*“You are the average of the five people you spend most time with.”*

This was one of the bitesize lessons that stuck with me while I was reading A Pocket Full of Do by Chris Do, founder of The Futur. The book goes on to talk about how we are impacted by the relationships we form with the people we surround ourselves with, and thus affect our way of living. If we surround ourselves with cynicism and defeat, we learn to accept and embody those values. But if we spend more time around driven, resilient, empathetic, and optimistic people, we also nurture that ethos within ourselves.

This extends beyond our relationship with people and is also true of the content we consume.

More and more, we take in information everyday — from the moment we open our eyes and check our phones for news, to the time we close them listening to music as we fall to sleep. In 2021, consumers around the world spend an average of [seven and a half hours of media ](https://www.statista.com/topics/1536/media-use/#dossierKeyfigures)*[everyday](https://www.statista.com/topics/1536/media-use/#dossierKeyfigures)*.

Amidst all of this, we — as the designers, developers, product managers, researchers, writers, etc. — are right in the middle of it all balancing the act as both creators of content and consumers of it.

In a world that’s constantly vying for our attention and information, it’s time for us to take a step back and reflect on our relationship with the media we consume and how we could do better for our future.

**How did we get here?**

> “\[I believe\] the biggest shifts in society are around the development of new systems of communication.” — Hank Green (*[Interview from The Financial Confessions podcast, Episode 44](https://youtu.be/8xRLgufqbII?t=835)*)

In order to trace back our roots in content creation and consumption, it is important to point out the simple and old adage: the *medium is the message*. This may all date all the way back from cave paintings in Lascaux to the Gutenberg printing press, daguerreotype to Polaroid cameras, or phonographs to radio, and television to the Internet that we know and love today. The medium shapes how our society works and how content gets made. Through time, we forget and create clear boundaries separating one from the other, when they have *always* been intertwined from the very beginning. This tendency is not wholly our fault. L. Gitelman (2006) remarks “the success of all media depends at some level on inattention or ‘blindness’ to the media technologies themselves in favor of attention to the phenomena, “the content”, that they represent for users’ edification or enjoyment”. With how exponentially faster the world runs nowadays, it’s easy to overlook that the internet is not even half a century old,and social media platforms (and subsequently, their content) are still considered to be in their early form.

Control over the medium also leads to control over the content, whether the intentions are good or bad. We hear it everywhere: [corporate DMCA takedowns that cripple content creators](https://kotaku.com/youtuber-hit-with-150-copyright-claims-for-reviews-feat-1848178180), [fans standing up for social good through online platforms](https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/kpop-bts-stans-political-justice-activism), [Wikipedia articles nominated for or are being deleted](https://www.inputmag.com/culture/wikipedia-deleted-articles-nominations-debate), and of course, [the Facebook papers.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/10/25/what-are-the-facebook-papers/)

Many historians, educators, and scholars have been warning about this for a very long time. I can assure you they have called out designs and designers on it in [one way or another](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1621536408/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=1621536408&pd_rd_w=ukbUf&pf_rd_p=9fd3ea7c-b77c-42ac-b43b-c872d3f37c38&pd_rd_wg=WHTjV&pf_rd_r=9YPACVCF6D4WH2MACY0R&pd_rd_r=7f250d4b-2ff3-41b9-ad9e-51729fb0f25c&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyS0FRSjhTTlJGMVlUJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDkzODI5V0hIWTRRRVY1RFRYJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxNDE1NzE0RzVKT1RFM0tEWFQmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl). As such, it’s our responsibility to practice due diligence, meaning opening our eyes and ears, and listening to those experts now.

One thing that I learn from all of them is this: Humans seek stories to make sense of the world. We seek these stories through the content that serves us best. In turn, we shape our content with the stories we share and tell.

**Audit our accounts**

So let’s figure this out. Open your notes app, or grab a piece of paper and at the top of your head, list down the things you use to consume your daily dose of content. Do you have a phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer? Do you watch TV? Movies? Books? Comics? Magazines? Do you have certain apps you go to get your daily news or connect with? Do you receive newsletter emails regularly?

By now you’re probably getting overwhelmed. That’s okay, let’s sort them out. Which content is educational or *entertainment* for you? Which material makes you actively use your brain to solve problems, learn new things about the world, and help in upskilling you in your career or lifestyle? Which ones did you watch, read, or listen to just to turn your brain off and simply enjoy the thing? How many of these are a regular part of your life and how many do you think are just one-off instances that just happened to catch your attention in the moment?

Note that you will probably not be able to list down everything, but try to think of those that stuck with you as much as possible. Podcasts, music albums and mood playlists, editorial articles, web shows, graphic series, animated films, sports news, etc. Another note is that educational and entertainment may intersect in some ways, and that’s okay!

Try to connect patterns in your content consumption and see if you can spot interesting correlations and causations. Get as creative as you can get!

Through this simple exercise, you can get started on reflecting more about your current behaviors and practice a little more self-awareness around your day-to-day habits.

**Mapping out mindfully**

*So, what do you do afterwards?*

* **Educate yourself**

Fortunately for us, many experts have studied some fairly long-term effects of our media in an ever-rapidly changing world. As such, we have learned to take some steps in creating systems to combat disinformation and hold accountability from our media sources. Organizations and platforms such as [Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsense.org/), [WikiMedia Foundation](https://wikimediafoundation.org/), [News Literacy Project](http://newsliteracy.org/), and even [Crash Course’s Media Literacy introductory course](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtM6jSpzb5gMNsx9kdmqBfmY), are some really good places to start learning about how information is reviewed, evaluated, preserved, and/or disseminated. If you want to go a little more in-depth, here are some search terms to google: *media literacy, content consumption, information overload, digital citizenship, net neutrality*. (Have fun going down those rabbit holes!)

* **Tracking your media diet**

There are two ways to do this: the fun way, or the practical way (or a combination of both is also possible). Either way, the goal is to slowly make it an exercise for yourself to list down, map out or visualize your consumption in one way or another. This makes you more mindful and self-aware whenever you are going into a material or niche interest.

These can come in many different ways. In 2021, I [made an Instagram highlight](https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18203055217187427/?hl=en) that collected all the podcasts and audiobooks that I listened to –complete or otherwise–throughout the year. It was quick and easy, and I could see the story of my headspace that made me gravitate towards some kinds of content more than others. Chris Do presented an illustrated [face chart](https://www.coachingbyclaudia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Schermafbeelding-2020-05-02-om-12.24.59-1024x575.png) showcasing his personal brand story, maybe you can do that to portray the content you most consume as well! You could also record through [journaling in a notebook](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CYEZjagDm_9/), [sketching it out on paper](https://www.flickr.com/photos/natematias/sets/72157627954399957), typing it down on a notes app, or some other creative way that you can document, archive, and look back through the material you’ve touched over some period of time. The important thing is to make it fun, make it easy to do, and do it consistently.

* **Don’t like? Don’t interact.**

There is power in saying no and setting boundaries to the things that do not improve your relationship with certain media. Audit the Slack or Discord communities you may have once been involved in but do not provide value anymore. Consider exiting/leaving groups within social media platforms or communities altogether if you do not find any value in them. Utilize the “mute”, “block” and “report” buttons on your favorite social media accounts to avoid engaging in hot-button topics and posts-gone-viral that you would not have otherwise in any other scenarios. Apply extensions that best modify your online experience to your needs. Check your email subscriptions that you want to keep receiving regularly and ones that you should probably let go. Learning to declutter your digital spaces will tremendously help you focus on the things that matter most to you and *sparks joy* as Marie Kondo would say.

One good example these exercises helped me with was coming to the realization that I wasn’t engaging with news and pop culture topics through diverse channels. Oftentimes, the ways I was figuring out what current affairs were worth paying attention to was through Twitter’s trending topics, Instagram’s explore page, and whatever YouTube serves me on their landing page, which are 1) very narrow in scope, 2) algorithmically generated, and 3) flimsy and unreliable at best as solid sources of information. So, I started mindfully bookmarking specific news websites to check such as [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/) and [NowSimplified](https://nowsimplified.org/). I follow a select few news channels online that I can count on to keep an honest and open conversation about what’s happening in the world while also being mindful of their experience and qualifications as communicators. I started using a [Chrome extension](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/calm-twitter/cknklikacoaeledfaldmhabmldkldocj?hl=en) that hides explore and trending tabs on Twitter so that I can avoid using (*or being tempted to use*) those specific features for pointless purposes. Since then, these actions have been helpful for me, prioritizing what current info about the world is important to me, keeping me away from being easily pulled into divisive topics that ultimately don’t involve me, and making more mindful decisions in my day-to-day life.

**Disengage to Disempower**

In the end, it’s also important to remind ourselves that we — human beings — have the power to choose what influences us and what doesn’t. *We* control our content. *We* curate our content. The choice is in your hands. A tweet, a post, news, or any type of media can only hold so much power as long as you pay mind, and let it.

As the late Amy Krouse Rosenthal once [tweeted](https://twitter.com/missamykr/status/312564535242395648?lang=en), “*for anyone trying to discern what to do w/ their life: PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU PAY ATTENTION TO. that’s pretty much all the info u need.*”

**Inspiration & References:**

Always Already New: Media, History and the Data of Culture by Lisa Gitelman (2006)

[The Digital Social Contract](https://www.ogilvy.com/ideas/digital-social-contract) by Jeremy Kaltz, Robert John Davis, Alta Sparling, and Bing Chen (2016)

[Citizen Designer: Perspectives on Design Responsibility](https://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Designer-Perspectives-Design-Responsibility/dp/1581152655) by Steven Heller (2018)

Curate your Content

As part of my university honors program, I created an entire honors project and thesis on “Promoting the Message: Diversity And Inclusivity Of Art And Creative Thought On The University Campus” studying the effects of multiculturalism and graphic design on the visual culture, the role of university galleries and museums, and the argument between censorship and creative freedom.

The full thesis paper can be read **[here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ca5KkxjPNiL8e7dfChbSEZe713tYqGJT/view?usp=sharing)**. In this final project, I created five logos, and animated them as a way they can be used within the university galleries especially when art with sensitive subject matter is being displayed.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FeStK1n0169XFYd3L8XwSfXFxaUv2%2Ff3iJUUwgopL7hMXtj4bw%2F68c20a5b-06f0-4424-9742-83047a195937.jpg?alt=media&token=5a28266f-53e3-48b4-b489-b237125b73e2","id":"68c20a5b-06f0-4424-9742-83047a195937","width":2550,"height":3300,"filename":"print signs.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FeStK1n0169XFYd3L8XwSfXFxaUv2%2Ff3iJUUwgopL7hMXtj4bw%2Fe2a325f7-93cb-46ef-9bc4-190bc74427e1.jpg?alt=media&token=b02f483a-1d53-48a8-84ab-34877781a44a","id":"e2a325f7-93cb-46ef-9bc4-190bc74427e1","width":5334,"height":3334,"filename":"explicit_most_reli_Desktop Vector Mockup.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FeStK1n0169XFYd3L8XwSfXFxaUv2%2Ff3iJUUwgopL7hMXtj4bw%2F569b72a8-ebc8-4386-a8db-136584de1a3f.jpg?alt=media&token=08cc4b13-3d4b-4e13-a5f8-f440b0403204","id":"569b72a8-ebc8-4386-a8db-136584de1a3f","width":5334,"height":3334,"filename":"mild_single_sociopol_Desktop Vector Mockup.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FeStK1n0169XFYd3L8XwSfXFxaUv2%2Ff3iJUUwgopL7hMXtj4bw%2Fe54da8d7-cda5-476f-b3c7-7be659969448.jpg?alt=media&token=d9039033-89df-44ec-b8c6-8ef05c23915d","id":"e54da8d7-cda5-476f-b3c7-7be659969448","width":5334,"height":3334,"filename":"moderate_several_dysm_Desktop Vector Mockup.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

Promoting the Message: Diversity And Inclusivity Of Art And Creative Thought On The University Campus

Since March of 2020, I volunteer as a contributing designer for [The Rhizomatic Revolution Review Journal](https://ther3journal.com/), an online interdisciplinary academic journal that explores and examines topics surrounding BTS (방탄소년단). 

The R3Journal collects academic and creative works from people all over the world, judges them based on their concept and quality of work, curates and publishes them online and open-access.

 I provided three editorial illustrations for the first issue, and five illustrations for the second issue, creating header images (1600 px by 800 px) that loosely represents the articles written and published on the site. These works have also been used for cross-platform promotional purposes on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Below are a few examples of the header graphics I made, more can be seen on [The R3 Archive here.](https://ther3journal.com/r3-archive/gallery/)

```cv
tweet
https://ther3journal.com/r3-archive/gallery/
```

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FeStK1n0169XFYd3L8XwSfXFxaUv2%2Flz7vJgicYYalO9mPJfXG%2Fb8918e59-c7b8-4034-bd2e-87836e3c1b9b.jpg?alt=media&token=75542ccf-15f9-41dd-8a68-aa4316d61426","id":"b8918e59-c7b8-4034-bd2e-87836e3c1b9b","width":1600,"height":800,"filename":"1600x800_stein.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FeStK1n0169XFYd3L8XwSfXFxaUv2%2Flz7vJgicYYalO9mPJfXG%2F0bad7648-1aef-40a2-87f4-4e49f3e9d007.jpg?alt=media&token=284b0583-b970-4d49-87b0-1c1fc7ba9541","id":"0bad7648-1aef-40a2-87f4-4e49f3e9d007","width":1600,"height":800,"filename":"1600x800_aa0005_personashadow.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FeStK1n0169XFYd3L8XwSfXFxaUv2%2Flz7vJgicYYalO9mPJfXG%2F55fdc7e8-a2a7-44ca-91d3-b80877083c6e.jpg?alt=media&token=02ce3ab1-f2b9-4eb0-ae9a-ba88379dd23d","id":"55fdc7e8-a2a7-44ca-91d3-b80877083c6e","width":1600,"height":800,"filename":"lovecurric_1600x800_v2.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FeStK1n0169XFYd3L8XwSfXFxaUv2%2Flz7vJgicYYalO9mPJfXG%2Fe450bfb8-46ac-4b57-ad6d-e7bbeec4a5b5.jpg?alt=media&token=1e8aa84e-b65a-4b7d-ab0a-1fc3ca46f4bd","id":"e450bfb8-46ac-4b57-ad6d-e7bbeec4a5b5","width":1600,"height":800,"filename":"aa0025_1600x800_v3.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

The Rhizomatic Revolution Review Journal

Graphic Designer

Second place in 2-D Digital Art

Second place in 2-D Digital Art for "Halo-halo"

First place in Digital Art

First place in Digital Art for "Folks of Old Magick"

BFA in Multimedia and Graphic Desugn
3\.94 overall GPA, Summa cum laude graduate of the McMurry Honors Program

Activities and Societies: soprano for the McMurry Chanters (university choir), member of Kappa Pi International Art Honors Society, design editor for The Galleon 2019 (prose and poetry anthology)

2018-2019 Scholarships: Choral Music Scholarship, Don and Claudine Carver Chanters Scholarship, Stroman Family Endowed Scholarship, Martin Trust Honors #1, Trustees Honors Scholarship, Art Studio Space from 2018-2019

2017-2018 Scholarships: Martin Trust Honors #1, Dodge Jones Foundation Endowed Honors, J.B & Hazel Roach Fine Arts Scholarship, Trustees Honors Scholarship, Choral Music Scholarship

Relevant Coursework: Brand and Portfolio Development, Desktop Publishing, HTML & Web Design, Illustration (Logo & Packaging Design), Information & Communication Technology

Transferred, Honorable Dismissal

B.S. in Clothing Technology

B.S. in Computer Science

Relevant coursework: Managing Information Systems, Human-Computer Interaction, Agile Development, Telecommunications for Managers, System Analysis for Managers, Big Data Analytics, Applied Database Management

Work in progress: Multimedia:Web Development, IT Project Management, Business Intelligence Systems

Activities: Home Economics Club, Speech and Dramatics Club, USAPintor

University of the Philippines Rural High School Graduate with honors

Memories, Monologues, Rants, and Prayers: A Woman Themed Art Show

It’s Fall Y’all: An Autumn Themed Art Show

Ink: A Celebration of Inktober

January 30 – February 28, 2018

Annual juried student art competition

ISAC: Annual Intercollegiate Student Art Competition

October 1 – 26, 2018, September 28 – October 25, 2017

Annual homecoming student art show showcasing recent works by McMurry art and design students.

McMurry Homecoming Student Art Show

May 6 - 25, 2019

If I Should Stay showcases the musings of a wandering girl: my love for my heritage, my determination as I balance those that I deems important in my life, my questions while learning and understanding the world as I grow of age, and my impulse to move forward to the next phase of my ephemeral existence. It investigates my observations of the truths and fallacies of this interwoven world.

The senior art show also features my honors project and thesis, discussing arguments on censorship and creative freedom in art and design as well as offering a new, innovative method of assessment and awareness guiding gallery goers and exhibit art enthusiasts into having a more enjoyable viewing experience.

If I Should Stay: A Senior Art Exhibition

Kappa Pi Showcase

As part of my university's honors program requirements, I created a full honors project and thesis called “Promoting the Message: Diversity And Inclusivity Of Art And Creative Thought On The University Campus” studying the effects of multiculturalism and graphic design on visual culture, the role of university galleries and museums, and the argument between censorship and creative freedom.

In this final project, I created five logos, and animated them in a way they can be incorporated within the university galleries especially when art with sensitive subject matter is being displayed.

A collaborative project between 13 creative members of the Studioblr (Studying/Student Tumblr for creative fields) community during the summer of 2017. As a designer in the team, I was responsible for putting together the layout for the contents page as well as one of the articles published and edited by the content writers. This project started from mid-July and published on September 15, 2017.

Studioblr Archives: Vol. 1

April 27, 2019

An academic talk presenting my senior design project, "Promoting the Message".

PROMOTING THE MESSAGE: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY OF ART AND CREATIVE THOUGHT ON THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

Design Mentor

modelled for weekly figure drawing program in the gallery, provided artistic critique to fellow artists, students, and creative enthusiasts, and encouraged a friendly and supportive learning environment during these night classes

Figure Model

under Patty Rae Wellborn and Manny de los Santos

In the spirit of the Children’s Arts and Literacy Festival, I've worked as a caricature artist for the CCA for past three CALF events. I draw kids in a playful, happy manner depending on their wishes, whether they want to be illustrated as a superhero, a mermaid or just their real, amazing selves. It's remarkable to meet families of diverse background coming together to enjoy a weekend of childlike fun.

Caricature Artist

November 07, 2020 - APPP Clothing Swap
November 21, 2020 - APPP Holiday Mini Market

Event Volunteer

Redesigning and debugging a website for a D4G client, An Easier Mile. Working with a team of three, in a span of three to four weeks.

Designer

Design and Content Team Member

March 2017- May 2017 under Debbie Lillick
- completed 70 hours of gallery internship in partial fullfillment of the ARTS 3390 Gallery Practices coursework at McMurry University.

Art Gallery Internship

Global ARMY Song (GAS) is a global fan project that unites diverse communities through their shared love and appreciation of BTS and ARMY (their fandom).

Designer/Digital Artist

Marketing & Design Team Member, and Peer Reviewer

• Facilitate paint parties of up to 50 people through a step-by-step guided process.

• Aid in preparation and clean-up of a Painting with a Twist- style art class. 

• Encourage a fun and creative experience for children and adults attending. 

• Demonstrate proper use and care of art equipment.

Art Instructor

• Facilitate general gallery duties such as hang and place artworks for featured art exhibitions, maintain professionalism in various gallery spaces throughout the exhibition period, prepare hors d’oeuvres for art events, delegate further work to fellow gallery assistants.

• Design posters and digital banners for student art exhibitions, visiting art demonstrations, workshops and similar events.

• Uphold a friendly and engaging atmosphere during receptions, art sales, and other events held within the university art department.

• Document gallery contracts, borrowed frame inventories, and art supplies regularly.

Student Gallery Co-Director

Gallery Assistant

• Build logos, illustrations, large format signs and banners for individual customers and local companies.

• Arrange multiple layout jobs that best use vinyl material using Mimaki RasterLink and Gerber Edge Plotter.

• Print, laminate, cut, and add substrate to production material.

• Cross- train in customer service to help out with overflow orders.

Sign Production Assistant/ Graphic Designer

Online Education Student Worker

• Review technical drawings and verify for any errors or incompatibilities in structure dimensions

• Maintain and sort accurate records of valuable information in the company system database

• Utilize 2D CAD and nesting softwares to create nested layouts for production

• Construct bills of manufacturing within the company’s ERP system

• Scan documents and print files when needed

Data Entry

Encourage an enjoyable and artistic experience for summer camp kids. Guide children to and from classrooms. Provide needed materials for their daily activities. Assist professors with teaching creative software use and basic art projects. Instruct children with the proper use and care of art equipment

Summer Art Camp Assistant

• Develop effective and engaging learning content using industry-leading development tools.

• Create and maintain learning material for a given customer group, which can include online learning, job aids, videos, graphics, and performance support tools.

• Research and present practical applications of generative AI tools on the learning & development process.

• Work closely with subject matter experts to gather requirements and ensure accuracy of the content. Provide feedback and suggest improvements, as needed.

Learning Developer Intern

• Design over 200 newspaper layouts monthly for twelve local communities.

• Compose special section tabloids, sports programs, school posters and quarterly magazines.

• Retouch multiple photos using Photoshop to the appropriate resolutions and editorial print quality.

• Check and correct AP style writing standards in certain stories provided

• Coordinate with other designers, managers, and editors under tight daily deadlines for quick revisions as needed.

• Attend regular update meetings with the creative supervisors and fellow colleagues remotely.

Page Designer

• Process and set up layouts and adjust ink/toner, paper, and color settings for envelopes, flyers, letterheads, newsletters, cards, and other business, and direct mail marketing materials using Fiery Command Workstation. 

• Troubleshoot minor print issues and malfunctions and maintain digital equipment regularly. 

• Confer with supervisors and project managers to provide quality products to B2B and B2C clients.

• Quality control before, during, and after print production.

Yumi Ramos

2023

2021