2nd February 2011 | 6 speakers, 6 different ways of employment
Over the last twenty years the creative industries have undergone a period of
unparalleled change. The growth of desktop publishing technology, the expansion
of the internet into all aspects of our life, and the rapid development of a plethora of
digital tools have meant that the production of design and communication media
are more accessible than they have ever been before. As a result the average final year
undergraduate student can create something on their laptop that, to all but the trained eye,
could pass as something that a team of experienced designers and a studio full of
equipment would have produced even ten years ago. At the same time creative subjects
are more popular than they have ever been before and the numbers going on to study these
subjects at undergraduate level has expanded exponentially.
...
Established designers complain that our business model is being undermined,
while others welcome a more fluid and dynamic market.
...
Introduction on leaflet given at this lecture >
At the start of this lecture we were given a number to text,
If we had any questions to ask the speaker, text this number whilst they were speaking
(GREAT IDEA!!!)
Info: Studied at Goldsmiths- Adaptive Architecture and computation at the Bartlett. Spent 3 years at Imagination followed by 4 years at Moving Brands. 2008 founded Kin with Kevin Palmer, 150 projects in in 3 years across 1 countries.
Because of only recently seeing a talk about Kin design from Matt Wade I took only a few notes but these are them:
- Just ask for work experience
- Online exposure
- Don't underestimate networking by other people
- Production!!
- Be involved
- Design process is essential
Sam Arthur & Alex Spiro // NoBrow
Info: Set up of an independent publishing platform for illustration mainly. Focusing on PRINT.
- Sustainability
- Process of following online connections
- Online presence- promote yourself
- Quality of work shines through
- Doing the little things can and will lead to the big things
- Do work placements
- Be Nice. Work Hard.
- Try and discover what you really want to be and do.
Hannah Tyson //
Info: Managing small creative companies and leading consultancies for over 20 years. Business management is key. Managing director for Eye Magazine.
- Creativity & Commerce- you need a business head on you as well
- Business management and creativity go hand in hand
- How to market yourself and finance this
'Young designers no longer feel defined by the skill base of a subject
they also realise that the business side is as creative as the
production of the product'
Sir Christopher Frayling
(Former Rector of RCA)
Stuart Jackson // Sennep
Info: Studied product design and then entered the world of digital design. Did six years at Digit then joined Sennep as creative partner in 2006. Specialises in creative digital experiences- infusing technology with a human element.
- Digital is growing- show energy and skill- you'll get picked up
- Be as focused as possible
- On C.V. Include software skills
- Not really interested in CVs more the quality of work
- First impressions count- be nice, research and check everything in advance, present yourself in the best light.
- Massage people's egos
- Come into a job wanting to learn
- Be proud of your work and how it is presented
- Individuality & personality shine through
- Have something physically on you at all times (a book or some of your work- you then ahve something to discuss and talk about)
James Bull // Moving Brands
Info: Co founder of moving brands since 1998. Driven by a fascination for technology. Studied at Central Saint Martins.
- Training- learn on the job
- Learn to run a business
- Who you are defines what you can achieve. Who you know defines how easy that will be.
- NETWORK!
- Just by sticking aorud you can work out where you want to go
- You can define your own destiny by talking about what you do.
- Don't underestimate new things
- Need conviction & confidence in your work
- Strip out creativity think about running your own business
- Understand what clients want
- Promote yourself
- Be realistic
- You have to come in and be part of a team
- A good idea can come from anywhere
- OPEN MIND + TEAM MENTALITY
- Rationale. Understanding
Mike Radcliffe // Represent
Info: Owns and runs represent recruitment.
- All about internships/ work experience
- The better you are at networking the greater job you'll have
- Your 4th Year should be all work placements as these inform future decisions and establish networks.
- 3 things: ability, motivation, cultural fit.
- Aim to secure a meeting not necessarily a job with someone
- After interview, follow with a phone call
- Show work samples not just screen based design
- Show your creative heart
- ETIQUETTE
- Meeting: first 5 seconds count, remember non verbal communication (body language), what to wear- research studio prior to meeting, be a power listener
The main things I took away from yesterday were:
- Be a nice person, willing to listen and work as part of a team
- Network like crazy, get yourself out there
- Online presence is essential- BLOG
- Get work experience
- First Impressions really count- present yourself well
- Keep learning all the time
- Listen to others
- Have a business head on you
- Production & Process are key
