Tesla Smart Goals

 

Tesla SWOT Analysis

 

Week 1 Design

 What Is SWOT Analysis

​​SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool used by businesses and organizations to assess their internal and external environments in order to make informed decisions. The acronym "SWOT" stands for:

1. Strengths

2. Weaknesses

3. Opportunities

4. Threats

By analyzing these four aspects, a SWOT analysis helps businesses identify their key advantages, areas for improvement, potential opportunities for growth, and external threats they may face. This analysis can be applied to the organization as a whole, or to specific projects, products, or departments.

How to Write a SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis involves making lists – but so much more, too! When you begin to write one list (say, Strengths), the thought process and research that you'll go through will prompt ideas for the other lists (Weaknesses, Opportunities or Threats). And if you compare these lists side by side, you will likely notice connections and contradictions, which you'll want to highlight and explore. You'll find yourself moving back and forth between your lists frequently. So, make the task easier and more effective by arranging your four lists together in one view. 

Why do businesses use Swot analysis

Businesses use SWOT analysis for several reasons, as it provides valuable insights that help guide decision-making, improve strategic planning, and enhance organizational performance. Some reasons like Identifying Strengths, recognizing weaknesses, opportunities for growth. SWOT helps businesses identify their key strengths, such as core competencies, unique selling propositions, or strong brand equity. Understanding these strengths enables a company to leverage them in its strategy, which can lead to a competitive advantage.It highlights areas where the company is underperforming or lacks resources, allowing management to develop strategies to address these weaknesses. 

Company Information

Tesla, Inc 

Tesla, Inc is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company, best known for its innovative electric cars, solar energy products, and energy storage solutions. Founded in 2003 by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, Tesla was later led by Elon Musk, who became the company's largest shareholder and CEO in 2004. Under Musk’s leadership, Tesla has become one of the most influential companies in the automotive and renewable energy sectors. Tesla's main line of business would have to include electric cars. That in fact is the main reason Tesla is most famous for its range of electric vehicles. Known best for their high performance, cutting edge technology, and long range all on an electric battery. Currency offers a range of vehicles including Models S, 3, X, Y, the cybertruck and soon the New Tesla Roadster. 

Tesla is also known for its Autonomous Driving Technology being the leader of the self-driving technology and autonomous driving through its autopilot and Full Self-Driving features. Tesla is also greatly known for its Energy Products that bring energy solutions through its Tesla energy division. Some products include Solar Panels for both home and businesses. Also the solar roof is different from solar panels. This product integrates solar cells directly onto the roof tiles, which allows the homeowner to generate electricity while still maintaining a traditional roof aesthetic. Also the Powerwall, Powerpack and Megapack are battery systems that help store energy from solar panels or grid for use when demand is either high or perhaps power outages.  

 

Photoshop Magazine

 

Blog Post 4 Creativity

 In this week's Creative Blog I wanted to share an exercise I read about in a book from class called Caffeine for the Creative Mind by (Stefan Mumaw and Wendy Lee Oldfield). The creative exercise was called Dude, Feel Free to pop a Mint! In this exercise I was tasked with taking pictures of ten things that cause bad breath. 

Understand that bad breath is an unpleasant odor that comes from the mouth. This can happen for a number of reasons, some being poor oral hygiene, not brushing or flossing properly can lead to food particles and bacteria in the mouth, which can cause bad breath. But some things or habits a person has can also contribute to bad breath like smoking and tobacco use, certain foods like garlic, onions, and coffee. Or even infections of the mouth like cavities, mouth sores, or other infections can lead to bad breath as bacteria grow in the mouth.

Smoking and chewing tobacco contribute to bad breath and can also cause gum disease, further exacerbating the problem. The chemicals in tobacco smoke, such as nicotine and tar, have a strong odor that lingers in the mouth, throat, and lungs. These chemicals not only contribute to bad breath but can also stick to the teeth, gums, and tongue, creating a persistent odor. Smoking is a major risk factor for gum disease. Gum disease occurs when bacteria build up in the mouth, causing inflammation, infection, and bad breath. Smokers are more likely to have gum disease, which can lead to chronic bad breath. 

Certain foods can cause bad breath because of the way they are digested and how their compounds are released in the body. Garlic contains sulfur compounds like allicin, which release a strong odor when broken down in the stomach. These compounds enter the bloodstream and are expelled through the lungs, leading to bad breath. Onions are similar to garlic, onions contain sulfur compounds that create strong odors when digested and are released through the breath. 

Blog Post 4 Design

    In this week's Design Blog I wanted to share what I learned this week. This week I was working on a group project and motivational poster. Romero Britto is a Brazilian-born artist known for his distinctive style that blends elements of pop art, cubism, and graffiti. His work is characterized by bold, vibrant colors, geometric patterns, and a sense of optimism and playfulness. Britto's art often features happy, whimsical figures, including abstract shapes, hearts, and animals, conveying a sense of joy and positivity. I took some of Romero Britto's ideas and introduced my own little spin on my piece that includes a fictional animal character but also conveys a positive and joyful time in my life as a child growing up in america. 

    I first had issues creating patterns on photoshop one being visible seams. If the edges of your pattern tiles aren't properly aligned or if the design isn't symmetrical, visible lines or seams can appear where the pattern repeats. Another being inconsistent scaling, sometimes, patterns may not scale well or appear blurry when resized, especially if the pattern is too detailed or small. The color distortion also had me stuck for a while too till I could figure out how and where to place each pattern with their respectable color.The colors in the pattern may look fine in the original design but shift or distort when used as a repeating pattern. 

    What was a huge help and significantly enhanced my workflow, creativity, and efficiency. Was creating a custom brush for the specific pattern I was looking to use. Because once you create a custom brush, you can easily use it for repetitive tasks without having to redo them each time. For example, you can design textures, patterns, or any effect and apply it with a single click. Also the time you save creating custom brushes allow you to automate certain elements of your design. Instead of manually drawing textures or details, you can apply them instantly with a brush stroke, saving valuable time.

    I really enjoyed this project because I decided to create a Britto design on a character of a movie I loved to watch as a child and wanted this project to have some sense of emotional and sentimental value to me. This piece reminds me of my childhood as a time when life was simpler. There were fewer responsibilities, worries, or complex decisions. I am sure many people can agree that people miss the innocence and carefree nature of those early years, when the world seemed full of wonder and discovery. 

Motivational Poster

 

Blog post 3 Creativty

     In this week's Creative Blog I wanted to share an exercise I read about in a book from class called Caffeine for the Creative Mind by (Stefan Mumaw and Wendy Lee Oldfield). The creative exercise was called The Love Bug Returns! It talks about how the Volkswagen bug has been around since 1934, providing an inexpensive compact vehicle for the everyday driver. In 1998, Volkswagen re-introduced the bug with an update, marketing heavy look to object to an all new generation of VW lovers. Over the years, people have customized their bugs, both exterior and interior, and have created some memorable vehicles. My task today was to paint or redesign the exterior of a VW Bug to convey the characteristics of one of the following words pain, irreverence, confused, athletic or bored. 

    People love Volkswagen Bugs (or Beetles) for a variety of reasons, both practical and emotional. Many love it for its distinctive shape, the Beetle's round, curvy design is instantly recognizable and has a timeless charm. Its unique "bug" shape makes it stand out from other cars, and it has become an icon of the automotive world. Some even love it for its cultural significance the Volkswagen Beetle became an emblem of the free-spirited, anti-establishment vibe of the 1960s. It was embraced by young people, artists, and musicians as a symbol of independence and rebellion.

    The Volkswagen Bug was both affordable and practical when first introduced, the Beetle was an affordable car that made owning a vehicle accessible to a wide range of people. Its low production cost and simple design kept prices down. Also best known for its durability. The air-cooled engine and simple mechanics made it easy to maintain and repair, especially for the DIY enthusiast. The Volkswagon bug is still used and known today as one of the most fuel efficient cars back then. The small engine made the Beetle relatively fuel-efficient, which was appealing during times of oil shortages or high gas prices.

    People still love the car today because after all the years it has endless modifications thus giving it customization potential. The Beetle has a huge aftermarket parts industry, meaning owners can customize their cars in countless ways. From paint jobs to custom engines to lowered suspensions, the possibilities for personalization are virtually limitless. I think this car is great for new drivers because of its compact size. The small, nimble size of the Beetle makes it ideal for city driving and parking. It’s easy to maneuver, which can be a big plus in crowded urban areas. Volkswagen Beetle resonates with people for its distinctive style, rich cultural history, reliability, and the sense of fun it offers. The Beetle has captured the hearts of millions around the world.

Blog Post 3 Design

    In this week's Design Blog I wanted to share what I learned this week. This week I was working on a holiday ad for my local community. To do this I had to develop my own background for my ad and I had to learn how to take an image I found online, somewhat like a clipart image outline and turn it into something I could use. 

    The first issue I ran into was how to select the outline of the image without selecting the image that filled the inside of the image. So what I learned to do was to 

• select the image or layer I was to work on 

• Then at the top left click on the select option 

• Click color range

• Once the color range option is selected a window will pop up 

• Take the eyedropper tool and select the area or in this case the outline color you want selected in my case the black outline of the snowman I wanted to use 

• Adjust your Fuzziness to your desired setting

• Click OK

• Next press CMD Shift I (on Mac) to Inverse your Selection or on the top left click on the select option then the inverse selection to do the same 

• Last press delete to get rid of everything but the outline of the image selected 

    This helped me out a lot on this project because I was having so much issue with the other selection tools in photoshop when it came to trying to select an outline of an image. The next thing I also did was take the outline image I just created and made it into a paintbrush. When you make your own brushes, you can craft a texture, stroke, or shape that matches your personal style or artistic vision. Whether you're creating a specific pattern, texture, or effect, it allows you to put your own stamp on your work, which is particularly useful for digital artists or designers aiming for a unique look. 

In order to create any image/layer or in my case an outline image on photoshop the following steps will help tremendously

• Select the layer or image 

• Select Edit on the top left 

• On the dropdown click on Define Brush Preset    

• Rename your brush you want to create to your desired name 

• Last select ok 

    Now you should have your image selected as a brush to personalize your brush go to the brush setting and you will be able to adjust the brush spacing, angle, size, ect….

    Custom brushes can be used to streamline workflows, especially if you're often creating similar textures, patterns, or strokes. For example, you can create a brush that mimics the effect of fur, paint splatters, foliage, or even abstract marks, saving time compared to manually creating these effects from scratch each time. Efficiency with custom brushes, you don’t have to draw or repeat certain strokes manually, which can be time-consuming. Once you create a brush, it’s always available for quick application, helping you work faster.

Holiday Ad

     For this week's project I was tasked with developing a holiday ad, I decided to do an ad on a local Christmas Parade that will take place the first weekend of December in Haines City. The audience I hope to attract may include Families with Children. Many parents bring their kids to enjoy the festive floats, marching bands, holiday themed performances, and the chance to see Santa Claus. This is one of the largest groups, as children love the colorful, fun atmosphere. Local Community Members people from the town or city where the parade is held, including neighbors, friends, and schoolmates. It's a chance for people to come together and celebrate the holiday spirit. Holiday Enthusiasts people who simply love the Christmas season and the traditional festivities. This group includes those who enjoy holiday music, decorations, and all things related to the season.   2000pi x 2000pi Tourists may attend Christmas parades to experience the local holiday traditions and the special events held in various places.

    People attend Christmas parades for a variety of reasons, often tied to tradition, celebration, and the festive atmosphere that surrounds the holiday season. I feel that my design would bring in alot of attention and attendees because at the end of the day who wouldn't like to go out and enjoy a free holiday parade where the atmosphere is typically warm and family-friendly, making it an event that appeals to people of all ages, from toddlers to seniors. People come for the festive entertainment, the shared sense of community, and the seasonal cheer! What better way to show holiday spirit than attending a Christmas parade as a vibrant expression of holiday cheer. The decorations, lights, music, and costumes all contribute to a magical atmosphere that helps people get into the holiday spirit. It’s a time to enjoy the decorations, the sense of community, and the excitement that comes with the season.

8.5 in x 11 in

    Some families even make events like this a family tradition, many families have made attending Christmas parades a regular part of their holiday tradition. It can be a way to create memories with children, as they watch floats, characters, and performers together. For some families, it's something they look forward to every year. If not, the entertainment should definitely catch your eye. Christmas parades often feature fun floats, marching bands, entertainers, and even famous characters. For many, it’s an exciting show that includes everything from music and dancing to themed performances. It's an event that provides entertainment for all ages. Finally, what makes a great Christmas parade is the appearance of Santa Claus. One of the main draws of Christmas parades is the appearance of Santa Claus. Children love seeing Santa at the end of the parade, marking the beginning of the holiday season. Other beloved characters, like elves or reindeer, may also make an appearance, adding to the fun.

8.5 in x 5.5 in

Designing emotion

 For this  week's project I was tasked with combining images and colors to show emotion. Based on a particular song to promote a record label's emotional impact on that song while still using a combination of text and image to reflect on the feeling of that song. In the image I designed I feel that there is vast amounts of emotion in the story  told in this photo. I also wanted to give a gloomy and sad feeling of oppression and decided on the red color for two reasons one for anger and outrage and the other was for the color of the Chinese flag because in fact that is where the incident for this song took place.  

The first challenge I ran into during this project was which song I wanted to decide on doing my project on. On that note being the person that I am and what music interests me did not help at all. Because I am interested in all types of music and genres. But it also made me think that the song that I wanted to choose had to have some type of relevance to emotion or impact on both myself and or the world. So what helped me out on choosing the song I wanted to do my project on was maybe the music i listened to lately or have always turned to listening to and one of my favorite bands that I could never get tired of no matter how many times I listen to there music was “SYSTEM Of A Down”. The target audience for this could be fans of System of a Down and or young adults who are into music of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Alternative metal fans or even fans of Complex and Experimental Music System of a Down’s music is known for its unique and unpredictable structure. They use complex time signatures, sudden shifts in tone, and an eclectic mix of influences, making them appealing to fans of avant-garde and progressive music. Although in my project my goal was to reach out to more of their political activists and social justice advocates. System of a Down’s lyrics often contain strong political and social commentary, addressing topics like war, corruption, inequality, and human rights. This has drawn a large group of fans who are passionate about activism and social change. Because of this I thought that they would be a great example in this week's project. 

Now the song I thought would be great for this project was called “Hypnotized”. I choose this song because a lot of the topics that are discussed in this song are somewhat still relevant even till today. Even though this song was written around the George W. Bush era. And a lot of things that were taking place are still taking place now so it makes sense why this song in its message is still relevant. It touches up on subjects, such as protesting the realities of protesting in your community and the world as a whole. It also touches upon propaganda, and the way propaganda is created and distributed out to the masses. I like this song because in a way it has you thinking to yourself are you going to be a part of the problem or are you gonna be a part of the solution in the community, in the world and actually see through the change that you want to see happen in the world. Now the song is mainly about the Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989 in China. “On 4 June 1989, Chinese troops opened fire on students and workers who had been peacefully protesting for political reforms in and around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Hundreds – possibly thousands – of people were killed, including children and older persons. Tens of thousands more were arrested across China in the suppression that followed”. The Chinese authorities failed to persuade the demonstrators to return home. As tensions escalated in Beijing, martial law was declared on 20 May 1989. On the night of 3 June 1989, heavily armed troops and hundreds of armored vehicles moved into the city center to ‘clear’ the pro-democracy demonstrators from Tiananmen Square. 

The reality is that when you’re fighting for change in your community, in the world, things are going to be difficult. It’s going be a long process. It’s gonna be frustrating and it’s not all about the glory. This idea made me think, do you think that these people were doing this because they thought it was fun because they thought it was fashionable because they thought it was cool to go and fight? No, these people fought against the government because they felt oppressed and wanted to fight for their rights. I think this right here for me is easily the most relevant today because we see things like this happen all the time. In the lyrics “They disguise it, they hypnotized it,  the television made you buy it” That’s pretty straightforward. Obviously it’s talking about the way that the media manipulated talking about what is called gatekeeping and how a lot of times specially when this song was released a lot of times were controlled by the major media companies in the major News outlets information that they felt was appropriate that they felt was gonna get the views that they were looking for now things have changed a little bit nowadays, but it’s also very similar. You definitely have a lot of Clickbait culture now you have a whole lot of fake news and misinformation that is put out there. You have a lot of things that are just trying to manipulate and pull people in so many different directions and if anything else, I think it’s more difficult nowadays to tell what’s real and what’s not real than it was in 2005.

Blog Post 2 Design

 In this week's Design Blog I wanted to share what I learned this week. This week we learned about special effects in photoshop. This week I was able to continue to work with various different special effects and the one I found most interesting was the blur effect. Mainly the movement blur or motion blur that when used properly can give a still image the illusion of motion. 

Blur Effect 

The Blur effect in photoshop is a tool used to soften or reduce the sharpness of an image or part of an image. It creates a sense of motion, depth, or focus by blending pixels together, making the image appear out of focus or hazy. It can be applied to entire images or selected areas to create various visual effects, such as simulating motion or focusing attention on a particular part of the composition. There are a handful of different blur effects that photoshop offers like one of the most commonly used is the gaussian blur which helps soften the image by averaging the pixels around the edges.

How to apply the blur effect in photoshop 

1. 
   Select the area with a selection tool for example the marquee tool or lasso once selected to apply blur to that selected area. 

2. Select filter at the top menu

3. Then select blur and select the blur effect you want to apply that best suits your project

4.  Each blur effect comes with its own adjustment setting so adjust to what look you desire most 

5. Once you're done click ok and if you want you can make your original image a smart image so you can keep the original layer to keep the blur non-destructive and adjustable later.
   

Special effects 

Special effects in photoshop are used for many reasons allowing creativity in an artist to express their ideas and vision by transforming an ordinary image into something extraordinary. Special effects can also have a visual impact by enhancing the visual appeal of an image making it more engaging and attention grabbing. Also special effects are used for its artistic style by enabling the creation of specific artistic styles, some examples like vintage and futuristic looks or maybe something completely unique. Blurring is a powerful technique in Photoshop for controlling focus, depth of field, and artistic style. It’s also commonly used in retouching to create smooth skin textures or dramatic focal effects in design and photography.

Blog Post 2 Creativity

In this week's Creative Blog I wanted to share an exercise I read about in a book from class called Caffeine for the Creative Mind by (Stefan Mumaw and Wendy Lee Oldfield). The creative exercise was called "What's a “Dot-Com?” The task this week was to assemble and design a capsule. To do that by collecting things from today that I have found inspiring. After gathering all of your items, put it in a safe place for ten years till its time to open it. 

Thoughts 

I found this exercise interesting because I thought it would be cool to do it with people in my household and involve them in this week's assignment. A time capsule is a container filled with items, messages, or information intended to be preserved for a future generation. It’s typically buried or sealed away with the expectation that it will be opened at a designated time, often many years later. Time capsules can include letters, photographs, newspapers, artifacts, or other memorabilia that reflect the culture and society of the time in which they were created. They serve as a way to communicate with the future and provide insights into life as it was lived at the time of sealing. 

Challenges 

I especially like the time capsule idea because it encourages reflection of hope for the future. Many time capsules often include messages for the future. Encouraging those who open it to  reflect on the past and progress made over time to one self. Not only that but depending on what you decide to put in the capsule can one day become of value in a monetary aspect or even to some one personal like a really close relative. For example, an antique could be expensive for many reasons. The expense of antiques reflects their rarity, quality, historical significance, and the demand for such items. As a result, they often become valuable collector's items, sought after by people who appreciate history, craftsmanship, and the uniqueness of these objects.

Success

This was a really fun exercise. I was able to involve others in this assignment. This is a great creative way to involve cool things like valuable objects or even things you hold dear to yourself or a loved one or even write a message to yourself in the future to either motivate yourself to improve your life or reflect on the past and see the long way you have traveled to become the person you have set out to become. I believe that with all the technology and access to learning platforms we have today everyone should always strive to learn something new.