SIGGRAPH 2010 Los Angeles Recap

This years SIGGRAPH was bar none an incredible experience, during and after the conference. From the busy volunteer schedule, to partying with Crystal Method in Hollywood, to missing yet another one of my flights, it was surely a time to remember.

I'd like to mention that this post is so late because I moved into a new house immediately after the conference, so it has been a hectic few weeks. Oh, and college classes started back up the same week. Talk about bad timing. Like always, though, I made it out alive and am getting back into the swing of things — hence this post!

Dreamworks Tour

As a student volunteer you get a lot of benefits, along with the confere

nce experience. As a team leader, you get a few more benefits. This year, I was a team leader and our extra special surprise was a tour of Dreamworks the day after we all arrived. We quickly learned why our tour guide, who was super down to earth, explained to us that Dreamworks is the 6th best company to work for. Here is me standing in front of their front door.

Their campus is beautiful and the culture seems amazing! I could see myself applying here next year. Maybe...just maybe. Overall, the tour changed my perspective on studio life and really made me eager to find my way there!

Volunteer Experience

Like I mentioned before, we get some special privileges for being a volunteer. Hell, we make the conference run after all. Your welcome! This year I was in charge of registration. This was the picture hanging up in the office all week. I can refer you to my agent if you are interested in giving me a modeling contract.

If there are any art, technology, or creative students reading this, definitely consider looking into this rare opportunity. It is life changing, not only because you surround yourself with professionals from all over the world, but you make friends and network with them at the same time. Did I mention you get to travel all over the place? Ya, pretty sweet gig. Check out more information here.

The Parties

Yep, the parties get their own chapter in this post! Why? Simply because they help make the entire SIGGRAPH experience. After an entire day at the conference, it is nice to get out and let your mind take a break from all the CG goodness filling every inch of your brain. Getting to know other people at SIGGRAPH at the parties is a completely different experience, and a more fun one at that. I mean, when do you all get the chance to see Crystal Method in Hollywood with all the other CG geeks? Not often. Here is the ticket to get into that party. Each ticket let in one guy and two girls. Needless to say, there was a good ratio!

The Last Day...

...I missed my flight! Uhg. What's new? It was actually a pretty crazy story and a very fun one. If you'd like to check out full details of this experience, which is worth a read, check out this post I wrote for xiik. That's where I work! I'll just show you some pictures that will explain why we missed that flight.

The Great Poking Attack of Twenty Ten

The name of the Facebook event was [secret] Poke Josh Corken on Sunday @ 6pm and boy, did I get poked! 50 confirmed guests and 54 "maybes" meant they invited a lot of people! I had a total of around 60-70 pokes waiting for me that Sunday night, thanks to my sly roommate, David, and unpredictable friend, Zeb. Notice the "See All" option at the top of the picture below. That is Facebook's way of taking me to another page to display my 3+ pages of pokes!

Why tell you this? Because, pokes matter! You don't have to be good at it, no thinking required and it only takes seconds.

Let's break down the logistics of a poke. Here's a list of meanings behind a poke (but not limited to):

Hi.
Hello.
Howdy.
Hey there, neighbor.
I like you.
You're pretty neat.
Well, you poked me, so I guess I have to poke you back.
I think you're cute, but can't tell by just your profile picture, so I'll poke you instead.
I'm still alive. In case you were wondering.

To me, pokes are quite nice. Who doesn't love getting poked every once and a while? Here's to the poke!

This post was in no way funded or sponsored by Facebook.

Innovate the Pixar Way Book Review

The other day, I finally finished reading Innovate the Pixar Way by Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson, authors of The Disney Way, which I plan to buy next. It is a fantastic exploaration of how Ed Catmull, John Lasseter, Steve Jobs and the rest of the Pixar brain trust created a company around a simple philosophy: "Quality is the best business plan." And it has worked!

In the book, they have given examples of how it has been done and explains how you can bring these types of business traits to your own company...or life, for that matter. Since I do not own a company myself, it has brought insight to traits I should look for in my future employers or advice I can take to my current boss. Not only do they analyze Pixar in great detail, but they also give you some insight on how Google, Men's Warehouse, Nike, Target and other leading organizations.

I totally recommend this book! It's an easy read that took me way too long, but it shouldn't take you long at all.

A day in the life...

Here is a montage I did for my second project in my first video class. I tried to make it into a short film with a simple meaning. This also acts as visual research for another [3D animated] short film I am currently working on that will be done next year. More on that to come...

A special thanks to my hand actors Danny Kilburn, Nolan Hudson and Nick Truex. Enjoy!

BOSE Around-Ear Headphones Video Review

I recently finished my product review for my first video class. The video was edited in Adobe Premier and the audio edited in GarageBand. Thank you to my lovely actors and actresses: Hannah Saunders, Paulina Kieslich, Alex Weymouth, and Steven Roman!

If you can't tell from the video, I highly reccommend these headphones. Comments and critiques are most welcome, as always. Enjoy!

2010 Business Card Giveaway Winner

Thanks to everyone who participated! It was good to see the number of comments on here and Facebook. I'd like to congratulate Ricky Potts for winning 500 free business cards from Uprinting! That picture is of me and him celebrating his win. Just kidding.

Keep checking back for more awesome stuff from yours truly and possibly some more free giveaways!

Oh, and let's keep in touch. I'd love to hear from you! Check me out on Facebook and Twitter.

2010 Business Card Giveaway!

In light of 2010 and the new year, I'm giving away 500 free business cards to one lucky reader! You can use these for anything personally or for marketing another endeavor. Either way, it's FREE and all you have to do is leave a comment to enter to WIN!

Here's the details:

500 Business Cards for One (1) Winner
Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)
Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing
Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping
Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only

This giveaway is sponsored by Uprinting which does printing online and business cards online. Pretty cool place, if you ask me. Plus, they let me give you free stuff!

So, leave a comment and win yourself 500 free business cards. But, the context ends next Saturday, February 13. Comment now or forever lose the chance to get free stuff! The winner will be chosen randomly and notified after the giveaway is over. Make sure to leave an email address in your comment saying how you'll use the business cards if you win, so I can get a hold of you! Good luck!

Blogging Less and Tweeting More

As you've probably noticed, I haven't been posting nearly as much on my blog lately, compared to last year. There are quite a few reasons for that and I just wanted to use this post to explain why my blog isn't the complete center for marketing myself now. And don't worry folks, I will still blog a bunch!

Here's my list of excuses. Oops, I mean reasons for posting less! Along with some lessons about each that you will most likely relate to:

1. Life

I have learned a lot throughout my college career, and one lesson that always sticks out to me is the lesson of life. I've been thrown quite a few curveballs in my day, and as I grow older, the more curveballs I'm pitched. Sounds like a math equation Lately, I have taken the time do a bit of relaxing, pursuing hobbies [drums], hanging out with friends and concentrating on getting started on a short film I will be doing with a good friend of mine.

Sometimes, I think it's best to take some time off and just concentrate on other things. At the same time, this will let you cool your jets and let your creativity catch up with you (in this case blog writing).

2. Work

Since I blog for my work, I have literally doubled the amount of writing I was currently. This makes it hard to come home from work and write my own blogs. There are only so many ideas — that are post-worthy — a day that I can come up with, people! I guess you could think about the old saying "quality over quantity."

3. New Blog

Lately, I've also been thinking about making the switch over to Wordpress and leaving the wonderful world of Blogger. With a big change like that, I'd need/want a new layout for my blog. The design will stay the same. I'll always like lions and this color pallet!

Anyways, stay tuned for more on this. It will probably take through the summer for me to completely launch the new blog, but I'll keep everyone posted.

4. Twitter

As common as this is to say, Twitter is super easy, quick and to the point. I like using it to ingest my news and daily bed of information. One feature that they recently launched is lists. Here's a link to the one's I've started. Follow them if you have an account too. Since then, it's become a whole new way to organize for me because I can categorize specific Twitter accounts by genre (ie. News, Graphic Design, Film, Animation, etc).

Tweeting takes less time and is still very productive if you use the service right. Make sure you check me out on there (@joshcorken). I post daily. *wink wink*

2010 Web Design Trends and Predictions

As the new years rolls around, there have been quite a few posts on some very notable blogs about the predicted trends for web in 2010. Obviously they aren't 100% guaranteed, but these guys usually know their stuff. Here are a few great reads that will probably benefit you, giving new perspectives to the future of interactive design and visions for new projects you take on.

Web Design Trends for 2010 by Web Design Ledger
10 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 by CNN
Pantone is Blowing Up in 2010 by Fuel Your Creativity

Also, here's a good post on some resolutions "freelancers" should keep in mind. I know not all of us are freelance designers, developers, programmers, animators, etc, but these are great points we can still take a lot from.

10 New Years Resolutions Every Freelancer Should Have by Freelance Folder

Oh, and how could I forget an article written by my work [xiik Interactive Marketing] about 2010?! It's definitely a good read, as all the others are.

Five Resolutions Your Business Can't Afford to Break by xiik Interactive Marketing

Be sure to share this, enjoy and have the very best 2010!