Citizen K.

They way in which the experiment was done reminds of some hackers technique. Hacker hacks a website, but don’t cause any damage to the system. It’s done in order to show the system’s weak points. That’s basically what those artists did. The idea of information privacy is a theme to debate. The system itself also was always a topic to big discussions.

From one point of view it makes our life easier and more comfortable, but from another point of view it just makes us manageable and transparent. Having all information about us online and offline (in different governmental databases) makes it easy to manipulate this information. It makes it easy to use it against us. But that’s also a part of modern society, necessity for the system to work properly. You may agree or may disagree with this, but you are a part of it, you made this system live.

While most just expect from “developers” to make the system better, some find a week points and tell others about those points. The only problem, that in case of websites, fixes are done and done fast, but in case of The System, no changes made. I think if I’d want to I’d able to carry out the same experiment even now in most of the countries.

The Reading Mother

I had a Mother who read me things
That wholesome life to a child’s heart brings –
Stories that stir with an upward touch.
Oh that every Mother were such!

You may have tangible wealth untold
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be.
I had a Mother who read to me.

Imitations of life

The Game (37:06-43:30)

 “We knew we were as responsible for everything we did,  As for everything we saw.”

Mike Hoolboom

This prat of the movie is about responsibilities and limitations. Playing games is a way to creatively use your imagination – make up imaginary worlds, rules, mystic creatures and etc. When you do it – the world is limitless for you. As a kid you use your imaginations all the time, you explore the world and you come up with innovative ideas and ways to solve any problem.

As you grow up you are taught the definition of responsibility and limits, you are taught to think before you do, you are taught to be afraid of what you think, because it may become real. You are taught to be careful with what imagine, because imagination is a great tool. I think the way Hoolboom presents the idea of imagination as adults see it can be compared to emergency medic kit, that is to be used only in emergency situations, because if you waist it before, you might not have what it when you really need it in future.

I think Hoolboom presents an imagination maturity as a chain. First you explore the world, and then you study how to use your imagination, then you are starting to waste your imagination and being taught the definition of responsibility and power of the imagination. “That’s how cultures are made”, Hoolboom cites his mother. But after comes the stage of hope. You are waiting to unleash your imagination. Your imagination is something sacred, but what you see around is also someone’s imagination. You hold your future – your imagination inside you, it is starting to replace the memories, the world that you’ve explored. For me it’s kind of a dead end, because on one hand you are responsible for what you imagine, but on the other hand you stop being responsible for the world around you. It’s a wrong way of using power of your imagination. You see other people’s imaginations around you; they take over your imagination, your ability and will to explore and to create. On this stage you are a consumer in imagine world; but the worst thing about it is that it’s not what you imagined.

Your life is just an imitation of life… But last one dies the hope.

Job research 2.0

Ok, now I have a deeper understanding of what I’d do in future and what is required, now is the time to find out how to get there and what is the path for me. I found a American Association of Advertising Agencies which I think was crucial for my research. It provided me with most of the AA positions and descriptions. I was able to make a temporary list of my own (the positions that I am interested in or that may serve a entry-level positions):

CREATIVE JOBS
Art Director; Creative Director; Graphic Designer; Associate Creative Director; Assistant Art Director

INTERACTIVE/DIGITAL JOBS
Digital Designer; Interaction Designer; Interactive Designer; Senior Interactive Art Director;

Some of the positions descriptions were available only for members of AAAA, so I had to search their descriptions online, like for example a difference between creative director and associate. So, I’ve determined the positions, now is the time for forming a path. I read a few articles on designers career paths, like this one or this and made the following list for my career path:

• DIGITAL / INTERACTION / INTERACTIVE DESIGNER
• SENIOR DIGITAL / INTERACTION / INTERACTIVE DESIGNER
• ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR
• ART DIRECTOR
• CREATIVE DIRECTOR

All this is represented in my timeline, followed with description of what each position will give me and how it helps me to get to my final destination.

The only thing left to do now is find all the positions requirements and build a job matrix. I found that the best way to do so is to research available positions on LinkedIn. I researched about 5 for each position and figured the average requirements for all the positions as well as what skills I already have and what do I need to acquire.

All this I put in table – available in PDF: Job-Matrix

All this is only approximate – I found out that a lot depends on a firm/agency that is hiring, so at some of them I’ll be able to start on a higher position, which will shorten the path. After all it depends on me – how fast I’ll acquire the skills and how good I’ll perform.

Job research

I was pretty sure about what I want to do in future even before attending this class. This is reflected in my timeline, so I won’t be to detailed in describing the path, but the final point is a Creative Director position, followed someday by opening my own business in promotion/ads area.

Before starting this research I already knew that it’ll be mess, because similar positions in different companies may require various skills and experience. As well as there is no any kind of 100% right formula to become a creative director.

I started my research with reading some articles about the jobs in creative/design field and trying to understand what may be the entry-level position and the path. I found this article which is basically a series of interviews with different creative directors. Reading this only supported my point of view. While some of them tell that this path is a natural process – starting as designer, getting experience and etc, others tell there is no right way and creative directors come from variety of different positions nad having different experiences.

Second article that I’ve found is this one. The only important thing there is the table with common requirements:

	Common Requirements
Degree Level	Bachelor’s degree*
Degree Field	Graphic design, marketing or similar field*
Experience	7-10 years of experience*
Key Skills	Interpersonal, managerial skills*
Computer Skills	Familiarity with graphic design and publication design software*

It’s not too detailed, but provides you with some of the basic requirements. Before starting the research I didn’t really know the difference between creative director and art director, as well as I couldn’t say why exactly I’d like to be a creative director. Finding this simple explanation made it clear for me. Creative director is someone who generates the ideas, while art director is someone who is charge of making them live. At this point I was also able to understand why I want to do this – I love to generate ideas and find creative solutions for complex projects. Having skills and experience in different fields will definitely help me out in this.

To be continued…