Glug Leeds #7 - The Careers Clinic - Developing Leeds Talent
I went to the event that Glug put on at Munro House in Leeds on Thursday evening. I only attended for the talks by Studio12, Alec Dudson of Intern Magazine, the ladies from up and coming movement SheDoesDigital, Matt Essam of Creative Life, brothers turned business partners Matthew and Daniel Tweddle of Only, and author of the Human Freelancer - Chris Kenworthy.
It was an extremely inspirational talk with helpful hints and tips from each professional. I am glad that I went as it has given me a better insight in what I need to start doing now if I want to be happy with my career. The main advice was to stay true to yourself and have self belief, which I think is really important.
Notes:
Build - Micheal
- Rock metal covers were an influence
- The Graphic Language by Neville Brody (an interesting book that had inspired him).
- Work placement at iD
- Trevor Jackson - design and music
- Initially predominantly record sleeves but not enough money in it to survive off.
- Takes advantage of partnering with people that are experts in their fields.
Studio 12
- Creativity and experimentation
- Accessibility to designers tools - creative suite - photography studio etc.
- A space for people to grow
- Members of studio influence equipment and training
- Helps students develop creative talent
- Ma created a film 'Live how you sleep. Live how you dream'
- Platform for people - linking them with people in industry
- Working with people in industry makes you reach the standards - hard work - shows the level you need to be at.
- Don't limit creativity - work around boundaries
- Patience and working hard
Intern - Alec
- Interned with Domus
- Then Boat magazine
- Made his own job
- Creative youth
- Things are being challenged
- Don't underplay your value
- 'Burning questions' youtube
She Does Digital
- Epiphany - growth in digital
- Digital skill gap
- 3500 jobs in Leeds
- Show off Leeds
- Woman in digital 26%
- #wheredidyoustart?
Creative Life - Matt
- Alan Watts
- Creativity driven by passion, purpose and values.
- Authentic creativity
- Creative Life - help artists earn and love what they're doing.
Only
1. Be nice to people
2. Maximise every opportunity
3. Share your passion
4. Be brave
5. Do good work
Chris Kenworthy
- The Human Freelancer
- Fear can hold you back
- Business is based on trust
- Do friendly favours
- Always do a good, honest job
- Write, talk positively about what you've learned
- Know your limits, know yourself
- There's no such thing as the right price
- Relax, something always comes up
- There's no shame in small
- No one really knows what they're doing, we're all just making it up as we go along.
Glug events are something I definitely want to go and get involved with more, I will be keeping my eye out for the events next year.
Sunday, November 27, 2016
OUGD502 The Leeds Salon at The Tetley - 'Is Art Good For Us?'
The Leeds Salon at The Tetley - 'Is Art Good For Us?'
'Angus Kennedy, author of Being Cultured: In Defence of Discrimination, asks whether, today, we are burdening culture and the arts with too much. Are the arts good for us? And is there still room for aesthetic judgments or just impact statements?'
On Saturday the 19th of November I attended a debate at The Tetley. Kennedy had very strong controversial views that art cannot change society and needs to stop being used as a band aid to try and heal a broken community. He explained it as if the government used it as a technique to help try and fix social problems, that he believes does not work. He thinks that art should only be done by masters and that we cannot label people great artists just because they have something wrong with them (like being disabled). This was quite a strong statement to put out there. He also went on to say that people the are interested in popular culture don't actually know why they like it. I also found this to be really insulting because he has generalised massively.
As his views were quite controversial he got lot's of questions to debate against his viewpoints. One that stuck out for me was a caregiver who was trying to explain the importance of art to patients with Alzheimer's and where she had seen the benefits first hand. He then proceeded to talk about the aesthetics of art rather than the other benefits it could clearly provide like the woman had talked about.
Although I did not agree with what Kennedy talked about, I still feel like he didn't actually answer the question at hand. It was an experience to go to, as it was not what I was expecting, however I am glad that I went because it made me realise how much I love art and I can see the benefits that it has within society even if he cannot.
'Angus Kennedy, author of Being Cultured: In Defence of Discrimination, asks whether, today, we are burdening culture and the arts with too much. Are the arts good for us? And is there still room for aesthetic judgments or just impact statements?'
On Saturday the 19th of November I attended a debate at The Tetley. Kennedy had very strong controversial views that art cannot change society and needs to stop being used as a band aid to try and heal a broken community. He explained it as if the government used it as a technique to help try and fix social problems, that he believes does not work. He thinks that art should only be done by masters and that we cannot label people great artists just because they have something wrong with them (like being disabled). This was quite a strong statement to put out there. He also went on to say that people the are interested in popular culture don't actually know why they like it. I also found this to be really insulting because he has generalised massively.
As his views were quite controversial he got lot's of questions to debate against his viewpoints. One that stuck out for me was a caregiver who was trying to explain the importance of art to patients with Alzheimer's and where she had seen the benefits first hand. He then proceeded to talk about the aesthetics of art rather than the other benefits it could clearly provide like the woman had talked about.
Although I did not agree with what Kennedy talked about, I still feel like he didn't actually answer the question at hand. It was an experience to go to, as it was not what I was expecting, however I am glad that I went because it made me realise how much I love art and I can see the benefits that it has within society even if he cannot.
Saturday, November 26, 2016
OUGD502 Ideas
Ideas:
On Thursday we had a session learning about how to generate ideas and work through the creative process so that you come up with the most unique ideas possible. It was useful to me as it tackled the issue of creative block which sometimes I can struggle with.
THINK:
- Product
- Range
- Distribution
'open minded thinking'
THEORY:
- Budget
- Technical
- What you can do
Ideas for coming up with ideas:
- Gallery visits
- Obvious and ambiguous answers
- Free association
- Key word association (tangential approach)
- Spitball ideas (many voices, editing different approaches)
- Identifying what exists
- Subconscious, recognising everyday potential solutions
- Identifying and working with limitations
- Discussions, feedback, focus group, interviews
- Rewrite the brief in own words
- Target audience
- Product testing
- Mind mapping
Group ideas:
Strategies are important - how you take an idea and make it better.
James Webb Young
1. Gather info
2. Attack problem
3. Do something else while your subconscious mind works on the problem
4. Eureka!
5. Figure out how to tackle problem
Brand = adjective
Pose the brief/problem as a question
Find the negative and be truthful
YCN Yahoo! Brief:
In small groups of no more than 4 we were given an old YCN brief to use what we had learnt about coming up with ideas and to apply it to a real brief.
We did find that learning how to come up with ideas was useful for this very challenging brief. I also found working in a team and talking through things for me makes an idea a lot clearer, which shows the benefits of group crits and peer feedback.
I am going to use these methods for when I get stuck and have creative block because it shows different ways of tackling the idea process, if it doesn't work in one way it will work in another.
On Thursday we had a session learning about how to generate ideas and work through the creative process so that you come up with the most unique ideas possible. It was useful to me as it tackled the issue of creative block which sometimes I can struggle with.
THINK:
- Product
- Range
- Distribution
'open minded thinking'
THEORY:
- Budget
- Technical
- What you can do
Ideas for coming up with ideas:
- Gallery visits
- Obvious and ambiguous answers
- Free association
- Key word association (tangential approach)
- Spitball ideas (many voices, editing different approaches)
- Identifying what exists
- Subconscious, recognising everyday potential solutions
- Identifying and working with limitations
- Discussions, feedback, focus group, interviews
- Rewrite the brief in own words
- Target audience
- Product testing
- Mind mapping
Group ideas:
Strategies are important - how you take an idea and make it better.
James Webb Young
1. Gather info
2. Attack problem
3. Do something else while your subconscious mind works on the problem
4. Eureka!
5. Figure out how to tackle problem
Brand = adjective
Pose the brief/problem as a question
Find the negative and be truthful
YCN Yahoo! Brief:
In small groups of no more than 4 we were given an old YCN brief to use what we had learnt about coming up with ideas and to apply it to a real brief.
We did find that learning how to come up with ideas was useful for this very challenging brief. I also found working in a team and talking through things for me makes an idea a lot clearer, which shows the benefits of group crits and peer feedback.
I am going to use these methods for when I get stuck and have creative block because it shows different ways of tackling the idea process, if it doesn't work in one way it will work in another.
Thursday, November 17, 2016
OUGD502 Barbican - Bedwyr Williams, The Gulch
Barbican - Bedwyr Williams, The Gulch
29 September 2016 - 8 January 2017
'This autumn, enter the weird and wonderful mind of Welsh artist Bedwyr Williams as he brings the Barbican’s Curve gallery to life with his quest into The Gulch.
Navigate a succession of surreal and theatrically staged scenes as you embark on a journey conjured by one of the contemporary art world’s most exciting and innovative artists. From a pair of singing running shoes to a depressed hypnotist and a talking goat, Bedwyr’s curious and often subversive internal dialogue plays out along the Curve’s space in this fantastical installation. Physical and metaphorical twists and turns will guide you through the gallery and ultimately inspire you to give your own performance, one that will fill the cavernous gorge of the gulch for those following in your footsteps.
Minute observations are elevated to a monumental scale and compelling scenarios come to the fore on this intriguing and immersive journey.'
Yesterday I went to London's Barbican centre where I explored Bedwyr Williams, The Gulch. A gulch can be defined as a narrow and steep-sided ravine marking the course of a fast stream, which was how the exhibition was laid out. The interactivity of the exhibition wasn't too bad with there being some drums that people could play and curtains you have to move out of the way to navigate round. But overall I did not understand what was happening within the exhibition, everything seemed to random and without purpose, they had been done just for the sake of being out there ideas.
Entrance to the exhibition:
Own photos:
Maybe the concepts were too much for me to understand, but I felt that whatever he was trying to convey was not clear enough for me. I didn't really enjoy the exhibition I think I prefer work that clearly communicates something, and for me I was unsure of what that was with this exhibition.
29 September 2016 - 8 January 2017
'This autumn, enter the weird and wonderful mind of Welsh artist Bedwyr Williams as he brings the Barbican’s Curve gallery to life with his quest into The Gulch.
Navigate a succession of surreal and theatrically staged scenes as you embark on a journey conjured by one of the contemporary art world’s most exciting and innovative artists. From a pair of singing running shoes to a depressed hypnotist and a talking goat, Bedwyr’s curious and often subversive internal dialogue plays out along the Curve’s space in this fantastical installation. Physical and metaphorical twists and turns will guide you through the gallery and ultimately inspire you to give your own performance, one that will fill the cavernous gorge of the gulch for those following in your footsteps.
Minute observations are elevated to a monumental scale and compelling scenarios come to the fore on this intriguing and immersive journey.'
Yesterday I went to London's Barbican centre where I explored Bedwyr Williams, The Gulch. A gulch can be defined as a narrow and steep-sided ravine marking the course of a fast stream, which was how the exhibition was laid out. The interactivity of the exhibition wasn't too bad with there being some drums that people could play and curtains you have to move out of the way to navigate round. But overall I did not understand what was happening within the exhibition, everything seemed to random and without purpose, they had been done just for the sake of being out there ideas.
Entrance to the exhibition:
Own photos:
Maybe the concepts were too much for me to understand, but I felt that whatever he was trying to convey was not clear enough for me. I didn't really enjoy the exhibition I think I prefer work that clearly communicates something, and for me I was unsure of what that was with this exhibition.
OUGD502 Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising (The Graphics of Punk Exhibition)
Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising (The Graphics of Punk Exhibition):
Yesterday I visited the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising in London. This is an area of graphic design that I have a particular interest into, and I thought that it would be useful to see the development of this area through time. The museum entry price was quite expensive being £7 for students, and unfortunately no photographs were allowed, however I found it inspiring and very nostalgic.
The main feature within the museum was the time tunnel which starts from the Victorian era right through to today's day and age. It was really interesting to see how consumer and popular culture has developed over the years, and I think that it is important to understand why and how it changed. Within the museum there was a wealth of items, but they were all crammed together inside glass cases. As there was so much to look at visually, it was very easy to look over and miss things out. Another criticism of the museum is that although there was a lot of historical context about the era the items came from, for a design student like myself it would have been useful to know about production methods, materials, styles, designers etc.
My favourite era from the time tunnel would have to be the 90's, I love the bright, bold colours and striking text that was on packaging. I want to look into type and use of colour further as for me, they were really striking pieces of design. Within the museum it also featured book covers and magazine covers, I much prefer the design of them in the past rather then present day. Illustration played a big role in newspaper designs and made them more visually appealing and sophisticated then some of the tackier designs of today. Text for titles was also designed and embellished which was interesting and added status and grandeur. In some areas I believe design has taken a step back and the quality of design and skill doesn't seem to be what it used to. Looking at past designs has really inspired me, it's helped me to reconnect with my love of design especially within packaging.
What also became clear was the importance of materials and resources as the most cost effective would be used and design was thought about after. Lot's of things help to change a brand such as shape, size, name, colour etc.
One of the reasons I had gone to this exhibition was to see 'The Graphics of Punk Exhibition', unfortunately it was only two glass cabinets, and the information seemed to lack on what it was actually about. However the style in design was clearly radical compared with where it was contextually placed in the museum, it was interesting to how the styles of collage and threatening text was portrayed in a positive break out movement.
Overall I have found the visit very beneficial and I want to take forward methods in design that aren't used as much and try to revitalise them for the modern world.
Yesterday I visited the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising in London. This is an area of graphic design that I have a particular interest into, and I thought that it would be useful to see the development of this area through time. The museum entry price was quite expensive being £7 for students, and unfortunately no photographs were allowed, however I found it inspiring and very nostalgic.
The main feature within the museum was the time tunnel which starts from the Victorian era right through to today's day and age. It was really interesting to see how consumer and popular culture has developed over the years, and I think that it is important to understand why and how it changed. Within the museum there was a wealth of items, but they were all crammed together inside glass cases. As there was so much to look at visually, it was very easy to look over and miss things out. Another criticism of the museum is that although there was a lot of historical context about the era the items came from, for a design student like myself it would have been useful to know about production methods, materials, styles, designers etc.
My favourite era from the time tunnel would have to be the 90's, I love the bright, bold colours and striking text that was on packaging. I want to look into type and use of colour further as for me, they were really striking pieces of design. Within the museum it also featured book covers and magazine covers, I much prefer the design of them in the past rather then present day. Illustration played a big role in newspaper designs and made them more visually appealing and sophisticated then some of the tackier designs of today. Text for titles was also designed and embellished which was interesting and added status and grandeur. In some areas I believe design has taken a step back and the quality of design and skill doesn't seem to be what it used to. Looking at past designs has really inspired me, it's helped me to reconnect with my love of design especially within packaging.
What also became clear was the importance of materials and resources as the most cost effective would be used and design was thought about after. Lot's of things help to change a brand such as shape, size, name, colour etc.
One of the reasons I had gone to this exhibition was to see 'The Graphics of Punk Exhibition', unfortunately it was only two glass cabinets, and the information seemed to lack on what it was actually about. However the style in design was clearly radical compared with where it was contextually placed in the museum, it was interesting to how the styles of collage and threatening text was portrayed in a positive break out movement.
Overall I have found the visit very beneficial and I want to take forward methods in design that aren't used as much and try to revitalise them for the modern world.
OUGD502 SWOT Analysis of Myself
SWOT Analysis of Myself:
Strengths
- Creating concepts
- Working in teams
- Problem solver
- Approachable
Weaknesses
- Confidence
- Testing out ideas
- Time management
- Presentations
Opportunities
- Working collaboratively on projects
- Attending a presentation class
- NEST magazine to get work out there
Threats
- Competition
Strengths
- Creating concepts
- Working in teams
- Problem solver
- Approachable
Weaknesses
- Confidence
- Testing out ideas
- Time management
- Presentations
Opportunities
- Working collaboratively on projects
- Attending a presentation class
- NEST magazine to get work out there
Threats
- Competition
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
OUGD502 Only Studio Talk
Only Studio Talk:
Only are a strategy and design consultancy.
'Through research, strategy and design we connect brands with people in unique and compelling ways.'
Only works by putting people first and positioning a brand with clarity and simplicity. They have won numerous of awards and work with a wide range of top clients from around the world.
Only are going to be coming in every so often to help with our new studio brief, designing for screen. They gave us some advice on where to start with our idea and how it will develop.
- You don't need to be able to code - this is a misconception within designing for screen - as long as we can articulate our idea and communicate it clearly to a developer.
- It is a fast paced environment.
Design Process:
When designing for screen we continue to use the standard graphic methods but we start thinking about things like how it would scroll etc. Taking care to consider details and screen size.
They also spoke about their own experience within the graphic design world, saying that working in a small studio is somewhere you will learn more. Everyone has a skill, you need to take ownership of that, studios will look for something that they don't already have.
Overall I have found this talk to be really inspiring, looking at the work they produce I can understand why it is so successful and it is something I want to aim for in my own practice. The advice that they gave I have also found useful and it has given me things to think about not just for this project. Having studios come in to talk to us like this I find a really positive experience and something that gives me more hope for my own future within the design world.
Only are a strategy and design consultancy.
'Through research, strategy and design we connect brands with people in unique and compelling ways.'
Only works by putting people first and positioning a brand with clarity and simplicity. They have won numerous of awards and work with a wide range of top clients from around the world.
Only are going to be coming in every so often to help with our new studio brief, designing for screen. They gave us some advice on where to start with our idea and how it will develop.
- You don't need to be able to code - this is a misconception within designing for screen - as long as we can articulate our idea and communicate it clearly to a developer.
- It is a fast paced environment.
Design Process:
- Research - Who will be using it?
- Wireframing - How do you flow through it. Testing.
- Design - Different applications.
- Front End - How it's communicated is important.
All of these steps are as important as each other.
Only have done some really interesting work, I really like their style, particularly I liked the work that they did for Lost Village festival. The branding was really thorough and distinct, it needed to be able to work across platforms. They also worked with type very well, each design decisions was backed up contextually.
When designing for screen we continue to use the standard graphic methods but we start thinking about things like how it would scroll etc. Taking care to consider details and screen size.
They also spoke about their own experience within the graphic design world, saying that working in a small studio is somewhere you will learn more. Everyone has a skill, you need to take ownership of that, studios will look for something that they don't already have.
Overall I have found this talk to be really inspiring, looking at the work they produce I can understand why it is so successful and it is something I want to aim for in my own practice. The advice that they gave I have also found useful and it has given me things to think about not just for this project. Having studios come in to talk to us like this I find a really positive experience and something that gives me more hope for my own future within the design world.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
OUGD502 LCA Alumni Talk - Harrison
LCA Alumni Talk - Harrison
Today we had an ex pupil from LCA come in to talk to us about his experience after graduating. I found this very useful to give us an insight into the real world of graphic design, however I did also find the talk demotivating and seeming to focus on the negative aspects which led it not to be the most inspiring talk for me. Although there seemed to be quite a few negatives along Harrison's journey I made notes on the important things that I would benefit from within my own practice.
Harrison recommended when reaching out to other creatives and sending emails they need to be personal and something that makes you stand out and connects with them. I could look at recent work they have done to help but I also need to look beyond just an email. If I put more effort into the form of contact that shows personality and tells a story I am more likely to get a response from it.
He also mentioned about going to as many events as possible to start meeting people, learning and making connections. One event he mentioned was Glug, which is something I am going to look into further.
As a designer he made it clear that we need to have our own presence and to just be your own person, this is something that I think is really important so that you don't get stuck doing a job you don't want to do.
The design world is a community and I need to make myself known within this now, it seems that it is very much about who you know and connections to help you get a job. This was reiterated various times and has been mentioned a lot by my tutors, as I know the importance of this I am going to start looking at going to more events and doing some research into design studios. I also want to sign up to linkedin and behance, to have an online presence and making myself more accessible.
Today we had an ex pupil from LCA come in to talk to us about his experience after graduating. I found this very useful to give us an insight into the real world of graphic design, however I did also find the talk demotivating and seeming to focus on the negative aspects which led it not to be the most inspiring talk for me. Although there seemed to be quite a few negatives along Harrison's journey I made notes on the important things that I would benefit from within my own practice.
Harrison recommended when reaching out to other creatives and sending emails they need to be personal and something that makes you stand out and connects with them. I could look at recent work they have done to help but I also need to look beyond just an email. If I put more effort into the form of contact that shows personality and tells a story I am more likely to get a response from it.
He also mentioned about going to as many events as possible to start meeting people, learning and making connections. One event he mentioned was Glug, which is something I am going to look into further.
As a designer he made it clear that we need to have our own presence and to just be your own person, this is something that I think is really important so that you don't get stuck doing a job you don't want to do.
The design world is a community and I need to make myself known within this now, it seems that it is very much about who you know and connections to help you get a job. This was reiterated various times and has been mentioned a lot by my tutors, as I know the importance of this I am going to start looking at going to more events and doing some research into design studios. I also want to sign up to linkedin and behance, to have an online presence and making myself more accessible.
OUGD502 Calendar of Events
Calendar of Events:
I have decided to create a calendar of events that I would like to go to, to help me engage with the design world and get inspired.
- to 28th Nov
Tactility: Contemporary Fashion Illustration
Pocho, 51A King Henrys Walk, LONDON
- 24th Nov 15:00 - 23:00
£5.80
Glug Leeds 7, The Careers Clinic, Developing Leeds Talent
- to 8th Jan
Bedwyr Williams - The Gulch
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, LONDON
- to 29th Jan
Dave Brown: The Boosh Club
The Book Club, 106 Leonard Street, LONDON
- to 29th Jan
The Graphics of Punk
Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising
Notting Hill, LONDON
- to 12th Feb
Dedicated to all Defenders of Human Freedoms The Art of Paul Peter Piech
People's History Museum, Left Bank, Spinningfields, MANCHESTER
- to 31st Dec
Crime and Punishment Exhibition
Abbey House Museum, LEEDS
- to 29th Nov
Film Posters Exhibition at North Bar, LEEDS
I have decided to create a calendar of events that I would like to go to, to help me engage with the design world and get inspired.
- to 28th Nov
Tactility: Contemporary Fashion Illustration
Pocho, 51A King Henrys Walk, LONDON
- 24th Nov 15:00 - 23:00
£5.80
Glug Leeds 7, The Careers Clinic, Developing Leeds Talent
- to 8th Jan
Bedwyr Williams - The Gulch
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, LONDON
- to 29th Jan
Dave Brown: The Boosh Club
The Book Club, 106 Leonard Street, LONDON
- to 29th Jan
The Graphics of Punk
Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising
Notting Hill, LONDON
- to 12th Feb
Dedicated to all Defenders of Human Freedoms The Art of Paul Peter Piech
People's History Museum, Left Bank, Spinningfields, MANCHESTER
- to 31st Dec
Crime and Punishment Exhibition
Abbey House Museum, LEEDS
- to 29th Nov
Film Posters Exhibition at North Bar, LEEDS
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