Nothing Spaces » Carina’s (Kind Of) Scary Life Plan: Part I.

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Carina’s (Kind Of) Scary Life Plan: Part I. // July 19, 2010

Since graduating, my life has pretty much been haphazard and disorganized, no matter how much I make it appear otherwise. Recently, I’ve been thinking about ways through which I can try and “hold the reins,” so to speak. Not a lot of changes, but then I suppose most things take a few tiny first steps before incredible things are expected to happen. Anyway, here are a few of my mostly organizational steps. Over the next few days, I will try to document and report (!) the steps I have been taking towards being less of a bum. The thought is at least already there, right?

My arsenal! Probably kind of overkill, but whatever works! In the photo, there are two books, and 4 blank books to essentially write on. I will explain the use of them all. Because they do have their specific uses, okay? Okay.

Cyan July Moleskine Daily Planner — I got the stupid idea to use a daily rainbow planner, which has resulted in several failures at organization. (Here are the ones for January – June.) I have since found a use for them, which is planning my day. It works because I get pressured to cross off things by a certain time. Sometimes, results are disastrous, though, and I don’t cross any items off at all.
Field Notes notebook — for when I don’t want to bring big notebooks. That’s it, really.
Dark Blue Moleskine Blank Cahier — for sketches! I draw raw sketches here, scan them and tweak on my Mac. Sometimes I just try to sketch out ideas for layouts, etc. This mostly stays at home.
Large Muji Lined Notebook — I have drawn on this cover! (See below.) In lame lettering. This is mostly for notes and plans… I find that I process things I read better if I take down notes. I have been using 43Folders.com as a guide, for example, and it just translates better when I take notes.

As an extra organizational procedure, I caved in and bought myself an 18-month Moleskine Weekly Planner + Notes. I know this sounds like rationalizing and justifying a probably-indulgent purchase, but I really have been more productive ever since I got this planner. I have been using this format since freshman year of college, so I suppose that has something to do with that as well:

Okay, so I’ve been meaning to make a stronger portfolio… and I’m going to do that by actual reading up on design. Not to dis anyone, but I really felt like my formal education is lacking, in terms of preparing me to take on actual design jobs. Talent and skill can only get you so far, I think. So I’m going to try to learn stuff.

Currently concentrating on absorbing information from Ellen Lupton’s “Indie Publishing,” which I actually have had for a long time. I’ve only just browsed through some sections, though. I also hijacked my brother’s copy of Timothy Samara’s “Making and Breaking the Grid.” I think this will really be useful to me. And then, there’s magazines I can flip through for inspiration… or you know, to read when my brain needs a break.

And then I cleaned my Desktop, which still features Sara Frakking Quin, because she is an amazing human being:

Click for full size, Nosy McNoseface.

Also revived my TeuxDeux account (Teux Deux, geddit?). Crossing things off of a To-Do List really is gratifying.

This post was actually laid out much better in my head. This is all probably just useless information for you, whoever you are, reading this. You’re lucky this is a series! The next one will be more insightful, I promise.

(It really did come off as a better post in my head, though. Apologies.)

P.S. One of my goals is to make five or so posts under this series. Fingers crossed and stuff. That I actually stick to this goal, and also that the posts will be useful and, at the least, make sense.

In carina

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You beat me to it! I’ve been planning on posting a post (eh?) about my notebooks. Haha.

Indie Publishing looks interesting.

Comment by Kamyl — July 19, 2010 #
I also have the Making and Breaking the Grid. It’s a really helpful book for organizing your layouts and other design projects when you’re really just stuck. I haven’t been aware of the Indie Publishing book by Lupton. I need to buy that ASAP! Also, I really love how you’re organizing yourself and setting goals/lists. I really need to start doing that (right now I’m an unorganized mess!) I wish you luck on all your future projects! :D

Comment by Cory — July 19, 2010 #
Kamyl, post one anyway! :) Those are always interesting to look at. Where were you going to post it? Yeah, it’s pretty awesome.

Cory, good to hear that! I’m really looking forward to reading through it. :) Lupton’s is nice! I’m sure it’s not the most thorough book on publishing, but it covers a lot of the basics and discusses what self-publishing might be good for, and outlines a lot of options. Thank you! :) I’m trying to figure out the best way to go about this “self-improvement.”

Comment by Carina — July 19, 2010 #
I spy Frankie magazine! I like them a lot :)

Comment by ArinaAntos — July 19, 2010 #
Haha don’t worry Carina, a very entertaining blog post. I see a copy of Frankie! HUZZAH! You will feel your creative itches being revived after frequent doses of Frankie.

That Making and Breaking the Grid book looks really useful, let us know how it goes so that if it’s decent I’ll buy it.

Couldn’t agree more with that formal education thing — a majority of stuff at uni we’re expected to figure out on our own, and most of it has been just a lot of guesswork, peer feedback, trial and error and vague understandings for most of us. We’re left with very little technical knowledge at the end of the day.

Comment by Camille — July 19, 2010 #
I LOVE notebooks. :D I used to have so many (and I still kinda do, like some stocked-up fake moleskins, haha) until I started giving some as gifts whenever friends had birthdays.

I’ve tried printing some “books” of my own, mostly collections of poetry by other people. I never really bought a book on in it, so that Indie Publishing book interests me a lot. 8D

Comment by Camille — July 19, 2010 #
Paulina, yis! Too bad I have to ask people to buy them for me, though. :( I wish they sold them here. Kahit back issues lang.

Camille S, good to know! I really love this issue, though, I don’t really have very many. OK! It’s got decent reviews on Amazon, if that helps. :) No, but really, I do not exaggerate how ill-equipped most of us are… We really had to sort of learn a lot of stuff by ourselves. I really feel sort of cheated, major-wise, by my education.

Camille Z, haha I could never! I really love them. Good thing I like writing. :) Sayang, I bought it in Singapore. Didn’t you study there for a while? Kinokuniya had a lot of great design books.

Comment by Carina — July 19, 2010 #
Yes, but my luggage were already 11kg overweight :( Kinokuniya was just book heaven. Sigh. Ah, well. Haha.

Comment by Camille Z — July 21, 2010 #

Carina Santos is 21, recently employed & slightly slanted & enchanted. She likes to read, write & make pretty things.

Hello! My name is Carina Santos. I'm 21 years old, and I design stuff for a living. Writing is my first love. I like quoting Harry Potter, oversharing on the Internet, and places that echo. And, just so you know, I care about the Oxford comma. More!

NOTHING SPACES is my personal blog. It's sort of where I live.