Navigating a Group Project for The Trone Center for Mental Fitness
Working for our client, The Trone Center for Mental Fitness, was an incredibly unique and interesting experience. The process of creating the work was truly inspiring. In the past, I have created content for others as the content creation chair for K-Pop Club. However, those projects were within my comfort zone and willingly taken on. This time, being approached by a client to create something of this caliber was a whole new experience. Collaborating with others in the design process was also a new experience for me since I typically work alone. I knew that this would be different and perhaps even challenging. But given that this is a 400 level class, I have faith that my group members share the same sentiments and that we can support each other throughout this project.
Trone Center for Mental Fitness New Logo 2023
Normally, I take on leadership roles within groups. However, this semester, I made the decision to release some control. I informed the group early on that due to my heavy course load, including this class, I wouldn't be able to keep track of everything or initiate every conversation. Nevertheless, I trust that my group members and I will give our best effort for the project, considering the advanced level of this class.
At the beginning of the project, Cole took charge of our formal correspondence and initiated the work. For the initial meeting, Cole met with Dr. Braitewate-Gardner and shared a Zoom recording and notes with us since unfortunately, Garrett and I couldn't attend. However, I was able to attend and participate in all the following meetings and calls. During this time we initiated research, where we were able to engage with the Furman community and learn more about their opinions regarding the Trone Center for Mental Fitness and the stigma around mental health. One of the more interesting things I found out during this research is that people mentioned that they don’t need counseling and get through all of their problems themselves… Within anything, it is helpful to have help and support. This group project being an example.
Eventually, we divided the project tasks. My expertise lies in Photoshop and Illustrator, although I am also proficient in Premiere. We decided that I would focus on the social media aspect, Cole would handle the flyers, and Garrett would oversee the video. While Garrett was present whenever possible, he often had other commitments, which posed some challenges towards the end.
During our brainstorming sessions for the characters in our piece, we generated ideas and compiled a list of names. I sent out the initial email with this information so that Garrett could have their contact details. Though it wasn’t an assigned responsibility, most of the communication for our project was initiated by me. Nonetheless, Garrett took charge of creating the script, which provided us with a solid foundation to work with. Cole assisted Garrett in finding time to work with Jada, while I helped Garrett find time to work with Joong. Initially, he included his roommate as a character alongside me and him in the video. Due to our varying schedules, I assisted with formal correspondence. However, this meant that Garrett had to utilize his available time amidst his schedule to capture A Roll and B Roll. Perhaps as a group, we should have found a time when we could all meet, but we also had confidence that since this is a 400 level class, each of us possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to successfully record, meet, and create.
As the semester progressed, we found ourselves in November, a crucial time for adding the finishing touches to our projects. With our shoots completed, our focus shifted towards finalizing our tasks. During this period, the Social Media Plan and designed posts listed below were already completed. So then we reached out to Furman University Communications to move forward. It wasn't until the week of the critique (November 16th) that we received a rough cut of the video. However, upon my initial viewing, I had concerns regarding lighting, audio, and some staged footage. I wasn’t sure what to do, but we had to continue to present that day. As expected, the video received critique, and we had to make changes within a few days. The footage featuring Jada's A Roll and some of her B Roll, along with my A Roll and B Roll, the video script, and the rough cut were the materials we had to work with.
Social Media Appendices within Client Presentation
Given that this is a 400 level class, I trusted that I wouldn't have to and probably shouldn’t micromanage each of my group partners in their respective tasks, especially considering my heavy course load. Whenever possible, I try to let go of control to avoid overwhelming myself. However, receiving the rough cut just before the critique day put us in a difficult position. My fear became a reality, and as a group, we had to reshoot a significant amount of footage and capture additional B Roll. Among the group, Garrett and I had more proficiency with cameras. However, since Garrett was at a tournament until the presentation day, I had to take on the responsibility of rerecording everything and obtaining more footage myself.
During this time, Cole was proactive and supportive, which I deeply appreciated. Still, taking on all these shoots and essentially starting from scratch in Premiere consumed most of my weekend. It felt like I was working twice as hard outside of my assigned tasks. Not only did I have to update the Social Media plan, but I also had to spend hours reaching out to characters, obtaining more B Roll, recreating the PSA in Premiere Pro, and more. This semester, I was also responsible for creating the presentations, so leading up to the final presentation, I was really stressed.
Shot of me working until 1:45 AM
This project would not have been completed without the collective efforts of everyone involved. I am grateful that we had a rough cut and script to serve as the foundation for the video recreation; otherwise, this weekend would have been even more challenging. That credit should be given where it's due. While I understand that circumstances cannot always be changed, having to come in and correct the majority of the project this weekend was quite demanding for me.
Overall, this project has been a tremendous learning experience for me. I have gained valuable insights into working with marketing groups and reaching out to other resources, such as Furman University communications. I have also come to realize the importance of communication within groups, especially as a Communications major. Even if we had received the rough cut earlier, I probably would have hesitated to voice my initial concerns. At times, I avoid critiquing colleagues due to the fear of undermining the effort they have put in. Additionally, with my heavy workload this semester, taking on the role of director or critic felt beyond my scope. Moving forward, I now understand that as a group, we need to be more proactive in meeting deliverables and not hesitate to communicate openly. Doing so can prevent situations like the one I faced this weekend. Despite everything, I am still grateful for this opportunity. I feel that I have honed my skills, connected with individuals across campus, and created something truly remarkable. Beyond Furman, I will take these lessons of communication and the skills I have honed towards my own brand and working with others.