[Research piece/review for educational information site]
_____ College is a multi-state educational institution for people interested in entering the healthcare professions, with 20 accredited campuses nationwide, including 13 in California, 5 in Washington, and two recently added campuses in New Orleans and Saint Louis. Part of _____ Colleges Incorporated, _____ offers state-of-the-art training in the medical professional and technical fields that provides students with a competitive edge in pursuing a career in healthcare administration, technology, or patient care [medical assistant, nurse’s aid, etc.]
Each program in the _____ College network features hands-on training by professionals active in the specialties that they teach; class sizes are small, optimizing teacher-student contact. Many courses are available during the evening or as online “distance-learning” classes, making it easier for working students to complete their studies. The colleges maintain a close relationship with employers of their respective localities, and provide career guidance to students to assist them with transitioning into their field of choice; most _____ students acquire employment relevant to their training upon graduation.
_____ College supports the professional education of a highly diverse student population; according to the National Center for Education Statistics, the college has rated consistently among the top educational institutions in the country for the conferring of certificates or diplomas to minorities since the NCES began counting fifteen years ago. In a rapidly changing job market where specialization becomes more and more the norm, and up-to-date, relevant, experience-building education is a must for all professionals, _____ College stands out as an industry leader.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
writing sample no. 2 - business
[Recruitment piece]
Washington State Employment Security Department’s Labor Market and Economic Analysis database states that as of 2005, the position of Radiological Technologist/ Technician in Washington State offered an hourly mean wage of $25, on a scale between an hourly entry-level wage of $19, and an hourly experience-level wage of $28. With only a 2-year AAS required to certify, this makes Radiological Technicians a well-paid group compared to other medical technicians requiring the same amount of training, such as Lab Techs who are paid about the same at entry level but less at experience level. In most medical facilities in Washington, particularly those that are largely State-funded such as Harborview, Radiology Techs are SEIU members and as such enjoy the job protection and advocacy offered by that organization. WetFeet.com, an employment research agency, says that “radiological technicians are currently in very high demand and will continue to be in demand in the decade ahead.” A fascinating field with broad applications across the various medical disciplines, Radiology is a sound choice for the individual considering a career in Healthcare.
Washington State Employment Security Department’s Labor Market and Economic Analysis database states that as of 2005, the position of Radiological Technologist/ Technician in Washington State offered an hourly mean wage of $25, on a scale between an hourly entry-level wage of $19, and an hourly experience-level wage of $28. With only a 2-year AAS required to certify, this makes Radiological Technicians a well-paid group compared to other medical technicians requiring the same amount of training, such as Lab Techs who are paid about the same at entry level but less at experience level. In most medical facilities in Washington, particularly those that are largely State-funded such as Harborview, Radiology Techs are SEIU members and as such enjoy the job protection and advocacy offered by that organization. WetFeet.com, an employment research agency, says that “radiological technicians are currently in very high demand and will continue to be in demand in the decade ahead.” A fascinating field with broad applications across the various medical disciplines, Radiology is a sound choice for the individual considering a career in Healthcare.
writing sample no. 1 - business
[Excerpted from a Usability Analysis conducted for a consulting firm]
Example 1
Designers and focus groups agree – the Yahoo.com style web portal with absolutely everything linked on the front page is unfriendly. Users attempting to access the site are overwhelmed by all the information presented up front; what people tend to prefer is to have presented to them a short list of major categories to navigate, linking to sub-categories. This can be implemented in a variety of ways – form data dropdown menus, Javascript or CSS flyouts, etc. – but the important thing is to allow the user to take in information in stages.
Aesthetically speaking, the use of fonts, images, and colors on this site is extremely bland and generic looking. Users have a surprisingly sophisticated sense of look/feel and will lose interest in a site that doesn’t stand out in some way visually. Even a very minimal design can have more impact with less real estate taken up on the page. At the very least, the logo needs to be redesigned for more brand identification, for instance with a proprietary font with some effect other than a drop shadow.
Finally, the choice to put the link to the inquiry form in gray font underneath the logo, without any visual or textual hooks to attract attention, almost guarantees that no users will access it.
Example 2
This site has a very low level of usability. The look/feel is reminiscent of the experience of reading the classified ads or a phone book; there’s no sense of interactivity to draw in the user. It actually resembles the kind of spammer website one gets redirected to when a URL is typed incorrectly. If I were a prospective student I would pass this site up at a single glance – nothing available here is superior to a simple Google search.
Example 3
This page is vastly superior and much more professionally designed than either of the ones descried above. Its interface is logical, broken down into categories, and highlighted by excellent use of image, layout, color and font – while similar in some ways to the color and font choices of the first web site, there are subtle yet powerful differences. The yellows contain more orange and therefore more warmth and contrast; the blues are richer and balance the yellows more forcefully. The photograph isn’t randomly placed, but flows into the tagline “Find your passion etc.” which really serves to sell the site.
The logo is unique and memorable and contains movement as well. The teasers to articles on the right, which resemble a newsfeed, are a very “hot” way to distribute information online right now. It gives the site an almost magazine-like or blog feel. Finally, a search engine placed at the top right with options for the user to conduct a self-directed search right away is excellent strategy: It gives the user choices and control over their experience – a way to truly NAVIGATE the site’s information – without being overwhelmed.
Example 1
Designers and focus groups agree – the Yahoo.com style web portal with absolutely everything linked on the front page is unfriendly. Users attempting to access the site are overwhelmed by all the information presented up front; what people tend to prefer is to have presented to them a short list of major categories to navigate, linking to sub-categories. This can be implemented in a variety of ways – form data dropdown menus, Javascript or CSS flyouts, etc. – but the important thing is to allow the user to take in information in stages.
Aesthetically speaking, the use of fonts, images, and colors on this site is extremely bland and generic looking. Users have a surprisingly sophisticated sense of look/feel and will lose interest in a site that doesn’t stand out in some way visually. Even a very minimal design can have more impact with less real estate taken up on the page. At the very least, the logo needs to be redesigned for more brand identification, for instance with a proprietary font with some effect other than a drop shadow.
Finally, the choice to put the link to the inquiry form in gray font underneath the logo, without any visual or textual hooks to attract attention, almost guarantees that no users will access it.
Example 2
This site has a very low level of usability. The look/feel is reminiscent of the experience of reading the classified ads or a phone book; there’s no sense of interactivity to draw in the user. It actually resembles the kind of spammer website one gets redirected to when a URL is typed incorrectly. If I were a prospective student I would pass this site up at a single glance – nothing available here is superior to a simple Google search.
Example 3
This page is vastly superior and much more professionally designed than either of the ones descried above. Its interface is logical, broken down into categories, and highlighted by excellent use of image, layout, color and font – while similar in some ways to the color and font choices of the first web site, there are subtle yet powerful differences. The yellows contain more orange and therefore more warmth and contrast; the blues are richer and balance the yellows more forcefully. The photograph isn’t randomly placed, but flows into the tagline “Find your passion etc.” which really serves to sell the site.
The logo is unique and memorable and contains movement as well. The teasers to articles on the right, which resemble a newsfeed, are a very “hot” way to distribute information online right now. It gives the site an almost magazine-like or blog feel. Finally, a search engine placed at the top right with options for the user to conduct a self-directed search right away is excellent strategy: It gives the user choices and control over their experience – a way to truly NAVIGATE the site’s information – without being overwhelmed.
ed. note no. 1
the sacto kings did not exist as a franchise until the 80's. changed to the sonics. i could see the 70's blazers beating the sonics with no problem.
caught some typos.
billy squier is also 80's - replaced with lynyrd skynyrd which is more stylistically appropriate anyway.
always appreciate a heads up if you catch things like this. thanks.
caught some typos.
billy squier is also 80's - replaced with lynyrd skynyrd which is more stylistically appropriate anyway.
always appreciate a heads up if you catch things like this. thanks.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Writing Sample - Grant Proposal Synopsis
Synopsis: Creating a Language of Widgets
[redacted for confidentiality]
In this project I plan to use the traditional form of Postmodern Widget Making in a series of collaborative workshops employing trained widgeteers in the co-creation of widgets with customers. In these groups the customers will be encouraged to share their experience of what it means to deal with being a widget user– things they want people to know about their widgeting, what it is like to be a user of widgets, the realities of their everyday lives, and their triumphs and challenges in working towards successful widgetry. The workshops will involve a dialogue in which the customers tell the widgeteers what they want people to know about them; the widgeteers will then translate this verbal language into a language of widgetry on their behalf. The customers will be encouraged to give feedback as to the accuracy of the widgetry - whether they accurately reflect the needs they intended to communicate - so that they feel they have an investment and are heard in this process of creating a new language of widgets.
The goal of these workshops is to generate widget components and a widgetry vocabulary that we will then be able to bring into workshops off-site when we are generating a finalized widget. The mined material will then be used to design a widgetry presentation, under the direction of a professional Master Widgeteer to be named at a later date. The presentation will be performed initially on-site, and then as time and the availability of the participants allows, in other venues expressing interest. Throughout this process, a documentary filmmaker will record the entire process from its initiation to its fruition, including interviews, with the intention of creating a valuable historical record.
[redacted for confidentiality]
In this project I plan to use the traditional form of Postmodern Widget Making in a series of collaborative workshops employing trained widgeteers in the co-creation of widgets with customers. In these groups the customers will be encouraged to share their experience of what it means to deal with being a widget user– things they want people to know about their widgeting, what it is like to be a user of widgets, the realities of their everyday lives, and their triumphs and challenges in working towards successful widgetry. The workshops will involve a dialogue in which the customers tell the widgeteers what they want people to know about them; the widgeteers will then translate this verbal language into a language of widgetry on their behalf. The customers will be encouraged to give feedback as to the accuracy of the widgetry - whether they accurately reflect the needs they intended to communicate - so that they feel they have an investment and are heard in this process of creating a new language of widgets.
The goal of these workshops is to generate widget components and a widgetry vocabulary that we will then be able to bring into workshops off-site when we are generating a finalized widget. The mined material will then be used to design a widgetry presentation, under the direction of a professional Master Widgeteer to be named at a later date. The presentation will be performed initially on-site, and then as time and the availability of the participants allows, in other venues expressing interest. Throughout this process, a documentary filmmaker will record the entire process from its initiation to its fruition, including interviews, with the intention of creating a valuable historical record.
Writing Sample - Grant Proposal Marketing Plan
Marketing Plan
[Redacted for confidentiality]
I. Present live demonstration followed by documentary film on site to internal staff and board members, in 2 – 3 shows with panel discussion afterwards.
Advertising: Company intranet, bi-weekly newsletter, and poster campaign.
II. Present live performance and film to public-facing staff and clients (including agencies) and their families.
Advertising: Company intranet, bi-weekly newsletter, and poster campaign.
III. Outreach via fliers, letters, and (if accepted) posters to other Seattle area agencies, offering presentation to their clients and staff; especially agencies that may have their own specialist group (but not a full department).
• Agency No. 1
• Agency No. 2
• Agency No. 3 – I have a personal connection with the CEO, as she was the COO for _____ for 4 years and supported this department; she often said to me “You are the one who brings life to our clients”
• Agency No. 4
• Agency No. 5
IV. Depending on length of work (if under 12 minutes) will audition at [venue] for curated open showcase for local performers. Will have video on loop in the lobby.
V. Will submit process and film for _____ Association conference.
VI. Will contact local schools teaching [field of specialization] to educate them about [FOS] as a profession, a viable efficacy-based method for referral, and an educating tool of how it is used with clients. I will develop a letter, and flier, and follow up with a phone call to these departments:
• Organization No. 1
• Organization No. 2 – we have a strong affiliation with them as we sponsor interns
• _____ University
• _____ College of the Arts
• _____ University
• _____ University
Marketing Plan (Contd.)
VII. Contact via letters, fliers, and phone calls the local chapter of National Association for _____ in Western Washington to present film as an event for members and families.
VIII. Send out letters and fliers and follow-up with phone calls to other facilities to help educate them about the uses of [FOS].
IX. Send copies to all [FOS] schools in the United States to have in their libraries as a teaching and inspirational tool.
X. Create a website for the project. I will act as moderator and have a section where people can post their responses and reactions to either the dance or the film to foster communication between all types of people that are privileged to view the work.
[Redacted for confidentiality]
I. Present live demonstration followed by documentary film on site to internal staff and board members, in 2 – 3 shows with panel discussion afterwards.
Advertising: Company intranet, bi-weekly newsletter, and poster campaign.
II. Present live performance and film to public-facing staff and clients (including agencies) and their families.
Advertising: Company intranet, bi-weekly newsletter, and poster campaign.
III. Outreach via fliers, letters, and (if accepted) posters to other Seattle area agencies, offering presentation to their clients and staff; especially agencies that may have their own specialist group (but not a full department).
• Agency No. 1
• Agency No. 2
• Agency No. 3 – I have a personal connection with the CEO, as she was the COO for _____ for 4 years and supported this department; she often said to me “You are the one who brings life to our clients”
• Agency No. 4
• Agency No. 5
IV. Depending on length of work (if under 12 minutes) will audition at [venue] for curated open showcase for local performers. Will have video on loop in the lobby.
V. Will submit process and film for _____ Association conference.
VI. Will contact local schools teaching [field of specialization] to educate them about [FOS] as a profession, a viable efficacy-based method for referral, and an educating tool of how it is used with clients. I will develop a letter, and flier, and follow up with a phone call to these departments:
• Organization No. 1
• Organization No. 2 – we have a strong affiliation with them as we sponsor interns
• _____ University
• _____ College of the Arts
• _____ University
• _____ University
Marketing Plan (Contd.)
VII. Contact via letters, fliers, and phone calls the local chapter of National Association for _____ in Western Washington to present film as an event for members and families.
VIII. Send out letters and fliers and follow-up with phone calls to other facilities to help educate them about the uses of [FOS].
IX. Send copies to all [FOS] schools in the United States to have in their libraries as a teaching and inspirational tool.
X. Create a website for the project. I will act as moderator and have a section where people can post their responses and reactions to either the dance or the film to foster communication between all types of people that are privileged to view the work.
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