A re-introduction to the Community,

[Brick Miner]

My name is Justin Carmien. Many of the long-time members here will remember my contributions to Eurobricks between 2006 and 2008. However, several years have passed now since I have made even a single post; though, that does not mean that I do not read these boards daily—because that is actually the case! Also, between 2006 and 2007 I held a Graphic Administrator position and produced a number of graphics for the site, most of which have now been replaced with more timely images—however, a few “skins” are still in use. My most prize work for the site was the Town and Trains Forum skin and banner, developed in collaboration with active member Alex54, and former Town and Train Forum moderator, Hobbes (all prior to the split between forums ClassicTown.net and Train Tech).

As well, many AFOL may be familiar with my BrickShelf Folder or RailBricks Feature:

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?m=BrickMiner

In 2008 I ended my relationship with the Eurobricks community to pursue employment with the LEGO Group as a Graphic Designer. With the help of Ben Ellermann (classic castle, classic pirates, GatewayLUG), and then Mikael Sjöstedt (Cop Mike) I was encouraged to reply to job postings throughout those two years, but each time was not asked to come to Denmark to further the process. However, in response to the job postings here ( http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=42408 ) and here ( http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=42407 ) I have been asked to come to Denmark to participate in a team workshop with other potential candidates later this August.

For those who are interested in seeing my portfolio, I have made it available here:

http://justinbleep.com/dropbox/LEGO_app/justin_carmien_PORTFOLIO_01.pdf

http://justinbleep.com/dropbox/LEGO_app/justin_carmien_PORTFOLIO_02.pdf

As homework for the workshop, participants were asked to produce three pieces, which I have now completed, but will not post here until I return from Denmark (we were asked also to create a presentation with the homework, and I do not wish to spoil that event by publishing the information early). I am participating in a workshop with 6 other candidates. Living in the Unites States, I am traveling the farthest. I have made sure to email all of the participants, and have heard back from most. And in fact, I feel a growing friendship with some already! We have not been made aware how many positions there are to fill, or even if this workshop is regarding specifically the call for Graphic Designers, or both Graphic and Product Designers (front end development). A few of the participants have suggested they had applied for both, as I had.

In conclusion, I would like to say thank you to those members who help to shape my early AFOL years; because for sure, I am in debt to those who have made it possible that I have advanced this far in the process. The list includes Eurobricks members, The Brickster, Mister Phes, Norro and others whose names are escaping me currently.

I have posted this thread in the General Discussion and News Forum, so that we may use this topic as a venue for Q&A regarding the workshop, or more generally, as a venue for discussion of any design workshop which an AFOL attends. However, be aware that I was asked to sign a confidentiality form in able to be able to participate in the workshop. At this point, I have not seen the form myself; however, it is very possible that the amount of information which I can give about the workshop might be limited by stipulations on that form.

- BrickMiner

[RoryoCox]

I Welcome you back to Eurobricks. You seem to have come along way since when you left the sight and I congratulate you on getting called back. I don't know if you can tell us this but when you were asked to create three models was there any limitations or could it be anything?

[Rick]

Welcome back to Eurobricks Brick Miner. I remember admiring your Western MOCs when I was still lurking at EB. To me, those are easily the best Western MOCs, because of their set-like qualities. I hope this introduction also means we'll see you making more posts to EB as of now.

[Marckeyh]

Your portfolio is amazing! Hope it goes well for you, and looking forward to your 3 models.

[Big Cam]

I've heard your name thrown around here before. Your work is truely amazing and I wish you the best of luck with the job prospect in Denmark. I've got my fingers crossed for you.

[Captain Green Hair]

Hey good to see you back Brick miner!

Though I remember seeing most of your work right here on EB, your portfolio looks great.

All the best in the upcoming workshop and future ventures!

[just2good]

Welcome back! I've seen your dedication to Eurobricks in older posts.

[LegoDad42]

Loved checking out your portfolio. I like how you stylized your mini-fig drawings. Great look for them!

Best wishes getting a gig with LEGO!

[Matn]

Good to see you back! Your creations were always a treat for the eye. I remember seeing the first part of your portfolio and I was truly impressed. Your drawing style is really something special, and of course your LEGO skills also. And now that I've seen the second part, I'm even more impressed. Those figures and their drawn counterparts are great!

Also good to hear you're currently participating in the workshops. Good luck!

[General Redwater]

Welcmoe back to Eurobricks! In reading you'r portfolio, I see how amazing you are at designing decals and sets. The drawings of minifigs look great too.

Good luck in getting the job with LEGO!

-

General Redwater

[Brick Miner]

Thank you for the warm welcome back everyone!

For those who have comment on my minifigure sketches - thank you for the compliments I do think, as others have said in various threads, that LEGO is looking for strong illustration skills for both the Graphic and Front-End teams. My background is in illustrating comic books and over the past 6 years I have developed a distinct style to set myself apart from other artist within that industry. This style is of course manifesting in my minifigure illustrations. I am glad to receive confirmation that the translation between the two subjects is agreeable

I will amend with this: My portfolio was not accepted for two years (about 3 or 4 individual submissions), and it was only until I added those minifigure illustrations (Ghost Town and Arabian Nights and complimented them to the decal designs and finished minifigure photos) that I was asked to come to the workshop. The only other new material which was added in the most recent update was the Arabian Nights logo design. As well, I think LEGO is looking for submissions strong with vector logo creation.

The homework which we were assigned was very specific. However, we were not asked to build any sets or models. I can only assume that all of the homework which I will see at the workshop will be a combination of hand drawn sketches and vector graphics. However, oil and acrylic paints were also suggested for some assignments.

For now, I probably should not reveal any more information on the specific requests of the assignments themselves.

Just2Good, it's great that your interest in the history of EB directed you to research older post, conversations, and members. This is very cool to hear because it reminds me of something that I would/did do when I joined (although, the forum was much more in its infancy then).

- BrickMiner

[Siegfried]

Hello! It's nice seeing you around!

a few “skins” are still in use

Sort-of. We needed to re-build every skin with the last upgrade, and they work very differently so straight copies were not possible. Thus the banners and borders are the same in a few forums, like Sci-Fi (Space) but the colours are not. I hope you don't mind what we did...

[prateek]

Welcome back my old friend. Good luck on your job search, and I love your portfolio!

[Brick Miner]

Hello again everyone!

I returned from the Graphic Design Recruitment Workshop nearly two weeks ago, and I apologize for not returning to you sooner. I have found myself in constant correspondence with LEGO since; and as I'm sure you can imagine, this has been a solid two weeks for me.

The workshop was very messy/cluttered/chaotic with interviews, lunch, presentations, and assignments all being completed in the same room, and, in some cases, at the same time! I did not prefer this environment for being productive - certainly not creative. Considering all of this, I have to say that though I am extremely happy with the homework which I produced before the event, my performance at the workshop was poor, and I am not at all happy with my work on the assignments at the workshop. In reflection, the candidates were all very qualified, and in looking at things as objectively as possible, I would not have considered myself the most qualified of the bunch.

Despite all of this, I received an email from my primary LEGO contact this morning which included an offer for a permanent position on the graphics design team.

I will be accepting this offer, and expect to start in January 2011.

In January, though I will be a designer, I will remain a fan at heart I expect to find time for continuing my MOCs, and wish to continue expansion of my City and Arabian Night layouts - if space within my Danish apartment permits!

As well, I will continue to read Eurobricks, however, I am sure my contribution will be infrequent. I will keep all of your perspectives and requests in the back of my mind as I conduct my daily work. I also want to encourage everyone to be very critical of my designs. I would like to use Eurobricks as a source for consumer response. I think at times we, as fans, become engulfed in the hype regarding new LEGO products, and critical judgment concerning specifics becomes lost. To elaborate, I can assume that since any feedback which I read is from a member, and being a member of Eurobricks means being fanatical about LEGO products, so I will take particular interest in other types of responses. Furthermore, as adults, I will look to your responses as a source of mature and contemplated thought on my work. Particularly, adult fans need to remember that they are adults, and though we can keep children in our minds at LEGO, here on Eurobricks I should expect to read comments from adult minds, not comments from adult minds who have attempted to interpret the mind of a child. So, let me hear what you, the adult, wants. Besides, I am sure that I will hear enough of what children want following focus groups, etc

If you have any further questions, I will attempt to answer those here, with what information I have.

In conclusion, I fully share this accomplishment with the entirety of those Eurobricks members who were active during my time here. This is a win for each of you, because surly, your feedback has contributed to my growth as a designer within the LEGO medium. For example, I take the case of my first attempt at an MOC, Gunslingers Saloon ( http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5127&st=0#entry81047 ), created in 2006. Thank you

- Brick Miner

[Rick]

Congratulations! Well-deserved.

[roamingstop]

Congratulations... something and someone to aspire to!

The Portfolio's are amazing - and definitely TLG made a good choice.

[Djole]

Hey Justin, I'm glad you made it! It was nice meeting you and surely it'll be nice working with you :-)

Take care and see you soon again!

Greetz!

[Brick Miner]

It was nice meeting you and surely it'll be nice working with you :-)

[Holodoc]

Hi Justin!

Godd you came back and let us know about the recruitment workshop.

I wanted to say hello to you, when you started the topic, but somehow I forgot...

Now I've gotten a second chance and I can do it right here:

Nice to see you writing at Eurobricks again and of course

CONGRATULATIONS

on your new job at our favourite hobby supplier!

Your ideas are very promising, I hope you can stick to them when working for Lego. You will be restricted I fear.

[Norro]

Naturally huge congrats my friend! You've worked hard for a long time on this and deserve all the future success I know you will enjoy! I also look forward to you re-emergence in this community even if it is punctuated more frequently by work extracting from your creativity levels (that has been my recent experience).

God Bless (as always!),

Nathan

[Hinckley]

You made it!!!

[Siegfried]

Congrats!

[WhiteFang]

Congratulations Brick Miner! :wub:

[Bonaparte]

Congrats Justin, I'm happy to see this dream of yours becoming a reality!

I admire that you want to move to another country for working with LEGO, but Billund is a real nice place and and I'm sure you'll soon make a lot of friends over there.

I'm looking forward meeting you next time I come to Billund.

[Brick Miner]

Yes Bonaparte I already feel a budding relationship with some of the designer on the graphics team.

As well, to those traveling into Billund next year and beyond: feel free to send me a message through the EB messaging system. We can see if our schedules would permit a meeting during your stay

I expect to at least meet up again with Hinckley and CopMike But encourage the possibility of meeting any EBer passing through.

Of course, there is always the EB event in Billund too.

- Brick Miner