cal poly art and design student survival guide

Cal Poly

Art DesignStudent Survival Guide

a guide for students by students

Table of ConTenTs Getting the Most Out of Dexter…............... 7

A Guide to Acing your Courses…............ 17

Critique….................................................. 25

Surviving a Dexter All -Nighter…............... 33

Student Survival guide 5

photography? We have an answer for that! don’t know how to effectively get an idea across in a critique? We have an answer for that! aren’t quite sure if aiga will be worth your time? We have an answer for that! dreading your first (and certainly not your last) all nighter? We definitely have an answer for that!

We hope that this survival guide will help ease any lingering apprehensions that you may have as you step through dexter’s glass doors (unless you are entering from back door behind the dumpsters) and begin a new chapter in your life. good luck students!

introDuctionlet me be one of the first to wish you congratulations on your acceptance to the Cal Poly art and design program! Whether you are a graphic designer, photographer, or studio artist, you are taking your first steps on your long and sometimes painful (but most of the time rewarding) journey on your path to becoming a professional artist.

For the next three, four, five (hopefully not) years, you will be spending the majority of your time in dexter. dexter is a magical place where you can finally let your inner artist roam free. What will you do with this newfound creative freedom? Will you channel it into your assignments? Will you join a club?

this humble guide contains information from the very students who have been in your shoes at one point or another. While cannot remember every detail of our freshman year, we all have something that stood out to us and something of worth to pass on. Can’t remember what to bring to black and white

getting the Most out of Dexter

8 Cal Poly art & deSign dePartment

Fresh Meat

although upperclassmen may look like they have their sh*t together (they’re lying), they have been at Cal Poly much longer than you. they may give off the illusion of skill and mastery but remember that everyone at dexter was sitting in the same uncomfortable chairs you are now. you may have been the big fish in high school, as were most accepted into this program, and were ecstatic to have been one of the few chosen here. But this is a smaller pond of similarly talented big fish so don’t get discouraged.

MindSet

Pride

Being forced into an environment that is new and challenging can make you feel inexperienced. everyone seems to know where to go and what to do... except you. What you’ve been passionate about your entire life is now at the cusp of turning itself into a career! and sometimes this can make even the most kind-hearted overly competitive, prideful and heated.


Comparing your Work

as you are all coming in on different skill and experience levels some of you have had more time to develop your skills. Comparing yourself to others is both a positive and negative experience. By comparing yourself to others, you get to brainstorm ideas, styles and genuine creativity. that being said, comparing yourself too critically, delving into the “i suck” or “i could never do that” territory is neither productive nor mentally healthy. take other people’s work as inspiration and get excited to learn from others. do not beat yourself up, we are all here to learn. don’t be afraid to ask questions, learn new tools, and learn by doing!

I suckI could never

do that My work looks

terrible


dexteriteS it has been said that college is one of the best times of your life (and possibly the most stressful, but let’s ignore that for now). College is a time to expand your talents, interests, experiences and friendships! By meeting new people, you will become more comfortable in class, being able to learn from others and get critiqued by fellow friends rather than strangers. artist collaboration is one of the most important tools a budding freshman can do to expand their skill set, get honest opinions, and save your a** in times of late night crisis.

one method of generating collaboration is to participate in dexter social media. only the biggest, proudest art nerds have social media groups. By joining one of the dexterite Facebook group, or starting your own with your own class, you are able to have online critiques, beg for help, we even promote occasional venting.


» DO maintain a positive attitude! no one likes a dexter downer.

» DO find common ground. it’s easy to find differences, but similarities make us stronger!

» DO treat your friends. making people food is an easy payment for last minute help and making friends in general.

» DON’T let yourself go. Hygiene is essential!

» DON’T isolate yourself on purpose ( unless you are deep in sh*t ).

» DON’T be pretentious. no one wants a lecture.

do’S & don’tS oF MakinG FriendS

» DO ask questions! everyone is in the same boat, so don’t be afraid to ask others for advice.

» DO smile even when your shy. Showing those pearly whites makes all the difference!

» DO maintain a positive attitude.

» DO get together with your peers outside of class. Study dates are a great way to make friends & eat some food!

DO s

Don t s


SaC

SaC of the Studio art department is a social and professional club for Studio majors. their activities include annual artist lectures, workshops and museum tours to get students interested in the contemporary art world. all majors inside and outside of the art department are welcome to come!

ClubSnow that you know the do’s and don’ts of dexterite Society, you can practice these lessons at one of our four amazing clubs in the art department: Club 34, SaC, aiga and F-22.

Club 34

Club 34 is a dexter social club, the entire campus is encourage to get involved in events and get pumped about art! From late night art flick movies, pizza and glassblowing days or letterpress workshops, Club 34 offers something for everyone and new experiences to be enjoyed for any major! Push pin, a quarterly Friday night art gallery, is a way for students to see other peer work and sample various tasty treats. the biggest event that Club 34 hosts each year is the renown gala event every spring. this is the one purely social event occurring each year to provide food, music and fun for every art department guy & girl. it is open for the entire university, and is a celebration for end of the year festivities and genuine good fun!


F-22

F-22 is the brand new Photography major club for all of those who are enthusiastic and passionate about photography! they visit local galleries, discuss techniques, and provide a social way for students to share ideas and learn more about their skills!

aiGa

aiga is a student run chapter of the professional association for graphic arts. their offices are located throughout California, hosting portfolio reviews, workshops, guest speakers and assist in the job seeking process, occupational resources and connections post graduation. aiga is committed to advancing design as professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force.


magazines and material resources that will inspire your inner artist. the resource center also has open computers and book binding essentials. Just remember, this mecca has limited hours during the school week. (only so much of a good thing, as they say...) However, if you’re the kind of designer that bleeds CmyK 24/7, the Computer lab is a great place to make a second home. this hardwired heaven is packed to the walls with 30 plus iron mac desktops, scanners, printers and projectors!

dexter reSourCeSFrom a variety of student labs, art & design majors always have an outlet for their creative mojo. the photo lab, a commonplace for snappy photography concentrations, is a great place to rent a camera, go shoot and develop your very own roll of film in one of the many dark rooms. Be sure to make friends with Kurt, he’s one rad, bad, photo lad. if design literature is more your style then make your way over to the resource Center. this student run temple of design has books,

A guiDe to Acing your courses


prevents any of the white of the color aid paper from showing on the edges. CHange your BladeS regularly, this will give you the cleanest cut.

Supplies

» Cork backed rulers are where it’s at. you’ll need one for the rest of your time here. it’s best to have 2 of them: 12” and 24”

» gouache is expensive! When painting your squares you’ll use more of the lighter values than the dark, so buy more yellows and whites and less black or purple. don’t buy a medium for the paint, its unnecessary.

Color theory (art 105)

this class will teach you about how colors are used and how to build a bumpin’ composition.

tips

» HOw TO use rubber cemeNT prOperly: to get the best hold, apply glue to both pieces of paper that you want to adhere together. let it dry, then stick them together.

» HOw TO Tape prOperly: Be sure to buy Scotch magic tape. Put the tape on top of either unpainted paper, or a dry painted area. run your finger along the edge of the tape closest to the area that you will paint. (leave a portion of the tape unattached to the paper so that it’s easier to peel off) Paint by starting on the tape and painting away, to prevent bleeding.

» HOw TO cuT wiTH aN xacTO blaDe: make sure that the angle of the blade and the table is always acute, and never obtuse. this


3d deSiGn (art 107)applying knowledge from color theory and hierarchy/visual presentation from 2d design to 3d work.

tips

» take it easy, but this is a very hands-on class so plan accordingly and don’t procrastinate!

» again, enjoy your creative freedom! you’re bound to have more fun if you’re making something that you actually want to make, versus just meeting the project requirements.

Supplies

» invest in a nice box cutter/olfa knife and replacement blades. you’ll end up using it for the rest of your time here.

» the woodshop is an awesome resource. make sure to explore the different materials and tools available to you there during 3d design and afterward!

2d deSiGn (art 106)this class is about developing visual hierarchy so you don’t have janky compositions.

tips

» don’t procrastinate.

» this is your first real design class. So enjoy your creative freedom and focus on developing your concepts!

Supplies

» microns are your best friend! invest in a full pack of different sizes and be prepared to replace them every quarter at the most, or at least once a year.

» leave your rubber cement in Color theory! it’s time to upgrade. For mounting your projects, we suggest spray mount for large projects or mac tac for a final critique/permanent bond


exercises. you’ll get there eventually. instead, focus on learning the programs. these courses are designed to teach you the adobe suite programs. the more you practice, the more you will learn.

» you will be using these programs throughout your entire time in the art and design department so know them inside and out.

» Bring your laptop to class every day!

Supplies

» you have the option to buy the adobe Student Suite at a cheaper price. But we suggest that if you have the resources, buy extended, Professional, or master Suite .

adobe ClaSSeS(art 182, 183, 184) these classes are intro courses to the adobe Suite Programs (Photoshop, illustrator, and indesign ) that you will use for all of your stuff from here on out. don’t slack off!

tips

» there’s a way to do everything. look up tutorials and do them!

» don’t fall behind when following in-class tutorials. it’s hard to catch up!

» talk to professors one on one.

» learn how to use layers!

» remember the keyboard shortcuts! they’ll save you a load of time in the long run.

» don’t focus too much on the projects and


» an erasing shield is helpful for those detailed areas.

» Blending stumps will save you a ton of time when you are trying to shade.

beGinninG draWinG (art 101)Here you will develop your drawing skills by learning what makes a good composition.

tips

» Slow down. good drawing comes from patience and an eye for detail.

» use your viewfinder. it helps you get the right composition on the first try.

» Sketch lightly. you will probably have to erase your initial idea and reframe the composition anyways.

» remember to take frequent breaks to give your eyes, your hand, and your back a rest.

Supplies

» Kneaded erasers can be used to lighten big areas of your drawing.

Blending stumps

save a lot of time


» ask upperclassmen for their old photo filters or split the cost and share with people in your class.

» Photo paper is eXPenSive. use it as efficiently as possible. Split a pack of 8x10” paper with a friend because you’ll only use it for the first project, but invest in 11x14” paper.

blaCk and White

PhotoGraPhy (art 222)

this old school photo class will teach you about framing with intentionality and how to manually adjust exposures to create, develop, and enlarge dope photos.

tips

» developing photos is time consuming, so maximize your time outside of class during lab hours.

» Kurt is the man! listen to his directions.

» Be careful not to accidentally expose your film or paper to light!

» don’t worry about the test. everyone fails it. it’s impossibly hard, but not a huge part of your grade.

Supplies

» Bring your towels to class everyday. But seriously, bring your own towels.

Bring your towels

to class every day

critique


Critique is a fundamental and essential aspect of an artist’s life. at first glance, “critique” may appear to be a harsh word and a scary concept. Why would you want to become a critic, or be criticized? But believe it or not, critique is the most valuable opportunity you have to improve your skills and better your work. accepting critique as a good thing early on is necessary to your survival in the art & design department, and learning how to critique other peoples’ work will give you practice for refining your own.


» lOOk aT THe cONTeNT as well as THe fOrm. Both of these things need to come together to create a cohesive whole. if they don’t, let the artist know, and give them suggestions for how they can fix the problem.

» DON’T iNTerrupT. it’s just rude.

» be cONcise. don’t put everyone to sleep. nobody likes the sound of your voice as much as you do.

» be respecTful Of yOur peers. this is a critique, not a Jerry Springer show.

» fOcus ON wHaT’s wOrkiNg, what’s not working, what could be improved upon, and how. When you don’t know what to say, you can fall back on these. they will always be helpful.

» use DesigN priNciples. always start with the fundamentals, and then work your way into more detailed focus from there.

aS a CritiC » THere’s sucH a THiNg as a gOOD criTic.

» be ObjecTive. don’t just bring personal likes and dislikes into the equation.

» use wOrDs sucH as “THis wOrks because...” instead of being vague (“i like” or “cool”): your personal likes and dislikes don’t help an artist. Point out something they can act on.

» DON’T NiTpick. you can suggest changes to small details but focus on the big picture as well. don’t get caught up on unimportant issues.

» speak yOur miND. Believe that you have good ideas — your input might be just what the artist needs to hear. also, don’t be afraid of hurting people’s feelings; it’s not personal.

» ask THe DesigNer quesTiONs. if you don’t understand what they are talking about, it’s okay. ask them to clarify. if you’re all on the same page, everyone will get much more out of the critique.


» lisTeN TO all suggesTiONs ObjecTively. that is how they are intended: objectively.

» DefeND yOur wOrk if yOu believe iN iT. the critic might not understand why you made a decision. explain your reasoning, and ask if it is clear and communicated well.

» Take suggesTiONs wiTH a graiN Of salT. there are many solutions to a problem. the one suggested to you might not be the best for your situation; that, you can decide for yourself.

» be HONesT wiTH THe criTics abOuT wHaT yOu’re uNsure Of. if they know what you need help with, they can focus their attentions toward helping you solve your problem.

» THaNk criTics fOr suggesTiONs. you couldn’t have done it yourself!

aS an artiSt » firsT THiNgs firsT, explaiN yOur wOrk.

Focus on concept and form, and explain your process. always assume that the critics are clueless. they don’t know your thought process, or why you believe something works.

» be cONcise aND arTiculaTe. if you can’t explain your concept in one or two sentences, and how the artwork exemplifies it, you need to rethink your idea. in addition, if you know there’s an issue with the work, admit it, ask for suggestions, and don’t try to justify it with a lot of words.

» be respecTful. everyone’s entitled to his or her opinion. Critiques are supposed to be objective, but at the end of the day, we all think differently.

» DON’T HOlD a gruDge, aND DON’T Take cOmmeNTs persONally. Critics are evaluating your work objectively, not evaluating you, as an artist. Comments are not aimed at you; they are intended to help your work improve.

» yOur wOrk’s gOiNg TO cHaNge. if you hang on to your original ideas too tightly your work can’t improve.

» be suppOrTive. your classmates may be competition, but they should be your greatest supporters as well.

» iT’s Okay if yOur wOrk isN’T perfecT yeT, that’s what critiques are for.

hoW to be PrePared

» DevelOp THe HabiT NOw.

» eaT breakfasT aND geT TO class early. you’d be surprised at how much this helps keep stress levels down. Besides, everyone wants to get on the teacher’s good side.

» give yOurself mOre THaN eNOugH Time

TO puT TOgeTHer yOur wOrk. it alWayS takes longer than you think it will.

» plaN fOr misTakes iN prODucTiON.

this major’s expensive anyways. Spend the extra dollar to be prepared in case you screw up.

» preseNTaTiON is everyTHiNg. Books will always be judged by their covers.

» THiNk abOuT wHaT yOu’re gOiNg TO say befOre yOu gO up TO preseNT yOur wOrk. if you’re nervous, it will help calm you down.


hoW to b.S. » a (sOmeTimes) Necessary evil.

» placemeNT. try to get there early to place your work in the middle of the lineup so you don’t have to present first or last.

» if yOu HappeN TO pull aN all-NigHTer, yOu migHT as well gO firsT; otherwise you might pass out.

» Be familiar wiTH basic TermiNOlOgy so you can at least say something halfway decent.

» Take a sTep back so you can look at your work in a new light, maybe you’ll come up with something else to say.

surviving A Dexter All-Nighter


to double check that all of your essential body parts are clear of the blade. nobody wants a bloody project!

» DON’T eaT Near TOxic maTerials. even though your stomach might be growling at 3 in the morning, resist the temptation to eat and work simultaneously. you might think that you are saving time, but you run the risk of contaminating your food with charcoal dust, rubber cement, or gouache.

» be careful. Sleep deprived art Student + dangerous equipment = recipe for disaster. make sure to be careful when you are overly tired.

FirSt aidin the event that a sleep deprived catastrophe strikes, knowing the ropes of dexter First aid will be a lifesaver!

Prevention

» Take yOur Time. in your sleep deprived state it’s crucial that you take your time when finishing up tomorrow’s project. even though time is of the essence, don’t forget that your well-being is more important than your work.

» Tuck iN yOur fiNgers. When using sharp cutting tools, make sure you’re aware of fingers and toes! Before you make the cut, take a second

sTep 1: Check the first aid box

sTep 2: Construct maCtac bandaid


vista emergency room on Casa St. just off of Foothill. doctors will take it from there.

» keep calm. Whatever you do, don’t panic. Panicking will just make the situation worse. use what you have learned from this guide to take control of the situation and get back to your project!

treatment

» firsT aiD bOx. a blue first aid kit is hanging on the wall at the front of each classroom.

» macTac baND aiD. if you find that the first aid box is empty, it’s essential that you know how to construct your very own maCtac band-aid. Clean the cut, tightly wrap it in a paper towel, and cut a strip of maCtac to hold the mess together.

» HOspiTal. if maCtac Band aids aren’t sufficient, then your injury might require a trip to the hospital. enlist the help of a friend to drive you to the Sierra

sTep 3: go to the hospital sTep 4: Keep calm


dedicated to crafting you a gourmet footlong cold–cut combo. Subway also offers a range of sodas and coffee to provide you with the essential caffeine fuel to get you through the night.

if you’re up for an adventure, there are also a couple of close by vending machines stocked with quality late night snacks, candy, and soda. there are two vending machines located in the 24 hour study section on the bottom floor of the library. these often go forgotten, but can be essential when you’ve survived off Subway sandwiches for last three day.

nouriShMentWhen pulling an all-nighter in dexter it is important to maintain a healthy and balanced diet (read: caffeine and fast food). if it is still early in the night, there is a Starbuck’s within Campus market that is open until 10:00pm. the Starbucks is a normal full range coffee shop with everything your average Starbucks stocks and Campus market has variety of food from a full on salad bar to deep fried chicken strips. unfortunately, your food and beverage options after midnight are much more limited. Subway, conveniently located in dexter, is open 24 hours and staffed by highly trained sandwich artists that are


greeN Tea: 25mg

cOffee : 150 - 200mgmeasuremeNT: mg of caffeine per 12 fluid ounces

Dr. pepper : 41mg

rOOT beer : 23mg

cOke : 34mg of


impressed with your work — to them your black and white painting might as well be a monet or a Picasso. let them believe that their major is so much harder and realer than yours. annoying, yes, but you’d thank them when their annoying cantor scares that creeper away. remember, stranger danger.

2. in the case that you are walking home, alone, again.

don’t. Stay in the lab and start working on more drafts. Find some inspiration via the internet. Kern that word, fix the rag on your paragraph, develop that roll of film, work on your self-portrait; do anything. But if you absolutely need to go home to sleep for 30 minutes you have before class, make sure to have your dual design/safety tools at hand — literally. Who needs pepper spray when you have spray mount? not only will it sting, it will stick. no one will mess with you if you have that huge t-square sword in your hand — instant threat. and don’t forget that x-acto blade… to cut your backpack straps so you can run! run art student, run!

SaFetyBe aware of your surroundings — never be alone. as art students you should always have a few things that serve both design and safety purposes. Such things include: X-acto of olfa blade, t-Square, Spray mount, etc.

Here are some hypothetical events that might require extra safety precautions:

1. in the case that you are the lucky one that hasn’t started their project yet, and lo-and behold, you’re the only one in the computer lab/painting room/drawing room.

turn on some music to get those creative juices flowing. let the sounds of enya or that one dub-step song inspire you while you trick that stranger danger into believing others are there with you. in the case you forgot to bring your iPod, or your Spotify decides not to open, talk loudly to yourself. give yourself some well-needed critique, and express your regrets about why you didn’t start your project earlier. lastly, call your roommate to come over. allow them to be overly

x-acTO bOx T-square spray fOam bONe TripOD TriaNgle rubber peNcil cuTTer mOuNT cOre fOlDer cemeNT

Common art and design supplies that have the potential to scare

anyone away


second choice if you need some quite when your other objects aren’t viable.

if you are staying the night, brushing your teeth and shaving might be something you’d like to take care of. the bathrooms are best place for that. lay down a paper towel before putting anything on the mirror shelves. the natural springs in the bathrooms get comfortably warm so lathering up with soap or a lot of shaving cream is very encouraged. the bathrooms are also a great place to give yourself a quick face wash to help you stay awake or if you feel grungy.

hyGiene and SleePmaking a shelter is essential for surviving a night in dexter. Picking a place to build your shelter is the first important step. you need to pick a room that has plenty of supplies to construct your shelter. rolling chairs are the best natural resource to build a bed. roll 3-4 chairs together and adjust the height of them to best suit your style of sleeping. it is recommended to sleep on your side with your backpack/sweater or jacket as a pillow. Sleeping in the computer lab, design lab or painting or drawing studios is good ideas as they are naturally protected areas and safe to sleep in. the donut table is also another less comfortable option. that is a good


THe beD

all this poor student wants to do is sleep. encourage them to build a makeshift bed out of 6 - 8 chairs in tandem. give them a blanket and possibly a pillow to simulate their bed at home. they probably haven’t seen it in days.

THe pOwer Nap

if you need to keep working, but have a bit of time to rest your eyes, lay down across 3, 4, or 5 chairs depending on height. you’ll awake feeling refreshed and ready to finish that project!

THe pass OuT

this student is in danger of falling asleep at any moment. all they require is one chair and a desk to lay their head down on. leave them be. as you can see, they need a rest. use extreme caution waking them up as they may be grumpy.

cal poly art and design student survival guide

Documents

humble guide

design program

studio artist

professional artist

time rewarding journey

talented big fish

good luck students

entire life