Task 3 - How will I promote myself? Research

Considerations


Marketing mix
Produce, price, promotion, place 


What do they want to hear?
Something original
What should I say to them?
My skills, 
How will I communicate with them?
Through creative networks, Social networking, Creative CV's
Spot opportunities


Funky Business forever
Be funky
Be unique -For a moment in time and be true to who you are
Create attention and attraction -brand, package and market
yourself
Get Connected - find partners which enable you.




Identifying networking opportunities - places for my work to be seen and for me to see other people.


Design networks and resources

Behance
Behance Network is a free platform for professionals from across the creative industries, who are looking to 'Make Ideas Happen'. It provides the opportunity to showcase work, gain exposure, find jobs, make connections, share tips and access resources.


AIGA


AIGA name
Founded in 1914 as the American Institute of Graphic Arts, AIGA remains the oldest and largest professional membership organization for design and is now known simply as ”AIGA, the professional association for design.“


Mission
AIGA’s mission is to advance designing as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force.


What we do - AIGA works to:


Inform about best practices, standards for ethical conduct and professional expertise
Communicate design’s importance to the public and business leaders about the power of design
Inspire through articles, online galleries, profiles, videos and exhibitions
Represent the profession through a network of chapters and student groups
Stimulate discussion of the industry through events, social media and websites
We’re committed to design—and to more than 22,000 members in 66 chapters who create, inspire and appreciate good design. AIGA’s members are the lifeblood of the organization.


Who we represent
AIGA represents a variety of professions under the umbrella of communication design, ranging from book and type design to interactive design and experience design. We support design professionals, educators and students throughout their careers.


British Brands Group

British Brands Group is a membership organisation dedicated to championing brands in the UK. Their objective is to ensure that the positive contribution of brands to consumers, the economy and society is better understood by policy makers and others.
Members include leading brand manufacturers of all sizes and there is a forum for them to discuss issues affecting brands in the UK. The organisation is the UK arm of AIM (the European Brands Association ) and part of an integral network of similar national organisations around the world.




DESIGN 21: Social Design Network's aims to inspire social activism through design by connecting people who want to explore the positive impact design can have on our communities.
DESIGN 21: Social Design Network is itself a collaborative project undertaken by the global design and merchandise company Felissimo and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, better known as UNESCO.


GraphicBirdwatching
BirdWatching is a socially driven, international organisation and the only one of its kind. Its core team consists of young and practicing graphic designers that are passionate about design and live and work around the world.
The common aim of Graphic BirdWatching is to connect, support and promote female graphic designers everywhere. This is done through concrete actions such as initiating dialogue, curating showcases and arranging participatory activities. They organise talks and events, highlight role models and reveal mentors, scout for new talent worldwide and create opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-transfers and recognition.



The UK Design Alliance is a partnership of more than 30 national and regional design and education organisations and networks who are all working to strengthen the design sector.


DESIGN INITIATIVE
Design Initiative promotes good design, visual arts and contemporary craft from the North West region.
Design Initiative is a specialist regional agency, which works directly with practitioners and commissioners to expand the market in the North West and make it a centre for quality design practice.


Information and advice: We provide practical advice and specialist information to commissioners, purchasers and producers of design, craft and visual arts:


Creative professionals Design Initiative offers one-to-one advice sessions for creative professionals giving advice on portfolio development, presentation or where to look for business support.
Commissioners and clients We offer an impartial matchmaking service to help purchasers, commissioners and exhibitors of design, visual art and craft identify the right practitioner for their project. We also offer free professional advice on all aspects of the commissioning process from writing briefs to selection processes.


Creative and Cultural Skills
Creative & Cultural Skills is the sector skills council for the creative and cultural industries. Their remit covers advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, and the performing, literary and visual arts.




Culturenorth
Culture North is dedicated to the development and delivery of inspirational projects within the creative and cultural sectors of the North of England.


Culture North operates locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. It initiates and delivers projects and services that increase public awareness of the Arts and CDI sectors, enabling the development of new works, new creative partnerships and new audiences.

The role of culture is changing, the way we interact with each other, wider society and the world is evolving rapidly. There is greater need to explore and intergrate cultural activity with our immediate environment, whether this be at home, school, university or our workplace. Developing partnerships and new opportunities within the creative sector for collaboration with arists, designers and professionals from the areas of culture, education, architecture, regeneration, health and the environment.


We believe that creative engagement and integration of emerging technologies and processes can provide dialogue, sustainability and much needed strategic impact in creative and cultural sectors and in wider social contexts.


D&AD
D&AD is an educational charity that represents the global creative, design and advertising communities. Since 1962, D&AD has set industry standards, educated and inspired the next generation and, more recently, has demonstrated the impact of creativity and innovation on enhancing business performance.




Flikr


Tumblr

Evaluation


Product:
I have been using contacts of friends to speak with Graphic Designers in my area.  One potential'niche' for me could be to offer to collaborate with Freelancers, perhaps around my age, who feel they have lost contact with what is currently 'cool' and happening.  I can offer my experience gained on this fantastic degree programme and perhaps 'freshen' their practice.  The two people I have spoken to so far do not have websites and also don't blog as a way of networking. 


Price? £15 per hour? 


Place:
I am based in Huddersfield with my family and have no desire to move so the place is pretty static.  I am well located for both manchester and Leeds and all the creative networks this offers.


Promotion
Start attending local networking events to make contact with local designers and creatives.  My husband who set up a Guitar tuition business attended a Council funded network called LOCA which proved supportive and an outlet for promotion. They provided Business workshops and he ahd a mentor to bounce ideas off. They are now focussing on north Kirklees, not my area.
Need a business card website and blog
Use networking opportunities as described above to get my work seen via competitions and exhibitions.