & Economic Prosperity IV report shows in Providence alone $190 Million in Economic Activity and 4,669 Jobs Generated Annually through the Non-profit Arts and Cultural Industry. [Americans for the Arts, 2012 for the City of Providence’s Department of Art, Culture & Tourism] Together, we can help increase these numbers even more.
founder As a Rhode Island College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and a minor in industrial technology, a local graphic designer and business owner, I have been in the creative arts industry for well over a decade and understand how important this industry is to me and to others. In my daily line of work, I strive to make other small and large businesses succeed by providing professional designs that help market and grow their business. At the same time, I am educating my clients and coworkers about the importance of design and how it delivers a message visually. Due to this, I wanted to gather all kinds of experts in the industry and produce a visual and educational piece to help what I do on a daily basis on a much larger scale. As a Rhode Islander who is truly passionate and committed to the creative industries, I concepted and developed this one-of-a-kind amazing tool of creativity to educate, inspire, grow and acknowledge all aspects of this industry. I hope you enjoy the Rhode Island Creative Magazine and our state’s newest, creative resource! Thank you!
Kimberly Sherman-Leon
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contents Articles
01
Welcome
03
Contributors
05
Creative Thinking
16
Katherine Gendreau Photography
19
Important Tips That All New Graphic Designers Must Know
22
RI Freelancers
27
Josh Edenbaum Photography
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| Rhode Island Creative Magazine
Between Business and Design Math Is Easy; Design Is Hard
08
From Construction to Launch: How A Website Is Built
10
Local Based Marketing Agency Partners with Spain Casino
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6 Internet Marketing Ideas, Trends, and Lessons learned for a Happy 2013!
14
I Was Wondering If I Can Be An Intern In Your Company?
15
New Fire Station On The Drawing Board
18
One Of The Most Rewarding Things A Person Can Do Is To Become Involved In Their Community
Support RICM
Cover Photo Fotolia Image
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Josephine Eke
Vice President, Design Intelligence, Sterling Brands is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and has an MBA from Northeastern University. She has 20 years experience combining brand strategy, design and innovation with success in building multi-million dollar brands for companies like Estée Lauder, Mattel and Hasbro. Josephine also teaches in the Masters of Branding program at SVA and RISD/CE.
Adam Harvey
Founded in 1995, GLAD WORKS is a full-service creative agency located in Pawtucket, RI. From graphic design to Web and app development, we provide the capabilities of a large agency with individualized, client-centric service. At GLAD WORKS, we believe in the possibilities and we help make dreams come true for our clients. Their success, is our success.
John Diamantakos
Chairman of Diamond Star Media, Diamond Star Media is a powerhouse in the advertising, marketing and video production field representing fortune 500 companies and international customers. In addition to our in-house team, we work with other top film industry vendors in the New England area to stay at the forefront of new technologies and techniques. We are cutting edge, creative, proficient, and dedicated to our clients’ success. DSM is an important provider of digital media marketing for the international casino industry.
Juan Gomez
Web Director and Co-Founder of Xzito, As Web Solutions Director, he thrives on building client relationships so he can help improve their online presence. He has uncanny abilities in front-end development and user experience design developed through his years at MetLife where he worked on everything from user interface design and site architectures, XHTML/CSS markup and web ads, to providing design direction to upper management. Juan is a graduate of Rhode Island College, with a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art. To clear his mind after we release him, he enjoys scuba diving, riding his motorcycle, and listening to music.
Joe Shansky
Owner and Advertising Principal, Shansky Works is a network of graphic designers, programmers, B-2-B and consumer copywriters, artists, photographers and marketing professionals. Each associate of Shansky Works brings 20+ years of experience. When it comes to Graphic Design for Print or the Web, let us turn your virtual into reality.
New England Institute of Technology
Linda A. Dionne has served as Media Relations Specialist since 2009. In addition to writing articles for various trade publications, Linda is responsible for preparing and distributing press releases as well as coordinating all media requests. Linda is also the editor for the college’s quarterly newspaper, “Tech News”, and a monthly on-line newsletter, “Tech Talk”. Linda is a graduate of Bryant University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Marketing.
Melissa Black
is Chief Efficiency Officer and co-owner of Black Ink Virtual Assistance (BlackInkVA.com) designing plans to manage workflow efficiency and developing websites and messaging strategies for small businesses. Melissa has been published in Rhode Island Small Business Journal, OnlineRI.com and serves on the Board of Directors of the American Marketing Association of Southeastern New England (AMASNE).
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Rhode Island Citizens for the Arts
A nonprofit political organization, RI CFA is fully funded by its members. The strength of our membership is the strength of our voice in the political realm. Members include nonprofit organizations, for profit creative companies, individual artists and designers, patrons of the arts, art educators, believers of creativity, mothers, brothers, business leaders and students. No matter your background, RI CFA is YOU.
Linda and David Buttery
Owners of Minuteman Press Johnston, “Our philosophy is very simple, focus on giving the customers what they want. Our field is a very diverse one. No one printing or graphic design company is going to effectively do it all well. We have learnt to focus on what we are good at and refer customers elsewhere if we feel we cannot meet their needs. Our experience has been that this is a win-win situation for everyone.”
William Webb
Graphic Design Printing & Art Instructor/Building Leader at the Woonsocket Area Career & Technical Center Evaluation Team Leader Graphic Arts Education & Research Foundation Adjunct Professor Central Maine Community College
Chris Sheehy
Founder of the award-winning Rhode Island search engine optimization/marketing & local internet marketing firm; Sidewalk Branding Company. Named a “Top Startup Business in New England” by Mass High Tech, internationally published, and a resource partner to Guy Kawasaki’s Alltop news. Chris gets businesses DISCOVERED!
Ronald G. Shapiro Ph. D.
Independent consultant and speaker in Human Factors/Ergonomics (designing products, solutions, and services so that they will be easy for people to use), User Experience, Career Development, Learning, Leadership and Human Resources. Ron has had global or USA responsibility for managing technical learning, technical leadership, employee university education, career coaching, new employee orientation and coordinating human factors/ergonomics for IBM.
Janine V. Calise
Founder & Creative Director at 4 Design, LLC., believes good design should embody strategy and emotion, intellectual rationale and tactical implementation. For over two decades, she has been working with clients across industries to create elegant, human-centered branding and design solutions. Being a creative boutique simply suggests that we will utilize our entire pool of independent resources when the requests are outside the realm of our expertise.
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| Rhode Island Creative Magazine
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Report Shows Positive Trend in Jobs and Businesses in the Creative Industries in Rhode Island
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Software Issues
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Preparing Today’s Students For Tomorrow’s Jobs
Definition: A way of looking at problems or situations from a fresh perspective that suggests unorthodox solutions (which may look unsettling at first). Creative thinking can be stimulated both by an unstructured process such as brainstorming, and by a structured process such as lateral thinking.
creative thinking An Ability. A simple definition is that creativity is the ability to imagine or invent something new. As we will see in this publication, creativity is not the ability to create out of nothing, but the ability to generate new ideas by combining, changing, or reapplying existing ideas. Some creative ideas are astonishing and brilliant, while others are just simple, good, practical ideas that no one seems to have thought of yet.
CREATIVITY 26
Business Review Sites To Use Instead of Yelp
28
AEIOU Tips To Improve Your Job Search
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Station Ink: An Artistic Installation
An Attitude. Creativity is also an attitude: the ability to accept change and newness, a willingness to play with ideas and possibilities, a flexibility of outlook, the habit of enjoying the good, while looking for ways to improve it. We are socialized into accepting only a small number of permitted or normal things. The creative person realizes that there are other possibilities. A Process. Creative people work hard and continually to improve ideas and solutions, by making gradual alterations and refinements to their works. Contrary to the mythology surrounding creativity, very few works of creative excellence are produced with a single stroke of brilliance or in a frenzy of rapid activity. Much closer to the real truth are the stories of companies who had to take the invention away from the inventor in order to market it because the inventor would have kept on tweaking it and fiddling with it, always trying to make it a little better.
The creative person knows that there is always room for improvement. Issue 3 |
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BETWEEN
BUSINESS Jeffrey Veen –
MATH IS EASY; DESIGN IS HARD.
DESIGN SCHOOLS EDUCATE YOU ON ART AND DESIGN. THEY ARE CREATIVE CULTURES WHERE TEACHING AND LEARNING ARE
balance
CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE SO THAT YOU CAN USE DESIGN TO IMPACT AND INFLUENCE THE EVERYDAY AND THE EXTRAORDINARY.
Design schools often ignore the business side of design like how to cost a job, understand cash �low, manage operations or how �inancial activities can impact performance.
My �irst freelance job was in college. A friend asked me to design her wedding invitation with a budget of �ive hundred dollars. For the love of design I would have done it for free. Free doesn’t pay the bills. This doesn’t mean everything has to be for money – throughout my career I have taken on pro bono work where the value is immeasurable – like meeting Eunice Kennedy Shriver at the Life Is Sweet event or contributing to the conservation of local land – sometimes these nonpro�it projects lead to lucrative opportunities.
“– like meeting Eunice Kennedy Shriver”
That �ive hundred dollar wedding invitation quickly became all consuming and more like �ive thousand dollars worth of my time. I had linked my value, my time and design to the fee I was paid.
Mohawk’s Specialty Digital Substrates create a world of possibilities for comprehensive communications programs.
MULTIFACETED. QUESTIONING AND EXPERIMENTATION ARE FORGED WITH DISCIPLINE-BASED SKILLS AND HONING YOUR INDIVIDUAL
The American Federation of Labor had it right in 1881 when they made their motto ‘a fair day's wage for a fair day's work’. It is human nature to equate your value against societal measures – pay de�initely being a BIG ONE.
My next exposure to numbers was working for a small design company while still in college. It was the owner and myself. She was amazingly generous in teaching me about running a business from how to develop a proposal to budgeting for a project, managing the process and understanding that even the best managed projects could take on a life of their own. Anticipating and building in layers for revisions and unforeseen costs always helped to manage a client’s expectations – working and getting paid in phases was also a great way to manage cash �low. Yes, you actually needed cash to keep a business running.
life is sweet event • eunice kennedy shriver, washington d.c. 2009
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| Rhode Island Creative Magazine
In business as in personal �inance cash �low is essential to solvency. Sounds so logical and even simplistic but a few jobs later I would see cash �low and one account
AND
DESIGN
assets
take down a business that had been around for twenty years. It was a small video/print design company that subcontracted crews for �ilming and rented equipment and operators for editing. Each project had layers of costs and expenses that often had to be paid out before the client actually paid us for the �inished work. Add in the complex back-of�ice operations for handling bills at our client’s company and the 90-day payment could become 120 days. In this case the company was restructured and the client’s division was eliminated and we were never paid. The owner used his personal assets to pay off our subcontractors and closed the doors to the studio.
Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Making sure that your client roster is balanced and managing payment in phases are key learnings in running a small business.
Years later I would have a conversation with my brother, an MBA and Six Sigma Master Black Belt (lean/process improvement expert), about looking at a company and being able to predict these type of problems based on their �inancial statements. He told me how he went on an interview and he asked the HR manager how they were going to manage their impending bankruptcy. A fact which he had gleamed from their �inancial statements (public company).
by Josephine Eke • BFA • MBA
Its good to know what to look for and be prepared if you are moving into a job or working with a company that has some underlying �inancial challenges in remaining viable. My career evolved to leading and managing large multi-disciplined internal creative departments at multi-billion dollar corporations where budgets, cost analysis and understanding the �inancial side of the business was essential to success. Creative thinking and critical questioning was an asset and there was still on the job learning but I would end up getting an MBA to hone my tactical and conceptual business skills.
Many design schools are recognizing the critical value in linking the creative and business aspects of our industry. The School of Visual Arts has added an MBA 101 class to their Masters in Branding program with the goal of students gaining a basic understanding of �inancial and operational aspects of business so that they can evaluate a company, recognize best practices and apply business thinking to their own role in branding and design.
Understanding the business side of design is an asset and assets have economic value.
It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. – Charles Darwin
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[
by Adam Harvey Technology Director. Principal. GLAD WORKS. gladworks.com
From Construction to Launch:
HOWa
Websites seem to appear as if by magic— There are so many of them out there, with more and more every day. Some are good, some are abysmal, but for businesses especially, having a website is as much of a requirement as having a logo. This makes for plenty of opportunities for creative teams to get out there and make some Internet. But how does a brand new website come to be? What are the steps involved?
[Kickoff]
First we have a kickoff meeting where the creative team sits down with the client to talk about their needs. Depending on what we learn, we’ll assemble our creative team accordingly. There will most certainly be a designer, web developer, and a project manager at the table. Maybe there will also be a photographer and a copywriter too. This is where we ask the client about their goals for the site, their target audience, their biggest competitors, learn about their overall branding and any deadlines they might have. Then we send our client home to wait patiently while we get our creative on.
[Research]
We begin this next phase by researching our client’s business and their competitor’s sites. We look to see who comes up first in a Google search and try to determine why. At this point we may make some suggestions for improving SEO. We also start thinking of fonts and colors that might be appropriate for the new site.
[Sketching] Here’s where the creative work begins! Sometimes our designers start by sketching things out on paper. Sometimes they start with a wireframe. But whatever they use it helps them determine the layout, structure, and navigation of the site. Once done, they send the initial concepts to the client for feedback. Designers expect honest feedback, so when a client isn’t in love with the initial concepts, they don’t cry. It’s all part of the collaborative process!
IS BUILT. [Design] Once everyone agrees on the design and functionality of the site, the designer goes to town on the home and interior pages. They lay in the content and images and send it off to the client again for more feedback. We make sure the client is happy with the design before we send it to the developers to be coded. Changing the design after it’s been coded takes more time and can increase the project budget. And, in our experience, most client’s don’t seem to favor that. [Construction] Now the developers step in for their part! The site goes into the coding phase of production where they wrap their nerd wizardry around it and POOF! There’s a real functioning website. [Testing]
After coding is finished, it’s not time to go live with the site just yet. It has to be tested to make sure it behaves the way everyone intended. Believe it or not, the entire team tries to break the website! If they can’t break it, hopefully nobody else can either. After the site is functioning as it should, we’re ready to launch.
[Launch] Here’s the big moment! Sadly, nobody breaks open a bottle of champagne and smashes it over the computer screen like they do with a ship. But, it’s still a big deal—it’s the culmination of our collaborative efforts and hopefully it will help our client succeed! Of course during this whole process, there are approximately eleven million team meetings and internal deadlines happening in between all of the major project phases. Sometimes there’s crying and hair pulling and massive amounts of coffee/Red Bull drinking, but in the end, we get to step back and admire the website we’ve helped create, and it’s worth all of the hard work.
Get a Running Start Johnson & Wales University’s Graphic Design & Digital Media program begins with a solid set of foundation
The academic and
courses that quickly prepares our students for advanced work. Some of our foundation courses include: Digital
experiential
Media Perspectives, Foundation Drawing & Digital Tools,
focus prepares students to
Media, Typography & Spatial Design, Introduction to Client
digital problems various communication
visual design digital tools. using
Principles of Visualization & Design, Imaging for Digital Side Development, Introduction to Motion Graphics, Print Design, and Sophomore Portfolio Review.
Focus & Develop Upperclassman may choose to concentrate in a number of specialized areas including print design, web & mobile application design and motion graphics.
Real Work, Real Clients Experiential education is integrated into the program including Digital Media Solutions Team in which students provide solid design solutions for real world communitybased organizations. Students then move on to participate in competitive internships which frequently translate into job offers upon graduation.
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Local Based Marketing Agency Partners with Spain Casino by John Diamantakos Chairman of Diamond Star Media
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Diamond Star Media is a powerhouse in the advertising, marketing and video production field representing fortune 500 companies and international customers. In addition to our inhouse team, we work with other top film industry vendors in the New England area to stay at the forefront of new technologies and techniques. We are cutting edge, creative, proficient, and dedicated to our clients’ success.
•
Brand Recognition
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Digital Signage / Plasmas
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Media Buying and Planning
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Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Optimization
•
Online Marketing Strategy
DSM is an important provider of digital media marketing for the international casino industry. Steven Karoul, an internationally well-known and respected casino consultant, and gaming innovator made an extensive analysis of Diamond Star Media’s resultsdriven approach and the impact an aggressive and dynamic online presence may have to the bottom line of a casino.
•
Analytics
•
Social Media Tune-Up
•
Video Production
•
Web Design and Development
•
Mobile Websites
| Rhode Island Creative Magazine
Gran Casino Costa Brava, recognized as one of the top tourism attractions of Spain, has announced a new strategic marketing partnership with Diamond Star Media LLC, a U.S. based advertising agency with offices in New York City and Providence, RI, to launch a new marketing campaign. Joining forces enables Gran Casino to capitalize upon Diamond Star Media’s experience in casino resort marketing and operations. Diamond Star Media is positioned as one of the leading providers of media and marketing solutions to casinos and other leisure type companies. Partnering with Gran Casino Costa Brava, the largest casino in Spain and one of the most frequented tourist destinations in Europe, Diamond Star Media is committed and looking forward to this new venture. Gran Casino’s new marketing campaign will be developed to include several key features designed to strengthen brand awareness and reinforce Gran Casino’s foothold as one of Europe’s premiere attractions. These components include new media strategies, strategic database and CRM campaign assessments, social media integration, a major website redesign, web marketing initiatives, digital media, search engine marketing and optimization. Gianfranco Scordato, CEO of Gran Casino, welcomes the new partnership and the notable bump in marketability his casino will likely receive via the upcoming campaign. A gaming executive with a wide range of history in numerous aspects of casino operation, Scordato will oversee the implementation of Diamond Star Media’s marketing campaign while making sure the new partnership is constantly working towards the achievement of Gran Casino’s essential philosophies, strategies and objectives.
Diamond Star Media worked with EuroAsia to rebrand several of their key identifying features including a redesigned logo, more effective marketing material and a refurbished website that showcases clean design and accessible content. On modern digital platforms where brand presence tends to rapidly deflate, these redesigns ensure that EuroAsia Casino’s message remains fresh, vibrant and effective beyond their competition.
John Diamantakos, chairman of Diamond Star Media, is confident these components, when implemented into an aggressive new marketing campaign, will assist Gran Casino Costa Brava in achieving their next rung of profitability. Diamond Star Media is the purveyor of “CultureCARE”, a trademarked set of principles that can be applied to any casino property in the world and deliver profitable results. “The term ‘CultureCARE’ is our benchmark,” John says. “It not only helps us acquire new customers, but also provides a dynamic virtual experience connecting the guest to the property. Included are strategies for repeat visitation, loyalty development and excellence in friendly, personalized customer service.” Backed by its creative and technical teams, John Diamantakos and Diamond Star Media look forward to their new marketing partnership and the various phases of Gran Casino Costa Brava’s new marketing campaign. The casinos new media strategies will all be meticulously designed and coordinated to play a crucial role in increasing Gran Casino Costa Brava’s role as a dominant brand both locally and internationally. If the individual histories of these two companies are any indication of a successful partnership in the gaming industry, one might be inclined to suggest a safe bet.
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Internet Marketing Ideas, Trends, and Lessons learned for a Happy 2013!
by Juan Gomez Xzito
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Not getting enough leads? Are you not optimizing for the right keywords? Through online research, you should know that buyers get 50-60% through the buying process before they contact a short list of sellers. They’re using keywords they hope will bring them to the websites of companies that offer what they’re looking for. Are you optimizing for these keywords? If you are running a Pay-per-click campaign, optimize your website with the keywords that are bringing you the most leads. You can also check your website analytics and determine which keywords are bringing you the most clicks. If you are just starting, use keywords with high research volume and medium to low competition. “What is the value of ranking organically and not getting any visits or savings from this traffic?” – Jeshua Zapata, President and CEO, Xzito Creative Solutions.
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Companies are ready to sell, but what about nurturing those who are not ready to buy? Organizations that nurture relationships via online marketing will convert many more visitors into qualified prospects over the course of 2013. You can have great top to middle Calls-to-Actions (CTAs) through your site and visitors are actually converting into leads, but what if these leads are not ready to buy? “Most organizations are ready to sell, but a few are ready to nurture and build a relationship,” mentions Jeshua Zapata, Co-founder and President at Xzito. “If your follow up process is not effective, then what’s the point of obtaining these leads?,” asks Jairo Gomez, Co-founder and Design Director at Xzito. Following up is just as important as ensuring you have CTAs throughout your site. Create and schedule a sequence of automated emails for ALL your CTAs. Once they complete the cycle, contact your leads and start nurturing that relationship. “You can have great CTAs and leads contacting you via your website, but if your follow up process is not effective then what’s the point? The follow up is just as important.” – Jairo Gomez, Co-founder and Design Director, Xzito Creative Solutions
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Are you listening to your performance metrics? Inevitably, some strategies and initiatives won’t deliver the results you want. What matters is how quickly and accurately you detect these shortfalls in your offers, content, solutions, and calls to action, and how promptly you make corrections based on the data obtained through your metrics. Gut feel often makes suspected problems worse by causing you to react too soon or to move in a wrong direction. Analytics are the key to the detection of threats and opportunities. “With internet marketing, there will be strategies that do not bring the results desired. It is important to analyze what went wrong and quickly take the steps that are necessary to improve results.” Cristina Zapata, Internet Marketing Director, Xzito Creative Solutions.
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| Rhode Island Creative Magazine
To help get the New Year off to a great start, we wanted to share with you some internet marketing ideas that are critical success factors to make a huge difference in your internet marketing program. Each was re-defined, learned or confirmed by Xzito in 2012.
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Is your message breaking through the competitive noise? Customers and prospects are exhausted by the sheer volume of me-too research, blogs, emails, tweets and phone calls they’re subjected to every day. Even the good stuff is ignored because there’s simply no time to absorb it all. “Tell me something new,” decision makers ask. Big idea content lets your emails, blogs, tweets, and Facebook posts break through the competitive noise of those vying for your customers’ attention. Big idea content is not re-writing the same thing your industry is saying. Big idea content is presenting your message in innovative ways and in a language everyone can understand. Like they say, “If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it is a duck.” Big ideas can go viral within social communities, resulting in word of mouth testimonials and trusted referrals that motivate prospects to act. Does your content make people stop and think? Do prospects and influencers believe it’s worth building a social community around? “We need to stop interrupting what people are interested in and be what people are interested in.” – Craig Davis, Chief Creative Officer, J Walter Thompson
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Build your customers’ brand and win more customers Most companies operate on the assumption that a brand is the promise they keep about what customers can expect. That’s true, but there’s an aspect to branding that’s consistently overlooked. To build your brand, you must brand your customer. When Marlboro branded its customers (The Marlboro Man), Marlboro became the most successful cigarette in history. Define “What kind of customer should buy from you.” Tell them that’s the kind of customer you’re searching for. Build an emotional bond with them via content, calls to action, and big ideas delivered online and offline. “Good companies respond to change. Great companies create change.” – Dr. Robert Kriegel
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2014 is just around the corner. Time flies. January 2012 seems like a day or two ago. January 2014 is just around the corner. To get the most from your online marketing program, test every initiative and expenditure with the question “How well does this accomplish our objectives?” Reserve a sense of great urgency only for the initiatives that score most highly. “The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it’s the same problem you had last year.” – John Foster Dulles
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JoeShansky, Shansky bybyJoe PresidentofatShansky ShanskyWorks Works President
“I would like to be a graphic designer and I’m in a program at the Met School where we look for companies to provide mentors. By allowing us to intern at their companies, they give us ‘real-work’ experience while we’re in school.” Fortunately for this young student, he reached the right person. I was familiar with The Met School and their intern program. I had been a mentor to one of their students a few years ago and was more than willing to be a mentor now. As part of their program, the school requires the students to find their own internships without help from an advisor. This student had googled “Graphic design firms in Rhode Island” and got a long list. He endured many… many… rejections before he hit upon Shansky Works. I could tell he was physically relieved when I said, “Sure, no problem. Come on down.” So the student and his advisor came down to my office to check me out, make sure everything was on the up and up and that it would be a safe place for the student to spend 5 hours a day, 2 days a week for 13 weeks. I guess I passed because the student began his first session in January. The student is an artist, creating characters in the Japanese Anime style. His goal for the internship is to learn how to use some of the programs from Adobe’s Creative Suite in creating a website, animation files and to aid with the creation of his drawings. His ultimate goal is to be an entrepreneur and put his characters on a line of clothing. It is a very ambitious plan. He is already using Photoshop but is unfamiliar with Illustrator, Dreamweaver, file resolution, color pallets for web vs. print, bit map vs. vector files, etc.
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| Rhode Island Creative Magazine
Well, we had our work cut out for us. With a little Marketing 101 thrown in, we would begin in January. Now a lot of companies would look at this program and think, “I’m running a business, I or one of my employees don’t have the time to baby-sit a student and commit x-number of hours teaching them what we do for a living.” And yet the very fact that a job applicant has internships on their resume might be the difference between getting the job, or not making the cut. By taking the time to teach a student how you would like a job done, insures that a future employee could come into your company ready to work to your satisfaction and not have a big learning curve. I have been an instructor at RISD for many years, so I enjoy teaching. It may not be for everybody, but I can tell you there is no greater feeling of joy when your student “gets it.” (except, of course, when you receive your first client check.)
NEW Fire Station
on the Drawing Board by Linda A. Dionne Media Relations Specialist, New England Tech
Students in the Architectural Building Engineering Technology (ABT) program at New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) were assigned a unique project by Assistant Professor Tom Lonardo in response to a request from Fire Chief Peter Hendrikson of East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Lonardo, along with ABT Department Chair, Phil Marks, met with Chief Hendrikson and Deputy Chief, Russell McGillivray, and learned that the town was contemplating the construction of a new state-of-the-art fire station. Chief Hendrikson asked if the ABT students were interested in participating in the design of the new facility. With many years of experience in designing fire stations under his belt, Mr. Lonardo was eager to have his students in course ABT 235, Building Design & Technology IV, get involved with the project. Although upgrades have been made over time, the existing fire station had been in operation since 1914. The students were charged with designing a new fire station and emergency operations center for the East Greenwich Fire District. Albert Braynen, Mathew Carpenter, Dylan Carpino, Sabatino Giordano, Richard Lavery, Felix Lei, Ivandro Pires, Ky Plamondon, and Victor Santiago were given the specifications of the project. They had to complete a site analysis using maps, photos, sketches, and personal interpretation. Documentation of important site features had to be included, such as emergency access, public and private space, landscape features and topography, circulation (both vehicular and pedestrian),edge conditions (such as buildings, vegetation, and water), sun, wind, light, existing surrounding uses, and future expansion.
Upon completion of the project, the ABT students presented to a jury of East Greenwich Fire Department officials. Each of the unique designs had to include a site plan, floor plans, general construction method, elevations, building materials and codes, and much more. The jury included Fire Chief Hendrikson, Deputy Chief McGillivray, Commissioner Stephen Bartlett, Captain Thomas Mears, and Administrative Assistant Pamela Johnson. This team was so impressed by the professionalism of the students and their architectural concepts that they hope to incorporate some of the elements into the final fire station design. As Lonardo stated, “We were thrilled to have this opportunity for our students to utilize the knowledge and skills they have acquired at New England Tech for such a worthwhile project. The students gained valuable experience as they worked from architectural concept to the unveiling of their unique design. We all felt a great sense of pride giving back to the community.� Issue 3 |
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| Rhode Island Creative Magazine
Issue 2 |
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The benefits are many; studies show that giving to others decreases stress, makes us happier, and promotes social connection. Very often, friendships are made, business relationships are formed, and we end up learning something about ourselves. I don’t know about you, but most of the creatives I know (particularly freelancers) tend to keep odd hours, lean toward introverted, and have workloads that alternate between all or nothing. How does such a person find the time/money to give back?
Get
by Melissa Black Black Ink Virtual Assistance
Invo
I’m here to show you ways to get involved in your community, especially if my description above hits a little close to home:
lved
The Quiet One. Volunteer at an animal shelter! www.PARL.org According to Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, introverts make up to one third of the population. If this is you, being around lots of other humans isn’t your thing. The good news is - cats and dogs don’t need conversation. They just need a little love and attention. The Providence Animal Rescue League always welcomes volunteers who would like to socialize or foster cats, walk dogs, socialize small animals, or perform duties at the shelter such as laundry, cleaning, feeding and watering. The Fiscally Challenged. Donate blood. www.RIBC.org It costs nothing to head down to the local blood center and settle into a chair while the nice people there gratefully accept your donation. A regular blood donation takes just 15 minutes, and you’re done. Enjoy the big screen TV! If you choose to donate platelets, you can even request a laptop to use while you’re there. And guess what? You’ll get a little treat when you’re done, too. Who doesn’t love pineapple juice and Oreos? The Midnight Oil Burner. Donate your talent. Are you a web designer, graphic artist, or copywriter? Choose an organization that is meaningful to you and offer your creative services. Perhaps the local food bank needs help designing brochures or posters for an upcoming event. This way, you can contribute according to your own schedule. Also, you will meet other volunteers, and build relationships. You may even end up with some new friendships or business relationships due to your involvement. Obviously, these places will never turn away a monetary donation! Funds are needed for supplies, paid help, and building maintenance. And remember–donations may even be tax-deductible.
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One of the most rewarding things a person can do is to become involved in their community.
!
Other Local Organizations: American Cancer Society – RI Chapter www.cancer.org American Red Cross – RI Chapter www.redcross.org/ri The Elisha Project www.diggingditches.com The Jonnycake Center of Westerly www.jonnycakecenter.org The Rhode Island Food Bank www.RIFoodBank.org Ronald McDonald House www.rmhprovidence.org Save the Bay www.savebay.org A Wish Come True, Inc. www.awish.org Women’s Center of RI www.womenscenterri.org Youth Pride, Inc. YouthPrideri.org
Visit Serve Rhode Island for a comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities! www.serverhodeisland.org
involve the printer from the very beginning
how to handle a press check Most fresh graduates and graphic design newbies haven’t spent much time onpress with projects. When they do finally get on-press, there tends to be high anxiety because they feel as though they should know what they’re doing. It is important for a young designer to participate in a client’s press-check so you can learn the process through watching experienced professionals.
know your production options Many young designers have little knowledge about the different types of printing processes (digital, offset), the ways to enhance a piece (varnishes, foil stamping), and the many ways to finish a piece (folding, binding). We learn only as these types of projects come up. Learning about all the options upfront, the design process will include them in the initial stages.
This seems unreasonable to designers because we think of printing as the last step in a project. Most designers don’t think of their printers as “idea people,” but rather as mere producers. Printers not only have great ideas, but they often are able to offer cost-and time-saving suggestions, which makes everyone happy in the long run.
how to create a schedule around production time
get familar with paper The options for paper are almost as vast as our font libraries, and it can be overwhelming to choose. Young designers have no clue about paper. Some papers don’t fold well, some are slow to dry, some are beautiful printed offset, but not made for digital...these are all foreign concepts to a young designer. Having a crash-course in paper early on will benefit you and the client.
This is obviously an all-around win. All designers need a solid understanding of production timelines so they may manage client expectations, but we typically learn through experience. Having a point of reference for typical project timelines (i.e. business cards, brochures, catalogs, etc.) will help you out a lot when you are first starting out.
by Kimberly Sherman Leon Founder of RICM Article reference at http://www.piworld.com
Issue 3 |
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REPORT SHOWS P IN JOBS AND IN THE CREATIV IN RHODE by Libby Slader and Kelly Taylor Rhode Island Citizens for the Arts
In early October 2012, Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), visited Rhode Island for the third time. He visited AS220, Trinity Repertory Company and illuminated the flames at WaterFire. He saw a city vibrant with culture and teeming with people who come to Rhode Island for the arts. Subsequently, Landesman wrote in his blog, “None of this works without a local political structure that’s engaged. It goes from Senators Reed and Whitehouse to Congressman Cicilline to Mayor Taveras. They understand how integral the arts are to neighborhood revitalization and to economic development, both in Providence and elsewhere in Rhode Island. It’s no accident that Rhode Island politicians are most supportive of the NEA in particular, and in the arts generally.” Much of this political engagement can be attributed to the work of an advocacy group named Rhode Island Citizens for the Arts (RI CFA). RI CFA is a non-profit, grassroots, statewide advocacy organization for the arts and creative sector. As a non-partisan group, RI CFA organizes and educates citizens around initiatives to advance the creative community, which in turn benefits of all Rhode Island.
The advocacy group has just launched its most aggressive funding campaign to date— it is lobbying the state to increase the discretionary grant funding for the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) to $1,000,000. This will add $410,000 to the current $590,000 budget, which will represent a desperately needed restoration of funds that have been consistently slashed over the last decade. Since 2003, when RISCA’s budget was over $900,000, the state has cut roughly 38% of its discretionary grant dollars. RI CFA seeks to restore arts funding, not only for its importance in our culture, but because the arts is an enormous economic driver in our state. The arts and creative sector has been one of Rhode Island’s only growth sectors during the current troubled economy. “Creative Industries in Rhode Island,” an annual report conducted by Americans for the Arts (the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education) and released by RI CFA, shows that the RI creative sector added 770 jobs (or 6%) and 460 Growth in Creative Industry Businesses in Rhode Island TREND: Net gain of 16% in Creative Industry Businesses in Rhode Island from 2011 to 2012
3,300
RI CFA was originally formed to address the need for a strong advocacy network and voice to ensure the viability of the arts in Rhode Island. Born of a “Town Hall Meeting” at Trinity Repertory Company in the late 1990s, a group of concerned arts administrators and board members organized regular meetings until they eventually formalized in 1999. Since that time, RI CFA has been working actively to protect and advance funding and other benefits for the arts and creative community in Rhode Island. RI CFA organizes rallies at the State House, works with legislative leaders and acts as the voice of the creative community in Rhode Island.
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3,248
3,200 3,100 3,000 2,900
RI Creative Industry Businesses
2,788
2,800 2,700 2,600 2,500
3,500
2011 Businesses
2012 Businesses
TREND: Net gain of 52% in Creative Industry Businesses in Rhode Island from 2007 to 2012
3,248
3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000
2,788 2,371
2,520
2,434
2,137
RI Creative Industry Businesses
500 0
Numbers based on Dun & Bradstreet registered businesses, as reported in Americans for the Arts’ Creative Industries annual study
POSITIVE TREND D BUSINESSES VE INDUSTRIES E ISLAND
programs that are proven to support the development of a child’s problem solving and critical thinking skills. However, as RISCA’s budget declines, so does its ability to fund these vital programs. Part of RI CFA’s mission in increasing RISCA’s budget is in ensuring every child have access to arts education in school.
(or 16%) new businesses between 2011 and 2012. According to the report, based on Dun and Bradstreet registered businesses, the period from 2007-2012 shows a 52% gain in creative sector businesses and 13% gain creative sector jobs in both nonprofit and for-profit industries. In addition to this report, other reports submitted by grant recipients of RISCA show that for every dollar granted, arts organizations raise and spend over $23.53 in return. Using all of these very impressive numbers, RI CFA has asked Governor Lincoln Chafee to support $1million for the arts. There can be no doubt that public investment in the arts results in concrete economic returns for the state. Arts are certainly vital for our economy, but they also play a critical role in human development. Sadly, education funding shortages have seen cuts to many Rhode Island public school arts programs. As a result, these schools now rely on RISCA’s discretionary grants to provide arts programs— Growth in Creative Industry Jobs in Rhode Island TREND: Net gain of 6% in Creative Industry Jobs in Rhode Island from 2011 to 2012
13,600
13,445
13,400
RI CFA has been a proven leader in arts advocacy, as is evidenced by its single most important lobbying effort to date. In 2010, Governor Donald Carcieri attempted to decrease RISCA’s budget by $700,000.00. RI CFA worked tirelessly lobbying at the State House, testifying at hearings and garnering member support until that decrease was completely restored. The group has lobbied to keep non-profit cultural institutions exempt from property taxes, advocated for an expansion of the motion picture tax credit and generally aimed to protect the vital role of arts in the state’s cultural and economic climate. The arts and creative community is what makes Rhode Island one of the best places in the country to live and work and we have been nationally recognized for it. World-renowned WaterFire and Community Music Works have received ArtPlace grants. The youth programs of Community Music Works, AS220 Youth, New Urban Arts and RiverzEdge have won National Youth Arts awards (formerly known as Coming Up Taller) from the President’s Committee of Arts & Humanities. On a given night, one might see a nationally renowned play at Trinity Repertory or a concert on the beach by the RI Philharmonic. Rhode Island is dripping with artistic talent, from glass blowers and painters to metalworkers, designers and architects. It is the job of RI CFA to make sure the state understands this great asset and backs it up with resources that will keep pushing our creative economy forward.
13,200 13,000 12,800
RI Creative Industry Jobs
12,675
12,600 12,400 12,200
2011 Jobs
2012 Jobs
14,000 13,500
TREND: Net gain of 13% in Creative Industry Jobs in Rhode Island from 2007 to 2012
13,445
13,168
13,000
12,887 12,675
12,500
RI Creative Industry Jobs
12,262
12,000
11,842
11,500
RI CFA is you... As a nonprofit political organization, RI CFA is fully funded by its members. The strength of our membership is the strength of our voice in the political realm. Members include nonprofit organizations, for profit creative companies, individual artists and designers, patrons of the arts, art educators, believers of creativity, mothers, brothers, business leaders and students. No matter your background, RI CFA is YOU. Be part of ensuring the arts and creativity are vibrant and strong in Rhode Island. Become a member or renew your membership today. And Join in NOW in our most aggressive funding campaign for the arts yet!
Visit www.ri4arts.org/member to sign up today!
11,000 2007 Jobs
2008 Jobs
2009 Jobs
2010 Jobs
2011 Jobs
2012 Jobs
Numbers based on Dun & Bradstreet registered businesses, as reported in Americans for the Arts’ Creative Industries annual study
Issue 3 |
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RI Freelancers
Looking for a professional for your next project? Rhode Island consists of many types of freelancers in this industry. We want to give them the opportunity to shine and promote their specific talents on our Rhode Island Freelancer page! Go ahead... give them a call!
Kate Hanley is a Graphic Artist who specializes in Illustration with a background in graphic arts, vector illustration, web design, and layout. She graduated from Quinnipiac University with a Bachelor of Arts in Electronic Media and currently resides in North Smithfield, RI. Kate is currently holding a full time position as the Graphic Designer for a local RI company, but spends much of her free time taking on freelance projects for local New England companies. She thoroughly enjoys creating brand identity for new start-up companies, but her passion resides in product development. From toys to jewelry, seeing a drawing come to life and being sold in the mass market is what excites her. Kate Hanley Designer and Illustrator E: KateLH7@yahoo.com W: www.CreativeExpressionsByKate.com
Katherine Gendreau is a fine art photographer specializing in images of coastal Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine. A resident of Bristol, Rhode Island, Katherine is endlessly inspired by the beauty of the New England coastline, and aims to create images that instill in the viewer a sense of wonder and respect for the environment around them. Katherine offers archival prints and canvas gallery wraps of her work for sale through her website. Custom matting and framing services are available on request. She is also available for commission work, and her images may be licensed for commercial use. Katherine Gendreau Photographer E: kgendreauphoto@gmail.com W: www.kgendreauphotography.com
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Richard Goulis is a multi-disciplinary artist with a background in television production. Since graduating from the Film/Video Department of the Rhode Island School of Design, he helped create the first advertising/sales department for television advertising in Worcester, Massachusetts. Since then he has worked on many television productions both behind and in front of the camera. His documentary style is fresh, vibrant and has been met with great satisfaction from many clients from Nickelodeon, to ESPN, CNN, MTV and others. His video work has been seen at many festivals and is part of the permanent collection at The Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design and other museums around the country. He produces the television series “Art Rhode Island”, and the video portrait series “NetWorks” both currently being aired on Rhode Island PBS. Richard Goulis Videographer & Filmmaker E: rit@as220.org http://www.youtube.com/user/NetWorksProject2008
Software Issues from a Printer’s Point of View by Linda & David Buttery Minuteman Press of Johnston
The fast pace of technology innovation over the last twenty years has brought with it the most dramatic changes in the printing industry since Benjamin Franklin. This has been not only true in the equipment used to print the product, but also the artwork used for printing. In fact, our experience is that learning to handle digital files efficiently has been more challenging than changes in printing equipment. Equipment manufacturers have done a good job training and educating us on what to expect and supporting us when things go wrong. We have not found that support as readily available from software manufacturers when struggling to manipulate a digital file. As software manufacturers have developed new ways for the average person to create artwork that in the past would be beyond their capabilities, we have had the challenge of trying to output these images. The good news has been that it has brought with it the capability to create high quality, full color images cost effectively and at lower volumes than ever before. The downside has been the bottle-necks in the production process caused by duplicate platforms (Windows vs. Mac) and a multitude of software programs that vary in their ability
to successfully transmit the design to our digital printers and provide a quality printed piece. The transition has not been a smooth one for any of us. As printers, we have struggled to learn of and overcome the pitfalls. We have been blamed by our customers for situations beyond our control; color variations from that seen on a computer monitor, fonts changing or missing, low resolution images downloaded from a website that look fine on the monitor, but are poor quality when printed have all caused frustration for the customer and the printer. Many of the basic graphic design software programs are developed to make it easy for the layperson to produce a design for print. This has led to some business owners generating their own designs or having a family member do it for them. These programs have been the printers’ worst nightmare. Many printers have even have chosen not to accept files generated in certain types of software. Others won’t guarantee the quality of the finished piece from these programs. The answer to this problem has come in two forms. We have learnt the importance of educating the customer on what can be expected.
We all have had to learn the new phrase “pleasing color” to explain RGB or CMYK colors versus spot colors. Today the need to have a professional, well trained graphic designer in the print shop is vital. Their role is to not only produce designs to print, but also to work with those clients that choose to do their own designs and to help them prepare their work for printing. Now that so much of the work is outputted directly from the computer, the duties of the graphic designer in a small print shop now also incorporate the role of a digital press operator. PDF’s have made life easier for us all. Nearly any software program can be successfully converted and allow us to go quickly to print. Now we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! Even though it is mostly ignored, we still think the best advice we can give a customer is to have an experienced professional graphic designer generate their designs for print.
Issue 3 |
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Preparing
Today’s Students for
Tomorrow’s Jobs by William Webb Skills USA
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A report by the Executive Office Of The President Council Of Economic Advisers states that “Well-trained and highlyskilled workers will be best positioned to secure high-wage jobs, thereby fueling American prosperity. Occupations requiring higher educational attainment are projected to grow much faster than those with lower education requirements, with the fastest growth among occupations that require an associate’s degree or a post-secondary vocational award.” This report continues to say that a common element of successful programs is that they are based on appropriate curriculum and pedagogy. What does that mean for the Printing and Graphic Communications industry in Rhode Island and Southern New England? It means we are already ahead of the curve. With Advisory Boards formed by industry experts that covers the entire spectrum of the Graphic Communications industry, the Graphic Arts Educational Foundation (GAERF), PrintEd and SkillsUSA have created national standards that are recognized and validated to prepare students for our industry. The Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF®), formed in 1983, is an organization whose mission is to advance knowledge and education in the field of graphic communications by supporting programs that prepare the workforce of the future.(http://www.gaerf.org/ About.aspx) PrintED, formed in 1984 is administered by the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF®) is a national accreditation program, based on industry standards, for graphic communications courses of study at the secondary and post-secondary levels.(http://www.gaerf. org/PrintED.aspx) SkillsUSA, formed in 1964, is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together
to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel.(http://www.skillsusa.org/about/history. shtml) Working together, these organizations provide a three pronged approach to preparing future Graphic Communication workers that has a proven track record. GAERF provides the guidance for the standards and guidelines that is the foundation to form the curriculum students should be learning while, PrintEd provides the assurance that the standards and instructors meet a rigid accreditation process. SkillsUSA provides the competitions and testing structure that ensures the standards are being met and students have the skills. In Rhode Island, the fact that schools have active and engaged Advisory Boards enforce the success students are having. The trend in recent years that “all” students need to attend school has been difficult to completely understand since most people in the industry learned the trade first hand and continue to be employed and make a very good living. Now the trend is swinging back toward the understanding that not all students want or need 4 years of college with the accompanying expense. In a speech on 2-2-2011 the United States Secretary of Education, Arnie Duncan, began that transformation stating “for far too long, CTE has been the neglected stepchild of education reform.” He continued “Students pursuing non-degree postsecondary credentials still need college-ready academic skills.....a career-ready student must also have the knowledge and skills that employers need from day one. That means having critical thinking and problem-solving skills, an ability to synthesize information, solid communication skills, and
the ability to work well on a team and that the President has suggested that every American earn a minimum of two pieces of paper—a high school diploma, and a degree or industry-recognized certification.” In Rhode Island, this has been the model for the Graphic Communication and Printing programs at our Career Centers since 2002. Although the three organizations, GAERF, PrintED and SkillsUSA provide structure and stability for curriculum and big picture issues, it is the strength of the local Advisory Boards that makes Rhode Island poised and ready for the upcoming expansion in our economy. Whether helping on the judging of the local SkillsUSA competitions, http:// skillsusari.org/, or meeting with schools individually, the progess afforded todays students should pay off in the future. Examples of the leadership Advisory Boards provide to the Career & Tech Centers and students are job shadow opportunities, internships, volunteer opportunities, guidance for new purchases, program evaluations, job placement opportunities and knowledge of industry needs now and in the future. The Bureau of Labor statistics for the Graphic Communications industry projects the following through 2014; 5.6% growth in production jobs, 9.6% growth in supervisors and managers, 8.1% growth in job printers, 14.2% growth in bindery workers. With the help of the local advisories and the guidance of our National Partners, students graduating from their GAERF/PrintED accredited Graphic Communication program with PrintED/SkillsUSA certification should help the Graphic Communications industry in Rhode Island meet this demand.
Issue 3 |
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9 9 9
BUSINESS REVIEW SITES TO USE - INSTEAD OF YELP
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by Chris Sheehy Sidewalk Branding Co.
Ok, it’s no secret that I’m not a big fan of Yelp – but my disdain is not without reason or merit. It’s just that most of the small businesses I know have all been hit by the dreaded “Yelp filtered review”. This filter is how Yelp hides reviews suspect of being fake, self-written, or otherwise artificially influenced. Sounds great on the surface and on their carefully crafted website, but these filters are also well documented for hiding legit reviews. I’ve ranted about the filter before so I’ll spare you the details, but instead I want to show you how your online business reviews can still get some great online traction without any help from Yelp.
In looking at the landscape of online review/ testimonial websites that have the greatest share factor, would it surprise you to hear that Yelp isn’t at the top of the food chain! Analyzing the import/export shareability of 22 online review platforms recently (below image), I was thrilled to see that Citysearch.com steamrolls Yelp – besting it by a large distance in online review share volume…Like Yelp (#6), Citysearch.com (#1) doesn’t import outside reviews into its platform (original content only), but unlike Yelp, Citysearch shares out to 13 other review sites – thus spreading your good news (and branding, and all that goes with it) across the web and around the world (or at least your small local part of it).
Citysearch isn’t the only review service beating Yelp! Judysbook (#2) and insiderpages(#3) each shares out to 7 other services, and yp.com (#4), mojopages (#5) match Yelp in terms of sharing out. As for review aggregators, Yellowbot.com(#20) is the best by far; importing business reviews from 16 other sites with city.com(#10), openlist(#11), andBing(#21) following with 4 inbound referral sites feeding each of their platforms. So if Yelp is sticking it to you – give the favor back by switching your attention to these other services and watch your online reviews populate across the web without them. As for Yelp – just filter them out.
Issue 3 |
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AEIOU Tips to Improve Your Job Search1 by Ronald G. Shapiro, Ph. D.
Attending to details is very important as you progress through the job search process; nonetheless details are often overlooked, perhaps because it is so difficult
to attend to them. A list of the major vowels follows with a tip for each one that should help you to be a better job candidate follows. As you prepare for a job interview please be sure that you are attending to all of the following details.
Accomplishments: Be able to recall and to describe in just a few sentences each of your previous accomplishments, and why your accomplishment was important to your employer, client and/or society. Avoid technical jargon. Avoid sounding like a job description. Practice explaining your accomplishments to someone outside of your profession (and outside of your immediate family and close friends) and working towards getting them to say Wow that was a great accomplishment! Be prepared to explain these accomplishments at all times. One never knows when one might find an interested listener (and a possible job lead)! As I’ve worked with numerous job candidates from a variety of backgrounds seeking a variety of positions (including cashiers and PhDs) I’ve found that many are not able to do this when we first meet. It takes practice to explain your accomplishments clearly, concisely, and enthusiastically. Try it right now, see how you do!
Enthusiastic: Be sure that your resume, letters, and interview show that you are really enthusiastic about the position. Show that you took initiative and learned about the business in your letter of application. Continue to convey your enthusiasm by initiating discussion and asking great questions during your interview. This discussion and the answers to your questions will also help you to decide if you want the position. Remember, the most important part of the interview is deciding whether or not you want the position.
Instructions: Be sure to follow instructions on application forms, supplying relevant information and answering questions at an interview. People often overlook important information, supply incorrect information and replace a question which they are being asked with the question they thought they were being asked.
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I demonstrate that
people often overlook important instructions and details. One of the most enthusiastic participants I’ve ever recruited is Raewyn Duvall an outstanding student who graduated from Girls Preparatory School (GPS ‘12) in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is currently a first year engineering student and theater enthusiast at Tufts University in Medford, MA. I showed Raewyn a “Happy Birthday” bandana similar to the one she is wearing in the photograph (but with a smaller pattern) and then blindfolded her with the bandana. After engaging in a friendly dialog for a few minutes I asked her to describe the bandana. Her description contained incorrect information. For example, she said the bandana contained balloons. In fact, there are no balloons on the bandana! Some other participants in this activity do not mention balloons, but if I merely ask them the color of the balloons most will tell me the colors. Furthermore, they often overlook mentioning that the “I” in the word birthday is a candle and other details. The important point to remember is with just a quick glance we will make errors so, go very slowly as you review job related materials. Do it multiple times, with a day or more in between reviews (if possible). Whenever possible, ask at least one other person to review your materials before submitting. While Raewyn remained blindfolded I placed lotion on her left hand and asked “What is on your hand?” Raewyn performed well on this question, as nearly all participants do. Participants typically report “something wet” or “lotion”. After smelling their hand they normally report “lotion”. I
then touched Raewyn’s right hand and asked her same question, “What is on your hand?” Raewyn responded as most participant respond in this task. Typically, people say “lotion” or “nothing” on the first try. On a second or third try they will typically say “nothing” or “skin” or “air”. I then placed a cloth hair scrunchie on her left hand and asked her, once again what was on her left hand and what was on her right. Raewyn correctly responded “my ring.” Some people will persist in saying “nothing” even if I remove their blindfold and have them look at their hand. If I ask people “What question did I ask you” most participants respond “What did you put on my hand?” whereas the question I asked is “What is on your hand?” Remember to attend to a question being asked. Even a slight misinterpretation of the question may cause one to answer a question incorrectly. If I ask people to describe their ring, even if they have been wearing it for years, they will probably not describe it completely correctly. For example, Raewyn said that the date on her ring was 1906, the year her school was founded. Indeed the actual date on her ring was 2012, the year she graduated, emphasizing once again, the need to check everything even if you think you know what it says. For a final activity I asked Raewyn to name everyone in front of the room. Initially, Raewyn forgot to name herself, outperforming many participants who only name themselves after receiving numerous hints, if ever. This activity illustrates the potential to overlook the obvious in answering questions.
Ourselves: Know what you are telling the world about yourself. Check your Facebook page, do internet searches on your name. Think about your physical appearance as you go for a job interview. As you describe your previous experiences remember to talk about your accomplishments and contributions, not a previous employer’s accomplishments or job responsibilities.
Uniqueness: Seek out jobs for which you are uniquely qualified (even if it is for a vacation or part time job). Be prepared to explain in a sentence or two why you are uniquely qualified or the best possible candidate for the position. Have really good ideas that could benefit small businesses and speak with the owners about your ideas. Explain how you could be a real asset to their business, generating a positive return on investment (ROI) and you might just create a job for yourself. Of course, let me know if I can be of help to you. I do offer a limited number of free telephone consultations to people who are currently graduating or unemployed seeking jobs. Email me at DrRonShapiro1981@SigmaXi.Net. *A special thanks to Raewyn Duvall for participating in these activities, consenting to have her photograph included and providing a review of this article.
Issue 3 |
29
Station Ink
An Artistic Installation
A remembrance of the victims of the Station Night Club fire by Janine Calise, Creative Director, 4Design, LLC
It all started with a vision. A simple vision of love for a brother and his wife, two highly creative people, Michael and Sandy Hoogasian. These two people were very talented individuals, both musically and visually, with a love for body art; tattoos. The vision for this exhibit was a result of their death in the Station Night Club fire, ten years ago. Paula McLaughlin, a RISD graduate and established jewelry design director was on a mission to tribute in a unique and creative way, the death of her brother and sister-in-law along with the other 98 people who had lost their lives in that tragedy. Many of those who lost loved ones were so deeply saddened; they needed to express their love and remembrance outwardly. What better way to do this than body art? A tattoo, a permanent expression of passion, commitment and love infused on your skin to be there for eternity. Paula’s brother and sister-in-law loved tattoos. Upon Michael and Sandy’s death, friends and family members had all gotten memorial tattoos honoring
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them. This concept seemed to take flight. Many of the families and friends of victims followed suit. Paula learned of more and more people using their bodies as canvasses to represent their love for those lost. They wanted to ensure that no one would forget their beloved family and friends lost in this tragedy. There were moms, dads, sisters, and brothers of all ages taking part to memorialize their loved ones. This had great impact on this very talented and intuitive designer.
Vision In processing all that was happening, Paula had a vision. Photos of art, body art; a collage of all the body art that evolved and was created to memorialize the victims in the tragedy. She started months after the tragedy to research how she could possibly bring her idea to life. Overcoming her own grief to pursue such an undertaking was overwhelming. But the emotion, intensity, and creative attributes of this project could not be discarded. It needed to be executed perfectly, and doing so, would serve to be therapeutic in nature; her creative healing so to speak.
Execution Paula commissioned photographer and friend John Pitocco to photograph the many people who proudly wear these memorial tattoos. John along with Paula interviewed each of the people photographed, learning of their individual circumstances as a result of that fire. Through the images that John created, it is evident that he not only understood the pain and emotion behind each individual, but also his talent enabled him to capture that in a very expressive and moving way. Countless hours of coordinating, contacting and photographing these people had marked the true beginnings of this vision becoming a
reality. This was it; these two creatives were both dedicated and inspired more than ever to see where this could lead. After viewing the photos, it was decided that it would be an injustice to simply hang these images on a four wall venue. They needed something more . . . They needed a venue with character; a creative flair; some place extraordinary. They wanted their audience to be engaged in an inviting exhibit that reflected rebirth, while maintaining a simplistic flow. Although the Armory in Pawtucket has never hosted any type of “museum showcase” in the past, it served to have the aura and essence that this exhibit required.
The Creative Team
Although it was a challenge to transform the space, with Visual Director, Vitar Ferreira on board nothing was impossible. The project was escalating. It was no longer just a photo exhibit of tattoos but an artistic installation; a path that leads the audience through five archways, a photo memorial garden, with a magnificent mobile signifying rebirth. It is simple, yet executed down to the most intricate detail. Hosting, dynamic photography in the most serene setting. It is beautiful, artistic and emotional.
Paula McLaughlin Jewelry Design Director/ Visionary
Fruition John Pitocco Photographer
Words cannot fully describe this installation. It needs to be seen. The heart of the project is about the people, their stories and their tattoos. A culmination of artistic minds; Paula’s passion, vision and insight, John’s photographic talents and dedication and Vitar’s unsurpassed creativity in the visual arts has developed into pure art; art that hits upon every emotion imaginable. This installation serves to be historic in nature and will be remembered by all, as will those who lost their lives in that fire, where it all began.
Vitar Ferreira Visual Artist/ Landscape Architect
Gallery Opening: Friday, February 15, 2013 7:00pm - 10:00pm Pawtucket Armory 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket, RI Gallery Hours: Saturday, February 16th, 10:00am - 4:00pm Sunday, February 17th, Noon - 6:00pm Admission is free. www.stationink.com
Issue 3 |
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advertising rates & specifications
Publisher / Editor / Designer Kimberly Sherman-Leon
Rhode Island Creative Magazine On-line Publication is reaching thousands but help RICM reach its goal of 10,000 FREE Printed Magazines to be distributed throughout RI by sponsoring or buying advertisement. Since it is a bimonthly magazine, your ad placement gets double the time span and will have more viewers! There is Web Advertising available with a “click on ad direct to website� feature, Digital Advertising for the on-line publication and the Print Advertising for the printed version. Advertising packages at special rates are also available upon request.
Lillian Ferranti
Contributing Writers
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Adam Harvey Linda A. Dionne Chris Sheehy Brian A. Alves Deana Marzocchi Maureen Stenberg Josephine Eke Ronald G. Shapiro, Ph. D. Juan Gomez Janine Calise Linda & David Buttery Libby Slader Kelly Taylor Melissa Black Joe Shansky John Diamantakos William Webb
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Sponsorship Being a sponsor, you will receive lots of recognition! Depending on the amount you sponsor, you can receive a full page ad, email marketing, web block advertisement, recognition on our sponsor page in the magazine and at any events involving the magazine. Sponsorships can start at any amount you are comfortable with. Larger the amount you sponsor the more recognition you will receive and help RICM reach its goal. What is most important is that your supporting this one-of-a-kind publication that supports the creative arts and helps promote all businesses involved in RI! If you are interested in sponsoring RI Creative Magazine, please contact us to discuss what is the best fit for you! Contact Kimberly Leon at 401-440-3911 or kim@ksdesignsri.com.
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Designer
| Rhode Island Creative Magazine
Josh Edenbaum - Photographer Katherine Gendreau - Photographer
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