Updated Portfolio

Seeing as I was looking for jobs, I really needed to keep my portfolio updated, so far this is what I've produced. I'm getting to the point now where I have a choice regarding which projects to put in, as I do have a lot of work to potentially showcase. I need to really decided at the end of FMP which are my best projects.

Looking for Employment

I've applied for so many jobs after signing up for Reed back in February but have been a bit confidential on the blogging side, as it is a competitive market after all. 

My account on Reed:

The jobs applied for on reed are:

I have also gone direct going on websites such as formfortyfive and designjobsboard to see the latest local vacancies:

Vast were looking for a creative artworker:

Propaganda looking for a Junior Graphic Designer:

CMS looking for Junior Designer:

Spencer looking for Junior Designer:

All were applied for with a generic covering letter and email application, I made sure each email was customised and individual to each application. A link was also added to my online portfolio, with an attachment of my most up to date CV.

The covering letter set of Reed is as follows:

To Whom it may concern,

I would like to be considered for the position of Junior Graphic Designer, as advertised on Reed.

I am currently a third year BA (hons) Graphic Design student, at Leeds College of Art, with a particular interest within the Retail, Advertising and Packaging industry alongside brand and identity. Graduating in June, I have intentions of staying within Leeds. 

I am a very determined, self driven individual, thriving to put my foot in the Creative sector. I am very confident using the Adobe CS6 Package; Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign being where my strongest skills lie. I have a very positive, and enthuastic approach to my work, alongside being familiar with working to very tight deadlines; working with a range of both University briefs, and self initiated client led briefs. My current portfolio is driven by printing processes and finishes so I have high knowledge of print within the industry.

As a graduate, come June, I feel I can bring something new, fresh and current to the company and also bring a positive attitude and outlook to work. 

The opportunity of an interview would be much appriciated, to really communicate who I am, and what I'm about, but also to be able to show the extent of my work, and my Portfolio. Until then you can find my work here: 

www.stephanielawson.co.uk

Yours sincerely

Stephanie Lawson

stephanie.lawson@hotmail.com

Updating Website Content

So now I've completed most of my FMP and have taken photos to a high standard I thought it best to keep my website updated. I have kept on top of it anyway due to applying for jobs and showcasing my work to studios for possible employment. I have changed the web banner to be centred - as for some reason i didn't realise before, that it wasn't, and overall I've just given it a cleaner feel. I've also edited photos on older projects as the standard of newer project photos where of a higher standard.

stephanielawson.co.uk

I have changed the placement of the information as previously info was on top, you then had to scroll the page down to see images.

I have also updated contact details, and changed the turquoise hand rendered type approach - I felt to some it would be illegible.

SInce completing a rationale I also have a better understanding of who I am and what I'm about - so I've updated the 'about' page too.

Interview with Thynne Design

After applying a few months ago for a Junior position at Thynne Design in Ilkley, I'd heard nothing back, so I decided to chase him up. I managed to get myself an interview.

After updating my portfolio, printing a few bits out, including a CV, I went along to the interview not really knowing what to expect. Their website didnt specify how big the company was, but the work was very impressive and did a bit of everything - my kind of style. They do branding, packaging, advertising and web design, 3 out of which I feel I do well.

I turned up at an old Gym building and worked my way through to a tiny studio inside, with just 2 desks and a dog bed. Jonny, the owner, and the only guy within the company was lovely, hadn't done any interviews before and had always worked on his own, but it was a pretty successful interview I'd say. Having prepared a few questions about the company, I showed a  lot of interest and enthusiam, as did jonny in responding. He seemed to like the work within my portfolio and stated we have similiar working methods. He said i'd hear back within about 2 weeks about whether i'd been succesful or not which I look forward to hearing form hopefully!

The job as a whole:
4 Days a week
8:30am - 5pm
£13,000
3 Month trial period
At 6 months upto 5 days a week

His website:

The work he produces:

Updated Portfolio

Design Context - Mail outs

So I wasn't having much luck with gaining any email response from studios I had contacted so I decided to send a mailout, informing them of my interest in packaging and asking if they could help me by asking a few questions. I produced a mailout in the shape of a packaging net, with vector packaging images, to communicate it more. The below design is what I produced.

PPD - Statement for yearbook

We were asked to write a statement for the year book, and this is really the point where I got to understand who I am as a designer. Writing all of the things I felt I was, the skills I had, and who I am, to construct a statement to communicate to professionals.

'I reflect my own experiences and lifestyle within my work; this is identified within my design and concept decisions. The direction of my practise is within the Retail environment; Advertisement and Promotional material, alongside Packaging and Printed Surface Textile design. My outcomes are highly driven by printing processes and stock consideration; to produce a high quality and a professionally finished outcome.''

PPD - 2nd Interview at LSI

So I had the second interview at LSI today which was good. It went really well, they ran me through the business, the system they run on, how orders are handled etc. I was then asked to do a little test, testing my photoshop skills, which I did pretty okay at! I'm looking forward to hearing from them, fingers crossed offering me the job!

PPD Presentation

LSI Interview

Had the interview at LSi today, in preparation I took along my portfolio, some examples of current work, my creative CV and business cards. I also took along some questions about the position, and practised my responses to potential questions, like 'What are your weaknesses' - a standard interview question.

They were really impressed with my portfolio and were very interactive with the products I had brought, and made it clear it was a good idea to bring them - especially to a primarily merchandising company as they like to interact with their own products. After a talk about them, my portfolio and my method of practise, I got a bit of grilling, and the pre-practised question 'What are your weaknesses' and felt it had been a very good interview. I came out pretty happy and have been told they will get back to me by the end of the week.

OUPD301 Presentation Plan

Presentation Content Plan

1st year - Where I thought I was - Example of work, illustrator, Image making, craft
3rd year:
DC - What I've learnt about myself by what I look at - Packaging, retail graphics, advertising, surface pattern design
DP - Where I think i sit now - Retail Environment, Research and thought process driven design
Over the course of 3 years - Experience, Studio Visits, Exhibitions, Placements - What I gained, every studio is different
Easter - Really put life into prospective - Job hunting, interviews, placements, Updated Current Portfolio, CV, 
Branding - What am i branding myself as?

5 Year Plan 
May 2013 - Move out, get a flat in Leeds
June 2013 - Full time job Junior Graphic Designer Leeds / Frequent studio Visits, build up of contacts. Small Freelance projects ( stop me from being poor ) 
August 2013 - Buy a cat. Be able to afford to feed it.
June 2014 - Junior Graphic Designer In House Within Retail - Leeds
Dec 2015 -  Mid weight Graphic Designer, In House - M&S / John Lewis - Leeds
2018 - Mid weight Graphic Designer - Packaging Design Studio - Northern England

Alternative Directions
Dont want to go to London, but if opportunity arises I will
If all else failes save money to open own shop, with a focus on surface pattern design, selling homeware and interior product range

Current Ambitions:
To survive the next few weeks and get a degree. 
Get a job within Graphic Design.
To get a Graphic design job within the Retail sector.
Be REALLY good at what I do
To love my job.
To have a beautiful studio at home.

Updated Portfolio

In preparation for my interview, and in response to the Portfolio Surgery feedback, I wanted to re-do my portfolio. I have changed the layout to use more image over type, as suggested, and edited my photographs to a higher quality. I have also added a more recent project from my FMP.

Placement at Beautiful Meme - Day #1

I started my placement at Beautiful Meme today in York. Very exciting stuff. Got there to have a meeting with Robyn to discuss what I wanted out of the placement, to run through my current work and generally have a chat. It was suggested I worked on current briefs, so I could utalise them for feedback and assistance, which I think is great (as three weeks off uni work would have been painful) so I've decided the 2 briefs I've done the least on, to work on over the next 2 weeks. Firstly Thrift Box, and secondly, Food for thought.

Thrift box:

It was suggested I tried to stray away from the obvious hand lettered approach to this brief and tried something different and outstanding for my portfolio, as Robyn reminded me, FMP is the last chance to push the boat out and have fun.

I did a bit of research and emailing Lauren to try and get an understanding of the process she undertakes to design and make her products. Her response related to using templates, which I felt was a good starting point. Using cross stitch templates I have made a cross stitch typeface.

Founded Placement - Day #4

So on continuation with the feedback received yesterday, I needed to figure out a clearer way of categorising the items within the clothing line. Sticking to the mathematical approach I have used an algebra as a form of coding the area of the body the attire is work - so ABC / XYZ and a number to be the item number, in a layout to form the letter being squared. 

I was really happy to hear that my concept would be used as a final outcome, and my design direction would be something they would go off from. 

Founded Placement - Day #3

Continuation with 'Product' concept trying to figure out a method of incorporating the original 'tt' logo correctly. So I decided to find words with tt together within them which were either related to math or fashion to be a proposal for the product line name. 

It was difficult to find a strong enough word which worked alongside the original cotton love brand.

At the end of the day it was decided to stray away from using the tt logo again, and to stick to the name product - the definition of pi which originated from the shape of the cotton love logo.

Applied for a job. Got an interview.

So after being sent an email through uni about a Graphic design placement I decided to apply and email them back with my CV and send a link to my online portfolio, after realising they are local. I was super happy to hear back from them a few hours later to organise an Interview. I need to prepare my portfolio with the updates and amendments since the portfolio surgery.

Company: http://www.lsi-gifts.co.uk/

Email sent to me:

Hi Stephanie,

Many thanks for your time earlier.

As discussed, I would be delighted to see you on Wednesday 17^th April at 3pm at LSi Limited, Braemar House, Snelsins Road, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire,  BD19 3UE.

Directions can be found on our website,  www.lsi-gifts.co.uk in the ‘contact us’ page. 

The interview will be with myself and our Senior Graphic Designer, Daniel Berry.   During the interview, we’ll explain more about what we do, what we are about, and our requirements.  We will then go through your CV, experiences and what you can bring to this role in detail.

If you have any further work in addition to your online portfolio, please feel free to bring with you to showcase. 

Attached is the copy of the job description.   It will be a temporary position to cover maternity leave, however,  it is with a  view to it becoming permanent.  

I look forward to seeing you on the 17^th,  in the meantime, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me,  I will be more than happy to help.

Kind regards,

Sarah

Founded Placement - Day #2

Clothing label 'Cotton Love' to hold self led clothing line. Come up with name, branding and identity.

Concept:

The idea of categorising, I came up with the idea of mathematically dividing the clothing into the three specified sections: Top, bottom and outfit. I came up with the idea of using the mathematical pi glyph as it also means 'product 's realise it looked very much like the original 'tt' logo. So decided to use the name product and the same logo retaining a consistency between the brand and sub brand. I then went on to continue the mathematical approach using equation formats to visually section the clothing.

Founded Placement - Day #1

Live Brief - Identity for Independent Learning 

Concept:

The Founder, Ian Gilbert, when giving conferences, motivational student sessions or parents evenings promoted 8 way thinking. A octagon shaped info graphic had been creating to show the 8 categories. The shapes I've created aim to promote the thinking process and the way many of our thoughts interlink, and bounce off each other. Taking an 8th from the octagon, this shape has been cut from the letter form to represent it further, and to also fit to the octagon shape.

A different an minimal approach creating icons from the letter 'i' to create people, situations and other visual elements to go across all of their brand - such things as way finding, seminars, team work, parents evening etc.

Updated CV

PPD - New Business Card 2013

I'm really happy with the outcome of my new business cards, I feel they reflect who I am so much better. I'm not to keen on the print quality, and being someone whos work is so influenced by printing and finishing processes, that my business cards need to reflect this. I intend on getting them either letterpressed, screen printed or embossed for the End of year show.