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Really like the approach to design and the informal attitude from he design company. I also like how they work in all aspects of design, i imagine the whole team each have there own specialist subject and bounce ideas of each other. I am also interested in corporate identity which is why this collective appeals to me. Website link underneath.

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self evaluation

i feel my ability to investigate and develop ideas using material was good, but i felt i needed to look more into other stocks and be less narrow in my way of thinking. I only really looked into one or two stocks for my final packaging but, my research into printing i felt was substantial. I learnt things from books and primary research trips which is something i have never done before but will do in the future. I also learnt a lot of things from looking at printed material and investigating how its printed after learning about different printing methods. I felt the research i gathered i selected which bit's were relevant and developed this research into my work.

I felt i lacked actual evidence of trying to re-produce printing methods and finishes but for me crafting a final piece by hand is no relevant to the commercial printing process. I did however make good use of making prototypes using these in my editorial adverts and too see my packaging in context. I felt i investigated more in the development of my work and used this to inform my final design's.

I gained practical skills in things such as making mock ups, which made me think about how a 3d design would work rather than a flat 2d design. I also gained knowledge of indesign and felt this will make my work improve in areas of layout and type which is a area i am getting interested in more. I felt my idea generation was good and i was selective in choosing them and also made decision's and stuck with them. For me the design development was my strongest area. I used research to instruct my design work and i think you can tell this from the final product.

I felt i lacked on documentation of my project but did make relevant comment on my blog. Next time i will make more effort to document everything, this will hopefully make my design decisions easier to understand and more clear. My organization skills were good and i planned what i would be doing by using actions plans and list. I think you could see this in my work as it was not rushed or messy. This was the same in my presentation of my work, i am pleased wit the way the whole project looked and how it all tied in together.

I felt i answered the briefs well, my packaging product both packaged and promoted as well as being informative. My 16 page booklet, i felt also answered the briefs well i learnt a awful lot about commercial printing from doing this booklet and felt my layout skills improved dramatically.

5 things i will do differently next time.

- research more in to relevant stocks and techniques

- try and work to a deadline for production rather than the actual deadline.

-i won't use everything i gather in research, just select relative bits.

-try and push my ideas a bit more further to see what it would look like not just as a initial idea but also as a visual idea.

-document and evaluate my work as i go along.

GIVE UP ART

Im a big fan of buying records and when i bought this record i was so excited. One, because it was a song i'd be after for a while and two, the design of the sleeve was amazing. You can see the record sleeve i bought on my design context blog here. I looked into the company who designed first by emailing the person who owns the record label and then buy...... looking on the back on the sleeve {duuuh} any way the people who designed it are give up art, a design studio based in london, they work with a lot of music label's which is the direction i would be looking to go for in my career. They seem like a smaller collection of designers rather than a large agency group which is something i like. I also like the practical side of the company , they a large number of process's and finishing techniques which makes them 'stand out from the crowd'.

I intend to email them and see if there would be any chance of a work placement or just popping in to see how they run there practice.

Gaining Professional Experience

1. What is professional/ industrial experience?

- It is working in a 'real' environment not just a collage studio.

- It is gaining contacts which will help you when you leave as a design graduate.

- It is a chance to show how you work and what you have got to give.

- It is also a chance to see what area of design you would like to work in.

- It is a insight to see how other people work who are in the design business and a chance to learn from them.

2. Why is professional / industrial experience important as part of PPD?

- Because it gives you a understanding of the industry that you are looking to be part of when you graduate.

- Because it makes you aware of current trends and contemporary practice.

- Because it gives you direction in what you want to specialize in, what bits you like/are good at and which bit you dont like/are not so good at.

- Because it makes you make decision's about your self and how you work, which in turn makes you the designer you are.

- Having the experience of working in a professional environment it will feel easy and more natural dealing with people in the industry.

3. How do you gain professional / industrial experience and what form does it take?

- By talking (e-mailing, phoning, sending letter's) to people you are interested in seeing how they work.
- Selecting people who will need your skills and people that can push these skills forward.

- Networking with large groups off like minded people and creating a good contact base.

- By not being scared or intimidated to ask question's. Talk to the people you need to talk to, to gain the knowledge you need.

- Be professional and friendly, often this will help you getting a placement, it will also look good on your own part.

4. What should you aim to gain from professional / industrial experience?

- A informed decision on what kind of place you want to work at, who you want to work for and what you what to do in the field of design.

- A informed decision on what kind of place you dont want to at who you dont want to work for and what area of design you dont want to work in.

- a number of contacts that can help you further your career.

- a more professional and mature attitude towards your career choice.

- a improved and professional portfolio and cv.

Here are a few people i have been looking at with work placements/professional experience in mind.

Elmwood>>>> Based in leeds " a global brand design consultancy " i would be intrested in seeing how a company that works for big clients works and what there process of working is. I imagine it would be much more different to the work placement i did in the summer at PSS.

Love>>>>> Based in manchester the work they do is similar to elmwood in the way of clients but i get the feeling there not as big. I would like to learn more about Advertising graphics as it is a area i know little about.

Vorm>>>>> Based in leeds also VORM is a creative alias for freelance designer Ashley Colbeck, i know a work placement wouldn't be possible but it would be interesting to see how he has pushed and promoted himself as a designer and how he finds being a freelance designer.

Hort>>>>> Based in berlin, I have been inspired by hort's work alot. There client base ranges from big global company's to small independent record lables. There work also tends to be more promotional than advertising which is a area i am keen to work in.

Mike Giant>>>>>> based in san francisco, mainly illustration work , designed skateboard graphics, he is also i tattoo artist and owns his own clothing company. He collaborates with other illustrator and sells himself rather than selling a clients views or ideas. I would also like to know how people like this work.

PSS tote bags

Here are the tote bags i did for PSS whilst i was there on my work placement.

Farrow design.

A new find for me, Im interested in finding out how Farrow go about doing there work. I think this will be a company that i will find out more about and get in contact with.

Here is there website.

http://www.farrowdesign.com/

Work Placement August 2009

My first professional experience was a work placement i did at Paper Scissor Store in Leeds This summer. I gained this placement through networking with people at first, then through sending my portfolio to them via email. I did this before we left for the summer break and didn't get a reply untill nearer the end of the summer break.I suppose this proves that people are busy and might not have time to reply straight away, this even counts for smaller company like Paper Scissor Stone who have a small work force of 2.

I first went down to just say hello and have a look around. I think this was a good idea as it broke the ice and gave me a idea of what i was going to be doing for them.

I was given the task of designing some tote bags, ready for the start of term. Steve gave me some ideas for the tote bags and a quick sketch which i then took to the computer. The bags were ok'd after a couple of design's then went to print.

Another thing that i had to do was re-size and re-touch photo's for the website. I didn't realize how D.I.Y some of these web sites were and how much time it takes to up keep these small business's.

I also had to put together a e-mail shot which showed what was new in stock and what was on offer etc. I gathered a little bit of experience also with the people behind the website 'Why Digital'where i learned the basic of

dream weaver which is a program i have never used.

From doing this work placement i found out what is was like to work in a small

business. Dealing with a specific target audience/consumer. I also felt i gained confidence and knowledge in communicating with people on a professional level.