Advisory Board Meetings & Reports

2007 Regional Industry Advisory Council Meeting

Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Doubletree Hotel
San Diego, CA 92108

Thank you to all participants in the 2007 Regional Industry Advisory Council Meeting. The community colleges served by this industry advisory council include: Cuyamaca College, Grossmont College, Imperial Valley College, MiraCosta College, Palomar College, San Diego City College, San Diego Continuing Education, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College, and Southwestern College. The purpose of this meeting is to give a real-world snapshot from industry to educators. This report includes notes from the speakers, resources handed out in the packet, Table Topics summary, and the online Zoomerang survey results.

 

The meeting was held on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at the Doubletree Hotel, 7450 Hazard Center Drive, San Diego, California, United States 92108 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

 

There was a literature table to share information, and each guest received an MEI Region 10 keychain and a CD opener.

 

View a slideshow of photos from this event.

 

In attendance were:

First

Last

Company/College

Aaron

Wolpoff

Saxony Web Design

Amy

Berger

City College

Andrea

Henne

SDCCD Online Learning

Barry

Roth

Grossmont College

Bob

Fritsch

Miramar College

Brent

Altomare

Groovy Like a Movie

Carolyn

Graysen

Lynda.com

Carolyn

O'Barr

San Diego Continuing Edu.

Carrie

Clay

Grossmont College

Cassondra

Caesar

San Diego Continuing Edu.

Cynthia

Scott

MEI Region 10

David

Raney

Cuyamaca College

Diane

Kew

Cuyamaca College

Don

Henderson

Apple, Inc.

Gabrielle

Gosselin

San Diego Continuing Edu.

Gary

Ellington

San Diego Continuing Edu.

Gracie

Fowler

Palomar College

Jane

Newcomb

San Diego Continuing Edu.

Janet

Gelb

Grossmont College

Jeff

Uhlik

MiraCosta College

Jerrold

Plak

Palomar College

Jill

Baker

Mesa College

Jim

Vincent

San Diego Continuing Edu.

Joan

Stroh

Southwestern College

Jodi

Reed

Cuyamaca College

John

Avakian

MEI

John

Roy

Sony Online Entertainment

Judy

Calvert

Grossmont College

Karen

Owen

Mesa College

Kathleen

Lopez

Southwestern College

Kelin

Rapp

Aquent

Lillian

Payn

Palomar College

Lowell

Waxman

San Diego Public Library

Lucina

Gonzalez

Scripps Oceanography

Luke

Jungers

Crystal Pyramid Production

Lynda

Reeves

San Diego Continuing Edu.

Lynda

Warner

San Diego Continuing Edu.

Lynda

Weinman

Lynda.com

Mark

Schulze

Crystal Pyramid Production/MCA-I

Mike

Hampson

Printer & Web Designer

Mike

Remington

San Diego Continuing Edu./SunGard

Patricia

Duarte

Southwestern College

Patty

Tait

Palomar College

Paul

Richard

San Diego Continuing Edu.

Philip

Staiger

The Best of 3D

Randall

Cornish

MiraCosta College

Rick

Corlett

School of Digital Media

Rick

Wagner

Green Bird Media

Robin

Paine

Imperial Valley College

Roger

Owens

Grossmont College

Susan

Rust

Green Bird Media

Terry

Schulenburg

Apple Computer

Tiffany

Wong

San Diego Continuing Edu.

Tim

Buckles

Cuyamaca College

Timothy

Erdmann

Intercasting Corp.

Tom

Paine

Imperial Valley College

Victor

Campos

Southwestern College

William

Craft

Mesa College

 

 

Introductions

The meeting began with greetings and a chance for community college educators from throughout the region to meet colleagues from other colleges and mix with regional industry members.

 

Master of Ceremonies, Brent Altomare, founder of the local video production company “Groovy Like a Movie,” called the meeting to order with a charming collage of clichéd phrases that set the tone for a fun discussion of creating meaning with multimedia tools. He introduced Cynthia Scott, representing the Multimedia & Entertainment Initiative for Region 10, who in turn welcomed guests and thanked the team that had made the event possible: Tiffany Wong, North City Campus; Susan Rust and Rick Wagner, Green Bird Media; Jim Vincent, Dean of the North City Campus; John Avakian, Statewide Director of MEI; Gracie Fowler, Palomar Site Coordinator for MEI; Lynda Weinman, Industry Member; and Brent Altomare, the emcee for the day.

 

Ms. Scott demonstrated the new MEI Region 10 website, www.meiregion10.com, and showed the resource page where Advisory Council meeting reports are posted. She talked about the MEI Region 10 survey that was available at Zoomerang. And, she reminded guests to look for the Table Topics questions posted at each table to guide the lunchtime discussion.

 

Ms. Scott then invited announcements from the floor. Luke Jungers spoke on behalf of the Media Communications Association International, San Diego Chapter. The Media Communications Association - International (MCA-I) - is an organization for multimedia and video production professionals interested in networking, listing their services and attending meetings.

 

 

Table Topics

During lunch, each table talked about the Table Topics guided discussion. One person took notes at each table, which were collected and compiled by Tiffany Wong and available at the end of these notes.

 

Brent Altomare then introduced John Avakian, the Statewide Director for MEI, who spoke on resources available to the statewide network of educators. He spoke on the Media Arts Award Competition, the curriculum database, a recent game industry scan, and a statewide game symposium to be held in San Jose at the end of April.

 

 

Keynote

Mr. Altomare then introduced Kelin Rapp, an account representative at Aquent, the creative staffing agency. Ms. Rapp is a nationally certified career counselor who worked as a graphic/web designer and online marketing manager for over 10 years. She holds a masters degree in graphic design & web design as well as a Masters in Career Counseling. Combining the two, Kelin worked at The Art Institute of California, San Diego as a career advisor and continues to teach career development classes there and serve on their Professional Advisory Committee. She currently works for Aquent where she works with designers and artists to find great career opportunities in the San Diego market.

 

Here’s a summary of Kelin Rapp’s talk. Thanks to Gabrielle Gosselin for sharing her notes:

 

  1. Budgets Tight
    1. Employers want employees that can do it “all” Print, Web Design, Dream Weaver and Flash
    2. 80% of jobs are in production (employees should have art skills)

     

  2. Web 2.0
    1. Need to know open source and rich media
    2. Need to know new content and have new skills
    3. Graphic designers need to know Dreamweaver, CSS, Flash as well as Front End

     

  3. Web Designers
    1. Need to know CSS, hand coding, PHP, coding, MySQL, Flash and Action scripting

     

  4. Web Developer/Web Masters
    1. Need to know design fundamentals, hand coding, MySQL, Action scripting, Ajax and Java

     

  5. Growing Industry for Multimedia
    1. Web and Flash (Need to know how to draw)
    2. Have original artwork
    3. Gaming for mobile phones
    4. E-learning (astd.org) (many jobs)
    5. Online training, creating of modules

     

  6. Trends in the gaming industry
    1. 70 % of gamers do not work in the actual gaming industry
    2. Cell Phone gaming growing in popularity
    3. Many new displays i.e. iPod, cell phone etc versus traditional console

     

  7. Transferable skills/career areas for 3D Drawing, 3 D Modeling and CAD skills
    1. Military
    2. Medical-Virtual Reality
    3. Architectural

     

  8. Flash Designers for the Web are hard to find and are paid well
    1. Ad Agencies often need Flash skills

     

  9. Misc. notes from Kelin
    1. Flash Developers and Animators needed in Sand Diego
    2. Good URL’s can get you jobs
    3. The Sun Tax (meaning San Diego pays poorly) is very much in effect, many more jobs can be found for better pay in Orange County and Los Angeles
    4. Arts and Animation are the fastest growing and changing areas in Multimedia
    5. U-Tube, Cell Phone and Web Rich Media, Web 2.0 helping to forge new paths to take
    6. The most important thing you can do as a student is get real world experience, INTERNSHIP>>>INTERNSHIP>>>>> INTERNSHIP

 

Brent Altomare synthesized Ms. Rapp’s talk and added insight from his own experience as an employer. He then introduced the panel members who joined Kelin Rapp and himself in addressing the audience:

 

 

Panel Members

Brent Altomare is a unique individual who combines a strong business background with a fervent desire to be creative. After receiving his B.A. in Directing from Pepperdine University, Brent worked for his father at the San Diego Auto Trader. In the marketing department, Brent performed on a team that helped grow the publication into an advertising powerhouse with 95% market penetration among automotive dealers. When the business was sold in February of 2000, Brent’s entrepreneurial spirit drove him to create groovy like a movie. Storytelling is the key to Brent’s creative philosophy. Whether his team is working on a television commercial, corporate training video, or short film, Brent is constantly asking; “What is the story we’re trying to tell, and how does what you’re doing drive the story forward?”

 

Don Henderson is the Senior Manager of Creative Expression for Apple Education. In his role, Don is responsible for creating programs and solutions that integrate Apple’s Digital Media Tools across the curriculum. Don works with educators around the country and abroad who have created programs focused on the use Apple’s Professional Applications. Prior to joining Apple, Don was the Director of Educational and Library Technology for the Grossmont Union High School District. Don is also a two-time Smithsonian Laureate for the award winning Digital Media programs he created for the Grossmont Union High School District.

 

John Roy has been a computer graphic artist and game developer for over 15 years. He completed his Bachelor's Degree in art at SDSU. John has shipped over 20 titles on both console and PC platforms; notably EverQuest and Star Wars Galaxies, both Massive Multiplayer Online Games that generate millions of annual revenue. Currently an associate Art Director at Sony Online Entertainment, he directs the art department for the EverQuest Live team.

 

Lynda Weinman co-founded lynda.com in 1995, a leading software training company that produces software training books, videos, and an online learning subscription service, called the Online Training Library. Lynda has written numerous bestselling books, has taught at some of the most prestigious digital design and art schools in the world, and has spoken at numerous industry conferences as either a presenter and/or keynoter. Weinman has been working in the software industry since 1982. She is the founder of Flashforward, the largest Flash user conference and film festival in the world.

 

 

Notes from Panel Discussion

  • The age of the specialist is over. Employees need a broad range of skills.
  • Portfolio makes up 90% of the employers’ decision about your skill level.
  • Portfolio needs to be “real world work,” such as nonprofit, internship etc.
  • Portfolio need to be presented in a way that shows prospective employers “here is my potential; this is how I can make your company successful.”
  • Presentation skills are of paramount importance. These skills along with team work skills and excellent communication skills make employees highly sought after.
  • Always, save screen shots to show progress of old sites for your portfolio.
  • Always ask each person you do work for, about using your work for them in your portfolio.
  • Learn how to write a good business proposal and learn how to present them.
  • Take free jobs to get new experience.
  • Never put the version number of the software on your resume.
  • Always have an online presence.
  • BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE SAYS ABOUT YOU. IT SHOULD ONLY HIGHLIGHT YOUR WORK.  (Be careful with what’s on Myspace etc.)
  • Check out the Apple sites for student ideas, submissions etc. student gallery and creative projects.
  • Employees need to be well-rounded—including GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
  • Adobe Creative Suite—CS3 represents a significant change, tools are integrated ….able to create many experiences…impressive usage across disciplines.
  • Web Browsing to change
  • Gaming—massively multiplayer online (MMO) and role-playing games (RPG) are very big. Learn about PS3 downloadable titles community type games, “Second Life” and “Home.”
  • Encourage student to learn to draw. Using the software is only part of the skills package.
  • Encourage student to do online portfolios.
  • Getting certifications are not enough students need to do real world project based learning so that they can see if their skills are up to par.
  • Get industry professionals to review portfolios.
  • Check out insomniac, istockphoto.com, istockvideo.com and acmeanimation.org.
  • Students need to set themselves apart i.e. two resumes one to get in the door and one on DVD…or a 30 second clip for video pod. Use creative ideas with creative directors and creative execs. Use standard resume for HR.

 

At the end of the meeting there was a raffle, with a generous offer from Lynda Weinman to give away three premium annual subscriptions to lynda.com, plus some additional small gifts from MEI Region 10. Brent Altomare thanked guests and speakers for attending.

 

 

Resource Websites

Statewide MEI
http://www.cccewd.net/mei/

MEI Region 10
www.meiregion10.com

Curriculum database
http://www.smccd.net/accounts/curriculum/

The 2007 Horizon Report
http://www.nmc.org/horizon

USD Index of Leading Economic Indicators
http://home.sandiego.edu/~agin/usdlei/

10 Tech Concepts You Need to Know for 2007
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4205068.html

TED: Ideas Worth Spreading
http://www.ted.com/

 

 

Table Topics Summary

(Instead of numbers, each table was given a name. For example, eight people were seated at “FireWire,” eight more at “Wiki,” and eight more at “Swag.” Below are the compiled comments.)

 

Question: What is the coolest new product/service you’ve heard about?
FireWire:

  • iPhone
  • Podcasts (iTunes University)
  • Video Chat (Multi touch technology)
  • Video online
  • Lynda.com
  • 2nd Life
  • CS 3

Wiki:

  • iPhone
  • March 2007 (you can no longer manufacture analogue TV, FCC mandate)
  • Maturity of HD video cameras

Swag:

  • Google Analytics

Zip drive:

  • CS3 software package
  • Video streaming (YouTube)
  • Waiting to see what’s happening with e-books
  • Internet for the city
  • Wireless libraries expanded functionality

Podcast:

  • YouTube
  • iPod
  • Podcast
  • TiVo
  • MS media center
  • Skype

Game:

  • Mobile media
  • Device works like a pen (a computer which swivel keyboard is holographic)
  • iPhone
  • Pod Casts
  • iTV
  • Apple TV

Animation:

  • iPhone
  • Motion sensitive gadget
  • iPod
  • Second Life
  • YouTube
  • Wireless mobile internet
  • Nintendo Wii
  • Mobile Flash (Flash Lite) technology

Blog:

  • iPhone
  • Blackboard/WebCT
  • FreshBooks

 

Question: What technology or service do you now find indispensable?
FireWire:

  • Smart phone
  • Chat
  • Email
  • Online calendar
  • Snapz Pro/Camtasia
  • Digital camera
  • iStock photo (meta tags)
  • iPod

Wiki:

  • DVR
  • Online encoded video
  • Email

Swag:

  • Google analytics
  • Podcasts
  • Video encoding-through phones
  • Metadata
  • Firewalls

Zip drive:

  • Cell phones
  • Internet
  • TiVo

Podcast:

  • Cell phone
  • iPod
  • YouTube
  • Virtual meetings through cc confer (web + phone combos)

Game:

  • Internet
  • Cell phone
  • Email
  • Flash
  • iPod
  • Laptop
  • iPhone
  • Software

Animation:

  • Apple Mac Pro computer
  • Adobe Creative Suite software
  • Wireless Internet/handheld device
  • Gmail/Ancillary Google tools (calculator, translate, etc)
  • Online Task Management
  • Wikipedia
  • Flash
  • Adobe
  • Apple mobile device

Blog:

  • Project manager
  • Games

 

Question: What technologies do your students/co-workers find indispensable?
FireWire:

  • Facebook
  • My space
  • World of Warcraft
  • Social networking
  • YouTube
  • Cc confer
  • CMS (Blackboard, WebCT)

Wiki:

  • Text messaging and instant messaging
  • iPod
  • Portable storage
  • File sharing

Swag:

  • YouTube
  • Instant Messaging
  • Metadata

Zip drive:

  • My space
  • Internet
  • Mac & software

Podcast:

  • Instant Messaging
  • Text messaging
  • Cell phone

Game:

  • Internet
  • Cell phone
  • Email
  • Flash
  • iPod
  • Laptop
  • iPhone
  • Software

Animation:

  • Computer
  • Cell phone
  • Text messaging
  • Synchronous chat (AIM, etc)
  • Flash
  • Photoshop
  • Illustrator
  • InDesign
  • Web standards

Blog:

  • Portfolio & Interview
  • Project Management/Process
  • Graphic Design History
  • Layout, Composition
  • Typography

 

Question: From your point of view, what is the state of the local job market for entry-level multimedia workers (web design, video and sound production, print)?
FireWire:

  • Booming (according to Lynda)
  • Creativity (marketing, business)
  • Creative jobs will rule in the future

Wiki:

  • 4 year degrees
  • Need better communication skills
  • Don’t make enough money to live on an entry-level
  • Economy is good and job market is good,
  • All digital printing/no paste-up

Swag:

  • Imperial Valley (limited)
  • Mexicali (growing, always in search of new multimedia talent, want the employee to wear several hats and pay as little as possible)

Zip drive:

  • More task/project based
  • Market is good, if a qualified applicant applied, we’d find a job for them, candidates not lining up

Podcast:

  • South Bay (invisible, hidden job market),
  • Need for talent, but talented individuals don’t think of it as a job
  • Very low pay, more in LA (even though there are many opportunities here)
  • Only 7 or 8 large agencies in San Diego, so more opportunities for free lance (with better pay)
  • Flash now a dominant division in many companies

Game:

  • Average and flat
  • Women in non-media fields are using multimedia programs to do their job function

Animation:

  • Entry-level is the best I has been in several years, many opportunities, growing,
  • Okay (a little tight)
  • Many entry level opportunities pay is a bit low

Blog:

  • Poor pay in San Diego
  • TV, movie, animation = Final Cut, After Effects, Studio work, the need to complete & assemble projects, user group networking

 

Question: What are your predictions for merging technologies?
FireWire:

  • Video becoming part of social fabric (video chatting, YouTube)
  • Interconnectivity, integration, “Art for Learning”

Wiki:

  • Larger re-writable storage
  • Progress of bandwidth
  • Battery life (capacity, size, etc.)
  • DVR (Multi-channel and integrated/computer system)

Swag:

  • Faster computers
  • Better 3-D modeling
  • Automatic encryption for metadata
  • Copyrights
  • Easier, better wireless security
  • Bionic implants/body parts
  • Holographic simulations

Zip drive:

  • Possible break-out of passive entertainment
  • Playing any golf course in the world from your living room
  • Going to Fiji for a 15 minute vacation
  • Peripherals to cell phone such as infrared keyboard
  • Coalition of bandwidth/FCC
  • Getting behind death of TV (chunking it up with 30 sec chunks instead of 30 minutes)

Podcast:

  • Content for small portable devices

Game:

  • Mobile media
  • Holographic computers
  • State funding of community colleges so they have predictable funding to support multimedia classes
  • Solar/Hydrogen cars
  • Solar panel buildings so we can have a clean world

Animation:

  • Mobile online social networking
  • Multi-user virtual environments (movies)
  • More “Serious Gaming” in education
  • User interface changes (Nintendo Wii and iPhone)

Blog:

  • CS3
  • Developing for other platforms
  • Portability, telecommuting
  • More video

 

 

Online Survey at Zoomerang

This was our first year attempting an online survey. Modifying a similar survey hosted by the New Media Consortium, we posted eleven questions on emerging technologies and how they are used. Thirty four people clicked on the survey, but only twelve responded. Feedback indicated that the issues were overwhelming. It was an interesting experience that highlighted how fast technologies are changing and affecting campuses. At this point, the questions themselves point to what’s coming and how they are being used. The results are available online at Zoomerang and will be posted at the MEI Region 10 website.

 

Zoomerang Results
http://www.zoomerang.com/web/SharedResults/SharedResultsPasswordPage.aspx?ID=L22WFW8TMAAV

 

 

Photos of the 2007 Regional Industry Advisory Council Meeting

View a slideshow of photos from this event.