How will i promote myself...

To make sure that i am able to give the best possible view to my clients so that i am able to promote myself in the best possible light i will have to be able to talk to them in the tone of voice which i think they would talk in, this would require me to do some background check on there website and maybe even speak to them over the phone so that im able to get a grasp of there conversation.

This would then lead me onto the next question of what would they want to me to say to them, this would be similar to the style above however i think that i would be able to make sure that communicate this message over the work and the meeting that i would have with the client, as they is currently being taught to me over the course of my university degree, this is what i would be prepared for when i come out of university 

My work would then communicate with them on a visual and mental level so that it sticks in there head enough for me to remember them and also enough for me to leave an impression so they do not forget me a soon as i leave the room. 

Conclusion

There are a range of ways which i could use to promote myself, these are a mix of web based mainly as this is the easiest way to share your work around as its simple for someone to copy a link of your blog to a fellow worker who can then also see your work.

This could be produced from a range of medias, this would be a perfect time for me to set up an online presence so that im able to make sure that the best possible impression when people ask to see the work which i have been able to create for the clients

i would be able to promote myself at a decent rate which wouldn't demand a high income so that i am able to make the most out of something which i can then really start to increase my rates as my work becomes stronger. but too start i think a rate of £12 an hour would lead me to be able to live comfortably and manage to have an income of work which can support the lifestyle that i currently live without unneeded pressure.


To get myself started i would have a blog and a website to get my online presence known but i would then also go to as many social networking events as possible to get myself known so i would then be able to display my talents and work to other professionals and this way would then lead to collaboration work and this is what would help me progress down the design career path.

How will I promote myself ?

To make sure that i am able to give the best possible view to my clients so that i am able to promote myself in the best possible light i will have to be able to talk to them in the tone of voice which i think they would talk in, this would require me to do some background check on there website and maybe even speak to them over the phone so that im able to get a grasp of there conversation.

This would then lead me onto the next question of what would they want to me to say to them, this would be similar to the style above however i think that i would be able to make sure that communicate this message over the work and the meeting that i would have with the client, as they is currently being taught to me over the course of my university degree, this is what i would be prepared for when i come out of university 

My work would then communicate with them on a visual and mental level so that it sticks in there head enough for me to remember them and also enough for me to leave an impression so they do not forget me a soon as i leave the room. 

Conclusion

There are a range of ways which i could use to promote myself, these are a mix of web based mainly as this is the easiest way to share your work around as its simple for someone to copy a link of your blog to a fellow worker who can then also see your work.

This could be produced from a range of medias, this would be a perfect time for me to set up an online presence so that im able to make sure that the best possible impression when people ask to see the work which i have been able to create for the clients

i would be able to promote myself at a decent rate which wouldn't demand a high income so that i am able to make the most out of something which i can then really start to increase my rates as my work becomes stronger. but too start i think a rate of £12 an hour would lead me to be able to live comfortably and manage to have an income of work which can support the lifestyle that i currently live without unneeded pressure.


To get myself started i would have a blog and a website to get my online presence known but i would then also go to as many social networking events as possible to get myself known so i would then be able to display my talents and work to other professionals and this way would then lead to collaboration work and this is what would help me progress down the design career path.

Who else is out there - how good are they?

The Surgery, London. 

This is a design agency that really tickles my fancy, the problem with this one is that its based in london which is miles away from the area which i would like to work, this is good that these will not come as competition towards me, however there work could branch up this high as they are already a well established business

Strengths

-Already well established business

-Will already have a giant client base

-Have a strong team set with knowledge of editorial and layout to a high level

-Offer a range of illustration, editorial, branding and information graphics

Weaknesses

-Located down south so there business cant reach the north as easily

Lono, London

This is another design agency that creates work that i think could really change the way in which i work if i was to work with these, this would then help me to develop and increase the range of skills which i have and then how i could make these work alot better overall

Strengths

-A vast range of work

-A vast range of clients 

-A strong team which alot of knowledge on graphic design 

-Already established business

Weaknesses

-There work seems to be rather samey (similar style when it comes to business cards on website)

Nick Bell Designs 

This is a website which caught my attention ever since Nick Bell came and did a talk with our university since the day he came into our university, his work from him and his company are really strong and i think that this is something that has caught my attention. I don't feel like this is really my style of work but its still really creative and could lead to other design style work which can be linked into my work

Strengths

-Creative design work which can inspire 

-Original and fresh work by young designers

-They offer a vast range of work

Weaknesses

-Based in London

-Not really editorial work so not too much of a threat too me

Conclusion

 

 When i look at the above companies i feel that my work has the potential to go above and beyond this stlye of work and this then will lead me into believing that i am the better designer which i think i could be if i really knuckle down and get on with the work which will help me to become this.

They all seem to offer a range of processes to create the best and strongest pieces of work which really give the clients what they are wanting, this is something that i will have to compete with as i need to make sure that i am able to give the best possible solution to the brief and also beat them in any of the work which they can produce so that i am able to get the work in.

When they are compared against me then you see that our work is very different as it would be with alot of designers as we all have a varied base of work, this could then be a way to sell myself as i will have fresh creative ideas which they will not have on there team, it comes down to if i can fill the gaps with the qualities that i have

Where are they – How will they find me?

Where are my potential clients/employers located?

For the time being my main clients and employers would be mostly located in the northeast and west, this would be due to the fact that this are the only areas which are in a decent area for me to travel too and to make the most of the whole scenario, Anything down south is rather hard for me to get too and this would create some problems when it comes to travelling and completing what we would be expected to get done! 

Leeds and Middlesbrough would prove the best places for me to have business clients at the current time, this could also be more ranged if they were willing to communicate over email and skype as this would allow me to speak to them on a personal level but at the same time make sure that the work can still be produced to the standard that they would want. 

What media do my potential clients/employers use?

As i would be looking into doing things such as editorial then i would be using a mac based for design, this would be the same style of design for there work as well, so they would use digital media and web design, however they would still use print based work which could really show off the skills which i have and this would then mirror the work which they produce and make them more keen to view my work

What do you need to communicate and how does it match what your clients/employer need?

I would look into the range of work which my employer/client would like to achieve and what they actually want to get done, this could range from any of the political, economic or social views that they have so that i get straight into there good books when they look at my work, i would want to look to give a fresh new look of work which really gives off that new designer feel however i would want to have a attitude and work ethic which would fit in with the people that work in the industry there and see how things work out

My work is very type based so this would be the style of work which i would focus on to then communicate with what they would be looking for on a professional basis, this could only lead to one thing... EMPLOYMENT

my work would mirror there work and this would then inspire me to create more of there style design with my own creative flare in there as well.

How would there location effect my delivery?

i would have to consider which style of delivery i would have to use to get the message across to them in the best possible light so that i can show of my style and make sure that i think that the best possible outcome for my work was shown in the best light to give me the best opportunity of receiving the design brief

Samples of Work

1 - Baseline

Baseline are an typographic magazine who have been the leading magazine for many years, there work is unique and always high in quality. Baseline have a vast range of ways to display there work and branch out to the graphic design industry. They have an online presence where they range from social networking sites and there own website, they also send out freebies and flyers upon request and also throw events where you can attend to see the work in a gallery or large scale scenario. 

Strengths - Four experimental ways to make sure that they have covered the internet and the post ways of covering there clients needs. Their already achieved success will get them most of there credibility.

Weaknesses - Due to them being print based, there are only previews online and no actual downloadable files, and there target audience is rather limited due to it being only typography based.

Opportunities - Room to expand much further with all their promotional aspects 

Threats - Typography is a very broad area of graphic design. If they don't cover all angles it could be easy for another company to compete and over achieve them.

2 - Two Times Elliot

Two Times Elliot are a design firm which i plan to contact about their work and if i would be able to send them some of my own. I love the style in which they design and would love to get feed back from these designers. They also use a range of social networking sites to display their work, Behance being how i first came acorss these designers, then i was linked towards there website where you can easily find there contact information. Finally they have a Facebook and Twitter page, with these two sites being the largest for social networking they would be stupid not to imply these to getting there work out there. 

Strengths - Beautiful work and a very simple yet effective web design, all work and information are easy to find

Weaknesses - everything is internet based, there aint any direct mail or post outs so some target audiences could be jeopardised.

Opportunities - Room to expand on their weaknesses. 

Threats - Not getting their name out there and this could lead to them being left behind or being forgotten about when a client is looking for work 

3 - Analogue

Analogue are a full service graphic design agency, they design work for clients who need to be branded or need some online web design doing. This can be a massive range of things that need to be enhanced when it comes to the design work of everything. These have used the normal way of social networking sites, however they have also combined handing out free products to the public and also Vimeo, as there work can be movie based online, this is the perfect way to communicate their designs through a format which makes sense.

Strengths - Offering a strong website design and easy to find work, using a new media which would be video to express the design work they do.

Weaknesses - Everything is online and no mail outs get sent so it leaves it completely down to the client to find their site 

Opportunities - They could throw events to project their work largely onto the side of buildings or even create tv adverts to advertise their work.

Threats - Being forgotton about as it took me a while to find these on the internet.

4 -  Job Wouters & Roel Wouters

Roel Wouters is a designer who uses video to promote himself and create something that would catch the eye of the viewers. The work is very different to what you would expect and try to achieve as a normal graphic designer. However i think that the way he used the video below to express collaboration styles with, he has done this in such a manner that its worked perfectly in his favour.  

Strengths - Very quirky video which was entertaining to watch and made me remember his name and the style of work that he produces. He has also used a lot of the online ways to get his name out there as you can see below under the video.

Weaknesses - all video and online work again, needs some print based work

Opportunities - obviously got a design based mind. So could become creative with expanding his media range.

Threats - Collaborations can be dangerous and jeopardise your work and output.

5 - Eighty8 Design

Eighty8 design are a design agency that specialise in the design work for web based clients, however they still use a range of ways to make sure that they get there name out there, the one which im most interested in would be the radio side of things "LAST.FM" this would be something that could be quite new and interesting to tune into and see what was going on with them.

Strengths - strong design concepts, and the way in which they have thought about the work and how they gone about producing it 

Weaknesses - The website is not very diverse with how they have explained their work and the examples which have been placed online.

Opportunities - To expand more with the style in which they are creating. The work could be posted more around the general area of which the studio is placed in and this could then make something work more towards how everything should fit together

Threats - Not enough work on the website or able to find to really give the client a good judgement of if this is what they wanted or not. 

6 - Tubbyphunk

Tubbyphunk uses a unique way to get there interest brought in through a new online phenomenon, this being Pinterest. This has only just started to get large around the internet and this is a way that their company have used to link there blog and that site together so that when you find the work there it draws you towards their site and makes you want to look at their work as long as that is what you are looking for.

Strengths - Very strong website design, easy to follow links and links out to there social networking sites. 

Weaknesses - However its all online based again. There is no information about how they can get there work out via direct mail or any other theme such as these. 

Opportunities - Create some direct mails to get the word out there and also create some more work online so that it shows your diversity more.

Threats - Missing target clients and leaving it down to the public to find their website which limits there opportunities.

Enterprise Group Meeting One

Meetin Date: 1st Decemeber 2011


We got together for our first group meeting to talk about what we want to do and how we plan to progress over the coming months...




Our Group. 




Charlie Crosby 
Strengths - committed, great at planning, strong design skills on illustrator and confident presentation skills
Weaknesses - Indecisive, visual thinker, researching
Extra - had work placements 


Lisa Whitaker

Strengths - Excellent background in this area, tenacity, excellent time management, strong at research
Weaknesses - Lives out side Leeds, shy at presentations


Claudia Winkleman 
Strengths - good with words, intelligent, strong illustrator, makes a good cup of tea, organised, easy to get along with, 
Weaknesses - No career direction, easily not motivated, research 


Marty Edwards
Strengths - Confident, layouts and visual thinker, good presentation, cool
Weaknesses - Bad organisation, bad punctuality, 








Plan of Action..




Individually think about where we want to go and what we want to achieve and be located. 


Gather a business plan and bring to the next meeting.


Bring research of other business of that we think what we want to be involved in so we can then model ourselves on parts of each business 

Evaluation

What is Industry...

What is Industrial experience?

1: Industry to me is something that i think has a real strong impulse on the way that we want to be educated and how we also want to create the work that we will when we work in "industry" (this links in to graphic design) it can range from knowledge about printers and special prints, all the way down the line to places such as illustration and DPS layouts


2: This could also be a development of your skills which we have created when it comes to the work load at university, but when you go into industry things will change very differently and this is a perfect way through going to work experience so that you can test the waters and see what you want to achieve overall. 


3. It can also perfect your portfolio, each time i go to a industry to get a placement and experience they will add more work to my portfolio and i can also achieve a higher balance of work which shows of my talents and skills to then get me the next experience, this is something which is vital to development of myself. 


4. To a certain degree it is also a confidence boost as someone has thought that your work is good enough to want to employ you and have you in there studio so that you can work with them, this can be the motivational boost that i need when it finally comes down to the final outlook and what i want to achieve. 


5. Finally it is something which relates to what you want to do for the rest of your creative career, experience in these areas are something which is crucial to getting the final design done and this will then make the final outlook on things work perfectly 






What can you learn from industrial experience?


1. You can always learn new skills and other things such as this from the overall outcome of industry based experience, these can help progress you along the lines of what you want to do and what you need to learn to then progress to the next step when you finally have the experience needed. 


2. You can learn the pace of work which is required for you to work at so you can get the most from the placement these all range from what you look at and what you are hoping for. They will then give you the needed time schedules for when a crit would be for a piece of work for a client. 


3. You can learn if thats really the type of work that you want to go on and do full time. This could be editorial or illustration but until you try it you will never know what the actual place is like when you come back to it and what you want to achieve from it all. 


4. You will learn the correct language that is needed when you speak to clients, this is something which i aint learnt yet cause i still speak really casually and not always using the correct lingo when it comes to actually speaking in person. 


5. You will also learn how to "network" this is so that you are able to really get a grip of things such as when you are needed to build a database of things that all the people that you may need to get in touch with again to get more work from or if you may need help from them such as printers or proof readers. 






What form/format could industrial experience take?

1. Work placements are the first way that i could gather industry experience, These come free and people want to look around for the free talent that is on display, although i think this could then range to a very strong and experienced designers that work there and i would then be trained alot faster and it would give me the design practice which i need and want.

2. Free lance work, creating work and selling them to people, this would then gather there attention and make them want to give me more. If i was to do some of this freelance work i could also have some extra money coming in whilst i did this and it gets my name out there at the same time. This is a risk however cause i don't know if i would be able to do this correct the first time round but its something i will have to do eventually.

3. Placements, this is a perfect way for me to get the experience that i need to achieve and want from the rest of the ways that i decide to work, these will be something that i look into and that will help me progress along the design way of working which i really need too.

4. I could create work for websites and other places such as Behance and then post the work up there. this will get my name out there and also let people judge my work and see what they think. This could get me some feedback which will help with what i am needing to progress as a creative.

5. I could work with other experienced designers to then get a taste of things and see how it all would work out and what to do when i get into things, this way i would avoid masking the mistakes myself and then be able to link these together to make the absolute way of looking into things.  

What areas of industry are you interested in?

1. Editorial, this is an area which has always caught my interest and wanted me too look into it alittle more, in first year i did a little project on it and it kind of put me off but i think if i was too stick at something then it could be alot more interesting towards me and i will then want to play this more and it would work better for me overall. 

2. Ive seen how the printers works when they have massive print runs to do, it would be good to see which other areas are also good to work with and what i could achieve from them. Special print workshops would be a good area to go and work with cause i would like to see how they create things such as the foil print and block printing, these could be interesting to learn about.

3. Branding and Identity is another area which i could look into, this is something which i have found that i have looked at with each project that i keep going for. this could link me into a whole range of things, although each time i get excited about doing this. This could be something that i look into. 

4. Typography in general is an area that will always interest me and something that makes the most sense from everything, i love how its so simple tow work with yet if done correctly you can make so much sense form it all and create something really spectacular. This links into so many different areas of graphic design, ranging from creating DPS designs and then across towards Promotion and Publishing.

5. Promotion is finally the something else that interests me but not as much as the rest of them cause i think they have a much more demanding and concrete brief which you need to stick too. This aint something that i want to do overall. Still something that ill look into but when it comes down to it i cant see this being the definitive outcome of it all.

What are your concerns about industrial experience?

1. Selling my creative soul, i don't like the thought of having to constantly work with designers who tell me how to design and how to create. This is something that im going to have to do if i want to make it in the creative world, but this is still something that i don't have a choice in doing anymore. If i want to do work for a creative company then this is something inbetween that i need to do.

2. Getting work abroad has always been a big worry of mine. I wouldn't know where to start and how i would approach them. I suppose you would start by email as this would be the most efficient way but still it would panic me when coming to do this. 

3. The difference between a university brief and a professional brief, there could be a vast of subtle change. hopefully it wont be as bad as i think it is because i already have a high demanding course so that i think i could handle it. 

4. How much work would i need to produce when it comes down to applying for an internship or something such as these, they could be a range of things that they look for, or very specific! It would depend on the company but still this is something which ill have to learn to work around and be open to consider. 

5. What sort of work load i will be working with, as we work now we currently have bout seven briefs on the go at any one time but then maybe in a professional you concentrate on one per week or maybe you will then change across to something which is alittle more subtle yet demanding and this would be twelve in a week. 

John and Jane Workshop 1

This was a workshop where we got into groups and then wrote down the task basically which we had to do individually but this time we had to link them together and make it so we had a group collective for the whole lot and then this allowed us to see how each of our piers also wish to work when it comes  down to the final outcome of the whole thing. Below are the sheets which we created when we were looking into them and picking which we through fit best and which didn't...

The top sheet is based on how we feel when it comes to industry experience, for example when we come to picking up what we expect from it and how we plan to approach industry in a way so we can be confident and also know what to expect when it comes down to it. 

The second sheet is why we chose to select to do this course and what we intend to complete from it all in the end. This is something which will make a vast change to the way we see and personally for me it help me refocus on what i want to achieve from the end of this course.

Concept Crit.

This is the area which was there to help give feedback on what we already had created and what we then needed to get done on everything. This will prove rather helpful when looking back over the progress and  development of my work. 


Strengths.
Good timing because of the olympics.

Area's for Improvement.
Look at both genders
Look at where to promote 

Student Group Crit.

This was for the concept crit, this was when we were in a group of six people and then i really liked this cause i got some strong feedback and really helped me with how i want to look at my finals that i plan to create...


Extent of initial research and development of my concept.
Broad range of stats, video etc...
from activity 
concepts excelled well 


Overall: Very Good




Concept proposal and the exploit of practical and conceptual investigation.
Think about the promotional aspect of it - how its different and what makes it special.


Overall: Very Good 




Range of products to be produced to identify the problem.
Branding on the laces, the colour logo is effective, maybe mix it up with the sports, rope-laces skipping? Fine lines between things. 


Overall: Very Good




Additional Comments.
The logo could also be a running track. 




Action Plan


Action:   To sport athletes to find out there opinion
Reason:  To improve the concept and prove that to the product doesnt already exists


Action:   Look at olympics legacy in Britain related with your british brand
Reason:  To promote athletics in the UK

Lecture 1 Quiz

This is the first quiz from the series of enterprise lectures which we will have to go over and do, i achieved a 6 out of 10 which i dont think is that bad really when it comes down to this subject, as to me it seems to be a whole new language all together, but hopefully i will start to understand it more and this will allow me to then learn more how to get myself out there and then in turn become an expert at being known. 

I am unable to test this one again as when i finished it said im not allowed to try it again, however i might try again when i have forgot what the answers where so i can see if i can progress when i have revised my answers and then taught myself what they all mean.