Task 2 Where are they? How will they find me?

I started this task by considering Studios with work ethics or clients I liked this is linked here .  This clearly is not a finished list as going forward I an see myself either having to Freelance (so location not as critical) or ideally working for an agency within 30 miles of Huddersfield where I live.  For work placement though I would like to experience the best available which may mean working further afield.


The media used by most Designers now is blogging, Twitter, websites, Behance, Tumblr and similar sites.  This is not the straight forward exercise it would have been forty years ago we are in an age where technology has opened up the world. For example, a potential client may be based in Belgium however communication through the use of Skype, Face-time and email can mean doing business from Huddersfield is practical.


I have chosen the Culture sector as my client/employer group.  As explained in Task one this potentially is a difficult area to enter at the moment due to Government cut backs and the current economic climate.


Local Cultural employer/Client


Kirklees Council - Specifically Museums and Art Galleries


Political/Economic (Go hand in hand for Government/local government)


I have worked for Kirklees and am aware that they have a Graphic Design department (Or did up to Dec 2010).  Over the last two years I know there have been and there will be significant cuts and the only areas there are currently opportunities for employment tend to be in education or Social Services.  This could be a positive for a Freelance Designer as they may still sub contract work however knowing they have significantly cut Capital budgets I cannot see there being much local government funding for development in the Culture sector (other than through Grants from say the Lottery Fund for example)This is an area to look for potential opportunities - Grants and funding and where they are allocated. 
Also aligned to this given the Conservative encouragement of Entrepreneurship and business start ups there could be more support offered in this area.  Worth keeping an eye on Business Link




Social


The Government focus has changed from Public Services and spending to Private sector growth.  Their Local Government focus and targets are on the most deprived areas of society.  They are keen to encourage Volunteering in the community.  For example they recently asked for volunteer library assistants to keep the local libraries open.
I personally hope the money invested in the Culture sector by the Labour government is not wasted and that these public spaces are still maintained and promoted. 
With the Global economic downturn it is more important than ever to encourage people to engage with their Cultural environment. 


Technological

I had a look at the Pdf guide available to the public for Bagshaw Museum which Corporate feel whilst informative hardly engages you.  Although the Council website is useful in gaining info. about what is going on Culturally perhaps the use of  Interactive and Virtual Technology would be more engaging and appealing to a younger generation.

Programme for the Guitar concert night

Evaluation of Design production: print module

BA (Hons.) GRAPHIC DESIGN LEVEL 05
Module Code OUGD201
Module Title DESIGN PRODUCTION - PRINT




END OF MODULE SELF-EVALUATION


NAME Lisa Whitaker BLOG. ADDRESS http://l-whitaker1013.blogspot.com


1. What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?
• Lateral thinking to develop concepts has strengthened outcomes. Initially I did not ‘get it’ however can see how to use this method in the future.
• Hand drawn development of ideas – develops visual thinking - Drawing skills become more refined. Applied reasonably effectively.
• Understanding correct file formats for Illustrator, Photoshop and Indesign for design for print.
• Illustrator skills to the point where I am choosing Illustrator to design over Photoshop.
• Use of nets, vectoring and crafting of packages.
• Designing boards for presentation, really pleased with how the boards came together and was also a useful way to draw everything together at the end of the brief






2. What approaches to/methods of design production have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?
• Understanding commercial print has opened up more options for substrates, special finishing and colour
• Selection of images for print – use of vector artwork over pixelated ones.
• The use of the college print facilities – acetate, transparent ink, bleeds (if A3 only way to get a bleed digitally is to print A2)
• The importance of building relationships with printers and providing the best formats and information.
• Thinking about a variety of substrates and also the weight and properties of these eg how they fold, how they would feel made up
• Start printing dummies of text layout straight away. The screen is deceptive and often point size can be much smaller and still be readable.


3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?


• Extensive research and analysis has enabled me to focus on a ‘real’ product and problem
• Pushing concept development has led to a strong brand and identity.
• Improving attention to type and layout
• Project planning and tenacity has allowed me to develop this brief extensively
• Growing confidence in asking for help from experts eg Photographer/product shots


4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in the future?
• Lack of attention to detail especially before print, often caused when rushing to meet a print deadline. I need to factor extra time into reviewing for typos and other errors in the design.
• Explore more innovative Graphic Design for print. I tended to focus on the research for the apple and not get inspiration from a wider selection of contemporary Graphic Design.
• Towards the end of the brief I tended to design the nets digitally rather than develop ideas on paper first. Having seen some of the others design development I would like to apply this more in the future.


5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
• Explore print finishes practically such as embossing, spot varnish and foiling so I can use them in future work.
• After the last type workshop with Graham I would have liked more time to apply what we had learned about font size, space and layout to my designs.
• I managed to blog quite consistently for most of the brief however lost the blog thread in last couple of weeks so had to pick up at the end which proved a challenge.Blogging as going along the ‘story’ is still fresh and the communication is stronger.
• My research was more directed towards about the apple, I would have explored more cutting edge packaging and layout through the print task to make the design and layout stronger.
• With the Design for print I should have spent some time designing the layout away from Indesign. The design would look more developed.






6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas:
(please indicate using an ‘x’)


5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
1 2 3 4 5
Attendance x
Punctuality x
Motivation x
Commitment x
Quantity of work produced x
Quality of work produced x
Contribution to the group x
The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.

Generation Press inspiration

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Generation Press

An& and Paul 'Scrub' Hewitt visited the studio on Friday 11th November.  
Paul shared his background and how Generation press was started.  As he was talking he and An& threw in loads of 'little gems' and tips which I am going to note here possibly not in any order.


Most important An& attributes - Enthusiasm and Innovation


GP aim t have better production methods for a better environment.


Paper and humidity
One of most important factors in a printshop is getting the moisture balance right.


Paul quotes:


'Be the best, get better and better'


'I care about what we do , not what you think we do.'


'Earn your stipes'


'Collaboration, innovation , inspiration'


'Like to be challenged by good design'


'Collaborations drive him'


'Create interest rather than Sales Promotion' He referred to some work they did with photographer Jason Tozer for Colourplan and also Yacht Publishing, Rick Guest and Jason Tozer 'Eleven'


'No bells AND whistles, just a bell or a whistle.'


'Just cause you could, does not mean you should' 



'Be true to yourself'


'Be a visionary'


Clients/collaborators include:

Pentagram 
Collaborated with Yacht Assoc. who have design album covers for Blur.  "Generation Yacht' a publishing company.  

Kent Lyons & Colourplan at GF Smith in Lake Distict

Michael C place NFCU - Did an anonymous Symbiosis an Walls in new yok. London.  At first no-one knew Build and GP had created the design 


Nick Bell 

V&A - Report of Accounts/ Post Mod Catalogue (nice link to Barney Bubbles)

Perfected Colour edging

Tips

• An& favourite paper at the mo is 'Marazion' which looks uncoated but has printing properties of coated
• Go to print with RAW iamges
• Photoshops use curves for shades

• If up to ten images link and send with the file.
• adobe SRGB is closest fit to CMYK
• If using uncoated stock use less ink.
• Dot gains are how colour is measured.
• Dont confuse overlays and transparencies with tints.
• Tints lss than 50% are difficult to print, use 55%+
• If you need to convert Spot colours to CMYK take out the 'small % ink' and will look less muddy.

I had a look at the spot colour I was using which is 703C and converted to CMYK as follows:

• On type try to ensure one of C, M or Y is 100%
• Silver on black looks crisper than white on black
• Be careful with spot colours and coated/uncoated colours eg D&AD
• Fred quote' When you leave An& your won time is going to become a very small amount of time'

Task one - Who am I- Who are they

In order to prepare for this task I did a mini brain storm as follows:

My current motivation is intensive research based intelligent design.  At level one I was particularly enjoying Information graphics and from early on an inspiration has been Public Space information and signage.  However the current brief design, designing a Brand and Identity and also the packaging and promotion for print has also engaged me .  So what I can draw from this experience?  The intensive research and analysis I enjoy can be applied to most types of longer term Design based projects.

For this exercise I have focused on the client group, Public Spaces particularly Museums and Art Galleries. My only concern with this area is that over the last ten years the Labour Government invested heavily in Culture which is evident in the Rich and innovative Graphics which ever Public Space you care to visit around the country.  However when the Conservative/Lib Dems came into power they have slashed public spending dramatically and I would imagine Culture is one area which will feel the pinch.

Regardless of this Culture is definitely an area I would aspire to work.  Referencing back to the Industrial experience Task two I showed some exciting work from Nick Bell and Build for the Design Museum.  In order to engage the public, particularly children and young people, intelligent, interactive and engaging design is essential.  Not only that the Public needs to be reminded through promotion that these Cultural Spaces exist.  Also another driver that did not occur to me until Paul from generation press mentioned is that the Design has to appear to add value for money and not look to expensive.  Overall I think this client group would be challenging not just in terms of budget constraints but also in terms of Committee type decision making.

Introduction to Professional Placements

The workshop with John and Jane was a well placed reminder of why we are here.  Sometimes we are so busy getting each task/brief completed there is a tendency to get lost in the work and loose focus of the bigger picture.  


We talked about why we are here:

1. Be aware of the professions
2. Experience the 'profession' in real time (visits/placements/Skype)
3. Evaluate what you seek from your chosen profession
4. Experience 'real' collaboration in professional terms
5. Communicate with professionals in a professional way
6. Add to your professional database.
7. Managing and learning from professional contact
8. Managing 'Creative Difference' professionally
9. Expanding and compiling 'a professional network'
10.Learning from other professionals


This workshop has certainly started me researching Agencies and thinking about the kind of work i would like to achieve in the future.

Where are they? Links to Agencies

Fuse 8

Based in Leeds, London and Russia


Team of 80


Digital Creative and marketing agency
Interactive/Web design
Promotional material
Corporate Brochures
Branding
Advertising
Event management


Qubik (Joe Gilmore) 



Based in Leeds


Specialising in typographic-led design for branding, print and digital media, the studio works with a variety of clients in the commercial and cultural sector. 
Includes design for branding, content managed websites, books, catalogues, brochures, posters, leaflets, signage and packaging. In addition to client-based work, the studio initiates and produces independent curatorial and publishing projects which focus on typography and graphic design.


Generation press

Categories: Print Process, GP Brand, Eco Warrior, GP X Build,  Books, Business Cards,Colorplan, Colour Edging, Debossing, Die-Cutting, Duplexing, Embossing, Envelopes, Foil-Blocking, Invitations, Letterpress,Litho, Litho-printing, Metallic-Ink, Radius Corners, Recycled Stock, Riveting, Silk-Screen, Singer Sewing, Stationery,Thermochromic, Translucent.

Atom Design

 This is a Graphic designer called James Bates. Think he his based in london.  I actually stumbled on him through a Honeyroot animation on Vimeo.  Really like his work

Digital/animation/interactive

Web design

Branding/identity

Kleber Design

Award-winning, indefatigable web design/development studio specialising in representing music, media & fine goods on the internet since 1997.

Based in London but think they have strong links with Sheffield, Company registered address is in Sheffield.

Jenn & Sarah Creative team

Think they are working freelance in London.

A range of stop motion/animation design, promotional and installation work. I found these through Behance

Leach Colour

Based in Bradley, Huddersfield

They are a large format graphics specialist. They serve retail, museums, exhibitions and Interiors sectors.

Andrassy Design  

Based in Manchester (was Huddersfield)

Specialise in serving the non-profit sector

Three rooms

Probably around 10 designers

Branding, packaging, product branding, advertising, logo design, Creative Campaign and website design.

Build

Michael c Place

Founded in 2001, we are a London-based graphic design agency

producing bold, memorable and effective graphic design and communications— including for print, packaging, digital and moving image.  Clients big & small, including Nokia, Design Museum London, Sony, Getty Images.and a host of smaller independents

.

Magnetic North

I discovered this Agency through its fantastic interactive website - this is a skill i really want to learn.

Based in Manchester

They specialise in Designing Interactive websites

Nick Bell Design

Based in London

We are visual communicators designing for three dimensional interactive environments.

Most of the time – work with architects, curators and museum directors. Together, we try to make museums absorbing and inspirational places to be.

Some of the time – work with heads of marketing and communications. With them, we help hone the voice that best captures their organisation’s relationship with people.

Occasionally – working with publishers, editors and writers, we make books, catalogues and magazines objects of beauty and substance.

Made by many

Based in London

A team of 31

Made by Many works with businesses to co-create highly social products and networked services for the web and mobile. We invent, make and operate new platforms and applications for brands and customers, and we create the campaigns and communities that bring them to life.

Creative Spark

Based in Manchester

A team of five

Ultimate Holding Company

Based in Manchester

Art, Design and Coop

Ultimate Holding Company is a unique organisation. It operates a radical and publicly engaged art studio, alongside a graphic design business that aims to contribute towards positive social and environmental change.

Originally, the studio set out to raise the design standards of street-based agit-prop, mainly for local direct action campaigns. This activity was always artist led and largely funded by occasional graphic design commissions from small ethical organisations and arts grants. Now it runs a complete commercial graphic design studio alongside its acclaimed art practice, which delivers publicly engaged projects around the UK.

Lecture 5 - 10 steps to a future you

From the works of some great thinkers.
Stephen R Covey - successful self improvement books - 7 habits of highly effective people


Lawrence Kholberg Psychologist Behaviour and success


Karl Hopkins Local Leeds. work with young creative businesses, investor Secret millionaire, ND in Graphic design at LCA


1. Proactivity


Natural aptitude of human beings.


Animals 


Stimulus -> response


Humans 


Stimulus -> Choice -> Response


Develop strategy's to protect ourselves, make things easier


In business  


Expand your sphere of influence from family, friends, community
to more contacts, work placements, push the boundaries to the Circle of concern.


Use your value statement, let people know what you want to achieve.


Three environments


Internal - Your skills, your resources, your lifestyle
Micro - Your networks of friends and associates,
        Your competitors and other practitioners
        Your Suppliers
        Your community
        Stakeholders 
Macro - Cant influence as much
        World market conditions


2. Project
Develop a vision of yourself in the future
Create a principle centred personal mission statement
Extend the mission into long term goals


                      Business Vision
                            |
                  Priority Management
                    |              |


              Business plan       Life plan    


The more developed your vision the more chances you have of achieving this.


'Begin with the end in mind' - Karl Hopkins (planned to set up Design Agency in London to sell in the future)


3. Provide


Clear explanations to people
Speak in their language not yours
Talk about the benefits not processes


Gurus: Quote from slide 


Think: Who you are talking to
Create - Clear messages
Inspire people with your creativity


Example of sound engineer who does not mention what he actually can do to change someone's busines, not good enough to say which tools use.  need to explain how you can add value.


4 Prioritise


Put first things first
Keep a proper balance
Stick to your personal missio


As a student IS the focus on results, time,


5. Presents


Think - win/win
Seek outcomes and relationships that are mutually beneficial
Do a favour to gain a favour


Only work with people who will benefit you in the long run.  Think about how they are benefitting from your experience


Carl Hopkins - Young coffee company - Coffee Kloog
Albion Street
Free coffee and business advise
Women only, Network
He got in return a vision of young evolving businesses as potential investments


Also Enterprising Britain


Kohlberg's theory


Characters / mover through stages


Pre-conventional Child like I want Why should I Nobody listens, short term  Dependent


Conventional -  I would be happy to, your needs, I understand, negotiate, medium term - Independent


Post-conventional - We can, together, mutual benefit, long term - effect communities working in teams, changing for everybody -  Inter-dependent


6.Pause
Pause to listen - give all your attention.  Give yourself to the moment
Empathise, walk in someone's shoes
Don't re-iterate or interpret - just listen
Do you really know how they feel or are you just saying how would you feel? 
To learn new unexpected things
Seek first to understand before you seek to be understood
Learn from your differences


7. Proven
Consistency
Intergrity
Reliability


Successful brands 


7. Proven


Trust certain brands as you associate experiences/tastes as consistent and proven. 



EG Channel
   Coca-cola
   Frank Gehry -  Architect


Seek to achieve Consistency, Integrity and reliability in your practice.


Examples of proven brands
Steinway Piano
Andy Goldsworthy - Sculpture
Jimmy Choo Shoes


8. Partner
Achieve through collaboration
Synergy multiple talents
Work with other experts outside your field to achieve greatness


EG James Dyson, Antony Gormley, Michelangelo, Everist expeditions.


The Hollywood model
Every film is a project. Avatar took 1000's of people working freelance.  All people have creative input


9. Pitstop
Technology/ changes really fast moving
- Sharpen up - bolt on
- Rest - renew, revitalise, inspire
- Explore - Challenge, excite


10. Propel


- Extinguish your fears
- Exude confidence
- Instill faith


STOP SAYING YOUR ONLY A STUDENT - NEVER JUST


Recommend reading - 7 habits of highly effective people - Synopsis