Recent Workshop Sampler: Joke Comics and Comic UI

In this episode of the Polytechnicast I reflect on two workshops I presented recently, share a sampler of each, and delve a bit into why I chose those the topics behind each workshop. The titles of the workshops are:

• Using Storytelling to Make Your Comic User Interface Awesome
• Turning Jokes into Comics: Laughing Yeti Monkey Spaghetti

Links and Resources Mentioned

• Kids Read Comics
• Laughing Yeti Monkey Spaghetti Tumblr Site
• Laffy Taffy
• Greg Dean's Step By Step Stand-Up Comedy
• UP! Fair
• The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman 

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Polytechnicast - Art Geek Zoo Reading and Commentary pt1

As followup to the prior episode, I share this extra experimental Polytechnicast wherein I both perform a reading of the first 5 Art Geek Zoo comics, then share some thoughts on making them.

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Links mentioned:

• Reading and Commentary on Art Geek Zoo: The Way of Sound's first 5 comics:
  • Episode 1 (Pick and Crunchy under the spotlight)
  • Episode 2 (Ms. Tall tells them to test now or never)
  • Episode 3 (Pick jumps into action)
  • Episode 4 (Pick and Crunchy perform)
  • Episode 5 (Pick and Crunchy probationally admitted, Taka takes the student guide opening)
• Webcomics Weekly
• Comics Are Great - Podcast by Jerzy Drozd (I was a guest on #15 with Tom Hart)
• Tom Hart - Sequential Artists Workshop and the SAW Indie Gogo Fundraising Drive

Creative Reflection - Learning More From Recent Projects

In this episode of the Polytechnicast I share thoughts on reflection. I delve into how I'm working to reflect more on recent projects and how I'm working to add that to - not replace - my focus on finishing projects.

Links I mentioned:

• Iteration to Break Through Creative Barriers (prior Polytechnicast episode)
• How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer
• Mark Rudolph's Dagon Project (his adaption of H.P. Lovecraft's story into a 60+ page graphic novel)
• Art Geek Zoo Volume 1: Hidden Talent (print edition | ebook edition)

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Jack of (Sustainable) Trades

In this episode of the Polytechnicast I share thoughts about being a "Jack of all trades", how I approach multiple hats/skills as a useful thing if it's managed in a sustainable way. 

It's a highly extemporaneous episode of the Polytechnicast, inspired by the recent podcast High Adventure Daily #97 by Kevin Cross.

Links mentioned:

• Krishna Sadasivam of PC Weenies
• Kevin Cross
• Art and Story Supreme
• Update: Kevin Cross's podcast followup which is in part a reply to this podcast.

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Games, Learning, and Inspiration

In this episode of the Polytechnicast I some inspiration I gained from a Games and Learning presentation and additional inspiration from playing some popular mobile games for the first time (Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, and Fruit Ninja).

Some links mentioned in this episode:

• Seann Dikkers site Gaming Matter (his presentation Gaming Media as an Instructional Tool should be posted soon)
• Cut the Rope
• Angry Birds
• Fruit Ninja
• Guitar Fretter

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