Joshua Speer is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in Media Design. His journal timeline outlines his goals and strategies for each month of the program. These include improving communication skills, gaining expertise in areas like branding and copywriting, and advancing his design research abilities. By interning with industry organizations and connecting with professionals, Joshua aims to develop confidence in presenting his knowledge and skills to potential employers upon graduating. References are provided to support his goals of achieving mastery in the field of Media Design.

1. MASTERY JOURNAL TIMELINE
Joshua Speer
Media Design Master of Fine Arts Degree

2. MY LIFE’S TASK
I must as Greene say’s and “stick to the few things I know do them well, reestablish confidence, and I will
find my last task. (Greene 2012 p. 45) My earliest childhood memories involve examining magazines,
books, and other design related things. I have realized the connection that ensures that Media Design is
the field on the right path.

3. ATTAINING MASTERY
Masters and those who display a high level of
creative energy are simply people who manage to
retain a sizable portion of their childhood spirit
despite the pressures and demands of adulthood.
(Greene 2012 p.169)
To achieve my life’s task I must be a Tigger not an Eeyore.

4. RETURNING TO MY ORIGINS
Reconnecting with my childhood experiences I found I love design.
Memories of playing with font and text was a connection I need.
Pursuing something I love is key to success

5. GOALS, STRATEGIES, TACTICS& RESEARCH
Month 1 MDL 520 Mastery: Personal Development and Leadership

6. STRATEGIES FOR ATTAINING MASTERY?
If you allow yourself to learn who you
really are by paying attention to that voice
and force within you, then you can
become what you were fated to become-
an individual-a Master. (Greene 2012 p.
29)
Key Strategies for me
 Return to your origins
 Occupy the perfect niche
 Avoid the false path

7. OCCUPY THE PERFECT NICHE
It is never a simple process to find such a niche. It requires patience and a
particular strategy. In the beginning you choose a field that roughly
corresponds to your interests. (Greene 2012 p.35)

8. Strategy for finding my perfect niche.
Refine and improve my skills using my interests
Resources
Graphic Design Tips & Tricks
Weekly
John Mcwade
Photography Foundations: Refining
Your Skills
Steve Simon
33-Laws-Typography
Jill Butler
https://www.lynda.com/Graphic-Design-
tutorials/Graphic-Design-Tips-Tricks-
Weekly/365959-2.html
https://www.lynda.com/Photography-
tutorials/Photography-Foundations-Refining-
Your-Skills/545696-2.html
https://www.lynda.com/Design-Page-Layout-
tutorials/33-Laws-Typography/147012-2.html

9. Month 1 MDM 510 Jun 1
Month 2 MDM 525 Jun 26
Month 3 MDM 530 July 31
Month 4 MDM MDM 555 Aug. 28
Month 5 MDM 565 Sept. 25
Month 6 MDM 570 Oct 23
Month 7 MDM 615 Nov. 20
Month 8 MDM 620 Jan. 3
Month 9 MDM 650 Jan 29
Month 10 MDM 640 Feb 26
Month 11 MDM 690 March 26
Month 12 MDM 691 APR. 30
Full Sail Journey Timeline

10. MONTH 2 MDM 525 DEFINING CLIENT NEEDS
Goal: Improve my communication skills for meetings with a company or service
Resources
Interpersonal communication
Dorie Clark
Developing Your Emotional
Intelligence
Gemma Roberts
Projecting Intelligence
Todd Dewett
https://www.lynda.com/Dorie-Clark/5870969-
1.html
https://www.lynda.com/Gemma-Roberts/5141836-
1.html
https://www.lynda.com/Todd-
Dewett/1516963-1.html

11. MONTH 3 MDM 530 BRAND DEVELOPMENT
Goal: Gain a better outlook when looking at brands and messaging
Resources
Learning the Basics of
Branding
Lorrie Thomas Ross
Logo Trend Report
Bill Gardner
Brand and Marketing
Integration
Dina Shapiro
https://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-
tutorials/Building-Your-Brand/101957-
2.html
https://www.lynda.com/Branding-tutorials/Logo-
Trend-Report-2016/455728-2.html
https://www.lynda.com/Branding-
training-tutorials/2391-0.html

12. MONTH 4
MDM 555 EFFECTIVE COPYWRITING
Goal: Advance writing skills to meet industry level challenge
Resources
Writing Ad Copy
Michael Duquet
Learning to Write Marketing Copy
Ian Lurie
The copywriter's handbook: a
step-by-step guide to writing
copy that sells
Robert W. Bly.
https://www.lynda.com/Google-AdWords-
tutorials/What-you-should-
know/433943/493918-4.html
https://www.lynda.com/Business-Online-Marketing-
tutorials/Writing-Marketing-Copy/149250-2.html
HF 5825 .B55 2005
Full Sail Library

13. MONTH 5 MDM 565 DESIGN RESEARCH
Goal: Learn how to find the right information and be able to analyze the best sources
Resources
A designer's research manual
Jenn & Kenneth Visocky O'Grady.
Visual research
Russell Bestley and Ian Noble
Design writing research
Ellen Lupton, J. Abbott Miller
NC 1001.6 .V57 2006
Full Sail Library
NC 997 .B44 2016
Full Sail Library
Z 246. L 86 1999
Fulll Sail Library

14. MONTH 6
MDM 570 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES
Goal: Gain insight into the research process
Resources
Learning Design Research
Andy Schwanbeck
Professional communication
Daniel L. Plung,
Tracy T. Montgomery
In search of certainty
Mark Burgess
https://www.lynda.com/Design-Foundations-
tutorials/Foundations-Design-Research/182890-
2.html
HF 5718 .P58 2004
Full Sail Library
T 14.5 .B87 2015
Fulll Sail Library

15. MONTH 7 MDM 615
DESIGN STRATEGIES AND MOTIVATION
Goal: Refine and advance information delivery
Resources
Designing a Presentation
Justin Seeley
Creative Inspirations: Duarte
Design, Presentation Design Studio
Nancy Duarte
Running a Design
Business: Presentation
Skills
Petrula Vrontikis
https://www.lynda.com/Keynote-
tutorials/Designing-Presentation/124082-
2.html
https://www.lynda.com/Keynote-
tutorials/duartedesignpresentationdesign/51412-
2.html
https://www.lynda.com/Design-
Business-tutorials/Running-Design-
Business-Presentation-Skills/124071-
2.html

16. MONTH 8
MDM 620 DESIGN INTEGRATION
Goal: Learn to apply design to present information effectively
Resources
Designing a Presentation
Justin Seeley
Advertising by design
Robin Landa
Graphics alive
Victor Cheung
https://www.lynda.com/Keynote-
tutorials/Designing-Presentation/124082-2.html
HF 5823 .L232 2016
Full Sail Library
NC 997 .G73 2006
Full Sail Library

17. MONTH 9
MDM 650 MULTI-PLATFORM
Goal: Improve knowledge using multiple platforms
Resources
Creating HTML Layouts with
InDesign
Justin Putney
Adapting a Print Layout for Digital
Publishing
Mike Rankin
Dreamweaver CC
Essential Training
David Powers
https://www.lynda.com/InDesign-
tutorials/Creating-HTML-Layouts-
InDesign/360616-2.html
https://www.lynda.com/InDesign-tutorials/Adapting-
Print-Layout-Digital-Publishing/171050-2.html
https://www.lynda.com/course
tutorials/Dreamweaver-CC-
2017-Essential-
Training/540349-2.html

18. MONTH 10
MDM 640 MEASURING DESIGN
Goal: Improve presentation and evaluation of work
Resources
Universal methods of design
Bella Martin
Graphic design solutions
Robin Landa
Looking closer 5
Michael Bierut, William
Drenttel, and Steven Heller.
180. 55. M 4 M 35 2012
Full Sail Library
NC 997 .L32 2006
Full Sail Library
NC 997 .L6334 2006
Full Sail Library

19. MONTH 11
MDM 609THESIS: PRESENTATION OF DESIGN
SOLUTION
Goal:
Culminating information from previous classes I show how interpret the significance of Media
Design
Resources
Deke's Techniques
Deke McClelland
Academic Research Foundations:
Quantitative
Rolin Moe
Learning Data
Visualization
Bill Shander
https://www.lynda.com/Photoshop-
tutorials/Dekes-Techniques/76067-2.html
https://www.lynda.com/Education-Elearning-
tutorials/Academic-Research-Foundations-
Quantitative/553499-2.html
https://www.lynda.com/Design-
Infographics-tutorials/Data-
Visualization-Fundamentals/153776-
2.htm

20. MONTH 12
MDM 691 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Goal: Have the confidence to present my Media Design knowledge professionally and effectively
in front of the necessary people.
Resources
Become a Print Production
Professional Learning Paths
Lynda.com
Defining and Achieving Professional
Goals
Dorie Clark
Publishing on LinkedIn for
College Students and Young
Professionals
Maya Pope-Chappell
https://www.lynda.com/Leadership-Management-
tutorials/Defining-Achieving-Professional-
Goals/578057-2.html
https://www.lynda.com/LinkedIn-
tutorials/Publishing-LinkedIn-College-
Students-Young-Professionals/505166-
2.html

21. INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT
Industry clubs and organizations
Possible Media Design clubs and organization I can join
to network and gain real world experience. Involvement
will allow me to further my knowledge and skills in
Media Design field.
United Arts AIGA Graphic Artists Guild
Lawrence Nance, President Craig A. Hyde
President
Nicole Fleming-Hamlin
Regional Administrator
Itnance@fullsail.edu hydec@booksamillion.com membership@graphicartistsgu
ild.org

22. INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS
Six industry leaders that I could interview for a Mastery Journal blog post.
Stephan Ango
linkedin.com/in/stephanango
angoulvant.net
Michael Bierut
linkedin.com/in/michael-bierut-
9302551
Rob Janoff
linkedin.com/in/rob-janoff-0919579
Kate Moross
linkedin.com/in/katemoross
Marian Bantjes
1 604.947.9107
Joshua Noom
linkedin.com/in/josh-noom-43b3241b

23. INSPIRATION TO KEEP GOING
Masters not only retain the spirit of the Original Mind, but they
add to it their years of apprenticeship and ability to focus on
deeply on problems or ideas…They retain a childlike excitement
about their field and playful approach, all of which males the
hours of hard work alive and pleasurable. (Greene, 2012)
Randy Pausch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6PZKQp-CXw

24. REFERENCES
Are you a Tigger or an Eeyore? (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2017, from
http://www.chicagonow.com/cheaper-than-therapy/2013/11/are-you-a-tigger-or-a-
eeyore/
Greene, R. (2017). Mastery. New York, NY: Penguin USA.
Joshua Speer
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/lets-sail-seeker-2017-things
Tigger. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2017, from http://parody.wikia.com/wiki/Tigger
https://www.youtube.com/watch=z6PZKQp-CXw