Refining and Visually Expressing Personal Brands

1) Students will REVISIT and REFINE their Personal Brand Guidelines and Style Sheets, making whatever changes are appropriate with their experiences of their work in social media on their digital presence. 

2) Students will continue to develop and populate their websites, giving special attention to filling their portfolios.

3) Students will reflect on their Updated Personal Brand - and will apply their design skills to creating a composite image in the tradition of Robert Weingarten's "Portrait Unbound" (see videos below) - using original photos and other images to create a collage/montage that reflects their own "brand." They will post these images on their blogs with reflections on the process.

Students may use design programs like PhotoShop, Illustrator, Indesign, etc. to create their "Portraits unbound" or web-based collage makers from Adobe Spark or Canva to make a representative collage.

Social Dilemma, Social Presence

In the next blog entries, students will tackle the two "flip sides" of the social media coin.

First, they will reflect on the "The Social Dilemma" by responding to questions like these:

1. What was the most surprising thing you learned in the documentary?
2. What information affected you most personally?
3. Name at least one social media practice you considered changing after watching the film?
4. What other thoughts would you like to discuss with your colleagues?

Second, they will revisit the BrandYourself account they set up and run through the check list under the "Build Your Personal Brand" link in the left nav bar. Each item has an estimated time required to complete. Students will be prepared to SHOW their BrandYourself checklist in the next class meeting. (***You need ONLY do the items that DON'T require upgrading to a paid package - so skip the "premium" features.)

Review: Wireframes, SiteMaps, Style Sheets, and Fresh Eyes

Students will review their Brand Guide/Style Sheets, and revise as needed, giving attention to these questions:

1. Does my style sheet reflect my voice and tone?
2. Does my style sheet control and direct my personal web presence design?
   If not, Why?
3. Have I revised my style sheet to make it presentable to the public? Language, information, etc.

Personal Brands: Touchy-feely and Technical!

 Students have completed their Personal Brand Style Sheets, and will use these to launch two projects:

1. A complete revamping of all social media - beginning with banners (and reviewing profile info, of course.) 
2. A "Crazy 8" Wire Frame for your website design that addresses the most necessary elements: contact info, resume, portfolio(s), social media, navigation, about/bio/profile, etc. 
   
3. A reflective look at their aspirational internet personas, done by imitating the "Portrait Unbound" by Robert Weingarten.