OUGD602 - Social Networking

Updating my
Design Instagram

I have come to realise more and more that Instagram is a really useful tool for creatives to share their work. It provides an informal platform that allows you to promote your work and have it seen by millions of people around the world. Creatives are making use of Instagram more and more and so is a good idea for me to have an account specifically for my designs that I update regularly.

I have included my best work on my feed, and will continue to update it as soon as a finish a project.

Already, I have been contacted by a number of creatives. It also allows me to get feedback on work from creatives from all disciplines.

I have also updated the Instagram icon to fit in my with new personal identity.

OUGD602 - Self Promotion

Branding Myself and

Using it to Network 

This week I decided to focus on giving myself and my practice a brand and identity. Up until now, I haven't made an effort to brand myself but as the year progresses, I deem it more and more important. Another reason for focusing on this is because, when back in London over Easter, I plan to visit a studio or two. For these visits, I thought it would be a good idea to produce something physical that I can then deliver in person to some studios and designers. This will act as a conversation starter and hopefully lead on to further things.

Logo Design

I wanted to create a logo to use throughout my self promotion including Instagram. I knew I didn't want anything too fancy, just a simple use of letters that represented my name and me as a designer. I wanted the logo to be sophisticated, formal, minimal and clear in what it is.

I chose the font Baskerville to form the logo as it is one of my favourite fonts that I use regularly. It is also suitable as it is a formal, serif font that will look professional in context.

Below are the 4 designs I drew up as possibilities. I liked the idea of spelling my whole name out as the logo. However, it proved to be too long and wouldn't work in a smaller size. I ended up choosing number 4 as it is the most versatile and simple.

Promotion Pack

My first application of the logo is the promotional pack I have designed for the purpose of taking to studios to advertise myself as a designer and start networking.

The pack is designed with an outer envelope which includes both an introduction about myself, examples of my work and contact details. I intend to deliver this by hand to a studio in London over the Easter break.

Research

I used Pinterest and Behance to research examples of successful self promotion that I liked and that would inspired my own designs.

Branding Guidelines

I thought it would be necessary to produce a set of branding guidelines that I stick to so that the branding is consistent throughout.

I decided to source some stock, green and blue, that I thought would work well with my promo pack. I often use soft colours in my work and so thought it apt to use it in my branding.

OUGD602 - Marketing & PR Workshop

Learning about Business
LAU workshop

As I have now begun to look into the types of MA courses that I would be most interested in, I have decided to focus on business, branding and marketing within the creative industries. To start developing my knowledge on the subject, I signed up to a workshop at uni labeled 'Marketing and PR'.

The session was constructed of the speaker showing us a powerpoint, and then giving us tasks throughout that we filled in on a supporting print out.

In summary, although the session was very much tailored to students who had either already started a business or that have an idea they want to make a reality in the near future which is not my personal position, it was still very beneficial to learn about starting a business as it is something I may very well consider further down the line.

The workshop has inspired me to carry on learning about the business side of design, I will be finding books to read on the subject as well as starting to think about applying for MAs.

Notes:

OUGD602 - Work Experience confirmed

Reply from
Wired Magazine

I am pleased to confirm that Andrew has emailed me back confirming that I have work experience with them starting on the 25th June. The email from him shown below.

As well as this, I am keeping in touch with Ray from Weiden + Kennedy as she has said that she is working on something on their end too.

OUGD602 - Exhibition - Anne Hardy

Anne Hardy at
Leeds Art Gallery

Anne Hardy is a British artist. Her art practice spans photography, sculptural installation and audio. She completed an MA in photography at the Royal College of Art in 2000, having graduated from Cheltenham School of Art in 1993 with a degree in painting. Hardy lives and works in London.

Anne Hardy uses photography, sculptural installation and audio works to create sensory landscapes. The theatrical space is a mix of reality and fiction: everything was tilting, propped up and on nearly falling over. It was described online as 'Nothing here is what it seems.'

I enjoyed the immersive element as it set it apart from viewing typical sculptures and instillations. The combination of bold colours, strange inanimate objects, flashing lights and eery sounds added to a multi-sensory experience that made me question my surroundings.

"the environments Anne Hardy constructs hover between depiction and abstraction - staging our encounters with these spaces through careful composition of physical and audio landscapes and precisely coordinated perspectives, which immerse us in a space that is at once functional and illusory."

Images from Instillation

The Sculpture Collections : 

Anne Hardy

In the next room, Anne presented a selection of her own drawings, watercolours and models.

I found it extremely interesting to see the process of a sculptor. This year, I have been focusing on refining my own design process as it is hugely important in the success of my projects. Seeing how an artist from a competely different discpline was interesting in terms of comparing and contrasting. It was made clear that showing out your workings is an efficient way of making people aware of how you end up at a final resolution. This is something I need to make obvious on my blog for when I submit my work.

OUGD602 - MA Research

Finding the right courses via
Findamasters

Having being focused on my work for an extended period of time, I thought I would research into the variety of MA courses that may interest me. The focus at the moment is on courses that expand and involve more than just producing deliverables. I would like a course that allows me to work with people from a vast range of disciplines, this not limited to creative ones. The business and industry side of things also interests me in terms of learning how to start and run a business as well as the rules and regulations that come with producing industry standard work.

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MA Graphic Branding and Identity
London College of Communication

"The aim is to produce versatile and creative practitioners who understand design within a business, social and cultural context"

Requirements:
Honours Degree in Graphic Design related subject.

MA Design for Communication

University of Westminster

Modules Include:

- Business for design

- Design research methods

Requirements:

First Degree in an area of art, design or visual media

MA Design for Art Direction

LCC

MA Design for Art Direction at London College of Communication enables visual communicators and designers develop the practical, conceptual and managerial skills to be at the forefront of their chosen professions.

Entry Requirements:

- Honours Degree 2:1 or First

MA Design Management

LCC

Develop high-level leadership, management, communication and analytical skills for a career in the creative and cultural industries.

MA Design Management and Cultures combines academic study with creative and professional practice in a project-led curriculum that draws on a range of interdisciplinary perspectives, from business and the arts.

Entry Requirements:

- Honours Degree

OUGD602 - Contacting Embroidery Service

No Rules

Embroidery Service

One of my clients contacted me asking if I could do some research into getting my designs embroidered. The aim was to embroider one of the logo revamps I produced for him originally as stickers.

Original Design printed on adhesive:

Embroidery on White T Shirt: