Personal Devlopment III//Propaganda Studio Visit.

www.propaganda.co.uk

Yesterday afternoon I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to take a studio visit to the branding design studio, Propaganda, at Calls Wharf in Leeds.

A fan of Propaganda, and particularly their established creative make up brand, Illamasqua, for some time, along with their incredibly talented designers and excellence in marketing, it was a real privilege to go along to meet Lee Bennett, the Design Director of the studio, and to be able to showcase my portfolio and have a talk about the industry, and my potential place within it. 

He offered some really great advice, and being totally personable, I felt (perhaps for the first time on a studio visit!) completely relaxed, at ease and confident about presenting myself and my work. 

A really great opportunity to get some really great insight, Lee suggested promoting more of a brand development throughout my portfolio, to showcase my thought process, and also to expand upon evidence of my software knowledge and application of design (e.g. stop motion, web design, exploring more diverse processes). 

Feeling really motivated, I can't wait to get involved in the industry now!

Personal Development III//April 2013 Portfolio & CV

In preparation for a couple of studio visits over the next week, I decided to re-vamp my portfolio, along with my CV, taking the feedback from various other portfolio reviews since the New Year as well as creating more of a 'Work in Progress' section, to showcase some of the forthcoming design projects to come from the Final Major Project (which, unfortunately, at this stage, are not yet complete enough to add in full into the portfolio), but hopefully will provide a prompt for more insight, and a motivation for me to get a real move on with the design brief progression.

I'm looking forward to discussing my work with the studios, and hopefully having real confidence in my aims, ambitions, and design direction upon graduating University.

Personal Development III//Contacting The Chase.

www.thechase.co.uk

This evening I contacted design agency, The Chase, in both their London and Manchester offices with the potential of going to meet with the designers for a possible studio visit and/or placement.

Although being well aware of their portfolio for quite some time (particularly being a fan of the D&AD project, as shown below), I wasn't actually aware of the studio that created the work, so it was a delight to find them quite by chance.

This time of the year is particularly important as I go on to graduate and seek employment to make those all - important contacts, and, hopefully, can start to go on to actively apply for graphic design job vacancies and become an active designer within the industry.

Personal Development III//Leeds Print Festival Exhibition Visit

Image Source | www.designweek.co.uk/whats-on/leeds-print-festival/3035901.article

After attending the Leeds Print Festival last weekend, one of the clients I am currently working with, Alex Warren, throughout the Final Major Project module, and I attended the open exhibition, which provided a great platform for me to introduce new print methods and designs to the client, as well as being able to get more of an opportunity to see the work.

Coming from a design background (Architecture/Architectural Design), it's great working with a client who actively engages with print, and I could tell he was particularly interested in the production methods used, which should provide me the opportunity for a great deal of experimentation and conceptual thinking throughout Alex's rebrand brief, which, hopefully, I should be starting to initially develop and explore throughout next week.

Professional Development III//Leeds Print Festival 2013.

Notes and documentation of today's Leeds Print Festival (2013), as originally founded by BAGD Leeds College of Art tutor, Amber Smith.

The event itself was amazing with exhibited work from various designers, as well as talks from Nick of The Print Project, Matthew the Horse, and the remarkable Alan Kitching. 

I’m feeling so inspired for my projects ahead, particularly working with the combination of typography and print… I feel like this was exactly what I needed right now (along with getting some beautiful print and Yorkshire tea bags in a goodie bag...always a plus for a caffeine-fuelled zombie designers, like me).

Big thanks to Amber, I hope she was as delighted with the day as all the guests and attendees were.

NOTES

-

THE PRINT PROJECT

* Nick, presenting on behalf of The Print Project, Bradford.

* Influenced by skateboarding and music through teen years which lead on to working with print. Started fanzines, inspired by skating and trash metal. 

* Inspired by designers like David Carson- experimental, punk-esque, of the time.

* Employed as a litho printer in 1999 after a design education.

* In 2005, he bought a 100 year-old press for £60 to begin experimenting with letterpress design- traded in at a later date for a more updated design.

* Became The Print Project through printing at the 1 in 12 Club, Bradford.

* Learnt independently how to develop experience with letterpress- first inspired by friend Peter who worked with letterpress printing.

* Featured at the LPF Pop Up Shop- allowed people that aspect of "having a go".

* Pink Milk Float printing in Leeds- open print experience.

* Enjoy the freeness and lack of convention in letterpress printing and type- very expressive and free- can't be effectively digitally replicated.

* Grotesk No9/ Headline Bold type for "Nothing Twee Here..." print.

* Cut type on free saws on improve and specify kerning to experiment.

* Letterpress "is what it is"... and "does what it does".

* 'All sorts' publication sold at book fair. Rep from The Tate came and bought the book and put it in the Museum. Experimental print and type- "faces" and characters made from letterpress.

* Colophon for book in 10pt Bembo, set by hand.

* LPF responsible for more exposure and work within the industry.

* Grambe (sp?)- Susan Blake type foundry/typeface used on letterpress invites for LPF. 

MATTHEW THE HORSE

* "These are my opinions today"- observations, make your own thoughts...

* Like to have fun and be playful- name reflects the silliness.

* Enjoys co-ordinaring socks with drinks flask (fantastic).

* Very passionate about "graphic art".

* Illustrator & Graphic Artists, but commitments also lie elsewhere within being an educator.

* Context + Concept + Form = Illustration/Image- Making in response to a brief.

* Does a lot of editorial work- worked for The Guardian for 3 years. VERY short deadlines, visual thinking.

* 30 minutes for one illustration... PROUD moment.

* Graphic Art: Self initiated art, conceptually driven by it's own agenda.

* Marcus Oakley is his #1 heartthrob of design. 

* Illustration isn't just vocational- it's about hustling and business too.

* You need to BE your work to inform your practice.

* Created work for Pick Me Up print fair in London.

* Likes to create work that expresses moments of epiphany, euphoria and spontaneity. 

* The original idea is the gold, and you want to maintain this as much as possible.

* Don't work for free, but if you can, you will learn from it through spec work.

* Graphic Art is driven by agenda and concept.

* It's all about finding balance and brining your tone of voice to the work.

* Fine Art has turned its back on image making in more recent years through Artists such as Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, etc.

* An illustrative practice is commercial and needs value.

* Graphic Art is affordable and inclusive.

* Building a collection makes it yours. Shouldn't be a symbol of wealth or intellectually inclusive. Follow YOUR JAM.

* You define your own tastes- they can be developed, we all start somewhere. Ikea canvas prints CANNOT be excused, however... Create work that means something TO YOU... counteract the mass-produced.

* Appropriate art and be inspired.

* Matthew the Horse may well be the happiest man in the World.

ALAN KITCHING

* Talk for Wolff Olins in November 2012. Asking why designers did what they did... he replied 'B'cause, B'cause, B'cause'... verbally and visually.

* Traditional methods learnt from letterpress.

* Anthony Froshaud, 1964 > Alan was studying at Watford College of Technology, taught by Anthony as Senior Lecturer (taught at the Bauhaus. International reputation, 20 years his senior).

* Peter Schmidt/Alan Kitching, 1967. Watford College of Art, School of Art poster > Very minimal, pure, clean type (Swiss-like)... RESEARCH & REVIEW.

* Started t work with Fletcher Forbes Gill after college (this group now runs as Pentagram... though under varying management)... Colin Forbes/Alan Kitching, 1972.

* Typographer Matthew Carter was commissioned to design font for V&A.

* Created Broadside typographic publications/specimens to promote his practice and the typefaces available to use... used multi-lingual type with quotes from the bible for the communication of the type and how it's used.

* Experimentation of the overlays and layering of type and editorial design.

* Commissioned to make a typographic map of London as a printing guide to the city. Used the river as a key feature (as it is so distinctive)- all the blue circles are representative of the blue plaques seen on notable persons houses, but contain content in regards to notable prating (Penguin Books, Samuel Johnson, Faber & Faber, etc.)

* Tube Map can fold down to a poster/invite- getting two jobs out of one. 

* Phrases can often make very effective typographic posters- COLLECT THEM!

* Experimented with printing manually by rollers- gives more texture and an element of spontaneity.

* Baseline magazine cover using wood cut type and varying colours.

Print Visit//Confirmation from Pressision.

Really pleased and excited to have confirmed a date (25th January at 11am) for a print visit to Pressision, with whom I have been in contact with for a little while.

Along with a small group of friends and fellow designers from the course, we've agreed to go round to see the facilities, and potentially build up a contact for our own professional practices.

More documentation from the print visit itself to come.

Personal Development III//Contacting Praline.

Dedicating a little more time this evening for studio contacts, and, on this occasion re-contacting London-based design studio, Praline, with whom I had originally been in touch with and planned to travel down for a studio visit and portfolio review, but, unfortunately, at last minute, due to unforeseen circumstances had to cancel.

Hopefully this time I will be able to really plan my trip down, and potentially spend a few days in London over the reading/assessment week break, potentially even sourcing some research for my Final Major Project briefs which I am working on throughout the New Year until the end of May upon the final module submission.

Print Visit//Contacting Pressision.

This evening I went to contact local printers, Pressision, after having initially made contact in Autumn last year, and then going on to meet one of the printers, Richard, whilst working with Joe Gilmore at Qubik.

Hopefully, booking a print visit to the Leeds-based studios will help to build up a working relationship with myself and the group of fellow BAGDers, with potential negotiations and deals to also be struck in regards to budget limitations and turn around times, whilst also gaining further insight and knowledge in regards to the print industry.

Looking forward, and hoping for a reply to arrange a visit within the next couple of months.

Industry//Leeds Print Festival.

Very excited to have today paid for my ticket to the 2013 Leeds Print Festival Industry Talk at Leeds Gallery, as curated and run by BAGD Programme Leader, Amber Smith, on Sunday 20th January.

Unfortunately last year I wasn't able to attend, so am particularly looking forward to hearing talks and words of wisdom from influential designers within the industry as well as getting some rather sexy letterpress prints (definitely won me over to buy the ticket...).

More details and images will be posted after the event.

Studio Contact//Tayburn.

Taking some time out this evening to contact Malcolm, the Creative Director in Edinburgh-based Tayburn, once again, after his kind reply earlier in the year asking if I'd like to visit the studio after Christmas and the New Year.

Really excited to hopefully confirm a date and plan a short break up to the city, potentially working in time to see other studios and the city itself (which may even prove to be a potential move after graduation).

Professional Development III//Contact from Alphabetical.

alphabeticalstudio.com

Earlier in the week I received an email from design studio, Alphabetical, in Shoreditch.

Although they unfortunately said they wouldn't be able to offer me any time with their studio, due to their very small staff numbers (and, consequently, just how busy they are), they were really supportive and kind about the samples of work/portfolio I had sent them, and I was fortunate enough to get the offer to have my work kept on file incase any work were to emerge in the future.

Professional Development III//Contact from Tayburn.

tayburn.co.uk

After initially contacting the studio a couple of weeks ago, I was really delighted to receive an email reply from Malcolm at Tayburn in regards to going up to Edinburgh for a studio visit (as a city I'm keen to explore more for a potential location after graduation, as well as a developing interest in the studio after working with Dave at Glad, a previous Tayburn design employee), which we're looking to put forward to the New Year when things have settled down re work for both the studio and myself.

More information as and when it comes in! Exciting stuff!

Professional Practice III//Reply from Praline.

www.designbypraline.com

This afternoon, I was lucky enough to receive an email reply from Praline, a London and Paris based design studio that I had recently contacted in regards to going down for a potential portfolio review and/or studio visit.

Really happy that the studio are keen to see me within the next couple of weeks (the first thing I did was order myself a good PAMPA A3 portfolio... now I just have to design the work to go in it...), hopefully I'll negotiate either the 4th or 6th December, the days of which I am next free.

Praline have a seriously impressive design portfolio and 12-year history in the business, along with working within many of the culture, architectural and entertainment industries I am myself interested in both in my current student design projects, and the ones I hope to pursue in my professional career upon graduation.

Really looking forward to it, and, hopefully, gaining some constructive feedback, and more potential industry contacts.

Professional Development III//London Studio Visits.

alphabeticalstudio.com

Another busy night of contacting more studios with the view of potentially gaining some more industry knowledge and insight through studio visits and potential placements, by contacting some of my favourite and acclaimed studios in London, and, in the case of ilovedust, also contacting their Hampshire office (my childhood county) in regards to potentially meeting for a portfolio review and informal chat.

Although, of course, I don't expect too much (some SERIOUSLY talented and acclaimed studios, here...) it would be great to even get some feedback, and anticipate a reply in, hopefully, the not-too-distant future.

http://ilovedust.com

designbypraline.com

bibliothequedesign.com

Professional Development III//Reply from Touch Agency.

I was really pleased yesterday to have recieved a very prompt reply from Martin at Touch (Agency), a studio I contacted on Sunday evening, up in Edinburgh, in regards to a potential studio visit with them, and have asked as to when I might be interested in visiting.

I also found out that friend and fellow BAGDer, Kirsty Alderson, had contacted Touch in regards for going for a visit in the summer, but unfortunately couldn't at the time due to financial reasons. So, proposing that we go up in the New Year (with a student loan to help us along), it would be a great opportunity for us to both go and visit the studio for an informal chat and potential portfolio review, which I'm sure would be fantastic for us both in regards to professional development, but also a slightly less intimidating one with a friend close by!

More blog updates as and when news/dates are confirmed.

Professional Development III//Placement at Qubik.

qubik.com

On Friday I was lucky enough to be able to spend the day working alongside Graphic Designer, Joe Gilmore, of Qubik, in his home studio assisting him with work on editorial design for a magazine.

I had a really great day working in the very calm, and friendly home environment in which his lovely wife and one year old daughter would often pop up in during the day, as well as Richard from Pressision print, whom I had contacted in regards to organising a visit earlier in the year, but hadn't had an opportunity to talk to properly yet, so that was a great piece of luck that Joe was expecting a publication delivery that same day.

I had a great time working on something completely different from the usual work in my design portfolio and practice, and feel as though I've already learnt a great deal (who knew what a Colophon was?) and have got some great inspiration for my own developments throughout Design Practice III (particularly the magazine/portfolio for Jessie Leong Photography- see my Design Practice blog for design developments) which I'm really excited to try and execute over the next couple of days.

Professional Development III//Reply from Effektive.

effektivedesign.co.uk

Boo- bad news from Effektive. Worried that I probably didn't convey my intentions/hopes for just a visit well enough, but still a positive that I've made contact with the studio, and, thankfully, received a reply within a short space of time (nothing worse than being left hanging, hoping for a reply at some time or another!).

Hopefully potential for contact in the future, I'm a big fan of the studio's work, and will be sure to keep an eye on the development of their new and additional projects publicised within the near future.

Professional Development III//Contacting Edinburgh Studios.

effektivedesign.co.uk

This evening, I set about making contact with me three favourite Scottish Graphic Design agencies, Effektive, Tayburn, and The Touch Agency, in regards to potentially arranging a studio visit, and a potential portfolio review to try to make network connections and even to possibly create a working relationship with the studios in the near future.

As I've started to seriously consider the future of my career, and my plans upon graduation, Edinburgh, in particular, is somewhere that I'd be really interested to look to for work and to live, and I'd love to start making connections with the design industry in the area, so fingers crossed that I'll receive some positive responses and develop communication links soon.

tayburn.co.uk

thetouchagency.co.uk

Design Practice III//Placement with Qubik.

qubik.com

Very pleased to confirm that I will be starting my weekly placement with Qubik's Joe Gilmore from this Friday, going in one day a week to develop my design work, and, more importantly, to gain some really important feedback and insight into both my personal and professional design practice with Joe's knowledge and experience.

I'm really looking forward to developing my editorial design which is, of course, Qubik's specialism, and feel it will really help me with a variety of my printed outcomes throughout the Design Practice III module (for more information see my Design Practice blog).

Professional Practice III//Contacting The Consult.

theconsult.com

Contacting brand design specialist studio, The Consult, based in Leeds this evening in the hopes of potentially organising a studio visit and/or portfolio review.
For a long time I've been a real fan of the work that the studio produce, and, in particular, the work created for Stack Architects (a new discovery, thanks to fellow BAGDer, Luke), and the branding design for the Tockwith Beer Festival, with a playful and illustrative-driven design which really appeals to my skills set and current interests. 

Really anticipating a positive response hopefully within the next few weeks to organise a visit, and hopefully strengthen both my future design portfolio and my contacts within the industry.