High on my list is that I make a positive impact—that I do something worthwhile. High on my list is a bikeable commute. High on my list is autonomy. High on my list is odd hours to accommodate my Jeffersonian sleeping habits.

With this graphic as my guide, I began my search again, half-a-year after my first email application was sent , I realized exactly where I needed to be and why. So I applied to every singly posting at one particular organization. Then after having heard nothing for over a month I reached out to everyone I knew with ties to this place. Folks who I hadn’t seen since grad school, someone I took an undergraduate class with, a former employee at destination X, a woman I met at the salad bar in the grocery store (yep I cyber stalked her) and even my mentor who knew somebody-who knew somebody.

Another thing that I did was to cast a winder net. I then applied with four nonprofit organizations, one museum, and I put in 5 resumes with the regions largest employer, and two with state government. Of the dozen applications, I had four interview requests (an impressive success rate in the current job market). In one case I was positive that I’d be hired, then wasn’t. In the other three cases—I learned a few home truths about the nonprofit industry of 2015. It’s a much different climate than even 5 years back.

First, I need a collaborative and effective team. Second, my move must be worthwhile and offer me chances to grow, and not get bored, while having a creative element and allow for autonomous work. Lastly, I've gotta be able to get there easily, have the  ability to start my day early, and get to they gym on the company dime. Not on my list is the fact that I refuse to work in a cube--apparently, the longer you do it the less soul-sucking it seems (which is reasonable considering you have less of a soul).

Up Next : Nonprofit Needs

* My mentor is also my former communications director

It's important to note: in 3+ years I've worn many hats; one of designer and communications manager, one of writer/ editor for print and digital publications  one of multi-media and web developer, one of software tester, and another of trainer / workshop presenter and designer of professional development on a regular basis, and also occasional podcast host.

In under a week I leave this post for my next big adventure. Without much more ado:

I'll Really Miss

• Most of my awesome team.
• Opportunities to do more. This is a blessing and a curse. As the sole graphic and multimedia designer in the IT department, I was tasked with a lot of cool, fun, dynamic projects; like this,

Designing event promotions was a large part of my work. This is my very last one.

Truly, a beautiful campus.

• Flexibility in schedule. Which other companies out there will accommodate my early-bird waking schedule?
• My extensive work wardrobe. It's a shadow of it's former self, today.
• Lovely campus and peaceful commute! 

Stuff I Won't Miss Very Much, at all

Here're my roughs for this invitation:

(It occurs to me that yes, print is not dead, or dying. This is evidenced by the fact that whenever a client starts talking about exclusivity or a personal touch they always want printed collaterals-not web or multimedia.)

Mind you, the second side is mostly text and our new logo!

We will reuse this image file when working with the various E-News creation tools.

a. Open Adobe nDesign and create a new document: Create New > Document 

b. Uncheck: facing pages, and Primary Text Frame

• Width: 600px (type this in the field)
• Height: 200px

Note: Notice that the sizes are converted to Points and Picas (typography units of measure)

• Hit OK or Save

USE THE SHAPE TOOL

1. Select the Rectangle Tool from the Tools Panel
2. Click and drag a large rectangle that’s slightly bigger than your artboard. It has not color.
3. Change the Fill Color: Open the Swatches Panel on the right > Be sure that the FILL is active, choose the green color swatch

ADD TEXT

1. Select the Type tool in the right-hand tool bar
2. Click and drag a large rectangular marquee above the green shape. This is your first Text Frame (notice the black cursor inside of this frame) > 
3. type in this content:  the HUB (hit enter to create a line break) monthly e-news for loyola university Maryland educators

EDIT TEXT

1. Double-click in the first line (this selects one word)
2. Triple-click in the first line – All text on that line is selected

• Change font-face to: Arial
• Change font-style to: Bold
• Change font-size to: 22pt

Now change the second line to Arial, Regular, 10pt

EDIT THIS TEXT FRAME

1. Choose the black arrow tool from the tools panel and select the text frame (blue outline and corner anchors)
2. From Top Menu > Object > Text Frame Options > check Preview 
3. Inset > Use arrows to make the inset 0pt 8  > OK
4. Use the black arrow tool to move this text frame toward the bottom of your artboard
5. Drag on the white anchor points to stretch this frame outer margins to reach the left and right of your artboard.
6. Got it?

COLORIZE THIS TEXT FRAME

1. With the text frame still selected, open the Swatches Panel
2. Make sure that the Container Icon is selected and choose PAPER from the swatches.
3. Now select the Text Icon in the Swatches Panel and chose the Dark Blue Color swatch.

So far so good...

ADD AN IMAGE TO THIS DESIGN

1. Go to Top Menu > File > Place > UNCHECK replace selected item
2. Navitgate to one of the campus images and hit Open > Your cursor is loaded with the new image
3. Click anywhere outside of your artborad and drag a rectangle. Don’t worry too much about size, you can adjust that
4. Move this new image so that it aligns with the right-side margin of your art board.

Ideally, this image should be taller than your artboard. If it isn’t…

…use the black arrow tool and click on one of the white anchor points on the left of this image frame. WHILE THE IMAGE IS SELECTED, hold down Ctrl + SHIFT (or Command + Shift).. Drag left with your mouse.

When you’re satisfied, let go of the mouse. You can redo this change until it suits you.

Note: To undo any new edits, hit  Ctrl + Z (or Command +Z)

LET'S WRAP THIS UP

Image is moved to the back of the art.

1. Move the image frame behind green rectangle
2. Select Image > Object > arrange > Send to Back (Ctrl + Shift + { )
3. Select the Green Rectangle with Black Arrow Tool
4. Then choose the Gradient Feather tool from the tool bar (Shift + G)

The Cursor turns into a crosshairs > 

1. Click on the region of the rectangle where the partially hidden image ends
2. Drag to the right a couple inches.
3. When you release the mouse, the rectangle with be partially transparent.
4. Almost done: Select View > Preview in the tools Panel (all the way at the bottom). Look Good?

(It's tough to get a screen shot of the crosshairs cursor, sorry)

EXPORT THE FINAL DESIGN

1. File > Export > Name it "header" > file type PNG
2. (save location > enews Practice Folder
3. Image > Quality= High 
4. Resolution = 150 ppi

BONUS ACTIVITY: Quickly Optimize an Image for Web in Photoshop

• Open Photoshop > File > Open >choose another image from practice folder
• Under image size (lower-right), constrain proportions and choose 400px
• File > Save for Web > Choose 4-up tab preview in upper-left 

Notice the different file sizes for the different levels of image quality
NOTE: Ctrl + 0 will fit the image into the window.

• Select one of the optimized images and Save as ‘optimized.jpg’ into the Practice folder.
• Close Photoshop (don’t save).

Okay, Let’s build an Enewsletter!!