Good For Grasshopper

I am taking a break from teaching a full load of classes bc of many reasons. But what I don’t want to take a break from is being a resource/mentor for students. So I’ve decided to move forward with an idea I’ve had since I first started adjuncting. I’ve gotten crazy rave reviews from a lot of students – bc I paid a lot of attention and time answering their questions (it’s part of what got to wear me out at times) – but I am certain that if I were tasked to do that year after year, my attention would get less and less intent. My students also seemed to retain a lot of the advice / info / lessons vs other prof’s – because and I still carry the “working in the real world / professional” title.

Through the last year and a half, I heard the same questions over and over – almost to a point where I was reciting the same answers. Upon talking to some of my colleagues – who haven’t taught before and those that did – we tended to share a lot of the same opinions and perspectives – enough to formulate pages and pages of FAQ’s for students. Also – while looking at portfolios – I saw the same things lacking in one school where it was strong in another program. And then I’d see the other program lacking where the aforementioned school was strong. At the end of the day, both schools are sending out degree holding students — but its the ones that take outside initiatives that will be the best additions to the design community as a whole.

Leading into Good For Grasshopper. I want GFG to be an organization aimed at being a student’s resource (non-school specific). This will be 80% resource website and 20% workshops led by working professionals: book binding, portfolio prep, writing, etc. Possibly gallery shows to exhibit their work. 

Feel free to send submissions, articles and questions. Please keep any attachments under 5MB total.

Best,
—
Frances Yllana
Chief Creative Organizer
Good For Grasshopper