Last week we turned in our infographics in which I had fun creating. I didn’t know what to make it on so I decided on a hobby. I’ve spent time with Photoshop before so using the program was easy to adjust to. These past assignments have been engaging since it has a hands-on feeling to it. Although our work is completed with computers, they allow us to work with programs that we’d otherwise not use. It’s better to learn them now rather than on the field.

User interface design is focused on creating a style that works for the site or software. It has components such as navigations and menus that overall help with the user experience. A good design leads to a good experience. When it comes to organizing content, my least favorite is the carousel because it feels outdated. Having drop down tabs is what I’m used to more.

On the week before spring break, we learned about infographics. I find infographics very useful as they are a way to digest information in a more appealing manner. Instead of typing out a block of text with information, an infographic gets straight to the point while also grabbing the viewer’s attention. I found the poor design examples very informative as they really showcased what not to do. Having objects clumped up with different color schemes makes the information harder to process. One is left with more questions than answers.

In regards to web design, it is a completely new topic for me. I access the internet often like any other person, but I don’t pay much attention to all the words or symbols that make up the domain. Through the lecture I learned that HTML is what makes content appear, while CSS focuses on the layout and design of the webpage. I learned that every input given is important because a single typo can cause the line of code to not function properly. It seems like a tedious job but with practice I’m sure it becomes easier and more fluent.

https://soundcloud.com/viableh/jms-315/s-X1A6pC13MuG

This is an interview I conducted on March 3rd. I interviewed Trent Biggs who is a environmental sciences professor at San Diego State University. The interview is mainly focused on the Tijuana River Watershed and how it affects communities on both sides of the border. I was able to record the video through my iPhone with the Voice Memos app. After that, I Airdropped it to the iMac and was finally able to trim the length of the recording with iMovie. I made sure to set the phone on a flat surface to reduce background noise. This helps so that the microphone in the phone doesn’t pick up any sound frequencies caused by subtle movements. To better enhance the interview, I would’ve used a more sound proof room because background chatter could be heard in the audio. Overall, the interview went well and I was able to learn more about something I’m interested in.

The digital assignment was eye-opening because I was able to deconstruct the photo into different concepts. I think this is a valuable thing to know because photos have a huge impact on everything from advertising to journalism. Being able to curate or edit a photo in a way that grabs the viewers’ attention is important in many aspects and in many careers. My favorite photography concept that I learned was the Rule of Thirds. It’s easy to apply and can be used even by the most amateur of photographers, like myself.

Last week we learned about the importance of audio. I enjoyed learning about the sections on microphones because although I don’t use any myself, I have noticed the physical differences on television and online. For instance, I wasn’t aware of the differences between a dynamic microphone and a condenser microphone. If I were to ever record in a studio, I’d most likely invest in a condenser microphone since it is more sensitive to sound. Lastly, I found the section on how to have a good podcast important because it’s a viable option to anyone who wants to create content.

This selfie represents me due to how bizarre it is. It’s a photo of me with a chili-dog and a side of potato salad; it’s a photo that I’d send to my friends for no reason other than to get a reaction. The reason I chose this picture is to add a twist to the common selfie. Selfies, as it reads in the word, mainly focuses on the self. For this photo, I decided to split the attention in two ways. It was taken in a portrait style with a full extension of the arm to capture more than just myself. The image was cropped to remove unwanted materials and to achieve the Rule of Thirds. My plate and my face are not in the center of the image so they become focal points. Also, it shows a greater depth of field due to all the objects being defined. For future reference, I would remove the Cheeto bag from the center because it’s hue is very unique as compared to the other objects in the photo. I believe this can potentially ruin the intended focal points.

We recently completed our first exam and I overall felt pretty good about it. The questions were clear and there wasn’t any question where I had trouble understanding what was being asked. Luckily, the instructions were straightforward on the test-taking process. I also enjoyed the fact that it was clear on how the LockDown Browser could be downloaded as well as how it worked. I appreciate how organized this class is. Everything is in its designated spot which makes online learning a lot more easier.

My favorite lesson so far has been the digital text lesson. This is mainly due to the fact that I had no idea how thought out fonts were made to be. Things like contrast, kerning and serif were all new to me. Now that I know the importance of a typeface, I’ll be more aware of how to use them properly so that the message aligns with the emotion of the font. Overall I found it fascinating because it’s something that we use almost daily but never really talk about.

One of the things that I’ve learned so far is about the role of product managers. I found this interesting because it showed us a real world job that we can partake in. A product manager brings people together, they don’t necessarily boss people around. It would be eye opening to be taught about other specific jobs in the field. I feel like there’s so many different job opportunities for those who are in media studies; being able to see what viable jobs are out there would be beneficial.

Another thing that I found interesting was the digital media and the long tail section. It seems like the times are changing and the media control is not centered solely on television. The market has expanded to those who are producers of digital media. These new platforms that enter the market allow for others to compete in the market. As learned from economics, competition leads to innovation. If companies keep competing for viewership and ratings, us as an audience can not only expect better content, but we can also expect a new distribution of media power.