Friday 14 October 2011

Robbie Porter//STUDIO TALK.




Today, for second and third years there was a talk by Illustrator, Designer & "Avid List Maker", Robbie Porter- a Edinburgh- based designer who had previously been taught by our first year tutor, Amber, on the Foundation Degree programme at the LCA Vernon Street building.

The following ramblings (aka messy list) are notes I took from the talk:

* Clients include: Urban Outfitters, The Skinny, Edinburgh Printmakers.
* A little unsure about design direction at college, was made a "FOCUS FLAG" by Amber- an inspiration to focus ideas. Multidisciplinary, practices include: photography, print, type, sewing, graphic design, sculpture, animation & illustration.
* FMP "Bed Bugs" surface pattern design (DISCLAIMED: I was delighted to discover this was Robbie's work- I remember seeing this in the LCA prospectus in my first year of college, and based on that alone, decided that this was where I wanted to study).
* After college, he took 6 months off to "learn how to draw" and perfect his design techniques, and then spent 6 months in an internship at Edinburgh Printmakers- helped to network and develop confidence.
* IRA GLASS- Podcasts a huge inspiration and motivation through freelance and design work "This 
American Life".
* Stopped using sketchbooks to feel less restricted in his work.
* Inspirations include: Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson, Brendon Monroe, TNMT, Antony Gormley, Matt Swan, Magritte (trained in GD), Eleni Kalorkoti, Lizzi Stewart, Craig Frazier, Jason Munn (Small Sticks).
* Have a style- it's not the be all and end all, but it makes you memorable.
* Go back to your old work and re-design it to give you confidence in your design development.
* Your best resource is yourself.
* Getty Images is a great resource for reference material.
* Interviewed for computer arts magazine.
* Adobe Kuler is a great resource for colour inspiration- a "colour wheel" for harmonious colour combinaitons.
* Practice topical illustrations (political, social, etc)- though it "milks the cash cow" a little, it brings great traffic to your site.
* Don't underestimate the power of personal work- it can lead to great professional opportunities.
* IMPORTANT NETWORKING TOOLS: Website//Email to blogs, newspapers, agencies//Look at client lists on professionals websites//competitions//magazines//printed portfolio (newspaper club website)//cargo collective//craft fairs//entrepreneurship.
* Freelance? Art Quest is a great website for support- financial, business, personal, educational, etc.

A really inspiring talk- given me even more confidence about my potential career in freelance design, and my absolute new illustration crush. When I grow up, I want to be Robbie Porter.

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