First Draft of Portfolio Instructions

Step 1: Gather the artwork you would like to include in your portfolio. Make sure these are examples of your very best work. Try to have a wide range of styles, while still featuring your own unique personality.

Step 2: Have a trusted individual (such as an instructor or adviser) critique your portfolio pieces. Be sure to listen carefully to their suggestions.
Step 3: Taking the suggestions from your adviser, edit your portfolio pieces so that they are truly examples of your best work possible.
Step 4: Decide on your portfolio medium. Will you be having a printed hard copy portfolio or a digital portfolio? If you choose a digital portfolio, select a hosting service. Do you want your own website, a blog, or use a portfolio site like myfolio.com?

Step 5: Set-up your artwork to comply with the format necessary for your portfolio medium. If you will have a print portfolio, order high resolution prints from somewhere like mpix.com. If you have selected a digital portfolio, then upload all your artwork into a digital format.
Step 6: Arrange your artwork into an eye catching layout. I know you guys have skills doing this. Apply your best techniques to catch your viewers attention.
Step 7: Review your portfolio. Make sure everything runs smoothly and looks professional. Consult your adviser again and ask for his critique on it. Make any necessary adjustments to finalize your portfolio.
Step 8: Contact prospective employers to schedule an interview and appointment for them to review your portfolio.

Audience Analysis

Planning Guide:
Audience Analysis

Here's your description of the audience:
My audience are college students majoring in a graphic arts type program.

Here's your description of the audience in terms of the organization they work for or their position or title:
These students are affiliated with whichever college organization they attend.

Here's your description of the audience in terms of their occupation, profession, or field:
These are students striving to get the training they need in order to pursue a career in the graphic arts industry.

Here's your description of the audience in terms of their needs for or interest in the information you plan to include in this writing project:
My audience would be greatly interested in adding this skill to their repertoire because it will help them in carrying out other design related projects.

Here's how your audience will use the information in your report:
I hope they will be able to successfully carry out the functions explained in my instructions and use these in their design projects.

Here are your thoughts on the audience's technical background in relation to your report:
They have a basic understanding of design software such at Photoshop and Illustrator. They are also very familiar with the internet. They have used and possibly downloaded/installed Photoshop brushes before but would like to learn how to create their own.

Audience Analysis

Planning Guide:
Audience Analysis

Here's your description of the audience:
My audience are college students majoring in a graphic arts type program.

Here's your description of the audience in terms of the organization they work for or their position or title:
These students are affiliated with whichever college organization they attend.

Here's your description of the audience in terms of their occupation, profession, or field:
These are students striving to get the training they need in order to pursue a career in the graphic arts industry.

Here's your description of the audience in terms of their needs for or interest in the information you plan to include in this writing project:
My audience would be greatly interested in adding this skill to their repertoire because it will help them in carrying out other design related projects.

Here's how your audience will use the information in your report:
I hope they will be able to successfully carry out the functions explained in my instructions and use these in their design projects.

Here are your thoughts on the audience's technical background in relation to your report:
They have a basic understanding of design software such at Photoshop and Illustrator. They are also very familiar with the internet. They have used and possibly downloaded/installed Photoshop brushes before but would like to learn how to create their own.

White Paper Layout

I have decided to imitate the design layout used here...

I like the style of the two column layout and feel the heading coloring matches well with my proposal layout. I plan to incorporate my images in a similar manner by having them inside the column instead of in the margins.

Images for White Paper

This image is part of the description in how Blellow came to be and where it's name is from. It will work as a visual aid in explaining this.

I have decided to use the actual Blellow logo as one of my images for my white paper. It will help people identify the website I will be discussing.

Interview Reponces

Julie Wirsche, DMDT

1. Do you frequently work alone on a project (specifically those of a graphic design nature)?

Yes, normally my graphic design projects are individual.

2. Do you ever wish to spring board ideas off other people?

Rarely. I would usually do this when working one-on-one.

3. Or do you like to brainstorm ideas or processes with other people?

Yes, normally I like to brainstorm with people so we can be sure we're on the same trail.

4. Do you ever come across a design problem or question in your projects?

Oh yes, quite a few times. :)

5. How do you usually solve these?

Normally, I "mess" with the design and try different layouts, colors, etc. until i find something that works. If I am still stuck, I ask for opinions from either my friends or the instructor.

6. How long does that typically take you?

Normally, a snag can take me up to 20 minutes to figure out.

7. Typically, if you wanted help or input from an industry professional, where would you go?
Normally I go online and search information, but for immediate help I would ask a gallery director from an art center.


Laura Amaro, DMDT

1. Do you frequently work alone on a project (specifically those of a graphic design nature)?

Typically, yes. There are the ocassional group projects, though.

2. Do you ever wish to spring board ideas off other people?

I usually do. A certain idea leads to different methods/ideas and I get a thought process going where the original idea progresses to something completely different.

3. Or do you like to brainstorm ideas or processes with other people?

I definitely like to discuss ideas with likeminded individuals. Especially when working in a group project. The creative juices flow faster when there's nth-times the idea input.

4. Do you ever come across a design problem or question in your projects?

I often like to try different ways to design something, so I tend to come along unexpected snags along the way.

5. How do you usually solve these?

I first try troubleshoot it myself, but if that doesn't work I research online to see if anyone has already tried something similar, went through the same problems and found a way to fix it.

6. How long does that typically take you?

It varies on what I'm trying to do. It takes longer when I try to troubleshoot it myself.

7. Typically, if you wanted help or input from an industry professional, where would you go?

If I'm working at school, I ask my professors or the few designers that I personally know. I've never tried asking an industry professional outside of that, but it'd be nice to have an easy way to contact someone knowledgable on the subject. While there are bloggers out there that might know, it'd be much easier to get a group of people dedicated to helping fellow designers. Leaving a comment doesn't achieve very fast results.

3 Questions from "Purpose, Audience, Genre" Podcast

Q. What style is appropriate to address Prof. Santoy as opposed to a style for students?
A. Because Prof. Santoy is our superior it would be appropriate to address in a more formal respectful manner as if we were addressing our boss. Students are our fellow peers so it is acceptable if we address them in a more casual manner.

Q. What are the style or form differences of a blog versus a microblog like Twitter?
A. In a blog you have a relatively infinite amount of space to discuss your topic. You can express it in whatever manner you so please. You have the freedom to control your design layout, and how you text will be presented to your readers. However, in a microblog you have a limited number of characters (usually 140) to work with. this means you must address your point immediately and do so in a way that will capture your audience's interest. Also, you are limited to the layout contraints determed by the microblog hosting server.

Q. What do you think of genres, such as memos? Are they easy or hard to write?
A. I find memos to be an easier genre to write because they can be less formal and complex as other business documents. They are a convenient way to express your message and relay important information.

Primary Research - Interview

I have decided to conduct interviews via email. Here is a copy of the emails I sent to my interviewees.


For my Technical Business Writing class I am assigned to write a white paper on a web tool of my choice. However it must be one that will help college students or students specifically in the DMDT program. Therefore I have chosen to discuss the benefits of the web tool Blellow.

In order to properly research and discuss the potential benefits I have been asked to interview at least two students in the program concerning some areas in which Blellow might be of assistance. If you guys would not mind, I would love to interview you. I have enclosed the questions and you can just respond with the answers. We can also chat to further discuss this web tool. Just let me know...

Thank you :)

Sebrina S.

Interview Questions:

1. Do you frequently work alone on a project (specifically those of a graphic design nature)?
2. Do you ever wish to spring board ideas off other people?
3. Or do you like to brainstorm ideas or processes with other people?
4. Do you ever come across a design problem or question in your projects?
5. How do you usually solve these?
6. How long does that typically take you?
7. Typically, if you wanted help or input from an industry professional, where would you go?

That's all I can think of at the moment. If you have any other input please feel free to pass it my way. Thank you!

ntroduce Proposal/Research/White Paper Project #2 - White Paper Questionnaire

1. What is the goal or purpose of the white paper?

This white paper assignment is intended to inform TSTC students about a tech tool that will prove beneficial to them in their studies and academic career.

2. Who is your audience for the white paper?

The intended audience are TSTC college students, in my case, specifically students in the Digital MEdia Design technology program.

3. What do you have to do before you can write the white paper?

1. First I have to select and research the tech tool I have decided to propose for evaluation in my white paper.

2. Then I will need to construct a proposal direct to Prof. Santoy so that she can give me permission to continue investigating my topic for the white paper.


4. What is the goal of the proposal?

My goal is to gain permission to use the selected tech tool as my white paper topic.

5. Who the audience for the proposal?

The proposal audience is Prof. Santoy because she is the one who I need permission from.

6. What do you have to do before you can write the proposal?

I have to establish what I will be proposing. Therefore I must conduct extensive research on my chosen tech tool.

Introduce Proposal/Research/White Paper Project #2 - Audeience Analysis

Q. Describe your intended audience—who are these readers? (hint: who is giving you permission)

A. My intended audience for my proposal is Prof. Santoy. Therefore, I should complete my proposal as if I was seeking permission form my boss to pursue a specific course of action or in this case, approval of my white paper topic.

Q. Describe your intended audience in terms of the organization they work for and their position or title.

A. Prof. Santoy is affiliated with Texas State Technical College - Harlingen as the English Department director and a teacher.

Q. Describe your intended audience in terms of their occupation, profession, or field

A. Because Prof. Santoy is employed in the English writing field she will be particularly focusing on the structure and development of my proposal.

Q. Describe your intended audience in terms of their needs for or interest in the information you plan to include in this writing project.

A. Prof. Santoy has requested this proposal and therefore will be interested in seeing my approach. I have chosen to propose the use of the tech tool Blellow because it will help students in the Digital Media Design Technology program at TSTC.

Q. Describe how your intended audience will use the information you include in this writing project.

A. Prof. Santoy will use this proposal to decide if this will be an appropriate topic for me to write my first white paper assignment on.

Q. Describe the technical background of your intended audience–what do they know and not know about your topic? What are their technical limitations in relation to this writing project?

A. Prof. Santoy is an experienced blog and twitter user who might be very interested in the new micro-blogging tool Blellow. As an avid user she will be able to recognize the benefits of this tool and interpret the impact it could have on college students.