Dannika’s Design & Photography

Author: Dannika

  • Defying Cystic Fibrosis: From Rare Disease to Unwavering Determination

    Get ready for a sweatshirt drop! Date:TBD @md_designsandmore on instagram and facebook!

    Explanation from a cystic fibrosis site, The “65 Roses” story dates back to 1965 when an observant 4-year-old, hearing the name of his disease for the first time, pronounced cystic fibrosis as “65 Roses.” Today, “65 Roses” is a term often used by young children with cystic fibrosis to pronounce the name of their disease.

    Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always had a little tickle cough. My diagnosis, which was originally just “allergies”, was finally figured out at the age of 6. After years of my parents trying to navigate what was wrong with me, a family doctor asked if we had a history of cystic fibrosis in the family. My mom immediately said “no”, not thinking anything of her distant cousin who was sick quite often.

    Eventually, we found out that Marcia (my mom’s cousin) had cystic fibrosis as well. Marcia was such a role model within our lives. She provided guidance and support, no matter the questions asked. The things that nobody would talk about out loud, were the topic of our conversations. My mom could ask her for advice and she’d respond within the hour. Heaven gained Marcia as an angel in 2019. Missing her and the advice she had will never fade away. OR I’ll always miss Marcia and the wise advice she had.

    We found out my genes have two mutated copies of the CFTR gene. CFTR stands for cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Wow! That’s a mouthful. If I’m being honest, in my 14 years of knowing I have cf, I’ve never typed that out until now.

    When we finally realized what was wrong, cf therapy treatments have been a daily occurrence throughout life. Getting up extra early for treatments is the usual for me! I’ve learned to multitask while being hooked up to treatments. Throughout grade school, I would read, write, and type while I was doing treatments! That’s talent. The cystic fibrosis vest shakes and helps loosen thick mucus in the lungs. Nebulizers are also done with it to help open the airways!

    Cystic Fibrosis Facts:

    • About 1/30 people in the U.S. carry the cf gene.
    • Cf warriors sweat out more salt than the average person.
    • Every single cf fighter has a different story.

    ❥ Cf warriors out there, Keep fighting! I believe in you!

    Xoxo,

    Dannika Weelborg

  • The Art of Composing the Magazine

    This past week and a half, I’ve been perfecting printing, scoring, folding, stapling, and cutting each of my personal magazines.

    Learning to do each of these things was super fun. We learned from a student and then proceeded to teach another. This way of learning makes sure everyone fully understands what they’re doing. Teaching others also makes individuals comfortable with doing the same things alone.

    Scoring and folding the magazine was definitely my biggest struggle. Getting the perfect midline in each spread is important and it takes extra time to get it perfect! Stapling was tedious as well. If the staples are crooked, the spreads won’t align correctly.

    At the school, we have a cutting machine that makes the cutting process quite easy. Simply pushing buttons with the right measurements ensures that the cut is as close to perfect as it can be!

    Looking at my completed magazines brings me so much joy, but also satisfaction. I can’t believe that every piece of this magazine was created by my hands and imagination (that came to life)!

  • New Spunk of Creating – Stress Reliving Event filled with Joy

    There was a painting session today in the Southeast Tech dorms. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would go, but I decided to take a chance—and I’m so glad I did! Everyone choose a canvas and colors to create whatever they wanted. I went for a fun idea and painted a disco watermelon.

    Since the color options were limited, I had to mix black, white, and primary colors to get the shades I wanted, which took some extra effort. But painting was such a nice break from staring at a screen. As a designer, most of my creative time is spent in front of a computer using Adobe software, so it felt amazing to create something with my hands instead. I love painting, but I don’t always make time for it. After this event, I think I’ll start again! As soon as I put brush to canvas, I felt so much stress melt away.

  • Concert Day!

    Today there’s a Rascal Flatts concert in Sioux Falls! I can’t wait to get all dressed up and go. I’ve been listening to the setlist for quite awhile and know almost every song. I’m super excited because we had friends fly here from Arizona that are going with us! I love whenever we get to see them! We get all caught up and talk for hours!

  • Portfolio Campaign Voting

    Tomorrow we have Portfolio Show voting! We are going to give corrections and things we liked about each persons campaign. There’s going to be a 1st place winner, 2nd place winner, and 3rd place! I’m super excited to vote and see everyones amazing work! I can’t wait for the Portfolio Show! It’s going to be here before we know it! Every year, Southeast Tech holds a Portfolio Show for upcoming graduates of the year to show off their work and to meet industry leaders! Friends and family are also welcome at this event! It’s an awesome time to be able to show off your work and enjoy the end of your graduation year!

  • Arizona Sr Pictures

    This past long weekend, I had the opportunity to take Sr pictures in Arizona! I learned so many new skills and poses while doing so. I’ve already started becoming more comfortable with my camera. I had a blast and can’t wait to get all of the pictures edited! Here are a few of them!

  • Buying a Bluehost Website

    For our class, we bought our own domain name for a website! It cost some money, but it will be worth it for the Portfolio Show. We got everything linked up and downloaded so we can also use it to create our very own website. Of course we’ll design our own website too! Sometimes, I question my abilities with web classes, but this year I’m excited! I can’t wait to see what the future holds! Designing, creating, and more is all I’ve been doing lately!

  • Morning Routines can Change Everything

    1. Water First Thing!

    Drinking a glass of water upon waking helps rehydrate your body after hours of sleep, jumpstarts metabolism, and improves brain function. Adding a squeeze of lemon can provide extra health benefits.

    2. Wake up at a Consistent Time!

    A consistent wake-up time helps regulate your body’s internal clock, making it easier to feel energized throughout the day. Waking up even 30 minutes earlier can give you a head start and reduce morning stress.

    3. Stretching or Exercising

    Engaging in some form of movement in the morning, whether it’s light stretching, yoga, or a short workout, can increase blood flow, improve mood, and set a positive tone for the day.

    4. Eat a Good Breakfast.

    Fueling your body with a balanced breakfast that includes protein, healthy fats, and fiber can help sustain energy levels and prevent mid-morning crashes. Avoid processed and sugary foods for a more stable start to your day.

    5. Limit Screen Time Right Away.

    Resist the urge to immediately check emails or social media upon waking. Instead, allow yourself time to ease into the day with purposeful activities before diving into digital distractions.

    Your morning routine doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. Start with small, intentional changes and gradually build habits that work best for you. By creating a morning routine that aligns with your goals, you set yourself up for a successful, productive, and fulfilling day.

  • Connecting new printers

    We’ve all been there. You click “Print,” expecting an instant response, but instead, nothing happens. You check the printer. It’s on. There’s paper. No error messages. Still, silence. Frustration sets in, and the temptation to click “Print” ten more times grows stronger.

    Take a deep breath.

    In a world of instant gratification, where everything from food delivery to streaming services caters to our impatience, waiting for a printer to connect can feel like an eternity. But, as with many things in life, patience is key. Here’s why slowing down and troubleshooting calmly is the best approach.

    1. Printers Need a Moment to Wake Up

    Most modern printers go into sleep mode to save energy. When you send a document, it may take a few seconds (or even a full minute) for the printer to warm up and establish a connection. Give it time before assuming something is wrong.

    2. Connection Delays Happen

    If you’re using a wireless printer, network traffic, interference, or temporary connection drops can all cause a delay. Restarting the router, re-establishing the Wi-Fi connection, or simply waiting a few moments often resolves the issue.

    3. Spamming the Print Button Won’t Help

    Hitting “Print” repeatedly won’t speed up the process—in fact, it might send multiple copies of the same document to the queue, resulting in an unintended stack of pages when the printer finally responds. Instead, check the print queue and clear any duplicates if necessary.

    4. Drivers and Updates Matter

    If your printer isn’t responding, it may need a driver update. A quick visit to the manufacturer’s website can ensure your software is up-to-date and working smoothly.

    5. Troubleshooting is Easier When You Stay Calm

    Instead of panicking, methodically check power sources, cables, Wi-Fi settings, and printer status messages. Often, the solution is simple, but frustration can make it seem more complicated than it is.

    6. A Moment of Pause Saves Time in the Long Run

    Rather than getting flustered, take a deep breath and give it a moment. That patience could save you from restarting your computer, unplugging everything in frustration, or launching into a full-blown troubleshooting saga.

    The Takeaway

    Printers, like life, require patience. The next time you hit “Print” and nothing happens immediately, remember—breathe, troubleshoot methodically, and trust that your document will find its way to the paper soon enough.

    After all, a few extra seconds of waiting beats the stress of an unnecessary meltdown.

    Happy printing!

  • Creating a logo for the Portfolio Show

    Creating a logo for the Portfolio show has been fun but a little stressful. Creating a logo that would be able to function in many different areas. The logo I created is nothing like I would normally design. It’s funky and fun and OUT THERE.

    This screenshot is the beginning of my work, just throwing ideas out there. My design stemmed off of the little one on the left that’s super funky.

    This is my final design! I started with SUPER funky letters put quickly realized that they were difficult to read from a distance. I made the letters back to their original shape and added squiggles instead. It’s fun, but also readable. Now, I have to create a few different things using the logo. A window cling, poster, envelope, invite, and others!