InDesign Assignment P9: Final Self-Promotion

Final Project (Assignment #9) 

Self Promotion

10 points

Brochure (interior) by Jordan Caruso

There are two components to this final assignment

Part I-The Written Component: Should be completed first with a series of thumbnails indicating your finished format for this project.

The first step is to write up something about your design and software skills and the knowledge you believe you’ve accomplished in Art 109 and other courses or internships you've completed. Write the piece in a way that would sell your accumulative design or creative skills not just to me but to a potential employer. You can list skills, previous experience, values, and data you have on your resume. Also include effective headlines, subheadings, blurbs, and bullet points throughout. Your copy can be informally written in terms of voice but should be edited for grammar and spelling. The final text should convince me you are a professional who pays attention to detail.  

A draft should be presented to me as a Word doc via email before laying out your InDesign document so I can proofread your copy and critique your approach. On the copy due date I also like to see sketches for your final design piece (described below).

Part II-Design a Self-Promo:  

The second step is to adapt the text you've written as a professional self-promotional piece. You will create this in InDesign as a creative "visual resume" or portfolio promoting your design and/or technical skills--developing a layout that features effective graphic elements and images of the best artwork you’ve completed for this course (and others if you wish). The final product will be a well-designed showcase of your skills using appropriate headlines/captions/call-outs/quotes/etc. and your own images to make the piece inviting to a potential employer. When working with art consider changing colorcast, going black and white, or simplifying your artwork files to make it all work together cohesively.  

The final product must be an intended print piece (no billboards or web designs). This might include brochures, newsletter formats, posters, booklets, catalogs, 2-sided color resumes, an infographic or any other print work with sophisticated graphic elements for which a potential client or employer is your audience. The final layout should be created in InDesign but you may use any CS6 software to finesse the art and typography. 

These are the criteria on which you'll be evaluated:

• Approach/Copy/Communicates Professionalism 
• Effective Document Set-up 
• Format/Theme/Conveys a Creative Message 
• Use of Color/Value/Line/Shape/Form 
• Balance/Eye Path/Focal Interest/Neg.Space Use 
• Concision/Visual Editing/ Use of a Grid 
• Complexity/Tech. Skill/Follows Directions 
• Effective Display Typography 
• Effective Body Typography/Readibility 
• Attention to Detail/Polish/Accuracy 

Your final email to me with the art should provide the document in pdf form (printers marks are not necessary)--and indicate in your message anything you think I need to know for understanding your intent.  

Use your imagination in this final project. A great deal of your grade depends on creativity as well as the sophistication and professionalism of the design.

RESOURCES

• Self-Promotions PPT

• Writing the Personal Profile (by Susan Ager) 

• How to set up your InDesign doc. for a paneled brochure 

• Designer Resumes

NOTE: There is no final exam for this course. Put all your hard effort into the Concert Poster, Magazine Spread, and the Self-Promo as together they constitute 30% of your final grade!

. More In-Design Resources as you progress .

• Terry White's InDesign Podcasts
• How-To (Layouts) Booklet
• InDesign for Dummies
• Getting Started in InDesign
• How to spellcheck
• Exporting with marks the printer will use
• Which of the many PDF formats should I send my printer?
• InDesign Shortcuts
• Using InDesign Layers
• InDesign Tools @ Skidoo