after discussing my project with classmates, I've developed the idea that I might have two paths. One would be students dealing with depression and the other would be an advice book/database/website/blog with personal experiences by different individuals. An example of something like this would be the "for students" section on the AIGA website. Also, the book Never Sleep...

rediscovered gems

I just found some files from the first round of portfolio and personal identity design.. and took a few screenshots. the numbers are the amount of days I had been designing up til that point...

I don't know how much I'm going to keep, but I still like the aesthetic! We'll see how much makes it to the next round.

I've always felt like I have endless options when it came to my education and career. This kind of thought process kind of goes hand in hand with the array of interests I have... and while this variety has always suited me well with my design process (making it easy to switch between projects), it often makes the assignment of choosing career goals quite difficult. I've personally always been told to picture myself in one, three, five, or ten years and then take into account what I see.

Most of the time I see myself working with a team of equally passionate peers, sometimes as the head of the team and sometimes as a team member. In contrast though, I also picture myself shooting in a studio with all kinds of equipment and minions surrounding me. (this might be one of the more idealistic dreams) Another  image in my mind is one where I'm walking around a museum planning an exhibit and helping to decide visual details and flow. But the last image in my mind is probably the most solid—the one where I'm in a university classroom with a group of students. I see all of these as career goals and I've got an idea about what time they'd fit into my life, but I also know that I have personal goals. These are ones that I know I need to do to feel wholly fulfilled. This is where I fit my year or so of travel photojournalism. I see this fitting into my life sooner rather than later; but not before I learn more about life, myself and my career.

While all of this may seem wildly idealistic or naive, I base a good amount on professionals that I've talked to or observed doing these "jobs". And I'm also accounting for the unexpected. My most influential events in my life have all been unexpected so I've learned to accept the unplanned and, well, roll with it.

Now, for those of you who do best with a timeline, I've included one below.

years 1-3
- work for a small studio and gain a lot of experience
- save money for photojournalistic travels
- travel to India, Europe and (back to) Ireland
- publish articles in various magazines
- apply for new jobs in design and/or photography

years 3-10
- work with a brilliant group of people at new job
- begin pursuing museum related jobs
- apply for masters programs in design/photography
- get masters degree
- party
- save for studio equipment
- apply to become an adjunct associate professor

years 10-20
- open photo studio and hire minions
- create a successful photography studio/ freelance design business
- teach as an adjunct
- hire interns
- take another long photojournalistic trip

years 20-40
- hand over empire to a minion
- become full time faculty
- retire when I get tired of students

years 40+
-retire to Co. Kerry
-purchase this b&b

degree project: assumptions + experimentation

assumptions
* most students need balance to be successful
* most college experiences are similar
* balance means the same for everyone
- students need _________ to be successful (balanced diet, sleep, exercise, life experiences, etc.)
- photography and technology are the best ways to reach my audience
* my "characters" will best reach my audience
- students seek information about being successful
- students know where to seek this information

questions
what is balance for specific people?
what does balance mean for a _____ year old?
what do college students need?

conclusions
1. I need to deliver specific tools for students to learn what "balance" means for them.
2. balance in college is technically balancing the already unbalanced.
3. everyone's college experience is different; along with levels of success.
4. everyone has different needs. ;)

experiments 
- interviewing "characters"
- different tool deliveries
       - sending different kinds of success packets (notecards, giftbaskets, booklet, etc.)
       - image tests
       - technology test (website, email, social networking, etc.)
- test specificities (starting by understanding different characters needs)
- conduct interviews with professionals
- survey about importance of specific needs (sent to KCAI, UD, OSU)