Day 18

Today has been much busier compared to yesterday. I burned a PDF file onto 2 DVDs to give to the client for the booklet, so this job is completed. My boss was also wanting me to figure out how to get a letterhead PDF file into a word document. Converting the file only pixelated it and distorted the colors, so I ended up just making a jpeg file. I have also continued working on the last library sign. I'm stuck on coming up with a design on this particular sign, the client says they don't want just a plain "no food" but something "with a positive spin on it."

I got the brochure ready and out to printing. I had to first set up the file by page order onto a 11x17" paper (as each individual page is 5 1/2 x 8 1/2"). From there I had to make negatives from the lino, which is a very complicating process. There's so many steps as to do it all correctly. It was my second time doing it but I feel I would have to do it several more times before I feel comfortable doing without any help. I have learned from this to always number your pages, I did not have them numbered for this job and I wish I would have, it makes checking things a lot easier and it will also help out the printers.

Day 17

The proof for the booklet came back today, they approved of it. I got the PDF file ready and now I have to make CDs for the client. I continued working on the library signs and got some feedback from them on one of the signs. I finished another and am still working on the fourth one. Not a very eventful day.

Day 16: Week 4

First thing when I got to work this morning I checked my email as usual and had an approval for a discount card I had made 2 weeks ago. So I got that ready and sent for printing. I had to set the file up for work and turn, for the printer. The card was a front and back but it'll be easier to make it work and turn as the final size is 5 1/2 x 8 1/2", so each will be half of letter size paper.

I continued working on the library signs. I now have 2 designs done, 1 that needs a little help and another needs a lot. I have sent the 2 completed designs for a proof and will continue to design the others.

Day 15

Finally week 3 is over, it went by very slow. Today was about as busy as yesterday. Did pretty much the same things. The proof for the booklet was on my desk when I got to work this morning. They wanted 4 photos replaced so I looked for a long time for images for those, then turns out they emailed my boss 3 of the photos so I cropped and replaced those and was able to get the hard copy made.

The client for the individual portraits came in to discuss the images, he basically wanted the images downsized. I got those all downsized and sent him the individual PDF files, as that's all he's wanting for this particular job.

I also spoke with printing services several times too. The same client for the brochure is getting estimates done. They were needing to know more about the color and paper size since the client doesn't fully know this. After I get all the final information I'll be able to send everything to the printer. I'll also need to make negatives to be able to give to the printer.

I worked on the library signs for a little bit also today. This week was only filled with booklets, brochures, and portraits. I'm up to 60 hours now and 5 more weeks to go.

Day 14

I worked on the library signs again today for a little bit, I also looked for images I could use on the signs. The client with the brochure decided he wanted 9 portraits of each of the illustrations I had scanned to put in the brochure. So I had to change the color of those and photoshop them so they would appear seamless when printed out. I've discovered that the dodge tool had become my "best friend" for this project. And sent this simple proof for approval. And I made another hard copy proof for the booklet I've redone.

Day 13

Starting off today I had to get a font downloaded from one computer to the other, I couldn't just put it on the server it would change to a file you couldn't open, I finally got it to work just by using my jump drive from one comp to the other.

I finally heard back from the client on the big project, only for one small change and resent that again.

I started working on the library signs I had mentioned yesterday. I'm to be making 4 signs, one of these is what I am taking over from a former employee so that particular sign shouldn't take much work.

The proof for the booklet was returned today with a few small changes. They wanted another photo in place of an older one, which I had to search for another image and made changes to fit the space.

Day 12

Today I fixed the image for the brochure and got the hard copy made and ready for the client to pick it up. For a previous client that I had made the flyer for was wanting the the flyer made into a 17x25" poster, just one only. We sent this to another printer still here on campus, so I had to get the file up on a server for the printer to get. And for the booklet I had given the hard copy out to yesterday, I made small-quick changes to as I had already let the client know that I was going to do. Still waiting on any changes the client may want though.

As of right now everything I've been working on is out for proofing. I did get assigned another job making signs for the library. And something to do between jobs is making covers for the volumes of image books we have here at the office. Something fun and open to work on!

Day 11: Week 3

The client for the brochure came in again today, he also brought a better/ original photo to be rescanned for the brochure. He had a photography before as oppose to the printed illustrations, so this image looks a lot better in correlation with the other images. He is now wanting a hard copy proof and in the process of me printing it out I was able to see that I needed to fix an image. I will get this fixed tomorrow and put the brochure hard copy together.

I also put together a hard copy proof for the booklet I've been working on. I had also noticed in the print out on one of the pages that an image was more pixelated than what the screen was showing, so I went through and looked for a new and better photo. This looked much better in the hard copy and was able to get that to the client today.

Day 10

I continued with the booklet and am very close to being done with it. I had to search for a new photo to use on one of the pages so that took most of the time.

I also met with the client about the brochure-booklet. He wanted just a few changes, so I made the changes and sent another proof. He mentioned today that he may want 8 1/2 X 11" printouts of the illustrations I had scanned in for the brochure.

Another week down.

Day 9

Starting off today I made corrections to a small job and sent the proof back and didn't here back from him all day. I only heard back from one client today and I am to meet with him tomorrow about the brochure-booklet I'm working on.

I also made DVDs from zip disks, even though I had troubles with a disk reading to my computer. I then was assigned another job. I'm fairly close to being down with it. It's another 12 page booklet(different from the brochure). I'm having to move everything that a student from another job on campus did in Photoshop and I'm redoing it in InDesign. I should be able to get a proof sent tomorrow if not Monday.

Day 8

I finished the pen design today and the t-shirt designs were approved. The t-shirt requires a logo that the client hasn't been given yet by the supporter so once they get that I'll have to place that within the design and call that design done.

I was able to get a first proof sent for the brochure I'm working on. I had to edit the images I scanned in yesterday with a duotone-monotone PANTONE color. The brochure is a total of 12 pages and is more like a small booklet at 5 1/2 x 8 1/2".

I got a quick new job assigned to me. We were unable to locate the original file so I had to recreate it and I also got that proof sent off.

Something else I'll be working on in the meantime between projects is saving zip disk files to a DVD so they will have two back ups. I'll probably start this tomorrow.

Day 7

I got back the approval on a poster today, so I was able to send it off for printing. I sent the pen file to the company for the client, so that has also been approved. I am also about to finish up the artwork for the intramural champion shirt. The client had changed the shirt colors therefore I had to go through and change all the artwork to the different colors. Her reply for the final approval will probably be in my inbox tomorrow, she's good with quick responses.

I've also been assigned a new job now for a brochure with a client I've worked with on two other projects. For this project so far I scanned in illustrations the client had made so I can scale them down and edit them for the brochure.

So currently I'm working/waiting to hear back on 6 jobs: 1) t-shirt, poster and cup, 2)poster and table tent, 3)ads-final approval, 4) another t-shirt-final approval and 5) the brochure and 6) pen-final approval.

I also had to log things into the log book, which keeps track of the jobs, whose working on it, quantity of order, and other important info for each particular job.

Day 6: Week 2

Over the weekend I had 3 clients reply back. One client was only needing pdf's to go with jpeg's so I made that change and forwarded. For the other two I was able to make the desired changes and resend proofs. I also finished up my first proof of the pen I started at the end of last week and send that off.

For one of the clients to whom I've recently mentioned of being troubling. She has asked me to change something in my design, it's for her and I doubt she'll like, at least I hope she doesn't like it because it looks bad, but it is what she's asked for. Anything to make the client happy.

Day 5

I was able to send out proofs for two jobs today, a poster and the t-shirt design as has been previously mentioned. I also got another job assigned which is going to be on a small ink pen. It seems like it may be slightly difficult to be able to get the image size to fit onto the pen. The client only knows of one measurement that the pen company has given them so I shall see as I progress with this job.

One week down for my internship. I'm planning right now to only work 20 hour weeks for the full 8 week Summer classes, but it feels like it's not enough time to get things done. This week wasn't very busy so I shall see how the future goes...

Day 4

I was able to get a job done and sent off for printing, the small poster/ flyer I've been working on. It's always nice when the client replies back 5 minutes after sending it to them. This allowed me to get the print order ready and off to printing within an hour of sending the first proof off.

I also continued with the T-shirt design. I had to go through available clip art that we have at the office and edit them to go into my design. The design is only a two color job, white and navy blue, so I'm accommodating the clip art to fit the clients needs.

I had another client schedule to come talk with me today about what they wanted in their poster design. They liked the proof I had sent to them but they wanted something new from previous designs, as in symbols relating to the event not just "decoration" so to speak. It was very quick and much simpler getting the chance to talk with them in person. They were able to describe what more they wanted a lot easier.

Day 3

Today I continued with the small poster and was assigned another job that needs to be done next week. It is a t-shirt design for the Rec Center's intramural champions. I got about half way done with it already today.

Day 2

Today I continued working on poster and was able to send a proof to the client for their feedback. The poster design included things from past files so I had to search for them on other computers, as well as the server. I also went out and shot texture for the background image of the poster.
After sending off the proof, I was able to get another job assigned to me; it is a small poster for advertising a class on campus. I am also still waiting to hear back on my other jobs I have previously sent out before I can go any further with those.

Day 1: Week 1

I've been working at the Publications office for 3 weeks now and today was the first day of the actual internship. It was like any other day that I've worked these past weeks. Being that I'm already in the middle of several design jobs, I continued today with changing any requests made by the clients and emailed them proofs back. I am currently working on 4 jobs: ads, 2 posters, and one job involves making a cup, poster and t-shirt design.

I am learning already learning how frustrating clients can be, in particular I have one client for two different projects right now. Especially when they can't make up their mind and are very picky. Apposing to another client I'm working with is very easy to work with. This client knows exactly what he is wanting and instead of trying to explain what he wants through an email he comes in and talks firsthand over the design, this allows him to see different options on the screen and if he prefers this over that.

Another thing I am learning is to make changes as asked or as someone else may prefer, not necessarily what you like. Your best work is not consequently what they always want.