Work log

It is a kind of diary for work, but with the characteristic of being more rigorous.

Origin of the work log

If you are looking for the definition of the term binnacle , you will be surprised to find that it comes from the French word bitacle and refers to a wooden cabinet or wardrobe used in the maritime world.

In ships it is positioned next to the rudder, it works as a place of protection for the compass and other useful tools for travel , such as maps. However, these are not the only items that are stored there.

The relevant events of each expedition are noted by the navigators in a notebook destined for this purpose, containing the maneuvers, routes, climatic adversities, accidents and other pertinent observations.

This valuable notebook is also kept in the binnacle , keeping it protected from moisture, as well as other physical and chemical agents that could deteriorate it. From there it acquired the name of the logbook.

Over the years, the term has evolved into what we now know as a work blog , expanding its use to other work areas.

What is the usefulness of a work log?

The work log is very beneficial as an administration tool , in order to maintain a structural, chronological order of all the events, circumstances and outstanding details of the work that is being carried out.

The first to reproduce the idea were the navigators and began to use it for their own work were the artists , designers and creators of creative content in general.

Those who found it helpful to put their thoughts, sketches, and ideas into a uniquely designated notebook.

Currently, anyone who wants to methodically record their work can make use of the blog.

Scientists, for example, tend to develop them in the course of their investigations.

Rules for creating a work log

When preparing a work log, it is appropriate to take into consideration that it must be precise in its writing.

Reflecting the project process as it was carried out, including any errors, mistakes and obstacles that have arisen.

We learn even more from mistakes than from successes, if we erase them we eliminate our ability to learn.

This is why a law of the blogs is never to get rid of pages or cross out what is written.

In this situation, a typo or annotation must be placed at the end of the text, the notebook itself or at the foot of the page and, in this way, clarify the information.

In the same way, it is necessary to note the consulted references that guided the work, to later elaborate a bibliographic compendium.

Components of a work log

The work log must be structured in a certain way, in order to maintain order in the process of its preparation.

One of the basic characteristics of the leaves is that they must be numbered and retain the margins for later observations. A work log must contain:

• Cover page

Every project deserves a presentation where the most general details of it are established, so in this section the title of the work will be written and the author or authors will be identified. This would represent the first page of the notebook.

• Table of Contents

It is the equivalent of an index or agenda, where the topics and activities addressed in the work log will be projected .

We recommend that after the cover page you set aside one or two pages to fill in the table of contents as the project is carried out, including the page number on which the annotated information appears.

• Work space

It is the core of the blog, the segment where all the relevant information concerning the job will be captured , always following the aforementioned guidelines.

It is necessary to establish the data, the purposes, the method and the outcome of the project carried out, almost like a dissertation, but of a much more informal and personal nature.

• Materials and bibliography

They will be the last sheets of the notebook, in them the resources used in the preparation of the work are presented, also adding the list of revised references.

Is it better to log work physically or virtually?

Each medium offers advantages and disadvantages, so it will depend a lot on your personal preferences and the type of work.

If you are a more conventional person, you probably prefer to keep your notes physically, without fear of losing them due to some electronic failure.

If technology is your thing , surely opt for a virtual notebook, where you can also annexing images or multimedia documents that give added value to the work.

In any case, the important thing is not the means, but the result.

Example of the content of a work log

Page 7

• Thursday, September 5, 2020 : I was contacted by a bakery owner to completely redesign his brand .

You want something simple but easy for consumers to identify and set you apart from the competition.

After receiving the specifications and asking the pertinent questions, I explored the rival bakeries’ designs, noting that they all used pink in their logos .

So I set out to create a catalog with Pinterest images in shades of blue to serve as a reference.

* Note: They were actually mostly imagotypes.

• Friday, September 6, 2020 : I finished defining the color scheme that will go best with the brand, I chose the 292 C and 490 C Pantone shades for the printed products

* Errata: Then it seemed to me that the 291 C would be better.

• Saturday September 7, 2020 : I started with the process of sketching the ideas I had in mind.

To then scan what I thought had the most potential and digitize it with Adobe Illustrator.

I worked continuously from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm