12 IN 12- Craig Oldham

Another Tuesday lecture and we were introduced to Craig Oldham who gave a very helpful and entertaining lecture in which he discussed 12 things we might learn during our first year of being a designer in a very 'matter of fact way!' I really enjoyed the lecture and it opened my eyes to the actual harsh reality of the graphic design industry. There is so much work to do if I want to make a career out of this industry when I graduate eeek- best get my head down...

The 12 points in the lecture were displayed in a newspaper style booklet (see above) and it felt quite refreshing to be given reading material which accompanied the lecture as it is something which can be used for referance later on. The points:

1/ Understand what graphic design is to you. Define Creativit, and what you value as good design then you'll know what it takes to acheive it. Am I bunch A (the logical) or am I bunch B (big ideas)?

Not really sure how I would define myself. Probably bunch myself with the B's. I never really have a concept and I certainly do not have much logic- I just go with what I feel and see what happens.

2/ Be honest with yourself about your strengths and your weaknesses. Know what you are best at.

In other words do not be scared to say you cannot do something. I'm not that great at computer stuff but could attempt the basics, there would definitely be no hope in me building a website like craig said in the lecture "Web design- It's like the darks arts." FACT! I need to stick with my hand rendered work using paper...much more up my street!

3/ A portfolio is for life, not just for an interview. Treat it like an ongoing project and update it everytime you do something.

I need to start this! Maybe I should update it like I update my blog (which is a bit haphazard at the minute) but it could be an idea.

4/ Placements matter, so do them.

Erm enough said on this one!

5/ The design insdustry is small: everyone knows evrybugger else.

Need to get my foot in the door.

6/ Participate with other peopl and share your ideas: two heads are better than one.

This is good because I quite like to share my ideas, it's nice to know what other people think. It's the only way to improve.

7/ Graphic Design is just a job. But being a designer is different.

Being a designer means that you are constantly thinking- I don't think I will ever work for a graphic design agency, it's just not me.

8/ If you don't fail then you are trying.

Sometimes I feel like I am always failing, maybe I'm doing something right for a change.

9/ Life and work exist outside London.

Good. Because I don't want to live or work there, maybe only stay for a few days and shop.

10/ Designing I'd say is only 20% of your jobs. Thats it.

11/ Have a life ouside of design. Let your life inspire your design.

Currently this degree is my life, when I have graduated this whole 'having a life' lark will be something I will DEFINITELY considering!

12/ Work hard and be nice to people.

I try my hardest to do this...it's not always possible though!

Craig was young himself, only graduating 3 years ago he understood what we are currently going through, the lessons we face and the difficulties which will creep up on us as we try to establish ourselves. All in all though I left the lecture feeling enlightned and a little more confident in my practices, similar to how I felt after listening to Libby and Nicola talk about their experiences after graduation. Time to get moving...

YCN

Last week during our Tuesday lecture slot, we were briefed with a series of competition briefs. Some of which were taken from the new YCN book so Alex from the agency came in to have a chat with us. YCN began as a student award foundation and each year they publish a book which is full of winners/commendations from the previous year's briefs and a selections of new ones from vast aray of companies. The first ever brief was sponsered by Ben and Jerry's which paved way for companies such as Google, Sainsbury's, Orange, BBC2 and Sky to name just a few. 

It was very interesting to see how the company has since developed and the introduction of A is for Awards campaign. Pictured above the new award will be presented periodically to emerging talent in the art and design industry. A similar, smaller verison in white will also be awarded to those commended in the live student briefs.

I didn't really absorb much information during this lecture (I began to day-dream) but one point which Alex made has stuck with me was 'Think about your studio practice when answering the briefs.' It wasn't until this final year which I have begun to do this and I think it's a sound piece of advice as there is definitely no point what-so-ever doing something you just cannot do and failing. This is something I am going to focus and improve upon, by concentrating on my strengths I think any potential I have will be more evident within my work. I am really looking forward now to answering the Fedrigoni Paper Promotion brief- as I quite like paper, I think I might have mentioned that fact before!

Yummy Stuff

Take a look at Rifle Paper Co., stationary by a very talented painter/designer called Anna Bond. I'm not sure how I stumbbled upon this, but I would like to buy every single piece...

An Aladdin's Cave

With my ever increasing desire to make books, I thought it was time that I began to get euipped. Yet another very rainy day and armed with directions I found 'Ratchford,' a book binding suppliers. Before I knew it and with the help of a very friendly assistant I was stocked with an awl, paste brush, linen thread, needles, grey board and a large selection of book cloth and papers (which were a complete bargain). I'll definitely be venturing again to buy more supplies, I could have spent hours and probably could have gotten lost in there.

Manchester Artist Book Fair 2009

A bit of a late post...but better late than never! On one very rainy Saturday at the beginning of November I wandered down to the Holden Gallery at MMU to have a nosey at the Artist Book Fair. The space was packed with lots of different things going on, on every table ( I really wish I had remembered to go to the cash machine before hand, £10 didn't get me very far!!) I was really inspired by everything I saw, and definitely intrigued to discover how many artists create beautiful books as a form of self expression. I loved nearly everything although somethings were just a little too 'conceptual' for my liking and I found a bit of it was 'art for arts sake.' There were so many wonderful things to absorb, and I wandering around some of the tables my inspiration grew and I wanted to start designing and making straight away. Previous to the book fair, Graham had been in to lecture us on 'Self-Promotion,' so I began to gather a sample of buisness cards of the artists (to be honest I just picked some of my favourite)

My favourite pick of the buisness cards was the one in the centre which is for illustrator Mary Lundquist. The beauty of the simple card reflected the very simple amd delicate aesthetic of her work, I loved the attention to detail Mary had applied to the way her stand was displayed even down to the vintage typewritter ( of which I was very jealous and was told it was not for sale!!) Her work was lovely and I really wish and hope that I could make work just as nice. It was the hand drawn elemants of the work which drew me in, such simple illustrations have such a powerful visual impact that blew me away.

Another stand which really caught my eye belonged to Sarah Morpeth, who as a result I am now in correspondace with in regards to my dissertation. Her work was just fascinating, working with paper Sarah creates wonderful papercuts and layerd artist books, I asked her for some advice for making such neat and perfect cuts, her response was simple 'Just change your blade after every 10 single cuts.'

Competition Time!!

Finally, it's time to get away from the good old 'Silence' brief and venture into something new! We were given a list of various competition briefs to choose from which were provided by D&AD, YCN and ONEDOTZERO. When I looked I was immediatly drawn to the YCN brief named 'Fedrigoni: Paper Promotion.' "Oooo" I thought, this looks like my kind of thing, anything to do with paper and I seemed to be attracted! So today was the first tutorial with Sue regarding the brief, armed with not very much to show, I went and finished totally geared up and motivated to make something that looks lovely and pretty and  nice. The main aims given in the brief are to make designers want to visit and use the Fedrigoni London Showroom bringing the paper company and the design community closer together. I'd had a few ideas, for example things that could be sent out to customers such as calenders and different installations/events that could take place in the space of the showroom. Everyone seemed to want to head in a similar direction however the main point which was put across by Sue was, "Don't resolve the project straight away." So instead of jumping straight in I am going to taken some time out to play with paper and explore the endless possibilities of a single sheet. Doing this will point me in the right direction and who knows where this will lead?

Window Dressing

For the past 5 years I have worked at Next part-time to earn some extra pocket money during my studies. Over the summer I showed an interest in the visual merchandising and the designs for the shop window, a few weeks ago I thought my interest had paid off when they asked me to help them in dressing the window ready for Christmas!! Needless to say I didn't spend THAT much time in the window instead I got to unpack the gigantic baubles and iron about a million metres of ribbon...but i suppose everyone has to start somewhere, I might be allowed to design the windows next time- I can dream :) ...