Thesis Thinkin’ + Freakin’

Another week is over as I prepare to spend tomorrow in Thesis. I finished my first week at Jonathan Adler, my new Spring internship. I met Jonathan yesterday, so that was neat. He’s a really funny guy, much more so than I was expecting. For example, his ringtone is “Milkshake” by Kelis, and he kept going around the office singing, “My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.” Indeed it does. I took a look at the Spring 2011 catalog, and they make some truly beautiful things, which brings me to the photo above. I grabbed this quote from my friend Betsy’s project, A Manifesto she created last semester for Transformation Design. I asked if I could take two copies, and I framed them (see below).

I love this project because Betsy printed her personal manifesto over other people’s projects. How great is that? Visually it’s beautiful, but I really like the idea behind it. In many respects I’ve found a partner in crime in Besty, as we’ve both struggled to find our place within the program. Good, bad, and ugly, we’re in this together. The first piece is called “Principles of Approach” and the second is titled “The Rules of the Game” — in so many respects being successful in our program is about playing a game. One professor said a million times, “It’s all about how you talk about your work” … (a game). Betsy gave me some great advice over the break about being strategic during my last semester, figuring out what works for me, and moving forward. This is beginning to sound like a bad reality tv show right? There’s also a lot of good “meat” in her project when she says, “Make objects that are honest. And work honestly. Talk about your work as if you were talking to your Mom, and above all, make beautiful things.” How great is that?

What in the world does this have to do with anything? Well Jonathan Adler makes beautiful things, and I’m so impressed by the stuff they’ve produced. The man is a creative genius, and worked with talented people to have his vision realized. As I intern, when will I start contributing towards my own vision? I know I’m young, and I have to pay my dues, but I’m hungry to make my contribution to the design world. Jonathan built an empire of beautiful things, happy chic as he says, is it possible for me to do the same? I just hope one day I’ll have my moment. I’ve worked so hard to get to and through school, and this semester will perhaps challenge me more than ever before, I just hope it’s all worth it. Which brings me to thesis …

We met for the first time last week. There’s been a big mix-up with our exhibition class. Initially I was switched to a new class, but I think it’s too good to be true. Rumor has it, we’re going back to our assigned classes (no joy there). Tonight I’m writing an abstract, or a statement, that will  serve as my concrete intent for my thesis project + paper. This whole thesis business recently became shockingly real and ominous last week. It’s always been a stress in the back of my mind, but now it occupies my entire mind. I must keep reminding myself, one more unpleasant, unhealthy, and stressful semester, then I’ll (almost) have my degree!

To sum things up, I’m going to end my bitter rant, and leave you with a wonderful quote by Margret Cho that’s been on my mind all week.

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And it begins

School has officially started. My first full day of class was Tuesday, after which I got sick and spent the next two days in bed. On the bright side, I found out I GOT THE JONATHAN ADLER INTERNSHIP! I’ll be their official intern the entire Spring semester. I’m so excited. I’ll be there full-days Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Then I’ll be at Pratt full-days on Tuesday and Friday. I think this internship will be a great way to satisfy my desire and need to grow professionally whilst in school. So much of what is missing from the MFA program is real-world application for the skills and processes we’re learning about. I had a great interview on Tuesday night with Alex Gillman from Public Workshop. While researching for my joyful thesis, I came across an article he’d written about finding joy and learning from snowstorms. We talked for an hour on the importance of doing/making as a learning tool over talking and directing. He also gave me some great examples of finding joy within all these things, so I’m pretty excited.

After talking with Alex and Debbie, and my internship materializing, I’ve decided to put last semester behind me. There’s a lot about last semester that irritates me, especially the grading. After following-up with one professor, it’s clear the professors as a group averaged grades together, or tried their best to give each student one grade for all three studios. Since when does work I do in one class have anything to do with another? It drives me crazy b/c we were specifically told by the Chair of our department this wouldn’t happen. In one class, we did a group project, and I got a lower grade when I did the same amount of work. It sucks, it isn’t fair, but I’m moving on. My eye is on the prize! Graduation!!

Tonight I’m putting together my interviews and dedicating my night to thesis. I have several ideas I’m happy about, so I’m ready to go. Hopefully all will go well tomorrow and I’ll have good news to post this weekend. So until then, I’ll leave you with these last powerful words of advice.

-Kandi from Real Housewives of ATL

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The Morning After

As I talked about in yesterday’s post, I was lucky enough to meet with Debbie Millman, head of the national AIGA Chapter, Chair of the SVA Branding Program, VP at Sterling Brands, and host of the Design Matters podcasts on DesignObserver.com — the lady has quite the resume, to say the least. I met Debbie in her office at SVA, and we spent an hour and a half discussing her career, books, my thesis, the subject of joy, and she critiqued my portfolio. Turns out we both took the Milton Glaser Summer Program, which explains our love for Milton Glaser.

Some of the meeting was a bit painful. It’s always hard to give someone your portfolio, and let them have their way with it. I’m so glad I did because I needed someone with NO connection to my work and projects to give me 100% objective feedback. Debbie flipped through my entire portfolio, then literally took the book apart, rearranged and cut out pieces, and when we were done, I had a sleek, narrowed-down, simple portfolio. While she was cutting, pasting, and rearranging, she said, “You’re going to love this when I’m done.” I didn’t love it when I was in her office, but the next morning, when I made the changes, it all made perfect sense.

Some tips:

1. Never put a piece in your portfolio just to show you can do something.
2. Don’t put work in your porfolio just to say you worked somewhere.
3. A good portfolio is your 6-7 strongest pieces.
4. Start and finish with your strongest pieces.
5. LESS IS MORE.

The last project I showed Debbie was the Visual Landmark postcards I did in type II, that I never really knew what to do with them. They’re not in a book, not on my website, they’ve just in a ziplock bag sitting around. My studio mate suggested I use them as leave-behinds on interviews, doubling as a thank you note. Debbie looked through my collection and she picked out her favorite, which I signed for her. In return, she gave me the piece at the top of this post! I now have a Debbie Millman original for my studio.

On the internship front, the interview at Jonathan Adler went a-mazing I think. I’m not going to jinx anything, but I feel really good about it. I was also able to move my schedule around to work more days. If all works out, I’ll be at JA Monday, Wednesday, and Thursdays. On Tuesday & Friday, I will be in class literally all-day. In what time I’ll complete my thesis … I have no idea. I’m just so happy things are falling into place. I didn’t think I’d be able to do it all, but if this internship works out, I just might.

Totally unrelated, but my studio mate showed me this today, CUTEST thing I’ve ever seen. I dare you to disagree.

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New Moves, New Year

Above is my finished poster for my 10 Things in 2010 project. I met with one of my thesis teachers yesterday and was encouraged to keep going in this direction. Finally, someone see’s my work has meaning and thought! The next poster I want to finish will be 11 Things to do in 2011, and we’ll see at the end of the year what I ended up accomplishing. I’m hoping they’ll be some great unexpected things, as there was in 2010! Here’s hoping …

I have lots of exciting news this week, and if everything pans out, I’ll be super excited for my luck in the new year. Tonight, I have a hot date with Debbie Millman, author of Look Both Ways, the book I’m always talking about. After meeting her in November, we’re finally sitting down and talking. I’m so excited! It also makes me happy b/c my “oh so positive” thesis teacher said I’d never get a meeting with her, I proved her wrong! Take that.

Also in exciting news, I have an interview for a design internship at Jonathan Adler! But there’s the catch, as of today. The Pratt MFA schedule online isn’t correct, so I had this great plan of using my two “full” days off (which actually don’t exist) to work there. Turns out a class I thought was at night, meets during the day. Now I’m going to have to create some really messed up schedule based around having class pretty much everyday. I have no idea if they’ll be open to that, but I really hope they take a chance on me. It just makes me angry b/c this is my last shot to do this (I can’t do the summer b/c i’ll also be busy b/c of … you guessed it, PRATT!) and I refuse to do an unpaid internship after I’m done. It’s not even so much that I refuse, but financially, there’s no way I can make that work in the Fall. I think Jonathan Alder would be a great warm up for this summer when I study pattern and textile design in Copenhagen. I’ve always loved his brand, style, and products, and I feel this could be a good fit. I’m just praying school doesn’t come in the way … yet again. Will keep you posted.

I seem to be on solid ground (finally) for thesis, might have a new internship, and meeting one of design crushes tonight … 2011 is off to a good start indeed.

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New Job at DVF!

As many of you know, last week I started interning at Diane von Furstenburg as their Graphic Design Intern. Last week was Fashion Week, so things were pretty crazy. As of now, I’m just coming in two days a week to help with odds and ends, but later in March I’m hoping to come in just about everyday. The DVF studio is an amazing space, and I wanted to share some of the photos.  Art is everywhere, lots of Warhols, fashion photos, pink accent walls, and crystals or mirros on the ceiling and some of the walls. Enjoy the pictures!

The DVF store and Studio on W 14th Street in NYC.

View of 2nd and 3rd floors (my floor!). Notice Diane’s pattern on the seating.

The beautiful stairs!

Diane’s office, I hope to be there day.

View of the roof.

This is where I hangout for the time being.

More photos can be found here.

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