This entire process has been really educational. I feel like I’ve gotten so much out of it from the “design as business” side of things. Selling these cards/notebooks at the end has seriously been the most rewarding experience for me. From the time I came up with this idea, I had no clue it was going to be such a long and complicated journey, but I succeeded in never getting tired of it. I had the same idea from the start, so my process was mainly focused around writing the actual cards. I got to explore pattern-making, which I did a lot of, in order to avoid the writing side of things. But I was able to get my thoughts down eventually with a lot of help from pretty much everyone I know. The notebooks were sort of an afterthought, but they turned out to be my favorite part of the project. They’re so simple, but I really love the way they turned out. I’ve never really gotten to put my projects up for sale before, so that’s been the most exciting part of this whole thing. I love going to my etsy store and looking at the recent activity. I made my first sale on etsy the day after it went live from someone I didn’t even know, so that’s probably been the highlight of this experience for me. Just to know that people appreciate something I’ve worked so hard to accomplish is amazing. 

I look forward to writing/designing more cards as I progress as a designer. 

Everything is for sale at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/erinnabarbanell

David Barringer
Instructor/Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC

April 6,2012

Mr. Barringer,

I have completed the Cheeky Greeting Card project in its entirety. Production was ahead of schedule, and everything was ready in time for the presentation. Below you will find a detailed invoice.

Invoice:

DESIGN: $30/hr x 100 hr=$3,000 (lol i need help with these)
CREATIVE: $30/hr x 500 hr=$15,000 (lol i need help with these)
PRODUCTION: $192 (cards) $36 (envelopes) $32 (mailing envelopes) $27(plastic sleeves) $25 (plastic boxes) $70 (notebooks) =$382
SUPPLIES: $39 (ink) $15 (paper) =$54
TOTAL: $18,436
PAYABLE TO: Erinn Abarbanell 

***I know this format is wrong, but I don’t know how to make a table on tumblr..***

Thank you,

Erinn Abarbanell

ps.. I feel like this isn’t right, but I don’t really know what to write in here since I did pretty much everything on time?!?! should I make something up to say that it was late?? 

1. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE PRESENTING YOUR WORK IN THE AUDITORIUM? I thought it was going to be extremely nerve wrecking presenting in such a large venue, but I honestly think it was more calming. The clicker was really easy to use and the transitions between presentations went smoothly.

2. WHAT DID YOU LEARN THIS YEAR ABOUT HOW TO DELIVER A PRESENTATION? I learned that I need to slow down and not say “sort of” so much. Also, to just practice saying exactly what I want to say out loud more than one time. And to calm down, because it’s not that big of a deal.

3. ON WHICH ASPECTS OF YOUR PRESENTATION SKILLS (VOICE, ENUNCIATION, CONFIDENCE) DO YOU STILL NEED WORK? Probably the confidence part. I am always really nervous to get up in front of people and talk.. so that’s what I’m most shaky on still. I think I spoke clearly, and loud enough, but to be honest, it’s all a blur.

4. IN WHAT WAYS DID YOU IMPROVE YOUR PRESENTATION THIS TIME AROUND? I slowed down, and I developed a presentation that had a logical flow of events. It wasn’t as stream-of-conscience-y this time around. 

5. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SENIORS NEXT YEAR ABOUT PRESENTATIONS? Just be calm, and not to panic. Everyone is really interested in what you did, they’re not really there to critique your work or your presentation, so nothing to be anxious about.

Alllllll done :) 300 cards printed. Now all I have left to do before next Friday is list the items on etsy!!! So excited!

NOTEBOOKS!!!

I got my proofs back from the printer in time to create my final prototypes! I fleshed out both packaging systems and am very pleased with the final result. I can pick them up the Monday after spring break! I’M SO EXCITED TO BE FINISHED!!!! My notebooks arrive the 14th, so I’ll be able to show actual pictures of them rather than the sketchy pixelated vistaprint digital mock-ups. Over spring break I’m going to get the cards in front of a bunch of people to get some more reactions, and get the packaging ready for when the cards are ready to go. I can pretty much get everything put together so that the only thing left to do after break is insert the cards. It feels good to have everything in order and be on top of things, so I can have a stress-free break!

Bad habits card. I changed the pattern from the diamond-ish one. This one is more delicate and matches the aesthetic of the series better.

Here’s a little of what I’ve been working on today.. I changed up the type on the bachelorette card, because I kind of hated it. And now I love it, so that’s nice. 

I also came up with some content for the first fight card and have posted that too. It’s the first draft, so it’s still up for discussion. I’m working on the last two now. I think I’m going to try to incorporate snoring into the bad habits one somehow.. and I’m still thinking on the dinner party disaster one. 

Let me know how you feel about the first fight one. 

The envelopes I ordered came in the mail today! So exciting. I should have my plastic boxes and plastic sleeves on Saturday! I can’t wait! :)

Soooo… I found out boingo can do the cards. And it’s pretty affordable! So super excited about that. I ordered nice white linen envelopes online. I bought these round stickers (above) to print and put on the plastic sleeves that I am going to use for online sales and individual card sales. I also found a plain clear plastic box that I can use for the sets. I’ll just slip the design I created inside the clear plastic box and maybe do a ribbon on the outside. I’m am so excited about this project. I can’t even!!!!!!

It’s going to cost about $2 a card when you factor in packaging and envelopes.. So I’m thinking I’ll sell the set of 6 cards for $25 or maybe $20 and then I’ll sell cards individually for $5 each. Let me know if this sounds like too much?? I know I’ve paid more in target for a card, but I know I’m not the average consumer.

So I just found out I can’t do what I thought I could with Moo. I went online to submit the three cards I’ve completely finished, and found out I can’t customize the inside of the card, and I can’t print full bleed on the back. SO… I’ve emailed my friend at Boingo again to get a quote. And it’s looking like Moo is out and Boingo is back in. Hopefully Boingo comes through and I will stop freaking out. Just waiting on the quote to come back. 

I ordered envelopes through a different wholesale vendor, so that’s exciting :) It’s becoming so real now. I can’t wait until it’s all finished. I’ll post more about the peer review later.