My efforts for contacting

Kev Grey

www.kevgrey.com

Kev Told me that some good places to go to get my design out there would be:

Spunky.com & Teepay.com  - After looking into this I found out this would be a really good thing to do to get some design out there, and is part of my summertime enterprising plans.

I also got in touch with Delta Print solutions, I have been talking to them and I need to arrange a time to go down and see what they are about as a print studio.

I did get in touch with a print and design studio called Kromagene, this was a client of my dads - but I wouldnt be able to visit them now because of the current economic climate and the effect it can have on businesses.

I emailed Mike Giant, but heard nothing back.

A review of the presentation and a summative statement

We had the presentation last thursday and I was really confident about it until it got to doing it, I flopped. But I think it was just nerves getting the better of me for whatever reason, so Im going to do a slightly longer summative statement than I would have done normally.

At the beginning of the year I knew that I was confident with print and was looking forward to learning more about processes and theory behind print to enhance my work. I produced some work using specialist print methods like gloss and emobssing and Broadened my skill set for print, This project was also when I became familiar and confident with screenprinting and set some strong foundations for later on in the year. I also did the publication for print which I really enjoyed and Think I havent done enough work similar since - Layout  is definately something I will be exploring over summer in the form of publications and more type driven design work.

Into the movie season brief. I ended up rushing the finals and have decided moving image is probably not for me at this point in time, I have non of the software and It doesnt really interest me as much as other aspects of design. I found that I much prefer working with still type and image whilst working on this module.

The image module really got me pushing out alot of print work - I used alot of screenprinting and started to lay a greater consideration for design for print down, in terms of colour combinations, considerations for the amount of screens needed and the size of the screens (also in relation to a set budget and deadline). It helped me realise what is achievable at any given time when using print.

The collaborative brief got me really organised and working effectively on set specific tasks that would go towards a bigger result. Ollie also taught me alot about software and made me alot more confident with my software skills. This is really helping me to get a grasp on what it is I like to do. I applied this to the next half of this module in creating a range of products for a record label. This was the first project where I think I produced something to a high, professional standard. This project has opened a door for me, I am in contact with therapy records discussing doing some work for their artists on the label over summer.

So, at the end of second year:

• I understand my short comings - I need to document all my development, even if it is weak.
• I need to organise myself, my files and my stuff (e.g laptop, pens etc) So that I am ready to work without distraction and problems.
• The relationship between type and image, and how that relates to products and design is really interesting to me at the moment - this is something I want to explore over summer - I am in discussion with a photography student mate of mine on doing a publication, I also want to produce a few other publiations over summer which reflect interests of mine such as space (more specifically and intensely geeky, but Nebulas)
• I also want to design a branded Identiy for a printed textiles student who has asked me to do so, I'm not sure wether these projects should be saved for third year and just written over summer, or done over summer.
• I plan to do some enterprising over summer in the form of - Selling stock images online, and selling T- shirt designs to two websites I have been linked to from one of the contacts I made when we emailed out our portfolios.
• I have no placements yet, but personally I am not looking for one - I emailed free lance designers and ilustrators for links and networking - But I have booked a visit to delta print for a few weeks time, which should be really interesting.

By the way, Sorry about the morrissey style presentation: "I wanted to make a book and then I made a book.. heaven knows I'm miserable nowwww " - anyway,

A really, really, good year Full of ups and downs. I can't wait to get back and get designing - I feel Im finally ready to do so now.

PPD End of year 2 Presentation

Here's where I'm at, at the end of second year. The presentation includes:

• A portfolio style presentation of work from all modules this year\
• A Slide (that has spoken dialogue to go with it) about my feedback from other designers and the contacts I have made.
• My plans for the summer and preparing myself for Third year.

Open publication - Free publishing - More year 02

A selective digital portfolio

Here's a digital portfolio I have been and will be sending out to agencies and freelancers for feedback and possible work placements. I have had a few replies but I will cover this in a later post.



This will be updated in the near future with work I deem to be stronger and which better represents me as a designer. I do feel it is a little all over the place at the moment, but the work in there is fairly strong, although I have said I want to produce more branding solutions.

Nubby - portfolio

a nice portfolio I found by a designer called nubby. To see her digital portfolio, click here:
http://nubbytwiglet.com/fall2007/gd/gd.html

Some examples of creative CVs

Some examples of what can be done creativley with a cv. Near off anything is possible when you are trying to attract the attention of a design company or agency. As you can see from these CVs, what you do really has to be related to how your CV appears visually, this should also coincide with who youre sending them to.

Delivering cvs by hand can often also be more rewarding that mailing them off in batches.

Franco shade and pokedstudio

The first two images are by Franco shade, he is someone who I really admire and I reall like his visuals, I think his sort of work could be applicable to alot of things across design and is a style I have slowly been exploring over the course of the image elective. Illustrative type is definately a large part of my practise at the moment and is something I want to explore further across a different set of disciplines

The latter images are from the Pokedstudio's website. Again, some great illustrative work, and these people are a collective. It would be great to work under a creative place like Poked - their imagery is fun looking, and also executed very well. Both these people will be recieving an email from me soon!

The Portfolio

What is a portfolio?

In creative terms, a potfolio is a case containing a set of pieces of work considered by the owner, to showcase his skills and abilities in a creative field. (In this instance, graphic design.) A portfolio, does not have to be physical, this portfolio could be on the internet in the form of a website, it could be a PDF suitable for emailing to potential clients or employers or it could be a showreel (movie file) for designers who produce motion graphics work.

A web based portfolio will often reach more people than a physical portfolio because the internet instantly exposes the portfolio to who ever has the internet. Digital design is becoming ever more present in contempory design, with innovations in digital technology ever progressing, it is good to at least have an awareness of the possiblities for digital display and distribution. The form a portfolio can take will differ, depending on the discipline of the said designer, for example, I am a print based designer at the moment, therefor it is important for me to have a physical portfolio as well as a digital one in order to showcase my print work to it's highest standard and fullest potential. This could be crucial for me in order to get a job or a placement, whereas with a motiongraphics designer, this is not his top priority, having a website with a showreel on it would be far more applicable.

The C.V

What is a CV?

Also known as a curriculum vitae ( Loose translation for course of life) Is a summary of a person's qualifications and achievements relating to their career. The CV is also a means by which a person can market themselves to places they want to work, using their CV to showcase their skills, achivements and personal information.

What should a CV contain?
 
The person's name
Their contact details
Their Career profile
A list of their skills
The person's qualifications and training
Any work experience
The person's hobbies and interests
possibly a linkout to their portfolio.

But, What is it?

What is professional/ industrial experience?

• An internship is a work-related learning experience specified for students, college graduates, and those interested in a career change who would like an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in a particular field of interest. - www.Graphicdesigninternship.net

• "Professional work experience refers to experience working for organizations within your chosen profession based on your qualifications."- From WikiAnswers

• "Undergraduate placements come in many formats, but they are all essentially a learning experience in a professional working environment which lasts for a fixed term. You will hear the terms: work experience, internships, industrial placements and vacation placements. Undergraduate placements vary in length - anything from a few weeks up to 12 months."

- From http://www.seasonworkers.com/gapyears/industrialplacement/

• "The accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities; "a man of experience" - web definition.

• "...to have direct experience under supervision of the duties and responsibilities of professional practice." - www.pedr.co.uk

Experience refers to what is learnt from a percieved situation by the experiencer, and in this context this is applied to a working environment in the field of design. The experiencer watches or takes part in situations in order to learn how to apply this knowledge of practical experience to future endeavors. In this instance, (Industry, this being design) this could range from learning how to practically apply a certain print method, or learn how mass production can give limitations to the situation a designer may find himself in, and what to do in order to successfully overcome this. This is done best directly through experiencing these sorts of situation. The best way I can think of putting it is monkey see, monkey do and then monkey knows how to "do" again.

In summary, to me, industrial experience is interaction you have with industry from a direct learning point of view, either by observing or taking part in the subject matter of the industry involved.

Why is professional/industrial experience important as part of PPD?

• With graphic design internships you can develop new skills as a worker and learn things about yourself which you never knew you were capable of. The internship process is suppose to be a revolutionary way for you to test out your skills to the best of your ability and see if you are right for a graphic design career. - www.graphicdesigninternship.net

• Gain field-related experience for better marketability at graduation. Graduating students with experience report higher salary offers (an average of 9.2% more) than students without experience.
• Enrich their classroom learning - it's more interesting when they know how it is applied in the “real world.”
• Challenge their technical skills and improve people skills in professional environments. - College Of Engineering

I think these statements apply generally in the field of industrial experience.

• Business awareness, flexibility, initiative, team work, communication, problem solving, analytical, learn new technical skills, social skills etc
• Opportunity to see how your course translates into what people need to know and apply at work
• Opportunity to meet and liaise with new people who may be useful in your future career. - These are workshop preparation notes I found on www.researchnt1.qub.ac.uk/YOPE/docs/Week%201.doc

In summary having experience in your chosen field enriches the process of doing the set discipline because you know it's relevance in the "real" world and understand where you fit within it encompassing aspects such as networking, people skills and also practical knowledge of application of industrial processes in (this instance) the field of design.

How do you gain professional/industrial experience and what form does it take?

• Finding a graphic design internship is competitive but is getting easier as the years pass. By 2016, the need for graphic designers should increase by 10% because of the expansion of television, movies, video, and the internet. Still, be ready to face a lot of competition for these available positions. This is a reassuring piece of information!!

• "One of the best places to look for a graphic design job or internship these days is on the internet."

Some resources to possibly use:

• www.coroflot.com
• http://aquent.co.uk/
• http://designrelated.com/

It seems that finding the information is easyer than ever with the advent of the internet, and there is always the oppertunity of getting directly in touch with an agency either by phone or by email, the guys that have just gone out into the big bad world from this course are also a really good source of information on this subject for us. Its all about your sources.

What should you aim to gain from professional/industrial experience?

In summary:

• A knowledge of our specialist field and how to apply experience practically in order to develop beneficially
• A foot in the door of an Agency and possibly a gateway into our future careers
• An extended understanding of our education in the context of a "real world" industry
• Better people skills, liasing improvement
• An experienced control over our design as practise and our relevance proffessionally of "Who we are" as designers.