PPP // John Task 1 - Five Studios we would liek to work for and why

All the studios I have presented below, I have tried to pick depending on both their location, work ethos and work environment as well as the style of design they produce. I want to find a studio that is heavily involved in brand and identity and mostly print based products, however I wouldn't mind trying to find a multidisciplinary studio so I can work, learn and develop the design skills I will have formed on this course.

I wouldn't say I have a style of design but I would say I feel like all the studios I have chosen would benefit from my conceptual approach when it comes to general graphic design.
 
Blacksheep Design Studio - Cape Town South Africa
 

When we were asked to find these 5 examples of studios that we are creatively attracted to I tried to think of what I would really like out of my dream design job, and I realised one of the main factors for me was the environment and culture I would be working in, having visited South Africa and Loving the city, it's weather, culture, people and landscape. I thought I would try and find a couple of studios in Cape Town that focus on the areas of design I am most interested.

I browsed a series of South African studios that focus mainly on branding and printed graphic design, and Blacksheep attracted my attention when I saw the existing branding work they have produced as well as the wide variety of clients that they work with. They work on various different types of media from surf boards to gift cards, and I think this would be a great environment to learn how a well rounded graphic design company tackles extremely different briefs for extremely different clients.

K&I - Cape Town South Africa

 

 K & I is another South African Studio based in Cape town, it was founded by husband and wife Karl J Mynhardt and Ida V Mynhardt who are studied both in SA and Britain in both Graphic design and Fashion design and have won awards for their work. 

They seem to have a great work ethic and both really enjoy what they do and you can tell that in their work, I think it would be a great environment to learn, and the work they produce it really innovative and interesting and they get a large amount of clients which cover many different sectors. I really like the look of this studio.

BurnEverything - Liverpool 

BurnEverything is a great British design studio based in Liverpool, even though Liverpool isn't my number one desired place to end up I really do love the work they produce and the methods they use to approach their wide range of briefs. They have a fantastic brand and identity portfolio and the products and packaging they have produced for some clients is really innovative, unique and exciting, so it would be great to go see how these guys work.

Pearlfisher - London

This seems to be quite a successful studio, when looking at their successful identities and packaging they have produced, it seems they have worked with some huge global companies and successfully produced products that are in popular use in the industry. Therefore this studio attracts me to both their interesting range of brands they have created as well as their all in one approach to design, tackling as many areas of a project as they can to keep each project integral to their company.

I Want - London

I wanted to find a studio which did everything under one roof, while also visually appealing to the style of design I am interested in I Want is a multidisciplinary studio that works on projects from branding through to website and fashion design, They produce some really interesting work over all media and seem to work really hard on conceptual development of each brief and don't just design products that you would expect.

8 Creative methods of contacting desired studios

- 'Shake My hand' - Design a hand shaped percussion shaker and the packaging to accompany it, send as a small package with creative cv written on outside of box - This explains who I am and what I have to offer, as well as implying that even though I am not their I would still want to 'Shake hands' which is an important interview tactic. 

- Send a gift bag, which would include a retail style paper shopping bag with my branding on with a t-shirt or some other piece of clothing inside with my Cv written on it.

- Create a series of logos, each one highlighting a specific skill or strength i obtain. This idea would be purely visual with no written content, which may be quite difficult to give a good level of communication.

- Passport CV - personalised passport style cv, with each destination stamp containing information about myself and my practice.

- 'I'll Make the Tea' -  I would create my own branded box of tea, with each tea back containing a skill or strength printed onto it. This idea would specifically aimed towards non UK studios as it shows both my English heritage and my willingness to start at the bottom and learn

- Sponge in a box - create packaging that would hold both a sponge and a bottle of water. you would open the box to find the sponge with 'My Brain' printed onto it, it is accompanied with a bottle of water which will say ' what you have to teach me'. The concept being that I am saying my brain is a sponge and I am willing to learn and grow with your studio.

- Dot to Dot CV - a publication which is made up of both written and visual information, the written information would be printed directly onto each page, but the visual elements would have to be completed in the form of a dot to dot.

- Photography book where the photos contain my strengths and skills. instead of writing my cv on a piece of paper, I could write it in different ways, in different environments and photograph it, so the book itself is just a series of photographs but it will be structured in such a way that each photo highlights a skill / strength.

PPP2 // The Business of Design - Who are They?

The Business of Design

The UK economy is the 7th largest in the world

Different Sectors in UK Economy

Industry Sector - goods producing a segment of an economy

Primary Sector
Anything that is extracted and sold as a raw material (Milk, clay, oil, compost, sand etc...)

Secondary Sector
Anything produced using the raw extracted materials from the Primary sector.

Tertiary Sector
Taking the Primary and the Secondary sectors and using them in services

Quaternary Sector
Industries coming into improve, help and develop the first 3 sectors

this is the first I have heard of these sectors in the UK economy but after listening to Fred’s presentation and actually understanding how every job is catogorised into individual and specialised sectors.

It is a benefit to know these sectors as it will help you discover which sector you are most interested in
- find out which sector has the most design competition
- see where there is a gap in the market
- Understand which sector you are working in and why

Public Sector
Tax payer funding
Benefits everyone
A needed service that makes society run
Free at the point of delivery
NHS, Police, Military, Government, Council etc...

Private Sector
Businesses run for profit
Owned by individuals
Biggest employment sector

Third Sector
Non profit organisations
Volunteers, charities, Coop etc...
The sector in between Public and Private

PPP2 // Task 3 What is Industrial experience

Use your PPP blog to record your responses to the following questions ahead of the group tutorials after reading week.

• What is Industrial experience?

 - When you take your studied practice and involve yourself in an experienced organisation focusing on that specific professional practice. 
- Gaining experience from industry professionals in your chosen sector.
- Developing studied skills to a level a professional practice would be happy with. 
-Learning production and development skills from accomplished designers.

• What can you learn from industrial experience?

- How to communicate with other required sectors and work as a team.
- How an individual organisations represent themselves in the industry and how they differentiate themselves from their competitors.
- Practical and production skills.
- Networking opportunities.

• What form/format could industrial experience take?

- Placements, 
- internships, 
- work experience, 
- Sandwich course, 
- day release

• What are your concerns about industrial experience?

- Choosing the wrong organisation to gain experience from.
- Being used by a studio or organisation to get free labor which results in no Job
- Not gaining a job from industy experience.
 

PPP2 // 10 pieces of design workshop

We initiated today's session by all preparing and bringing in 10 pieces of design that we feel illustrate our graphic interests, which we had collected for the PPP2 study task 1.

I like these sessions as it gives everyone a chance to explore peoples graphic design interests as well as discover some new designers or sources for discovering new graphic design.

We were in a grouped of 6 and were asked to layout all 60 example on the table and start to create a list which explains as many specific specialist areas of design as possible, this list is fed by the 60 examples of work we have brought in.

As you can see below the list we created was quite extensive, we tried to make each point as specific as possible to the graphic product.

For example if someone brought in a children's book, we would not just call it 'Editorial design' we would call it 'children's educational book design'

We were then asked to select 10 items from the 60 which we feel cover the broadest range of graphic products e.g. - Typography

                      - Industrial Packaging

                      - logo and branding

                      - Automotive design

                      - Wayfinding

                      - Editorial layout and design

                      - Food/ Beverage packaging

                      -Advertisting

                      - graphic installations 

                      - Video/ motion graphics

after completing this task we were then asked to try and answer the questions below for each individual piece of design chosen.

In some cases this was extremely easy if the correct method had been taken to choose the pieces, but in some cases where people had just chosen random pieces of design without knowing the designer  it was much more difficult as it relied on a lot of guess work.

1. WHO IS THE CLIENT?

2. WHO IS THE INTENDED AUDIENCE

3. WHAT IS THE FUNCTION?

4. WHAT IS THE BUDGET?

5. WHERE IS IT FROM?

6. WHO IS THE DESIGNER / STUDIO

I will try and add more specific answers for each piece of design.

 1. Possible Automotive manufacturers 

3. Advertisement, eye catching

2. Science entusiasts

3. To amaze/ impress, promote product, catch attention, entertain

2. Automotive enthusiasts, mechanics, engineers

3. Replicate vintage car/ petrol design 

PPP // Study task 1

This is the 5 reasons task which we did last year but now our responses and reasonings should probably be different.

5 reasons you chose the programme

1. The courses reputation, as the course is still only young, it's reputation and success couldn't go un noticed.

The fact that many of the graduating years have won new blood and/ or gone into quite respected positions in some respected studios. It makes me think that obviously this course is written to create the elite of the industry and the success rate proves that.

2. Improve idea generation skills.

As before i started this programme I had nothing to do with the graphic design industry, it has meant i have had 4 years where graphics was not really a part of my life, this means that I felt like I was behind with my visual creation skills but thought that this cause could offer me the support and time i need to improve my techniques of idea generation.

3. Take advantage of facilities in the college.

i knew that there would be great opportunities for me to learn and master skills that I would not have the opportunity to use without paying alot of money, the course gives you space to explore with print techniques or production of designs that may not just be printed onto A4 piece of paper.

in this second year I really do need to take advantage of these facilities and this is the only way I will get confident with them.

4. Network and collaborate with other designers.

Going to any graphic design course will allow you to network and socialise with specialists in your chosen field, but as this course explains that it also focuses around collaborative and group work, it will allow me to truly understand how to work with a team or an individual to make the most out of each others individual skills and create a strong graphic team.

5. Find out about aspects of design that I had no idea about.

The one thing that also drew me to this programme is the fact the smallest details of graphic design are focused onto give us as much in depth knowledge as possible, so we can transfer easily into a working graphic designer without having to start from scratch in certain areas.

5 things I want to learn

1. Learn how to become a professional graphic designer.

i know it is an obvious response, but without having experience of working in the field, i sometimes worry that I don't really know what I am getting myself into, this course will hopefully hone my skills and improve my graphic knowledge so the transition between doing the degree and actually working in a professional studio won't be too different.

2. Print techniques and process

As I said earlier this is an advantage to the programme but I do need to take advantage of it, making sure I experiment and become confident with printing in various different ways, as well as researching and exploring industrial printing techniques so i don't just stay in my comfort zone.

3. How to confidently use software as a tool.

My confidence is still lacking when using design software, but like anything I have found the more I experiment and explore each program the better and more confident i become and ultimately the more confident I am with my designs as I am better at accurately translating my thoughts into physical products.

4. How to present my work confidently and professionally 

due to my life experiences up until now, I often find i am very confident when socialising or talking to people, either on an individual or group basis, however last year I realised the importance of being confident when presenting and making sure you know exactly what you are talking about and why you are talking about it.
it's easy to just try and ramble your way through a presentation, but if i actually enjoy / care about what I am presenting find i naturally remember facts and figures without having to panic and read notes.
The more i do this again the more confident i will become in selling myself as a designer.
















5. How to generate interesting ideas/ concepts for every brief.

I want to make sure that when I am asked to do work for a client both I and them will be confident that a good idea / concept will be produced, i don't want to have designs that I am not proud / happy with.

5 skills that you think are your strengths

1. Confident in Networking 

As i said before I am generally good a making friends, which in any industry I think it's an advantage but especially in graphic design, maybe not a design skill but I think it is a personality trait that may help in the future.

2.I try to experiment with ideas

I have found many members of the course seem to have certain styles in their designs which are inspired by their favorite graphic design, however I haven't found a particular style that I would love to settle down in yet so I am experimenting as much as possible which will help with versatility.

3. Presenting

I definitely am not 100% confident with it at all but I think with repetition I will make a confident presenter of my work and ideas, this will be tested this year as we have been told to expect presentations thrown at us left right and center. 

4. I would like to think i am helpful in crits.

I enjoy crits as it gives us a chance to get hands on with each others work, it is surprising how in a class so small you have no idea what some people are working on, so it is a good opportunity to help and give advice, I appreciate good feedback as I learn something from every piece of criticism, so in return i try to give it back like how I would like to receive, and I generally get a feeling that people take on my suggestions and have several times incorporated the idea into their design.

5. I have quite a realistic outlook 

this is sometimes a hindrance but it also helps me to critically look at designs and decide what actually is needed from a product, this does not mean that I have no imagination or dreams, I just feel it helps to always know which direction you are going. 

6. Photography

I really do love photography but always seem to forget it when I am thinking of design concepts, I think their can be some fantastic things done with photographs and it is often easier than creating from scratch on illustrator or photoshop. 

5 things i would like to improve.

 1. Software skills 

I sometimes sit back after going through the initial design stages and struggle to think how I am going to take it to the next level, I find i am sometimes hindered by my software skills. but I find the more i play and experiment the more i eventually learn

I also want to learn more how to inter use photoshop and illustrator, I sometimes want to edit in both pieces of software and can never remember how. 

2. Improve hand drawn illustration 

i am from a family of hobby artists who all seem to have a natural ability with just paper and pen, I however struggle quite a lot with my drawing skills, i would really love to use illustration in my designs but I often find it easier to drawn the object straight into illustrator, i am improving as the terms continue but I would really like to improve in this area.

3.Time Management

Again as always I am still slowly working on this area, I know exactly what i should do about it but still find it difficult to put them into practice, but it is getting better and as i get to know the course more the more confident and prepared i am.

4. Organisation

I need to start creating organised systems for individual briefs so i am always in control of what i am doing, where i am doing it and why I am doing it, i have found at some points without having proper organisation i have lost pieces of information that I later need, therefore giving myself more work.

5.Take more advantage of college facilities.

i aim to increase my confidence with my designs thisyear, and not just limit them to paper and digital print, i want to try and use the screen print facilities alot this year so i really get confident with them as it is an area i reallyfeel I would be interested in but lack the confidence to go and get on with it.

I also want to try designing with different materials ,taking advantage of the laser cutter and wood workshop.

5 ways you will evaluate your progress

1. Blogging

Keeping a record of all my work and evaluations as well as research will definetly help me evaluate my progress, i can already see an improvement in the first year after looking back at previous work I have learnt a lot. 

2.Keeping records of crit feedback

This can always make you learn from your mistakes as well as getting someone else's view on a design, you can evaluate if your design ideas are working by getting and taking on bored good constructive criticism 

3.Feedback from a non designer.

I have found if i ask people outside of the course who may have nothing to do with design for their feedback I feel i get an honest response as they know nothing about it at all apart from whether they like it or don't like it or understand it or don't understand it.

4. Self evaluation

at the start of the course I found this a little more difficult than I do now as i wasn't sure if their was a right or wrong answer, I have found by doing more blogging and self evaluation that I now find it quite easy to get my thoughts out in words, it is a good physical diary of my journey and experiences.

5. Grades

Obviously grades are a good indication of how you are doing in relation to the courses intentions, it now gets a little more serious as the grades go towards our final mark but it is a good opportunity to get on top of everything from an early point. 

5 Questions you want to find the answer to 

1. What do i want to specialise in?

This one is a subject that I am always a little worried about, especially seeing others on the course be so passionate about certain areas of graphic design, I haven't found that area yet that i specialise in or want to take further, i enjoy all the design we do but am still not sure about where i would like t be once the course has finished.  

2. How can I improve my hand drawn illustration skills?

I would really like to incorporate more illustrations into my work but don't have the confidence when drawing, I often find it difficult to get exactly what i want on the page in front of me. 

3. What are the general prices graphic designers charge for specifc works?

I am looking forward to finding out some business sides to a graphic designers life, it will give me more confidence selling myself and my work if I knew what it would be worth to a client.

4. How can I become a master on Adobe Creative Suite

I think I know the answer to this question but I have no idea how you would manage to do exactly what you want on any of the adobe programs, i kno enough to scrape through but I really want to learn more.

5. How do i screen print

I know we had the basic induction last year but i REALLY want to get in the print workshop and get my hands dirty this year and i want to get used to it so i dont have to go asking for help every time I'm in their, I intend to go in their some point soon and just ask someone to walk me through the process so I can familiarise myself with the process.


5 things that inspire you

1. The Sun

I know it's a silly one but English weather really doesn't help with my work ethic, I find that if it is grey and miserable (like it usually is) my motivation is much less but when the sun is out and its warm it just lifts me and makes me a much chirpier and creative thinker.

2. Researching designers

I always get really inspired when on blogs or designers websites, whether that because I think I can do a better job or because I think I would like to be like them, but it always gets me in a designing mood.

3. Competition briefs

I feel that I get much more motivated when their is a competitive edge to a brief, I find i often get more excited about competition or live briefs than I should.

4. Money

I know it's a bad one but anyone who says money isn't inspirational is a liar, I would love to have lots of money and live a comfortable life and often find that the prospect of money spurs me on more than anything.

5. Final product

When I am at the end stages of a brief and am either creating or holding the finished product i find then it was all worth it, unless I don't like it and want to alter it then it spurs me on to either improve or to rethink.

 10 examples of design that illustrate your fields of creative interest

Bianca chang

Yusaku Kamekura

 

Anna Kövecses 

 

Element One 

Kohei Nakazawa

Antrepo

 

Timur Salikhov

 Sidecar

Andy Callahan

Level 5 // 5 Questions session..

First day back of the second year, and it doesn't even feel like we have had a 3 month break.... BUT glad to be back and looking forward and a little nervouse about what the 2nd year has in store for us.

For our first session back as a warm up (similar to what we did last year at this point) we had the task set to write 

-5 reasons you chose the programme
-5 things you want to learn

-5 things you think are your strengths
-5 things you want to improve
 

- 5 ways to evaluate your progress
- 5 questions you want to find the answers to

These initially were all individual thoughts that we just tried to get out of our heads onto paper, we all had 30 private points / questions 

We were then put into groups to try and find 10 points that everybody shared.

There seemed to be these common areas (above) that everybody kept on suggesting.  We tried to select the statements that we all felt effected us.

W then swapped our lists of 10 with another group and tried to make each of their chosen statements into a question, as you can see below.

After all of the groups handed in the final questions, Simon and Lorraine  collated the most commonly occurring questions and gave us some useful answers, the question I was most intrigued in was the one about 

9. What do I want to specialise in? 

even though i know they cant answer the question for me I still wanted to know that I wasn't the only one who still had no clue what are i would like to specialise in as when it comes to my designs i still don't have a noticeable individual style which I feel comfortable working in.

Some people on the course have quite noticable individual style, this isn't a benefit at this point i dont think as I am still learning and experimenting with styles and techniques, but it might be nice to know I have certain areas which I am more talented at instead of being average at everything.

the answer to this response seemed to be - 'don't worry about it' it might take a little time but one day it will suddenly click and you will realise what you enjoy doing and what you are good at.

so this made me feel a little better.