Freelance Work - Man Power Your 2014

Possibly the most borderline risky flyer Ive done, but it was a favour for a friend of a friend and I was actually quite pleased with it.

Interview Skills and University Oppotunities

I have recently got back from a stressful yet learning process two weeks in London - I received interviews for both Brighton Univeristy and UAL : Camberwell ( London College Of Arts) .

I made a portfolio on my own behalf using a printing studio in newcastle that compiled of all my work :

I saw all the student carrying big A3/A2 files around when waiting for the interview - I decided I want to do something a little different to set apart myself from the crowd and hopefully get remembered more. I was really pleased with the portfolio as it gave me a chance to express my love for editorial design and also type with no client or boundaries just myself.

I found the interview process quite nerve racking , but once i got talking I felt my passion and enthusiasm for creative practices really came out . It taught me to be confident about my work and talk about it in a manner that all can understand. 

After a few weeks of being back , I was told through UCAS that i did not get offered a place at either Brighton or London but recieved an offer at Salford University on the condition that I pass this year. 

Although a little disheartened by the choices made by the uni's , I feel this is just a learning curve that will help me in further interviews for jobs or uni's . I now know what there looking for and what to expect in the interview. 

Overall im happy im progressing at Salford Uni , its an amazing city and the uni is based right next to all the tv channel networks such as ITV & BBC . Which means the uni has strong industry links and will help me further my interest in advertising. 

Experience Of Work Week - Keltie Cochrane

We were given a live a brief by North East based agency - Keltie Cochrane in which we were set a week to come up with finalized ideas. We were first put into groups encouraging us to collaborate with the advertising students. I was really excited about this as I finally got a chance to work with different people and bounce ideas off each other from two different perspectives . It taught me to think heavily concept driven and leave the design and creative process once the idea is there. I worked with Scott from advertising ,  We ended up getting along really well and coming up with some really nice ideas I was very confident with. I have always been interested in Advertising and the concept surrounding such simple executions.

I have learnt to put concept before any design related query as if the concept isn't strong then whats the point in just having something that looks beautiful but doesn't actually reach the touch point or the brief.

The brief was to come up with supporting posters and an integrated advertising campaign to raise awareness for current rise in STI's. We wanted to focus on the disease at hand and really get underneath the brief.

We decided to firstly jot down some ideas of what we feel if we had or knew someone had an STI. The results were mainly negative responses such as ; dirty, unclean, riddled , embarrassed. We came up with concept of labeling people, for instance if you knew someone had gonorea you would instantly label them as dirty or in a females case 'slag' . So going back to sticky notes you used to stick on your class mates back often ' kick me ' but change this to read something like ' slag ' 'bitch' 'dirty' with the copy on the sticky note at the bottom saying "don't get labelled . get tested".  This using the truth of an actual label but also bringing back the target market back to there school days.

Another idea we had was using soap dispensers in clubs as an object to raise awareness of these STI's by using UV Soap .  On the soap dispenser there would be a sticker with the copy or 'some things you can't see' get tested at your local GP. The idea being that when the person who has just washed there hands go back out into the club , they will notice they have uv paint on there hands linking back to ' some things stay with you'. This would run on a one off special club night dedicated to raising awareness where bouncers could give out condoms on exit. The mirrors in the bathrooms would also be altered - in light there would appear to be no symptoms but in the dark , the symptoms come out .

Creative Dave McDonald Came In For Chat

Dave McDonald has worked at a number of agencies such as infinite agency before turning to a freelance career. His work is very prominent in the North East, having done work for Metro and the identity for the HayMarket metro station. I didn't realize this was any of Dave's work and I walk past this station everyday on my way into college , so this really gave me an insight into his work as I have always wondered what the idea and selection process was behind the type . weighting and the layout of Metro's branding. He talked a lot about the sustainability of this identity and how its not going to be lost in 10 years time but is actually indespensible. 

It was really nice to be given an insight into Dave's work and his advice on making your way into the creative industry , I have taken a number of key points Dave addressed in his talk to help me remember.

The three main points Dave stressed were (in order) :

PASSION, PERSONALITY, CREATIVITY.

I think these three points are really key to getting anywhere within the creative industry , As I have just come back from a number of interviews and both Manchester and Brighton. It's helped me put into perspective what the university's look for. 

He also talked on portfolio's giving some really good advice on the arrangement of work - Don't limit yourself to one style show that you can do other things, as this may narrow your employability. Talk about how your work will/has effected your client not just the creative process but think about it from an outsiders point of view then talk about the process behind it. 

Dave's Golden Rules ;

DONT PANIC

PREPARE AND PERFORM

FOLLOW UP

NEXT!

AIM HIGH! - Don't be put off by approaching top agencies you love , don't think the people working in those agencies are completely alien to us , as they are just a phone call or email away and there people just like us!

Wow , Leif Podhajsky video profile from avant garde is amazing.

I adore this video and leif's outlook on life as an artist , I feel i share that same connection with nature - despite the intriguing hustle and bustle of a city , being around nature helps me re-connect with who I actually am . I love the way Lief's explains his outer body experiences as an individual and how it informs his artistic process. His appriciation for symmetry within the natural form is very evident in all of this work along with a sense of escapism and tones of nostalgia. Just by looking at his work , it sends all kind of emotions up my spine , i have been very closely following his work for a while now - carefully dissecting his creative process and techniques in a hope they inform mine. You can watch the video below :



http://vimeo.com/88082322

 

CV Workshop - My CV

CV Tips;

Be concise and clear, ensure the layout is evenly spaced and easy to read, 

all the information must be accurate, be carefull with spelling and remember to proof read, use a clear typeface, use good quality print.

What to include? 

Personal Details - Name, contact details, DOB & Nationality

Profile - Should be a few sentances or a short paragraph that desrcribes your key skills and experience but also what type of person you are. Taylor it to the position you are appyling for.

Qualifications - List your most recent academic qualifications first , be accurate and precise

References from previous employers , relevant work for the job.

After taking in the tips and advice clare gave us in the CV Workshop - Over the weekend I decided to create a creative CV for myself . I found the process a little frustrating as I found it hard to conclude my design ethic and style in two pdf documents - but eventually came to a decision on the layout and flow of my CV. 

I am going to use this CV to apply for further placements in the summer of 2014 - Some of the agencies ide most like to apply to are :

http://2xelliott.co.uk

samueljohnson.nu/‎

http://leifpodhajsky.com/

Redlight - New Video

Lovley new video from redlight , love the 80s graphics and warped perspectives. This style is something Im really interested in getting into and experimenting with. It seems most of the animation will have been done on cinema 4d or and after effects. Cinema 4D is a programme I plan to teach myself over the summer holidays , I think its vital for designers to enrich there practice and use alternative techniques .

check it out below :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECJRFYZRghY