Vol2 Issue1 RICM OCT 2013 by Rhode Island Creative Magazine

creative Magazine

R HODE ISLAN D

OCTOBER 2013

vol.2 issue 1

My vision and mission of Melo International is all about Artists and Designers coming together to create the life-style trends and “one of a kind” pieces, for the public and the industry as ONE. The creative force and passion to strive for more and reach for the STARS.”

Designer - Adriana Neves- MusaShop www.melo-international.com www.shop.melodeluxe.com https://galeriaunitedproject.see.me/ 508-685-0641

- Tina Melo-Kufner Melo International

Providing Catered Cusisine for

路 Events 路 Fundraisers 路 Busy Families 路 Professionals

Food writer for Rhode Island Creative Magazine www.ricreativemag.com & www.askmissa.com facebook.com/Ricardo.rhodeisland twitter.com/ChefRicardoRI youtube.com/feed/UCK2Xv-SflB8clfJ_lvyIm0g

Watch my new cooking show on its new day and time, Mondays at 1pm at www.wmbradio.com

Packaging Brand ID

Merchandising Trade Show Collateral

lily ferranti

Powerful visual communications create a clear understanding of consumer products – what they do, how they work and why you need them. When effective branding is carried successfully throughout an entire system, the complete “package” should attract, engage and then compel the consumer.

lilyferrantidesign.com

Art

Create Design Inspire Vision

from the founder As we enter our second year of promoting creativity, I would like to first say thank you to all who have jumped on board and have helped build the success of this publication. It has been an amazing journey so far. I have met a lot of amazing people and along the way, many of them had said to me, “This is quite a large undertaking you are taking on, but if anyone was to do it, you are the one to do so and we are here to help you.” That was quite the compliment to receive and to know that I had the support from soo many was an incredible feeling. Rhode Island Creative Magazine (RICM) just had its relaunch event on September 25th for a night of networking and appreciation at The Lorraine Mills in the Melo International Studio Gallery that consists of 70 local artists work. It was a great location to host the event and to help provide exposure to our local artists which is part of RICM’s mission. The event was just another stepping stone towards Kimberly Sherman Leon and Mayor Allan Fung of Cranston to bringing all the professionals around the state together, creating at the RICM Relaunch Event. a movement, building awareness of the talent and education we have here in RI. With a lot of hard work, teamwork, and leadership, we as an industry can achieve this. I am here to lead this movement and help make a difference. Many of you have already joined me for this journey and I hope more of you will and help grow our team. How can we grow? Business to business marketing is the key. I am here to help educate you, promote you, and connect you to new markets. That has been my daily mission as a designer for years! Now I am doing that on a much larger scale. The RICM relaunch event was a great example of what I have already started to create. We have been brought together by sharing the mission, supporting each others profession and passion at 100% contribution. We all didn’t know each other but we all strive for the same goal, success! RICM has brought and will continue to bring a wide range of professionals together to make a difference and to achieve the mission. THE MISSION The Rhode Island Creative Magazine’s mission is to make Rhode Island’s creative industry, and Providence, its Creative Capital, shine! This truly unique one-of-a-kind publication is an important resource that will create awareness of the outstanding creative talent of Rhode Island, attract and expand business opportunities, create jobs, promote local education, small and large businesses,

organizations, designers, artists, printers, writers, students and others who are (and will be) an equally important resource for our economy. By gathering a variety of experts in the industry, producing a visual and educational piece, we are able to showcase what we do on a much larger scale. RICM will educate and promote the current and upcoming creative professionals, organizations and local talent. It will provide inspiring as well as educational articles written and contributed by local colleges, universities, businesses, organizations, and artists in this industry.

where we are now and where we are heading NOW: RICM is currently an online magazine as we all know. It reaches locally and nationally! That is the benefit of having it online. I receive comments and compliments from across the globe regarding the articles, the design, the concept and how useful this creative resource is to them! It is an amazing feeling to know that the audience is enjoying it, creating conversations about the topics and sharing it with their, friends, family, students and coworkers. It will continue to be a downloadable resource that you can share to grow the audience and create awareness. HEADING: There are many goals in place but I will only share just a few. One of the goals of course is for a printed version to be distributed throughout RI to really deliver the message. A printed publication will deliver such an impressive statement. The quality of print, paper and design will grab anyone’s attention and draw them in. This will be a publication to be displayed on your coffee table, keep in your library, and never in the trash can. It is a magazine you can always reference back to! Another goal is to restructure the curriculum. RICM is heading to the classrooms! I have already made an impact on some schools which is fantastic. I will continue to do so by presenting to schools about the magazine and its mission. Educating the upcoming young professionals of what to expect out in the real world and what they need to know about being hands on in their career path to achieve best practices. Whether they want to be a pressman or a sculptor, the foundation is the same, passion and drive. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. I hope you enjoy the first issue of Volume 2. The topics have expanded and will continue to do. Theatre, creative food presentations (baked goods included), metal work and any creative talent I would like to feature will be among previous topics. Enjoy our state’s creative resource!

ead

Imagine Innovate

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Publisher/ Editor /Designer

Articles & Contributors

Assistant Designers

Contributing Cover Design

Kimberly Sherman Leon

Lillian Ferranti Kate Hanley Matthew Pacific

John A Simonetti Architect LLC MetroArts for Young Artists RI Metro Arts INC

Assistant Editor Rob Mariani

IT/Web Assistant Tom Slater Jorge Davila

Contributing Writers Alex and Ani Mohawk RISD AMP RI Linda A. Dionne Chris Sheehy Brian Alves Josephine Eke Ronald G. Shapiro, Ph. D. Chef Ricardo Costa Bob Colonna Paula Mottshaw Bekah Greenwald Speck John Speck Catherine Hood Melissa Black Kristin Carcieri-MacRae

We want to hear from you! Are you a local freelancer? Want to be a contributor? Interested in advertising or sponsoring? Send us information on your upcoming event, new business, job listing, internships or tours to be included in the publication. Rhode Island Creative Magazine Cranston, Rhode Island T: 401.440.3911 E: kim@ksdesignsri.com W: www.ricreativemag.com

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03 04

From the Founder

Learning Beyond School

Marketing Rambles

Articles & Contributors

October 2013 11 12

Alex & Ani

How to Know if You and Your Next Client Will Be a Good Match

Josephine Eke

Vice President, Design Intelligence, Sterling Brands A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and has an MBA from Northeastern University. She has 20 years experience combining brand strategy, design and innovation with success in building multi-million dollar brands for companies like EstĂŠe Lauder, Mattel and Hasbro. Josephine also teaches in the Masters of Branding program at SVA and RISD/CE.

JWU: Florence Italy: Summer Design Experience 2013

Paula Mottshaw

Communications and Design, Keeping It Simply Simple

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my motto. I strive to keep my work process with clients streamlined and simple. Using a conversational approach for gathering information, I create a plan that will enable us to work towards successful completion of your project.

Johnson and Wales University Brian Alves, MFA Assistant Professor, Department Chair Graphic Design & Digital Media

Alex and Ani Melissa Black

Chief Efficiency Officer and co-owner of Black Ink Virtual Assistance (BlackInkVA.com)

Is designing plans to manage workflow efficiency and developing websites and messaging strategies for small businesses. Melissa has been published in Rhode Island Small Business Journal, OnlineRI.com and serves on the Board of Directors of the American Marketing Association of Southeastern New England (AMASNE).

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Redesigning Futures at Riverzedge Arts

20 22

RIC: How to Theatre

23 26 28 30

RICM: Relaunch Event

Rebekah Greenwald Speck Executive Director

Brings to RiverzEdge over 15 years experience with non-profit programming and management. RiverzEdge Arts Project is a social enterprise that provides talented underserved teens hands-on work experience in graphic design, digital photography, screen-printing and visual arts.

Bringing a Fresh Look to RI

RISD: Making it in America

Bob Colonna

AMP Circuit

Adjunct Professor of Theatre at Rhode Island College

NEIT: Interior Design Not Just Pillows and Paint

He has been an actor, director, narrator, announcer and performer professionally for over fifty years. He is founder and artistic director since 1971 of The Rhode Island Shakespeare Theater. He was a recipient of the 2007 Claiborne Pell Award for Excellence In The Arts.

Rhode Island School of Design AMP RI

Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations of RI

Is here to help you share your skills, knowledge, passion and energy for promoting your profession with other communication, marketing and sales professionals. The organization provides opportunities of comradeship that will help you excel in your profession as you share your knowledge, learn from others and gain opportunities for new jobs.

Linda A. Dionne

Media Relations Specialist

| Rhode Island Creative Magazine

Has served as Media Relations Specialist since 2009. In addition to writing articles for various trade publications, Linda is responsible for preparing and distributing press releases as well as coordinating all media requests. Linda is also the editor for the college’s quarterly newspaper, “Tech News”, and a monthly on-line newsletter, “Tech Talk”. Linda is a graduate of Bryant University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Marketing.

Welcome to the New Acedemic Year: Have You Optimized Your Career Plan?

Chef Ricardo Costa

Personal Chef/Cooking Show Host Professional Profile Culinary, nutrition working with families towards a healthier lifestyle.

34 35 36 38

RI Freelancers

Intrigued by Art and Comic Books

Independent Consultant and Speaker in Human Factors/ Ergonomics (designing products,

40 41

XOS Open Studios

Getting Organized for College

solutions, and services so that they will be easy for people to use), User Experience, Career Development, Learning, Leadership and Human Resources. Ron has had global or USA responsibility for managing technical learning, technical leadership, employee university education, career coaching, new employee orientation and coordinating human factors/ergonomics for IBM.

Is the “Freshman 15” the Norm?

Ronald G. Shapiro Ph. D.

Massimo Vingelli Makes Books

Sidewalk Branding Photo Contest Winner

Mohawk

Mohawk Make Ready

Chris Sheehy

Founder of the award-winning Rhode Island search engine optimization/marketing & local internet marketing firm; Sidewalk Branding Company.

Named a “Top Startup Business in New England” by Mass High Tech, internationally published, and a resource partner to Guy Kawasaki’s Alltop news. Chris gets businesses DISCOVERED!Southeastern New England (AMASNE).

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae Owner of Organizing in RI

Has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. Through her natural ability to organize and her passion for motivating others to achieve their goals, Kristin created Organizing in RI. She is also a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and is also a member of the East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce

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LEARNING EXPERIEN BEYOND SCHOOL

FIND A MEN

OR EVEN BE A ME

DEVELOP EMP

SAUNTER THE ST

I have learned a lot in academia and at work. With two degrees and an array of jobs on my resume it is the learning outside of those constructs that has proven most valuable. On a recent Saturday I met one of my grad students at a coffee shop to share thoughts on his resume, portfolio and discuss what he wanted to do, companies he was interested in, his brand and how he should present himself. He asked for help – first learning – connect with others. There are generous people who are willing to share and offer guidance. Find a mentor. We spend so much time developing brands for companies and interacting with them as consumers but perhaps the hardest thing is defining and showcasing your personal brand. A portfolio shows your thinking and creative executions, the type of projects often show your creative journey. How you share your portfolio – are you succinct in your tale or circuitous, do you share insights and observations beyond the obvious and do you give credit to others on team projects – storytelling – how you present and speak about yourself is as important as your work.

CULTU YOUR BRA CREATI STORYTELL

Write a brand statement. Start by writing down the top 5 things you want someone to know about you and then use the key words to create a few lines that describe you as a designer/creative.

I was sharing how much I had learned about myself/my

brand just going on interviews – picking up key words and even insights about my work and me from the person across the table. One interview was on my lunch hour and the interviewer was late so I let him know that I only had a ½ hour to speak with him. I was offered the job because they liked my straightforward style. Be authentic. Value yourself and your time. If you don't – no one else will.

Go on interviews even if you are not sure about the job. Actively engage others to learn about yourself. Test your ability to be prepared and think on your feet.

We discussed the kind of questions you should ask when interviewing including understanding your role and the interaction with your potential boss – what does he need/expect in order for you to be successful. | Rhode Island Creative Magazine

How does the work flow? How many people are involved in the creative process? This will tell you a lot about a company as well as how much ownership you will have over your creative solutions. What about team dynamics and the culture of the company? Understand what is important to you, what you need to feel valued and inspired. Early in my career I took a job with an agency that did fabulous work. I really liked the owner and had an inspiring interview. I never considered the culture it was not on my radar at that young stage. The culture was so oppressive, there was no sharing it was not creative – stuck in the basement, heads down, fear of leaving the office first and long unnecessary hours as a way to prove your value. I lasted three months and made sure to put ‘culture’ on my top 5 list of things important in a job.

NTOR

ENTOR

EXPLORE

TRAVEL! NCE ENGAGE OTHERS

PATHY

TREETS

HAVE ‘AHA’ MOMENTS

URE CURIOSITY AND ASK QUESTIONS VALUE YOURSELF SHARE WITH OTHERS IVE LING! BE AUTHENTIC by Josephine Eke

My father believed in experiencing as a way of learning. We travelled as a family – climbed and touched history and cultures – from the symmetry of the Parthenon to the monolithic beauty of Stonehenge, hiking the coast of Piraeus and sauntering the streets of Paris. He wanted us to understand how the history of a place and a person, like a brand, impacts who/what they are today. Seeing how people across the world experience brands, products, and life. What’s important to them, challenges they face and the moments they celebrate – develop empathy. Understand and appreciate potential consumers and your fellow man. Travel locally, globally. Worldwide perspective has been critical to my role creating and working on global brands. It is the small observations and moments that have been most important to my creative and personal

growth. The ‘aha’ moments – that a large container of laundry detergent does not do well in Japan when their living space is so small and why in Mexico a doll needs to be over packaged in plastic – sold in open air markets they need to be protected from dust and dirt. How the lighting and seating at McDonalds makes you want to leave quickly but the Starbucks environment wants you to stay – dig in and hang out. Experiential and accidental learning can be the most interesting. It is often the mundane and simple that engages the biggest learning and what makes design so powerful – It has the capacity to improve the quality of life – from the humidity-capturing billboard that generates potable water to directional signage that helps you navigate the spaghetti junction (a crazy motorway in Britain). Life learning is perpetual – explore, experience, share. Vol. 2 Issue 1 |

MARKETING RAMBLES Paula Mottshaw Thoughts for creative professionals about marketing & communications

Wikipedia presents a simple definition of marketing: Marketing is the process of communicating the value of a product or service to customers. Whatever service or product you have, you need to let others know about your product, and why they can’t live without it. It’s that simple. My journey started out with marketing & communications, and then expanded to encompass photography, graphic design and web design & development, as well as a bit of writing and public relations. Let me share some insights with you about marketing activities you should consider.

Marketing Plans Do I really need a marketing plan? The short answer is yes, you do. A marketing plan will help focus your efforts and make the best use of your time, and help you to spend money wisely. A marketing plan can help you think through your marketing efforts, and help you to answer vital questions such as: “Who is my customer” (who is my primary target audience)? “What are the benefits of my product or service” (why should people buy my product or service)?

Websites Do I need a website? Having a website is part of doing business. After all, what is the first thing you do when you want to learn more about a particular business or product? You visit the website. If you have a small web budget, you can work with a web designer to create a simple one-page web site. Having a fabulous one-page site is far better than having a larger web site that is awful. A good web designer can help you think through your web site project and build your one-page site that can expand, as your business grows. Websites can be constructed within a content management system, which enables you to manage your own site, day-to-day (even if you have no technical/coding knowledge).

Social Media Should I use social media? Social media is a great tool to add to your marketing toolbox. And, yes, you should most definitely integrate this tool into your marketing plan. What social media tools should I use? Before you decide which social media tools to use, take a step back and assess your needs. There is a cost to social media – the cost is your time! Social media is about creating relationships. You need to learn what matters to

| Rhode Island Creative Magazine

your audience and pursue that, not what is easiest for you or whatever social media tools others are using.

Communication Vehicles How should I deliver my message? You should send messages to your audience through activities and printed materials that are appropriate for your business and that have consistent branding. Written materials can include stationery, business cards, forms, signage, invoices, direct mail pieces, email newsletters and web sites. Your marketing plan will help you to answer the question about how to deliver you message.

Branding What is branding? Your brand is what people think and feel when they think about your business or product. For example, some creative entrepreneurs and professionals may have a brand that is whimsical and light-hearted. All of the marketing materials, from printed collateral to the website, should be consistent, and have that same look and feel. This approach helps to ensure that your marketing efforts are consistent. Each month, you should set some time aside dedicated to working on marketing, both in good times and in not-so-good times. You may have more than enough clients/work and making lots of money now (which is super!); and, you want to ensure a steady stream of work. You just never know if that 1 big client will disappear. If you are interested in reading more, I invite you to check out my blog, which focuses on marketing & communications tips for creative professionals at www.mysimpledesignsolution.com. Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/paulamottshaw. Wishing you all the very best! Paula Mottshaw assists entrepreneurs and businesses with their marketing communications efforts, including web design, graphic design and content creation. She can be reached at pmottshaw@ mysimpledesignsolution.com.

K SS

Alex and Ani’s Sorority Collection symbolizes sisterhood, tradition

and loyalty. Committed to tradition and upholding the spirit of philanthropy, sorority sisters are lifelong friends that ignite positive change. Shop the full Sorority Collection at any of Alex and Ani’s 5 retail locations throughout Rhode Island, online at www.alexandani.com, and their many retail partners world wide. Alex and Ani Eco-friendly, Positive Energy, Made in America with Love.

Alex and Ani, LLC offers eco-friendly, positive energy products created by Designer Carolyn Rafaelian, Founder and Creative Director. Alex and Ani is synonymous with Made in America. Its World Headquarters are located in the Greater Providence, Rhode Island area, where its products are designed, manufactured, and assembled using recycled local materials. Carolyn believes that every individual has a positive message to share with the world and that, by incorporating powerful symbolism and design into each positive energy piece, Alex and Ani provides a vehicle for wearers to express their individuality. An Inc. 500 Company, Alex and Ani has retail stores in addition to retail partners both domestically and internationally. Please visit www.alexandani.com for more information.

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Sponsored by the Graphic Design & Digital Media program at Johnson & Wales University, the Summer Design Experience connects cultural exploration with graphic design, digital photography and blogging. 20 students participated in this year’s experience in Florence, Italy. These are just a few samples of their prolific work and words.

Ital Ian Professors by stePhanI e saegart A business student taking a Graphic Design course is not something one comes across very often. Top that off with also being in Italy and you’ve got yourself one hell of a combo. What did I know about art and graphics? Zero, zip, nada. Needless to say I was worried but looking back that all just seems silly now. At the Florence University of the Arts School of Digital and Visual Arts, Professor Claudio Rodeghiero taught “Made in Italy: History of Italian Design.” Modest, humble – and wise – he demonstrated obvious passion for his subject yet was almost embarrassed to show it off. His class was a landslide of new information regarding Italian design - from Renaissance art, to the Vespa, to Italian cinema and everything in between. As I walked though the streets of Florence, I could admire a building for its classical design AND tell you when it was built. My other course was “Visual Communication

Design

Fundamentals Studio 1.” The name alone was enough to confuse me, our professor was Ivka Markovic. As sassy as she was intelligent, she was unafraid to push our minds to new levels. We were forced to think creatively and push away from the “facts” I’ve grown so comfortable learning. Ivka demanded results. I grew to

| Rhode Island Creative Magazine

admire her immensely.

hIstory & c haracters adam ma In A small store front caught my eye strolling home from a day of sight-seeing. This store front was filled with various vintage cameras of many eras.my friends and I decided to stop in and see what was inside. Peaked by the fact that we were interested in his camera collection, Mario Baracchi immediately struck up a conversation with us. It wasn’t long before we were huddled around Mario because it was clearly story time. Mario spoke of his entire life. He was quick to inform us that his shop had been around since 1910! He began to shuffle through newspaper clippings and photos to show us the vast history of the building. Not only did this building have history, but so did Mario himself. He was even baptized in the Baptistry of the Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral)! He adam main

then began to tell us all about his life during Nazi occupied city of Florence. Mario was in love and married at the time with his family living on the opposite side of the Arno River. Mario wasn’t one to be messed with even if the Nazis thought they were tough. He attempted to cross a bridge with a friend when his friend stepped on a land mine and killed. Mario was left seriously injured. It was incredible to hear these stories. It’s not often

brac l IbrerIa/caffè by erIc VI ctor beltram

you walk into a random shop and strike up a conversation with someone who has lived

One of the neatest little nooks in Firenze, Brac Libreria/

through it all! Unfortunately, Mario’s wife is no longer with him, but he’s still in high spirits

Caffè, is literally sandwiched by two major roads stomped

working hard as an optician. Honestly, Mario is one of the biggest characters I’ve ever met.

endlessly by tourists; but its whereabouts are hidden so

I’m really glad to have randomly met this man. It really made my trip here in Florence unique.

nicely that not one flock would ever find it. I give all credit to our design Professora, Laura, for bringing us to this magical little place – since, if not for her, we would

POSTER DESIGNS (from top left): Eryn Mahoney, Allison Wentzel, Eric Victor Beltram and Stephanie Saegrart.

have never found it either. When you enter Brac, the space inside is artful and amorphic yet surprisingly cozy at the same time. Three different sections all accented by some type of bookshelf – the indoor entrance and caffè counter, a miniature courtyard garden covered by a tarpaulin awning and psychedelic streamers and a small glassed-in dining area – Brac promotes creative use of the space. The caffè I got wasn’t even the most important ingredient into my enjoyment of this place but it certainly added an extra sense of ease and relaxation. I sat there with my sketch pad working but It would be an equally nice place to get dinner with friends or family or to just sit, read a book or any other activity you might do in the States at your local Starbucks.

eric victor beltram

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After a few hours of resting, the end the day is upon me. In honor of their patron saint, Firenze puts on a fireworks show, launching from Piazzale Michelangelo, to end the festivities of San Giovanni. My friends and I sit on the Ponte alla Carraia (a bridge over the Arno) and have a wonderful view of the fireworks above the Ponte Vecchio. After a long 3 weeks of classes and cramming in a whole term’s worth of knowledge, today was exactly what I needed: calming walks and memorable nights with good friends. Thank you San Giovanni.

diandra sarno

t Ime off & tIme out by dIandra s arno I’m now in the final week of my study abroad adventure and we have the entire week to explore, travel, and do whatever we feel like doing. It is Monday, 24th of June and it is the day to honor San Giovanni Battista, the patron saint of Firenze. I start the day out walking around an area of the city I had never before discovered. A bit north from my (new) apartment, Firenze is completely different from the downtown city I am used to. Things are quieter and more relaxed up here. …One of the most interesting things on my walk of discovery is the Chiesa Russa Ortodossa della Nativitá e Cappella Demidov, a Russian Church built in the early 1900’s. The architecture of the building is incredible. It follows all other Russian Church features, like the onion shaped tops, the most recognizable feature of them all. I begin my walk back home when I run into one of the main events of the Festival of San Giovanni Battista, the traditional parade leading up Calcio Storico Fiorentino. The parade starts near the Santa Maria Novella Stazione and ends in Piazza Santa Croce where a long procession before the final match of Calcio takes place.

adam main

the VasarI corrI dor by elly Vander-KolK To walk above the city one doesn’t have to be a god, only a Medici. For this Florentine aristocracy walking among the people was an unnecessary danger. Instead, they made way through the city in the confines of the Vasari Corridor. Today the pathway is open for tours. It is an extension of the Uffizi Gallery Museum featuring an astounding collection of painted portraits, so the website says. I still am too lowly to grace the private halls – I can’t afford admission – but followed the length of the trail from below. The Vasari Corridor connects Palazzo Vecchio, where Cosimo I de Medici would have done business, to Palazzo Pitti, where the family resided (c.1565). The corridor opens on to the maze of the Boboli Gardens by way of Buontalenti’s Grotto. Apart from the collection elly vander-kolk

of masterpieces, the corridor is said to have the most beautiful view over the Arno River on Ponte Vecchio.

reflectIons u Pon leaVIng by sIobhan t abatabaI My final hours in Firenze, though fairly uneventful, were full of explosions of feelings. When you are so full of love for someone or somewhere you can feel it in your chest and behind your eyes. An intoxicating, slightly nauseating sensation is what I experienced upon looking around and taking in my surroundings for (what hopefully isn’t) the last time. I looked down out of the fifth floor window to see a man on a lonesome street stop in his tracks. He stood there for about a minute, doing nothing. I thought to myself, “This guy gets it.” He stops, smells the flowers or, in this case, the random bouts of sewage smell of the Florence streets. Upon leaving the apartment to walk to my home on Via Delle Brache, I took note of what I observed prior to leaving from the window. I stopped, breathed deeply, and allowed myself to be filled up siobhan tabatabai

with the melancholy and sadness. I took in the lack of horizon, replaced by endless rooftops. There is something cozy about the structures that line the cobblestone streets. I knew I wasn’t

real IzatIon

going to be able to enjoy anything like it in the States so I stood there and took it all in.

by James Weagle Pisa was my first stop in Italia; a place I’ve always wanted to visit. After arriving to the Royal Victoria Hotel, and sort of settling in, I was free to explore the city and it’s wonders. Upon exiting the hotel, the first thing to catch my eye was the Arno River that flows through central Italy. From there I embarked on a journey, not to find anything in particular, but to lose myself entirely in an area unknown to me. I experienced many different shops (negozi) and restaurants (ristoranti), some foreign to me and others recognizable. At first, it was difficult for me to interpret some of the Italian words, but soon enough I started to better understand the language.

james weagle

ruth ann laramee

the d uomo by r uth ann laramee The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly known as the Duomo, located in the Piazza del Duomo is the main church of Florence. It dominates the entire skyline of Florence, and stands much taller than much of the buildings it surrounds. It indeed is the most elegant and most beautiful building this city has to offer by far. The Duomo is unlike any other you will see. It embodies colors of green and pink outlined in pure white. It is delightfully breathtaking.

These writings were gently edited by Professor Brian Alves. FIND OUT MORE jwu.edu/studyabroad facebook.com/designatjwu

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What do you do when you receive a new inquiry about your services? Do you immediately jump into “sales mode”? Or do you have a process by which you and your potential client get to know each other to see if you’d be a good fit? I have found that the best working relationships happen as a result of putting in a bit of work before signing on the dotted line. Sometimes, you can get the answers to your questions before you even have a conversation.

How to Know if You and Your Next Client Will Be a Good Match by Melissa Black Black Ink Virtual Assistance

Here are some ways you can start to identify your “right client” before saying yes:

1. Consider the contact form

on your website. Are you asking plenty of leading questions, or are you asking the usual: name, phone number, email address?

2. Fact find.

If you’ve asked plenty of questions on your contact form, you probably know how you can find out more about your potential client’s business. Do some research!

3. Talk it out. If you find yourself at a point

where the contact form answers are interesting to you, you’ve done your research, and you have availability to work on this project - take some time to discuss and really get an understanding of expectations: timing, process, communication, payment structure, etc.

| Rhode Island Creative Magazine

There are many reasons that a potential client may not be a good fit for you: their request is not in line with the type of work you do (or want to do), their communication style doesn’t mesh with yours, or it could be that their business just isn’t interesting to you- and you know that as a result, you won’t be able to do your best work. This is all O.K. If you can refer them to someone who you feel may be a better match – do that! If you aren’t able to refer them, a gracious note thanking them for getting in touch and explaining that you are not able to work with them is all it takes. They want to work with someone who is excited about their project, just as much as you want to be excited about a project! I asked friend and colleague, Abby Kerr, to help answer some common questions that Creatives ask when learning how to find their ideal client. Abby is Creative Director of The Voice Bureau (abbykerr.com), a boutique branding agency serving microbusinesses with an online presence.

Q: What questions should I ask on my contact form? Abby: “On your Contact Form, ask for all of the basic info you need to assess whether this is a person or project you’ll want to learn more about. For instance: name,business name, website (if applicable), links to social media profiles, contact info. Other important info you’ll want to gather: how they found out about you, and what exactly they’re hoping you can help them with. I recommend a dropdown menu or a list where people can check off the services you offer that they may want to hire you for, plus write in some thoughts of their own. One tip: you may want to ask some kind of a screening question that’ll help you sort out whether a person fits the profile of your ideal client. Of course, this question will vary from business owner to business owner.”

Q: I can’t afford to be picky. What happens if I turn down too many clients

because they’re not my “right people”, and then I can’t pay the bills? Abby: “Admittedly, this is a toughie. Few owners of a new business can afford

to be picky with clients, but paradoxically, even fewer can afford NOT to be picky. Let me explain. When you take on clients or projects you don’t enjoy (or that aren’t in your sweet spot), you end up building a business around work you don’t want to be doing and around feedback from people you wouldn’t serve twice if you had a choice. Ideally, I advise all business owners to operate on the principle that you raise prices enough that if even only one or two ideal clients comes along each month, you can gain experience there while ‘padding’ your bottom line with not-quite-right-clientsor-projects. Over time, aim to flip this proportion. Work with mostly ideal clients and projects, so that when the not-quite-right-ones get through your filter, they’re the exception, not the rule. What I’ve found for myself, for my clients, and for the colleagues I work with regularly: when we hold out for the ideal clients and projects and say no to ones that aren’t the best fit, more right people and right work seem to be just around the corner.”

REDESIGNING FUTURES AT RIVERZEDGE ARTS By John Speck and Catherine M. Hood Layout by Annmarie Thompson, DesignWorks Director at Riverzedge Arts

Bryan, Age 17 Green Design Lab Participant

BUILDING NEW FUTURES FOR WOONSOCKET Closing the student achievement gap in Rhode Island has long posed a design challenge to educators, policymakers, academics, advocates, and families. Efforts to address discrepancies between vulnerable students and their more privileged counterparts – groups differentiated by socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and gender – have ranged from affirmative action and multicultural education to finance equalization and improving the quality of teachers, testing and accountability programs. Despite these efforts to create equal educational opportunities for all students, the achievement gap persists. In places like Woonsocket, this gap is part of a trend that results in poverty and unemployment levels that routinely rank among the worst in the state and nation. To most Rhode Islanders, Woonsocket is a like a foreign country. While virtually all of us know of Woonsocket’s difficulties, few have taken the 30-minute trip up Route 146 to visit. Frequently, residents and people feel powerless before the daunting task of turning this trend around.

A core group of artists and designers, working in conjunction with non-profit, educational, commercial and municipal partners, are out to change both perceptions of hardship and the facts on the ground in Woonsocket. Through innovative design-based programming, Riverzedge Arts is at the vanguard of successful efforts to close the achievement gap, transforming the lives of youth and radically altering community outcomes through meaningful art making and the redesign of learning.

REDESIGNING THE PATH TO COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS At the Main Street Studios, Riverzedge teaches at-risk youth art and design skills, then employs them in micro-businesses that serve a diverse and growing clientele. In fact, it’s likely that a t-shirt in your drawer was hand-printed by these youth, and the money you paid for it went towards the educational stipends they’re paid to learn through experience and continuously improve performance. For example, all the Rhode Island themed t-shirts at Frog & Toad on Hope Street in Providence are screen printed at Riverzedge, as are those from Seven Stars Bakery, Bike Newport and possibly your local gym.

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Riverzedge Arts provides high quality products for clients. Client projects act as a talent and youth development driver.

ScreenWorks, the youth-run screen printing studio, is one of five micro-businesses run as a learning and intervention strategy at Riverzedge, which also houses studios for graphic design, digital media, environmentally-friendly design, and painting and fabrication. These studios have spawned a number of brands and products, including Scratch™ Sustainable Skateboards, Clean Clothes™ t-shirts and Rad River™ green cleaning products. In exchange for the opportunity to work with clients producing competitive products and services, Riverzedge Arts demands that participants maintain at least a C average in school, remain on the path to diploma attainment, and develop a pathway to college. This, more than anything else, explains the massive impact that Riverzedge is having on the city of Woonsocket. But that’s not all! In the Riverzedge-run Expanded Learning Opportunities Center (ELO) at Woonsocket High School, students design their own projects for credit, applying the same tools and critical thinking as artists to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) learning projects. Mentors from the professional or academic communities help students bring the projects to fruition; along the way, youth learn material from their core curricula in a way that has a far deeper meaning than the traditional classroom approach. Students who successfully participate in an ELO earn a credit that appears on their transcript and helps them progress to on-time graduation. With a 100% high school graduation rate in the Riverzedge studios since 2004; more than half of last year’s ELO projects enabling youth to progress to the next grade or graduate, and an impressive number of participants gaining acceptance to college with substantial funding packages, Riverzedge has attracted the

YOUTH PROFILE

MARKANTHONY, AGE 17 WOONSOCKET ELO PARTICIPANT When Markanthony came to the Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Center in 2012, he was the perfect example of a student with drive and ambition but who lacked the grades to show for it. The previous school year, he had passed only one of his classes. When Markanthony met with us, he told us about his dream to become a fashion designer like Tommy Hilfiger or Armani. We partnered Markanthony with Rhode Island School of Design’s Project Open Door, where he spent two semesters working with graduate student mentors and exploring a variety of artistic mediums, including fashion design. At the same time that he was working with RISD’s Project Open Door, Markanthony was also in touch with Chelsea, an assistant knitwear designer at the New York Tommy Hilfiger office. Markanthony and Chelsea exchanged many long emails about college, how to build skills that would be useful in his future career, and what it takes to become a successful designer. With growing confidence in his capabilities and support for his passion for apparel design, Markanthony applied for a summer fashion design intensive at the Miami International University of Art and Design. He saved up money working at Taco Bell in Woonsocket, bought a plane ticket to Miami, paid the tuition and flew to Florida by himself. While there, he was immersed in

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an intensive study of the process of fashion design, sketching ideas, assembling inspiration boards, collaborating with other teens from around the country and world, and finally, creating garments. When asked about his experience, Markanthony said enthusiastically, “It was more than I expected it to be!” During the school year, Markanthony also worked with tutors from Bryant University. By the end of the 2012-13 year, he had passed 4 of his classes - significant progress for a student who only passed one class the year before! This fall, Markanthony will present his past year’s experience exploring and pursuing the fashion design field and will receive credit on his transcript for his work. Ms. Landry, Markanthony’s teacher mentor and an art teacher at Woonsocket High School, has been a huge supporter of his endeavors and has been a resource and guide for him, alongside the ELO Center. Now entering his senior year, Markanthony has already begun the college application process by scouting out places that will give him the potential to pursue his dreams and to succeed. We have come to know Markanthony as one of our bravest, most persevering students. We have no doubt that he will succeed with whatever he takes on.

attention of national leaders in education and youth programs. Most notably, Riverzedge is one of four Rhode Island youth arts organizations to win the prestigious President’s Council on the Arts and the Humanities National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. Last year, Riverzedge was chosen as a case study for Wallace Foundation research on out-of-school time arts programs for urban low-income teens, to address equity, access, and quality in out-of-school time programs on a national level. Numerous state dignitaries and former National Endowment for the Arts Director Rocco Landesman have visited Woonsocket to see Riverzedge Arts’ studios and innovative programs first-hand.

RETHINKING WOONSOCKET It’s no small thing, bringing positive national attention to Woonsocket. This success has opened the eyes of many in municipal government, who in turn opened doors for Riverzedge to participate in civic affairs. Riverzedge staff and participants collaborate with the city in many ways, in addition to running the wildly successful Expanded Learning Opportunities Program at Woonsocket High School. Out of these efforts, Riverzedge Arts has become a leader in the movement to re-imagine Woonsocket, sharing a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant with the city and placing staff and youth as key players in city and partner planning summer, (two and a half or five hours per day, four days a week), the microbusinesses provide only a quarter of initiatives on such issues as neighborhood revitalization, walkability and river wayfinding. In October, Riverzedge will host a youth design charrette for the statewide Rhode Map RI Sustainability Communities plan, soliciting teens’ input on equity, transportation and economic development issues. Who knows how to get around Woonsocket better than the youth who grew up there? Yet, for all this success, Riverzedge faces all the challenges of any other non-profit. With a maximum workweek of 10 hours during the school year and 20 hours in the organization’s total funding. Since the economic collapse of 2008, competition for corporate, foundation and government grants has increased dramatically, as has that for private donations.

ScreenWorks Sunglasses Tee - Spring, 2013

Scratch, Riverzedge’s Line of Sustainable Skateboards

Luis, 14, Shooting Riverzedge Storehouse Product Line

Green Design Lab’s Soap Product Line Rad River

GET IN TOUCH, GET A TEE There are a number of ways that you can support Riverzedge Arts, the easiest of which is just to buy a t-shirt (or a skateboard deck, or some cleaning products)! Riverzedge also offers highquality, affordable creative services, from logo design and website development to product photography and video production. And, of course, you can always make a donation.

Abe, 17 Painting a Recycled Fridge for National Grid Various DesignWorks Portfolio Pieces

Woonsocket faces many difficult challenges and a long road to fully closing its tragic achievement gap, but Riverzedge Arts is a big part of the solution. So do yourself a favor and take the drive up Route 146 – not for nothing, you’ll be amazed at what you find.

TO PURCHASE RIVERZEDGE PRODUCTS, OR TO UTILIZE RIVERZEDGE DESIGN SERVICES, PLEASE VISIT WWW.RIVERZEDGEARTS.ORG OR CALL 401-767-2100

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by Bob Colonna Adjunct Professor of Theatre, Rhode Island College

The theatre designer Richard Southern once said that the absolute minimum requirements for theatre were an actor, an audience, and a sense of occasion. He had a point. Less can certainly be more.

On the other hand, theatre needs every cunning device it can get its hands on to lure an audience out of the house and away from the cinema and the stadium. People go to the theatre to be surprised and engaged, and if it takes a wall crashing down or a dress that stands by itself when an actress walks out of it, so be it.

A TRIST rehearsal for an outdoor "A Midsummer Night's Dream" back in the 1970s. Note that Hermia is still working from a script as she is embraced by Demetrius. Oberon seems to be less than interested! They would eventually be dressed as clowns for this production, which was staged as a small traveling circus.

Theatre is such a co-op project, and so full of ego and artistic frenzy that it is a wonder any show ever gets produced. A director decides to do Lear and sends a concept to the designers and then waits in fear. The designers sketch, make models, organize scraps of fabric, bring in samples of colored gels, burn CDs, and the first production meeting takes place. If no voices are raised and no feelings bruised, something is wrong. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never that easy. Okay, a design is more or less agreed on. In a drafty, fluorescent rehearsal space, tape is stretched on the floor, chairs and tables are shoved around, and a very rough approximation of the set is laid out. And now the actors enter, chattering noisily, with sweatpants, coffee, backpacks, highliters and opinions. They have read their scripts, discussed their roles, wept, laughed and fought, and are ready to start walking around for the first time.

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Rehearsing at The Roger Williams National Memorial on North Main Street, where we perform. This is NOT Roger Williams Park in Cranston -- we have to explain that a lot! I'm talking with Oberon and Titania, with a couple of ragtag little fairies watching.

A scene from "A Lie Of The Mind" at RIC.

The set for "A Lie Of The Mind" at RIC. We decided to surprise the audience and let them think they were in the wrong place, but this really was the finished set. I guess I wanted the audience to be as rattled as most of the characters.

The sofa can’t be there! The hoop skirts will not fit through the doors! Nobody will see me if I stand behind him! When do we get our rehearsal shoes? (A whisper – she’s not going to say it like THAT is she?) Hasty production meetings, to widen the door, to move the table, to change the colors, to find a better fanfare, to recast, to cut, cut, cut, and finally -Nobody can remember just how it all came together. Nobody can, because each person only had one part to do. Everybody gave up something precious, accepted something grisly, everybody – cared. Finally the last ingredient is added: an audience -- the folks who bustle excitedly into their seats. Will they really read their programs, I wonder? Will they notice the long list of names; not just the performers, but the designers, carpenters, sewers, electricians, and publicists? The board and the producers who dug up the money? Will they ever realize the skills and tears and loss of sleep that provided this hour or two of entertainment for them?

Here is Titania with Bottom in the ass's head from the "Midsummer" we just did in Providence.Titania and all the fairies were conceived as homeless people who seemed to have magical powers. Bottom was a small-time RI politico, and his donkey head was scary, with fangs and LED s in the eyes and nostrils -- but clearly made from junk. TRIST Shakespeares these days are all done in simple modern dress, with the city as their theme.

Anyway, now it’s open and it’s marvelous, and backstage everybody kisses everybody and goes home -to dig in for the next one.

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Bringing a

fresh look to Rhode Island! Mohawk Make Ready www.mohawkmakeready.com

asabi Japanese Cuisine is a hidden gem! The service is warm, the atmosphere is inviting, the food is incredible and the creative presentations are gorgeous! I am always looking for new places to go and to try new specialties. Wasabi is my new favorite place to go to receive high quality food with a beautiful creative twist! Now that is my kind of recipe! Wasabi’s style is different from most other Japanese cuisines. Chef Michael Wang is the creator of these flavorful dishes and impressive presentations. He custom designs each plate consistently and delivers a “fresh look” that most customers have never received before. The plate combinations he develops consists of splashing flavors, unique themes and vibrant colors that leave a lasting impression every time! David Chen takes care of the business side of things and greets you at the door with a warm smile. David and Michael have been partners in the restaurant business for 10 years. They have had a lot of success in previous years in New York and Connecticut. Now it was time to bring their fresh look and the newest style of sushi to Rhode Island. Japanese cuisines have become very popular here in Rhode Island. More and more restaurants are opening up and they all have their own style and flare to present. The bold interior design, the pretty drinks, the hibachi chefs, and of course… the sushi, my ultimate favorite! Be sure to visit Wasabi Japanese Cuisine in the Warwick Summit Square Plaza on Bald Hill Road, same location as Chili’s Bar and Grill and right next door to David’s Bridal.

| Rhode Island Creative Magazine

by Chef Ricardo Costa Personal Chef/Cooking Show Host by Kimberly Sherman Leon Founder & Publisher

Art

Create Design Inspire Vision

RICM Educate Mentor

Lead

Imagine Innovate

Rhode Island Creative Magazine RELAUNCH EVENT SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

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Art

Rhode Island Creative Magazine (RICM) had its relaunch event on September 25th for a night of networking and appreciation at The Lorraine Mills in the Melo International Studio Gallery that consists of 70 local artists work. It was a great location to host the event and to help provide exposure to our local artists which is part of RICMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission. The event was just another stepping stone towards to bringing all the professionals around the state together, creating a movement, building awareness of the talent and education we have here in RI. With lots of hard work, teamwork, and leadership, we as an industry can achieve this. I am here to lead this movement and help make a difference. Many of you have already joined me for this journey and I hope more of you will and help grow our team.

Educate

Innovate

A special thank you to the contributors for their hardwork and dedication to make this event possible. Thank You! Melo International

Johnson & Wales University

Chef Ricardo Costa

New England Tech

Inspirational Cosmetics

RiverzEdge Art Project

Eramian Sign

Mohawk

Barrington Printing

MOO.COM

SWG Promotions

Etch It All

Minuteman Press

Creative Communications Club of Providence

Inspire

Vision

Design

Create

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Gorham Manufacturing Company, Lady’s Writing Table and Chair,1903. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick B.Thurber. Courtesy of the RISD Museum, Providence, RI.

MAKING IT IN AMERICA RISD MUSEUM More than 100 outstanding works of painting, sculpture, and decorative arts from the RISD Museum’s collection illuminate connections between American ambitions and the making of art in Making It in America. The exhibition opens with a free public celebration on Thursday, October 10, 5:30 to 8 pm, and is on view through Sunday, February 9, 2014. “American art has played a central role at the RISD Museum since its earliest days, and we celebrate this legacy with Making It in America,” says Museum director John W. Smith. “Drawn exclusively from our phenomenal permanent collection, this show is our first in-depth exploration of this subject in many years.” Making It in America liberates artworks from the Museum’s galleries, storage vaults, and the historic period rooms of its Pendleton House wing, repositioning them within the broader context of American styles. These exceptional pieces, created between the early 1700s and early 1900s, are presented as examples of both artistic processes and aspirations. Just as individual accounts of American life revolve around searches for freedom, fulfillment, and identity, these stories are also embedded in objects that comprise the history of American art.

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“The title is a double entendre that asks our viewers to think about art making and about how American art demonstrates American ideas about success,” explain exhibition co-curators Maureen O’Brien, curator of painting and sculpture, and Elizabeth Williams, curator of decorative arts and design. John Singleton Copley’s grand manner portrait of Moses Gill, for instance, illustrates the escalating wealth, social standing, and political capital of the 30-year-old merchant and future Massachusetts lieutenant governor. The land of opportunity is seen in painter Thomas Cole’s striking depictions of the American wilderness – unspoiled nature ripe with promise. Closer to home, finely designed furniture with hand-carved motifs from Newport’s Townsend and Goddard workshops rivaled European examples in the 18th century, while the glorious excess of monumental silver works by Providence’s Gorham Manufacturing Company represented the city’s ambitions into the 19th and 20th centuries. Making It in America also touches on a theme for which the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is best known: the process of making art, a subtext of the show which provides a loose time line of what happened in American art making and when. The exhibition’s intertwined threads of making art and representing achievement are woven into RISD and the RISD Museum’s own history. Inspired by the international display of art and commerce at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, the College and Museum were established in 1877 with the mission to train American designers and publicly promote American art. The Museum’s earliest “contemporary” purchase, in 1901,

Exhibition Design Exhibition designer Thomas Jayne is a renowned decorator, decorative arts historian, and principal of Jayne Design Studio – specializing in interior decoration and product development. Jayne, who trained in the Winterthur Museum’s graduate program for American material culture, incorporates historic – and unexpected – patterns and colors to create a stunning installation that highlights the evolution of color and pattern in American design. William Morris Hunt, Portrait of Ellen M. Brown,1874. Bequest of Mrs. Ellen M. Berry. Courtesy of the RISD Museum, Providence, RI.

Gilbert Stuart, Portrait of George Washington, ca. 1820. Public Subscription Fund. Courtesy of the RISD Museum, Providence, RI.

Jayne’s previous clients include Winterthur; Edith Wharton’s country home, The Mount; the Brick House at the Shelburne Museum; and private collectors. Jayne was recently honored with the 2013 Arthur Ross Award for Interior Decoration from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. Drawing upon the past, he seeks details that deepen and enliven a room, exquisitely connecting history and place.

was Winslow Homer’s thundering seascape On a Lee Shore (1900), soon followed by the acquisition of important colonial portraits and American landscape paintings. In 1906, the RISD Museum built Pendleton House, the country’s first museum wing devoted to the display of American decorative arts, thus elevating the importance of native craftsmanship in the study of material culture. The co-curators note that this exhibition provides exciting opportunities for visitors to explore the Museum’s rich holdings, closely examining objects that may have been behind ropes in period rooms or held in storage. Williams, who joined the RISD Museum in January and has spent much of her first year exploring the diverse decorative arts collection, looks forward to presenting 60 pieces of silver, furniture, glass, ceramics, and jewelry – more than half of which haven’t been on view in decades.

Attributed to John Goddard, Desk and Bookcase, 1760-1785. Bequest of Mr. Charles L. Pendleton. Courtesy of the RISD Museum, Providence, RI.

“Although many of the works in Making It in America have been on view in galleries throughout the Museum, visitors who see discrete selections rarely get a sense of the scope and quality of our collections,” says O’Brien.

RISD Museum 224 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 02903 risdmuseum.org 401.454.6500

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MEMBERSHIP $75/year professional member $35/year student member Benefits:  Increased visibility  Profile page with links to your email, website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages  Networking opportunities with other marketing and communication professionals Increased knowledge:  Sharing ideas with other professionals  Feedback on your ideas from other professionals  Attending presentations by expert communicators  Career development recommendations Increased job/ project opportunities:  Meet with others who know what is going on in the industry  Increased ideas  We all know what happens when a group of creative people get together! Increased savings:  Membership rate for presentations and networking meetings  Your completed application along with your membership dues will put you on the path to join in the fun and enhance your career.

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Why Join AMP-RI? I’m Glad You Asked! My interest in the group now known as Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations of Rhode Island (AMP-RI) is a long story, Suffice it to say that I was a member of the Women’s Advertising Club of Rhode Island (WACRI), and missed the group of women - and men - with whom I could commiserate, network and share ideas. AMP-RI started when a group of former WACRI members said to each other, “gee, wasn’t that a great group?” and “we need to find another group like that!” Instead of searching around, they took the bull by the horns and, in 2009, invented it! Our first president, Joyce Pucino, was the driving force behind our foundation. With advisors Scotti DiDonato, Eileen FitzGerald, and Ruth Winograd - all long-time WACRI members - Joyce steered us into existence. So what’s the big deal? Even though the economy is on the rise (or so “They” say!) we’re all trying to make it today. I’ve learned that it’s easier to get through the tough times surrounded by friends. My new and long-time friends are creative, passionate, and wildly funny - a great mix! But that’s just one benefit of being a member of AMP-RI. Here are a few more.

 When you join AMP-RI, you automatically get a listing on our Member Page at amp-ri.com. You can post a picture; a short bio; your email and website links; and links to your LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter pages. (See mine at http://amp-ri. com/member_ampri_louise-cote. html)  Networking opportunities will soon fill your email box. We have monthly networking meetings with a Spotlight Presentation, featuring an AMP-RI member or someone within our industry with a message we may need to hear. Past presentation speakers and topics have included Tom Monahan on Getting Attention in the New Media Blizzard; noted local cartoonist Don Bousquet and his son Nate on Don’s cartoons and their venture with aerial photography; and Alex & Ani’s Director of Operations Susan Soares on their approach to being a lifestyle brand. We continue to make plans with other people and organizations who have messages our members have asked for!

 We also offer our members networking and presentation opportunities in conjunction with other organizations. The Creative Communications Club of Providence (CCCP) shares news about their events with us, and vice-versa, and we share an Annual Holiday Party in December. We send our notices to over 200 “movers and shakers” in the creative community, not to mention how many members forward these notices to their contact list, and so on, and so on.  We further share our notices with Uncle Jay’s Network, and he includes them in his weekly mailings. That’s a lot of people getting our message, which increases the number of contacts you can make.  Having a problem in the office? Trying to think of the right word for that headline? Need to know the newest color trend? You’ll meet

fellow creatives off whom you can bounce ideas.  Looking for a job? Need more freelance work? Send us your resume or CV and we’ll forward it to our email network. Come to a meeting and you can meet others who may be able to connect you with someone looking for help.  Before and after each presentation there is plenty of time to network, renew old friendships and contacts, and develop new ones. We encourage you to bring business cards and mingle while enjoying tasty food offerings (we often tell the chefs to simply “make it nice” - and they always do!). Many of our venues are restaurants or have restaurants, so think about staying for dinner.

UPCOMING EVENTS: October 16, 2013 John Florez CEO of Drupal Connect. Location: NYLO, Warwick. Topic: 9 ways to start your business. November 13, 2013 Jill Marinelli, personal stylist Location: to be announced Topic: to be announced December 2013 Christmas party Held in conjunction with CCCP January 15, 2014 Valeria Khislavsky, New Harvest Coffee marketing Location: The Arcade. Topic: to be announced Speakers, topics and locations are subject to change. For the latest information on all our events, visit our website: www.amp-ri.com

 Finally, joining AMP-RI get you the member rate on all presentation events and networking meetings. DO consider joining AMP-RI, and if you’re a current member, renew your membership. There are many benefits, and I hope to see you at our next event! Louise R. Cote Past President, AMP-RI

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Institutional Design Studio,March 2013, Cate Lucke â&#x20AC;&#x153;Computer & Reference Areaâ&#x20AC;?

by Linda A. Dionne Media Relations Specialist, New England Tech

INTERIOR DESIGN

Not Just Pillows and Paint The Interior Design Technology programs, at both the Associate in Science and Bachelor of Science degree levels at New England Institute of Technology (NEIT ), prepare students to be proficient in the art and technology of designing residential and commercial interiors. With each project, students must incorporate the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic, technical, functional, social, psychological, and aesthetic requirements. Interior design fundamentals of programming, space planning, sketches/diagrams, concept development, materials and finishes, floor plans, renderings and presentations, are combined with a comprehensive study of building systems, components, and construction. What is the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator? While the end product may be similar, designers and decorators perform many different tasks. An interior designer focuses on color, style, texture, durability, acoustics, cleanability, flame retardancy, allergens, toxicity, and off gassing properties as well as American Disabilities Act standards. On the other hand, the interior decorator focuses on color, style and texture with no formal education required. The interior design professional functions as an integral member of the building team taking into consideration the standards of their profession, public safety, and regulatory requirements.

| Rhode Island Creative Magazine

New England Tech’s Interior Design students are introduced to the basic elements and theories of design, color and spatial composition that form the foundation of creative design. Through topic-specific courses, students are introduced to both manual and CAD drawing skills. Theory and technical courses familiarize the student with fundamentals in design that include materials, lighting, furniture, textiles, architectural history, specifications, building codes, and building systems. Green Technology and Sustainable Design are incorporated into the entire curriculum Studio courses require students to incorporate their theoretical and technical knowledge into a comprehensive design based upon specific program requirements. Associate level studio project types include residential, commercial, and retail while bachelor level students focus on space planning, hospitality, and institutional design. Students also have the opportunity to visit local design showrooms and offices and participate in presentations given by NEIT’s interior design graduates as well as professionals in the field. These design professionals are often invited to participate in critiquing students’ final projects.

The team approach is also emphasized in the Interior Design Technology program by having students participate in multiple classes with NEIT’s Architectural Building and Engineering Technology students as together they focus on technical drafting, building principles, and perspective drawing. As each of the programs progress, eventually the two technologies separate from each other, each concentrating on their respective disciplines of design. At the culmination of both Bachelor of Science degree programs, students reconnect to learn more about the real world facets of these fields through construction law, lighting design, estimating and bidding, as well as contracts and specifications. These programs function as their own distinct technologies, yet are integrated so together they highlight the main principles of what the field of design has to offer. In addition to their rigorous course of study, many NEIT Interior Design Technology students are members of the college’s Interior Design Student Alliance (IDSA). Under the direction of Assistant Professor and club advisor, Mia Alwen, and club president, Cate Lucke, the 2nd Annual Interior Design Gallery Night was held this past May. Students from both the associate and bachelor degree programs showcased their projects, portfolios, and creative works for family, friends, students, faculty and prospective employers to enjoy. To learn more about the associate and bachelor level programs in Interior Design Technology, contact New England Tech’s Admissions office at 1-800-736-7744, 401-467-7744, or visit www.neit. edu. With more than 3000 students, NEIT is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.

Hospitality Design Studio, December 2012, Cate Lucke “Double Double Hotel Room”

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by Ronald G. Shapiro, Ph. D.2

Do you purchase your back to school supplies over the summer months when there is an optimal selection available with substantial “back to school savings” or do you wait until you discover that you need a supply right away, don’t have it, and need to struggle to find something close to what you want at full list price at an expensive store when you are very busy?

• Go/No Go Decision. At this time, it is best to think through your initial networking experiences and decide if you are still really interested in doing what you thought you wanted to do. If not, select a new career goal. If so, commit to your goal now, and try not to repeat this review process again until you have at least 5 years of post-college work experience.

Think about the “back-to-school scenario” as you review your career plans. Have you established a career plan which will systematically guide you from where you are today to a great job doing just what you want to do? Doing this early on (early in your college career or even as a high school student) will be easier, potentially less expensive, and may very well yield a better result than a last minute effort.

• Ideal Job Candidate Resume Preparation. Based upon what you have learned from your networking and observation experiences and what you may have read and learned in school about your profession prepare a resume for yourself to support your candidacy for your initial job right after you graduate from college. Be sure to include your name and all of your relevant accomplishments on the resume. Unless you have already graduated from college and have a great job (in which case you must be reading this article so you can help one of your “mentees”), your resume won’t describe the ideal job candidate. Indeed, it may look rather empty. That is ok. You should next fill out this resume so that it describes the ideal candidate for your ideal job including:

The good news is that establishing a career plan early on is not difficult to do, not expensive, and is even fun! Here are some steps to follow which will increase your chances of being successful. • Networking. Meet lots of professionals who do what you want to do. Have a detailed discussion with them to fully understand what they do, the college experiences which best prepared them for their career, and obtain their recommendations for what you should do.

• Results achieved for major projects (don’t list a lot of tasks, list results), along with a brief explanation for each project. • Degrees received. • Skills which are in demand in the marketplace.

• Observation. Shadow one or two of your networking contacts for a few days or a week (if you haven’t already had an after school or summer job which afforded you the opportunity to observe professionals in your field doing their professional work).

| Rhode Island Creative Magazine

• Internships and other employment. • Leadership experiences.

• A summary statement which shows how all of the above have prepared you to be the best candidate for your ideal job.

• Targeted Start Date. Assign a starting date to each action item. • Targeted Completion Date. Assign a completion date to each action item. Assign status to each item – Green -making anticipated progress, Yellow -- slightly behind and working on fixing it, Red – getting help to get back on track, Gold Star – completed. You will probably start with everything Green. Sort your action plan by start date. Display action plan in a prominent place where you will see it frequently.

Be sure the ideal candidate resume ROARs (ie. Results Oriented And Relevant). • Evaluate Your Ideal Candidate Resume. Ask a few professionals in the field about the “ideal candidate resume” you have prepared. Could it be improved so that they would prioritize the candidate described to the top of the hiring list? Upgrade your resume as they suggest. • Identify Your Gaps. Go through the ideal resume with highlighters and highlight each of the items on the resume which you have not completed but could complete in yellow. Highlight those which you have completed in green. Highlight those which you are confident you would not be able to complete in red. Red gaps are a danger sign. If you have many significant ones, you may need to select a new career choice. • Prepare an action plan. Open a new file with the following columns: • Action. Copy each yellow item from your resume into the first column of your action item list. • Description. Describe how you will complete the action item in detail.

• Complete your action plan. Throughout your academic career keep your action plan current. Rework your ideal candidate resume to reflect real accomplishments. Revise your summary section on your resume to reflect your new experiences. Stay in contact with your networking friends a few times a year and make new networking friends, too! • Success. Follow all of the above recommendations and you may have an awesome job looking for you, rather than your needing to look for a job when you graduate. 1

I would like to thank Dr. Margarita Posada Cossuto for helpful comments. An abbreviated version of this article was published on the Laurus College web site. ©Ronald G. Shapiro, PhD. All rights reserved.

Ronald G. Shapiro, PhD is a speaker and consultant in Career Development, Leadership Development, Education, and Human Factors/Ergonomics. His Education by Entertainment programs are applicable, enjoyable, entertaining, memorable, useful and fun. DrRonShapiro1981@SigmaXi.Net

Vol. 2 Issue 1 |

RI Freelancers

Looking for a professional for your next project? Rhode Island consists of many types of freelancers in this industry. We want to give them the opportunity to shine and promote their specific talents on our Rhode Island Freelancer page! Go ahead... give them a call!

Amidst the Ocean State’s ocean of talent, here’s what I bring ashore: DIVERSITY: I regard ‘graphic user interface’ as a term that applies to web and to print. Whatever media/means is best suited to getting the word out, GUI and UX are in tandem to attending press checks and photo shoots. POSSIBILITY: Whether you want to raise capital or raise awareness—your objective will be my newest source of inspiration. In return, I’ll be a fresh pair of eyes that allow you to see things at a completely different angle. FAMILIARITY: From major corporations to sole proprietors, I have serviced a full spectrum of industries. Creating salutations for just about every group imaginable, it’s very likely that I already know your audience.

Concept & copy • Responsive web design • Branding & identity • Packaging • Printed collateral • Email promotions • Environmental graphics • Slide shows & presentations

COMPATIBILITY: I create responsive websites that work on any device. With emphasis placed on engaging your visitors, a simple, user-friendly interface will keep your message front and center. ACCURACY: With a sheer disdain for typos noticed hot off the press, I embrace the most earnest of proofing cycles. While you do that final spell-check, I’ll be re-measuring dies and pre-flighting files. CONTINUITY: Hoping every new job is the start of a lasting relation, I would love to learn the outcome of our team efforts. When it’s time to make iterative adjustments, or to change directions, I’ll be ready to dive back in. CALL: 401-572-8282 • WRITE: tom @ slaterdesign.net • VISIT: slaterdesign.net

| Rhode Island Creative Magazine

Is the Freshman

the Norm?

by Chef Ricardo Costa

Getting ready for school and you have your needs packed and a plan: study hard, get good grades and maybe join a few clubs or a fraternity. But did we plan out our fitness routine and nutrition? I mean your standard meal plan. And are you ready for all the temptations that come with late night study sessions and hanging out at student union with your friends? I’m not sure who started the whole “freshman 15” as being normal for new students, but it is not! It’s still as important to take care of our health as it is to do well in college. Campuses are loaded with unhealthy pizza, burgers and fries and of course alcohol, so with that being all around you should carefully plan your nutrition and exercise needs too. There are simple and inexpensive ways to prepare meals in the dorm room even without full kitchens (hey, how do you think I do all those off site cooking demonstrations?).

There are simple and inexpensive ways to prepare meals in the dorm room even without full kitchens

If you are thinking of gifts for your child, they might need crock pots, steamers, toaster ovens or even a small microwave (some schools have them already in common areas, so you might want to check first). So many healthy recipes can be made from these. There are even some recipes you don’t even have to cook. They can be made with just a mixing bowl and spoon. Here are some ideas that you can take along with you anywhere.

Steamed mixed veggies with almonds:

Take your favorite veggies with a little salt and pepper in a microwave bowl with a little water and cover for an about 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Toss with almonds for some protein and crunch.

Make sandwiches and wraps:

You can’t always buy lean turkey or chicken from the local store on campus for a healthy quick lunch. So try using hummus instead of mayo to cut down fat and add more protein.

Protein powders and smoothies:

When you’re in a hurry you can make a healthy meal with just a blender or shaker cup. Use low fat versions of milk, juices and almond milk for lower calorie fixes.

No bake style granola bars:

These are easy to make and don’t require fancy equipment. And they’re easy to transport to and from class as well. Make your school year a happy and healthy one by being prepared. If you need ideas and recipes feel free to contact me anytime. Peace. Need more recipes and ideas contact me direct at rickyfeedstheworld@yahoo.com or if you have an idea for an article you would like to read. Don’t forget to watch my show 24hrs a day at www.wmbradio.com and on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK2Xv-SflB8clfJ_lvyIm0g

Vol. 2 Issue 1 |

MASSIMO VIGNELLI MAKES BOOKS Intelligent Elegance: How starting by hand defines the work of master craftsman, Massimo Vignelli

It’s easy to give such advice as “If you can design one thing, you can design everything,” when you are already a master designer and craftsman, widely regarded as an influential leader in your creative field. Include designs for American Airlines, the NYC Subway Map, IBM, Bloomingdale’s, and an AIGA Gold Medal, you are getting positive reinforcement from a bona fide legend. The wisdom comes from Massimo Vignelli, a designer whose career has spanned nearly six decades with landmark works in book design, corporate identities, packaging design, interior design, poster art, architectural graphics, furniture and product design, and magazine layout. We guess Vignelli is right: in his case, if you design one thing, you do design everything. And when a master speaks, we should all listen. “Design is a profession that takes care of everything around us,” Vignelli has said. “Politicians take care of the nation and fix things—at least they are supposed to. Architects take care of buildings. Designers take care of everything around us... This table, this chair, this lamp, this pen has been designed... I think that it is my responsibility to make the work better than it is.”

“If you can design one thing, you can design everything.”

| Rhode Island Creative Magazine

by Evan Pricco Provided by Mohawk

Since first entering the world of design as a profession in 1960 in Milan with the Vignelli Office for Design and Architecture, his work has been called “essential, intellectually elegant, strong, timeless.” By the time he opened his Vignelli Associates firm with wife Lella in 1971 in New York City, he was already widely known as one of the world’s greatest design talents. Yet his minimal, smart, almost technocratic style (Vignelli would most likely say “appropriate, and pragmatically understandable”), is anything but the work of a machine or computer. Vignelli is an oldschool craftsman, beginning each project by hand, sketching his layouts before considering a project’s final look. And some of his greatest craftwork comes in his book design projects.

I could do the work with a computer these days, but I’m faster, and better, by hand.”

An ardent supporter of the grid, a structure on which all design should be based, Vignelli has a clear vision of how a specific look should be approached. “Nothing could be more useful to reach our intention than the Grid,” he wrote in The Vignelli Canon, a collection of the master’s tricks and tips on design. “The grid represents the basic structure of our graphic design, it helps to organize the content, it provides consistency, it gives an orderly look and it projects a level of intellectual elegance that we like to express. For the design of a book the grid provides again structure and continuity from cover to cover.”

“Nothing could be more useful to reach our intention than the Grid.”

One of the things that I design most of the time is books,” Vignelli says. “The way I do them is take a sheet of paper, (and by hand) devise a grid, determine the position of the photographs. I try and position photographs with white space to give reverence around each picture. And not only do I draw the position of the picture and its proper dimension, but I draw every damn picture! I could do the work with a computer these days, but I’m faster, and better, by hand.” Those hands have been behind hundreds of books over the years, including books published by leading art houses Rizzoli, Penguin, Aperture, and Pantheon, as well as leading institutions such as MoMA, MOCA, the Guggenheim, and New Museum. Even though what we see in the final published collection is what appears to be an unaffected, concise presentation, Vignelli has delicately drawn each page with a purpose and the unmatched scrutiny of the script-writer, director, and cinematographer of a film. “That is why I love books!” Vignelli states. “My (handmade) grid is not something you physically see. It’s just like underwear! You wear it but it’s not to be exposed. The grid is the underwear of the book!”

PHOTO CREDITS: A-C. Sketches by Massimo Vignelli Massimo Vignelli Portrait by Josh Herbolsheimer

Vol. 2 Issue 1 |

by Kimberly Sherman Leon Founder & Publisher

Brandon Emond has always been amused and intrigued by art and comic books. Since the age of three, he has been developing his art skills on a daily basis. Learning from the art styles of cartoons and comics, he has been able to get the attention of not only fellow comic fans, but even the editor of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series, which led to a drawing of his being published in the fan art section of the comic. Professional artists, such as Tracy Yardley, Greg Capullo, and Evan Stanley have seen the young artist’s work, giving him compliments and helpful criticism.

“Being a fan of comic books, I know the joy they can bring to fans of all ages and I would love nothing more than to participate in the comic-making process.” - Brandon Emond

| Rhode Island Creative Magazine

The art of comic book drawing is a complex one, not

and goals. If there are any opportunities out there that

just anyone can become a comic book artist. A comic

may help them achieve it, as parents, we act on that.

book artist needs to be able to tell a story. The art of

As a parent myself, I acted on this quickly! Once I saw

comic is all about illustrating a very good story, and a

his drawings, I knew he was already on his way to

comic book needs to follow the same lines as a book.

true professionalism.

A great story can easily be turned into a comic, but a terrible story makes for a terrible comic. Brandon has already created a few fan comics with his friends and has read the script of two of his favorite comics to fully understand how the process works, what the writer wants, and how the artist interprets the writer’s vision. His goal is to professionally work as a freelance artist, and hopes this opportunity spreads his name and helps him achieve that goal. Todd Emond, Brandon’s father had sent me an email to inform me of his 16 year old son’s creative talent. I could tell right away how proud he was of him. Like

“He has a natural talent that is going to take him to the top.” - Kimberly Sherman Leon I had the pleasure of meeting Brandon and his proud parents at the RICM Relaunch Event. Brandon was very excited to be there and thrilled for the opportunity to have his work promoted in this issue. It is moments like these that stand out in children’s minds and help drive them more to achieve their goal. I am proud to be part of it and to showcase his work in the Rhode Island Creative Magazine!

any parent, we want to support our children’s dreams Vol. 2 Issue 1 |

os Open Studios by Kimberly Sherman Leon Founder & Publisher

On September 7 and 8, 2013 from 10 am to 4 pm more than 60 artists in four historic mills in the Exchange Street neighborhood of Pawtucket, Rhode Island opened their studios to the public during the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebration of the arts, the 15th Annual Pawtucket Arts Festival. I had the pleasure of meeting a lot of talented artists and learn a little bit about their craft. It is amazing and inspiring to see such a large community come together to put on a great event to showcase such amazing local talent. See some of the artists I met down below. All visitors had the opportunity to view artwork, watch process demos, meet and talk with the artists, purchase art directly from the artists, enjoy other festival events in the area and discover Pawtucket, home of Slater Mill and the American Industrial Revolution. Pawtucket is becoming known as a center for arts and culture. To learn more about the art community in Pawtucket, visit http://xospawtucket.com.

To see the complete list of artists involved in the XOS event please visit http://xospawtucket.com/artists.html Lizzy Beckman has a degree from URI in Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design and a Minor in Theatre Costume. She has also studied at the London College of Fashion in England with a focus on Costume. Lizzy has spent the last decade building costumes for various shows and colleges and have also designed a full line of lingerie and swimwear. Her most recent venture is Banana Threads. Banana Threads is not only scarves and accessories, but also specialty handmade clothing. Most of my current works are one of a kind. She has always prided herself in constructing wearable art from whatever she had, making constant use of her spontaneity and creativity. Lizzy has creative experience in everything from yacht interiors, vintage clothing restoration, hand sewn period pieces, and made to order clothing. If you can imagine it, she can figure out how to make it. Etsy.com/shop/bananathreads

Photographer Nathan Gurvitch moved to Rhode Island in 2011, bringing his commercial product photography studio Gurvitch Images with him. The studio provides professional services that specialize in food & beverage photography, product branding, and fine jewelry photography. Additionally, Gurvitch images photographs artwork for clients, providing high resolution images at affordable rates. nathan@gurvitchimages.com

| Rhode Island Creative Magazine

Wendy Baker is a flower maven with an all consuming love of vintage and floral creations. Saddled with two black thumbs which prevent her from having real gardening skills in organic materials, she takes old unassuming pieces of waste metal, vintage Lucite or plastic beads, crystals, millinery blossoms and recycled leather belts to transform in her studio. The outcome of her experiments reflects her love of color and composition. Unexpected combinations yield pretty and visually vibrant results. These range from extravagant statement jewelry to simpler basic jewelry pieces such as necklaces, earrings, brooches, rings and bracelets. All of these reflect the inner joys of the ladies that wear them. bendywaker@gmail.com www.etsy.com/shop/bendywho Lucy King is a sculptor and fiber artist from Northwestern Rhode Island. Her interest in the 3-Dimensional arts grew during her school years, and she majored in Sculpture at Rhode Island School of Design. As her work evolved, she found herself drawn to functional objects and wearable art as away of expressing her ideas and now she knits sculptural hats. The hats are inspired by nature and whimsey and by the very yarn they are made with, incorporating knitting, felting, feathers, beads, and more. She can be found at the RISD Holiday Alumni Sale, Exchange Street Open Studios in Pawtucket, and on Etsy. luckygin@me.com

by Chris Sheehy Sidewalk Branding Company

Rhode Island SEO firm Sidewalk Branding Company names Providence photo contest winner – Cesar Cruz (Student at Rhode Island’s New England Tech) for his outstanding photograph of Rhode Island’s Downcity Providence.

“Stay focused on that lens Cesar – you’ve got great talent” - Chris Sheehy

Cruz’s winning photograph submission was in response to Sidewalk Branding’s call-out for a photograph depicting Providence Rhode Island’s Downcity or Skyline to use as part of their website redesign. News of the contest quickly spread through social media and was picked up by New England Tech GMW (Graphic, Multimedia, and Website Design) instructor department chair Rick Mitchell – who shared the opportunity with his students at the college. “Instead of spending hours walking all over the city taking photographs with my Droid phone – I’m pretty low tech in this department – I decided to give crowdsourcing a shot for the picture” says Sidewalk Branding’s founder Chris Sheehy. “With only one week to act – I wasn’t exactly expecting a flood of images to hit my inbox, but of the dozen or so that were received, Cesar’s immediately stood out. Its composition and depiction of the city will be a great complement to our website theme. Being it’s a black & white image that immediately blended into our theme was a real plus. It was exactly what we were looking for” adds Sheehy. As payment for the image, Sidewalk Branding promised the winning artist a public “thank you” for their work. Vol. 2 Issue 1 |

by Kristin MacRae Professional Organizer, Organizing in RI, LLC It’s a new chapter in your life. It’s exciting and scary at the same time. You are moving forward, onward and upward to better things! You are making a big decision that will affect the rest of your life. Get organized and be prepared and it will make this time in your life much easier.

Here are 6 tips to get organized for the process: • Purchase a journal/notebook with folders attached and a calendar. Keep everything contained to this book. You won’t have papers, applications or notes scattered all over your room. Everything regarding the college application process will be contained to this area. • Tab out the notebook with labeled sections. Label the sections with the colleges you are researching. Also label the sections with any other topics that you feel are important. • Keep a pros and cons list. At the front of each section, keep a list of things you like and dislike about the colleges. Write all your thoughts onto paper. Writing things down will clear the mental clutter. • Utilize the folders. Be sure the journal/notebook you are using has folders. Contain any material you may receive from the colleges in these folders. If you need to refer to it, you know exactly where it is and won’t waste time searching for it. • Create a daily to-do list instead of a weekly to-do list. If you create a weekly to do list, you will get overwhelmed looking at the big picture. Break it down into daily lists and tackle small manageable tasks each day. We are all busy and can’t remember everything. Keeping a to-do list will keep you on track You won’t be wondering if you forgot to do something. • You can also use electronics to keep track of everything. Whether you choose paper or electronics, it’s your preference. Just because we are in a digital age doesn’t mean we can’t use paper. Some people are visual and need to see everything physically in front of them. If you choose to use electronics, be sure you are organized. Choose what works for you, not what works for your friends.

| Rhode Island Creative Magazine

This process doesn’t have to be stressful unless you make it stressful by being disorganized and not planning and preparing. Get organized, plan and prepare and this process will be a breeze. If you are moving away to college, be sure to get organized for your move. Keep packing lists and to-do lists. Think about the space you are moving into. If you are moving into a dorm, you may be limited on space. Maximize your space. Don’t rush out and purchase containers and bins until you know what your room looks like and what you have to store in the room. Figure all this out and then purchase your organizing supplies according to what you have. You will save money, have less stress, and get the most out of your space by planning and preparing.

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Vol. 2 Issue 1 |

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Vol. 2 Issue 1 |

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