INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Think about the objects or images that carry meaning for you. Make a list of all of these objects and images. If you are designing a symbol for your product, then try to think about what images best represent your product. Keep in mind that your symbol does not need to be a literal representation of your product, but it should have a strong connection with your brand. For example, having a shoe as your symbol might be too literal if your product is shoes. Instead, you might represent what the shoes allow wearers to do with your symbol, such as run faster or enjoy the outdoors more. If you are designing a personal symbol, then focus on images or objects that might represent important aspects of your personality, heritage, or the message that you want to send. For example, if you are Irish you might incorporate the shamrock or some elements of Celtic design into your symbol. Gather some materials for sketching such as paper, pens or pencils, and draw a rough sketch of each of the images or objects you listed. The sketches don't have to be perfect, but remember you want your symbol to send a clear message to people who see it. As you sketch, try to keep your goals for the symbol in mind. What message do you want to send? After you finish your sketches, look over them and think about which one is the most effective. If you are creating a symbol for your business, then the image should be something that is eye catching and easy to recognize. Try to pick the image that you feel has the strongest impact. Try showing your sketches to different people and see which one they prefer. Make sure to ask them why they prefer this image as well. You can use the input to adjust your symbol if needed. Simplicity is key in creating an effective symbol. Try not to over design your symbol with lots of embellishments and details. Remove any unnecessary detail or anything visually distracting. Once you have identified any unnecessary or distracting elements, you can either erase them or start over. Some examples of simple yet effective symbols include the Nike swoosh, the Olympic rings, and the Microsoft windows. The color of your symbol can also have a strong effect on the way that people perceive the symbol. Familiarizing yourself with basic color theory can help you to come up with a harmonious and visually arresting symbol. If you are using multiple colors in your symbol design, then make sure that they complement one another. For example, you might chose two polar opposites such as black and white, or two shades of one color, such as light blue and dark blue. Other colors can be jarring if placed beside each other, such as orange and pink. Experts in the psychology of color argue that we have emotional responses to certain colors. Consider this when choosing colors for your symbol. For example, red can signify energy, power, passion, anger, and blood. When you have finished creating your symbol, take a closer look at it and try to determine if there is anything else that might improve it. Some questions you might ask yourself include: Is it simple and appealing? Does it communicate your message well? Do the colors work? Is there anything (big or small) that you'd like to change about it?

SUMMARY: Think about what you want to symbolize. Sketch two or three of these objects. Pick the image that works best for your product. Keep it simple. Pay attention to color. Evaluate your final symbol.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Maxi skirts are very long and need fabric that is a bit heavier to weigh them down. Find a fabric that is a bit thicker so that it is not see-through and will have enough weight to keep the skirt from blowing around. Use a wide band of elastic to create the waistband at the top; the elastic will be exposed, so choose a color that matches the fabric of your skirt. Try to choose fabric that is large enough to be cut in a single piece. This maxi skirt tutorial uses a single length of fabric, rather than two (or more) smaller pieces sewn together. The two necessary measurements to make a basic maxi skirt are your hips and length. Use a soft measuring tape around the widest part of your hips where your skirt will sit. Then, measure from that point down to your ankles (or where you want the skirt to end). This measurement will probably range somewhere from 4070 inches (101.6177.8cm) depending on your height. Measure your elastic for the waistband by taking one inch off your hip measurement. This will make your elastic just tight enough that it won't slide off or create an awkwardly loose band. Add one inch of extra fabric to both the length and the width for seam allowances. Turn the tube of fabric inside out so that you can work along the top stretch of the material. If you have a serger, serge the edge of the fabric to keep it from fraying. Otherwise, use a zigzag stitch to stabilize the ends. Fold the bottom inch of the skirt up and iron it to create the hem. Use a zigzag stitch or serger to keep the bottom edge of the fabric from fraying. Then, use a straight stitch to attach it to the body of the skirt.

SUMMARY: Choose your materials. Take your measurements. Start the waistband. Finish the hem.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Ryan Leaf was going to be the next big thing. A great football quarterback, finalist for the Heisman, second-overall pick in the NFL draft. Fast forward a few years, and Leaf is considered one of the biggest busts of all time, having failed to achieve at a high level. Natural talent for playing football doesn't mean anything if you don't commit to building it into a skill. When you find your talent, think of it like a seed that you're planting. You're off to a good start, but you've still got to water it, mulch it, and weed around the edges to make sure your seed grows into a big plant. It takes work. As iron sharpens iron, so one talented person sharpens another. If you've got a talent for something, or even if you just hope to develop talent in some field, surround yourself with other talented people and model yourself after their behaviors, practice routines, and attitudes about their talent. Learn everything you can from talented people. Find a mentor who's willing to show you the ropes and coach you in developing your new skills. Blossoming guitar players need good teachers beyond YouTube. Blossoming singers need other people to play music with. Developing your talent into a skill and your skill into an ability is going to be hard. The more you learn about a subject, a task, or an ability, the more complicated it becomes. Commit to learning everything you can about your field and challenging yourself to become a master. Turn your talent into something special. Make your talent real. Playing chess might not get easier for Magnus Carlsen, just because he's a phenomenal player. Now he knows just how complicated the game can be. The more you learn about a game, a skill, or a field, the more there will be to learn. It never gets easy. Even if you've got no talent for the guitar, practicing two hours a day guarantees that you'll get a lot better. Someone who practices, whether it be sport, art, or any other field, will always end up more talented than someone who never picks up their instrument, picks up their paintbrush, someone who never practices. Hard work outruns ability every time.

SUMMARY:
Commit to building your talent into a skill. Find other talented people. Respect the complexity of your talent. Practice.