Author: Zoe Taylor

On August 24, 2023

In Public Relations

Seeing inspiration for design in my daily life has allowed me to become more creative and in touch with my work.

Elements of Design we can see out and about!

Typography

Typography (as referenced in my last post) studies letters and words to make them visually appealing to the reader’s eye. So with that, obviously, that is a HUGE part of design. We want our readers to be captivated by our messaging or to understand the tone of our message. That starts with the first glance, which emphasizes ensuring the font fits the style we are trying to achieve!

While doing my morning journaling, I noticed that my journal had a captivating aspect for a few different reasons.

First, the typography for this journal just hits the message on the head. The font feels very academic and whimsical. This font allows me to correlate that I can write freely throughout this journal because of the literary feel. I also enjoyed how the bottom “subheading” is in all caps, drawing attention to the area even though the text is smaller.

Lines

Secondly, the use of lines in this photo was also exciting. The line between the dark blue journal in contrast to the light blue journal behind. The vinyl cover follows the same angles as the journal when they are apart while having its design covered with lines. Then, lastly, seeing the roundness of the glass with a straight line from the straw draws attention back to the journals. Lines allow my eyes to follow the angles, almost guiding the eyes to every individual element of this photo.

Dominance

The element of dominance in design can allow our eyes as viewers to see an intended message very quickly. In this bathroom at a furniture store in Norman, it was amazing to see how, despite a busy background, the “LOVE” stands out due to its simplicity and asserts dominance over the floral design. Utilizing distinction is an easy way to grab attention quickly, and I love how this design was put together.

Proportion

Though not the most artsy photo, this picture taken on the University of Oklahoma’s campus captures the idea of proportion so well. I took this photo and got closer to the ground to make the clock tower seem even more significant than the man. The willow trees standing taller than him give us an idea of how big the clock tower is and allow us to fully understand the different sizes of things in the world.

Balance

This photo may seem very busy at first, but as my eyes follow the elements of the picture I notice that every area has its unique feature and is balanced to the other. For example, the bottom is significantly busier than the top. Therefore, we can notice the bright white ceilings to balance this photo. Secondly, something is happening in every aspect of this photo—the ceilings with lights and the “STASH” sign. The bottom has an assortment of pots and pants. The right and left sides match each other perfectly while allowing room at the top to create balance within the photo. This photo also leans into another design aspect, which is UNITY.

Unity

Each element of this photo feels that it complements another. The bright white walls, mixed with the lush green plants. Specks of muted browns for the furniture that mesh well with the natural colors of the plants. Every aspect of this photo seems to link together well to create an aesthetic scene for me!

Color & Rythm

Within this image, there is a sense of color that is very repetitive and rhythmic. Rythme with color is very important, depending on which message you’d like to portray. When I came home and saw my two cats, I first noticed how not one color felt that loud or aggressive. Every color felt intentional and peaceful. The repetitive nature of the colors felt very calming. For example, my orange cat’s hair matches the color of some of the lighter bricks and is almost similar to my gray cat’s eyes. The gray cat’s coat is the same as the curtain color in the back, longing for a repetitive aspect to the color palette. This is highly appealing to the eyes because everything in this photo has a place and a complementary element with the same color. The receptive nature amplifies the message that these two pairs of cats are partners and one of the other’s better half.

Symbols & Minamlism

When I came to Gaylord for the first day of the semester bright and early at 7 a.m., I noticed the minimalism of this message. The bright JMC, compared to the dull, minimalistic background, seemed like a metaphor to me. Something similar to how JMC courses outshine and seem so much more intense next to other classes. However, this metaphor wasn’t implied in any way. It is interesting how minimalism, compared to the bold JMC logo, can allow viewers like myself to ponder a deeper meaning behind the image!

Combining these elements

Having these elements be what you base your ideas on is a great way to ensure that your design aligns with the messaging you want for your target audience. Knowing how aspects that may seem small, like lines and rhyme, can entirely change the messaging!

Make sure to keep your eye out for design to gather inspiration in your daily lives, too!

What’s your Type? Choosing the Right Font for Your Next Design.

On August 24, 2023

In Public Relations

Typography is a make or break in the way we design, communicate, and share our ideas with others.

What is typography, and how do you incorporate it into design?

Typography is the way in which we arrange letters and words to create an aesthetic and legible copy. Typography is the basis of design because there are many ways that the font we chose pushes a certain story or can be associated with certain things. So, how are ways we can break down typography to understand how it can completely change the ways of the story we want to portray?

Fonts and their Impact on Image

Typography is the way you want your reader to view your message. The choice of font can change the entirety of your messaging. A font that might be considered “loud or aggressive” should be chosen for a specific audience. On the other hand, fonts are seen as dainty or quiet and could be utilized in a calmer, more serene environment! Typography is one of the shakers and movers in design and public relations because the appearance of your messaging can be as harmful and helpful as the words you say!

Differentiating between different styles of fonts

Besides just basically studying a list of fonts and brushing up on your memorization skills, there are a couple of options to use while studying typography.

My favorite way to study typography was to play Type War. This game focused on choosing between options of font when displaying a letter. The two options might be “is this Verenda or Times New Roman?” and you choose between the two options. With enough repetition, I felt an actual difference in my ability to differentiate fonts. Some of them look very similar, so this one can be tricky!

Another great game I played was KernType. Now, while I liked this game… this one felt a lot more difficult for my learning style. With KernType, you adjust the space between letters to match the font they give you. The layout of this game was really interesting, and I got to learn a new term in the world of typography: Kern. Kern is the spacing of letters like so:

Photo: Adobe Creative Cloud, Discovering Kerning.

Ways choosing the wrong font can ruin the legitimacy of your brand

Having errors like these in logo designs can tarnish the hard work you have done for your brand and leave that idea in your audience’s head instead of your intended message. Several instances have been far worse than this, where it has been a scandal instead of just being a funny moment.

To see more typography fails that can inspire you before “choosing your type,” click here!

So… before you choose a font, make sure it is the best way to convey appropriate messages to your audiences!

Professional Portrait

On August 22, 2023

In Public Relations

Hi there! I am Zoe Taylor.

I am a public relations professional that believes in a heavy emphasis on learning, growing, and adapting as a professional.

I utilize the skills I gained at the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma to create a public relations toolkit focusing on creativity, collaboration, and strengthening bonds between organizations and their audiences.

Why I Enjoy Practicing Public Relations

Public relations opened up a world that combined my two favorite things: helping others and using my words to do so. I love the idea that creativity is combined with a strategy to help clients connect with their audience in a way they haven’t been able to before. Not everyone is as skilled in communication, and that is where PR practitioners step in. We want to help our clients build those strong relationships and help them succeed as an organization!

I started studying public relations because of my intimal overall interest in communications and the urge to help others around me. I started off college as a political science major, wanting to make a change in our world. Soon I realized that being a political science major wasn’t going to allow me the face-to-face time with the public that I appreciate. Shortly after my first semester of college, I became interested in journalism. I loved connecting with people but wanted to be a little bit more geared toward creative design and big-picture ideas. I then landed on public relations and fell in love. I took my first public relations course at the University of Texas and never looked back. It was amazing to take the elements from both political science and journalism.

My Motivation regarding PR

Public relations is one of those fields that is ever-changing. In just a few days, something can drop in the media that completely reimagine what you had laid out for the week. It is the fact that no matter how long you’ve been in practice, you learn something new every day as there is an ever-changing environment around you. It is exciting to feel that even after you graduate with your degree, that you will be a student every day.

getting involved in extracurriculars

Student organizations such as the University of Oklahoma’s PRSSA chapter are incredibly helpful. Finding a community within the university adds another layer to campus life and creates incredible relationships among your peers. I plan to join the PRSSA this semester, as I was a member at the University of Texas and thoroughly enjoyed it.

In my community, I love to participate in volunteering for festivals. Helping set up and seeing events behind the scenes in an area I am very interested in. Helping your community feel supported when they express creativity is a great way to connect. One of my favorite festivals I have helped volunteer for is the Art. Music. Power. (AMP) Festival! This festival focused on creative works from women artists in my community!

Staying Motivated to Move!

On April 1, 2023

Staying active and prioritizing your health when you’re a college student or someone with a tight schedule can be one of the most challenging things to do. I struggle with this as I don’t have any significant weight loss or body goals; therefore, staying active is for being healthy. It is hard to prioritize this, but we all know the importance of having a healthy body and mind! Therefore, Im here to provide my top tips on staying motivated to move!

Pick out some tunes

Every good workout starts with a playlist that energizes us. Songs with a steady rhythm or beat can provide a rhythm to go with during runs and reps when lifting weights.

Here are some of my TOP workout songs to get your body moving:

What’s Next? – Drake

Cooler than Me (Single Mix) – Mike Posner

Make sure to check out my workout playlist!

Follow Along

My biggest tip for getting up and doing the workout is following along! I love to watch youtube videos for EVERYTHING. Of course, this includes working out & staying active. I find that when I watch youtube videos instead of trying to come up with the workout myself, I feel a lot more motivated because it takes a layer off that might deter me from actually doing the exercise.

I also found that to increase productivity, a lot of people will body double:

“Body doubling is a tool some adults use to help them start and complete projects. Sometimes referred to as an accountability partner, it is a technique for better productivity.”
Chadd.org, 2023

For example, doing workouts through a youtube video is a form of virtual body doubling!

Cute Workout Gear

Nothing makes us feel our best like a brand-new outfit. This idea transfers to gym time too! Invest in your gear and make it feel customized to you. I have hot-pink workout sets that make me feel amazing at the gym.

Tailoring your gear to your personality goes deeper than just outfits. Upgrade or personalize your gym bag, yoga mats, weights, and water bottles!

Another factor is that spending money on these items will make you more inclined to use them. Dressing the part will allow more room to feel confident in your skills and capabilities in the gym!

Switch it Up!

Working out shouldn’t just be for a utility, or it will ALWAYS feel like a chore. Make sure to incorporate variety and things that you enjoy.

For me, when I feel like I am in a rut, I will dance to my favorite songs for an hour and consider that my workout. However, movements don’t have to be black and white and are just as valid if they don’t fit the traditional “lifting weights and pumping iron.”

Prioritize your fun and make it an enjoyable experience for you. Reframing exercise as a hobby rather than a chore, you can completely rewire your brain to look forward to your time at the gym!

Exercise should always be an activity that improves your quality of life. When working out, make sure not to be motivated for the wrong reasons. Exercising because of lousy self-image and letting your self-hatred fuel you can be a reason why you burn out. Having exercise be a priority because you enjoy it, and it makes you feel good is a great way to stay motivated.

It can be hard to find time; however, changing your life can create time to be active. For example, walking to work or class can be a form of being busy that doesn’t require a set chunk of time in your schedule.

However you choose to stay motivated, ensure you are happy and healthy! Good luck!

How Hobbies will Revamp your Life

On April 1, 2023

Hobbies are something I feel are WAY too overlooked. When life starts getting stressful, the first things people drop are their hobbies. However, hobbies are integral to 1.) being a fascinating human being, 2. providing fulfillment to our lives.

Let’s talk about some of my hobbies and hobbies that I have wanted to try.

Hiking

I love to hike. Hiking brings a level of peace that no other hobby can. Walking through nature, you hear all the sounds, like the rustling of trees and wildlife, and smell things like fresh pine and wildflowers. Hiking is a form of meditation for me and allows me to disconnect from everything else and truly feel very grounded.

Another pro is getting to wear cute workout sets and taking snacks for a cute picnic by a scenic view!

Mixing Music

This is a random one, but one I have had so much fun with. For Christmas, I asked my family for a starter “DJ Kit,” where I could also mess with the reverb on songs and other settings. This one is a lot of fun- I can immerse myself in music and tune out the rest of the world as I listen to new rhythms and melodies I can create.

Here is a link to my DJ Starter Kit.

Yoga

I have been falling in love with yoga lately. I have tried many different forms of exercise and feel that yoga has been 1) low impact and 2) easy to fit into my everyday life.

Yoga is one of those hobbies that can be done almost anywhere at any time. Lately, I have been doing a little bit of morning yoga in my bed and feel that being able to make time for my hobbies has drastically increased my outlook on life.

For yoga, I don’t go to classes. However, I watch youtube videos that can give a wide range of types of yoga. For example, here is my favorite “early morning” yoga routine:

Wake Up Yoga 11-minute Morning Yoga Practice. Yoga with Adrienne

Pottery

Okay, this is one hobby I have only tried a couple of times but am intrigued about! I have seen “at-home” pottery kits going viral and have been dying to try them. I don’t know much about pottery besides my high-school pottery class, but I enjoyed working hands-on with art. Creating a piece of art to display around your home with your hands is a liberating feeling that I truly want to experience!

Learning to Green-Thumb

I am a notorious plant killer, and all by accident. I love having houseplants. They brighten up a home so well and add an extra layer. However, I am always disappointed when it hits the 1-month mark, and my plants look droopy. So to combat this, I would love to allocate some time to do a deep dive into all my plants and learn how to properly take care of them!

Several books online can help with most common house plants, and if you harbor an exotic plant, the internet has so many resources for all the plant parents out there!

Creating a Mood-Board

“Mood-Boarding” is one of my favorite passive forms of manifesting and allows me to be focused on my goals while still having fun. I love utilizing Pinterest for my mood boards, it can be so fun to look at pictures that inspire you and categorize them. Here is one of my past “mood boards”.

Hobbies really allow us to embrace our creative expression and be well-rounded individuals. Hobbies also can help us have an answer to that dreaded interview question, “tell me about yourself.” Overall, having interests for pleasure and not a necessity is vital to avoiding burnout and having a healthy and balanced life.

My “Go To” Apps as a Young Adult

In 2023, we will use our phones more than ever. And even if I try and break the bad habit, it is hard to rationalize it because of how easy it has made my life. So, although apps play a huge role in an organized life, I will show you my top apps for young adults!

Google Calendar

Yes, I have raved about this app in other posts, but that shows how much I use it! My boyfriend and I use google calendar for everything. For example, we share a calendar called “Zoe and Drake’s Calendar.” On this calendar, we put EVERYTHING. I mean from work shifts to when the trash cans must be pulled out to the curb, expiration dates, and more. We both have a busy schedules, so google calendar has been a lifesaver. We can see when we have time for dates and what our upcoming week looks like.

Suppose you feel overwhelmed with house responsibilities, classes, and appointments. I cannot say enough good things about this app!

Mint

Mint is another heavy hitter for me. Being a young adult comes with financial struggles for most people. Especially when you are in school! I downloaded Mint the day I turned 18 to manage my credit score and practice financial literacy. On the Mint app, you link your bank account and credit information. Once connected, you have all of your finances in one spot. Mint tracks your spending habits and graphs them for you weekly.

Mint also gives you a sum of all the money in your accounts, showing your net worth. On Mint, you can also add different assets, such as properties.

I love the mint app as it helps me keep track of student loans and spending habits and gives me a broad look at my financial situation at any given time.

Provided by Intuit (creator of Mint app)

Yelp

I feel that Yelp is one of those apps that everyone knows about but doesn’t see the full potential of the app. Yelp provides every single detail you need to know about a business before you try to visit it. Yelp has been fantastic in keeping business hours updated and preventing me from wasting time, money, or gas. I also love Yelp because the app provides a “featured” tab- letting you explore new restaurants, spas, and other things in your area. I love this aspect because it is a common struggle of never knowing what I want to eat or getting sick of the usual restaurants in my area.

Yelp also allows users to leave reviews; this feature has been a holy grail. I have been interested in going somewhere several times, and I checked the reviews and was happy I didn’t. So again, Yelp saves you time, money, and effort.

Fig

This is definitely for a more niche group of young adults with food allergies.

I have severe gluten intolerance and struggle with finding food as quickly as others. For example, the grocery store used to be a two- or three-hour excursion, and now with the fig app, I can scan an item, and it tells me if it has gluten in it.

There have been instances where I thought a product at the grocery store was “gluten-free,” and it turns out it wasn’t. So now, when I utilize the Fig app, I don’t have to worry about hidden gluten ingredients; I can only buy what I can eat.

If you try any of these apps, let me know how you like them! They have made my life a lot more efficient and organized, and as a young adult, that is critical.

Why I chose Public Relations

Choosing a major in college is probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I went through several majors as I took courses in high school, and I changed again during my first year. As a sophomore wrapping up their semester, I am confident In my major, Public Relations. So… how did I get here?

The first major I selected was Political Science. I am very passionate about politics and believe that they can change every person’s experience in this country. However, as I took a few courses, I realized, “wow, this is a lot of talk about the internal side of the government.” I quickly fell bored with discussing the processes by which the government does things. I had a different idea in my head of what I wanted to do: advocate!

Wanting to use my voice and advocate led me to Journalism. Journalism was a fun major; I worked for my university newspaper and took a writing class. I fell in love with writing and planning to strategically use my words for different outcomes. However, there was a catch: interviews. I hated conducting one on ones with people. Half of the time, people would cancel last minute, or I just felt that I liked to be the “big picture” person and create the interview goals, not do them!

This led me to where I am today, a public relations major. I wanted to use my strategic frame of thought but not have to dig for content. I loved writing and creating ideas that would later translate into public relations campaigns.

I would love to say that I arrived at this swift conclusion alone. However, I have to give credit where credit is due. My best friend is a senior at the University of Oklahoma, and she chose public relations as her interest. As I went to her for guidance is selecting a career path, she displayed her love for public relations and truly inspired me to take it on. Now a year later, I love it more and more every day.

Aliana Head (Public Relations Bestie) is on the left side.

Why Am I So Excited?

Honestly, utilizing social media (specifically TikTok) has given me the idea of an actual “day in the lives” of public relations specialists, and I couldn’t be more excited. I love interacting with brands as a consumer, and getting to interact with the public on account of a brand is even more exciting. I plan to showcase my drive, attention to detail, and creative communication style to excel in the field.

If you have any interest in the public relations field, do it! I have had a fantastic time educating myself about the area, and I hope always to stay learning.

Seeking Out Mental Health Services During your Time in College

In College Help

Featured Image provided by NPR.

Mental health can be a slippery slope for some people, and it can be incredibly hard to value your mental well-being during college. So I want to help others navigate the difficult world of bettering their mental health!

So I recently had an experience regarding my mental health that made me realize how difficult it can be to try and seek help as a young adult. I am notorious for not feeling like a real adult or having imposter syndrome.

I find it hard to do tasks like going to the doctor because there are so many things that I feel like I still do know as a young adult. But, come on, a 20-year-old, freshly moved out, is supposed to know her co-pay?! Especially in the United States, where the healthcare system depends on insurance. This adds another layer of fear that people seeking help have to conquer.

Well, I did it! With very little help from my parents, I braved of going to a physiatrist and trying to figure out to be the best version of myself regarding my mental health.

From my experience, I want to advise other young adults when they feel they need mental health services!

Check your University for Services

Most universities offer mental health services to their students. For example, I attend the University of Oklahoma, and here we have an entire webpage dedicated to all the mental health services provided.

The University of Oklahoma provides free counseling to its students and other treatment services for a discounted price.

Make sure to check your university (no matter the size!) for their way of providing mental health services to their students.

Check your Insurance

This is where it can start to get tricky. If you want to go outside the university’s services, you must check if 1) you have insurance and 2) (if you do) what that insurance is. From here, you have two options; if you do not have insurance, you will want to check your state’s government-provided insurance program and see if you qualify. If you have insurance, you can type in whatever you want. For example, I love using “Zodoc.”

This website lets you say what type of doctor you are looking for, where you are located, and your insurance! Once you do this, you will be asked questions to find the best doctor. In addition, many will have their appointment system hooked up, allowing you to do telehealth visits.

Lean on Friends and Family

If you are still lost and have no clue where to start: reach out to those around you.

Many students may lack a familial figure; however, being a university student, you have a built-in system for support. Reach out to trusted professors and peers with shared experiences, and even call the Counseling Services office to ask questions if you need to!

Asking questions is the first step in getting help and is essential to getting the treatment you need. Being a student can be challenging; lean on your resources and never be afraid to ask for help!

Balancing work, school, and relationships as a college student!