Think Week 1

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Jody Simpson

Left school in 1991

Failed a year of engineering at Natal University

Swapped to architecture

Who am I?

While studying architecture I studied at Mediatek doing DTP and Graphic Design

Qualified as an architect in 2000

Worked at various architecture firms while studying

First job after completing my studies was Designer at a publishing company

Designed books, magazines, interactive CD Roms, Powerpoint Presentations, and much more... and my very first website

When I left the firm a few years later I was senior designer

Then I joined a very small online casino group... I was one of 6 employees

We had one casino called Crazy Vegas Casino. I designed their website, was involved in marketing, affiliate marketing, design +++

I designed magazine adverts, newspaper ads, websites in 14 different languages, designed new casinos, did marketing, attended several conferences overseas

When I left the company 7 years later we had 14 casinos, in 18 languages. At the time I was head of marketing and design and the company employed around 70 people! Unfortunately I can't show you any of my work from that time!

I started my own magazine - Incognito

Only ever published two issues, but they were sold in stores throughout the country.

I wrote, designed, sold, advertised, edited and paid for the magazine. It cost me a fortune - but I loved every moment of that work!

Bounced around different advertising agencies - never quite finding a place I was happy at

Then helped an ex-boss startup a brand new casino company. Here I was hired as marketing manager... but ended up being that and the designer, call centre manager, pretty much everything for the first few months...

Within our first 6 months, we were the top performing casino in our category and had close of 30 staff.

I left to work at Tsogo Sun Gaming - where I was Digital Marketing Manager

I left to start freelancing... and somehow 7 years later... needing to supplement my income I walked into Vega for a part time teaching position and was asked to take a permanent one... and here I am!

This is my 3rd year teaching multimedia/digital at Vega

facebook.com/jodydalesimpson

instagram.com/creative_jody

Admin

At Vega, you are required to Think and Craft

Think happens once a week and the class consists of all Graphic Design, Copywriting and Digital students together. We teach you to critically consider the creative process, context, concept, content, communication and craft.

Craft happens several times a week. This happens in a studio where you practice and learn crafting skills. Craft happens in the respective disciplines!

For THINK you are required to normally do some reading, or exercises or both beforehand! The idea is that we all come to class prepared for the session!

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What do I expect from you?

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Listen

Ask questions

Don't be on your cellphone in my class*

Don't be late for class

Don't talk to the person next to you... talk to the class

We want discussions

ALWAYS sign the register! ALWAYS! If I forget to hand it out - ask for it!

What do you expect from me?

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I'm here to help you navigate your time at Vega.

I'm not a parent

I'm not a teacher

I'm here to help you!

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Introducing the 5 C's

One of the pillars supporting the development of the art of asking the right question is called the Five C's

Context. Concept. Content. Communication. Craft.

The Five C's

When encountering a design problem, your first step is to study its context (under what conditions the problem currently exists; the brands current communication etc.) before formulating a new message driving the new concept. Depending on the type of content that carries the concept you will determine the mediums best suited to communicate the solution. Thereafter it's all about crafting.

Think

THINK introduces you to the Creative Process and you will be learning how to apply it.

The different learning units in THINK will take you through the various phrases of the process, answering the five C's and teaching you tools and methods to immerse yourself in every phase of the process, develop a strong Strategic Direction based on research and a convincing Creative Rationale that demonstrates how you used your CRAFT to deliver a solution that successfully answers the brand communication or design challenge.

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Module Pacer

Learning Unit 1: What is brand communication? Why does it matter

Weeks 1-3

Learning Unit 2: How do creatives think plan and craft?

Weeks 4-5

Learning Unit 3: Discover and Define: from general to specific

Weeks 6-8

Learning Unit 4: Develop and Deliver: Getting ideas and giving them shape

Weeks 9-11

What you need to do...

to do

• Download your module guide
• Page 35-36 contain prescribed material you need to read before next weeks THINK session
• Download/install/register for Edmodo and join the group 1st year 2018 with joining code 43d373
• We will be using Edmodo to communicate!