Improving my drawing skills

With the spain trip coming up, I decided to give my drawing skills a bit of a try out as I haven't done it in so long, and with fathers day coming up, and very little money, felt it would be a nice idea to draw some lilies...and here's the outcome. Its not bad but I intend on improving further over the coming summer months.

Qubik Studio Visit

I found the visit really insightful, I took my prepared questions and PDF and got a lot of feedback. I told Joe that I am image orientated but want to explore type and layout more, he suggested that over summer I explore type and layout, deconstructing magazine layouts, and other medias. I've decided over summer I'm going to start a personal project exploring type and layout, creating my own briefs to push forward my skills and self teach. I am also going to create a journal of my favourite layouts found across a range of media. I'm going to do this over the coming summer months.

Presentation Notes

Slide one

Right, so I’m Steph, and this is my PPD presentation. I’m going to be outlining where I was, I am now, where I want to be, how I’m going to get there and what I’ll be doing over summer.

Slide two

So where I was.

I started the beginning of this term really during the summer, when I and a team of three others participated in working for 02 Telefonica, designing and painting a 15 metre wall mural. It gave me some initial industry experience immediately, as within a few weeks we had issues with time scale, payment and the creative director herself. We had made the mistake of not writing up any form of contract, so we learnt the hard way.

The workload within the beginning of second year I too found troublesome along with the level of some people work thinking ’Jesus Christ I could never do something like that’. 

Slide three

Another element of industry work I’ve gained this year consists of taking part in the recent Reetsweet craft fair at the corn exchange, it was my first, and took a lot of preparation alongside other commitments, but it was something I really wanted to do, selling work I really liked.

At the craft fair I gave out several business cards (the design of which was on my first slide) which gave people the chance to explore my online presence. So far I have a cargo, tumblr, twitter and etsy account set up. I have purchased stephanielawson.co.uk but have yet to design it and make it live.

Slide four

Over this year I’ve really come to understand my interests and the direction my design work is taking.  Within the print module I really got an understanding and likeness for the processes, and within this became more ‘hand ons’ with my work concentrating on 3 dimensional publication work. This too can be seen across my image module, creating a range of 3 dimensional craft work. Another focus has been illustration which I have reflected in my personal identity and branding.

CTS has been very difficult for me, I really struggled with it within first year, but we got the chance to structure the essay this year, around our more personal interests within the design industry which was really beneficial in my understanding of graphic design.

Slide five

So this year, my favorite modules have consisted of image and print, down to the flexibility of my outcome, working with craft. And the YCN collaboration brief, which was frustrating at times, but the final outcome really reflects my style and approach to work, and what I am interested in, primarily retail graphics and packaging.

My least favorite modules have been the digital top ten things brief, like many other, I really struggled with After effects, much rathering put pen to paper than working on screen. But I did overcome it by primarily using illustrative material.

Product range and distribution too wasn’t a favorite of mine, I felt I lacked motivation and commitment in producing the design elements – I felt I’d written the brief against myself a little bit, wanting to focus more on campaign material than the packaging and advertisement material I resulted in producing.

Slide six

Where I want to be

After identifying my main interests throughout second year, I really want to push myself into paper craft and typography. Briefs which have contained these elements I have enjoyed and felt a lot more focused towards, so intend to push this in 3^rd year. 

I feel I would benefit from selling a lot more work on Etsy rather than selling at craft fairs in 3^rd year, due to the little time I feel I’ll have. 

Anotehr interest as stated earlier is retail graphics, with my illustrative background I want to possibly create briefs which focus on this, but we’ll see.

Slide Seven

How I’m going to get there

SO over the summer I’ve managed to arrange a few studio visits, and an internship with We are founded, in Newcastle.  I’ve also contacted a few designers, which I feel are that bit too far away to visit, to gain some feedback on my work, so far I’ve heard from Owen Guildersleeve, but hope to hear from more. With the selection process of design studios I’ve found a few I’m really interested in which I didn’t know about before this process.

The dissertation research over summer is something of real interest to me, and the direction I want to take my work. I’m focusing on social change, within the superstructure, looking at how large supermarkets, like Tesco, are manipulating society.

Slide Eight

Over summer I’ve also arranged a visit to Spain with Lorenzo to undertake a week looking at what design work spain has to offer, with the opportunity to improve my cultural and drawing skills.

Another commitment I’ve made is to produce a wall mural for a charity run nursery in Leeds, the idea of working for the community is a real interest to me, and as I’ve produced a wall mural before I’d like to do it again, learning from my mistakes. 

Slide nine

And that’s it, thanks for listening.

Presentation

Reetsweet Fair

On the 2nd of June I sold work at my first craft fair. It was very quiet, I only just managed to make a little profit which was disappointing it was a very good day. I came to realise some of my work is far more popular than other items to the extent I ran out (which is never good), along with business cards. I didn't take that many, and regret it considering the amount of people asking for them. Another thing ask was whether I have an online store.....damn. I really need to get my Etsy store replenished! 

I do intend on selling work at the winter fair at the corn exchange, lets hope it gets busier!

Contacting Studios in Newcastle

Wonderfulstuff.com

Newcastlerootsandwings.co.uk

Sumdesign.co.uk

Wearefounded.com

Nursery Wall Mural Opportunity

An email was sent to me through university, of the opportunity to design and paint a wall mural for a charity run nursery in the Burmantofts area. Considering I've produced a wall mural before, its something I'm interested in. The fact that its for a good cause and the community immediately gained my interest, considering I will have some spare time over summer in-between doing work and research. It does mention some pay, which will contribute toward summer rent if I'm being honest!

Thinking about how this will help me as a designer, I've always enjoyed art, and painting, but as I found with 02 Ville, there was a huge amount of design, also working collaboratively as a group was challanging. I learnt a lot from this experience, both good and bad, realising certain things should have been done (writing a detailed contract), and more effort should have gone into recruiting more workers. But alongside this it was beneficial in learning about working as a group, learning about the importance of timekeeping, organisation and contact. 

So although wall murals may not be my forte in life, it certainly has attributes which a designer needs alongside the process. I am really looking forward to hearing back, and hopefully producing the wall mural over the summer.

The email received:

Good morning,

A charity run nursery in the Burmantofts area of Leeds are wanting 3 walls in their outside area decorating.

They are thinking of having some designs on each wall to brighten up the area.

Wall 1- is broken up into two as the door to the outside shed is in the middle, we had ideas of designing a house like feature on this wall with windows and ivy/leaves decorating around the edge.

Wall 2- ideas include: magical forest design, maybe 3d in places if possible.

Wall 3- as this wall is on the background of a raised decking area (stage) they were thinking along the lines of having a crowd of people with stars ect on this wall.

wall 1- 9ft by 6ft (approx)
wall 2 and 3- 6ft by 6ft 9 (approx)
 

Eventhough they have got their our own ideas on what they want they are still very open to other peoples inputs.

The ideas above are just conversations which staff members have had but hopefully LCA students can provide some artistic influence on what you think will work.

They also have a large playground that at the moment is very plain, if anyone has any ideas of floor art that they would be willing to share and maybe create, this would be brilliant.
 

The school are willing to pay for your help.

If anyone is interested in taking on this project please can you contact:
Rachael sharpe at Burmantofts Community Nursery on
0113 2408654 or email rsharpe@live.co.uk

My response:

Hello Rachel,

I recieved an email about the wall mural and am really interested in participating!

I've done a very large wall mural recently, just last year. You can have a look at the design me and a small design team produced for 02 on: www.cargocollective.com/slouises.

I am in Leeds throughout the summer doing a few bits and bobs, so will be free for a few weeks at a time.

When do you think it would be taking place?

Thanks 

Stephanie

Spain - Creative Sunshine

So I have the opportunity to go to Spain to be 'Creative in the sun'! Which is quite exciting really, we will get the opportunity to visit inspirational places and base our visits on our own interests, whether it photography, drawing etc. I hope it will help to guide where I want to be as a designer. To approach design outside of the UK is something new to me, the only time I go abroad is to holiday, so it will be very different going somewhere new to focus on Graphic design! 

One Hosting

I have transferred my 123.reg account hosting to one.com

Appearance on Reetsweet blog

After taking some high quality images of the work I'm selling, and emailing them onto the event organiser, I've finally been put up on the official Reetsweet blog, to promote the event and my work. A little bio was written about me, my work and my inspiration too.

Reetsweet printing and costing

So, I started the printing process today, starting with all of my wrapping paper, A2 and A3 posters. Purchasing cheap quality stock from the library, alongside cheap printing costs has opened my eyes to the amount of profit I could possibly get. A simple A2 poster, costing just 50p in materials could quite easily be sold for £2 - £3. I've been talking to a peer who has sold work at Reetsweet before, who's helping me to organize everything, including prices! She stated that her work sells, because its affordable. I'll take that advice on board and try not to overprice my prints. 


The event organiser also let me know I would appear on the Reetsweet blog this week so I took a few photos to send her. I'll link the blog soon!

I also decided a bit of self promotion will be in order, considering the scale of the event I have had business cards printed to give out with purchases and to those interested in my work. Alongside this I will have some form of visual identity displayed on the table, whether it be my name or an image.

02 Ville

Last summer I undertook a paid temporary job at 02, to design, draw up and paint a wall mural. They has an existing idea from their current branding, but we let them know we needed original designs to be able to scale it up to wall size. The original designers had copyright on the design, so we had to create our own digital file. This was then projected piece by piece onto the wall, for us to draw up. 

We discussed a time scale and payment for the job with the creative manager at 02 Arlingdale business park. It was to take 2 -3 weeks, of which we agreed to come in for several hours a day. There was no written contract, or structured timescale of when we were to come in. This immediately became an issue when the wall took longer to finish than expected, and we weren't going to be paid anymore. There also became an issue with the way we were being treated. bits of work which took several days to paint, the manager would come over and expect us to simply change the colour as she didn't quite like it, so each time this happened, we were behind schedule. Ideally we should have made a contract to be signed of the design specs, colour, pay and days and hours of work. 

I spoke to the creative managers, manager speaking about the issue and she found it unacceptable so had words. By the end of it, we were given a small amount of pay, and a free phone for 'our trouble'. I certainly learned a lot about the frustration of working with clients, and the importance of communication and contracts.

Reetsweet

PPD - Looking at website design

- 

http://www.owengildersleeve.com/index.html

http://hellomemo.com/

http://www.madebyhandverk.no/

http://lookbook.nu/

http://beautifultype.net/page/2

Possible type to use / manipulate

http://beautifultype.net/page/2

PPD - Task 4 - Creative CV

TASK 4 - WHAT IS A CREATIVE CV?

TASK

In order to produce an effective creative CV you need to consider several key questions: What is a Creative CV? Who are you writing it for? Who needs to read it? Who will actually read it? What do they need to know? What do they want to know? It is only when you have considered these issues that you can really star to decide on what you want to say, what you need to say and how you are going to say it. Part 1 - Identify a minimum of 10 designer's, studios or practitioners that you intend to contact with a view to organising a range of studio visits. In doing this you will need a full set of contact details for direct mailing. You will also need to familiarise yourself with their work their clients and the set up of their studio/practice. Part 2 - Once you have identified your audience produce a creative cv that you can mail and email to your selected list. This should include your own contact details, a short personal statement, information about your practical skills, creative skills and interests as well as your professional experience, personal qualities and information about what makes you distinct from any other designer. Your Creative CV should be viewed as a piece of work in itself and should be branded accordingly. Consider how you can use your cv to direct people to online content etc.

Research Sources / Further Information

Preparing a CV Online resource

Mandatory Requirements / Deliverables

A print and digital format creative CV containing appropriate information as briefed Evidence of research into appropriate studios, designers or practitioners including a list of your own emerging creative newtork of contacts. Any other material appropriate to the contact and communication of your skills and practice to the broader creative industries. All evidence should be posted to your PPD blog and Labelled with the Module code & Task Number.

Studio Deadline	Module Deadline
Monday 23rd April	08 / 06 / 2012

PPD - Task 3 - Samples of work

TASK 3 - SAMPLES OF WORK (Research & Analysis)

TASK

Based on the exercises, feedback and discussion in the studio workshop: Part 1 - Identify document and evaluate a minimum of 10 examples of professional designer's and/or design studios who have used a range of media and formats to distribute samples of their work. You should aim to select a range of examples using a rage of media. Part 2 - Produce a short (50 word) SWOT analysis of each example in order to analysis its relative merits and effectiveness as a promotional tool or strategy.

Research Sources / Further Information

Refer to previous handouts and your own Design Context / PPD blogs for research suggestions and source material.

Mandatory Requirements / Deliverables

10 examples of professional promotional material (including SWOT analysis) posted to your PPD blog. Samples must represent a breadth of media and approaches and labeled accordingly.

Studio Deadline	Module Deadline
23rd April 2012	8th June 2012 - see E-studio and Google calendar for more information

PPP Workshop

PPD Workshop

Practical Skills:

• Software Knowledge - Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Garage Band, After Effects, Corel Draw.
• Printing - Aware of processes and their suitability for products. Have visited printers. Know of and prefer manual methods.
• Organised
• Time management
• Colour Theory
• Project Management

Personal Qualities

• Sociable, can engage well with others - networking
• I am a perfectionist
• Have lived in a range of diverse cities - aware of design factors
• A signature style

Creative Skills

• Hand crafting
• creative Packaging
• 3 Dimensional
• Hand rendered typography 

Facts

• Artistic  - A level Art
• Born in Newcastle
• Plays Keyboard
• Knows Level One Sign Language

Statements

• I work primarily in illustration
• I engage with multimedia works
• I apply my knowledge and love for manual printing methods to a lot of my work
• I like to explore stock and the effect it can have on an outcome
• I would like to work in freelance, creating detailed, personalised illustrative pieces using digital media, by hand or using my skills in paper crafting
• Retail Graphics

STUDY TASK 2 - Group Tutorial Prep.

Module Title		Semester	1 & 2
Session No.	1	Doc. Code

STUDY TASK 2 - Group Tutorial Prep.

TASK

Use your PPD blog to record your responses to the following questions ahead of the group tutorials after reading week. 1. What is Industrial experience? 2. What can you learn from industrial experience? 3. What form/format could industrial experience take? 4. What areas of industry are you interested in? 5. What are your concerns about industrial experience?

Research Sources / Further Information

Identify at least five responses to each question and find appropriate primary and secondary sources of information (including visual material) that will support your findings. You will need these at your group tutorial and will form the basis for group discussion. Use your findings to develop initial ideas about your own views, opinions, aims and ambitions in relation to industrial experience, internships and/or work placement opportunities. Summarise your research in a set of 10 short but qualified statements posted to your blog

Mandatory Requirements / Deliverables

Blog posts and research undertaken in response to this task should be labeled OUPD201 and OUPD201 Task 2. Your opinions should be supported by appropriate contextual and visual references to contemporary practice

Study task - Why am I here? What do I want to learn?

Responses to study task 1.




Identify and explain 5 reasons why you chose to study on this programme.


- I had realised my liking for graphic design quite late on in my A - levels, at first I saw it simply as another creative subject which would keep me interested. It soon became more than that, I became quite passionate about messages I was trying to convey, and began studying in depth ways to do that, rather than 'just doing it'. I soon decided doing a graphic design degree would be right for me.


- I had asked several teachers, and students for recommendations for university's offering BA (hons) graphic design degree's, as I had little knowledge of which were renowned for their degrees. I had a few mentions of Leeds College of Art, but the place was only known by teachers within the art and design field. It wasn't until after the interview I became aware it was a prestigious college in what it did and offered. I decided soon after that I REALLY wanted to get in, but it felt doubtful due to the high standard of students it wanted.


- After having the interview with Lorenzo, I realised the enthusiasm and drive which the course had, and the opportunities it would give me. I have always struggling with self drive, and felt the need for reassurance at most stages within design, but Leeds College of Art would give me more independence, as we had to be self driven to achieve anything. With this in mind, I felt by studying on this course, I would have a new ability to push myself and become a better designer for it. 


- The college itself was a main contributor to my choice to study there. There is inspiration everywhere you look, it's entirely design driven, students you talk to from all the courses, can offer and share idea's as they all link into one, our overall main interest, which is art and design. With this in mind, there was a huge opportunity of collaboration, which in the long run, would give me a vast array of contacts. 


- I lacked little knowledge of the working world and industry that is graphic design. The course was very driven in getting you ready for the working world, and getting you the knowledge you would need, to the extent by the time you left the course you would have the ability to set up your own business. Other courses I had looked at had little or no mention of preparing you for this.It was something I really felt important and wanted from a degree.


Identify and explain 5 things that you want to learn during your time on the programme


- As pre mentioned, I want the skills and knowledge of the working industry to be able to finish my degree being able to set up my own small business.


- I want to be able to do freelance jobs, and have the knowledge and skills to give pricing, time, materials and produce mock ups.


- I want to have the ability and confidence to apply for roles and jobs within graphic design, and not feel I lack the skills to do it.


- To know what I want to specialise in and where my skills lye as a graphic designer.


- I would like to develop a range of contacts within the industry, through work placements, experience and internships. Also from graduates, I would like to be prepared for when I graduate, myself, to actually know what I'm doing.


Identify and explain 5 skills that you think are your strengths.


- I feel I have skill within illustration and drawing, due to my very creative and art based background, I can produce scaled, detailed, and accurate drawings using an vast array of materials. Whether it be by hand, or computer I'm varied in style.


- I can analyse my work to a high standard, knowing what changes I need to make, to achieve my wanted design for myself or for a target audience.


- I have the ability to accurately transform ideas in my head, to design, or to screen.


- I feel I am quite good at printing techniques after doing several inductions and the print workshop. Theres now a wider range of outcomes I can achieve to a variety of materials.


- I feel a lot of my skills lye in software knowledge, saying this, I'm about up to standard with everyone in illustrator and photoshop. But compared to what it used to be, I feel I have achieved and know a lot!




Identify and explain 5 things that you want to improve.


- The ability to understand a brief near enough straight away, and know how to approach it. I feel I still struggle with this, it takes me a few days to get my head around it, meaning I don't work to my full capability from the start.


- I need to be more motivated and realise that staying after the day has finished is a good thing!


- I feel the need to be more ambitious in my projects and my outcomes


- To be able to time manage my projects so they make sense in my own head. I get too confused!


- To blog super hard! To keep up to date, tag and organise correctly.


- I want to improve on my skills within CTS, although i did pretty well last year, i'd really like to get down and work hard, as I felt the course very useful within my studies.

Identify and explain 5 ways that you will evaluate your progress


- To keep updating my blog with posts recording any achievements in regard to things I wanted to achieve.


- To keep logging to do lists, timetables etc to show my time management skills.


- Blogging important and useful things I learn in CTS as theres a high possibility it could be used within other projects.


- To aim to do a certain amount of hours work a day, blogging. Recording it with lists, times etc.


- To write a list of things I haven't done and would like to do, in order to be more ambitious. 


Identify 5 questions that you want to find the answer to.


- What am I good at, what do I specialise in?


- What area of graphic design can I see myself going into?


- Will I be able to gain a 1st in a brief? I really want to !!


- How do you price up a job?


- Should I focus on things I know I'm good at, or take take more risks?




Comments made:


What do you want to do in the future where do you want to take it?
What sort of business are you looking to develop- your own studio, or something like a shop/educational?


Response:


I want to get much experience within a range of fields within graphic design, working for an array of companies I feel will do just that. By doing so I think i'll be able to understand what I'm best at and most like. With this, I want to get into my interested field, gain contacts, experience and a great knowledge and understanding, enough to set up my own studio or store, which, I'm not sure of yet.