Facts are just the way things are. They are often the truth. For example, the plant I’m looking at is green. It is also an aloe plant. We know things are the way that they are when speaking of facts, although we do not always know why, or what to do with that information.

Insights are often the “why.” Now, one can infer that the plant to the right of the aloe plant is fake, because it does not have something to catch the water underneath, if I were to water all of the plants on the windowsill. We do not know if this reason is because the plant is fake or not, but we are observing that it lacks that part of the container, so based on prior knowledge, we can guess. Insights go deeper than the surface observation to understand “why” things or people are the way that they are.

(The inference/insight would be correct…the aloe plant is real but the one next to it is not.)

Insights are often gained by taking real-world applications to learning, and using prior knowledge to infer the truth behind the general observation or fact. They are gained by looking deeper than surface level and gaining real understanding of the given situation by testing what we already know based on prior knowledge and life experiences. When trying to gain insight on certain things, it can be important to bring in a diverse array of people to help, since we all know different things based on situations we have encountered throughout our lives.

Sleek, somewhat affordable, personalized just for you, effective, easy, prescription medication without the prescription, access to a dermatologist from your own phone…these key points are made in almost every “Curology” add. Curology sends out mass media advertisements on almost every social media platform (I’ve seen it advertised to me personally at least four times a day on Youtube, Instagram and Facebook). This brand is also notorious for engaging influencers and encouraging them to test out and review their products.

(Image by businessinsider.com)

The insight behind these communications is to reach the primary target audience (likely older teens and young adults ages 16-30) who have tried almost every drugstore option without success in clearing their skin. Clearly, these adds resonated with me because I struggle with acne, and ended up buying the products. I have since cancelled my prescription, but I was a huge sucker for the ads.

Here’s a link to their main site: https://curology.com/free-trial/1i0n/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=paid_video&utm_campaign=6457079973&utm_creative=439264051876&utm_content=84144397344&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1qL6BRCmARIsADV9JtZfunirjlDD1A6k1nAa36ZGrMq7vL1EbZ_k2WhYWIjH7d6d-v4Rj_0aAgWPEALw_wcB

Here is an example of a youtube influencer (with over a million subscribers) creating a video sponsored by Curology. Influencer and fan engagement is one of their most common methods of advertising. Hyram (video featured below) is, for the most part, a highly respected skincare youtuber, who recommends products for different types of skin issues. Many of his videos are not sponsored, but since he’s gained viewers’ trust by not pushing sponsors’ products, the Curology ad is more effective. “Hyram wouldn’t recommend something to us that he didn’t believe in” viewers may think.

I actually purchased these products due to youtube videos like this one, and because of a friend’s recommendation. Word of mouth is also huge for Curology. The system is not only tried and preached about by celebrities and influencers, but since there is a free product sample available on the website (you only pay $5.00 or so for shipping), “everyday” folk are likely to want to give it a try.

The emphasis on this being a subscription service makes the product even more convenient than it’s already meant to be (either buy the treatment or get the three step easy system). This way, one isn’t having to keep up with buying products that work for them, they’re delivered directly to the door.

The brand’s team mastered the art of consumers’ feelings of exclusivity yet inclusivity when it comes to this brand. Allow me to explain. Not everyone gets to see a dermatologist. This is what makes Curology special. You take photos of your skin condition and upload it for a real life dermatologist to view, and prescribe you topical medications that are meant to be for your specific skin problems. Now, having access to a dermatologist is easier than ever, and is made possible by this subscription service. They knew the new trend’s key word “customizable” which makes consumers feel special, and since it’s not as expensive as if one were to get prescribed active ingredients from a dermatologist, this experience is accessible to many.

I don’t see Curology being for people who are over 30. Most of the time, (not everyone, though) people grow out of acne by then, and move on to want skincare for concerns such as anti-aging and sun damage. It’s not that Curology doesn’t give people options to address these specific skincare problems, but it’s not their target market. These people are less likely to be desperately searching Instagram for what others’ used to cure their acne, and are likely less invested in watching Youtube regularly. Most of the people who advertise for Curology through their videos or social media posts are in their late teens and 20’s.

My personal reason for cancelling this subscription was that I was actually still getting acne (surprise surprise) and realized that it was more of an internal issue, and not something that a cream can fix. I find this to be true for a lot of adults who struggle with acne. Most of the time, it’s our bodies trying to tell us something isn’t right, and we ignore it and put various potions on in hopes of waking up in the morning smooth, clear and glowing. I actually became irritated with the amount of ads I was seeing for this brand. It was overkill, and although this post definitely isn’t a product review, it goes to show how effective their aggressive marketing was to suck me into purchasing these over-hyped products.

Here are some of my favorite products for achieving that summer glow:

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Physicians Formula Eye-Booster Eyeliner: This cruelty free drugstore option has such a fine tip, and is perfect for creating that trendy inner-corner liner that extends out into a thin wing. It’s also easy to remove and has a built-in lash serum.

Tarte Shape Tape: My all time favorite concealer! This concealer is available at retailers like Ulta and the brand’s main site. This concealer is so full-coverage and matte that I rarely even need to set it with a powder. I also like pairing a fuller coverage concealer with a light-coverage base, like this one by Bare Minerals:

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream: Say that three times fast. This oil-free tinted moisturizer is perfect for that summer glow (it has a very dewy finish, so if you’re not a fan of that look, I recommend setting lightly with powder.) Most importantly, this tinted gel contains SPF! SPF is so important. Don’t skip it! (I’m guilty of that…so I enjoy this two-in-one product!)

Tower Beauty Blush: I am a huge fan of cream blush for the summer. This clean product contains natural ingredients, and is easily to blend with fingertips. Apply your blush higher on your cheekbones and blend towards temples for a lifted look! (Bella Hadid WHO?) This blush is so glowy, it makes highlighter optional. But if you’re extra like me and are still going to apply it, it pairs nicely with liquid highlighters.

Tartlette In-Bloom Palette: This eyeshadow palette has gorgeous neutrals for multiple looks. It’s variety of shades and tones includes a multitude of lid, crease, and outer and inner corner options, and I also use the deep grey and black shades for a soft shadow liner look. Also, I’m not sure why or how, but this palette smells like vanilla. Seriously.

Burts Bees Lipstick: This drugstore option is a beautiful soft-pink, and pairs great with the blush and eyeshadow tones. I only wear pink lip colors in the spring and summer, and have enjoyed this natural, easy to apply lipstick on-the-go. It feels like a balm and moisturizes lips as well.

What I learned during this project: I want to make sure that when I represent various brands social media accounts in the future, I am authentic. I find that authenticity is achieved through actually trying the products out for myself and seeing how they wear, and if they are worth the consumer’s money. I look at aspects such as amount of product for the price, coverage, if it’s certified cruelty free or not, if there is an inclusive variety of shades for different skin tones, ingredients, and wear time. I will not promote products that I have not tried myself and approve of on my personal blog, yet I know I might have to do that for work. Therefore, it is imperative that I select a company to work for that upholds my standards of quality.

Programs used: I took the makeup photo myself using my iPhone, and edited it using the VSCO editing app.

Time on Project: This project took me approximately three hours to create, because I had to gather my favorite product options, test them out, write up my descriptions and reviews (the “why”) and design the flat-lay photo, capture and edit it.

My favorite project during the semester was the one where we created our own logos. I liked this project because I’ve always dreamed of starting my own business and it was fun to brainstorm logo ideas.

I believe that I will use many of the skills learned in this class in the future. Learning Premiere Pro was definitely the most challenging part, but I think that when it comes to making videos for a potential marketing campaign, etc., or an advertisement, this program will definitely come in handy in the future. Also, just going over basics of photography/graphic design is very helpful, as it’s been a while since I’ve thought about the basics, but they are very important.

I hope to be a social media manager for a company, or do something in marketing. Everything we learned in this class could potentially be useful, because these are tools that many professionals use, and employers will likely look for competence when it comes to using these programs. Logo design, creating videos and audio stories all come to mind when it comes to social media.

I think it would have been helpful to learn a bit more about the psychology of colors, and how certain designs and color patterns affect consumers.

The resource I found most helpful outside of the class material is just youtube in general. I had some trouble with the programs and youtube tutorials helped me solve many of them.

Outside of computer glitches, this class was interesting and useful to what I want to do career-wise.

For this final draft, I wanted to cut out some choppiness, hopefully making the video seem less rushed and jumpy.

I wanted to give tips on styling one basic wardrobe staple a few different ways. I wear a lot of turtlenecks in the winter so I was showing some of my favorite outfits for a black turtleneck. For inspiration for this post, I like seeing other style blogs and Instagram flat-lay style posts of different outfits. In hindsight, this would’ve been way cooler if I got someone I know to either film me in the outfits or film someone else in them, but I needed to just get the project done by myself so if I were to actually post this for real on a business blog or something I’d definitely have someone modeling the clothes too see what they look like on. 

I recorded a few clips of my outfits and uploaded the raw footage to youtube. Then I recorded my voice on my phone and put that into Premiere Pro. I had to edit out quite a bit of my own voice because I was recording late at night and stuttering/forgetting what I was going to say…classic. I used the razor tool quite a bit. I also added a filter to the video which I think made it look a lot better. I had to remember to apply the filter to all the parts of the video since I cut a lot of it and pasted it back together. I also added background music that I found from Bensound, Royalty Free Music. 

I don’t know about the rest of my classmates here but Premier Pro hates my laptop. It kept loading with the rainbow swirly and taking ages to adjust. It was really frustrating and after speaking with a few of my friends in the class it appears that I am not the only one having this problem. The rainbow swirly loading problem happened for both the draft and final version. But after leaving it for hours to load at a time I finally got it to work.

Well, I already know the first thing I want to fix…sorry the title got cut off when it was exported and uploaded to youtube. Re-watching, I also notice the jumpy transitions so I will fix those as best as I can.

I wanted to give tips on styling one basic wardrobe staple a few different ways. I wear a lot of turtlenecks in the winter so I was showing some of my favorite outfits for a black turtleneck. For inspiration for this post, I like seeing other style blogs and Instagram flat-lay style posts of different outfits. In hindsight, this would’ve been way cooler if I got someone I know to either film me in the outfits or film someone else in them, but I needed to just get the project done by myself so if I were to actually post this for real on a business blog or something I’d definitely have someone modeling the clothes too see what they look like on.

I recorded a few clips of my outfits and uploaded the raw footage to youtube. Then I recorded my voice on my phone and put that into Premiere Pro. I had to edit out quite a bit of my own voice because I was recording late at night and stuttering/forgetting what I was going to say…classic. I used the razor tool quite a bit. I also added a filter to the video which I think made it look a lot better. I had to remember to apply the filter to all the parts of the video since I cut a lot of it and pasted it back together. I also added background music that I found from Bensound, Royalty Free Music.

I don’t know about the rest of my classmates here but Premier Pro hates my laptop. It kept loading with the rainbow swirly and taking ages to adjust. It was really frustrating and after speaking with a few of my friends in the class it appears that I am not the only one having this problem. So after leaving it for hours to load at a time I finally got it to work.

A Roll Footage of plain black turtleneck  Jump cut to Jeans  Cut to jacket Add skirt Add accessories Add different jacket

B Roll Being stylish doesn’t mean owning lots of clothes, with just a couple of quality pieces, you can create plenty of looks with a neutral palette and added accessories. These looks can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. We’re going to start with one of my favorite winter staples, a black turtleneck. Black turtleneck tucked into jeans with a belt is a classic daytime look. You can add heels or flats, and add a jacket for extra layering and warmth. Swapping out the jeans for a skirt can allow for a more formal or party-ready look. Again, we can add a neutral jacket for extra warmth and detail. We can also dress this look up with accessories. I’m adding jewelry for some more pizzazz. Take a look in your closet and see how many looks you can create with your favorite staple.

I tried to take a more journalistic approach to this audio story and experimented with inserting a bunch of different voice clips. The first couple of tries with audition was basically me just practicing editing, as I was having a difficult time getting a hang of Audition. I decided to interview friends and family on their personal styles, since I am doing a fashion and lifestyle blog. I already knew what I wanted to change in my draft, and most of my peer edit suggestions agreed…so I added transitions before the different “guests” speak, and edited out some “um’s” and “sort of”‘s, etc.

I also re-recorded my conclusion to make it overall a little bit less cringe worthy and tried to keep my voice more consistent throughout the whole thing. The most difficult part was matching voice volume levels and my own tone, so I experimented with adjusting the volume level plenty of times, but of course it still isn’t perfect. If there is one big lesson to be learned, it’s the sensitivity of audio recording devices and their ability to pick up sounds you do not want them to hear, such as unwanted background noise. I added some transitions along the lines of “Here is (insert name) with how they would describe their style” or something similar. I also tried to make sure that the audio as a whole sound less choppy. I had a difficult time balancing the audio that I recorded on my computer with the audio that I had recorded on my phone, so I tried to play with the volume level to make the whole recording sound more consistent. I have already decided that when I have to do this work again, I will stick to the same recording device.

Maybe since I’m more of a visual learner, Audition was a bit harder for me to get the hang of, but I’m excited to hopefully experiment more with this important tool, and I had a lot of fun with my family trying to get these recordings…we all had the giggles.

This rough (I repeat….rough) audio draft was basically me just practicing editing, as I was having a difficult time getting a hang of Audition. I decided to interview friends and family on their personal styles, since I am doing a fashion and lifestyle blog. I already know what I would personally like to change….I plan on adding transitions before the different “guests” speak, and I will edit out some “um’s” and “sort of”‘s, etc.

I would also like to edit out some background noise or re-record my conclusion. The most difficult part was making this assignment within the allowed time frame, so I’m glad I left myself a little bit of wiggle room for the transitions I’d like to add. These will likely be something along the lines of “Here is (insert name) with how they would describe their style” or something like that. I will also try to make sure that the audio as a whole sounds less choppy. I had a difficult time balancing the audio that I recorded on my computer with the audio that I had recorded on my phone, so I’d like to play with the volume level to make the whole recording sound more consistent.

Maybe since I’m more of a visual learner, Audition was a bit harder for me to get the hang of, but I’m excited to improve this interview-style project I did. However, I had a lot of fun with my family trying to get these recordings…we all had the giggles.