TananTV - Episode #7 Live from AILV

Tanan, dude your so.....going places! Love it!

Testing an Andriod Phone App

This is a test post :)

Testing an Andriod Phone App

This is a test post :)

Ways to Find Design Inspiration

Creative thinking is an essential part of design workflow. Whatever sketch you are working on, at some point you find yourself in the situation where you simply need some fresh ideas to find your path around the creativity block. Going away may help. Listening to the music may help. But particularly the works of the famous graphic artists may help. In fact, studying them very closely, you can not only explore new ideas, but also learn the smallest details – they form the profound foundation of every masterpiece.

If you do a lot of design work, facing designer’s block on occasion can be very common. Much like writers hit walls, it’s not always easy for designers to be creative on command.

You probably have a routine you follow to get into the groove when you’re starting a new design. But if you get stuck, here are 11 ways to restart your stalled creativity:

1. Look at Past Work

Go back through your files and explore the progression of other designs from start to finish. It can be helpful to see the big picture, especially one that was a success.

2. Sleep On It

Obviously, not an option if you’ve waited until the 11th hour, but if you have time, go to bed and revisit the design in the morning.

3. Doodle

Even if you’re not an illustrator, doodling rough ideas can spur some possibilities. Sketching a layout idea, playing with shapes or even more abstract doodles can inspire you.

4. Take a Nap

I have woke up from naps with some awesome ideas, but I di have to quickly write them down before I forget them. I guess it’s linda like remembering a dream. Hey, it works for me

5. Work Out

If you’re an exerciser, going for a run or even doing some stretching can get your adrenaline and your imagination going.

6. Play Some Tunes

Listening to a few favorites can get you fired up and push you over the design plateau.

7. Browse

Sometimes there’s no better way to get inspired than by looking at other great designs. One of my favorite inspirational sites is Smashing Magazine.

8. Shut Down

Get away from the computer and give it a break. Not consciously thinking about the design may be exactly what you need to conceptualize a new idea.

9. Give Up Perfection

It’s natural to want to hit the target with the initial mockup. But how often is the first round the final? Try going for a few rough possibilities instead of one aiming-for-perfect idea.

10. Read a Magazine

This is Rob Anderson’s – Revel Studios trick of the trade, and it obviously works for him! Any magazine will work…check out the typography, ads and the layout for ideas. I.D., Fast Company, and People are a few of my favorites.

11. Have a Brain Dump

Open a blank document or grab a notepad and start typing/writing. Put down anything and everything in your head, whether it relates to the design or not. This can clear your mind of thoughts that are preventing you from focusing and potentially give you ideas you can use as you work.

So, what’s your magic cure for designer’s block?

Don't Follow Trends - Set Them!

• Your website represents your brand. New visitors will form a first impression of your service or product within seconds of arriving at your website, and the visuals, layout and aesthetic will play a large role in shaping that impression. Sure, your website may be very usable and have great content, but it’s the aesthetic that will evoke feeling, and it’s the aesthetic that will be used to judge the quality of your website in those first few seconds before the visitor has had time to browse around.

• Use this to your advantage and fashion a unique style that will set your website apart from the rest — a style that will impress and delight your users.

• Throughout history, great artists always found new ways to express themselves and create new techniques to set their work apart from the rest. Think about the styles of Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Jackson Pollock. Think about the different movements of art, from Impressionism and Expressionism to Surrealism and Minimalism. These styles couldn’t be more different from each other — and that’s the point. The artists’ names live on because their art is unique.

• Do you want to simply follow the latest design trends and create a website that works well but looks just like many other websites out there? Following trends won’t set you apart from the rest; it won’t help your work make a strong impression. To make something memorable, you’ll need an element of creativity and novelty.

• Unlike certain other forms of art, such as painting and sculpture, Web design is very limited in its expression because more often than not your website has to serve a very specific function and achieve certain goals. Successful designs are influenced and driven by those goals. There is, however, still room to develop your own unique style and aesthetic. Doing so will help you stand out from the competition and allow you to develop a strong identity.

www.2SixStudios.com | A Success Story After All

www.2sixstudios.com

New "IMD225" Motivated and Inspired Many!

IMD225 = Design and Interface for Interactive Media, has added some balance to the Interactive Media Design (IMD) major here at the AILV. It is exactly what was needed to get our developers to dabble in some design. What powerful tools, to be a developer (coding) and a designer (think outside the sandbox) all in the same mind and body! Balance is Elegance :)

UCD Client - Minnie Rodriguez

Minnie’s portfolio website is based on a single page portfolio concept and includes about, portfolio and contact sections. We have into consideration the user, and in this case will be professionals in search of professional services. We will have the critical information available all in one location, one clean, organized page.

I am currently in the process of writing the code for this website, when finished I will update this post with a link to the working site.


Click on the below image to view
a larger version in a new window.

Respectfully,
Lynn Schafer

"Mac vs PC" Created by Art Institute students!!!

All I can say is "WOW"!

This animation was created by Dan Chianelli and Nick Greenlee as a visual effects and animation piece. It got my attention not only for its overall quality, but because they attended Art Institute schools. Any Art Institute student will recognize the student bureau (in the beginning) and the paint job in the halls and rooms.

This piece is outstanding, its professionally filmed, the story has a nice hook at the beginning and once the animation kicks in, you'll find great examples of animation, compositing and lighting. Overall...seamless and well done! Check it out, it'll be worth the 5 minutes.

Makes me proud to be a student at one of the "Art Institutes" (AILV here).

Money is Magnetic Energy!

The Secret

• Money is magnetic energy. You are a magnet attracting to you all things, via the signal you are emitting through your thoughts and feelings.
• To become a powerful money magnet:
• Be clear about the amount of money you want to receive. State it and intend it! Don't think about how much you can earn, but how much you want to receive.
• Fall in love with money. Most people do not love money, because they always feel that they don't have enough of it.
• Visualize and imagine yourself spending all the money you want, as though you have it already.
• Speak, act, and think from the mindset of being wealthy now. Eliminate thoughts and words of lack such as "I can't afford it", "It is too expensive".
• Do not speak or think of the lack of money for a single second.
• Be grateful for the money you have. Appreciate it as you touch it.
• Make lists of all the things you will buy with an abundance of money.
• Do whatever it takes for you to feel wealthy.
• Affirm to yourself every day that you have an abundance of money, and that it comes to you effortlessly.
• Appreciate all the riches around you, including the riches of others. Look for wealth wherever you go, and appreciate it.
• Be certain that money is coming to you.
• Love yourself and know that you are deserving and worthy of an abundance of money.
• Remind yourself everyday that you are a money magnet, and ask yourself often during the day, am I attracting money now or pushing it away with my thoughts?
• Always, always pay yourself first from your wage, then pay your creditors. In that single act, you are telling the Universe that you are worthy and deserving of more.
• Repeat over and over every day, "I am a money magnet and money comes to me effortlessly and easily."
• Write out a check to yourself for the sum of money you would like to have and carry it in your wallet. Look at it often.
• Do whatever it takes to feel good. The emotions of joy and happiness are powerful money magnets. Be happy now!
• Love yourself!
  

Wealth is a mindset. Money is literally attracted to you or repelled from you.

It's all about how you think.


The Secret to Riches

The "Deliverance" of Compelling Content

• "Any product, service or content that achieves “compelling” does this through significant and unique added value. They go way beyond mere useful. There is something crucially valuable that can not be achieved any other way." (chrisg.com/becoming-compelling/)
• This is why I feel that the "deliverance" part, of the compelling content is so important. Have you ever attempted to deliver "compelling content" that you personally, didn't feel the "compelling" part? If so, then you know it doesn't work.
• For example, back in high school, maybe in an English class; remember being forced to write about something you absolutely had no interest in, no less any experience having to do with the topic? Then you expected to present yourself, and the information on your topic in a compelling manner, in front of class. All you had to do was "Wow" them? Piece of cake huh? NOT!
• It doesn't work. It will never work, not back in high school, not in collage, careers, relationships, politics, etc. People will just know if someone is, well - to be blunt "full of shit", "being forced", or what ever the case maybe. All you can do is "give it your best", and either pass the class, hope to find another job, end the relationship, and so on.
• It is in my personal opinion, that I feel that each and everyone of us, in every moment, do give our best- 100%! We do the best we can, the best we know how to be, in every moment of our lives. Now, your best may not be what others want from you, but ya know what? That's their problem.

"If you stand in your integrity, and speak your truth - your content will always be compelling. It will be you that has that effect on people around you." - LS (me)

...Become A Magnet To Your Desires...

The universal principle called Law of Attraction says what you focus your thoughts energy and attention on is what you get more of in your life.

When you release the beliefs, fears or patterns that are standing in the way of aligning with what you want, you naturally become a magnet to your desires.

Website Template Designs

Experience Design

Customers seek beautiful everyday experiences. To be moved. To grow. Laugh. Cry. Discover. Move beyond their basic needs. Surprise them — maybe throw in a bit of suspense. Everyone’s talking about it, but few are executing on it. Experience Design. The orchestration of behavioral, sensory and reminiscent needs; to inspire, educate, involve and entertain. The right combination creates insane loyalty. http://www.ziba.com/