#because if you have a brand new fresh idea you don’t have any preconceived notions of how it should turn out

[fingertipsmp3]

Someone on a NaNoWriMo prep thread: if you’re trying to win NaNo for the first time my advice is to pick the simplest idea

Me: yep, that seems smart. I’ll do that

Also me: *walks away from my first brainstorming session needing to research the golden age of piracy, the composition of the UK in the mid 17th century, the British navy in the mid 17th century, and the overall concept of a time loop*

[arvandus]

So hopefully I got in on time! Btw, I’ve been absolutely loving your HC’s, the stutter one was friggin adorable! I love soft Dabi, there’s not much of him out there in stories 😢

Anyway! I was wondering if you could do HC’s with Dabi for someone who may be deaf or just hard of hearing? Ifff your comfortable, I would love to see what he would do for a male s/o (or platonic friend/league member, etc, whichever you choose!) If you don’t want to do this it’s completely fine and you can switch it to ambiguous/female (I don’t know if you have ever done men before haha!)

Hello! I’m so flattered for this ask because you’re trusting me to portray something that’s personal to you and outside of my own experience. I can absolutely do this with a Male Reader (my first one!).

I’m not sure what type or level of hearing loss you had in mind, so I did my best with this and went with an acquired hearing loss that’s moderate-to-severe. Also, I wrote Reader as someone who wears hearing aids. I hope that’s all right, since that’s typically the case for those with more severe hearing loss (otherwise communication is really difficult to do, since I don’t suspect Dabi would know sign language). Also, I got a couple of cute ideas that I really wanted to fit into this that follow more of a friends-to-lovers sort of vibe rather than established relationship. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!


Headcanons for Dabi x M!Reader who’s Deaf/Hard of Hearing (HOH)

Warnings: None.

Word Count: 1240

💙 When you first join the LOV, Dabi will be skeptical at first, as he is with all things. How could someone with a hearing loss really be of any value to the league? He can’t help but wonder what skills you’re bringing to the table to that convinced Shigaraki to allow you to join.

💙 Dabi doesn’t interact with you right away... he prefers to observe. Part of it is that he doesn’t care for attachments, even amongst his comrades. Another is that he doesn’t expect you to last very long in the League. If he does interact, it’ll be through snarky quips and insults. After all, he loves getting under other people’s skin... it makes him feel like has an advantage.

💙 So, it goes without saying that Dabi will be a hard nut to crack at first. He’ll definitely have some crappy preconceived notions about people with hearing loss that he’ll get to face as he’s forced to get to know you.

💙 For example, he learns super fast that your hearing has little to do with your intelligence. You’re fucking smart and more than capable of handling yourself, much to his surprise. You quickly become an important member of the team, and even Dabi can’t really argue your value. It only makes his interest in you grow, his skepticism giving way to curiosity.

💙 Another thing he learns about you... you value your independence and hate when others coddle or dote on you due to your hearing loss. The first time Toga had tried to treat you as something fragile (granted she was trying to be nice), you’d quickly put her in her place. Dabi couldn’t help but grin at that exchange...

💙 The great thing about Dabi sitting back and observing everyone else most of the time is that he gets to learn by proxy how to interact with you.

💙 Don’t mumble or talk too fast. Don’t look away when talking to you. Talk more clearly, and slower, but for God’s sake, don’t treat you like you’re dumb. You’re hard of hearing, not stupid.

💙 Even with all of that taken into consideration though, he’ll notice that while you seem to do fine in one-on-one exchanges in quiet environment, you’ll withdraw more in group gatherings. Is the chattering of multiple voices too much? Is the noise overwhelming? Even he can’t always tolerate the prattling of the social butterflies of the group, so he wouldn’t blame you if it got under your skin too.

💙 His interest will finally be piqued when he watches you retreat during a rather boisterously loud game night amongst the League. He’ll follow quietly behind you, watching as you pass your own room in favor of the stairwell leading up to the rooftop.

💙 You don’t notice he’s followed you until he sits next to you. Your eyes betray your surprised at his presence.

💙 “What are you doing here?” you demand.

💙 He’ll give you a grin and a cock of his head. “You didn’t seem like you were havin’ much fun back there. Got anything to do with these?” he’ll tap your hearing aid playfully.

💙 You huff at him. “If you want me to hear you better, you’ll need to sit on my other side. My hearing aid battery died.”

💙 “You don’t have a backup?” he asks as he adjusts his position.

💙 You shake your head.

💙 “Doesn’t sound too bad.” He’ll tease. “I wish I could turn off my ears, especially when Toga laughs.”

💙 You give him a glare at his insensitive comment. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

💙 He raises an eyebrow at you and think for a moment, before looking back out over the cityscape. “Why don’tcha tell me about it then.”

💙 You give him a skeptical look but he waits silently for you to continue. His smirk is gone as his sharp eyes glance back at you. He's serious.

💙 You’ll finally open up to him, explaining how hard it can be sometimes. How noisy environments can make your hearing aids nearly useless when the noise is too much, when everyone is talking at once. How frustrating it is to not be able to follow a conversation let alone participate, and how it can sometimes make people assume things about you. At best, they’ll assume you can hear fine with your hearing aids and therefore assume you’re being aloof or don’t want to interact. At worst, they’ll think your slow or stupid, and look at you with pity.

💙 Dabi will listen, but he won’t offer much up except sarcastic remarks about the others in an attempt to make you feel better. After all, sympathy isn’t his strong suit. But you’ll find yourself feeling better by the end, just grateful to be able to vent to someone.

💙 When you smile at him and tell him thanks for listening, it’ll take him by surprise. Not because of your reaction – he expected that, at least. What’ll surprise him is his reaction to it – a strange sense of satisfaction will wash over him, filling him with an unfamiliar warmth. He realizes - a moment too late, before he can bring down his barriers - that he likes seeing you smile, especially when it’s at him.

💙 You’ll feel slightly closer after that, finding more opportunities to hang out on the quiet rooftop and chat.

💙 He’ll surprise you on your next visit with a brand-new pack of hearing aid batteries. You’ll give him a suspicious look, asking where he got them and how he knew what kind to get you, but he’ll give you a wicked grin and brush off your question with an evasive comment.

💙 It won’t take long for you to start developing a crush on him, and against your better judgment, you find yourself staring at him a lot more and finding ways to be around him more. Hanging out at the bar, going on missions together, sitting next to him during the LOV discussions… you try to brush it off as ‘becoming friends,’ but deep down you know better.

💙 It doesn’t take long for Dabi to take notice and begin to suspect that maybe… just maybe… all of your secret glances and increased attention aren’t strictly platonic.

💙 What a wonderful turn of events. He wasn’t sure if you were interested in men, but now he’s 99% sure you are... or at the very least, interested in him.

💙 It leaves his skin feeling hotter than usual, his heart pounding in his chest with excitement. He wonders if you know... or even suspect... that he watches you too in mutual attraction.

💙 He’ll start testing the waters, just to make sure, of course. Hit you with a few flirty nicknames to see how you react. As soon as he sees you fluster and flounder in obvious embarrassment, he’ll know he’s got you, and it makes your exchanges only that much more entertaining.

💙 The more he learns about you, the more interested he becomes. He’ll start to do research on ways to support you with your hearing loss. It’ll be purely out of curiosity, of course... it’s not like he’s gonna go out of his way or anything. But he ends up finding himself down the rabbit hole of hearing aid supports, and learns about Bluetooth capabilities, FM systems, infrared systems... ways to send targeted noise – like speech for instance – straight to your hearing aids, bypassing any pesky background noise.

💙 It won’t take long for him to get an idea – two birds with one stone, so to speak...

💙 You’ll be on the rooftop together, when he says, “I gotta surprise for ya.”

💙 He pulls out a box that’s labelled ‘Dynamic FM System.’

💙 If you try to reach for it though, he’ll hold it out of your reach. “ah ah ah... we gotta find the right place to try it out.”

💙 He’ll lead you downstairs and you’ll think he’s heading to the common space where the others are, but instead he takes you outside of the hideout, leading you down the street.

💙 “Where are we going?”

💙 “You’ll see.”

💙 The two of you will end up outside of a bar. Not just any bar, though… the line of patrons is already a huge hint of what you’ll find inside.

💙 “Wait isn’t this….?” You’ll start.

💙 Dabi will only smirk at you though, before he grabs your hand and leads you in.

💙 Inside will be loud. So loud you have to turn down the volume on your hearing aids, and too loud for you to hear anything of value. But as you look around, your suspicions are confirmed - instead of the usual opposite sexes pairing up like you find at most bars, this one is different. Men are pairing up with men, women are pairing up with women. Your heart is beating like a drum in your chest, your pulse racing with excitement. Of all the places for Dabi to bring you…

💙 You keep close to Dabi, holding onto his arm. He loves that, loves that you’re looking to him for protection. And protect you he does, his eyes threatening violence to anyone who stares too long at you.

💙 He’ll sit you down at the bar with him in the center of the noise while drunken gay couples flirt over their drinks and a group of girls laugh in the corner. He’ll say something to the bartender, and a minute later, two fresh drinks are place before the two of you.

💙 He won’t try to talk to you yet as he opens the box and begins taking out all of the pieces. He’ll plug in the small, cylinder-like component into your hearing aid - the receiver. He’ll be completely up in your space when he does it too, grinning at you with his ocean blue eyes. In his hand he holds the transmitter that contains a button with a microphone on it.

💙 Once everything is hooked up properly, he’ll speak into the mic, his finger on the button.

💙 “Hey there.” He says. His voice comes through crystal clear.

💙 “Hey.” You smile.

💙 Once Dabi knows you can hear him, his devilish grin will widen and he’ll lean casually against the bar counter as he stares at you, his eyes drinking you in. “Have I ever told you how hot you are?”

💙 That’s when it finally clicks… Dabi is actually interested in you. And he’s taken you out on a date.

💙 BONUS: If the bar scene ends up being too much for you, he’ll be more than happy to spend the rest of your date on your favorite rooftop spot with some take-out. 10/10 will kiss you by the end of the date.

[x--daughters-of-darkness--x]

“It’s a contradiction” – exclusive interview with Charlotte Wessels & Martijn Westerholt about Delain’s upcoming album, Apocalypse & Chill

The dance on the edge of the abyss and its soundtrack: Dutch chart-topping metal outfit Delain have spent the last several years increasingly taking the world by storm, one album at a time. Now, with five successful releases already under their belts, the heavy crossover icons reach new heights with their latest multi-faceted dystopian masterpiece, Apocalypse & Chill. On Apocalypse & Chill, Delain leaves all stereotypes and preconceived notions in the dust – exploring themes of impending doom and human indifference – making this their boldest, most daring and undeniable offering yet. On a cold and foggy Friday evening, we had the opportunity to do an exclusive interview with Charlotte Wessels and Martijn Westerholt about their upcoming release.

MyTouche Blog: What is the message behind the title and the cover of the album?

Charlotte Wessels: So, when you look at the lyrics, but also just the vibe musically, half of them are like really post-apocalyptic and dystopian. On the other hand, there are also nostalgic songs. There’s quite a contrast. It looks like the world’s on fire – no, the world is quite actually on fire. And we all live in the world dominated by social media, and you only see the perfect lives on those platforms. It’s a contradiction, that’s where Apocalypse & Chill came from, and it’s a wordplay on Netflix & Chill which is also very much symbol of the times, you know.

Martijn Westerholt: On the album cover you can see a lady getting a tan, sunbathing and in the background, there’s a city on fire. It’s the same vibe there so it very much supports the theme of the album, it’s very fitting.

MyTouche Blog: As time goes by how much is it hard to keep the original Delain sound?

Martijn Westerholt: That’s not hard at all actually! Because, from our perspective, we don’t plan to write in a certain way. We accept the fact, that we always say “okay, let’s make it even harder, louder and heavier”, but for the rest, we don’t really plan and we just write how we always write. At least, it’s how it feels to me. And of course, when you change as a person also your music automatically evolves as well. But to me, it all fits together and although I don’t wanna deny that this album is – I think – the most diverse album we’ve made so far. A lot of elements in there, but we’ve used those elements before: electronic, orchestral. It’s all well-known stuff to us. (laughs)

MyTouche Blog: What things inspired you the most while you were working on this album?

Charlotte Wessels: Hah, good question! Yeah, for me usually it’s just everyday life, and as I mentioned earlier, the stuff that you worried about, the stuff that occupied your mind or it can also be inspiring just being on your bike towards a songwriting session while the Sun is shining, you know… It puts you in a certain mood. So it really depends on the day but in general, I’m just inspired by the things that are the most occupying in my mind at the time of writing. And most of the time, since we write the three of us, a big part is also just the people whom I write with, so it also takes a very big role.

Martijn Westerholt: Yeah, we inspire each other. That’s the best gift you can give each other. And for me, it’s also just about making music especially when I feel good physically and mentally, then I just start playing…

MyTouche Blog: Beast In Black’s Yannis Papadopoulos had a guest appearance on your upcoming album, and Vengeance is actually turned out a very interesting and exciting song. Could you tell us please that how did the idea of the cooperation come up?

Martijn Westerholt: First of all, it’s kind of in our DNA to have guests in our music. We love to work with guests, it’s always a very rewarding process. So, in general, we like working with guests. In the case of Yannis: we have toured with Sabaton a couple of years ago and he came to a show, and Charlotte talked to him extensively, they kept in touch, and I also kept in touch with Anton, the songwriter of Beast in Black. Somehow I think it was summer, when we played at a festival in Spain and they were playing as well, and during that time we were very much in the process of our album, and we had some material what we thought could really fit for his voice, so we asked him if he would be open to. We gave him this material and asked him to choose something from this material, and he chose the song Vengeance. That’s how it came to be, and I really happy with the result, he is such an insanely talented singer, so yeah, we really happy to have him on this song.

MyTouche Blog: The whole album has a very cool and modern sounding, it a little bit reminds us of the latest Within Temptation album, Resist. Were our first impressions valid, did it have any influence on you?

Martijn Westerholt: Well, of course, my brother writes a lot of Within Temptation stuff together with Sharon.

Charlotte Wessels: Maybe it’s in the Westerholt’s gene! (laughs)

Martijn Westerholt: (laughs) Yeah, because it’s not really concretely like “oh, I feel inspired by what they do” and then I do it too or something. That doesn’t really happen. We do show each other what we are currently making, you know, but that’s kind of it. So, yeah I think – it’s for me at least – it ends there, but when I heard the song “One Second” I could really recognize that typical element in there.

Charlotte Wessels: Yeah, similar. I mean there are certain bands which are often compared with us, and a lot of them I used to listen a lot too, like Within Temptation. Before I was in Delain I had gone to every show that I could. I’m not going to say that I’m not a fan, because I am, but as long as I know that people compare us a lot, I tend to not listen to them too much in order to not be influenced by it subconsciously, you know what I mean? Like I tend to listen to more bands that have absolutely nothing to do with us when we are writing, because it kinda keeps you fresh in a way. So I am absolutely sure that their latest album is very inspiring but yeah, I haven’t listened to it too much. (laughs)

MyTouche Blog: We felt like that the sixth song on the album, “To Live Is To Die” is some kind of line between the first and second parts of the album.

Charlotte Wessels: We didn’t do that intentionally, but I can see where the idea is coming from, because it’s kind of a bridge between the more poppy part of the beginning of the album and the more symphonic part. So yeah, it does kinda function as a bridge if you look at it that way.

Martijn Westerholt: Yeah, it has this electronic theme in there and it also has it’s orchestral middle part and choir. Now that you’ve mentioned, it makes total sense. (laughs)

MyTouche Blog: The first verse of “Legions Of The Lost” is in Latin. Where did that idea come from?

Charlotte Wessels: So when Martijn wrote the first part of the “Legions Of The Lost” he programmed the choirs and I think that was Latin lyrics, right?

Martijn Westerholt: Yes!

Charlotte Wessels: Then we did actual choirs and I didn’t want them to sing just anything, but on the other hand the Latin sounded very… You know how it sometimes adds a bit of mystery, when it’s not a language that you speak yourself, and also because it felt old. For me, it adds extra weight to the sound of the choir, so I went dusting off Latin and looking for phrases and words from old poetry. It really fits with the theme of “Legions Of The Lost”.

MyTouche Blog: Your brand new video for the song called “Ghost House Heart” just came out. Can you share with us some details and behind the scenes stories about the shooting?

Martijn Westerholt: Well, we’ve done it in December in Liverpool. We, me and Charlotte, went there. It had it’s own victorian vibe, you know. It was an old house, it was even a haunted house! And this mid-December period is a really dark time outside, it gets dark really early and all, and it was cold, but this really fitted the vibe. I really-really liked that. I didn’t even dare to go upstairs, Charlotte did, she was braver than me. (laughs) I stayed downstairs.

MyTouche Blog: What do you think, which song will be the most successful from the upcoming album?

Charlotte Wessels: I think “Masters of Destiny” has already proven itself to be quite successful along with “Burning Bridges”. Actually I feel that “Legions Of The Lost” could be very popular too. Martijn and I came to the conclusion that we both really like how “To Live Is To Die” and “Creatures” turned out. But yeah, time will tell which one is the most present track on the album.

Martijn Westerholt: It depends on a little bit if you look at it from a live perspective, or if you look at it from an album perspective, because those are completely different. There are songs which are very popular when we play them live, but those are not necessarily the most popular on streaming services. It also depends a little bit on that. I think the record point of view “Masters Of Destiny” could really be a candidate for that, but yeah, we have to find out.

MyTouche Blog: And what is your personal favorite track from the album?

Martijn Westerholt: That’s also a difficult one. Yeah, I like “Creatures” and “To Live Is To Die” very-very much, and just how they turned out I also really like very much.

Charlotte Wessels: For me, it’s probably “Legions Of The Lost” and “Masters Of Destiny” following up.

MyTouche Blog: And the last one is coming: please, describe the album in five words!

Charlotte Wessels: HAH! Should I start, Martijn?

Martijn Westerholt: Yes, and then…

Charlotte Wessels: Diverse!

Martijn Westerholt: Heavy.

Charlotte Wessels: Orchestral.

Martijn Westerholt: Then I say electronic.

Charlotte Wessels: And then I say apocalyptic!

[wp-yahoo-style-1042-yahoopa-blog]

How Vogue Paris Defines the American ‘It’ Girl

Model Gigi Hadid is the classic example of an American “it” girl. (Photo: TSM/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Sure, we love that French girl style — even if some say it’s fake news. The stripes, the bags, the boots: C’est très chic. (And très unfussy, despite any hardwired preconceived notions to the contrary.)

But the cross-cultural love now goes both ways, thanks to American “it” girls like Gigi and Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Emily Ratajkowski, whose bold style and fashion industry ubiquity have made quite the impact across the pond — for eight very specific reasons.

According to Vogue Paris, these fashionable Americans share quite a few noteworthy things, including a personal street style speckled with ’90s throwbacks, a healthy embrace of pop culture, and oh yes, a little thing called athleisure. Let’s break it down. 

1. “An Instagram account on helium.” (“Un compte Instagram gonflé à l’hélium.”) When it comes to the American je ne sais quoi, it’s all about that Instagram, y’all. Calling today’s top American models “une force de frappe digitale,” or “digital striking force,” the French fashion bible cites the top models’ millions of social media followers as a prerequisite for entering the couture cool kids club these days.

2. “A well-cut style.” (“Un style bien tranché.”) They know what they like. Our local “it” girls have cultivated a well-defined style of their own, according to the magazine, by mixing and matching sportswear with edgier street style to create a decidedly American approach to everyday dressing. And they manage to find a new way to throw it back to the ’90s, Cher Horowitz-style: Vogue Paris calls out that perennial favorite film of the decade, Clueless, as an important arbiter of American style. We’d say “as if,” but it’s totally true. 

3. “An intense sports routine.” (“Une routine sportive intense.”) Enter athleisure. For the French, there’s nothing more American than the idea of the sporty California girl, paddle-boarding in Malibu or hiking the hills of Los Angeles. And only an American “it” girl could make gym wear must-wear. Until brands like Vetements and the very concept of a four-figure-priced sweatshirt entered the mix, of course.

Model Bella Hadid rocking the athleisure look. (Photo: Pierre Suu/Getty Images)

4. “A sensitivity to pop culture.” (“Une sensibilité à la Pop Culture.”) American “it” girls know pop culture because they are pop culture. According to Vogue Paris, local “it” girls make it more than OK that they “aiment tout ce qui est mainstream,” or “like everything mainstream,” whether it’s basketball games, In-N-Out burgers, or extra-large pizza pies.

5. “A political and feminist commitment.” (“Un engagement politique et féministe.”) For American “it” girls, it’s cool to care. Whether it’s Kendall Jenner supporting Hillary Clinton or the Hadid sisters hitting the streets to protest, the magazine notes that contemporary American models  “n’ont pas peur d’engager le débat,” or “aren’t afraid to engage in debate,” as a major reason for their international impact.

6. “They’ve bathed in Hollywood entertainment forever.” (“Elles baignent dans l’Entertainment hollywoodien depuis toujours.”) Oh, and they grew up this way. Whether it’s reality-stars-turned-models like the aforementioned Kendall Jenner or children-of-actors-turned-catwalk-queens like Hailey Baldwin, Vogue Paris calls a childhood in or peripheral to the spotlight “le parfait training” (the perfect training) for eventual ascension to “it” girl status.

7. “Music is central.” (“La musique occupe une place centrale“) As the French see it, music is a central tenet of American “it” girl style, from annual, fashion-forward music festivals like Coachella to the copious amount of model-musician romantic pairings. (Looking at you, Gigi and Zayn.)

Model Kendall Jenner looking Coachella-ready. (Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

8. “They are everywhere.” (“Elles sont partout.“) Finally, when in doubt, just look around: American “it” girls are “partout,” or “all over.” They don’t just walk the runway; they collaborate with designers on the very clothing unveiled there. (Ahem, Tommy x Gigi, Chrome Hearts x Bella.) They don’t just pose for magazine spreads; they step behind the camera and photograph their peers for the very fashion magazines they themselves have appeared in. (Yep, we’re talking about Kendall’s cover shoot for Love magazine.)

Because when it comes to the American “it” girl, “La boucle est bouclée” — the circle is complete. And that? C’est bon.

Read more from Yahoo Style + Beauty:

Why French Girl Style Is Fake News

From Michael Jackson to Beyoncé: Celebs Love Tommy Hilfiger

Models in Wheelchairs Took Over Moscow Fashion Week and It Was Gorgeous

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[lifeofamastersstudent]

Industry Partner  | Essay

For someone who has already had some work experience, this brief has been very crucial to re-evaluate where I see myself in the future. After I finished my BA in Graphic design, I was drawn towards brand identity. I immediately started working at a design studio that focused on branding. To my luck, for the four months that I worked there, I was able to be part of the birth of many branding projects. I was happy that I was able to be a part of the initial brainstorming and strategy. I even got to witness a brand workshop with a client which was very new and interesting to me. I have always been interested in the process of design and my work experience here was enriching because I got to do exactly that.

But I felt that my interests were shifting and I wanted to learn more. Being in a creative agency became monotonous. I am posed with the question once again, where do I see myself? I started working on a few freelance projects while I was focusing on a personal passion project. After working in an agency, I wanted to do work that was much more personal and so I started working on a children’s book. For 8 months, I worked on the story and the illustrations. During this period, I constantly kept creating new drafts and eliminating things from my project. Once I was done, I created a list of publishers, both in India and everywhere else in the world and I sent out my work. I got quite a few rejection emails and many didn’t reply. I started reaching out to agents and meeting people in the children book industry back in India.

That’s when I decided to pursue my masters. Although, I was keen on exploring a masters that focused on children’s book writing and illustration, I decided to focus on graphic design. I made this decision because I have a variety of interests and graphic design is broad enough to engulf all of those interests. I put my interest in children book on the side and tried to look at graphic design from a fresh perspective. When I decided to do my masters, I was certain to explore the subject of ‘semiotics’ as that has always been something that has intrigued me.

I was quite happy to find so many resources on semiotics here at UCA. I’ve been reading and researching topics of my interest. During my BA, the focus was so much on the end product and making things look professional; I felt that I missed out on being involved in the process and learning things from a book.

From the very beginning of the MA, I’ve been able to and even instructed to look at resources that would enrich my process. I think a lot of people can learn to make things look pretty but I’ve always been interested in the meaning. Initially when this brief was introduced I was keen on merging semiotics and branding. I was on a look out for companies that use semiotics as a strategy. This would allow me to learn about the professional use of semiotics and how to apply it to real companies. Even though I came up with a list of companies that specialise in exactly that, I put that thought on hold as I approached my charity project.

At this point, we had reached that time in the term when we needed to think of what charity we would like to work with for brief 13 and consider our final major project ideas. Once again, I started re-evaluating the work I’ve been producing. Apart from my simple interest in the subject of semiotics, a huge volume of my work showed that I was interested in a blending writing and imagery. I have always been interested in poetry and found ways to blend my interest and profession together. After coming to this conclusion, I was able to pick a topic for my Final major project. I decided to work on metaphors. This would allow me to focus on both, my interest in semiotics and push forward my existing body of work, where I use words and images to express ideas.

I decided to do something similar for my charity project - play by my interests. I wanted to work in the mental health space. But I was especially interested in how poetry can help mental health and well-being. I have always been someone who uses poetry and creative writing to manage my mental health and so this project became important to me. I started researching the relationship between creative writing and well-being. Initially I was interested in creating poetry workshops that mental health charities could adopt. But then I was able to locate a charity called PoetsIN, which did exactly what I said I wanted to and much much more.

I decided to reach out to the charity. After conducting my initial research, I reached out with my portfolio and asked if I could conduct further research. I was lucky to get in touch with Sammie, the co-founder of PoetsIN - who was very encouraging and responsive. After exchanging a couple of emails, we scheduled a call. I had all my questions planned out for the interview and was hoping to also find out if there are any areas in design that they feel there could be improvement.

The interview was extremely insightful. It helped understand how PoetsIN functions and understand the people that turn to this charity for help. It was also helpful to become a part of their online community which is very prominent.

After studying the design style and services offered by PoetsIN, I shared a few observations and ideas with Sammie - who was very much interested. I created a proposal and sent it to Sammie - who later clarified some design flaws that they are facing. She looked into my proposal and was happy with the app design idea as it was something she always wanted to have done. She also brought up another area of interest - the youtube channel which they would like to promote and engage with.

I evaluated all these factors and carefully drafted another proposal for Sammie. This proposal had two main ideas that she is keen on developing. I highlighted her thoughts and put mine in, to create a new brief for myself. This not only explained the base purpose and constraints but my own limitations as a designer and how far I’d be able to take the project forward.

After evaluating this new proposal, Sammie was happy with me developing an app. She mentioned that a prototype would help them request for funding. And that has become the main aim while designing this app.

I started studying app design and understand material design. My first steps were to understand how materials are supposed to behave in a digital platform, what are the constraints in an application and how do you work within these constraints.

My next step was to figure out the design language, which would be an extension of the pre-existing language. I also needed to understand the basic functionalities of this app, their purpose and how to incorporate it within the app. I created a user flow diagram that helped understand the flow of the app, which, led me to create the required design assets.

I was very happy with the final results and I am glad that I got the opportunity to try something new. I was hoping to have something different in my portfolio. Most of the work in my portfolio shows my interest in branding and print design. But this would be the first project that shows some expertise in digital design. With the way things are moving in the design industry, I am glad that I have something that proves I know the basics. I don’t think I can ever be sure where the design industry will head in the future. I also really enjoyed working on this new medium and I am considering that some real life experience in digital design would be a good step for my future. I’ve decided to reach out to a few friends who do work in app design. I think a conversation about how things really work when you create applications when you are working at a company would bring more clarity to me. It would also be good to hear about their struggles with app design and how they perceive this area of design.

Although app design as an outcome seems unrelated to the initial interests that I explained, I am still happy that I took this journey. I did not let my perception of what I must achieve to show that I am especially interested in something stop me from taking a new route.

I also found that working with this charity was very easy. I have done a few freelance projects before and I’ve understood that it’s not always easy. But working for free does rule out many other factors that lead to miscommunication in freelance projects. When I was working on freelance projects, I found that a lot of the clients are not willing to take risks. Many of them have a preconceived notion of what the design must be and many times hope that designers can replicate something that already exists. The fact that I don’t have much work experience also adds to this designer-client relationship. After my MA, I would like to steer clear from freelance projects for a while. I think it’s important for me to have at least a year long experience working at a company.

My final major project is based on metaphors. For this project I am specifically interested in creating a research oriented product. I do not want to create work that falls under the commercial work sphere easily. I think this masters is giving me the liberty to be a more explorative and experimental designer. I would like to refrain from creating work that fits within a solid brief. The reason this is so important to me is because I’ve noticed that a lot of my work in my portfolio is commercial. And when I started working at an agency, the design process became less experimental and interesting to me. I would like to work on projects that allow freedom to be bold. Thats why this project is important to me and I am hoping that a bold project that doesn’t necessarily fit well with the commercial work out there, might get me the kind of work I am looking for.

But this term has allowed me to deeply think about my interest in poetry. That interest has driven/driving two important projects this year; charity and my final major project on metaphors. I am looking into the kind of graphic design work that exists in the realm of creative writing and poetry. I would definitely love to work on such projects and am looking at poetry publications for graphic design work.

My portfolio has a range of projects. Most of the work in my portfolio has branding projects. I also have quite a few poster designs, illustration, packaging projects, a few video based projects and a couple of editorial design projects. And now I have successfully added a digital design project to my portfolio. I think whats important for me while I send out my portfolio is to cherry pick a few that show my ability to work across mediums.

I have realised that I really do enjoy working in an academic environment. It allows me to be experimental and constantly challenge myself. And so although I would like to start working somewhere and get real industry experience, I would also like to work within academics. I can see myself teach design, in the future. I would particularly love to be able to teach semiotics. Maybe someday, I can take a turn in the teaching direction and so I am considering the role of a teaching assistant.

I am still uncertain about where I would fit in, in the creative industry. I have a variety of interests that range from children book illustration to branding to semiotics and now to app design. I am hoping that when the coronavirus situation gets better, I will get an opportunity to meet with people from these different sectors. I’ve decided to keep all doors open at this point and not fixate on a specific job. I think my portfolio has the variety to draw me into any of these directions. And so my plan for the future is to look at different agencies in all these spheres, have priority over the interests so I can make a sound decision when it comes to it and hopefully agencies will see potential in what I have to offer. I might even go back to PoetsIn to see if they have any vacancies for designers. It is not a direction thats at the top of my list but all doors open to any experience that stems from a genuine interest in what the company does.

[justindanielsampsel-blog]

Justin Daniel Sampsel Helpful Hints For Lead Generation Novices And Pros

Justin Daniel Sampsel Best service provider.  Trying to get new leads for your business without the proper education and tools is like trying to find something in the dark. You are technically in the dark if you're proclaiming things to the masses without a targeted effort. What good leads will come of that. The following advice is designed to help you understand how to generate leads within your business.

Be careful about buying email lists to use for lead generation. A lot of companies swear their lists are fresh, but quite often 30% or more of the names you are purchasing will be out of date. Prior to purchasing, negotiate with the list selling company in regard to this. You should get a partial refund if a percentage this high is noticed.

Look to affiliate marketing to generate leads and even customers. Why do all the work for leads when you can have others do it for you on commission? Affiliate programs are a very effective way of introducing your product to new audiences. In fact, you'll see a lot of content created around your product or service. That's very effective.

Open up your business to the world. There are events such as Doors Open at which businesses allow customers to come in and see how they work. Even if you're an architect or real estate agent, you can let potential customers in to see how organized and authentic you really are, which can generate leads.

Justin Daniel Sampsel Proficient tips provider.  Find some way to rate your potential leads. Not all leads are created equal, so before you start generating them know how you'll grade them. Otherwise you can find yourself overloaded with potential leads with no way to decipher which ones are worth your time. It's a critical step to help you be efficient.

Check out events in your area and see if there's a way you can use them to generate leads. For example, if there is a cycling race, buy a sponsorship package. Then you can get yourself on TV talking about it, or in the paper, or just talk to people who are there to watch.

Don't shy away from paying for leads if you're on a budget. There are low cost solutions to lead generation out there. Pay per click campaigns are one. These search marketing campaigns give you lots of brand building impressions, but you only pay if someone actually clicks on the ad itself. This can be a very effective lead generation method.

Look for online marketplaces that cater to your niche. For example, real estate agents can use realtor.com to find leads. You can even post classified ads to sites like Craigslist or Kijiji. Check out forums as well as you never know who else might be reading there, but don't spam!

Do not underestimate the power of customer referrals in lead generation. If you've got a well-established customer base to begin with, referrals should be simple and painless, because your happy customers will naturally refer their friends and family. As an added incentive, give them a discount for sending others your way and watch your leads grow exponentially!

Justin Daniel Sampsel Most excellent service provider.  If you're not wanting to pay for a generated lead list, paying in the form of cost per click advertising is not a bad idea. This can really jump start your leads while other strategies are going to take time. In this way, you're balancing your efforts and driving new customers to your site immediately.

One of the highest visitor to lead ratios you will find online is with LinkedIn. Therefore, this platform should be high on your list of tools for lead generation. Put together a polished and professional profile that includes links to all your landing pages and make LinkedIn a valuable part of your lead generation success.

Stop trying to butter customers up! When you need to generate more leads, use a direct approach with them, because chances are good that neither you nor they have a lot of time for small talk and schmoozing. Get to your point, offer a great price for clicking the "buy now" icon and get better results.

If you find yourself waiting on line with other people, then chat them up. It is always great to be friendly, plus they may have need of your product or service. Do not start selling immediately, but try to determine if they might be receptive to what you have to offer.

A website can't bring in leads until it's paired with social media. You must be using those major social networks in order to get new leads. Your campaigns should be diverse, so you can see which tactics are successful, as well as those that are not.

Word-of-mouth referrals may seem like an old fashioned approach to gaining more customers, but they are like gold when it comes to generating leads. If you want to raise the stakes a little bit, come up with an offer or deal that potential customers can't refuse. You may even be able to come up with content that goes viral in order to generate even more leads.

Don't become hyper-focused on contests. If you interact with people and they only expect prizes, then that's all they're going to want from you in the future. Hold a contest every once in a while to generate leads.

Justin Daniel Sampsel Skilled tips provider.  Keep lead gathering simple. Do not force your potential lead to fill out endless amounts of information. Use simplicity such as name and email gathering at first and as they look further ask for more. Your initial info gathering gets you a potential lead, but the further information you gain will allow for qualifying potential.

Ignore any preconceived notions that you may have about your lead generation campaign. Business owners often think that any ugly ad or one that's not too well thought out isn't worth publishing, when in fact it could still yield great results. The same thing can be said that perhaps a too polished looking ad may not get any leads generated.

Are you ready to use these tips to get new leads for your business? If so, then you better get started because there is no better time than now. Leads are where it all begins, and you have information to boost your business in the right direction. Get motivated, and start implementing these strategies today.

[bthenoise]

Q&A: Hear Trenton Woodley Discuss Hands Like Houses’ Most Daring Release Yet ‘-Anon’

This interview previously aired on idobi Radio and is for everyone who was too lazy to tune in. Enjoy!

Hands Like Houses are gearing up to release their Hopeless Records debut -Anon this Friday. Now before you think there isn’t much more to that statement than just the facts, really look at it for a second. 

This Friday, Hands Like Houses will be starting a new chapter of their career with a brand new label and a record that some fans might not have seen coming.  

Stepping away from the constraints of the “post-hardcore” genre, the Australian act has really taken a leap of faith with their new release in hopes of shedding any previous notions about the band. 

“The big thing about the record was kind of that idea of Anon [which] came from the idea of us kind of wanting to sperate expectations of what we are, where we come from and what defines who we are,” explains the band’s soft-spoken frontman Trenton Woodley. “It was a big part of our process, just like separating from our own intentions and expectations of others and we very intentionally let go of what we thought we were and what everyone thought we were so that everyone would approach this with an open mind.”

With one of their biggest singles to date, the rock-driven thumper “Monster,” blowing up on active rock radio (specifically Sirius XM’s Octane), longtime HLH fans have certainly had to make an adjustment as to who the “new” Hands Like Houses are. However, does that mean the band who wrote Rise Records staples such as 2012′s Ground Dweller and 2013′s Unimagine are gone?

Absolutely not -- at least, according to Woodley they’re not. 

“I think more people, as they spend time with [”Monster”], are actually kind of hearing that the lyrics are certainly Hands Like Houses and very much us. I guess surface-level, it's quite different and that's kind of where if you listen to it a few more times you think to yourself, “Okay, this actually is the real band I’ve spent the last three, five, ten years listening to.”  

Now before you make any judgments or preconceived ideas of what -Anon is all about, we highly suggest letting Woodley explain it for himself. To do so, make sure to check out our in-depth interview with the multi-talented vocalist below. Afterward, be sure to pre-order -Anon and grab tickets to see Hands Like Houses tour the US with Emarosa, Devour The Day and Arlington here.  

So we're getting closer to release day. What are you like leading up to the release of an album?

To be honest, it kind of snuck up on me but I think I'm ready. We recorded the album back in April -- I'm sorry, back in May I should say -- and in the meantime, obviously, it's just been about getting the marketing, and the videos and the strategy and all those pieces lined up to make it happen. So we kind of got to that point where it's not up to us and we're just ready for it to come out. I'm very excited which is probably pretty predictable. The initial excitement of having it done has kind of worn off and now it's like that anticipation of like, “Alright, let's do it!”

Do you find yourself searching the internet reading comments before an album is released?

Certainly, yes. I usually find the first 24 hours of putting something out is the best time to do that. After that, that’s just when the idiots come out. I feel like trolls generally have about, more or less...  just give it 24 hours cause that's when the trolls and the facepalm comments [are posted]. So the first 24 hours or so is usually the best time to get in and see what people are actually responding to because the first 24 hours are usually the core fans that enable you to be in a band and make a job out of it. Those are the people to first latch on to it and the first to give you honest feedback.

Well it must feel good to know “Monster,” one of your more unique singles, is doing so well despite what some of the comments might say.

Definitely. Certainly. We released “Overthinking” and “Monster” for different reasons. They're both at opposite ends of the spectrum that is the album as a whole so it was probably a bit of a jarring jump for some people to go from “Overthinking” to “Monster” and fans seem to have one clear favorite over the other depending on which stage of the journey they jumped on the wagon. So yeah, we're stoked that both have done such good things. It's almost kind of jilted our release plans a little. We were actually planning to release our third single [earlier] but they're both doing so well that we can kind of -- the third single is the one we’re most excited for; it's my favorite song on the record [and] we think it's got the highest ceiling of where it can go. But having to almost sit on that [song] an extra bit longer has been a bit of an exercise in patience and playing the game carefully because we're so stoked how well the other songs are doing. It's made us kind of rehash our release plans just ever so slightly to give it the best opportunity and give these songs time to play out. Especially now that “Monster” has landed the license and syncs for the WWE Show-Down that's in Melbourne. It's been blasting all over the WWE on TV. Yeah, it’s pretty exciting to be a part of that. Whether it's through [Sirius] Octane or Hopeless or a bit of both, it's pretty exciting to see where that takes us.

It must be bittersweet to want to drop a single but have to wait because the other single is doing so well. It must be even more rewarding considering “Monster” was a bit experimental for you guys.

Yeah, and each song is kind of blowing up for its own reasons. I guess we were anticipating “Monster” kind of doing the most and having the most reach but it’s been 50/50 [between “Monster” and “Overthinking”].  So yeah, it's developing for the right reasons. And there’s some of that initial reaction and I always expected that from “Monster.” I know that we kind of took risks with it and there was very much a reason. It's a very intentional song in terms of what we made it to do. We wrote it for reasons to be a fun rock and roll song that didn't take itself so seriously and I think that's where people, you know, a tiny subset of our fans, have kind of latched on to the seriousness of everything or just the fact that we're having fun with what we're doing. It kind of created a little bit of that, I don't know, not a disconnect but I think it's just kind of people's interpretation. Like, you know, if you're about to bite into a chocolate and it tastes like bacon, it's not that either are a bad thing, it's just when you're ready for one thing and you get the other, I think that creates a little bit of a “hang on” moment. I think more people, as they spend time with this song, are actually kind of hearing that the lyrics are certainly Hands Like Houses and very much us. I guess surface-level, it's quite different and that's kind of where if you listen to it a few times you think to yourself “Okay, this actually is the real band I’ve spent the last three, five, ten years listening to.”

Yeah, that’s an interesting way to look at it. Maybe fans are just on their toes a little after you guys released a heavier song in “Drift” in 2017, a softer song in “Overthinking,” then the radio-ready track “Monster.” Do you like kind of keeping fans on edge as to what you’ll release next?

Certainly. The big thing about the record was kind of that idea of Anon [which] came from the idea of us kind of wanting to sperate expectations of what we are, where we come from and what defines who we are. It was a big part of our process, just like separating from our own intentions and expectations of others and we very intentionally let go of what we thought we were and what everyone thought we were so that everyone would approach this with an open mind. And I think kind of putting people on their toes and kind of knocking them off balance with the songs we put out was very intentional so that the record would have the most opportunity to be interpreted as its own thing, its own animal. It's just like, at first listen, it doesn't matter if you've heard of Hands Like Houses before or you haven't. You still get that same feeling of “What is this?” That feeling of originality, it’s like that idea of falling in love with someone for the first time. It’s not something you can recreate. It’s kind of like having that fresh opportunity and that excitement and that fear and anticipation [which] makes it worthwhile when it does become a part of you. And that’s kind of the hope with how we set up the record and how fans take it.

So talking about the musical style of “Overthinking” vs “Monster,” do you notice as much of a disconnect between the “active rock” and “Warped Tour” worlds in Australia like there is here in the US?

I wouldn't say there's a disconnect here. Certainly, there's always going to be different things and different demographics and different sort of stuff but in Australia we have this unifying thing in Triple J radio -- that is like our government funded station that plays Australian music; it's like a big single radio station that plays alternative music in Australia and it's created this kind of interesting demographic where there are people who will listen to band’s like Tash Sultana and then listen to Drake and Kendrick Lamar and then Hands Like Houses and The Amity Affliction within an hour of each other. And all that gets played on the same station and you'd be surprised how many crossovers there are between those different [audiences] and I think we have, as a country, a bit of appreciation where a good song is a good song regardless of what style it is. Sure, we all have our tastes and we all have our things but in America, everything seems so divided. Like, your entire culture is built around dividing people along the demographic line where if you dress like that, then you listen to this and you hang out in these places. And if you eat here, then you do this and watch that. It’s so broken up and now that the Warped Tour has kind of I guess, let's say ended -- I think there's obviously going to be a continuation in terms of a few select dates or something. But I feel like with Warped Tour going away as a national tour, I think it will kind of be a bit of a settling period where people kind of drift back and forth between other demographics and sort of sounds and there's been an intentional effort to bridge that active rock and Warped Tour world over the last few years. You are seeing bands like us, bands like Sylar and Palisades, crossing over into that world of the active rock and the radio rock and doing quite well in that regards on the stations like Octane. I don't know, I think the bridges were being built before Warped Tour ended so I think that there will certainly be a change in the way people address it but I'm kind of curious to see how it plays out.   

It’s kinda sad to hear you say America is built around dividing people, especially considering who our president is. But talking about active rock vs Warped Tour, you’re going to be going out on tour with Devour The Day (primarily an active rock band) and Emarosa (primarily a Warped band). Was that intentional to kind of help bridge the gap?

Yeah totally. And having Arlington along as well is pretty exciting. Their a unique, young band who just signed to Rise and put their first single out. They’re bringing kind of a cool crossover into the indie rock, West Coast kinda world who kinda dip their toes in the world in Coachella more than say Rock On The Range. We wanted to make a bill that made sense and not so much, “Oh this band only gets to play with this band because they sound like that band.” That was something we certainly wanted to break away from in that sense of genre divides along the demographics. Let's just put together a bunch of great bands that write great songs in their individual genres and I think that will make more sense than having a bunch of bands that sound like us but not sound like us. So yeah, it made a lot of sense for us and I’m pretty excited to see how it goes down because I think no matter which band you go for, you're going to at least enjoy one or two of the others.    

It’s awesome you guys are taking out Emarosa considering they’re on a similar trajectory as you guys sort of branching away from the sound people heard when they were on Rise Records…

Just wait until you hear the new stuff!

Oh really!?

I’ve only heard a couple snippets when Bradley was recording down the road from us. Yeah, it's very different but it's pretty exciting. I think they're feeling [good] with what they’re doing and I feel like this was the perfect opportunity for us to tour with them together on the back of what we've done before but with putting our best foot forward into where we're headed. It's pretty exciting to kind of put that all in one room... or many rooms considering how many shows we’re doing [laughs].   

So going back to the album, can you touch on the title a little more? Where did -Anon come from?

Yeah, totally. For me, I think the idea of -Anon came as I was flying to meet the guys in the studio. And I was kinda going through the whole [writing and recording] process, and I was feeling stress and pressure on me because I was basically coming in with two weeks to write 2/3rds of an album because a lot of the songs that were already written had been kinda dropped along the way and I was kind of freaking out. And I’m like, “Well look, I’m always struggling with figuring out new ways to write about the same thing because I’m still me and I still have my own experiences, my own challenges, my own mental perspectives on how I connect with the world around me, so there's only so many ways to skin that cat” [laughs]. But for me, I don’t know, it came out of the balance of wanting to create this thing that people have no idea -- you don't have to know who we are to get it and if they know who we are that just adds deeper meaning because when you first listen to an album of any band, it’s like when you first fall in love with the band, you can’t ever recreate that. But when you find something and you're like “Hey this feels right,” we wanted to almost kind of recreate that experience as best we could and separate that idea of who we are from what we do and -Anon kind of came from that. Like, as if this album came out anonymously and no one knew who it was, then how would they take it and that kind of helped shape my lyrical input and it shaped the way that we viewed the album and the fans’ expectations and things like that. And it shaped the way that we approached it with this pure instinct and intentions that kind of make it into this thing that no matter who you or what you know of the band, you can still take this on and still kind of be on your toes with fresh expectations like “I don’t know what’s going to happen next.” I guess that was the catalyst moment for me and for the record and I guess that's what kind of gave birth to the title.

So -Anon is short for Anonymous, yes?

[laughs] Yes, I forgot to mention that. -Anon is short for anonymous specifically -- for example, there's a whole lot of anonymous poetry out there from 50 to 100 to 200 years ago and no one knows who wrote it but the reason it still exists today is because there was something about it that's worth sharing regardless of who originally wrote it. So if you remove the context of it and you only have the words -- that's kind of, in a modern context, like memes. No one knows who created any given meme because it's just impossible to know because everyone removes watermarks and removes watermarks and no one knows [who made them]. But the reason it exists and the reason it's shared is not because of who created it but what the actual content is and what it's relatable to and that's kind of what we wanted to recreate. Just that sense of poetry in that if you don't know who and why, it's still worth sharing and still worth relating to because the content is there and not who created it.  

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.