chrissiashby

As part of my application for the Brandcenter at VCU, there is an assignment to have a 10 minute talk with a stranger.  So, I’m sitting on the couch one night thinking,

“What could I do to really impress the admissions counselors at the Brandcenter?  Maybe if I could meet with a real Creative Director, a mentor who could point me in the right direction, critique my work, and otherwise give me some bits of wisdom, that would increase my chances of acceptance to the Brandcenter.” 

I made a list of names and phone numbers of local Ad Agencies, Publications, and everywhere else I could find that hires creative interns.

Leo Weekly listened. Ms. Baker, the creative director and production manager for Leo Weekly agreed to see me, and look over my samples.  The meeting was great, but also terrible.  It was the truth.

She flipped through the pages quickly then went back over them slowly.  The work had major problems.  The pieces had technical design problems, concept problems, logo problems, spelling errors, the list just kept going. 

At one point she suggested that I create original brands, with made up products, because I was doing a disservice to the brands I was advertising for (Crest, Starbucks, Swedish Fish).

I asked for help, and that’s exactly what I got.  Ms. Baker told me that she couldn’t even offer me an intern position at this point, and that my best bet was to take some fundamental undergraduate courses in Graphic Design.

So, that’s the plan.  I’m enrolling online for Full Sail University’s undergrad program in Graphic Design.  They will provide me with a 15” Macbook Pro and CS5 as part of tuition cost, and I’ll just take online courses until I’m accepted by the Brandcenter.

I’m not giving up, and I’m still going to apply to the June 1rst deadline at the Brandcenter, but I think I’ve got a snowball’s chance in [you know where], of being accepted this year, with my current skill level. That being said, I want them to know that I am dedicated, that I do really want this, and that I am willing to do whatever it takes to get there.

Now for my shout out’s:

Ms Baker,

Thank you for the sound advice, I’m submitting my application to Full Sail today.

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Brandcenter,

I know you’ll be out there waiting for me, when I’m ready, and I’m looking forward to the day that my application will be accepted.  I hope it will be this year, but even if it’s not, I will not give up.