By Travis Van Vechten

My name is Travis Van Vechten and I am interning here at Jacob Tyler because of my high-school’s month long academic internship. Every eleventh grader has to do one, and mine is here. When first coming to this internship I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was that we were going to have a meeting first thing when I arrived. I got here early on the first day and my Uncle Charlie showed me around and introduced me to a bunch of people, or ‘creatives’ as they call themselves. Then, we went into the meeting with some of the people that would be working with me throughout the month. We talked about what I would be working on through out my internship. They decided that in addition to developing my own brand identity, it would be great for me to work on their VOTE by Design campaign to show me every aspect of what they do at Jacob Tyler.

I had no idea what this VOTE Campaign was when we first started but I learned much more when I went to the kickoff meeting for the project. This project, as all projects here, requires a huge team effort. Because of this, they have involved me in all of the meetings for this project, and they then inform me on the next steps that we will take. After the kickoff, the Project Manager scheduled assets, like a splash page and logo to be created. Now we’re in the first phases of design while we also work on finding sponsors and judges. Stay tuned for more next steps.

I am also doing a side project that focuses on learning the steps of branding. I am doing this by making my own “brand”. I have designed logos, written a creative brief, and created a profile picture for my future “fan page.” Also later in this project I will be designing and creating facebook applications so keep an eye out.

High Tech High is not much different from Jacob Tyler in the way that High Tech High is all project based learning. They are similar because both of their work flows are almost exactly the same. For example, here at Jacob Tyler a client would walk in and request a project. They team would break into “groups” and begin working. At school, the teachers would create a project and then present it to the kids. Similarly, we would then break up into groups and kick off the project. Whenever we work on a project at school there is a lot of collaboration that happens between students. Here at JT, everyone works together in some different aspect of the project so that they make sure to have clear communication throughout the process. They accomplish this mainly by having meetings and emailing each other.

So far, this has been a great experience at Jacob Tyler and I look forward to getting more involved in the projects to come.

By Nicole Fletcher

Here at Jacob Tyler, we think we’re pretty cool cats… but let’s be honest… we’re proud nerds and as such I thought I’d grace you with a list of 9 things to keep your nerd guy or gal happy on everyone’s favorite Hallmark holiday, Valentine’s Day. Good luck. Love on.

1. Start with a card… preferably this one.

2. Then use these.

3. Hang this.

4. Make a mixed tape.

5. Eat this.

6. Give her flowers.

7. Visually and graphically express your love.

8. Make your love last with a tat.
(don’t worry, they’re temp)

9. Drink this.
Because who doesn’t want to back up their bottle?

By Nicole G.

They say the most valuable asset a volunteer can give is their time. Yet in most cases, time is the hardest thing to give. Everyday our lives are moving faster than ever. With the holidays approaching, allotting time between work, friends, family, errands and responsibilities is hard. That’s why Infinite Family has paired technology with charity to make giving back easy.

Infinite Family founder, Amy Stokes, witnessed the devastation caused by HIV and AIDS, while adopting her son in Africa. Realizing how many African children were orphaned and sent off to live without plans their future, she decided to make a change.

As a working mother herself, she realized that many people want to help but just don’t have the time or resources to dedicate to traveling abroad. Infinite Family is an online mentoring service that connects volunteers in foreign countries to at-risk youth in Africa. By participating in the program, these children not only receive much needed mentoring and an adult role model, but also gain essential job seeking computer skills for later in life.

Infinite Family gives these kids hope and guidance.  Volunteers are asked to dedicate only 30 minutes of their time, once a week to chat with their chosen child. Technology is changing the way we see and connect with the world. In this one way, it had definitely done so for the better.

For more information about Infinite Family or to learn about becoming a mentor please visit them online at www.infinitefamily.org

By Michelle Peck

It’s that time of year, when we all spend our free time thinking about what gifts to buy, decorating the house with festive lights, planning parties, and singing along to a favorite Christmas carol. The holidays bring love, joy, and excitement year after year and sparks the inner designer in all of us. Design and art direction are all about providing a strategic look and feel to tell a story which is much like the well-planned gift giving and ornate ambiance of the holidays. So follow Santa’s lead to designing the perfect holiday this season with a few simple guidelines.

Think About Your Audience

Before hitting the shopping malls to purchase all the gifts on your list, you need to sit and spend time thinking about your audience and developing a strategy. Think about what each person wants, what their interests are, and how they like to spend their time. It’s important to understand how to speak to your audience, whether it’s finding the perfect gift, or promoting your brand.

Spark Emotion

By relating to your audience, you’ll be able to create a personal connection through your gift giving. You give gifts to people you care about and the right choice will evoke an emotional response in your recipient. Good art direction is all about finding this emotion and tapping into it. Good gifts should do the same thing.

Tell a Story

Christmas carols don’t only provide a festive tune, they tell a story and invite everyone to sing along. They make you feel joyous and bring out the holiday spirit. Creating a voice to convey a story is crucial in marketing a product or service. Conceptual writing makes you feel something beyond learning the facts. A catchy tune doesn’t only tell you what the Christmas story is all about, but you also feel the love and giving the season captures.

Choose a Color Scheme

Yes, it’s true everyone thinks about red and green as the traditional holiday color palette, but bringing true design into your holiday requires so much more. It’s about creating the ideal look for bringing holiday cheer into your home. Define what colors fit your personality and give the vibe your going for. Do you want your home to feel fun, formal, unique or traditional when the family arrives? A color scheme can make a huge impact on the tone of your design and create the appropriate mood.

Establish Your Brand

Ever wonder why the holidays are filled with snowflakes, santa hats, presents, and decorated trees? Visuals are a key element to good design. They are used to support the branding and concept by providing a consistent look throughout all components of a campaign. Visual cues create a culture that is quick to understand in any language. Ornaments and candy canes represent the holidays even without any mention of Christmas. They are ownable elements that can only be used when speaking about your brand.

Check Your Work

Santa knows the value of making a list and checking it twice. The last step for any designer is to proof, test, and share your work with others. The critiques and feedback you receive will only make you a better designer. So, be sure to check those holiday cards before sending them out and have a family member taste your favorite dish before placing it on the table.

In the spirit of the holidays, everyone can be a designer. Know your audience to find the perfect gift, create bliss with a well-told story, and incorporate the right visual elements into your home. You’ll be sure to have a very happy holiday season.