Collective - Pitch

The presentation was something that we put together as a collective. The overall structure of the presentation followed a who, what, why. This was covered through each of the presentation slides in a succinct and natural way so that the information was clearly put across, without sounding like a check box exercise.  

We have discussed in depth how the collective will be funded. Due to the social media side being free to post/promote through this is not an area that requires financial attention. However, time will be spent managing the profiles and is something that will come out of own time. This is something that we are all happy to do, due to our passion to address the lack of female creatives out there. On the other hand, the printing of the zine will require funds. This is something that we are going to look into further by contacting the print studio Footprint. This will hopefully provide us with some estimated figures that we can discuss and work out how to cover. One way in which this could be done is through asking for a small contribution from the creatives who are featured in the zine. This would cover the initial printing costs of a set number of zines that we hope to distribute across the UK. 

YCN - Greenall's Gin

Through completing the YCN Greenall's Gin competition brief it has taught me the importance of engaging with the target audience. Throughout this brief I received feedback and had discussions with the target audience. This influenced the overall outcome in response to the brief as well as the design. This therefore demonstrated to me the importance of completing a brief for the target audience as well as for the client. 

This competition brief has developed my skills in interpreting a brief and understanding what is being asked for. As a competition brief is different to a university written brief, I have been able to develop my existing skills and adapt them to understand and interpret the wording of the brief. This has given the me the confidence to complete similar briefs as well as feeling more confident in completing a brief sufficiently. 

Presentation Reflection

As part of the preparation for the presentation, I verbally practised what I wanted to say with and without notes. This is a technique that I used in Level 4 and found that it reduced my anxiety when presenting the presentation in front of peers and that I said all that I wanted. Again, this proved to be a good method of practising and I felt that the presentation went well. Although I spoke quicker than practiced, I ensured that everything that I had planned was spoken in a clear and concise way with only looking back at my presentation notes for reassurance and a pause. 

Development

Due to the nature of the discussed outcomes, it was not an issue to include both interviews in the same outcome. This is something that has been seen in each of the research examples. Due to having not received the illustrations, the layout of the pages had to be determined without. 

The use of a line to separate the question and answer has been influenced by the page design on the Independent Leeds. As this is a publication that Buttercrumble are involved with, it was an important area of research. The simple use of a line separates the two sections of text as well as adding visual importance to the page. This is due to the thickness of the line drawing in the eye of the reader.   

The influence behind this page design is the pattern designs that Dount Press and Buttercrumble bring into their own work. The repetition of Buttercrumble's iconic phrase has been taken from the interview. This quote was selected due to it being the phrase the pair use to describe themselves. This is something that I initially picked up on from their talk at LCA. Including this page also creates a break from reading the very structured interview Q & A. 

Alternatively to having the text content all on the same page, having it separated will allow for the matching illustrations to be presented on the same page. This will be something that will require adjustment when the illustrations have been received. 

Collective

We decided to join as a collective due to our common ground of being female creatives. We each have individual interests and creative styles however all agree that there is a lack of female creatives in the industry. This could be due to a number of different reasons but is something that we would like to address as a collective. 

Who:

She is_

The name came from wanting to highlight the female focus of the collective. The name of the collective allows for a number of different words to be coupled with it. Such as; creative, beautiful, passionate, unique, etc. Each of the words will be positive and describe the individual being addressed.
Without wanting to be gender specific, we gave the collective a set of morals. We want to ensure that everyone who gets involved with the collective has similar/the same morals rather than the focus being what sex they are.  

What:

Our aim is to set up the collective through social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. This will allow other creatives to follow and be involved with what we are doing. We hope to 'regram' and show off other creatives work. This will help with creative expose as well as having an influential platform to engage with and contact other creatives. We would also like to get proffessionals involved so that there is a building of connections between students and proffessionals.
We also aim to release a zine every month. When a creative asks to be involved in the social media side of the collective, we will also ask if they want to be involved in the monthly zine. From this we hope to be able to gather a number of different creatives and conduct a small interview with them. This will be the main content of the zine as well as visual examples of the individual's work.

Having a digital and print side to the collective will allow us to explore our individual interests as well as work together to learn new skills in each area. 

Donut Press - Reply

After sending a follow up email to Steph, the following responses were received. At this stage of the project it has been decided to include both interviews in the same publication. This is something that has been discussed with Katie to ensure that she is on board with completing the illustrations in the required time. 

-  In three words how would you describe Donut Press/yourself? 

Colourful, type-nerd, wedding-lover

- Where did the name Donut Press come from?

Well, who doesn't like donuts!? The idea was always to sound a bit less 'weddingy' than you might expect a wedding stationers to, and get across the idea that we wanted the process to be fun not stressful. 

- What has been the hardest moment with starting your own business?

The side of the job that's all logistics; finding work, sorting out invoices, chasing printers etc. That just takes time away from the fun bit of making cool stuff for nice people!

- What are your goals for the future?

If I'm EVER at the point of being able to spend 5 days a week just designing stationery I think Donut Press would be an unqualified success! To be able to create things for people every day would be ace.

Collaboration - Meeting

After speaking to Katie we arranged to discuss the project further. This form of collaboration is new to me as the other creative is not directly involved in responding to the brief and instead is completing what I request. As expected, Katie had a number of different questions to ask, covering; colour scheme, style, number of illustrations and a time frame to work with. 

The colour scheme, style and number of illustrations are aspects that we talked through and worked out together. As previously I have only worked through a number of ideas, at this stage I do not have a fulfilled image of what the outcome will look like. This is due to the need to have the full body of content to work out a layout and overall design. Although this did not necessarily help Katie, I made it clear that these were decisions that she can take into her own hands and that I will keep her updated with the more design side of the publication. I shared the research with her that I have already conducted which help give an idea of the size and nature of the outcome, which through discussing we devised this to be a Zine.
I also did not want to limit her to a number of illustrations to produce and therefore we discussed some definites that would be included. Due to Buttercrumble's ethos I felt it important to express the fun that this process should be which I think made myself and Katie feel much more relaxed about the collaboration. 

The final aspect that we discussed was how we would communicate and my deadlines for having this brief completed. From the discussion we decided that we would keep each other up to date with the process that we are at and the work that we have completed. Katie expressed her openness to criticism and reassured me to be honest and open with my opinion. This made me feel much more relaxed and hopeful that the outcome will both show off her creative ability as well as my own. We have also set a final goal date for the outcome to be complete. This was an important date to discuss with Katie due to her also having ongoing projects. We decided that a three week time frame would be sufficient time for the illustrations to be completed and finalised, as well as a test print on the 6th April to ensure the colours, style and layout all work effectively when printed. 

Presentation

For level 5 I had three aim which so far, I am positive in achieving and have already started to do so.

My first aim was to continue to grown in confidence, I highlighted this in level 4 as being an essential skill for a graphic designer, need to confidently explain work and speak to others

My aims for level 5 were to Continue to grow in confidence with my work and in myself, to respond to briefs in a way that reflects my interests and style as well as continuing to collaborate with other creatives. These are all aims that have continued through with me since level 4

This is something that I have done through attending networking events such as Glug. Not only was this influential in terms of hearing from a range of different creatives but I also spoke individually with freelance designer Chris Kenworthy who opened up my opinions of this form of working. As well as attending networking events throughout the year, I have also spoken to a number of creatives.

One of the more recent conversations that I have had with a creative was Yvette from Hi Vis press. I met yvette at the Tetley book fair where she was selling and introducing the story behind their zine. It was truly inspiring to hear from a recent graduate and to see how far they had come since recently graduating last year. Talking with yvette also inspired me to consider another line of work and that being having my own studio.

Another pair of creatives that I have been in contact with are Buttercrumble. Through interviewing chloe and abigail they have

- encouraged me to continue networking and also guided me towards crating a proposal for a feature in the independent leeds. This is something that Abigail is happy to continue helping me with and the interview content that I have may be the focus of this feature.

- taught me how important it is to have background knowledge of the creatives before contact, this makes it more personal and i feel i achieved more from already knowing a little about them

- keep in contact and build relationship

Speaking to each of the creatives has continued to develop my confidence with my own practice as well as to look into different directions to take after university and not feel pressured to work in a studio

The second aim that I had for level 5 was to respond to briefs in a way that reflects my interests and style.

- This aim has been due to wanting people to look at my work and know I did it  - this is something that I have picked up on through following creatives on instagram and behance. Without seeing who has made the post I already recognize who it is due to key values in their work

 This is something that I have explored more through competition briefs

Penguin - as this was a smaller brief to work on, I ensured that I had a set time frame to work with.

-allowed for sufficient time for research, development and production of the outcome

-Book jacket design is an area of design that I have previously worked with and greatly enjoyed

-

-This is due to a number of mediums being appropriate to the outcome and therefore allows different methods to be explored

-area of design i want to do more in

Greenall’s Gin is another competition brief that I have completed.

- - Openess of brief allowed for a range of approaches to be explored

- The most appropriate style was chosen through feedback from other creatives and the target audience – feedback from TA important

- Learnt how to read an open brief and take guidance from it, as well as extend what is being asked

extended brief so that i could show how concept worked on a range of different mediums

- allowed me to collaborate with photography students who helped with the photographing of the creative and ensured my submission looked professional. I have a new collaboration project in the pipe line for PPP which is helping develop my collaboration and time management skills

As I have been completing more work that reflects me as a creative I have been more open to share these online

- I used instagram to share my more illustrative style, continious documentation of my work. this has led to me recieving an ongoing project of completing wedding invites

- Behance is kept for completed projects

Summarize level 5 achievements, what I have learnt

- communication is key when working in collaboration and with a client

- being positive and confident about my work is essential, this makes others more positive about it too

- When something doesn't’t work, keep trying till I get it right!

In the summer I am traveling a little part of Europe for 19 days. When exploring each city I hope to gather a body of photographs which I aim to use as the content for a travelling zine. This will be a summer project that I am going to complete to explore editorial design further, as well as to practice book binding more

- Maintain and expand relationships with creatives/proffessionals

-Develop key values that are used consistently throughout my work

Continue working on small business

Practicing mono and screen print and book binding

Inspired by steph from donut press

Struggling with business side but this is something I hope to overcome by attending the career track tuesdays and start up Wednesday sessions

As part of my creative practice I have also started a small business with two other creatives. This is a project we are continuously working on and learning with which I was inspired to do by Steph from donut press. It is currently allowing me to practice my traditional print skills as well as book binding! More to come!!

Independent leeds – this is something that buttercrumble are helping me out with as they are creative directors here!

Hopefully an opportunity will arise where I can explore my editorial interest with independent leeds as they celebrate and are proud of local independents which follows similar values as myself

An individual who I am aiming to contact is dinara, an illustrator in Ohio

-I first discovered on instagram.

-Follow her blog

-Bought her most recent

-Her style is very similar to mine and is an individual who greatly inspires me

- I would love to engage more with the processes that she uses to complete the illustrations

Collaboration

From sketching through three different directions to take in response to producing a creative report, I have identified that this would be a good opportunity to collaborate with an illustrator. Due to Buttercrumble being very positive and encouraging with collaboration, having another creative involved also reflects their practice as well as my own. From posting on the LCA Student Collaboration page I received a message from third year illustrator Katie Wade.

From speaking to Katie over messenger, it was decided that the collaboration should continue through a meeting. In this we would be able to discuss the project and to identify a direction. 

Zine - Research

This zine stood out due to the alternative use of tracing paper. The nearing transparent paper acts as an overlay and adds a second dimension to the double page. This is a style that I would like to explore in response to studio brief 02. Including this would add a unique element to the zine, as well as adding a second dimension to the design. 

Feedback

The three proposed ideas were presented to a self organised crit group. The feedback was structured around the relevance of each outcome to the content. Through the discussion it was identified that each of the approaches would be suitable in expressing the interview content creatively. However, more so in terms of the zine concept. 

Idea 1:

This idea received a number of positive feedback comments as well as critical. The most important and noteworthy comment made was that although this would be 'killing two birds with one stone' Buttercrumble may not wish for the responses made to be published in such a large audience magazine. Although the content would primarily be used as the proposal material, if it were to be successful then further and perhaps more extensive refinement would be required. On the other hand, this would develop and demonstrate the opportunity that Buttercrumble have presented and many comments supported this. 

Idea 2: 

Those who were aware of a second interview being requested  to use alongside the responses made by Buttercrumble made comments that praised the openness of this idea. If the responses for the second interview were obtained then there would be more room for experimentation than if the first idea were to be taken forward. A number of comments were also made in relation to the room for creative exploration. As a zine is a handmade publication, it would be influential and express the level of personality that is being shown in the Q&A through using handcrafted print methods.  

Presentation Preperation

Before starting on the content for the presentation, I worked through each section and the content which it requires. This will mean that I will have a larger body of information that required and the most appropriate to my practise/learning/engagement will be included in the presentation. This will also give a natural structure to the presentation. 

As identified at the beginning of the year I have 3 aims for level 5:

- Continue to grow in confidence in myself and in my work

- To complete briefs that reflect my style and interests

- To continue collaborating 

These aims have stemmed from my achievements in Level 4 as well as my goals for the future.  

Overview of engagement with real world

Professionals 

Donut Press

- an individual who started her own wedding stationery business

- talk about meeting her and gaining personal advice

- inspiration behind starting own business


Hi Vis Press

- Yvette, recent graduate

- started own studio/business after graduation

- inspired me to think of alternative directions after graduating and that it is possible to do such thing


Creative Networking

Glug, Leeds

Chris Kenworthy

- Freelance designer

- Talked about the strengths and struggles of freelance design and what it entails

- Encouraged and inspired me to consider this form of working


Overview of Practice 

Live Briefs

Penguin

- Chose through interest in books and book jacket design

- Number of mediums can be explored in response to the brief which allowed me to continue creatively exploring


Greenall's Gin, YCN

- Learned how to take direction from an open brief

- Allowed room for expansion which allowed the concept being shown on a number of different mediums

- Collaboration


Wedding Invitations

- Client based work that I recieved through posting my illustration work on instagram

- Teaching me how to engage with a client

- Time management 


How I communicate my work

Instagram

- day to day posts

- overview of my practise

- engage with other creatives


Behance

- Completed projects

- Still getting used to the way it works and presenting work professionally and in an engaging way


What makes me unique as a creative

- developing own illustration style 

- exploring how illustration and graphic design work together 


Overview of Learning

Foiling and flocking

- self organised workshop with peers

Presentation Workshop

- Taught my simple yet effective skills to use when presenting

- Engaging with audience is key, eye contact, through presentation

- This has made me more confident with presenting 

Communicating

- Built on this through contacting creatives

- Having an understanding/background info on the creatives before contacting has made it more personal and I feel I have got more from it

- Getting a reply has boosted my confidence

- Being positive about work makes others more enthusiastic about it too 

Overview of Future

Travelling 

- Interailing around Europe

- Hope to gather a body of photographs to use as the content of a travelling zine

- This will be a summer project that will help me explore my editorial interest further

What I want to concentrate on

- Editorial

- Illustration

- Book Jacket design

- Traditional Print


Level 6

- Carer Track workshops

- Start Up workshops

- Continue to build on creative relationships I have started in L5


Who am I going to contact

Independent Leeds

- Proposal for a feature in magazine

Career Track and Start Up workshops

In response to starting up a business and identifying that we are lacking in knowledge of the more business logistics, I would like to attend the sessions organised to help cover these areas. I would also like to attend sessions on how to prepare a CV and getting a job after university. The workshops will hopefully provide me with the guidance that I require and make me more confident in life after my studies. Attending these sessions is something I aim to do throughout level 6. 

Goat Collective

Goat Collective are a collective of visual artists. They describe themselves as being socially aware with a view to instigate change. To get a better understanding of what a collective is and how they work I emailed Goat Collective. Thanks to the reply by one of the members of the collective, it has been made much clearer of what a collective is and the way that they work individually and as a collaboration. 

Ellie explained that those who are best artistically suited to a brief are the ones that work on it and that this sometimes mean they work collectively, as smaller groups or individually. This is a way of working that I have not yet experienced however hope to gain a positive experience from with responding to this studio brief. Due to the briefs being best suited to those individuals in the collective, the likelihood of the individuals working on a brief that they will enjoy is of a higher chance.

An example of where the group have worked on a project as a collective is the mural display at Belgrave Music Hall.  In the email Ellie explains that the designers produce the artwork and that the whole team is involved in the production of the outcome. 

Idea Generation/Sketches

Considering my personal interests and the style of the individuals interviewed the decision was made to produce a physical outcome displaying the interview content. This reflects my interests in editorial/print design as well as reflecting the handmade and personality of the interviewees.  

1. Independent Leeds Magazine - Article proposal. 

This idea stemmed from the encouragement I recieved from Buttercrumble (Abigail) to create a proposal for an article in the magazine. This would be a great way to extend a university brief and showcase it in the real world. 

The proposal would indicate that a number of running articles could be published in the magazine, giving the reader an insight into the Independent Leeds team. This would enhances a reader's experience with the magazine as well as showcasing and appreciating those creatives whose hard work produced the magazine. It would also be an opportunity to collaborate with one or more illustrators to produce a completed article that would be ready to be featured in the magazine. In response to the brief, the content would focus on the interview that took place with Butterrcumble.

2. A series of creative reports (interviews) with Leeds based designers. The first issue would focus on the creative pair, Buttercrumble. The text would be written in the third person, allowing for the embedding of the interview Q & A. 

 After sketching out the beginning two ideas, I had a creative block and found it hard to sketch another distinct idea. To overcome this, a simple mind map of facts about Buttercrumble highlighted that they are female creatives who's practise is increasingly growing. 
This lead to idea #3. The content already gathered could be a part of a creative Zine, focusing on those female creatives in the Leeds area. This would have a specific target audience of the female creatives in the Leeds area. The aim would be to celebrate the creatives and encourage/influence others. 

Jim Hoover

Through reading the book Inside Art Directions, Steven Brower, I came across an interview with Jim Hoover. Jim is an associate art director at Viking Children's Books in New York.  The interview conducted with Jim gives an insight into how he came to where he is now after graduating, as well as his role as an art director. This is an individual who I look to contact over the summer before entering Level 6. 

Donut Press - Follow up

After sending the questions to a very positive and enthusiastic Steph, I have yet to hear back from her. Although this may be due to other work commitments and the busy life that she has, it is not what I expected due to her positive attitude in being involved in the project. Due to the need to know situation of whether to continue without this content, I have emailed a follow up message to Steph. This is something that was recommended to me by a peer. 

The Tetley - Book Fair

The Tetley Book Fair is a yearly event that is held over each floor of the gallery. It was an interesting experience to explore the various types of binding methods each creative used, the variants in stock as well as engaging with those creatives who had a stall. 

One individual who I engaged with was LALA. It was inspirational to hear from a recent graduate who had a clear idea of what she was working towards. She described the reasoning behind the curation of the Zine's and how they started out. This interaction was important as it was inspiring to know that after graduating you don't have to go and work in a studio and that if you put enough work in, you can do and start something for yourself. She also went into detail about the process that they use for printing. She explained that working closely with the printers reduced the print costs of producing their final Zine of the set and that this also built their relationship with the printers which they hope to continue working with. Overall, this form of networking is becoming easier with the more I do. It is having the confidence to engage with other creatives that I initially struggled with however it is becoming a more natural experience. 

Another interesting aspect of the fair was experiencing the different methods of binding. One design that stood out to me in particular is the method of folding. This adds a fun interaction element to the content as well as creating a flow to the illustration and text. This may be something to explore for studio bief 02. The variation in binding methods was also inspiring towards to business that I am in the process of being involved in. This demonstrated to use that the binding method of a book can be the central piece when using a more simple stock.