PC Rant

So, I haven’t ranted about my institution of learning in awhile which is weird since it’s just ripe for the picking. This quarter has had it’s share of challenges and this blog is about one of them.

Have you ever been taught by someone who doesn’t really enjoy teaching? Usually, it’s someone who knows something and is unwilling to part with the knowledge for the education of others (usually out of fear the student will surpass the teacher), or it’s someone who just doesn’t have the patience required to help students up the learning curve. In my academic career I’ve encounter both.

Now, I’m not the most technologically inclined person and it takes me awhile to learn and master a new ”advance.” Since enrollment in PC, I’ve done pretty well so far getting comfortable with Apple, seeing as I was raised on PC, but I’ve always been leary of computer classes; afraid that I would get a teacher with one of the attributes above (because, face it, technology is a breeding ground for these types).

Anyhoo, last quarter I took an excellent, Adobe Indesign class. I learned so much, that I’m mad that I didn’t take it sooner. Coming off this euphoric success, I expected that my next foray in computer learning would be just as rewarding and smooth. Boy, was I wrong. 

Enter Adobe AfterEffects: possibly one of the most complicated programs I’ve been introduced to thus far. It’s main use is to animate stuff for broadcast television. So, I’m thinking, animation that’s cool. Yeah, it doesn’t look super easy, but I mean with a good teacher I can get through it.

Long story, short (because I’m sure you can gather where this is going), I’ve spent almost eight weeks in class, haven’t learned a damn thing, and am now trying to produce a 10 second animation for my critique which is in two weeks. My advice: Never assume that computer classes are created equal. Make sure you understand from day one if you’re going to be taught or if you going to have to learn the shit on your own. Do this and you won’t end up like me and about 25% of the my class.   

Slow Go On The Logos

PC Rant #1: Belfi’s In-Design Class/Project

I actually like taking this class mainly because I’m  learning cool stuff like the Adobe Design Suite and simple things like Apple shortcut keys and file and email organization that will make my life easier.

The final deliverables for the class are a capital campaign brochure and a re-designed, or in some cases, a designed logo for a non-profit organization. I’ve chosen to go with a non-profit that I used for an ads concepting class last quarter. It’s call Someone Cares of Atlanta, an HIV/AIDS outreach/support/education organization that serves the African American and Latino MSM population of Atlanta.

Status:

So far, so good. For a writer with a miniscule drop of design experience, I am proud to say that I’m holding my own.  The first round of logo roughs has been submitted and the response has been favorable. There’s even a ”hero” emerging. Somewhere Sylvia is smiling.

Problem:

I’ve been tasked to come up with 10 new ideas for a logo and unfortunately I was stretching to meet the first  50. I’m afraid I’ve run out of ideas or symbols that I can draw from to explain what this organization is and does. Here’s what I’ve used thus far:

ribbon, abstract people connected, the initials of the organization, a hand, abstract people helping each other, supporting each other, faces, realistic man/men, and open doors.

Solicitation: 

Can anyone suggest any other stylistic elements or ideas I can manipulate to explain outreach, education, support, and/or HIV/AIDS?