New "Go To" Presentation App: Adobe Slate

Adobe Slate for visual storytelling... you must try this application! 

This little application, available for mobile devices and via web, is the kind of application that will propel your presentations to new heights.

My initial stories were quite simple, more like family albums, then I began to organize the content differently; approaching more like a movie director. Storyboarding my outline and objectives. 

Slate will shift your visual storytelling skills to be more robust. 

Overview:

• Easily add images and video
• Create slideshows and/or grids
• Add text and styling (body, h1, h2, quotes)
• Ability to add external links (webpages, email, etc)
• Limited theme templates  
• Share link (social media, mail)
• Embed on webpage

After producing "Historically Speaking" and evaluating other visual stories it see numerous possibilities to use Adobe Slate, professionally and personally. Go beyond the newsletter and blog post. Book trailers, e-newsletters, event pre-launch, new business presentation, etc.

During the planning or storyboarding stage think more like the movie director; background imagery, video or audio clips, still images, photo grids and slideshows, etc. How to pair with text to emphasize the core message?


https://slate.adobe.com/cp/ivSk7/

Don't worry this application is available for mobile (iOS & Android) and web.  

Cosmic Journey of Three

A walk through the Adler*

A recent walk along the three levels of the Adler Planetarium guided me through the exhibits to the theaters with ease. Reminding me of the graceful, yet powerful of use of THREE. How do we consciously or unconsciously incorporate this into our work?

The use of three segments or divisions can be used to construct a presentation, write the speech or develop visuals. Artists and architects have used "3" for centuries. It's simple, keeps us focused; more importantly, our audience focused.

Note the three parts of this stalwart advise for speech:

1. Tell 'em what you're going to tell 'em.
2. Tell 'em.
3. Tell 'em what you told 'em.

Patterns of Ancient World Coloring Book

Simple. 1.  2.  3.

Three most recent projects on my desk:

1. Book by illustrator and writer, a family legacy story. Limited edition, printed.
2. Expanded version of my husband's first book Saigon Shuffle, which we self-published almost ten years ago. Projected release end of September.
3. Coloring book for grown ups, I self-published a Patterns of the Ancient World coloring book, available via Amazon.

Three products to assist with your projects:

1. Slideshare is now part of LinkedIn. Post slideshows, PDFs directly to your LinkedIn profile; great for entrepreneur and business profiles.
2. Canva: online and tablet platform to to create visuals online; tap into library of free and paid assets. 
3. Adobe Slate new free iPad app to create visual stories quickly; might be a new method to present to clients or blog. entries.

My youngest is beginning her SENIOR year of high school... where has the time gone? 

Joann Sondy
Designer & Publisher
mobile: 231-633-0945
social media: @joannsondy
joannsondy.com

* Adler Planetarium, located along the Chicago shoreline, was the nation's first planetarium. Opened May 1930, designed by Ernest Grunfeld for Max Adler; the twelve zodiac bronze bas reliefs by Alphonso Ianelli grace the exterior. National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmark.
 

How Do You Conquer "Creative Frustration"?

I've been working a logo project all morning and making little progress toward anything I'd like to share with the client.

This is the second logo project in less than a week. I'm not complaining. I really like the client, we've worked together before and now he's starting up two businesses right now.  He knows my work, recommends me to other professionals, I know the market, I deliver.

I deliver. (Can't believe I wrote that phrase.)

Back to the question, how do you conquer "creative frustration"? (Or gettin' unstuck?)
Google returns 4.5+ Million results on the topic of 'frustration' -- I'm getting the feeling the this is a common but taboo topic.

The prevention of progress seems to be where I'm at with this particular project. What am I doing about it?

• Saved my work and closed the AI file. Put my hardcopy sketches away.
• Surfed my favorite news sources on the internet -- same as before, nothing new.
• Logged onto my FB stream -- nothing going on there.
• Ate lunch (which was totally unsatisfying)
• Went for a walk.

This afternoon in Chicago, a light snow is falling, temperature is ~ 25F, no sun; I took the pooch out for his afternoon stroll.

Walking seems to be one of my best re-energizing activities. I've also been experimenting with 3-5 minute meditations at my desk.

Does music help you? What genre? (I've been addicted to "Martini in the Morning" lately)
A few of my resources:

Dan Goodwin's "A Big Creative Yes"
Jonathan Mead's "Illuminated Mind"
"Anxiety Slayer" by Ananja Sivyer and Shann VanderLeek
I would live to hear your tricks, post them here.