1. Mastery Journey Timeline
Jamie Elasick
Full Sail University
(webtreats, Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4)
Saturday, February 1, 14

2. February
2014
Defining Client Needs
Goal: To develop a sense of confidence with my ability to identify the needs of a potential
client and develop a proper plan to move forward with research to present to
that client.
•
Read: Mastering The Creative Brief by Aquent http://www.aiga.org/masteringthecreative-brief/
•
Complete the Lynda.com training Foundations of Layout and Composition with
Sean Adams. This is a basic course in graphic design that will serve as a good
foundation to start off the first month of studies.
•
Watch Stories and the Art of Persuasion presented by Eve Claxton from the AIGA
2013 Design Conference. The presentation will focus on the art of storytelling.
http://www.aiga.org/video-HHH-2013-claxton/
•
Watch this TedTalk on How to build your creative confidence http://www.ted.com/
talks/david_kelley_how_to_build_your_creative_confidence.html
(webtreats, Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4)
Saturday, February 1, 14

3. March
2014
Brand Development
Goal: To gain a thorough understanding of the branding process.
•
Complete the Lynda.com training Creating Brand Identity Collateral with
Steve Harris. In addition to learning more about the branding process I
will also have the opportunity to practice in InDesign.
•
Watch Head/Heart/Hand presented by Eric Baker at the AIGA 2013
Design Conference. The focus of the session was creativity and learning
from past masters of the industry. http://www.aiga.org/video-HHH-2013baker/
•
Watch What You Probably Didn’t Learn in Design School presented by Leyla
Acaroglu at the AIGA 2013 Design Conference. This presentation will
focus on the impacts of design, the pros and the cons. http://
www.aiga.org/video-HHH-2013-acaroglu/
(webtreats, Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4)
Saturday, February 1, 14

4. April
2014
Effective Copywriting
Goal: To gain a clear understanding of my writing style as well as how to adjust my style for
the purpose of various marketing and design efforts.
•
Watch the Copywriting 101 Webinar by Vertical Response
Marketing. http://help.verticalresponse.com/how-to/
tutorial/copywriting_101/
•
Read Copywriting 101: How to Craft Compelling Copy by
Copyblogger Media LLC http://my.copyblogger.com/type/
ebooks/
•
Complete the Lynda.com training Introducing Illustrator
with Deke McClelland. This training will keep me engaged
in the technical aspect of design.
(webtreats, Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4)
Saturday, February 1, 14

5. May
2014
Design Research
Goal: I would like to take away effective design methods based on case studies or research. I
hope to have the opportunity to evaluate the antidotes that make for a strong design
campaign.
•
Watch History Rhymes presented by Kurt Andersen from the
AIGA 2013 Design Conference. This presentation will focus
on the history of graphic design. http://www.aiga.org/videoHHH-2013-andersen/
•
Attend a full day training in Photoshop at the public library to
prepare me for courses in the program.
•
To research and read about at least one brand that has failed
after the creation of a new brand identity.
(webtreats, Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4)
Saturday, February 1, 14

6. June
2014
Organizational Structures
Goal: To have a better understanding of the inner workings of a design firm and how the
individual roles contribute to the design process.
•
Watch Collaborative Creativity at 3M presented by Kevin Gilboe from the
AIGA 2013 Design Conference. This presentation will focus on the
restructure/rebrand of 3M to include the design as well as the team and
leaders who were a part of the process. http://www.aiga.org/videoHHH-2013-gilboe/
•
Complete a Lynda.com training on one of the media applications that will
be introduced in the course.
•
Research workflow strategies and/or software that is commonly used
within agencies.
•
Watch the Lynda.com training Developing a Mood Board with Nigel
French.
(webtreats, Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4)
Saturday, February 1, 14

7. July
2014
Design Strategies & Motivation
Goal: Apply concepts previously learned to evaluate the proper means of developing a media
design campaign for one company versus another.
•
Research businesses (at least 2) evaluate the pros and cons of their
design strategies.
•
Complete the Lynda.com training Creative Quick Tips with Justin Seely.
This is part of a series of trainings that explore tips that can be used in
Adobe programs to enhance project and work for efficiently.
•
Complete the Lynda.com training Before & After: Things Every Designer
Should Know with John McWade. This training will cover tips for
creating designs that will make an impact.
•
Start the book “The Anatomy of Type: A Graphic Guide to 100
Typefaces” by Tony Seddon and Stephen Coles.
(webtreats, Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4)
Saturday, February 1, 14

8. August
2014
Design Integration
Goal: To have a clearer vision of how to implement design strategies through evaluation.
•
Using my Feedly feed, research new brand designs on the
Brand New feed and identify the differences in the new
brand as well as evaluate the importance of the changes that
were made.
•
Complete the Lynda.com training Foundations of Typography
with Ina Saltz. This training will explore the importance of
typography in design and how to effectively use it to create a
cohesive message.
•
Complete the book “The Anatomy of Type: A Graphic Guide
to 100 Typefaces” by Tony Seddon and Stephen Coles.
(webtreats, Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4)
Saturday, February 1, 14

9. September
2014
Muti-Platform Delivery
Goal: To leave with a basic understanding of how multimedia is developed as well as
understand the proper methods to explore for individual campaigns.
•
Watch Designing with Humility presented by Margaret Gould Stewart from
the AIGA 2013 Design Conference. This presentation will focus on
translating design to social media and online platforms. http://
www.aiga.org/video-HHH-2013-stewart/
•
Complete the Lynda.com training Design Aesthetics for Web Design with
Sue Jenkins. This is a basic web design course to learn the important
elements to a nicely developed Website. This includes design, layouts,
colors, fonts, etc.
•
Complete the Lynda.com training Design the Web: Simulating Web Text with
Chris Converse. This is a short training on how to use Photoshop to
create character styles for Web use.
(webtreats, Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4)
Saturday, February 1, 14

10. October
2014
Measuring Design Effectiveness
Goal: To gather new tools and strategies for measuring success in a field that can be tough
to measure.
•
Read the following report published about the impact that a mass media
campaign had on quitting smoking. The article will cover the results of the
media campaign and analyze whether or not it was executed properly. (Mass
media campaigns to promote smoking cessation among adults: an integrative
review) http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/21/2/127.full
•
Read the following article, Data-Driven Design In The Real World, available on
the Smashing Magazine Website. http://uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/
2013/09/24/data-driven-design-in-the-real-world/
•
Complete the Lynda.com documentary The Creative Spark: Title Case,
Typographic Artisans with Jessica Hische and Erik Marinovich.
(webtreats, Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4)
Saturday, February 1, 14

11. November
Thesis: Presentation of Design Solution
2014
Goal: To successfully present a feasible, nicely branded, professional media design campaign.
To also gain the confidence in my ideas surrounding my decisions to be able to
professionally support my concepts.
•
Watch Are You Using Your Creative Intelligence? presented by Bruce Nussbaum from
the AIGA 2013 Design Conference. This presentation will focus on the value of
creativity in the workplace. He will cover five creative competencies for creative
types. http://www.aiga.org/video-HHH-2013-nussbaum/
•
Watch You Have No Idea Who We Are presented by Jennifer Kinon and Bobby .
Martin Jr. from the AIGA 2013 Design Conference. This presentation will focus on
branding and personal identity from the perspective of businesses partners who
have been in business for three years. http://www.aiga.org/video-HHH-2013kinon-martin/
•
Watch TedTalk, What Your Designs Say About You. The Talk focuses on personal
design and how it impacts people’s perception of us. http://www.ted.com/talks/
sebastian_deterding_what_your_designs_say_about_you.html
(webtreats, Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4)
Saturday, February 1, 14

12. December
2014
Professional Practice
Goal: To understand the process of protecting my work. I also hope to take away tips of
how to approach this conversation with clients through contracts.
•
Watch My Trademark Can Beat Up Your Trademark presented by Linda
Joy Kattwinkel and Shel Perkins from the AIGA 2013 Design
Conference. This presentation will focus on what makes a brand
identity strong or weak from a legal standpoint. http://www.aiga.org/
video-HHH-2013-kattwinkel-perkins/
•
Research and analyze a legal challenge that a designer or company
has run into with regard to trademark infringement.
•
Read: Don’t Be A Victim of Copywriting by Frank Martinez http://
www.aiga.org/dont-be-a-victim-of-copying/
(webtreats, Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4)
Saturday, February 1, 14

13. References
webtreats. (Designer). (2010, June 27). Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4
[Print Drawing]. Retrieved from http:/www.flickr.com/photos/
44071822@N08/4740848101/
(webtreats, Free Grunge Watercolor Textures and Layered PSD 4)
Saturday, February 1, 14