OUGD602 - PPP - Industry Interaction - Eden (Graduate Fashion Week)

The final aspect of industry involvement and engagement is actually the most recent also. As of very recently I have began to start a collaboration with a graduating level 6 fashion student to create a range of publications to house fashion related content that will go out beyond university, through summer and hopefully to the future possibilities of paid work. Eden Hardwich (Fashion) approached me to design the publication for the range of clothing of which she will be debuting at Graduate Fashion Weeks, London. This engagement has offered me with vital experience and opportunities to follow my aspirations of eventually working within the sector of fashion editorial and hopefully will enable to start my career within fashion. This experience will be dependant on the factor that if eden does well and is noticed at graduate fashion week, my editorial/publication work will be there along side the clothing range and hopefully this may help me gain some notoriety.

OUGD602 - PPP - Industry Interaction - Golden

The final aspect of my industry involvement/experience came by means of an interview for a work placement and the possibility of a full time job at Golden Studios; a studio based in The Penthouse, Call Lane Leeds. This interview experience was actually very important for two major reasons.

The first of the reasons revolves around that fact that the interview also acted as a means of having my interviewing style, appearance as a designer and overall portfolio evaluated by some of the graphic designers from the Golden Studio team. This proved to provide me invaluable information including where to change my portfolio for future interview, an insight in to how I come across in studios and just generally advice of which will benefit my massively through my career as a designer. The second and most important piece of understanding/experience that the interview offered me with was the successful securing of a two week paid work placement at the studio with the possibility of being kept on for full time work depending on my performance during the placement. This placement will provide me with endless vital experience that can not be obtained through classical education alone, aspects of which can only be learnt in the real world graphic design industry.

Overall this experience has aided me massively off the back of the invaluable advice that I gained through the interview and even more crucial design experience that I will gain through the completing of the placement. The decision was made to partake in the design placement during the start of summer, June 12 - 26 specifically due to the fact that I believe that this design experience will prove most valuable once out of education. This decision was also made due to the fact that I want to leave my opportunities open to stay at Golden for longer than originally planned, if the work placement goes well enough.

OUGD602 - PPP - Industry Interaction - Instruct Studio

Another less crucial but still invoking component of industry involvement that I partook in was a studio visit to see a studio called Instruct Studio that are based the the Northern Quarter,Manchester. The intention of this industry involvement solely to see the the studio, see how it is run and to have a short informal chat with the designers.

Although this aspect of involvement didn't necessarily offer me anything physical such as advice or opportunities that could further process my journey to becoming a design it did help to aid me in the understanding of what graphic design studio culture is like. During my studio visit to Instruct I observed what it was like to work within a small studio space with a tight team of designers and even how work is distributed through the studio with the objective of achieving the work as simply as possible as a team. Although this engagement didn't offer me anything in the form of advice or experience it did offer me knowledge that would help me further understand the career path that is ahead of me.

OUGD602 - PPP - Industry Interaction - Something More

An additional instance of industry involvement/engagement came in the form of a prospective interview and portfolio criticism at Something More; a design studio based from Duke Studios, Leeds. Although this meeting was originally alluded to as an interview for a placement it was outlined on arrival that due to their overly busy schedule that the interview would act more as a form of portfolio evaluation and criticism. None the less this experience still provided me with valuable experience and advice of which will massively benefit me in the future.

During the in person chat with Something More at their studio, the process was stage as if to be a mock interview. During the conversations I showcased my digital portfolio along side a number of different physical examples of work while verbally running them through the inspiration, research ideas, concept and delivery of each of the different briefs. At the end of the experience the people at Something More then offered me vast amounts of advice regarding my interview style. This advice spanned from portfolio advice, to verbal fluency, to brief specific advice and even help with what to try next on my journey to being an industry involved professional graphic designer.

Although this interview didn't help me further my career by offering me the potential of a work placement or a full time job it did help me a lot to develop my experience and understanding of the formal interview scenario. Also offering me with portfolio advice for my next interview. Hopefully this advice that I received will adapt my interview experience and eventually aid my in securing a design job.

OUGD602 - PPP - Industry Interaction - Alec Dutson - Unsigned Magazine

Another alternative examples of industry engagement and involvement has become apparent through the regular chats/talks with Alec Dutson, of Intern Magazine. During out second year of education (level 5) Alec came in to run a scheduled session in which he tasked us with the invention of a new concept for a magazine which had to be informed and have reasonable rationale. We were then set the task of creating a cover and mock article for the magazine. During the session were created the concept of Unsigned Magazine, a magazine of which through eye catching but simplistic editorial design features articles pertaining to the topic of unsigned music artists. This was a fantastic experience due to the fact that not only does it fall within the realm of editorial of which is my favourite sector of design but the magazines content also pertained to the music industry, another great interest of mine.

Throughout this year interaction with Alec regarding the topic and more specifically questions regarding where I should start with the magazine, what do I need to do for the magazine to gain notoriety and more questions such as how I should go about starting the magazine I have gradually become more and more certain that this idea for a magazine is something that I will pressure in the near future. Most probably as a self-directed project along side working in the studio. The talks with Alec regarding the topic have helped me to understand different aspects regarding costings, promotion and content to the extent where the actual creation of the magazine feels comprehendible and more importantly achievable.

OUGD602 - PPP - Industry Interaction - Hungry Sandwich Club

The first instance of industry interaction that will guide me through PPP and further develop my understanding and knowledge as a graphic designer and creative thinker involved a series of conversations through email, linked and Skype with the design studio; Hungry Sandwich Club. Hungry Sandwich Club are a small studio that was set up by two alumni of Leeds College of Art and more specifically alumni of my course, Graphic Design.

Due to the fact that it is a plan of mine in the future to open my own studio with someone from the course (Tom Hodkin) and see if we can build a studio from the bottom the conversations with Hungry Sandwich Club offered a vital insight in to different aspects of which could affect the journey along the way. This vitality of information based of the fact that they, like me graduated from the exact same course and were in the same position I am in now. Throughout the conversations a number of questions were forwarded to the Hungry Sandwich Club by me regarding starting a new studio such as 'Where did you operate your first studio space from?', 'How long did it take until it started to become economically viable?' and 'How did you manage to source your first client/work?' to which they answered attentively and whole heartedly.

These question allowed me to gain an understanding of what troubles and hurdles could be found along the way and more importantly offered an insight in to how these hurdles can be overcome and how outlined goals could be achieved. This provided me with a lot of vital knowledge of which I could take forward into a real life application if the opportunity to start a studio does arise.

OUGD602 - PPP - Self Branding - Website

Due to the fact that my self branding was already 100% complete in advance of the completion of this PPP3 module the decision was made that instead the main component that I will construct and create will be my personal designer website of which will act as my main component of industry contact and will offer the way 
in which my portfolio can be displayed creatively and the ability to for anyone to contact me regarding professional work will be housed.

My final portfolio website was completely crated by me through he use of Adobe Muse as the construction program. The website was designed in a simple modular grid that enabled the design to stay organised and structured while perfectly fitting its purpose. The website was created with the objective of achieving responsive design in order to ensure that it remains as professional as possible in application while working through a wide range of different digital formats.