Week 3 Exploration: Digging Deeper

• Why did you choose each particular article?

I chose “Creating a Successful Portfolio”, because I am realizing that it is very important to have some sample work available when trying to get jobs in the Media Communication industry. I am also curious about the best ways to set up portfolios.

The second article I chose was called “7 Principles of Effective Icon Design. I chose this article because I am considering creating some icons for the blog and video page that I want to start.

The third article I chose was “How Cross-Media Storytelling Will Change How We Interact With Content.” I chose this article because I am interested in doing television and film reviews. I would like to use a combination of writing (blog/website), video (YouTube), and possibly podcasting. I thought this article would cover how using multiple platforms can be effective.

• What did you learn?

One of the main things I learned from the portfolio article is to keep everything looking clean and organized. If the reader has to search hard to find things or has to go through too many menus, they may not look at the work at all. It is also important to make the portfolio visually appealing, but not doing too much, to confuse or intimidate the reader.

I learned that some of the most important rules of icon design are: the size, culture, brand recognition, and simplicity. Some of the most simplistic icons are the most remembered. Also, it is important that the icon created fits the brand.

The things I learned the most from the cross-media storytelling article are that the more platforms you have available the more chances for the core audience of a topic to get involved. An example used is how a television show can be on all over the world and then fans use social media to talk about it. It also talks about how franchises cross-market between movies, books, and video games. This is all helpful information.

• Can you apply the insight gained to the public-facing portfolio site you are building this week? If so, how?

I feel I can definitely use the information gained from the online portfolio article. I can also use the third article because it will allow me to better understand how to cross-market my projects.  I may be able to use the icons article. It will depend on what goes into the portfolio.

Creating A Successful Online Portfolio:

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/03/04/creating-a-successful-online-portfolio/

7 Principles Of Effective Icon Design:

http://design.tutsplus.com/articles/7-principles-of-effective-icon-design--psd-147

How Cross-Media Storytelling Will Change How We Interact With Content:

http://thenextweb.com/media/2013/04/30/what-we-can-learn-from-defiance-and-the-future-of-cross-media-storytelling/?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheNextWeb+(The+Next+Web+All+Stories)