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Shay Merritté Consortium Application SWEATER VEST SUPPLEMENT

Sweatervest Supplement

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Page 1: Sweatervest Supplement

Shay MerrittéConsortium ApplicationSWEATER VEST SUPPLEMENT

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This is asweater vest.It says almosteverything about me.

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Through my training as a graphic designer, I have followed one guiding principle:

THINGS ALWAYS NEED TO LOOK GOOD and COMMUNICATE IDEAS.I follow this idea in nearly everything I do, from the food I eat, to most importantly, the clothes that I wear. Several years ago when I was reevaluating my wardrobe I was looking for a style that was businesslike and professional, but still youthful and stood out. I decided that my wardrobe should center around the sweater vest. Sweater vests follow both my wardrobe and design philosophies. They are usually considered aged and dorky, but by wearing them I make them youthful and funky. because they are sleeveless I can wear them throughout the year. Most sweater vests have a "v-neck" that allows me to accent outfits with ties. The details and clean minimalist lines follow my design philosophies. If you would like to learn more about my wardrobe...as well as requisite

MBA application information, please turn the page.

Cotton Knitor Wool

Sleeves

Hanger

V-Neck

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TABLE OF CONTENTSCore Questions Personal Data [ 2,3 ] Employment [ 8,9 ] Academics [ 4,5 ] Test Scores [ 6,7 ] Employment History [ 8,9 ]Resume [ 8,9 ]Core Essays Core Essay 1 [ 10,11 ] Core Essay 2 [ 12,13 ] Core Essay 3 [ 14,15 ]School Specific Essays [ 16, 17 ]Transcripts [ 18 ]GMAT Score [ 19 ]Certification & Signature [ back cover ]

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MALE SINGLE

St.Louis MO 63146

first name

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*No graded classes were taken this summer.** This book was designed before final fall 07 grades were released.

School Attended: Washington University in St.LouisGraduation Date: Bachelor of Fine Arts Candidate May 2009Major: Visual Communications

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GGRADUATE

MMANAGEMENT

AADMISSIONS

TTEST

test date:11/24/07

Analytical WritingQuantitative48%

36

Verbal84%

38

Total71%

610

83%

5.5

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Event Continues to the Present

Event HappensFor a Period

Even

t Hap

pens

Onc

e

Two

Pie

ces

Sele

cted

for

Des

Lee

“C

ore

Show

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Scholar

AIGA

Social Justice Center

American Red Cross Youth Corps

Students Against Bullying and Rage

Sierra Club Voter Education Program

Young Scientist Program

PrideFest

Alumni and Parents Admissions Program

Black Anthology

ProjectRambling

Black Bear Bakery

WashU Film Board

South Side Day Nursery

SP SU FA WISP SU FA WI SP SU FA WI SP SU FA WI

UMR Hydrogen Bus

CJ

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V

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Dr. Martin Luther KingCommemoration V

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Rep

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J C AVVolunteer Club ExecJob Award

SP SU FA WISpring Summer Fall Winter

J ob Experience

wards & Honors

olunteerism

lub ExecutiveA

Young Scientist Program {Spring 2004—Fall 2004}Position: Research InternResponsibilities:

Pride St.Louis- PrideFest {Fall 2007—Present}Position: Freelance DesignerResponsibilities:

Black Bear Bakery {Fall 2006—Fall 2007}Position: Freelance DesignerResponsibilities:

University of Missouri-Rolla Hydrogen Bus Program {Spring 2007—Fall 2007}Position: Responsibilities:

Project Rambling {Fall 2006—Spring 2007}Position: Freelance DesignerResponsibilities: WashU Alumni & Parents Admissions Program {Spring 2007—Fall 2007}Position: InternResponsibilities:

MOMA RedStudio Contest Winner {Winter 2004}Details:

Red Cross National Convention Representative { }Details:

KT Family Foundation Scholarship Winner { }Details:

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Scholar { }Details:

St.Louis Red Cross: School and Community Award { }Details:

Des Lee “Core Show” {Spring 2007}Details:

Dean’s List {Spring 2007}Details:

Second Place- Saint Louis University’s Idea to Product Competition {Spring 2007}Details:

C

V

AIGA-American Institute of Graphic Artists {Fall 2007—Present}Position: Responsibilities:

WashU Film Board { }Position:Responsibilities:

Social Justice Center { }Position:Responsibilities:

Black Anthology {Spring 2007—Present}Position:Responsibilities:

American Red Cross Youth Corps { }Position: Responsibilities:

Students Against Bullying and Rage { }Position: Responsibilities:

Sierra Club Voter Education Program {Spring 2004—Fall 2004}Position: Responsibilities:

South Side Day Nursery {Fall 2006—Present}Position: Responsibilities:

Dr.Martin Luther King Commemoration {Fall 2007—Present}Position: DesignerResponsibilities:

Contact: Email:[email protected]: (314)703-1094Address:1312 Thames Ct.St.Louis MO. 63146Education:Washington University in St.LouisCandidate for Bachelor of Fine Arts,May 2009Major: Visual Communications

Office Software

Design Software

Web Software

CAD Software

Micr W r P erP cel

t strat te

Dr Wea S

t C etchUp

Additional Skills:

Shay Merritté

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Core Essay 1Writing these essays has been

very difficult for me, not because I dislike writing essays or that I am having problems defining answers to the questions, but because the essays have to be composed inside a Microsoft Word Document. The problem with the Microsoft Word Document format is that it doesn’t allow for innovative type or layout design. Microsoft Word makes it difficult to adjust the spaces between the individual letters in words or finesse the spaces between the lines of text; to most people these are minor and trivial things, but I have spent weeks in class studying these basic type design elements and how they lead to innovative typographic solutions for a more enjoyable experience for the reader.

Developing creative solutions to problems is my career goal. During my undergraduate studies at Washington University, I have been devoted to learning about design and creating visual solutions to help information travel between businesses and consumers. Through freelance design consultant jobs I have been able to put my learning into practice in fields from baked goods to hydrogen research. Through these experiences

I have discovered that innovation can solve problems as basic as drawing people into an event or as complex as designing a building system from recycled materials.

Ultimately, I would like to run my own innovation and design consultancy and think-tank, performing research and developing workable solutions for diverse problems from designing better pen grips to more universally

understood landmine-warning symbols. I understand that there are many steps that I need to take before I can run a successful company. Just as I have steeped myself in the culture and education of design to become a better designer, I feel that to be a successful businessperson, it is imperative to become immersed in the theory and techniques of successful management and other business practices that an MBA education can provide. Working as a freelance design consultant has taught me about brand worth, client relations, and the importance of the entrepreneurial

spirit, but it hasn’t taught me everything. Through an MBA education I could complement my experiences with classes from international money markets to operations management, skills that would take me years and multiple jobs to learn on my own.

After earning an MBA I would like to work as a group leader at a design consultancy such as Metaphase, creators of Microsoft’s first ergonomic mouse or IDEO, designers of the Palm V PDA. These companies have been able to combine business, innovation and design into products that have changed the world and improved peoples’ lives. Working at either of these companies or another similar to them, I feel would give me the experience necessary to lead a group of problem solvers to transform outlandish ideas into workable solutions, and prepare me for my future goal of running my own company.

I feel that my career goals are ambitious but are still within my reach. I have had some business experience, but feel that the advanced business education an MBA could provide would transform me into the leader I feel that I can become. An MBA education would allow me to use skills and training in innovation and design to change the world for the better.

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Core Essay 2Anarchy. For some people,

images of black flags with red stars and idealistic teenagers wearing Che Guevara t-shirts come to mind. However, when I think of Anarchy, I think of fresh baked oatmeal raisin cookies, good coffee, and the importance of being a flexible leader. I met a member of the Black Bear Bakery, an anarchist bakery collective, during a Washington University night school course about social entrepreneurship. The member talked to me about how the bakery was working to evolve its image

and expand its business. After visiting the bakery I knew that I could use my training in visual communications to help in its transformation and immediately offered my services as a design consultant. People often joke that their workplaces descend into anarchy when the boss goes on vacation or a project approaches its deadline, however the Black Bear Bakery truly was an anarchic organization. There were no bosses, managers or shift leaders. Each bakery member made his or her own hours and received an equal share of the revenue at the end

of the week. The only mandatory event at the bakery was a weekly meeting where all the bakery members would gather to collectively discuss what products would be produced during the week, what ingredients needed to be ordered, and any other decision that would affect the bakery. When I first attended these meetings to discuss ways to update the bakery’s visual identity, there was a lot of friction, because I was trying to lead in a system that frowned upon authority. During the meetings each bakery member would propose disparate design directions that would be difficult to combine into a unified design. When I would make independent decisions to unify design elements, the bakery members became defensive because they felt like an outsider was forcing decisions upon them. After several weeks of making little progress I had to think of a way to reconcile my need to exercise my training as a designer and position as a consultant with the bakery’s culture of consensus. After spending some time in the bakery I discovered that all the workers were not equal; some worked only a few hours a week while others worked from open to close almost every day. I realized that the workers who spent more time in the shop

had garnered some inherent authority amongst the other bakery workers by virtue of experience. I decided to work directly with the experienced workers to run the meetings. I taught the experienced workers brainstorming tools and stepped back as they worked together to develop solid ideas that I could then develop into finished designs. Whenever I made independent decisions I handed them to the more experienced bakery members to be presented and discussed by the group, so the changes appeared to happen from within the community. I became less frustrated with having to incorporate many individuals’ viewpoints and less conflict occurred when I needed to make independent design decisions.

Once I became a flexible leader, the design process progressed much faster. The bakery members were able to have a voice in the direction they wanted to move their bakery’s visual identity and I was able to create a functional design identity. A system of labels was developed that could be applied to all the bakery’s products, an attractive menu was designed that stood out both in the bakery and at farmers’ markets and a sales kit was developed that allowed them to expand their wholesale business to new customers.

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Core Essay 3Q: Could an African-American paint a serious traditional, romantic landscape?

This question was posed to us at the beginning of a class discussion of race as a framework in art. Obviously an African-American could paint a landscape, but the question was really asking, could the African-American’s painting escape from the connotations and history of the African American and exist without any irony or mockery of a traditionally white art form? Is it possible to break deep-rooted norms and assumptions?

I address the issue of race and culture whenever I begin a new design or business project. Growing up as a biracial person in a neighborhood with people of various ages, races, and socioeconomic levels, diversity has always been an important part of my life. When I began studying visual communications, I realized that addressing diversity would help tremendously with my work. The field of visual communications is primarily concerned with how to communicate with people as clearly and effectively as possible. When I begin a new project I try to approach it as if I were trying to address diverse audiences:

What would this poster mean to the retirees at the Jewish Community Center where I work out? Would the Bosnian immigrants down the street want to pick up a book with this cover? Are these informational symbols communicative to the stylists at the African hair salon where I get my hair done?

When I was asked last year by Washington University’s Dr. Martin Luther King Commemoration committee to design promotional material I thought it would be a good opportunity to help diversify what had traditionally been a rather homogeneous event. I started the project by interviewing a cross section of people who did not attend the event. Some people didn’t attend the event because they felt that they had learned everything about Dr.King from their elementary and middle school experiences. Other people didn’t attend the event because they thought diversity was no longer a major issue and didn’t need to be addressed or celebrated.

The material I designed attempted to address both these issues and attract people both to the Dr.King

Commemoration as well as showcase the importance of diversity on campus. First I reduced the amount of Dr.King imagery in most of my designs, so people wouldn’t view the event with preconceived notions. Then to showcase the importance of diversity I designed “diversity tags”. These tags were displayed in places such as restrooms, classrooms, campus eateries and other places that had historically been segregated. The tags read, “This area has been desegregated for your benefit” and featured outlines of people using the areas. Instead of addressing specific races I filled the outlines with different patterns to reference the idea of being diverse without setting parameters for what diversity specifically is.The tags were successful in attracting a more diverse audience to the Dr.King Commemoration and several residential assistants used them in floor programs about campus diversity. Diversity is important and needs to be addressed in our work and community. I look at diversity to help solve problems and discover new points of view, and will continue to do so throughout my career.

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School Specific EssayWashington University

It never seems like there is enough time; whether trying to savor the

last five minutes before the alarm clock goes off or speeding a product to market to beat the competition, time is very important. At the beginning of my search for MBA programs I was worried about not having enough full-time work experience that many programs required. I became further discouraged at the prospect of building my career only to need to take a break to pursue an immersive full-time MBA experience. Everything changed when I learned about the Olin School of Business Young Leaders Program and the 3-2 MBA format. I was excited to learn that I had an opportunity to pursue an MBA while finishing my undergraduate degree at Washington University. When I investigated Olin’s MBA program further, I was impressed by its innovative curriculum. The Olin classroom is very research and application focused, it is not just about taking tests and writing papers, but applying learning from the classroom to real-world problems, something that I

find very useful from my undergraduate design curriculum. With unique pro-grams such as the intense Integrative Case Experience Week I would have the opportunity to solve previously unsolvable problems of major corporations and then present the recommendations to corpo-rate executives. No other business school provides such an opportunity to someone who is still an undergraduate student. It is a challenge that I am anxiously awaiting to meet head-on.

I was also impressed by Olin’s genuine focus on teamwork and fostering a diverse business community where the goal is to help each other attain success. Being an art student trying to transition to a busi-ness program I was really looking for a MBA program where I could get support from and be challenged by both my faculty and peers. Even though I haven’t applied yet I have already felt the warmth and ac-ceptance of the Olin students, faculty, and administrators.

I understand that Olin’s MBA program will be challenging, especially for someone who has spent his undergraduate educa-tion in art studios, but I was relieved that Olin allows students to take appropriate academic risks through its high-pass/pass/low-pass/no-pass grading system. I am looking forward to exploring new classes like Capital Markets and becom-ing more proficient in underdeveloped skills such as Statistics. This opportunity to be academically adventurous excited me as I thought about how it would trans-form the way I learn and extract informa-tion from a variety of business disciplines. Even before I applied to Olin I understood the benefits that this system could bring. During the accounting case study discus-sion at the recent Diversity Weekend, I discovered that I enjoyed accounting and began seeking out other cases in newspa-pers and magazines. If one hour in Simon Hall can make me enjoy accounting, I am excited about what else I could learn dur-ing another two years with Olin.

Ultimately though I am interested pursu-ing an MBA from the Olin School of Busi-ness because it will prepare me for the career I aspire to as soon as possible. When I mapped out my career goals this past Spring I realized that I would need an advanced business education, and Olin stood out as the best school that would offer me the opportunity to earn such an education in an efficient manner. I feel that after I graduate from Olin I will be able to transform business in the same way that Olin is transforming the MBA classroom. No other school gives me the same opportunity to combine my art edu-cation with an advanced business educa-tion like the Olin School of Business.

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This book was designed and printed by Shay Merritté for the Olin School of Business MBA application during the fall and winter of 2007, using the typeface Din.