wow! so this is what a blog feels like! alright! 

so no, i don't have much to post because its still in progress a la danielle fashion, but this is what my plans are:

dots/colors/font are not the final look, but what i am using now to keep my head straight while i have been plotting. each represents a persons response to the survey, plotted according to a main chart that shows all of the info sans the two prevention questions (what prevents you most/least?)

each answer will be displayed as its own page printed on vellum. the main point of this survey was for me to compare what my peers and social network determine their main priorities to be. the vellum would allow the viewer to compare all the data simultaneously (for the most part) by overlaying to see how an answer to a question (what is your main priority?) compares to another relative question (what prevents you from attaining this priority?). still thinking how it should be displayed....maybe not a book, per se, but a binder with loose sheets? kind of like when you layer acetate sheets of overheads to build on information? maybe i will use acetate sheets??!! i dont know. i look forward to your dissection tomorrow.  adieu.

I just finished photographing some of my more recent pieces, and set them up in a different blog, http://danielledelvecchio-art.blogspot.com/, which I will use in the interim for job searchings until I have a website set up. It took forever to post them, since you are only able to upload 5 at a time, and some have many details, so just refer to the link for now. :)

Below are some of the things I have been working on recently. Unfortunately, when I was laid off, I lost a tremendous amount of work (yeah, yeah, I know....back up my files, i get it). I have a bunch of hard pieces that I am going to shoot this week (my old boss just mailed them to me so that I have something to show for my last four years of work!) but still need to sort through them. Stay tuned!

As for the electronic files below:

> the interior of the plane is part of a series of illustrations I did for http://www.talonairjets.com/site/ (they are in "Fleet", and honestly I have no idea what their names are).  

> the heart logos were made for a Fundraiser for savelaurensheart.com. (check out the site - become inspired.)

> Matt's Mom's Cookies are amazing cookies that are sold at Bierkraft in Park Slope. I designed a few different logos for this product, (only 3 out of about 15 choices are shown) and the winner is shown on the bag. (my fav - Pecan Shortbread). We are currently working on other materials - business cards, letterheads for invoices, etc., and eventually a website. 

> the Save the Date was done for a friend's sister. My favorite part is represented by the square in the upper right hand corner of this electronic version. In actuality, it was a sticker sized to fit on a desk calendar.

See everyone soon!

Summer Intensive Portfolio Design Course

Thesis Topic: To promote global and community service and volunteer work to recently unemployed people who are uncertain of their industry’s security or what their “next step” could be. 

Intention: To inspire and educate those who aren’t aware of what possibilities lay outside the box, or “cubicle”.

Purpose: Bring an awareness of global problems to those that are concerned with life on a more micro scale. I would also like to appeal to those that gauge their self worth on how much money they make or what their title is. No one is safe in today’s economy, and I want people to understand that it’s ok if you worked so hard towards a career that isn’t proving to be lucrative anymore, or for an industry that may be suffering. I want us to realize that being “productive” and being “happy” can come in many different ways. 

Process: Researching where the most help is needed and what programs are set up to cater the needs of a community and/or the environment. This topic can be extremely broad, and so I will probably limit it to a particular region or a particular cause. Once I devise my statistics on this singular topic, I would like to;

I am choosing this topic for one huge reason - it is something that I wish to do myself in the next few months. I figure that if I have to spend a considerable amount of time and effort on a particular topic, I should a.) kill two birds with one stone, and b.) choose something that motivates and moves me. 

I realized some time ago that my daily tasks did not make a difference in the world. This frustrated me. I felt that even though I had a job that offered security, great benefits, and all the perks that working for a top company could offer, I wasn’t being fulfilled. As a designer, my work became stale, mundane, just a response to what was immediately needed. Working long and stressful hours meant that my time away from the office was stretched thin. I felt overwhelmed by routine, and nothing seemed to be stimulating. I needed a change. 

Before I moved to Manhattan and started working full-time, I traveled for three months around the world. I visited 11 countries, and was exposed to the pure excitement of travel. I realized then and there that it was my passion, that while I was experiencing the world, I felt the most alive. Living, working, just getting caught up in rent, overtime, and social activities have made me feel like I am drowning in a different set of responsibilities that I want. 

While I was at first upset about being laid off, I came to view it as an opportunity to fix these major personal dilemas that have been affecting me. If nothing else, I look at is as was to focus on myself for the first time since I graduated college. However, I know for a fact that others in my situation don’t share my enthusiasm about being “terminated”. Most feel stress, anger, desperation - all negative emotions. While I understand their frustration, I am aware that this is just the state of our economy right now, and there isn’t much we can do about it. If we define ourselves solely what we do from 9-5, who are we for the rest of the time? And when that “title” is taken from us, how do we identify ourselves then? I want to appeal to those that are having a hard time figuring out what to do now. I want to inspire them to use this opportunity to make a difference with their 40 hour work week. I know that it’s on my list of things to do. 

I am still debating what aspect of volunteering abroad I would like to focus on, as this will probably end up being the program I am going to actively pursue. There are several outlets for volunteers - from teaching English in Asia (which sometimes can be paid), to installing solar panels near Tibet. Options can be found in the medical field, as well as political, building schools and planting trees, and opportunities for these are all over the world. I will probably use a few examples as my basis.

Outline: 

   > research several organizations that support volunteering abroad. 

   > research three areas that need volunteers more now then in the past. 

   > acquire statistics for need.

   > acquire statistics for unemployment levels within certain demographic (mid-twenties - thirties, single and/or no children, experience in                 industries that are taking significant hits due to economy, or worked in generic jobs, etct)

   > interview people that have volunteer experience

   > research where and how is best way to reach demographic

Pieces: I would like to include infographics, a “coffee table” book of photography and inspiring experiences, brochures with detailed information and interviews, PSA posters, and maybe a video.