Meet Alisa from the UX team + Max, Content Producer for Rural Action: Watershed Restoration

Meet Alisa Kessler!

Alisa is working with Project C team members to make the user experience the best it can be! She is a senior in the School of Visual Communication at Ohio University.

Hometown: Oakwood (Dayton), Ohio

What is your favorite part of working on Project C?

"My peers. It's a really good group of smart, creative students that make getting along and learning from each other come easy! They've all been very supportive."

Where is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Athens?

"I spend so much of my time in my apartment, but on nice days when I find time, I love relaxing on college green."

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens?

"Athens has great food to offer. I love getting Big Mama's Burritos, Slovaki's, and O'Betty's on late nights out. I eat a lot of Jimmy John's, too. Insomnia Cookies is banging. Casa is great and I'm going to try Salaam this weekend!"

Describe your dream job:

"I would love to design for a professional sports team, preferably the NFL or NBA."

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

"I'd love to be able to jump from one spot to the next, kind of like a time warp in the sense that I can go to one place to another in the blink of an eye. That way I could be wherever I wanted and do whatever makes me happiest."

Do you prefer the toilet paper to roll from the top or the bottom?

"Oh my gosh, definitely from the top, do not get me started on how annoying it is to grab toilet paper that's rolled from the bottom, smh!"

Where was your first job?

"Working in the annex of the Dorothy Lane Market corporate office, helping the graphic designer and IT guy. It wasn't that fun for a 15 year old so I ended up moving into the actual grocery story and worked as an associate."

The most valuable advice you’ve ever received?

"Everything that happens, happens for a reason."

Do you volunteer anywhere? 

"I volunteer at Possum Creek Stables, it's a horse boarding facility. I manage annual horse shows for their boarders and other volunteers. I love doing it because of how happy it makes everyone and they turn out to be so much fun!"

When was the last time you were nervous?

"Today. I always worry myself with the smallest things, I'm capable of making myself nervous over anything."

Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?

"In San Diego, California, duh."

If you were an Adobe Creative Suite program, which one would you be and why?

"Photoshop, because I'm working in it all the time!"

Were you named after anyone?

"My first name isn't, but my middle name, Iris was named after my mom's mother who was so excited to meet me, but unfortunately passed away from cancer shortly before I was born."

Meet Max Rodriguez! 

Max is a full-time CreMedian, but when he's working with the Project C team he is producing content featuring Rural Action: Watershed Restoration. He is finishing up his senior year at Ohio University, studying Video Production in the School of Media Arts & Studies. 

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

What is your favorite part about working on Project C?

"Honestly I like driving to Trimble. Its probably one of the more relaxing commutes around here and it always get me in the zone to shoot."

Favorite memory in Athens/Ohio University:

"There are too many to count. I've been in the Scott Quad lab for a good 50 percent of my college career and I miss having everyone in there that graduated in 2011 working late into the night and goofing around."

Where is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Athens?

"The roof right outside my bedroom."

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens?

"Union Street Diner Baby!"

Do you have any hidden talents?

"I can speak like Donald Duck"

The most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever received?

"All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us."

What’s the #1 most played song on your iTunes right now?

"1986" by Big K.R.I.T.

If you were an Adobe Creative Suite program, which one would you be and why?

"I'd be Final Cut Pro because Adobe Creative Suite programs are too conformist"

Three words that describe you best:

Jedi. Ninja. Pirate.

What are your favorite things to do in your free time?

"I like to catch up on my research, AKA sit around and browse Vimeo, music videos, and listen to some new music."

Meet Andrew + Callie: Content Producer + Event Planner for Project C

Meet Andrew Thomas!

Andrew is a senior studying video production in the school of Media Arts & Studies in the Scripps College of Communication. Andrew is one of the lead producers for The Gathering Place project. He has worked on a variety of videos in local markets and internationally, traveling to film in locations such as Indonesia, Germany, the Bahamas, and Brazil. 

Hometown: Syracuse, New York

Favorite memory in Athens/Ohio University: 

"Canoeing down the Hocking River on a beautiful day earlier this spring with some of my best friends."

What is your favorite part of working on Project C? 

"My favorite part is during the editing process when I see all of the elements of the story come together."

Where is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Athens? 

"I like jump around, Athens is great because there’s a lot to see and explore."

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens? 

It would probably be Lui Lui, the salmon with curry sauce is killer. 

The most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever received?

"Don’t make the same mistake twice."

What’s the #1 most played song on your iTunes right now? 

"Awake My Soul" by Mumford and Sons 

If you were a piece of furniture, what would you be? 

A tall, skinny, lamp.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now? 

"Jelly, milk, hummus, and pitas. I don’t eat these all together, I just need to go shopping."

What are your favorite things to do in your free time? 

"Seeing live music, hiking, taking photos, playing any sport, strumming on the guitar, watching documentaries, and eating ice cream."

Meet Callie Sauter!

Callie graduated from Ohio University in June 2011 with a degree in Restaurant, Hotel and Tourism. While she is employed full-time at Ohio University, she also works with the Project C team to plan the "A Project C Premier: Celebrating Community" event on June 1.

Hometown: Middletown, Ohio

What is your favorite part of working on Project C? 

"My favorite part about working on Project C are the passionate people that have pushed so hard to raise the money and are working to get the stories made. It is great when you see a group of students who have so much else to get done and worry about, come together on their own time to make the common goal happen."

Where is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Athens? 

"That's a tough one, if I have to pick one place in Athens to be my favorite it would have to be Donkey Coffee with some friends. I've got some great memories of my friends and I playing games and hanging out there."

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens? 

"My new favorite restaurant is Sol, their bunch is great!"

What do you think has been the greatest invention in the last ten years? 

"Probably more than 10 years ago but I would say the greatest and the worst invention has to be the cell phone. I love being able to send people a simple text message when I don't have enough to tell them over a phone call but some people also just don't call to talk on the phone anymore."

The most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever received: 

"Best advice I have received is a quote, 'Nothing is impossible because the word its self says I'm possible.'"

Three words that describe you best: 

Creative, Cheerful, and Encouraging

What are your favorite things to do in your free time? 

"In my free time I like to do a variety of crafts from scrapbooking to sewing. I'm currently working on crocheting two different blankets."

Meet the Lead Animator + One of the Project C Writers

Meet Heather Germann!

Heather is a senior studying interactive multimedia in The School of Visual Communication. Heather has worked on video documentaries in Germany, interned for Ohio University Athletics and the Kansas City Chiefs Football Club. She is the lead animator for Project C.

Hometown: Van Wert, Ohio

What is your favorite part about working on Project C?

"My favorite part is witnessing first hand how much it has grown in just one year. Anyone can think of ideas on how to improve the world, but only few actually take those ideas and turn them into actions." 

Where is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Athens?

"I would have to say Old Man's Cave, or if you are forcing me to stay on campus, College Green never fails on a sunny afternoon."

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens?

Purple Chopstix

What's the #1 most played song on your iTunes right now?

"Jimi Thing" by Dave Matthews Band

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

"Princess Auroa (Sleeping Beauty), so I can catch up on all the sleep I've lost over this Project."

If you were an Adobe Creative Suite program, which one would you be?

"After Effects, because I can take all the content everyone gives to me and I make it flyyy."

Would you rather vacation in a mountain hideaway or a beach house?

"Well, I would just go to Hawaii so I can have mountains on the left and beaches on the right, BUT if you're making me choose solely on one, I'd have to go with the mountains."

Meet Lindsay Boyle!

Lindsay is a junior in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. She is working with the production team on the Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action (HAPCAP) story. She is the lead writer for the HAPCAP project.

Hometown: Garrettsville, Ohio (a bit north of Kent)

Favorite memory in Athens/Ohio University?

"I would have to say some of the best moments I've had in Athens have happened during interviews I've conducted for the InterActivist magazine and Project C. I've met so many truly benevolent and inspiring people, and their stories have pushed me to be the best I can be."

What is your favorite part of working on Project C? 

"I honestly can't pick just one favorite part of working on Project C. My top two favorites are, first, the people from the community I get to meet who all have such enlightening stories. Second, the people with which I work side-by-side. It's awesome to see so many OU students volunteering so much of their time to help out the Athens area."

Where is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Athens? 

"On the rare occasion I have a free afternoon, you can find me at Scripps Amphitheater, on the bike path or on my neighbor's roof."

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens? 

"I can't get enough of Bagel Street Deli."

The most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever received: 

"The most valuable "piece" of advice I've received isn't necessarily one piece that occurred on one occasion, but rather some things I was instilled with throughout my youth: Help others who are in need, because you never know when it could be you in their position."

Do you volunteer anywhere? If so, what drives you to volunteer for that organization? 

"I volunteer weekly with the OU Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. It's been a passion of mine since freshman year of high school. I'm blessed not only with a shelter to call my own, but also the ability to create shelters for others, so that's what I do."

When was the last time you were nervous? 

"I don't get nervous very often. The last time was probably when I was being interviewed for an opportunity to study abroad in Zambia, Africa. I ended up going, and it was a truly amazing experience."

Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? 

"Seek not and ye shall find."

Meet the Co-Founders of Project C

Meet Tony Guglielmi!

Tony is one of the Co-Founders + Co-Directors of Project C, finishing up his senior year, studying Interactive Multimedia in the Ohio University School of Visual Communication.

Hometown: Pickerington, Ohio

Favorite memory in Athens/Ohio University: 

“My time spent working on Project C. Giving back to a community that has given me so much over that past 4 years.”

Tony’s favorite place to spend an afternoon in Athens: 

“Sitting out front of 7 Stewart with good friends, just enjoying the beautiful weather.”

Favorite restaurant in Athens: Casa Nueva

What do you think has been the greatest invention in the last ten years?

Better Place Battery Switch Stations

The most valuable advice you’ve ever received?

“From Babak Sarrafan: ‘Life is full of highs and lows...like a sine wave...remember when you are at the peak of excitement that you will hit a low and how you deal with your lowest of lows is just as important as how you deal with your highest of highs.’“

If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?

Sherlock Holmes

If you were an Adobe Creative Suite program, which one would you be?

“Fireworks, because it is one of the most underrated tools and I have no problem with being underrated because I will still get the job done.”

Favorite things to do in your free time:
“I love creating things that make others smile. It doesn't have to be a website or application. If I think it will make one person's life easier then I will make it.”

Meet Annette Drapac!

Annette, a senior who is also studying Interactive Multimedia, is a Co-Founder + Co-Director of Project C. 

Hometown: Middleburg Heights, OH

What is your favorite part of working on Project C? 

"My favorite part of working on Project C is that it doesn’t feel like “work.” Although it is a giant undertaking, I feel very lucky to work on a project that I love, and with people who I call my friends; some of my best. This project brings me much happiness, and that is truly priceless."

Where is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Athens? 

"I enjoy sitting in the sun on the Soldier’s Monument on College Green, or if I have to do work, I’ll usually be on the patio at Court Street Coffee."

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens? 

"Zoe – the food is creative, local, and delicious – and I’ve had great company each time I’ve been there. Della Zona and Village Bakery are favorites as well."

When you die, what do you want to be remembered for? 

"I want to be remembered as being kind-hearted, hard working, and as a person who is open and accepting of everyone."

What is your favorite group fitness class at Ping? 

"I’m not usually a group class kind of gal – I’d much rather be on a solo run while listening to Robyn."

What do you think has been the greatest invention in the last ten years?

"Portable music of any kind. That’s been with me since I was riding the bus to school."

What’s the #1 most played song on your iTunes right now? 

"Pickerall Lake by Sufjan Stevens, one of my favorite artists of all time."

If you were an Adobe Creative Suite program, which one would you be? 

"Photoshop, because we bond."

Do you have any hidden talents? 

"I can make balloon animals of all kinds. I also love the circus."

HAPCAP: Connecting, Improving and Changing Lives

Last week, I spent the better part of both Thursday and Friday in Glouster, Ohio equipped with nothing more than a voice recorder, a notepad and my inquisitive mind.

I, along with the content producers for Project C’s Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action program (HAPCAP) team, conducted interviews with six people — three on each day — in the just more than 24-hour time period. It proved to be one of the best 24-hour time periods I’ve had in quite a while.

HAPCAP is an all-encompassing nonprofit agency that aims to promote self-sufficiency and to improve the qualities of life of those struggling with poverty in Hocking, Athens and Perry counties, as well as in the surrounding areas. HAPCAP runs a multitude of programs that work to improve education, increase employment, improve housing, provide food and provide transportation in southeastern Ohio.

Doug Stanley, Executive Director of HAPCAP, talks about the many programs it provides.

Every time I go throughout Athens County to interview people working for and affected by local nonprofit organizations — which is actually quite frequently — I always return to OU with a fresh perspective on life. This time was no different.

Seeing how truly happy clients are directly because of HAPCAP programs, as well as how genuinely compassionate HAPCAP employees are, restored my faith in humanity in an area where overwhelming poverty statistics can be quite disheartening. Many of the clients experienced complete, 180-degree lifestyle changes for the better because of HAPCAP.

Bill Anderson, user of HAPCAP's Logan Public Transit program,
smiles during an interview.

There are people out there who devote each day to improving the lives of others, and they succeed in doing so more than they know. Every time I’m stressed out about this deadline, that exam or any other life event, I try to remember those people and the lives they are affecting. 

Nikina Fletcher is involved with HAPCAP's By-Car, Learn and Work,
PIPP Plus and Early Head Start programs.

Those people deal with stressful situations every single day and work to make them better, to turn bad into good. I always find that to be truly inspiring and motivating.

Just about an hour ago, I received word that we surpassed our $2,000 fundraising goal. I was so excited thinking about all of the money we’ll be able to give to local nonprofits that I yelled and told the first person I saw — no joke. I still can’t stop smiling.

Project C isn’t something we do for our résumés. It’s something we do because we care about Athens and the people in it. I am so glad I’ve been able to be a part of it for two years.

 - Lindsay Boyle | Writer

A Place of Warmth

It’s crunch time! My team members and I are embarking on our final stage of the storytelling process, editing. Our story is on The Gathering Place, which over the last month I have grown to love. The Gathering Place was a house that I walked past everyday last year on my way to class, never knowing how special it was.  It is a home-like atmosphere that supports the recovery of persons with mental illness by enhancing personal development and well-being, while fostering community involvement. There is a certain warmth about it, a warmth that could only be made possible by the people that build a sense of community there. My job as a videographer and editor is to try and capture some of that warmth and make audiences feel it as well.

 As a student practicing video for many years I have been in many uncomfortable and unpleasant filming situations. The Gathering Place however, is one of the most welcoming environments that I have ever filmed in, and that’s because of the people.  Part of my job as a videographer is to form a relationship with those whose story I’m telling, and the second part is to capture that story. The hardest part for me so far has been pressing record, because instead of filming I find myself engaged in conversation and interaction with people at the house. With the fast paced and stressful college environment I find myself in, it has been very refreshing to experience the people at the gathering place who seem very genuine and who are there because they enjoy being there and enjoy each other’s company.

Sometimes we can get so caught up in our own worlds and we forget that there are places out there that are run by people who spend their days not worrying about themselves but others. It’s eye opening. I appreciate everyone working at The Gathering Place who have allowed us to come in to film and have welcomed us as friends. The unsung heroes of this country are the ones that should be acknowledged and I hope that in our documentary we can acknowledge the people who are helping make The Gathering Place possible.  

- Andrew Thomas | Content Producer

           

Athens Beautification Day

     "Wow! He is a Showman!" volunteer, Nick Shank, shouted after President Roderick McDavis opened Sunday's Athens Beautification Day. The almost uncontainable enthusiasm from both President McDavis and my friend, Nick, summed up the overall feeling of the day for me. It was so encouraging seeing students and community members blanket the amphitheater outside Scripps Hall on a Sunday afternoon because, like McDavis said, we were there not because we had to be there but because we wanted to be there.

Student and community member volunteers listening to Mayor Paul Whiel give the opening address. There's 800 people there. Eight. Hundred.

     Friendships are strengthened and created through these volunteering opportunities. You bond with other residents and community members, learning more about the place you have occupied (or will occupy) for four of the most unique years of your life. The Off-Campus Life Commission of OU Student Senate has done an incredible job organizing Athens Bday (Athens Beautification Day) this year. Their goal is a simple one, Keep Athens Beautiful. Anyone can see the beauty in Athens, not just the lively, picturesque town and it’s unique businesses but the nature that surrounds and engulfs it and most of all, the people that reside in it. Over the past eight years the event has grown from a few small groups of people to an astounding 800 students and community members this year. There were 30 projects planned covering a five square mile radius. Some of these projects were located at Stroud's Run, The Ridges, Passion Works, the Eco House, and numerous parks. Tasks ranged from graffiti removal and trash cleanup, to weeding, painting, landscaping and other pick-me-ups. Because there were so many volunteers and because we were so eager to help out, occasionally those residents and volunteers in charge had to do a little scrounging to find more jobs for us to do!

Sarah, surrounded by her signature color.

     I had an absolute blast helping out with Annette Drapac and Ryan Young at Putt People First, the putt putt golf course at The Ridges. In case you don't really know what the colorful course is all about, don't worry; I've got you covered. The course is a fundraiser that supports the Employment Services Program for People with Disabilities and the Athens Area Mediation Service (a group dedicated to finding cooperative approaches to resolving disputes in nice, calm ways). Local businesses sponsor a hole and in turn get a snazzy advertisement that becomes the obstacles for that particular hole. Too Cool.

            What else was cool? Definitely not us; we were sweating up a storm. The sun decided to grace us with its presence finally, making the day enjoyable to work in. Honestly, we could not have attempted half the projects if it was another classic day of rain, so I thank you for joining us, sunshine.

Please note the pocket protector, he's handsome and smart.

There must have been over 30 people helping out in that small stretch of land, weeding painting, sweeping, and building. Annette reconstructed a few obstacles, and she, Ryan, and I painted a few of the signs that will soon showcase advertisements. I stuck with the paint and made my way to all that was green. By the end of the day, my hands were coated in a layer of green paint. Kermit was right; it's not easy being green. Speaking of frogs, Ryan made this frog one of the most handsome frogs in all of Athens. Probably all of Ohio.

     Helping those who need it, repairing the broken, breathing new life into the old and worn out, when you look back at all the effort you and your friends put forth, there is often a great sense of humility, joy and honor in knowing that you had a part in all. The coolest part about volunteering is that anyone can do it. Any bit of effort has an affect. When I take a look around these last four years in Athens, I am so happy and so blessed to have been apart of all this change.

Annette & Sarah working hard on reconstructing the quilted obstacles.

-Sarah MillerBehind the Scenes team l Project C

Structuring a User-Centered Website

The User Experience [UX] design team has been organizing various methods of user testing, specifically targeting more efficient ways of communicating content to our audience. Our strategy began with the user test, which involved having several volunteers tour through our 2011 site. From their feedback, as a team, we were able to map out pros and cons and make changes coming to the 2012 site, accordingly.

What Users Liked and Disliked About Our 2011 Site

Pros of the site included the overall design; its colors and pictures appealed to all of our test users. One thing we were surprised to learn is that many of the users preferred the footer to the main navigation. As far as cons go, many of the users stressed that the site needed better organization and clarification to understand the meaning and purpose behind the website. We also discovered that our language wasn’t well written, making it difficult for users to understand our links.

With this valuable user feedback, the UX team went straight to work on concept maps, site maps, user flow diagrams and detailed wireframes of each page to prepare the creation of a new, more user friendly website for Project C!

The development and UX teams working. Alisa Kessler, pictured far left, Jess Buse, center right, and Steph Rumph, far right.

According to our user feedback, we mapped out a user flow diagram to better understand the process our users experience when navigating through the site. Our goal was to create an easy, organized, and direct user flow with multiple options to reach your destination on the site.

Priorities for User Experience

Presenting the featured organizations was our main concern, followed by stressing the option to learn about them and provide the opportunity to vote, or learning how to get involved with that organization. We’ve also established the idea to share the stories of these organizations by focusing on social networking and bringing more traffic to the website to educate more individuals.

To wrap up the initial UX phase, we worked on several wireframe drafts. After our own team members presented their sketches and ideas, we began sketching out the overall idea on whiteboard with the design team.

From this first wireframe, the UX team built the first Photoshop wireframe, which was tweaked and edited a dozen times. In class, the entire team critiqued each wireframe draft for further improvement. At this point, the UX team is finalizing wireframes in-between design critiques to figure out what layouts work best on each page to prepare for the visual design and development phase!

We’re so excited to launch the 2012 Project C site, sharing our work with all of you! Your feedback is crucial and highly valued; if you would like to participate in our second round of user testing please email annette@clickingcreateschange.com.

Alisa Kessler // Steph Rumph // Jess Buse

User Experience Team | Project C

Kicking Off Year Two

Project C 2012 is now in full swing. We are heading into our second year, and I am very excited about the things that will unfold throughout the next two months. A few weeks ago, Co-Founder Tony Guglielmi and I had the opportunity to talk with the former Director of Digital Content and Strategy at the National Film Board of Canada. He stressed the importance of documenting and sharing the process: the essence of any creative, multimedia-based, collaborative project. I look forward to sharing our process with you as our second year unfolds.

Team

We have gathered a talented group of creative minds that have the common passion of working for the good of others. Many of these people were an integral part in our first year, but I am excited to work with a variety of new faces as well. We have four production teams consisting of videographers, photographers, writers and graphic designers. We have a dedicated animation team, a savvy PR and marketing team, and a brand new event planning team. Finally, we have a collection of developers, UX designers, and visual designers to lead the web team.

Fundraising Goal

This year we have a goal of raising $2000, which would double our 2011 total. To encourage donating, we have set up an IndiGoGo Campaign that allows donors to contribute money online. We hope you take the time to donate as little as $1.00. Our online campaign runs until May 18, 2012.

In October, the Project C team received a Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fund (PURF) Grant to help offset the cost of our production. This grant will help cover costs of promotion and marketing materials, web hosting and event costs. Last year, many of these costs were out of pocket, and we are grateful to have a small production budget that will go a long way.

Awards

Over the summer and fall, Project C was privileged to have been a Finalist in Adobe's Design Achievement Awards Competition in the category of Browser Based Design. Tony Gugelimi was flown to Taipei, Taiwan for the awards ceremony in October, 2011. Finally, we took the Bronze Award in the College Photographer of the Year Competition in the category of Large Group Multimedia Project.

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Through this process, it's important to remember the purpose and drive behind this project. I believe that we are well on our way to achieving the mission of Project C: to inform, inspire, and call others to become more involved in their local community.

Annette Drapac

Co-Founder | Project C