Part of me wants to work for myself, but I know thats not the way to start, so ideally I need to work within a practise. I would also like to experience branding and advertising which is extremely broad, so many companies need such a service. Currently, as I am a student based in Leeds City Centre, potential employers are within the surrounding area. For graphic designs, employers are potentially world wide, in simply depends on where the person is located, whether he / she is willing to travel or commute. Personally I am willing to part take in experience within the surrounding Yorkshire area, but as a Graphic Design, could really work anywhere. Technological advances make this possible to do so, to communicate with clients via Skype and Hotmail. Places which I could possibly find work consist of:
- Retail outlets
- Leisure complexes
- Any major companies
- New companies
- The council
Such employers will be located centrally, where there products will be seen, to be sold. City centre areas more thank likely, in which the amount of potential buyers is at its highest, the more central the location, the more passers by of the stores and advertisements for. The councils advertising is more likely to be sen on paper, within newspapers, magazines and billboards.
WHAT MEDIA DO MY POTENTIAL CLIENTS/EMPLOYERS USE?
Within Graphic design, there is a broad range of medias in delivery a product. The most used is through paper and digital, such as leaflets, posters, billboards, newspapers and magazines, along with television and radio adverts. Graphic design is everywhere so designs need to be outstanding and different, engaging there intended audience, using new technological advances is a new method in which to do this. An example is through Viral forms of advertising, its becoming more common as the speed in which it can be shared is unbelievable (as found out in a 1st year CTS lecture).
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO COMMUNICATE AND HOW DOES IT MATCH WHAT YOUR CLIENTS/EMPLOYER NEED?
Political
I need to be aware of political elements within society and design due to the type of work I'll be doing and how I'll be communicating it. Being in a tough economic climate, it is a hard time for small businesses to run and become successful. Its also tough for those paying for my work and services, what their ability to pay will be affected by how much they earn themselves, and whether the work, produced by myself (or the company I work for), will in return be profitable. The labour law needs to be taken into consideration too, it will determine the legal right and restrictions between myself and my eployer; there will need to be fair working contracts set in place. As a Graphic Designer, potential employers can be all over the world, but with working with people overseas, I will need to take into account trade restrictions between certain countries.I will also need to be aware about being environmentally friendly in regard to stock and printing within the company. It can be recognised by government and there are several schemes and audits in place, the government standard, ISO14000 environmental certification, shows that you trade ethically as a company and is a really good standard to have under your company name and brand image.If working for a company with this certification I will need to know the fine print and details regarding this.
Economic
As a Graphic Designer I need to be aware of the economic growth within the UK. This will help me understand and identify goods and services that need to be promoted in order to boost a healthy economy, for example new and innovative products which need branding for. There needs to be a fine line between compromise and ensuring ourselves a wage to live from. Understanding inflation rates will mean I understand my clients needs, alongside my own needs in regard to living costs and how it could possibly effect my wages. I will also need to be aware of Seasonality, the peaks troughs in demand of work and how I would cope with this, whether it be on my own or within a company.
Social
Trends will effect any design work I produce, and how operation and management strategies are structured within a company.
Design factors which need to be considered are religion, ethnicity, education, economic status and nationality. Especially when working with over seas jobs, language will be a main factor to consider. Being sure you don't offend people (unless that is the objective) is obviously another large factor, which relates to knowing about all the above design factors to consider.
Technological
Technology as a massive effect of timescale, on how long it takes to produce, make, print and distribute products. The more up to date with technology a company, the more efficient the production rate.
The way we work and approach briefs as Graphic Designers also relies on technology, we need to stay up to date and have constant upgrades on software and hardware, which will effect finance. This will effect costs as upgrades can be expensive, especially with being a Graphic Design company which work primarily on Apple Software. Companies need to stay up to date with the latest software packaging, as it effects the quality of products and outcomes. This can also effect communication, having the latest hand held devices, wireless connections, broadband etc is essential.
Case Study: http://www.andfold.co.uk/
Political
Politics will effect the amount of tax Andfold will have to pay for their business premises, this may effect the needed workload to break even. Andfold would have to consider tax implications and trading restrictions when working with clients and collaborative partners overseas. They would need to be aware of European trading standards. Copyright certifying their work is something they will have to consider, as they show a lot of their work online, which could quite easily be taken, printed, mass produced and sold.
Economic
Andfold will need to be aware of the economic growth with the UK and Europe, they need to understand and identify goods and services which will arise due to the need to boost a healthy economy. New products will come about which will needed to be branded, advertised and promoted for. The company will also need to understand inflation rates, to gain a better understanding of its clients needs, in effect, what they can afford in regard to the services they offer. It would also effect wages of employees, and the number which are hired to do a job at hand. Although Andfold have a website which can be seen worldwide, they are based in Leicester City Centre, and will need to be aware of Leicestershire economic climate. Personally I have seen a lot of small businesses and stores close surrounding the new shopping centre development within the centre. Andfold will have to be aware of passing trade, and the effect this new development is having on surrounding businesses and how they can stop it having such a dramatic effect on themselves.
Social
Graphic design is always on demand, there is always going to be someone, a company, business or individual who needs your services, what it consists of can change with trends within society. Design factors that need to be considered are religion, ethnicity, education, economic status and nationality. Especially when working with over seas jobs, language will be a main factor to consider. Being sure you don't offend people (unless that is the objective) is obviously another large factor, which relates to knowing about all the above design factors to consider. Target audience too is a main contributor to the work produced, you need to be aware of social trends for specific target audience in order to work efficiently and correctly to that audience, Having knowledge of companies, their brands, reputation and competition in the market is something Andfold will have to take into consideration, considering produce work within branding and identity.
Technological
The way in which Andfolds work is created, mass produced and printed will be effected by the technology producing it. A Products quality, efficiency and timescale will be effected by technology. Accessibility to the company and the work its produced has been made a lot more available due to the web, this in a sense is self-promotion. The technology Andfold used within its design studio is of importance, they will need to keep software and hardware upto date, to produce work of the best standard and quality.
