Reflection of Learning...

In my Web Site Design class, we are to write a "Reflecion of Learning" paper. It is supposed to "Reflect upon your past learning and implementation of projects. Include your aquired expertise, experience, and qualifications."

Back in 2004, I was attending Elgin Community College to earn a Computerized Graphic Design Associate degree. I was in Illustrator II and QuarkXPress II classes (I didn’t take Photoshop I and ll until spring and fall of 2005). Also, I was seeking a graphic design job. Of course, if you have never done the kind of work (in the real world) that you’re seeking, they will not give you a chance. But, I got lucky! I got hired in the marketing department of a company as a Marketing Assistant. I was happy and scared at the same time.

That company used older versions of Photoshop and Illustrator and for page layout they used QuarkXPress 5. At school, we were using QuarkXPress 6 and Adobe CS. Then, the after the next two or so semesters, the ECC graphic design department upgraded to Adobe CS2 (but still used QuarkXPress).

A majority of my job was as the Graphic Designer. I would work on projects such as brochures, ads that went into trade publications, post cards, fliers, handouts, PowerPoint presentations, etc. Many times, for some projects, I would try to utilize the knowledge I was learning in my design classes at ECC.

After that job, in 2006, I got hired at a different company (more money). It was also in the marketing department as a Marketing Assistant (which a majority of my job was as the Graphic Designer). The job was almost basically some of the same tasks as the previous job, but one thing I got to do at the new job were e-mail blasts using Microsoft FrontPage. I had never really used Microsoft FrontPage before. Great thing was they already had templates for the e-mail blasts, for notices, and so on. That was exciting for me because I got to utilize my basic HTML knowledge (through FrontPage) as well as my ImageReady knowledge (for GIF animation) and by then; I had already had the Photoshop classes.

Times have changed in the graphic and web design field these days. Not only do they want you to be a graphic designer (print) but they also want you to have web design skills too. It could be having knowledge in either front-end web design and/or back-end web design. So, I sent myself back to school the fall semester of 2010 to earn that Web Design Associate degree (which I will receive May 2011).

Just a few years ago, every now and then, people would ask me if I did web design and I’d say “No, I don’t know how to do web design.” Now, I can say “YES! I’m just starting out, but I know how to do some web design.”

It’s nice to have gotten some experience with Dreamweaver through my Web Site Design class and Flash through my Computer Animation class. Dreamweaver and Flash are something I have wanted to learn for the last few years. The thing I need to do now is to start looking into and start learning HTML5 and CSS3. Just a few more years and HTML5 and CSS3 will then be the norm.

While I have learned a lot at school, I know that in order to stay on top of things, I will have to keep learning on my own. Whether in between classes and/or once I no longer attend classes, I will need to take classes here and there for refresher and updates.

I don’t think print will ever die out. Web is, of course, a tad bigger than print these days. The other thing that is almost a tad bigger than web is Apps. I’d like to learn how to design and create apps for cell phones, pads and so on. But, there’s just not enough time to do and learn what I would like to do/learn. Maybe in my next lifetime!

On top of all the graphic design and web design bookmarks I save to look through and e-mail newsletters I scan through here and there, one way I learn about what’s new with graphic design, web design, packaging design, software, etc., is that I subscribe to publications (which come through snail mail) such as PC World, Website Magazine, GD USA, Deliver, Brand Packaging, Food and Beverage Packaging, CRM (Customer Relationship Management), etc. Nice thing is, most of the publications I mentioned are free. So, I take advantage and sign up to receive them. I prefer actual hard copy publications then having to be stuck to my PC almost 24/7.

I also, at times, get information through snail mail such as samples, posters, idea books, etc., from Sappi (a paper company), USPS and other companies (also free). It’s great stuff to look at and get ideas from.

Going to school part-time while working full-time has been tough and there have been sacrifices made. In the long run, I’ve learned a lot and I hope to keep on learning.