the ropes

Posted June 15, 2009 5:48 pm.
Filed under: daily happenings, school
Tags: , , ,

Today I started the task of updating and reformatting the “new intern guide.” Oona Lyons put together a very comprehensive guide to getting used to the intern position and all the duties it requires, and Christopher requested that I reformat it from a staple bound volume into a binder. That way, as things evolve in the office from intern to intern – it can easily be updated to help the next intern down the line.

It was nice to go through Oona’s literary flourishes about her experience here. She kept chocolate in her desk. She described Christopher as a “social butterfly.” Obviously I deleted those comments and added my own in but that is the nature of time and the legacy of the MINE™ internship. The guidebook was originally created for Dexsy Repuyan, a classmate of mine who worked here 2 semesters ago. Oona opens up the guidebook with a letter to Dexsy with hopes that she has a “seperate but equal experience.” I hope the same for whoever sits in this chair in 3 months time.

goals

Posted June 11, 2009 5:43 pm.
Filed under: daily happenings, lessons learned, mistakes
Tags: , , ,

Before an intern starts their first day at MINE™, Christopher requests that they bring in a list of things they want to get out of the time spent here. I think the request is significant for two reasons. One being that I really value the fact that Christopher actually cares about what my expectations and hopes are regarding what I extract from the experience. Another being that it forced me to really confront just what I feel my time here would best be spent focusing on. Here is my list, with some posthumous commentary added on.

1. Learn to approach problems from multiple angles and viewpoints before settling on a direction.

I feel that I too often approach problems with my initial solution. I think learning to experiment, evaluate and move forward with the most successful solution would be an approach I would benefit from.

2. Learn to be more responsible as far as time management and deadlines are concerned.

No room for error at MINE™.

3. Try to consider the client’s input when brainstorming for a design instead of trying to convince them that the solution I arrived upon my own is better.

One can hope.

4. Try to become more meticulous about completely crossing every “t” and dotting ever “i” in my designs.

Yes. The typo was originally there when I showed Christopher. Maybe this is the one I need to work on the most.

5. Learn to harness the chaos.

Balancing control and unpredictability. I certainly have the latter.

6. Create something lighthearted with happy colors.

Stern Grove bird and bunny. √

7. To contribute conceptually and graphically to projects at MINE™.

I’d like to think that I am doing this.

8. Learn how to work outside of my design crutches and still retain elements of my taste. (Become a little more adaptable)

9. Sit in on client meetings so I can hear how a successful  (or unsuccessful) pitch goes.

10. Learn how to properly photograph and display my work.

Soon enough we will be shooting some work for an upcoming top secret project. So yes, this will be happening.

11. Become comfortable with articulating my opinions about design. TALK about design more.

Thursday lunches, feedback from Christopher and Tim, and writing in the blog are already helping me solidify my stance as a designer.

12. Have a good time.

√


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the cockpit

Posted June 9, 2009 5:01 pm.
Filed under: daily happenings, details
Tags: , , , ,

Here is a first person view of the responsibilities and tools that come with the intern position at MINE™.

An overview of the station that many have manned (and mostly womanned) before me.

This is a small taste of what it’s like to sit at the helm.

iMac: 2.8ghz Intel Core 2 Duo with 2gb ram.

Eames Aluminum Group Chair (I feel more productive just sitting in it)

The phone: One of the duties of the intern is to answer the phone, take messages, fend off telemarketers, etc…

Bose Volume Control: Yes, the intern has control over the volume of the music in the office! Right now we are listening to the new Tobacco album and it is good. Very good. Turn it up at your own risk.

Binders: Here you will find all the pending and past documentation for competitions. One of the main duties of the intern is to enter, document, and keep track of both upcoming and past competitions. When we win an award a yellow sticker gets placed on the folder for that competition. These binders may as well be yellow.

Job List: Every Monday we have a job meeting where we discuss the current state of each job currently open in the studio. At this point, there are about 15 open.

Notepad: For notes.

Sunglasses: Because Bernal Heights is windy and when I arrive to work after riding my bike from my house in the Mission I prefer not to look like I’ve been up all night crying. Also great  for taking a nice lunch break in the park down the street or for looking really cool when filing in the office.

Stuff: Christopher and Tim reference a lot of things for inspiration or research and when they’re done with them it is the interns responsibility to file them in their correct location. Books live in the book cabinet (organized chromatically by spine), job samples in the filing cabinet, and collected design objects go in the tower. (previously a shower)