Joe Boyd

In the organised one to one careers session thanks to the launch of the Intern Magazine launch, I was able to have a chat with freelance illustrator and designer, Joe Boyd. In the original email sent by Alex it was introduced to the creatives who would be at the event. This meant that I was able to find out a bit about them before attending. Joe was one of the creatives who I was looking forward to meeting as his profession is an area that I have a growing interest in.

Through the one to one chat we discussed how important interacting with creatives is. His advice was to continue going to creative events and to not be be afraid of contacting a creative or design studio that I wish to start a conversation with. This is something that he did in his final year of university which then led to the opportunities he has now. This reassured my concerns that if people reply and are willing to speak to me, then an opportunity may arise from that new relationship with the creative. Joe also asked what I was currently working on which led me to discussing the Design For Screen brief with him. The overall discussion around this brief began wit me explaining the problem that I had identified and the ideas that I am currently working on. His comments towards this were very positive and said that it is important that I am identifying subject areas that I am interested in but not to limit myself to this and to continue learning. This is something that I feel I am doing with this brief as I am taking the interest in editorial to a different level in terms of experimenting with it on a digital format.

My overall experience of this one to one was very positive and thanks to the discussion with Joe, I feel a lot more confident in myself to have other discussions with creatives and to contact them directly.

Personal Practise

From attending the Glug event I have been influenced to consider what I would like my career to be after graduating. Defining and discovering what area of practise I enjoy and have an interest in is something that is important to determine as early as possible. From learning of others experiences, this will hopefully ensure or help the process after graduating. 

Editorial Design:

This is an area that I have a particular interest in and which I'm applying to my practise in answering the current briefs. Through having a discussion with a tutor, this is an area that I need to narrow down in terms of what type of editorial design I am interested in as well as a genre. This is something that I aim to complete over the next coming weeks. 

Illustration Design:

Illustration is something that I do in my own time. It is something that I have, in certain cases, been able to apply to my degree practise however is typically something I do for my own benefit and enjoyment. This is an area that I have recently been working more efficiently in which has helped develop my presence on the social media platform, Instagram. 

Donut Press

Donut Press are a design and stationery studio, started up by a husband and wife. I follow this studio on Instagram and therefore keep up to date on their frequent posts. Their work, similar to mine, is of a handmade illustrative style in the form of wedding and other invitations, cards and other stationery goodies. As the designs that they produce are similar to my own style I would like to get in contact with the studio and find out more about what they do and how they started up. This may hopefully provide guidance on how I can start something similar selling my own invitation/card designs. 

How to think of an idea

What to think about:

- The product - what is it?

- Range - How many things could it be? (don't limit yourself)

- Distribution (where will the audience view the product, interact with it, buy it from)

- Don't limit yourself with a budget. If you have the idea then someone can produce it

These are all useful tips that I learnt throughout the session. It has opened my mind up to the various areas that are behind one idea and the considerations that need to be made. This links with OUGD503 Studio Brief 02 as the brief allows for you to write your own brief. This means that careful consideration is needed to fulfil the aims that you have set as well as producing a range of ideas to discuss and work with. 

To put this knowledge into practise I worked in a group with two peers. The brief was: Make Yahoo! the world's most popular search engine. 

 

We first thought of a range of areas that could be considered when thinking of an idea to complete a brief. These were areas that we thought were of most importance however the list could have continued.

Through this task it was highlighted that adding emotion to a resolution makes the idea more distinctive than others. This is something to consider and apply to all briefs that I am working on.  

Glug Event

I discovered Glug through a discussion with Harrison, a visiting past student of the college. On attending the event I was unsure of what to expect as the structure of the night was unclear. However, the organiser was quick to approach me which led to a discussion about who I am and what my practise is about. I was then directed to two freelance designers who were interested to find out what my knowledge was on freelancing. 

Studio 12

 

The Studio 12 talk introduced the creative space that they organise that allows young creatives to learn and grow as a person. They have a wide range of materials that are available to those who wish to be apart of the studio environment. As well as hearing from the studio's spokesperson, there was also a young creative there who explained how the studio helped him develop himself as a person and how he has gone on to produce videos that have been recognised and featured on BBC. Working in the industry environment taught him that although he had the skills that were required he needed to 'up his game' to be successful in this environment. He also discussed how everything that he works on relates back to a problem and this enables him to use his problem solving skills to resolve the issue. This is something that relates to OUGD504 Studio Brief 02. Working with a problem is a successful way to answer a brief as there is always the reference point of whether you are overcoming the issue. 

Alec Dudson, Intern Magazine

Alec is a creative that I have been aware of since his talk with us in Level 4. Since then I have followed the development and stories of Intern. This was a talk that I was highly interested in as I have organised a 1 to 1 with Alec and the organisers of Intern. Key points that I noted down from the talk were 

- the hardest thing is deciding what you want to do but things are changing so don't panic

- you're not limited to one area of 'creativeness'

- find someone who appreciates you and your practise

She Does Digital

This talk involved two young proffessionals discussing how the digital industries are growing with an increasing demand for those with digital talent. They then went on to discuss how having digital skills is something that makes you unique. However, I would disagree with this. As young creatives at university have grown up with technology, these are skills that we are naturally aware of therefore to a certain extent we all have a similar skill set. One element that sets creatives apart is their skills in the more individual traditional print area. These are skills that not every creative has the opportunity to learn and experience therefore I would say that this, in certain circumstances, is an important skill set that digital skills. It would be argued that technology is the way of the future therefore these are just as important skills. 

Matt Essam

Matt is a very passionate individual who focuses on helping creatives earn a living by doing what they enjoy. In the talk he explained the process that he went through and described his feelings towards this method of being where you want to be. Being in a job that he didn't enjoy was something that he highlighed as something that led him to discover his own morals and values. However, this is something that he described as being something that you can identify without having to be involved in something that you don't enjoy. This was a very reassuring talk as it highlighted that not everyone knows what they are doing when they graduate and it is something that you can help yourself with. 

Photography Book - Collaboration

Rather than a collaboration involvement that included myself producing the photo book in collaboration with the photographer, my role leant more towards offering technical support and design guidance. Providing technical support came in the response to Hilda using Adobe Indesign which is a programme that she was not familiar with. I therefore provided help in setting up the document and ensuring that the photographs were scaled to the correct size and colour format for printing. This has improved my skills in communication and teaching as I ensured that I did not just complete these checks myself but instructed Hilda on how to do so so that she is aware for the future. 

This was a collaboration partnership that has been different to my previous experiences however has taught me the importance of communication and that not having a design input does not mean that it is not a collaboration. 

'How to Defeat the Terror of Bad Design' "Design Harder"

Eye On Design (AIGA) is a website that I use to keep up to date with the creative news.  The article 'How to Defeat the Terror of Bad Design' "Design Harder" addresses why the former MTV senior designer, Erik Carter, has set out on his own in the design world. 

"When you’re an editorial illustrator, the kind of work that you get reflects the times that you live in, and the subject of my illustrations should speak to that"

"I've always been of the belief that the key to happiness is to live outside the system, and that's exactly what I want my life to be."

Robert Venturi - "Modernism is about space. Postmodernism is about communication. You should do what turns you on"

Through this article I was introduced to another creatives way of thinking at the aims that they set themselves. Carter is a passionate individual who tries to achieve a mix of modernism and postmodernism with his work. In the text he explains how he tries to 'add hidden meaning with abstraction'. This method of design is something that relates to the Penguin competition. Producing a design that is different from the obvious response is one approach to take when designing for a client/competition. This will hopefully ensure that the design stands out against others and is something that Erik Carter practises through his work. 

Casey Nesitat

Casey is a film maker who over the past year and a half has been a vlogger on YouTube. From March 2015 I have followed his work on a personal and creative platform. However, on the 19th November 16, Casey posted his last vlog video. This consists of him talking through his goals and aims for the future which is something that I have found highly inspirational.

Quotes from video:

'ambition only makes me hungrier'

'The only way to get to where I want to be in my career is to grab onto each opportunity'

'Success makes you very comfortable'

'Risk means jeopardizing what you have' 


Overall, Casey became comfortable in his daily work. Having success to him is important however he felt that this made him lazy and he lost his creativity and aspiration to push himself and his practise. This is something that he described very simply and is something that I can relate to. When producing work I feel I am sticking to a comfort zone with what I know and comfortable with. However, after watching the last Casey Neistat vlog, I have been inspired to push myself further as this will open more and more opportunities, rather than doing the same everyday (hopefully). 

Personal Practise

To practise the illustrative style I have started keeping a bank of images by the creatives that I follow on Instagram for an inspirationfeed. This means that when I come to produce something I can look through these images as a influx of inspiration. Through the creative Dinara Mirtalipove, I was inspired to start producing the illustrative designs in the form of cards. This firstly began with a birthday card that I designed and painted myself. Through posting the below image on Instagram, I was then approached to produce a set of christmas cards in a similar style. This is something that I kindly took to and produce a set of five cards of the same design. This has demonstrated to me that keeping up with regular posts to social media can lead to more opportunities in the field of design that I am currently practising. This has also given me the experience of producing something for another rather than just for myself.  

Intern Magazine

Through receiving an email from Alec Dudson, I have organised a one to one session as the Intern Magazine Issue 4 launch night. Prior to the event I have purchased the issue to be more familiar to the content, as well as learn from the articles that are in the magazine.

Issue 4 is based around 'Creative Career Paths'. This is appropriate to my practise at this time as I am beginning to consider my career after graduation and what I can do now to influence that. There are many articles in the magazine which are extracts of interviews taken with young creatives.

Through reading the article about Liv Siddall, I have been influenced to consider the connections that I can start making with studios/individuals that are involved in editorial. From reading the article in the magazine, it is clear that Siddall's success after graduating came from the connections and experience that she gained whilst still completing her studies. Through her four year job at It's Nice That, she then went on to work at Rough Trade magazine. She has taken use of the opportunities she has been given as well as finding her own, 'the more you do, the more you get offered'. 

Development of Aims Set

Something that I highlighted as being an aim for level 5 was the confidence I have in myself and my work. To do this I have continued with my online profiles on Instagram and Behance. Not only have these platforms allowed me to post my own work but I have also been able to connect with other creatives. This has allowed me to view the creative events that they are attending as well as gain inspiration through their work. 

Posting regularly on Instagram has resulted in me being contacted by an individual to produce some designs for a wedding invitation. Although this individual is someone I have an acquaintance with, this experience will be highly beneficial to my practise as producing work for a client is not something that I have done before. 
The individual has given me a very open brief however has specified that that it be a minimalist yet personal design. It was also said that she contacted me due to being a 'fan' of the work that I produce and post to Instagram. 
Although she has only requested for a range of design to be produced with no deadline to when these should be presented by, I would like to be able to work on a range of different resolutions to present and gain feedback on from the individual. Maintaining a level of communication will hopefully ensure that the resolution is appropriate to the couple and will be used for their wedding invitations for September 2017. 

Collaboration

A photographer that I collaborated with in Level 4 has approached me and asked whether I would work on a photography book with her. To build on this request we have regular discussions in the direction that she is taking the content for the book so that I have an indepth understanding of what the book will withhold. This is something that I learned from Studio Brief One, OUGD504 - The content must inform the design. 

Once the photographs have been taken I will be able to request for more defined guidelines that she would like the book to follow. This is important in producing a book that reflects the photographers personality and practise. 

Abandoned Yorkshire Photography Exhibition

Through discovering this event on facebook I registered for tickets and was lucky enough to attend the opening night of the exhibition. The exhibition was a display of photographs taken by urban explorers in Leeds. This is an area of interest that I follow through social media therefore this was a great opportunity for me to attend. 

As the exhibition was held in an abandoned building itself (Left Bank) it set the perfect scene for the photographs to be displayed in. Through discussions with those who I attended the event with, we decided that the content was enhanced by the surrounding that it was displayed in. This demonstrates the importance of displaying work in an appropriate environment and is something that I have learnt and will be able to apply to my own work. Although I do not produce work to be displayed in an exhibition, this is something that can be reflected through photographing work in an appropriate environment.