PPD//Industrial experience//Studio workshop tasks.

Working in small groups of six, in response to the PPD Industrial experience workshop briefing session, we were given a set of studio tasks to complete in order to get us really thinking about what we expect from the industry, and, ultimately, what we hope to achieve from it. 
The content below is the written information that we gathered in response to these tasks, each within their own separate categories given throughout the morning- a great brainstorm session which has given me lots of inspiration for expanding both my networking and research potential, which I hope to progress on with imminently. 


TASK I


WHAT IS INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE?


- Studio visits
- Competitions
- Live briefs
- Freelance work
- Shadowing
- Portfolio review
- Setting up a business
- Sending a print job
- Internships
- Networking


WHAT IS PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH?


- Studio visits- looking at websites
- Networking
- Studio talks/visiting professionals
- Events- print festival, etc
- Graphic design exhibitions
- Magazines, websites, library
- Printers visits
- College lectures
- How other people promote themselves
- Look at competitors using SWOT analysis


TASK II


INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE
CONCERNS/PROBLEMS


- Am I good enough?
- Where do you start?
- What if nobody wants me?
- Affordability of travel, etc.
- Tone of voice- not too desperate!
- A lot of competition/competitors


OPPORTUNITIES


- Enter live competitions/briefs
- Work out areas of interest
- Look at stuff that is available
- Look back over design context blog
- Work out where you can afford to go


PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH
CONCERNS/PROBLEMS


- Where do you look?
- How do you network?
- Who do you network with?
- Having the time to look effectively.
- Am I looking at the right thing?


OPPORTUNITIES


- Lots to look at.
- Create a social presence online.
- Look back over who we have been looking at already to start generating a list.
- Look for new studios.
- Find work by studios/professionals.
- Find exhibitions, etc, to possibly attend.


TASK III


CREATIVE CVs
and tent things we need to put in them


- Work experience
- Ambitions
- Contact details
- Skills set (software, etc)
- Personal interests
- About me (who you are)
- Reflect on your design approach (branding and self promotion)
- What you could offer the specific studio (personalise your CV for different studios)
- References/testimonials
- Work availability
- Qualifications


STUDIO VISITS
and ten things we will gain from them


- Professional contacts and networking
- An insight into companies
- An insight into the design practice and whether or not it's suited to you
- A realistic view of the working practice and studio environment
- Potential to gain an industrial placement
- Potential to gain portfolio reviews/opinions on your work and design practice
- Samples of studio work
- Potential to interview designers and to find out more about their working day/life
- Chance to visit new places- locations as well as the studio, and whether it would be suited to your lifestyle (work and practice) post-graduation
- Encouragement to plan for your future


PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH
and ten things we will gain from it


- Gives you a better understanding/idea of what you want to do
- Makes you aware of what's going on in the industry
- Inspires your own practice
- Find out the expectations of the industry
- You gain industry contacts- networking
- Can search for companies you'd like to work with
- Can find out about other areas of the industry, eg photography and printers
- Makes you more aware of life after Uni
- Visiting exhibitions makes you more culturally aware
- Encourages you to plan for the future