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