joshua zelaskoPROFESSIONAL MASKS

PRO·FES·SION·AL/pre’feSH(e)n(e)l/

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MASK /mask/noun

1. covering for all or part of the face, worn as a disguise, or to amuse or terrify others

2. a manner or expression that hides one’s true character or feelings;

synonyms: disguise, false face;

verb

1. object used to either disguise or conceal something

synonyms: hide, conceal, disguise, cover up, obscure, screen, cloak, camouflage, veil;

adjective

1. of, relating to, or connected with a profession.

synonyms: paid, salaried;

noun

1. a person engaged or qualified in a profession

synonyms: expert, master

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This is a personal exploration as well as a comparison in order to understand what is necessary to organize and compile a complex variety of experiences and qualities into an extremely short story. Storytelling is the conveying of events through words or imagery, often by improvisation or embellishment.

Narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation, and personal progression. Often times to share a single narrative may take thousands of words, while some only are given a matter of seconds to be shared and comprehended. How can someone condense a lifetime of experiences into a matter of a few seconds? Especially thirty.

Thirty seconds isn’t a lot, and just the thought of composing a general idea of who I am in that amount of time is absurd. Creating a mask that exposes a portion of who I am and who I want to become through deducing myself down from an excerpt of a larger story.

Professional Masks is an exploration on how to organize and create a thirty-second description of who I am through interviews of my peers and research from a variety of career guidance books. Developing a professional mask so that an individual can sum up their entire being in seconds is a necessary component as a young professional and achieving any future opportunities.

RATIONAL statement

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TABLE of CONTENTS

guidance:

30 SECOND storiesJOSHUA zelasko (rough)

interview collection:

ADAM luthinKATHRYN parlow

DANIEL hribikMADDY dallMARK davis

ANNA cacciatore

resolution:

JOSHUA zelasko

page 5page 11

page 13page 14page 15page 16page 17 page 18

page 19

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GUIDANCE

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“I don’t think there’s a better way to connect with people than to tell your story efficiently, it’s the fastest way to give people a relatively accurate view of who you are. It’s hard for us to

connect unless we can tell our stories. Of course, nobody can tell their entire story in 30 seconds, or, for that matter, even in a full-length memoir. Our lives are too complex and fascinating to be reduced with accuracy. But in even as little as 30 seconds,

we can give people a pretty good idea of who we are.”

-DONALD miller

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Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools used to unite a movement, translating values, and constructing an identity. Identity is one’s conception and expression of their individuality through several mediums of self and action. It is a concept that is given a great amount of intention and thought; often is formed over time and is not usually fully known at one given point. This exact concept is one I have struggled with in the recent years of my creative career. As a student of design instinctively I should consider myself a designer or a creative, but those are terms I have felt have both been unfitting and unnatural.

Outside of the creative realm I am just Joshua Zelasko, a twenty-three year old who never stops listening to the same twelve bands since the seventh grade, will not put down the video game controller after hours of play, and has a problematic addiction to Swedish Fish that doesn’t seem to stop.

Unlike what I imagined previously about the impossibility or deducing yourself, I had just done so. Without hesitation, in a matter of seconds I could come up with a quirky identity or set of masks that I am both comfortable with and explains a bit about my character. However, once I am confronted on where I want to advance with my career, I scramble to find a response. Inside this indefinable moment I do not look at myself as a creative or a designer, how do I share the importance of remaining in this moment where I can allow myself to be open and influenced by a number of inspirations that will create this yet to be known identity and professional mask.

Being able to explain yourself is crucial to network in both life and in our careers (Miller). With that, using the tool of storytelling allows for others to synthesize the information with personal tactile experience and connect with you on a secondary level.

30 SECOND stories

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That secondary level of introduction with another could possibly open the doors to a life-changing opportunity, like meeting the love of your life or getting your foot into a great starting position for your career and catching your big break. Although these are opportunities that will last a lifetime, they may only be achievable in a matter of seconds. There is no way you can share your entire story, you can however present a pretty good idea of who you are (Miller). Being in this indefinable moment of student and creative professional, sharing this thirty-second story will become a necessity when applying for future positions in a matter of weeks preceding graduation.

Thirty seconds isn’t a lot, again just the thought of composing a general idea of who I am in that amount of time is impossible. Not knowing my true identity, I cannot deduce myself down or create a mask to expose one portion of my character.

Although studying at MIAD has opened up my mind to new ways of thinking, creat-ing, and provided me with a complication of experiences of who I may become as a creative. How do I take this complex path that has guided me both inside and outside the creative, high-anxiety, and exciting portion of my adult life, and begin to dissect it into seconds? To be able to analyze the factors that have affected my academics, designs, and personal relationships?

To my surprise, according to Stacy Mickelbart of the New Yorker, the best way to understand which mask is your best mask professionally is through practice (Mickelbart). If you don’t time yourself or replicate a realistic situation, you will not be able to create or produce an accurate presentation of your story. Before that can be done, a foundation needs to be built.

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“Perhaps the best way to figure out just how anxiety inducing a task is, is to attempt it oneself.”

-STACY mickelbart

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“Know your direction, develop a list of your qualities, create your problem, share your solution through storytelling, and most importantly be a unicorn.”

-SUSANNAH breslin

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“I’m a creative, gamer, brother, friend, insomniac, student, dependent, nerd, crude, independent,

motivated, timid, awkward, modest, introverted,”

I need to know my direction, I need to develop my list of qualities, I need to discover my issue, and create my solution. What do I have that sets me apart from another?

With all of these various qualities, ideas have become clouded in this indefinable moment of my identity. Causing me to not have a developed mask and nothing from that list makes me a “unicorn” besides being highly hypocritical.

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There isn’t one answer to this or a single way to figure out just how to choose your professional mask, besides attempting it. Mentally replicate the situation, elevator doors close, my eyes meet with Jeff Jasinowski and he reaches out his hand and ask, “So who are you?” Knowing I just came out of the office after an interview, just to see how I would react. Thirty seconds on the clock, ready...set...go!

JOSHUA zelasko02 Dec. 2014Written Transcription

00:28:90

I am Josh Zelasko and I am a student studying communication design at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, an avid gamer, and an insomniac. I love everything design from typography to branding…and DING!

Jeff smiles, shook my hand a second time and leaves through the open elevator doors. In that thirty seconds I mentally stammered and my words fell over one another as I tried to combine them into a comprehensible story. Instead I created this cluster of random facts that have no relation to one another, even though this was a simulated situation a sensation of vulnerability and the fear of failure still surfaced. These feelings are inevitable and the only way to manage them is to consistently put yourself out there (Kleon 39). Others, like Jeff, want to connect and personal stories can make the complex more tangible, spark associations, and offer a new entry into things that might have been left cold (Kleon 95). Personal stories, especially in your elevator pitch, have a huge effect on how people feel and value you instantaneously. A cluster of random facts, with no overarching problem is not a story, it’s a disaster.

JOSHUA zelasko (rough)

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INTERVIEW collectionOn the following pages is a small collection

of peer interviews sharing their thirty-second stories being compared to a predetermined

list of qualities and story I created before each interview. Each were asked, “Who are you

and What sets you apart?”.

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01 Dec. 2014Telephone Recording

00:43:19

Well first of all I’m Adam Luthin, and I am recent graduate from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering. For the past three years I have been fortunate enough to have an internship with a company called Woodward Inc. who create fuel system controls for airlines, and my final summer as a production engineer intern was by far my favorite. It pushed me in my current direction as a project manager for an engineering firm in New Jersey. With my past experience as a leader in the trumpet section in Minnesota’s marching band, I understand my flaws and strengths much better, how to work with others, and the importance of passion. Passion is necessary to fulfill any goal and see a project all the way through until the end.

ADAM luthinAdam Luthin22 years oldPredetermined List

00:23:06

• Athletic• Self-Motivated• Hilarious• Insanely intelligent• Puts 110% into everything• Goal Oriented• Driven• Fart Joke Extraordinaire

Adam Luthin is one of the greatest young men that I have had the pleasure of knowing. Since elementary school, Luthin has always been extremely athletic and dedicated to everything he puts his mind too. Although he can be a goof from time to time, there is no doubt that he will always bring one-hundred and ten percent to anything and everything from his work and his passions.

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01 Dec. 2014In-Person Recording

00:46:13

Hello there, my name is Katie Parlow and I am currently a junior Communication Design major at MIAD. Although I don’t exactly know what I want to do after graduation, I do know that I am interested in working at a design firm or in an advertising agency. I’ll find out soon I guess. Because I have dabbled in both traditional and digital design methods, I have an interesting design aesthetic due to that background. This pushes my work to have a unique perspective whether I’m trying to physically manipulate a portion or digitally render it as if it had a multimedia quality to it. Having a variety of creative experiences and this love for learning, I always want to try new things in order to make myself and my work stronger.

KATHRYN parlowKathryn Parlow20 years oldPredetermined List

00:28:19

• Strong• Open Minded• Liberal• Determined• Self-Motivated• Timeless• Traditional Design• Curious• Vocal• Edgy• Fearless• Real Life Ramona Flowers

Katie is the most independent and strongest young woman I have come to know. Being extremely talented in the realm of digital and traditional design, Katie never ceases to amaze those around her with the risks she takes in her work. Every problem she encoun-ters, design or not, she creates a fearless and determined solution through curiousity.

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01 Dec. 2014Telephone Recording

00:47:22

Hi my name is Dan Hribik, and I am a Field Service Engineer with Ford Motor Company. I graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelors of Science in Automotive Technology. What is going to make me different from anybody is that I am extremely friendly, very outgoing, and I can strike up a conversation with literally anyone on the street and by the end of it we are best friends. I’m also have this need to learn and always willing to learn new training or new protocols about the field. This wanting to learn I have found very important throughout my entire career and schooling. Yes, you can to hire somebody who knows the field now, but if you are able to hire someone who is able to learn, you will be rewarded much greater.

DANIEL hribikDan Hribik25 years oldPredetermined List

00:27:26

• Mechanic• Respectable• People Person• Negotiator • Goal Oriented• Detective• Curious• Family driven• Ladies Man• Gamer• Super Hero Dan is more or less my older brother, and has always been there to pick me up and give me advice. He was my first best friend and has been ever since. No matter what Dan has always been a tinkerer when it comes to cars and can create something beautiful out of nothing. Constantly rebuilding old junkers has given Dan this itching to learn and an unwavering determination.

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02 Dec. 2014In-Person Recording

00:38:22

My name is Maddy, I’m an Illustration major wanting to go into Scientific Illustration. What sets me apart from others that want to go into the same field is that I have a background with traditional illustration. I am versed in things like composition and how to make an image interesting; whereas normal scientific illustration training is more technical. That makes my work a little bit different and interesting to everyone at the same time, while still being educational. From my experiences and passions I have become extremely self-motivated and they have pushed the quality of my work to new boundaries. With the quality of my work increasing, my attention to detail is ever growing has allowed me to develop a stronger work ethic that sets me apart.

MADDY dallMaddy Dall22 years oldPredetermined List

00:29:33

• Hilarious• Detailed• Godsend• Weirdo• Selfless• Motivated• Energetic• Modest• Independent• Brutally Honest• Next Alphonse Mucha

Maddy is the type of person anyone can approach and feel comfortable around. She emits this aura of selflessness and will always be honest with you. The work she is able to create with a pen is unbelievable and displays a level of detail that continues to improve. Maddy expects nothing but the best from herself and is constantly surpassing her own expectations.

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02 Dec. 2014In-Person Recording

00:47:22

Mark Davis, non-traditional student with a degree in Creative Writing and Philosophy. After graduation I worked as a hotel manager and as a freelance web-designer, which ultimately led me to go back to school. I received an Associate’s Degree in Digital Design and transferred to MIAD to pursue a larger design degree. With that very different background and variety of starting points of degrees I have soaked up a lot of experience and knowledge about different people and different lines of thought. The ability to communicate with a varied group of people has come in handy, especially with design and freelance work and internship work since then.

MARK davisMark Davis29 years oldPredetermined List

00:31:14

• Creative• Knowledgeable• Non-Traditional• Open Minded• Hilarious• Grounded• Approachable• Mentor• Odd Ball• Web Designer• Beard Enthusiast

Mark is a man who has lived a thousand lives, explored every avenue, and this never-ending desire to learn. Coming from a nontraditional college education background, Mark can bring a new perspective to his designs and work in general. No matter what Mark has on his plate, he will always make it fun and completely unique.

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01 Dec. 2014Telephone Recording

00:51:45

My name is Anna Cacciatore; I am a fifth grade teacher in North Carolina and graduate of Carroll University with a focus in Elementary Education and Mathematics. What sets me apart from others is that I am somebody who takes every opportunity to learn something and better myself. For example, I fulfilled a portion of my student teaching on an Indian reservation in South Dakota, which was a completely new experi-ence that taught me a lot about diversity and working with individuals of another culture. With all of my experiences whether it was study abroad, working in a summer camp in San Francisco, or student teaching on an Indian reservation in South Dakota, I am able to take those experiences and bring stories from those and what I have learned with me to what I am currently working on.

ANNA cacciatoreAnna Cacciatore23 years oldPredetermined List

00:26:17

• Organized• Adventurous• Explorer • Teacher• Handles Pressure Well• Loud• Compromising• Strong Willed• Knowledgeable • Madame President 2028

Anna has always known exactly who she was and where she was going to end up since day one of high school. With teaching as her primary goal, she took every adventurous opportunity that came her way. From traveling Europe to study or spending months at a time on the West Coast to work at a summer camp, she never loses her head and pushes forward and beyond.

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RESOLUTION

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05 Dec. 2014Audio Recording

00:32:18

Hi, I’m Joshua Zelasko and I am a Communication Designer that embraces the idea being lost, to have negative experiences, and be open to the unexpected. Doing so allows me to explore complex and creative detours that push me to learn more about my work and myself as a creative along the way. Without that mindset I want to get messy and make mistakes, otherwise this fear will halt my progress in becoming the strongest designer that I can be through a variety of new experiences. Always wanting to try new things is what sets me apart from any other creative.

JOSHUA zelaskoPredetermined List by Adam Luthin

• Hardworking• Satisfactory isn’t an option• Unreasonable • Motivated• Steadfast Determination• Accountable• Driven• Independent• Creative• Honest

JOSHUA zelasko02 Dec. 2014Written Transcription

00:28:90

I am Josh Zelasko and I am a student studying communication design at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, an avid gamer, and an insomniac. I love everything design from typography to branding…and DING!

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As a creative and developing designer, my identity has been influenced by a number of things outside of design alone; from the games I play, music I listen to, advice I receive, and the media I expose myself to. Even if I am not aware of it or intentionally allow it to influence the way I create, it is part of my developing professional mask.

To break myself down into a simple bulleted list and a thirty-second spot just is not enough to explain who I am as a whole. I now understand however that it is enough to share the foundation of which my identity sits and a mask I am comfortable display-ing. Even after exploring various sources on how to create the perfect elevator pitch and interviewing several of my peers, I still have no true idea who I am entirely. I do however understand how to share my best qualities in a professional manner from their examples. Comparing the rough mask I developed next to the interviewee’s refined, there are

minor similarities and some huge differences. What I have come to realize is that you don’t necessarily need to know exactly where you’re headed or who you fully are to briefly share your story. Honesty is your best key to doing so and by embracing the fact you don’t know, pushes you to become more aware and open. I want to do what I love and right now I’m still figuring that out and I just want to be the best I can. Creatively I want to become a designer, an illustrator, a storyteller, and an original. I want to get messy, make mistakes, and learn everything I can from an experience. If I don’t then I will not know exactly what I want, what I don’t want, and what my strengths andweaknesses are. The next time another Jeff Jasinowski confronts me in the elevator, I won’t fumble through my short story.

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Breslin, Susannah. “How To Sell Yourself.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 08 June 2012. Web. 01 Dec. 2014. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/susannahbreslin/2012/06/08/how-to-sell-yourself/>.

“Interview Collection: Anna Cacciatore, Dan Hribik, and Adam Luthin.” Telephone interviews. 01 Dec. 2014.

“Interview Collection: Maddy Dall, Mark Davis, and Kathryn Parlow.” Personal interviews. 02 Dec. 2014.

Kleon, Austin. Show Your Work! New York, NY: Workman, Incorporated, 2014. Print.

Mickelbart, Stacey. “Life in Thirty Seconds - The New Yorker.” The New Yorker. The New Yorker, 28 June 2011. Web. 30 Nov. 2014. <http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/life-in-thirty-seconds>.

Miller, Donald. “How to Tell Your Story in 30 Seconds.” Storyline Blog. Storyline, 05 Aug. 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2014. <http://storylineblog.com/2013/08/05/how-to-tell-your-story-in-30-seconds/>.

WORKS cited

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