FORUM
Intentional Progress
With the beginning of the new year I just like everyone else have been making new goals and developing plans as to how to achieve them. Doing so is actually a fairly new experience for me, a few years back I operated under the assumption that I would just go about my business and something would magically happen to better my career and my circumstances. But over the last several years I've dabbled in "intentional living" and have come away again and again amazed of the difference it makes.
With that said I thought I would share a few of my career based 2011 goals and invite others to share theirs. I think this will be a cool thread if others participate and will be a really cool way to get to know one another better. So here we go...
Jon Ashcroft's 2011 Career/Design/WhatILoveToDo Goals: (in no particular order)
• Create my first series of posters for online sale and set up a shop to accommodate doing so
I would be lying if I told you my goal in life was anything other than to design posters all day and make a living off of doing so. This is a small step in that direction.
• Design a book cover
I love books and I love book cover design. It would be so much fun to be tasked with condensing down an entire story into one striking image that represents the entire narrative.
• Design a mobile app
At this point I've dabbled in just about every genre of design there is out there. Print, Web, Packaging, Apparel, Environmental, etc. but I have yet to do anything in the app category. The onset of the app craze has created a cool new territory in the design universe and I think it would be fun to explore.
• Submit to as many design/illustration annuals as my bank account allows
I'm sure several of you can relate with me in spending hours flipping through the Print, Communication Arts and other design annuals. They are just awesome and I think it would be awesome to be a part of that awesome. I also feel that 90% of the time the SouthWest is greatly unrepresented (aside from Seesaw) and I think we all need to do our part to change that.
• Share the love
I love design and illustration and the fact that I can get paid to do what I love. I want to help others realize the same dream or at least take a step in the right direction. I'm not exactly sure how to do this yet, it may be as simple as "tutoring" a passionate high school student or it may be developing a system to help recent grads maneuver the extremely rough transition from school to professional life. I guess we will have to wait and see.
• Get a new tattoo
Okay thats not a career based goal but I'm ready for a new one. Maybe I will make that a reward for achieving one of my other goals.
So thats what I've got more or less. Lets hear everyone elses.
Comments
I'll bite. This year I need to:
Learn Cinema 4D
I don't want to be a 3D artist, but doing mograph work I'm always asked how much experience I have in C4D. It's not totally foreign to me, I can get around well enough. I need to clear time in my schedule and really challenge myself to model, animate and composite something. Even if professionally I do nothing but render out cheesy text all day, I need to know 3D far better than I do.
Make a short
I haven't been heavily involved in a short film since film school. I'm blessed with a few opportunities on the horizon, so I need to capitalize on them and make sure there are challenging elements to the project. Something beyond cuts and primary color.
Better exploit my niche
I make most of my income working on a certain type of project. I need to up my stake in that market, not just working on a contract basis for someone else, but in a lead role going out and creating new projects.
Nice! David, we should see about putting together a Cinema4D class here, see if we can't gather some resources and get a teacher to put together some basic lessons! I know how hard it is to learn that stuff without time set aside. I am novice at C4D too, but it's on my to-do list too.
I already wrote a post about this in a blog post, but I will reiterate it here:
Urban Forest Project
I'm working with world studio to bring the urban forest project to Phoenix. It's only a few funding dollars away from happening, and then soliciting the designers. I think it would be great to do and have up at PHXDW2011.
Pop-up Shop
I'm working on opening a design store, it will be called Ignorance & Ambition, and be open for a month.
Phoenix Design Museum
Part of Dojo Collective's goals is to help bring a Design Museum to Phoenix. That will happen this year, weather its only in a small gallery space, or we are able to secure a permanent home. Either way: Gonna happen.
PHXDW2011
It's going to be good. Very good.
More Designing
For as much as I say I'm a designer, I have crap to show for it. More work, promoting it more, making better things. Etc.
Very nice guys. I'm excited to see new things from both of you.
Wow, those are some great (and hefty) goals! My goals are not as "large-scale" as the ones above, but I suppose I'm just in a different place in my career. Nevertheless, my 2011 goals include:
Find a job at a reputable local agency
I'm at the point in my design career where I've outgrown my current designer position (first job out of college). I want to work somewhere that consistently produces great stuff, work under someone I respect and can learn from, and be a part of projects that interest me; projects that matter. I don't want to become stagnant. I always want to keep learning and creating.
Become more acquainted with print design
My background is in web design, but any time I've experimented with print, I enjoy the hell out of it. So, I'd like to learn more about the medium and make some cool stuff. I also need some personal business cards YESTERDAY.
Get more involved
There are many events/gatherings that happen within the Phoenix creative network that I tend to miss out on. There is so much talent and so many awesome people, and I've only met a handful of them. I'd like to change that.
Arrange a cohesive album of original songs
I have (most of) the songs recorded, but I'd like to master them and arrange them in a way that makes sense. Additionally, I'd like to design some nice album artwork to go with them, and eventually sell them for like $5.00.
Start waking up earlier
On more of a personal note, I sleep way too much. I need to start getting up early and making the most out of the day. Exercise should probably become a part of this as well. This will probably be my hardest goal, ha.
I've decided this year to really change my vision and look in a new direction of life.
Become the galaxy champion of GARM-Ball
As we all know, GARM-Ball is quickly becoming the most popular sport in the galaxy. I feel like now is a good time to get in on the action since there aren't really any huge stars that dominate it yet...well, except for Hrishmal'Tak Vi of Epsilon XVI, of course!
Take time to get to know my estranged children
Being a "man-of-the-world," I've built up quite a collection of illegitimate children (Costa Rica currently has the most in one area with a hearty 26 angry, fatherless kids). I feel like learning all of their names will be a good first step.
Finally clean up that alternate dimension
I know that this one is kind of cliched, but the Alter-Earth that I created has a lot of civil war problems going on right now. I really need to get in there and talk some sense into them.
Get rid of these extra limbs
How many of your years start with you saying "I'm finally going to remove all but two of these arms?" WELL THIS YEAR I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO DO IT!!!
Give back the Empire State building
This one wont mean much to most of you since I didn't steal the Empire State building until the year 2245 after inventing my shrink / teleportation ray. In 2258 I came back in time to 2010 and after much deliberation...I'm gonna give it back. It's sort of just collecting dust in my underground dungeon future-fortress anyway.
Wow. How do I follow averagemark?
Here's some of my 2011 career-based goals:
Make the best of my job situation
I'm among the many other people who's jobs have been affected by the economy. It's been a bumpy road over the past 2+ years, but I've learned a lot. I want to continue to make the best of whatever my job situation may be, and be grateful for what I do have.
Have the opportunity to continue a logo I designed on multiple applications
If you've seen my portfolio site, you'll notice I have a lot of logos. Many of them are rejects, never saw their full potential, or continued on in the hands of another designer. I've had only a few opportunities where I've been able to apply a logo I designed beyond a business card. I really enjoy seeing the logo become a brand and live on multiple applications. I hope to get more opportunities where I can be involved in that process.
Sketch/draw/paint/make something away from the computer
When I'm staring at a computer everyday, it's easy to forget the joy of making something without a mouse and keyboard. This isn't exactly a career goal, but I believe it affects me as a designer to unplug myself from the iMac on occasion and take some time to get my hands dirty.
Wow. You guys have some awesome (and ambitious) goals for 2011!
Mine are a little smaller and perhaps more mundane. But they are what they are and hopefully I can get them accomplished.
Finish a font
I've got a personal font project I started late in 2010 that I would like to see launched by end of 2011. Fingers crossed
Redesign my personal portfolio site
My work to get my personal branding and design portfolio site launched last fall felt very rushed. I'm not happy with the site architecture and didn't take the time to plug in the theme to a CMS. I'd like to hook it up with WordPress and hopefully incorporate my personal blog that currently is on a different site.
Read more books
Reading is a huge passion of mine but have found my time more and more consumed with other media. There'sa lot of great and educational media out there on the web but I feel I learn best when I digest through the printed page. I want to limit my time in front of a screen in order to make more time for books especially those on design, business, and marketing.
Create a music video
My band, Sunday Morning Drive, is in desperate need of some video content out on the web. What better than a music video? I've got some ideas started; just need to execute.
I've got plenty more goals and dreams but I'll save those for another time.
Here's mine:
Release the new Laboratory site
So everyone can finally understand where we're planning on taking it and what we'd like to do with our small little collective.
Make the most insanely AJAXED to shit theme ever
Then give it to everyone fo' free!
Perhaps join the AIGA Arizona Board in some fashion
I know a lot is changing around town and I want to be a more influential part of that change, not just the guy sitting there going, "eh, this is pretty cool".
Help with any of these other ambitious ideas however I can
Seriously, Mark, pop up shop, when, where and how?
Get over myself
I've heard some wise people say, "Fuck perfectionism!" I've noticed that I can be hesitant to take on projects or start ideas, because of worries that the output won't be exactly how I want. Perfectionism may be a misnomer. Fear is probably a better word… So I have the goal to get over myself, get over the fear of not knowing how things will turn out, and get over the fact that things won't be perfect.
Form strong relationships
People are weird—I know I am. But, forming new friendships and business relationships is always worth the effort; it effectively makes life more enjoyable.
Get business launched
Two of my colleagues and I have been in the forming stages of an LLC. While, initially, our idea was to build up a design service agency, we've moved away from that concept to focus on being a product development firm (web app/service). The papers are filed and we have a strong team so I'm excited about it.
Go mobile
I agree with Jon that doing a mobile app would be fun and rewarding. I recently picked up some good books on the subject so that'll be a large focus for this year.
Add on to my previous...
Help others with building mobile apps
I'm not the strongest Objective C developer but I do understand how to utilize html5 and javascript to perform a vast amount of what people want to build and I'd like to share this knowledge in some fashion. Just so I can get that warm fuzzy feeling inside.
Leave a Response