PPD III//Notes From Welcome Back Briefing.

Notes from the Welcome Back Briefing, as delivered by John and Andy, with an introduction and overview of the PPD module throughout the summer, along with a selection of short, written tasks, as shown at the bottom of the blog post.

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NOTES

- Potentially include amends in contact when working for clients (freelance).
- Write contracts as a freelancer.
- Printer bills client directly, financially far safer for a freelancer.
- Keep contact consistently going forwards and backwards.

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TASKS
Write 5 responses for each question

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1. Things you know now that you didn't before.

-  Branding is so much more than just logo development- it's a real chance to have in depth, client interaction, to explore marketing, promotion, and all aspects of the design process, from conception to finalised printed design.

- My capabilities and design portfolio ARE good enough for a studio environment. I was lucky enough to feel motivated and focused enough at my design placements and experience which resulted in a good amount of work being produced, to a high standard, that has gone on to have been used in live briefs.

- The 9-5 routine of a working day helps me to remain focused in a studio environment. Often, I feel that the University environment isn't a particularly productive one for me, but I know that is because I will often let myself get distracted, and I really need to have a more define set of ambitions and planning throughout Level 06 to ensure I get as much as possible out of my time in the studio.

- For me, branding and brand identity is certainly a route I am hoping to pursue in my personal design practice, as it provides a way for me to combine my particular interests and skills within photography, image for purpose and typographic design into a contextualised and structured manner, as well as ensuring I get to work with clients directly, which is something I particularly enjoy.

- I have a real ambition and motivation to succeed in my design practice and future career. I'm not usually a very competitive person, but throughout the summer, I've learnt that I'm highly competitive... with myself.

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2. Things you would address differently that you did this summer.


- Contact studios more strategically  Although you make thing there's no harm in contacting around ten at a time, assuming that, at most, half will get back to you, you might be surprised... and inundated with emails/offers for industry experience that you can't commit to.

- Try to be more persistant with designers/studios local to Leeds. Although I loved the industry experience I gained in the North East, due to travelling away from where I live, it resulted in quite a costly experience, and may evidently affect my work and project outcomes later on in the year.

- As opposed to just contacting designers/studios in regards to visits or industry experience, ask for feedback too. Often enough, I was lucky that the designers/studios did this without question in email replies, but I could have specifically asked for this, and perhaps gained a developed insight and reflection upon my own design portfolio at a much earlier stage in the summer.

- Set myself more self-initiated briefs and tasks with significant, contextualised projects to develop and strengthen my portfolio, as well as to ensure that my skills are kept up to date and my mind and concept development as active as possible. 

- Throughout the summer, I would've liked the opportunity to develop my self branding and promotion to a much higher level, not having the time, unfortunately, by the end of the summer to develop my own personal website, which is something I now hope to achieve by the time I graduate in the summer of 2013.

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3. Specific things you will address this semester that should be useful.


- I will actively remain in contact with the design studios that I have worked at, potentially offering to create design work for them, as well as hopefully returning for more industry experience at a later date for potential experience/job opportunities upon graduation.

- I will consistently ask for feedback from both my peers, tutors and industry professionals. Often, I feel that I "become to involved" with my work, and another pair of unbiased eyes can be very helpful in terms of the effective means of concept development translation and visual communication to the client/consumer.

- I will aim to promote myself to a much great extent, readily networking with potential clients and industry professionals on a weekly, if not daily, to get my portfolio seen, and for my name to be recognised, and associated with design, as much as possible before I graduate.

- Throughout this semester I hope to work on some live, substantial briefs, which, when posted online and publicised  if successful, should hopefully, once again, promote myself to a much wider and design-orientated audience.

- This semester, I will try to engage with studios and industry professionals in regards to what they look for in a graduate/junior design, and to hopefully receive some feedback in regards to what I can do to make an effective and substantial interview design portfolio.

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4. Things you feel we could address as a group?


- Potentially learn more about the accountancy of being either a freelance designer or setting up your own design studio, talking to finance managers/accountants about how to realistically go about gaining funding, or from the viewpoint of visiting professionals who have gone through this experience successfully in the past.

- Discuss effective means of self promotion and branding, and the most appropriate ways to promote yourself to contemporary design studios.

- Necessary means of contact and how to be persistent with design studios/etiquette, is it appropriate? Is it necessary?

- Explore the various design outlets within the design industry, and how to effectively choose the most appropriate avenue of design/practice for you.


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5. Things you feel we have not looked at in PPD you personally would like to know more about with reference to professionalism?


- Have more visiting professionals from more varied locations, perhaps from studios overseas, or throughout the United Kingdom to gain more insight about the industry on both a national and global level, as opposed to purely within Leeds and the closely surrounding cities.

- Discuss effective portfolio designs and how to sell your work as successfully as possible.

- To meet design professionals, and to ask what qualities and work (design portfolio) they would personally look for in a junior designer, from a range of design studios/freelances around the UK and overseas.

- Meet past alumni/students of the degree to discuss their time since University, studios/clients they are working for now, and giving a realistic overview of time after the course, how long it took for them to become employed, and so on.

- Potentially discuss business/interview techniques, and effective ways to win over Creative Directives not only with your design portfolio, but also from your demeanour, personality,etc.