Those who fail to plan- plan to fail, as the saying goes. I'm writing this as much for my own benefit as I am for yours. Ok, mostly mine.
With a new year comes new resolutions, or new goals. It's become a tradition of mine to post every year what resolutions I have for next year, almost as much as it is a tradition to see how fast I can break them. And I don't think I'm alone. Every year we delude ourselves that this year will be different, "I'm going to lose that weight/write that novel/climb that mountain/learn that glockenspiel," and then we don't. We slip back into comfort of being sedentary and anticipate that next year I'll do all those things, but right now I really need to catch up on my TiVo.
Whether or not I'm always 100% successful with my goals, I enjoy making them and think they're important. Last year I set a big goal and accomplished it, I designed over 30 book covers in one month. I plan to attempt that Herculean-lite feat again in 2013, but I think I'm getting ahead of myself. Here are some of my goals/resolutions for 2013:
1) Quote book
As I have mentioned before, I love quotes. If you hadn't noticed, I also love graphic design. Combining the two for the first time ever, I'll be making a quote a day of 100 of my favorite quotes from January 1-April 10. (If I'm doing my math right). I'm doing this for several reasons.
One of my favorite graphic design heroes, Michael Bierut, has a workshop every year where students endeavor to do the same thing every day, and to document their works. While I'm not in New York, not going to the Yale School of Art and likely not going to meet Mr. Bierut anytime soon, I would like to attempt the challenge. I have most of the quotes picked out and surprisingly, only about 25% of them are by Oscar Wilde for the time being. You can follow them here on pinterest if you feel so inclined.
Another reason I'm doing this is I actually won't have any graphic design classes my final semester. While I'll have art classes, UVU decided not to allow me to take graphic design classes despite there being room for me to take them and desire to take them, as I am not in their BFA program. So I'd like to keep my skills sharp, as well as (hopefully) sharpen them in the upcoming months/semester.
It's a small thing to do, the 10 or so I've done before have taken less than an hour, so I'm hoping to be able to accomplish this on top of everything else I'm stacking on myself this semester.
2) Gradu-freaking-ate
I began college in 2000. I took breaks to go on a mission, raise money for marriage, put my wife through college, to have my leg put back together and other reasons. I've been a part time student the last 6 or so years, and now I'm finally ready to get my Bachelor's degree. I only need two classes to graduate, but because I feel like it's my last chance to take classes I actually want to take, and because my scholarship requires it, I'll be taking more. But, by the end of April, I plan to march clothed in the robes of a false priesthood and get a piece of paper saying I know art & stuff.
3) Get a Job, Hippie
Yes, I have a job, and a very good one. But the one downside is it's not Graphic Design, and unless something happens to their current designer (which I hope not but you never know) I'll be looking for a new job. Hopefully in state, though I'll be keeping my eyes open elsewhere. Let me know if you know anybody hiring a entry-level graphic designer willing to pay me to relocate. :)
4) Design, Design, Design
The more I do it, the more I love it. As I mentioned before (and I'm sure I'll mention again) I designed 30 book covers for aspiring writers as part of NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. My response was so good last year and I had such fun doing it that I'm planning on doing it again. I also plan to be part of the actual 30 Covers in 30 Days program that The Office of Light and Letters (NaNoWriMo organizers) puts on every year. I'm also planning on doing the advertising posters for Touchstones, UVU's Literary Journal again, though just the posters, no typesetting/book design this time. :) Additionally, I'm working as Graphic Designer (Intern) for UVU's Woodbury School of Business. I've already designed a logo, several posters, web banners and an invitation for them. So I might not be taking classes but I should be doing plenty of actual design work.
And as a shameless plug, I'm available to do freelance work for you as well, just let me know what you need! :D
5) Sharpen that Saw
Ripping off the late great Stephen R. Covey and his Seventh Habit, I also plan to try to do things I usually try to do. General upkeep and whatnot
Read more, specifically read scriptures more.
Spend more quality time with my cute Danger boy.
Start meditating (TM) again.
Exercise (or just do one of my Wii Dance games for 10-15 minutes a day)
Eat less junk/fast food
Blog more
That's about all I can think of, wish me luck and my best and sincerest wishes to you as well! Happy New Year and all that!
2 comments:
Austin, it's one of MY resolutions to keep off the pit of time wasting that (for me) is pinterest. Can you post your quote a day on your blog? Or email them to me? Or get them printed into a book and sell it to me? Not to sound creepy and stalker-ish, but I still totally have the letters you sent me from your mission, because you plastered them with wonderful words--yours and many others!
Hi Liz! I plan to sell it in book form eventually.
And I don't think it's creepy or stalker-ish, I believe I still have all the letters you wrote me from Taiwan and elsewhere. It's only creepy if you roll around in them dressed in a clown outfit and bingeing on pie, which I may or may not have done only once. ;)
but yeah, I can post them maybe 10 at a time on the blog. Good luck with your new year goals too, thanks for reading and commenting!
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