Thursday, August 21, 2025

Questions from You

 Resources 

  1. https://www.playbook.com/blog/graphic-designer-interview-questions-to-ask-employer
  2. https://aquent.com/blog/top-10-must-ask-design-interview-questions
  3. https://www.tealhq.com/interview-questions/graphic-designer
  4. https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies
  5. https://www.thecut.com/article/questions-to-ask-in-a-job-interview.html

10 Questions I would ask 

  1. What kinds of design projects or initiatives is the team working on currently or planning soon?
  2. What tools, software, and design resources are provided or expected?
  3. How does the creative process work here from concept to final delivery?
  4. How is feedback handled? Who gives it, and how are revisions managed?
  5. What are the biggest design challenges the team is facing, and how might a new designer (like me) contribute?
  6. Could you share a recent project that was particularly successful and the design team’s role in that success?
  7. How does the company sustain growth in designers like training, trend-awareness, new technologies?
  8. What are the most important qualities you look for to differentiate between good and great performance in this role?
  9. What does success in this position look like after six months?
  10. How would you describe the design team’s culture collaboration, workflow, communication?

Questions for you

 Resources 

  1. https://www.shillingtoneducation.com/blog/15-common-graphic-design-interview-questions-and-answers
  2. https://www.homerun.co/interview-questions-templates/graphic-designer
  3. https://brainstation.io/career-guides/graphic-designer-interview-questions
  4. https://wowremoteteams.com/blog/graphic-designer-interview-questions
  5. https://www.hipeople.io/interview-questions/graphic-design-interview-questions
Possible Questions I might be asked 
  1. Tell us about yourself.
  2. Let’s look through your portfolio! Tell me about a design project you're proud of and walk us through your process.
  3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  4. What is the latest design campaign you've seen, and what do you like or not like about it?
  5. Where do you get design inspiration from?
  6. Do you prefer to work as part of a team or solo?
  7. How do you handle negative feedback or constructive criticism?
  8. Describe a situation in which you found a creative way to overcome an obstacle.
  9. How do you handle unexpected design changes or last-minute client requests?
  10. Can you share an example of a design project that did not go as planned?
  11. What do you think makes a design successful or memorable?
  12. How do you balance creative freedom with the practical needs of a project?
  13. Imagine you're given a design task with minimal direction. How would you proceed?
  14. What is the difference between RGB and CMYK, and when would you use each?
  15. How do you optimize images for web use without sacrificing quality?
  16. How do you ensure your designs align with a brand’s identity and guidelines?
  17. Walk me through your process for creating a new design from scratch.
  18. What do you do when you hit a creative block?
  19. Why did you choose graphic design as a profession?
  20. What makes you stand out from other graphic designers?

Creativity Week 4

 For this week's creative challenge, I did an exercise that had to do with creating a logo mainly with your initials. Creating logos is important because they serve as the visual identity of a brand. A logo is often the first thing people associate with a company, and it can leave a lasting impression. 


Brand Recognition

 A strong logo helps customers easily identify a brand. It acts as a symbol that represents everything the company stands for its values, mission, and personality. A strong logo signals that a business is established and serious about its presence in the market. It can help elevate a brand’s credibility and reputation.


My Brand

This logo communicates the idea of “Design Era,” which suggests a modern and forward-thinking brand. The mix of classic and contemporary fonts gives the impression of balancing tradition with innovation. The diagonal slashes add energy and make the design feel bold and dynamic, while the teal background creates a calm and professional tone. 




Sell Yourself

Read/watch a minimum of 5 resources about writing an effective resume.

1 - Provide links to the resources you used.

2 - List 10 things you learned about writing effective resumes.



Resources

  1. https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/create-a-strong-resume
  2. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/10-resume-writing-tips
  3. https://careers.umbc.edu/students/documents/resumes/dos-and-donts
  4. https://www.businessinsider.com/recruiter-who-has-written-over-700-resumes-best-advice-2025-7
  5. https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/findajob/resources/write-good-resume
10 Things to Takeaway From

  1. Customize your resume for each job match keywords and focus on relevant experience and skills.
  2. Replace generic terms with strong action verbs and quantified results.
  3. Include numbers percentage improvements, dollar figures, project impact to showcase real outcomes.
  4. Use simple fonts (Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri), consistent formatting, and balanced white space.
  5. Ensure correct contact info, grammar, spelling, and readability proofread multiple times.
  6. At the top, add a brief summary of your years of experience, roles, and scope (e.g., team size or company revenue) to frame your expertise.
  7. Add a line describing each employer (product/service, size, scale) so recruiters understand the environment you worked in. 
  8. Avoid vague descriptors like “hard-working” or “team player.” Illustrate these traits with concrete results. 
  9. One page is fine for new grads  2–3 pages work for experienced professionals or specialized roles just stay focused. 
  10. Volunteer work, projects, or extracurriculars can be powerful especially early-career or career-changers. 

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Introduce yourself

Resources

  1. https://hbr.org/2022/05/how-to-write-a-cover-letter-that-sounds-like-you-and-gets-noticed
  2. https://capd.mit.edu/resources/how-to-write-an-effective-cover-letter/
  3. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/how-to-write-a-cover-letter
  4. https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/career/resources/marketing-materials/cover-letter
  5. https://www.theguardian.com/careers/2017/sep/25/how-to-write-cover-letter-perfect-pitch


Things Learned 


  1. Customize every letter avoid generic templates. Show you’ve researched the company and role.
  2. Use the hiring manager’s name; if unknown, “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable.
  3. Use concise, well-structured writing (about 300–400 words). One single-spaced page is ideal.
  4. Stick with common fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, sized 10–12 points; maintain clean margins.
  5. Begin with a compelling statement that names the position and conveys enthusiasm immediately.
  6. Use specific stories or metrics to illustrate how you added value don’t just list responsibilities.
  7. Keep paragraphs short, avoid unnecessary jargon, and make the letter easy to read.
  8. Let your authentic voice shine through, especially for creative or less formal roles.
  9. Typos or errors can derail effectiveness always read aloud, review carefully, or get feedback.
  10. Reiterate interest, thank the reader, and signal your readiness for follow-up. 

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Project 4

Target Audience 

The primary audience for this poster is veterans and their families in the Orlando area who seek care and support from the VA.

Message 

The central message is rooted in the VA's mission.  "To serve the Veteran who served us". 

Goal 

The goal of this design is to build trust and emotional connection with veterans, while also reinforcing the Orlando VA Medical Center’s identity as a supportive and dependable healthcare provider. The poster is meant to comfort veterans who may feel hesitant about seeking help, encouraging them to take the step toward accessing care.

Design Decision 

Color - Blue and White with VA Branding. Blue represents trust, loyalty, and professionalism, all essential qualities in healthcare.

Typography- A bold, modern sans serif font ensures clarity and impact. It reflects strength while remaining approachable, allowing the words to carry emotional weight without being intimidating.



Imagery- Smiling health care professional.  The warm smile conveys reassurance and compassion, reminding veterans that the VA staff is there to support them personally.



Tagline- “To serve the Veteran who served us.” Using the official mission statement as the tagline ties the design directly to the VA’s values.

Layout- The tagline takes center stage so that the message is immediately absorbed. 

Placement of logo- Keeping the VA logo clean and visible so that it ensures credibility and brand recognition, while allowing the tagline to remain the hero of the design. 




 

Project 3

 

AdventHealth Poster Design

The primary audience for this poster is current and potential patients in the AdventHealth service area, including individuals seeking trustworthy, compassionate healthcare. The message is clear and direct: “We’re here for you.” This simple phrase is meant to communicate reliability, compassion, and availability the core values of the AdventHealth brand. It’s an assurance that patients are not alone in their healthcare journey. The goal is to reinforce brand trust and patient confidence while also visually aligning with AdventHealth’s established brand identity. By showcasing a warm, approachable healthcare professional and clean design, the piece aims to create an emotional connection and leave a lasting impression of comfort and professionalism.

Design Decisions and Rationale Color choice, AdventHealth Blue & White  Blue is strongly associated with trust, calmness, and professionalism, making it perfect for a healthcare setting. Using the AdventHealth brand colors ensures visual consistency with their existing marketing materials.

  1. Typography choice Bold Sans Serif 

    • A clean, sans-serif font conveys clarity and modernity. The bold type makes it immediately readable from a distance.

  2. Imagery Smiling female Healthcare Professional

    • A friendly, approachable person in scrubs with a stethoscope humanizes the brand and puts a face to healthcare.




Questions from You

  Resources   https://www.playbook.com/blog/graphic-designer-interview-questions-to-ask-employer https://aquent.com/blog/top-10-must-ask-des...