The Cost of College
Students deal with the challenge of paying for their education at graphic design schools in different ways. Some assume school loans, work part-time or receive assistance from relatives or parents.

But regardless of how you take care of your educational expenses, this burden can be made lighter through available grants and scholarships.

In this concluding article of Graphic Design Scholarship Basics and You we’ll provide some tips and direction on where to apply.
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Scholarships and You
There are several important things to know when applying for scholarships or grants:

Neat and Complete - Be very meticulous when filling out your forms and be sure to supply all materials and documents that are asked for. Turning in a sloppy or incomplete application may not disqualify you, but it certainly puts you in a less positive light with the scholarship committee.

Read the Fine Print - In some cases scholarships or grants have conditional clauses that may exclude you from being eligible. Things such as your country of residence, low GPA scores or wrong area of study can be deal breakers. Be sure you read all the fine print.

Don’t Miss the Deadline - Note that some grants and scholarship programs are run annually at specific times. If the due date for applications is past you can always apply for the upcoming scholastic year for your graphic design college classes.

Is it Worth it to You? - The application process can vary. Some scholarships only require a completed short form and a letter of intent, while others require an extensive amount of information and preparation. For scholarships that require more time to assemble an application package, you must make sure you have the commitment to follow through.

Scholarships and Grants
The following links will lead you to specific scholarship and grant opportunities. These websites give you information on how to apply, what to submit, and the duration of the funding. Good luck!

The Alfred G. & Elma M. Milotte Scholarship Fund
“One-year grants of up to $4,000 - To individuals who share their enthusiasm for exploring, chronicling and spreading the magnificence of the wilderness through artistic communication.”

Women’s Studio Workshop Residency Grants
“WSW offers a variety of Artist-in-Residence opportunities. WSW Resident artists will receive 24-hour studio access, technical and production assistance, on-campus housing, travel per diem, a materials stipend, and a weekly personal stipend during their stay.”

Samuel H. Kress Foundation
“…Awarded to art historians and art conservators in the final stages of their preparation for professional careers, as well as to art museum curators and educators.”

Scripps Howard Foundation
“The Foundation offers a number of scholarships to promising young communicators, many of which are endowed scholarships provided through endowments set up with specific universities over the years.”

National Endowment for the Arts
“In most areas, funding is limited to organizations. (Direct awards to individuals are made only through Literature Fellowships, NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships, NEA Opera Honors, and NEA National Heritage Fellowships in the Folk & Traditional Arts.)”

IFDA/EF Scholarships and Grants
“Enhancing the furnishings and design industry — IFDA/EF scholarships require a major in interior design or a related design/furnishings program unless noted.”

Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation
“…a not-for-profit, private, industry-directed organization that dispenses undergraduate college scholarships and graduate fellowship assistance to talented men and women interested in graphic communication careers.

For more information on other scholarship leads and opportunities see part two of Graphic Design Scholarship Basics and You.

Until next time, keep on designing!

Be Prepared
This phrase is the motto of the Girl and Boy Scouts. This is also good advice if you are applying for grants or scholarships to help you finance your education at a graphic design school or college.

In this article we’ll offer some tips regarding the logistics of applying, where to find funding, and how you can increase the odds in your favor for successful submissions.

Details, Details, and More Details
The good news is that there are funds out there for you to apply for. The bad news is there are funds out there for you to apply for. In other words, if you hate paper work and applications, this will definitely be a challenging experience.

Make sure you fill out all forms completely, accurately, and neatly. This will make the job of screening your application much easier for the person in charge of scholarship reviews. So always “be prepared.”

Here is some advice on the process of applying for scholarships:
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Does the Scholarship Apply to You?
Make sure that the specific grant or scholarship you are applying for is geared towards your specific needs. If you are seeking financial help for your career training at a graphic design college, applying for a science scholarship makes no sense. Do your research to be certain you fit the scholarship category.

Keep Your Grades Up
A good deal of scholarships require a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better. In some instances, a 2.5 or higher is acceptable. If you want scholarship money, your GPA scores are one of the first qualifying prerequisites that will be looked at.

Get Letters of Recommendation from Your Teachers
Anyone can say they’re great, but backing this up with facts is another matter. If you are exemplary in your scholastic abilities, talents or other positive qualities that fulfill the requirements for a scholarship, ask your teachers to put in a good word for you by writing a letter of recommendation.

Don’t Skimp on the Details
You will probably be asked to submit a written essay on the reasons why you are a good candidate for the scholarship. You need to emphasize your strengths and not shy away from making your case. Make sure to list any awards, activities or personal achievements that demonstrate your expertise in your field of graphic design.

Keep at It
Filling out scholarship applications can be tedious and tiring. But according to those who are in the know, they understand that the rewards can be worth all the work.

Where to Start
Now that you know the “how,” the next step is knowing the “where” of scholarships.

The following Internet links are filled with valuable information and strategies on scholarships and grants:
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CollegeAnswer.com
You’ll find a wealth of information pertaining to funding, selection of colleges, and college related topics. There is plenty of good advice and resources here.

FedMoney.org
This website describes itself as, “Your FREE Guide to All U.S. Government Grants and Loans Benefiting Students!” This website has an easy to use interface that can narrow down your search for government scholarships and grants.

Schoolgrantsblog.com
This blog was mentioned by Time magazine. This resource lists various grants that are available to students as well as listing the specific grant categories.

Next Time…
What are the specific scholarships available to you? Who runs them? What are the pitfalls in applying for scholarships? These questions and more will be answered in Graphic Design Scholarship Basics and You - Part III.

Until then, keep on designing!
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It’s a Love Hate Relationship
After graduating from  graphic design school, being employed in work that incorporates your design skills and creativity can be fulfilling. You can reach mountain top experiences when you design something fantastic.

On the flip, you can enter dark, shadowy areas when your designs falter or even worse, are flawed.

One graphic designer expressed this love/hate situation by saying:
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“I love the comment, ‘You must love designing for a living.’ At that point I usually start to laugh or break into uncontrollable tears.”

- Andrew Lewis, art director, designer, and artist

In this installment of Gotcha! Graphic Design Advertising Mistakes we’ll display actual ad mistakes taken from websites, magazine ads, and brochures. A great big “thanks” to the members of photoshopdisasters.com for digging up many of these examples in our Gotcha! series.

Enjoy and have fun!
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300  - The Movie
This action thriller film was an adaptation of  Frank Miller’s comic book mini-series of the historical Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC). During this event a small army of Spartans held off a barrage of attacks by overpowering Persian forces.

Here is the DVD box art:
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But What is Wrong? (Click on Image)
At first glance everything appears to be correct. But upon closer inspection the sword held by the main character isn’t being held at all. The hand seems to be gripping a handle that isn’t connected to the blade.
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Santander Bank
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The international banking institution, Santander, is headquartered in the UK. The photo is from their website and displays a group of people posing as staff members. They all look pleasant and professional.

But What is Wrong? (Click on Image)
Although the group photo looks inviting, some of the images of people have been inserted through Photoshop. You’ll notice that the woman with the red skirt has legs that mysteriously meld into the back of the woman in front. Her legs also never reach the floor.

Other problems concern improper use of the magic wand feature in cutting out portions of background and various other cut and paste errors.
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Moët and Chandon Champagne
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Most special celebrations start with a bottle of bubbly. Moët and Chandon have been producing fine champagne for over 260 years. This advertisement displays the effervescence of one of its sparkling wines.

But What is Wrong? (Click on Image)
The photo of the product is well lit and composed nicely. The champagne looks good enough to drink and the bubbles…are rising in an oblique angle to counteract gravity!

The simple mistake of not paying attention to the superimposed image of the sparkling beverage and the bubble orientation makes the ad a little less believable.

Look Before You Leap
We hope you’ve had as much fun with this series as we have. And hopefully, these examples not only make us smile, but make us more aware of the details when we design.

Graphic design schools and graphic design colleges provide the education needed to become successful graphic designers, but responsibility for good attention to details falls upon the designer.

Until next time, keep on designing!

With a Little Help from Your Friends
Making the decision to go to a graphic design school is a wise one if you are aiming for a career in graphic arts or multimedia.

These institutions of learning specifically focus on the job training skills and background that you’ll need in order to qualify for positions in the industry.

But coming up with the necessary funding for your tuition, supplies or lodging can sometimes be as challenging as taking the courses.

But with a little help from your “friends,” you can be successful in both areas.

Graphic Design Scholarships and You
If you need assistance in paying for some of your education expenses there are various strategies in securing funds through various scholarships.

Scholarship College Programs - Some alumni and independent sponsors of colleges provide scholarships and grants to qualified individuals. Check with the graphic design college of your choice to see what type of funding is available.

Website Leads - There are many websites that offer direction and leads on graphic design scholarships and grants. An Internet search should provide a number of locations where you can gather important information.

Government Student Loans - In the United States federal loans are available to individuals who meet specific prerequisites. Fulfilling certain conditions and parameters may qualify you for student loans. For more information visit the official FAFSA (Federal Assistance for Student Aid) website at: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.

The Alternatives
In some cases graphic design majors may not necessarily want assistance with tuition but seek alternative forms of education for their career training.

Community Colleges - Also known as junior colleges, these two-year institutions of learning can provide excellent education at more affordable price points. They offer various associate’s degrees and certificates of completion.

College credits earned at community colleges can often be transferred to other four-year universities for completion of a bachelor’s degree.

Online Education - If you are already working or have special circumstances that make attending a traditional campus difficult, you may want to consider online education for your graphic design classes. Online colleges provide more flexibility in course scheduling because you attend these virtual sessions anytime via the Internet.

Online graphic design schools and colleges offer a variety of two and four-year degrees in many graphic design and multimedia fields.

Next Time…
We’ll investigate some of the ins and outs of applying for scholarships and also provide some leads to different scholarships that are offered to design majors in part two of Graphic Design Scholarship Basics and You.

Until then, keep on designing!

Billions and Billions of Ads
Carl Sagan, a renowned astrophysicist, astronomer, author and host of the Public Broadcasting television series Cosmos, was fond of using the catchphrase “Billions [and] billions of stars…” in his distinctive nasal pronunciation.

Although there may not be “billions and billions” of ads since the very first one was produced, (probably on a cave wall), there can be no argument that the shear number of them is quite staggering.

Art directors and graphic designers are the gatekeepers for preventing design errors from reaching the final stage of publication in advertisements, graphic designs or other media. But as we all know, sometimes these little gremlins sneak past the guards.

Can you see the errors in the following examples? Look at the ads closely and then read the Do You See It? answers to find out if you are correct. (The mistakes can be seen by clicking on each photo.)

Have fun!

Props R Us
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We’ll start with an easy one here. The photo for this ad from the Banana Republic website shows a woman modeling a pantsuit. She looks happy and the clothes on her fit very nicely.

Do You See It? (Click on image to see mistakes)
All photographers should be able to point out this error immediately. A standard piece of equipment in every pro photographer’s bag is the 18% gray card.

The model is holding it above her head so that a light meter reading can be taken off the card. The resulting information from the meter gives the photographer information on the proper exposure to use.

This photo was probably just a test shot during the photo shoot to calibrate the light meter and was never intended to be used for the website.
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What’s in Your Wallet?
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This is a high profile ad for Louis Vuitton handbags. No doubt the fashionable accessories are well made and highly prized. The staged set is dynamic with the models assuming their standard issue pouting poses.

Do You See It? (Click on image to see mistakes)
One of the hardest scenes to photograph is when mirrors are in the shot. The reflections off of mirrors can show the surrounding studio equipment and camera people. These errant images are usually digitally removed for final copy.

In this case the art director has opted to enhance the realism of the set by replacing the offending reflections with Photoshopped images. The problem with these insertions is that the images do not reflect (pun intended) the actual model posses. The reflection on the left mirror shows the model’s arms together, but in the real scene she has them apart.

There also seems to be some inconsistencies with the reflections of the lights and lamps in the center mirror as well.

Details, Details, Details
None of the errors we’ve seen are deal breakers by any means. But they do demonstrate that mistakes can happen to the best of us.

What is important to realize is although it is important to receive the best career training from graphic design school centers or graphic design colleges; the level of attention to detail is our personal responsibility.
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Next Time…
We’ll post up some more “boo-boos” related to marketing ads in our next installment of Gotcha! Graphic Design Advertising Mistakes.

Until then, keep on designing! (…and look out for those mistakes.)

Now You See It. Now You Don’t
With the advent of Photoshop and other graphics editing programs, the proverbial Pandora’s Box has been opened.

Along with the immense power and usefulness of these software tools, there also exists greater risks of producing visual errors.

Graphic design colleges help us to strengthen our design skills, but oversights in details can produce odd and unintentional humor in graphic designs.

The following examples not only give us some good chuckles, but will help us to be more careful when we design.
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Parlez-vous Français?
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You may not speak French but you can see that this advertisement for the French newspaper France-Soir is filled with energy and motion. The Photoshopped ad is a good idea and sends the message that even if you are busy, you can still take time to read France Soir.

But What Is Wrong?
If you look closely at the two flight attendants quickly walking to the left, you’ll notice that it appears to be a Photoshopped double of the same woman. This isn’t a problem as this “cut and paste” technique is routinely used by graphic designers.

But by Photoshopping the model’s twin, the graphic designer failed to catch an error regarding the attendant in the background. Her left leg mysteriously disappears behind the leg of the other woman in mid stride.
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Give the Man a Hand(s)
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In 1984 a film was made about the exploits of a fictional rock band named Spinal Tap. A DVD was produced years later of live concert performances by the original cast members. The website displays the three actors as they appear today.

But What Is Wrong?
The band member in the center of the group portrait looks happy enough. The band member to his left is apparently putting his hand on the man’s shoulder.

But upon closer inspection there is a phantom hand on the man’s opposite shoulder as well. Does his friend have three hands or was it just an unfortunate Photoshop mistake? We certainly hope it is the latter and not the former.
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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall…

Looking at a shiny surface produces a mirror image of you. This principle is the same for producing rubber stamps. The stamped image is a mirror image of the stamp surface.

The Stampy is a concept for an invention that allows you to take a picture of an object or person and have it digitally transformed to a digital rubber stamp. The device is not in production but was a creative thinking idea from a graphic designer.

But What Is Wrong?
The original instructions on how this invention would work are laid out in several steps. The photo for step two demonstrates the final result of the stamping process.

But look closely and you’ll discover that the face of the digital stamp and the stamped image on the paper are one in the same; there is no mirror image as it should be. Whoops!

An Oldie but a Goody
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The movie “Mr. Mom” was reissued as a DVD in 2000. The plot is about a man who is laid off from work and finds himself in a humorous role-reversal; he becomes the soccer mom homemaker, while his wife becomes the wage earner.

The DVD cover art shows Michael Keaton and Teri Garr in their respective roles.

But What Is Wrong?
As hard as it is to believe, the mistake in the cover art has been left unchanged for a decade. If you look at the actress you’ll see that her legs mysteriously vanish into thin air behind her briefcase.

Final Words
The old saying that states “everyone makes mistakes” is an accurate one. But for graphic designers and art directors mistakes can be reproduced millions of times in print and on the Internet for millions to see.

Graphic design schools provide the necessary experience and career education to become good designers.

However, the tasks of making sure the details in your work are correct fall squarely upon you. Carpenters like to say “Measure twice. Cut once,” as a way to remind them of being accurate when making something. Perhaps graphic designers can modify this advice and say, “Draw once. Look twice or more.”

We hope you’ve enjoyed this article. Until next time, take care and keep on designing!