Ppd blog: December 2012

1. Identify 5 studios, why I like then, how they are in Synergy with my own work and practise.

Tigerprint - www.tigerprint.typepad.com

I was introduced to Tigerprint through a friend who had pointed out the familiarity between my own work and theirs. I really wanted to attain a placement with them, so have done a few of their competition over the last few months to try and attain one. A main interest of mine for Tigerprint is their location, upon graduation I want to stay in Leeds; being in situated in Bradford means they are local and commutable. Their tone of voice within their work and website is too something which has gained my interest, they seem relaxed, playful and very friendly, alongside their work, which are designed for the gift and stationary area, a sector I would like to focus within and could see myself working in alongside my illustrative background and nature. They have such a strong level of practise, reputation and well renowned client base; one of which being M&S, a favourite company of mine.

The Beautiful Meme - www.thebeautifulmeme.com

I have heard a lot about this company through peers after having visits and placements with them. Upon researching them, I have gained a real interest for their ethos of work and how its solidly driven by ideas and concepts; not produced soley for aesthetic purpose. They work in an array of medias and products, which is something I'm interested in focusing on for after graduation, I feel its best for a graduate to be in a workplace which is as unrestricted as possible in regard to briefs and work. The Beautiful Meme are based in York, which too is commutable from Leeds.

Sumo - www.sumodesign.co.uk

This is another studio I was introduced to by a friend whilst of placement together in Newcastle, I have always been interested in the arts and culture sector due to my artistic background which involved media, theatre, dance and art, its something I feel I know a lot about in regard to audience type and need. Sumo have an amazing array of work, some photographically driven by a lot illustration driven; something which I feel my work focuses on. Their 'Bound' design piece is of my favourite due to the crafting nature of the work, I would be really interested in finding out the concept behind the work as the information isn't available on the website. Being set in Newcastle I'm not sure if it would be achievable to commute, but as a graduate I feel at some stage I will have to make myself available to other locations, after all a job is a job.

Made by Analogue - www.madebyanalogue.co.uk

Another local studio, being set in Morley, had immiediete interest for me when I came across their 'Portobello Gin Jubilee Edition' packaging design with its decorative approach to type and pattern, with an Old british ethos, this too can be seen in their Portobello Star website design. Their portfolio explores a range of stock and exploration of materials, which is something I feel I do within my own work. They too explore print processes, which is something I want to focus my work on, and the exploration of.I really like that they state they have no design style, and for each project they create a new one and seem to thrive for research, culture and experiences to drive their ideas which is something I feel I emerge myself within for inspiration

We are unit - www.weareunit.com

As a new company they have managed to make a good starting impression which will probably mean they will become a very successful company. I would love to be part of a new company as I feel design direction and style is more open for discussion and everyone employed helps shape what the company would become. We are Unit, too is locally based in Leeds which is ideal, and has dealt with many large companies including Coca Cola. Its work is so varied in design style, and has an array of categories, many of which I feel my work focuses in; print, illustration, 3D and typography. Its design ideas are so unique and pushes the boundaries within design, I find it a really exciting company and would love to be part of its growth.

Studio MikMik - www.studiomikmik.co.uk

Being a Graphic Design and Illustration based company, I immediately became interested as I focus my work in both areas, combining and utilising both areas. MikMik have an eco friendly ethos which I like, as they are a company highly driven by print and print processes and utilise every way to reduce the amount of paper and energy used. I have an interest in Etsy, and sell my work through it, I was very interested to see MikMik have an online store selling stationary and prints; similar to myself, Its a lovely add on to have within the company. I first came across MikMik when visiting Lotherton Hall and saw the 'Fashion Revolution' exhibition back in 2009, before I even started university and was interested in the material design for the event and the way it evoked the ethos of the clothing and exhibition material. Overall their portfolio is amazing, I love their application of illustration to design, i hope to be able to deliver their high standard of work.

2. Write why you think they suit your practise / future practise.

Tigerprint

I feel like a lot of my strengths lie within my illustration practise and the fun and playful ethos my work has, alongside the application of them to materials and products. My illustrative hand rendered typography I feel stands out, Tigerprint deal a lot with stationary and cards which work with illustrations, typography, and a combination of both. I have been influenced a lot by themselves and feel my designs would be new and unique for the company, but would fit well standing alongside their existing products.

The Beautiful Meme

I am conceptually driven by the idea, concept and the process of creating a well considered and thought out design, The Beautiful Meme became of interest to me for this. I only recently became interested in this area once completing my OUGD301 module, realising some of my briefs could have been more idea and concept driven. I don't want to be just some designer who makes nice things, I want to become someone who has reason and can explain what a logo means, or what an image represents, I want my designs to be interesting from both the design stages and development stages,

Sumo

My style of work I feel is difficult to put to just one product, or type of work, but I feel it fits well into the Arts and Culture sector, and I have done a few previous briefs revolving around this. Sumo focus their design works within this sector, and don't restrict themselves to a type of design, which is something I can appreciate and work best with, I like variety within my design work.

Made By Analogue

My work and design and illustration style relies of a range of stock and printing processes to create a carefully considered final outcome, Made By Analogue do just this with their work. Within their portfolio there are a huge range of finishing and printing processes which have been used, and stocks and materials, each have been chosen to work with the final outcomes appropriately. This is the main reason I feel my practise would be suited within Made by Analogue, I'm already used to considering stock and print as much as they do.

We are unit

I would love to set up my own company, but I don't feel I haver enough experience or knowledge to do that, so the next best step would be to work within a new (ish) company, which has room for growth, and don't have one solid style set, or expectations. The idea that there are no expectations, in the sense you can show your own skills and styles is something I like about this company, with it still being quite new.

Studio MikMik

Being both an illustration and Graphic Design company is ideal for me, considering a Graphic Designer and Illustrator is what I would brand myself as. I work a lot with paper, paper craft and print, this would work well alongside MikMiks Eco friendly ethos and approach to design and print. The fact they have an online store is something I am really interested in, as a lot of my designs and prints work for retail purpose. Overall I really like the companies portfolio, the work produced is of my taste, and its my favourite studio by far, and its amazing that its so local.

3. Is your choice based on location, direction of practise, the brand philosophy, or the client base?

Tigerprint
Direction of practise / Client base
Similiar style and favourite client M&S
The style of work Tigerprint produces is the most similar to my own, and the company I feel my work could be best sold / work with at this stage of my design practise. M&S have been a client I've always wanted to work with due to the high quality of the packaging and general products within the store, Tigerprint produce a huge range of giftware and stationary for M&S which is another area I'm interested in.

The Beautiful Meme
Location / Brand Philosophy
Commutable, concept based
Ideally I want to stay in Leeds once I've graduated having family here, and falling in love with the place. The Beautiful meme is in York, just a short commute away which is brilliant. The company has a brilliant brand philosophy which focuses on concept importance; not designing for aesthetic purpose alone, which is something I'm passionate about.

Sumo
Direction of practise / Client base
Sumo produces work for the Arts and culture sector, a potential area I really want to work within due to my background. The client base will too be Arts and culture sector based.

Made by Analogue
Location / Direction of practise
Made by analogue are Leeds based which is ideal considering I want to be set in Leeds. Their design style is similar in many areas to my own, and holds content of my interest which lies in my love for the old and antique style of older Graphic Design.

We are unit
Direction of practise / Location
With it being a new company they will be looking for new fresh talent which comes with be a graduate, and will also have more range interms of work style and design which is something I like. They are also local which is great.

Studio MikMik
Design Direction / Location / Brand philsophy
The location of the studio is within Yorkshire, which is commutable from Leeds which is great. The studio have my favourite work by far, the style too is similar to my own work. Their brand philosophy is something I appreciate which is their eco friendly element

4. If its none of the reasons above, what is it specifically?

N/A

5. When studios are identified, list 8 methods you would utilise to contact them.

Email
Phone call
Mail out
Postcard
USB Digital portfolio
Stop Motion
Skype
High quality paper based portfolio
A smaller pack of a few examples of my work

Specific to Tigerprint

A Giftware range set, specifically designed for a celebration / event targeted at Tigerprint - Whether it be for their company anniversary, or a placement.

Specific to MikMik

For a company which has such a focus on print processes and finishes I would want to send a highly print based pack of some examples of my portfolio or a selection of work designed specifically for them, focusing on design for print.

Saturday, 22 December 2012

Mail Out Ideas / Inspiration

PPD Tasks 2

Business Card Ideas / Inspiration

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