- identify and explain 5 reasons why you chose to study on this programme.
- Local to home as I didn’t want to move out.
- Great employment rate for graduates.
- Good industry links.
- Intense education with full time attendance.
- Great facilities.
- Identify and explain 5 things that you want to learn during your time on the programme.
- Identify who I am as a graphic designer.
- What are my skills and what are my interests? Where is my focus within Graphic design, what is it that drives my practice?
- Am I more suited/ interested in print or web? I know this year that I will be studying both print and web and so I will be able to find out which my skill set is more suited to and which I prefer.
- Where do I want to work when I leave? Freelance or studio?
- How do I contact and talk to industry professionals.
- Identify and explain 5 skills that you think are your strengths.
- Hand drawn and digital illustrations.
- Working in a group, I feel that I am very reliable and can be counted on for great communication, to meet deadlines, and to help with any problems my group members are having.
- Product and packaging design.
- Presenting to my peers, with a background in performing arts, talking in front of a large audience is something that has always come second nature.
- Time management (project management, time keeping, blogging on time) I always make it a priority to blog as I go along on projects, many people find it hard, however I find it much more suitable to blog as I go as it keeps me much more interested in my work, rather than having to do a couple of days blogging at the end.
- Identify and explain 5 things that you want to improve.
- Crafting skills.
- Ability to design for web.
- Presentation of work (Boards, photographs and mock ups)
- Talking to professionals and confidence.
- Skills in photoshop.
- Identify and explain 5 ways that you will evaluate your progress.
- Via blog posts, recap my progress.
- Success of client led briefs where I am no longer able to design for my own likes.
- Crits with my peers, as well as ones organised by tutors.
- Putting my work into the public eye on live briefs.
- Entering design competitions.
- Identify and explain 5 things that inspire you.
- Music, whenever Im working creatively I always listen to music with the exception of essay writing or blogging. I find that it helps to inspire me and relaxes my mind.
- Other designers. When I feel like I’m having creative block, I take a break and look at design blogs or websites for inspiration.
- Travelling to other cities, Travel helps to broaden the mind and open your eyes to new culture, another city, a new climate or language always helps to generate new ideas and experiences.
- Day to day tasks such as trips to the supermarket where I am able to see many pieces of graphic design in action / context.
- The success of previous students on the course, lets me know that although the course is very difficult and demanding most times, there is a definite light at the end of the tunnel. Also inspiring because you know that they have been through the same difficulties as you.
PPP2.
Networking.
What is networking?
- Sharing and gaining pertinent information that can help us gain something or another.
- Talk to anyone and everyone now.
- Your approach should have a reason and a plan.
What will you get from networking?
- Advice
- Mentoring
- Feedback
- Visits
- Placements
- Employment
Have a reason to speak to someone!
Ask people on linkd in for feedback.
Why are you contacting them?
What do you want from them?
In what way do you want them to respond?
What should we consider giving out in networking?
- Your identity (an identity of some kind)
- A creative CV?
- Write a hand written letter.
Task - Think of as many ways to contact someone as possible.
Contacting professionals.
- Become a key player within the industry.
- Reinforces your position as a student and a new potential creative in the industry.
- Treat it like a brief, we need to undertake relevant research that we record and utilise.
- Blog and reference a synergy in the work of others that may become worthy of investigation.
- You will only get what you put in!
Check out the web, call and ask for/who is the creative director as you want to send him some files. If not ask to be put through.
However consider why you are contacting.
Visits are good!
Consider the benefits of going out of your way and calling someone, remember you are a valuable asset.
What are you trying to tell them?
- Quite simply that you exist.
- Could you arrange a visit for advice/ feedback?
- You want to look at a professional studio.
- DO NOT ASK FOR A PLACEMENT.
What will they want to know?
- Why you chose them to contact?
- What type of creative are you?
- What kind of work do you see as synergetic to you?
What can you show them?
- Anything you are working on or you feel good about.
- Creative CV that you can leave with your details.
- You could even invite them into college.
Placement.
- Experience and a practice run.
- See how a professional studio operates.
- A contact to go back to.
Don't be afraid to disagree with people!
