OUGD602: Personal and Professional Practice 3 - Portfolio Review at Music

For our portfolio review we were each given a 45 minute slot in which we were able to present our Portfolio and brief to Dan, a Senior Designer and Music and receive any feedback whether it be general or specific to a brief and advice from a professional in the industry.

Feedback from Dan

• Important to include all ideas, even if it's just written down - to talk through, presents a more rounded project.
• More important to show ideas than have finished outcomes

Hoax

• Interesting visual identity - doesn't look like type, pattern of some sort? - Could be applied to a variety of outcomes.
• How would it work overlaid James Vicary's pieces as a poster etc.?
• Think about way finding 

Isolé

• Similar to an institution in Switzerland or Bauhaus - Something to look into?
• Nice identity and concept

Home Comforts

• Good concept - hit the nail of the head
• Different houses work well, reflect the concept - could be pushed
• Expansion into advertising?
• Unique individuals - playing on the idea that everyone is different and would have a different idea of what makes their house their home
• The concept could be communicated more

Knee's Up

• Nice identity
• Triangle has been rolled out well across the outcomes - continuity

Interactive Mailshot

• Don't worry about personal identity too much
• Mailshot is an engaging way too contact individuals
• Very reflective of me
• Sent one over to them?

Cockney Rhyming Slang

• Nice idea

Bearman

• Wouldn't necessarily know it was for a lawyer
• Perhaps try a more tongue and cheek approach - more unusual, more memorable
• "You scratch my back, i'll scratch yours"?
• "Animal in the boardroom"?

York's Yummies

• Nice illustration, more engaging than type - look at shapes
• 'Y' could be incorporated into the illustration - make a pattern?
• Extend the project? How would signage work?
• Play on the relationship between the sandwich illustration and the 'y'

Square One Enterprises

• Again there is the possibility for extension 
• "start from square one"?
• Make the square illustration into a 'o'

As Music is primarily a branding agency I also decided to talk Dan through my latest project, which is not in my portfolio just yet. 

I am currently working on branding for a Zoo, I have decided to branding three different elements of a zoo - the cafe, gift shop and ice-cream stand and have created three different animals to represent each; a generous bear for the giftshop, a greedy tiger for the cafe and cool penguin for the ice cream stand. 

I explained that I would to the opportunity to produce a really unique and engaging set of branding guidelines and therefore presented them as he story of each animal.

Zoo Branding

• Could still be pushed further - think about the interaction between the animals and human
• Make more personal? - Stories could be told in first person by the each animal
• Play more with the characters - Way finding / menus
• Zoo's are mainly targeted at kids - really play on this
• Good illustration style

I am really glad that I attended the portfolio review at Music, being able to talk through each of the projects in my portfolio with a professional from the industry has really improved my confidence and is something which would be less daunted about in the future. 

All of Dan's feedback was also really useful, not only was he able to offer a fresh perspective on projects he also offered up many ideas and possibilities on how projects could be improved or extended and seeing the way he thought and would approach the brief enabled me to the same and come up with more developed ideas and there a couple brief I would like to revisit and develop following his feedback.

We reconvened in the meeting room at 1:30 pm where Dan took us though a presentation explaining a bit about Music, what they do etc. and take part in a question and answer session.

Music

Studio consists of:

• 2 Big Cheeses
• 3 Head Honchos
• 1 Wordsmith
• 3 Pixel Wizards
• 8 Wanky Designers - Seniors and Juniors
• 1 Crafter
• 5 Negotiators
• 1 Administrator

• They tend to hire people who are adaptable - can turn their hand to anything
• Small agency
• No specific discipline or style

• Because the World is Round, it Turns Me On - Book produced and sent out by Music, creates business from likeminded clients

• Building a strong relationship with clients is an essential part of developing as a creative
• Understanding the fundamentals of the problem
• Get used to presenting / writing presentations

• Hanson Frank - Illustrator Agency

• Internship Programme - opportunity? 

In terms of the studio itself, it was quite a large open space with smaller meetings rooms and kitchen as well as a roof top terrace which were all invited up to for a drink at the end of the day. Not only was I really impressed with the space which is somewhere I could see myself easily working in but the environment was really friendly and relaxed atmosphere. We had been allocated a smaller meeting room which we were able to work from during the course of the day and again similarly to when I spent the day at Basecamp I found working from a professional environment really productive.

Everyone in the studio was friendly and helpful particularly Ed, another senior designer who invited us over to look at some of the pieces he had been working on which was a real insight to the average working day at the studio. Dan had shown in the vast array of projects and briefs they work on and Ed explained that this mentality that they are not necessarily pigeon -holed to just Graphic Design or Branding made it difficult to get bored.

He also gave us a bit of background the recruitment process explaining that typically their juniors have a years experience.

Music is definitely somewhere I would aspire to work at in the future, I admire the fact that they don't restrict themselves in terms of projects or ideas which is something I being concept driven want to achieve with my practice. 

OUGD602: Personal and Profession Practice - Visit and job opportunity at Overview Studios

Following my visit to Basecamp I felt like I had better idea of what I wanted to do following the completion of the course and a better understanding of my place in the industry. 

I knew I defiantly wanted to experience a working Graphic Design / creative environment and would like to work within an agency / company rather than freelance although this is something I would consider in the future. 

Therefore I applied to a variety of positions which I felt would be appropriate for me including a vacancy which was sent out by our course administrator for Overview Studios.

I received a response from Toby who asked if I would like to come into the studio in order to have a chat face to face and have a look around the studio. We arranged for my to come in on Tuesday 21st April at 10 am.

Overview

Overview Studios are a small  but successful studio started up in 1995 and was known as Overview Photography they are the leading supplier in advertising imagery.They began solely offering photography services and space to clients however as they begun to expand into a diverse range of services they changed such as set building, CGI etc. they changed their name to Overview Studios.

They bring together set builders, interior designers and photographic specialists t create an end product.

Visit: 21 / 04 / 15

Overview is based in Castleford which I travelled to by train.

I began my visit by Meeting Toby who I had been corresponding with and Chris who runs Overview. They began by explaining a bit about what they currently offer at overview and what they are looking for.

Overview have a large warehouse space in which they built sets, mainly Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom for clients however with the development of CGI they have begun to start using technology more and more to produce their sets. They also have a smaller space which is used less and has printers and binders which means they are all set up to provide more of a all round service in particular Graphic Design to their clients which is something they've been asked and what to expand into.

They also have a office space upstairs and meeting room where they can meet with clients which is where we sat and talked through my portfolio.

Both Chris and Toby were very complimentary about my work, they explained they had seen some of it within the portfolio I had sent over during my initial application and that it was why they had contacted me in order to get a better feel of my as a person and my approach. They particularly liked my use of colour within my design work with my Home Comforts Branding and Cockney Rhyming Slang greetings cards cited as particular examples. Chis also liked the Isolé project, how it worked together as a set and said it would be the aesthetic of work i'd probably be working on.

As Graphic Design is not something Overview have always wanted but have not ventured to yet Chris explained that the vacancy offered the opportunity to start within their company much higher than I would in an agency. Should I be offered the job my responsibilities would be working on brochures etc. with clients which could possibly on a dry subject yet it would be my responsibility to create an concept in order to make the subject visually exciting we I personally felt, with me being quite concept driven would really suit me as a designer. It also reminded me of the DSM brief we were set last semester which is one of the stronger pieces in my portfolio.

I also talked through my creative CV which I gave them a hard copy of. I spoke about my relevant experience and skills I had, such as bookbinding and crafting and bring to the position which they seemed impressed by.

I would be expected to communicate these ideas confidently with clients which is something I believe I could do following the crits I have undertaken at uni.

Chris explain that it might be quite daunting being the sole Graphic Design but I would be working collaboratively with Toby and others on the team with the possibility of working an training new graphic designers in the future. They would expect me to start June / July which worked well with the completion of the end of show.

I did feel that the idea of such responsibility straight  away would be daunting I also felt moving away to study would be daunting and on reflection it was the best decision for and has made a much more confident individual therefore I think I would relish and responsibility I would have the chance at Overview.

I was told that Chris and Toby had selected four candidates to invite to the studio and chat with from the various applications they had been sent which really boosted my confidence knowing that I had been selected on my work and ability. They explained that there was no doubt in their mind that I had enough relevant experience for the position, my work was definitely good enough and they would be happy to offer me the position on the spot however they still needed to talk to the other candidates first and would be in touch towards the end of the month.

Evaluations

I am really pleased with how my visit to Overview Studios went, not only that my work deemed suitable for professional purpose by people who have experience in the industry but the confidence in which I was able to present myself and ideas considering this was my first professional interview. The belief that I was fully suitable for the vacancy also gave my confidence a boost.

I definitely believe from their description of the job role and what would be asked of me that the vacancy would be a suitable fit for me with my practice being quite concept driven and therefore should I be offered the vacancy I would take it.

OUGD602: Personal and Professional Practice 3 - Studio Visit at Basecamp, The Baltic Creative

As I theoretically had three weeks free from uni in which I would be back at home in Liverpool I decided it would be beneficial to email as many studios based in Liverpool in the home of being able to visit a couple places during the break and not only to experience the studio environment but to gain some feedback on my portfolio.

Mailing List

Give Me Soul
Graham Fifteen
Smiling Wolf
Blue Goose
Coldlight
Splinter
Glow
Mass Appeal
Mint Umbrella
About Moi
The Loft LTD
Be Bold
Jellis Design

Several of the places I contacted are situated in Baltic Creative which is a creative hub in the city which provides space to companies from the creative sector similarly to Duke Studios in Leeds.

As so far I have had difficulty in getting a response from studios I decided to opt for a different approach and emailed Baltic Creative directly in the hope they could help.

After explaining my difficulty Jo from Baltic Creative emailed their tenants and Ray from a company called Basecamp replied that he was happy to show my round his studio which is a co-working space. I have arranged to visit on 13th April at 10 am.

Basecamp

http://basecampliverpool.co.uk/contact

Despite upon a basic background research on Basecamp the company seems more geared towards the business aspect of the industry aimed at creative who want to set up as freelance which is something as this present moment is not something I am interested in. However, I do think the visit will be beneficial for me especially as Baltic Creative houses many other creative studios. The knowledge I gain may also be something which is relevant for the future.

Visit: 13 / 04 / 15

I found my visit to Basecamp at Baltic Creative extremely useful.

I began by having a chat with Ray who runs Basecamp with his business partner, he explained to me that Basecamp is a co-working space for hire for creatives in a variety of industries. Although he has no creative background himself, he wrote a dissertation for his masters about support for graduates in the working environment, his space is designed specifically for providing a supportive environment for individuals who a starting up freelance etc. He himself studying finance and business and is available for advice on writing business plans etc.

He did explain he was unsure how helpful he himself would be but he did offer to look through the portfolio I brought along and introduce me to some of his creative contacts which I was extremely appreciative for.

Unfortunately, Mike a resident Basecamp who does Illustration, someone Ray felt it would be beneficial for me to meet wasn't in today. However I did meet a Architect whom does Graphic Design when appropriate for a project and two web designers. Although they tended to focus more on the coding side and out sourced graphic designers one was working on the re-vamp of the new Basecamp website with Mike and was able to show me some of his work.

I also met a two women who had started up their own businesses one as a translator and one in recruitment, although neither were necessarily creative it was helpful to speak to two women who had been through the graduate to work transition and listen to their advice. They both told me to take as many opportunities as possible and speak to the supportive network in uni whilst I still had the chance which I will definitely do.

I also spoke to the woman who does PR at Basecamp who advised me to join Kin2Kin (which I am already a member of) and Linkedin as a means of networking.

Everyone I spoke to was extremely complimentary of my work and helpful in suggesting ways in which I can get myself and my work out there in order to possibly gain work experience in the future. Ray in particular was great introducing me to important people at The Baltic Creative and even suggested I come back on Thursday and work in the studio space either on my own work or something he would set and this would also give me the opportunity to meet Mike and other professionals I missed today.

Although working freelance is something I have always ruled out especially as soon as I graduate from university, seeing the working environment at The Baltic Creative has made me feel more positive about setting up as a freelance designer. Knowing that their are businesses like Basecamp which support start-ups, offering advice and it is now something I definitely consider at some point in the future.

I am especially looking forward to going back to the studio on Thursday to get a real feel of what it's like to work in a professional environment. Even if it is just on my own work it will give me the experience and knowledge of what it will be like to work at a Graphic Design studio, surrounded by other professionals - who might not be working on the same project - but are still available for feedback and advice.


Evaluations


Over the past year I have doubted whether or not I will have a future in the Graphic Design industry, however, my visit to Basecamp and The Baltic Creative today experiencing the environment has solidified in my mind that I do want a job in Graphic Design or in the creative industry at the very least and therefore I have decided to apply to creative internships for when I finish uni so I can gain the necessary experience that would be required before making any kind of commitment to a full-time job.

Re-Vist: 16 / 4 / 15

I took up Ray on his offer and came back to Basecamp in order to work in their studio space. Although I am just going to be working on my own design work for the Extended Practice Module rather than anything set by Basecamp themselves I think working in a professional environment for the day will be extremely productive and there will be creatives from all different fields whom are available for feedback should I need it.

I was also able to talk to Mike today who is a freelance Illustrator, whose brother actually studies on the second year of our course at Leeds College of Art. He showed me the illustrations he had been working on and explained his design process which is quite similar to mine. He offered me some invaluable feedback about working in industry explaining that with live clients it was best to work on a quick turnaround basis and not dwell too much on the design. He also looked through my design work and was very complimentary which I appreciated.

I also met Roy, Ray's business partner who assured me i'd be welcome to visit anytime I was back in Liverpool.

OUGD602: Personal and Professional Practice 3 - Prints in Counterpoint Exhibition

As I would be back in Liverpool for three weeks which, at the point in the academic year I wanted to use the time as productively as possible. Therefore, as well as contacting several studios located in Liverpool with the hope of securing a couple visits over the three weeks as seen here I also decided engage with some of the exhibitions and event which were currently being held whilst I was home.

One of the exhibitions which I was interested in visiting was the 'Prints in Counterpoint' exhibition which was being held at the World Museum.

The exhibition includes a selection of Lino Prints by artist Atta Kwami from Ghana. Kwami took inspiration from a visit he made to Liverpool in which he created a selection of sketches these were then
reworked in Lino.

The 'Prints in Counterpoint' was a particular exhibition I wanted to go to as I believe it is relevant to my interests as a designer, Lino print is a printing process I have used on a brief in the past.

I particularly like how Kwami has incorporated colour within his prints, and how they work together which is something I have become increasingly interested especially during the course of my third year with briefs such as 'Hoax' and 'Interactive Mailshot' using bright colours.

Whilst I was in the city centre I also decided to visit the Dazzle Ship which was is Dry-docked down at the Albert Docks.

The Edmund Gardner, which is a historic pilot ship has been painted in partnership with the Liverpool Maritime Museum in order to optically distort the appearance of the ship which was commonly employed on British ships during the First World War to confuse German submarines and make the direction the Dazzle Ship was travelling in difficult to identify.

Dazzle ships are characterised by contrasting shapes and curves in garish colours heavily inspired by Cubism.

Again how colours work together is a key element to the success of the Dazzle ships and something I can take inspiration from when considering colour schemes for future briefs.