OUGD602 - NEST Magazine Submission and Exhibition

Learning Outcomes - 6A2

I decided to submit a piece to NEST magazine after learning that their most recent issue was to be based around gender.

Having just finished my COP project that was heavily based on gender and masculinity, I felt this was a perfect opportunity to show off some of my work.

The piece was very simple, and something I quickly put together in the early stages of COP whilst 'messing about' as such.

It features three images of three different men from Bruce Gilden's 'Face' project - I am absolutely love the raw and unedited form of these pictures and I think they are a real window into someone's soul. I put these onto a blue background - which linked with the traditional 'blue for boys' element I had written about in my essay. In large, blocky white type 'Not For Girls' read across the three images - the infamous strapline used by controversial Yorkie chocolate bar ad campaign. Around this were quotes taken from a written piece on masculinity, featuring men such as Donald Trump.



Whilst I got an email to say my piece didn't make the cut for the printed magazine, it WAS to be featured in the launch night exhibition at Hyde Park Book Club.


My piece on the wall at the launch exhibition;

OUGD602 - Networking - Cover Letters

Learning Outcomes - 6B2

Cover Letter;
-put personality and skills together
-show you know the place

DONT-
-waffle
-be unclear
-make it too long
-no general statements
-not too informal

*CONFIDENCE
*CONCISE
*CLARITY


-dont repeat CV
-research the company
-tell them what you can offer
-use professional tone
-finish strong

Brief Overview;

-introduction
-slight humour, light tone
-show eagerness
-why you should work there
-show you won't be a burden
-digital portfolio - tailored to them
-finish strong

OUGD602 - Planning Projects and Timetabling

Learning Outcomes - 6A2


A very brief time plan for my projects in OUGD603. I am really not great at time planning and this is something I would really like to try and work on this year.

Each project is listed with the dates I want to complete them by, and the bars show the level of completion at this current moment. This allows me to see where I am with which projects, and what I need to focus my attentions on.

OUGD602 - Work Placements - Workshop

POTENTIAL JOBS AS GRAPHIC DESIGNER;

-graphic designer freelance
-junior designer studio
-in house designer
-junior designer in ad agency
-creative director
-marketing
-consultancy
-art director
-teacher
-social media manager
-studio founder
-app design
-ux/ui design
-illustrator
-typographer
-product designer
-blogger
-set design
-content strategist
-advertising creative
-packaging design
-pre press technician
-front end web designer
-motion design
-exhibition design
-interior design
-print maker
-account director
-brand strategist
-media planner or buyer
-image retoucher
-art worker
-magazine editor
-event production
-video artist
-artist


PERSONALITY TEST;

-Mediator


-Potential jobs = leadership roles due to empathetic nature


I really enjoyed this session and loved looking deeper into our own individual personality types. I was shocked by how accurate the description was of my character, and it was interesting to then look at potential job roles that would suit me as a person. It has really opened up some new doors for me and got me thinking!

OUGD602 - How to Get Paid

Learning Outcomes - 6A2

Today we had a workshop focusing on how much we would charge clients for jobs.

Logo for a student business?
£50

Full Indie mag design?
£250

Branding for a festival?
£1000

Once Alec discussed this and went through it with us, I realized I could have actually charged a lot more for my work. We learnt that we are charging a client for experience, knowledge and education and we shouldn't undercharge for all the hard we've put in.

-ask for 50% upfront so not waiting til end to be paid???

We then worked out our monthly outgoings to realistically see how much we realistically needed to be paid. These things included rent, food, water and electric bills etc, and then extra money for luxuries.

This activity really highlighted to me just how much life actually costs!!! And that I would need to be earning a lot more money than I initially thought.

Contracts/chasing payments;
-deliverables list
-price and delvery
-client rights
-renewal fees
-cancellations

TIP*** - not paid = email pretending to be from accounts team

INVOICE;
-name
-invoice number
-date
-client
-ref number
-costs
-title, item numbers
-terms
-total

INVOICE GENERATOR SITES.

-dont forget about freelancing and paying taxes.

OUGD602 - Self Promo - David Cyril

Learning Outcomes - 6B2 + 6A2 + 6D2

In our group we had a few initial ideas of people we potentially wanted to come visit our uni, but the two favourites were Kate Moross and David Cyril.

Kate Moross is a graphic designer and illustrator based in London. She has 46.1k followers on Instagram.



We all really liked her work but we also thought it could be a bit of a reach trying to get her to come to uni. She is really quite well-known and we weren't sure we would even get a response.

Our other option was David Cyril.

David Cyril is an 86 year old man from Lancashire. He started an Instagram account just a few months ago to document his Slimming World journey. Through his endearing and cute pictures of his meals, his followers numbers have EXPLODED to a massive 116k in just a matter of months.



Whilst David Cyril is not a graphic designer, nor is he anything to do with design at all, he:

a)has more than double the amount of followers Kate has

b)has gained a massive amount of followers in such a short amount of time - gone viral. Could give us tips on how to go viral/become massive in a short amount of time.

c)is more likely to come into uni - more down to earth - less on schedule


After a close group vote, we decided on David Cyril. We felt his super quick rise to Instagram fame could be a great insight for us.

PRESENTATION;

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QlElJsw8HLjF7FG-8zx_tjxx87cAObhB9acnmUnmOCA/edit?usp=sharing

OUGD602 - Self Promo - Brief

Learning Outcomes - 6B2 + 6A2 + 6D2

Instagram = powerful platform - helpful tool

TASK;
-identify professional in groups who can help
-stats, visuals, story

-who are they?
-how big is their following?
-what makes content engaging?
-insta win them work?
-stick to UK if poss

Format - PDF / formal presentation rather than just text in an email.

OUGD602 - Pitching and Networking

Learning Outcomes - 6C2 + 6D2

-Talk about work effectively - communication = essential
-CONFIDENCE AND CLARITY
-add value to average work - build it up


-Commutation / strategies and advice
-elevated pitch - no visuals
-under 1 minute
-core idea - what/how/why

***NETWORKING***

Elevated Pitch - Nature Feels
-what? - set of contemporary collages based on nature and the female form

-how? - juxtaposes natural landscape and female body together

-why? - shows similarities between raw form and differences in softness/hardness of form


-Simon Sinek - TED talk
-brands can tell you what they do and how
-Apple disrupts this


Email address hunting;

-hunter.io
-verbatim
-best guess = to:
-second guesses = bcc
-structure - keep it quick
-clear and concise
-interesting - emojis or gif
-social media if all else fails
-bear time zone in mind

OUGD602 - Study Task 01 - Time to Get Online - Final Website

https://readymag.com/u17496233/brontewebsterdesign/

Overall I am really happy with overall aesthetic of my finished website. I am happy with how I have branded myself and I feel it represents me really well.

I like the simplistic way of navigating through the website - you simply click the necessary buttons and it takes you through.

The website is very heavily image-based and I feel this is what makes it strong - the images I have chosen link in really well together and work to create a certain feel that is present throughout the whole site.

The key consideration when designing the website was consistency, and I do feel I have achieved this. All images work well together as part of a theme, and the custom-created collage project really compliments the overall site. I am really glad I decided to create a bespoke project for the site because I feel any other projects I have worked on just wouldn't have looked right with the strong theme on the site.



Walk-through;

OUGD602 - Study Task 01 - Time to Get Online - Nature Feels Collages

I decided to create a collage series specifically to go on my website. I felt that none of my existing projects worked consistently together and didn't really represent me as a person/brand.

Contemporary collage is my favourite medium and I very often collage for fun.

I thought about the vibe/aesthetic of my branding and website (boujee/girly/feminist/etc) and felt that a project based around women would be the most suitable and ideal thing to display on the website.

I came up with the project name 'Nature Feels' - an exploration of women's bodies alongside nature. The collages I created were fun and lighthearted, but with a deeper meaning. 

'Nature Feels is a collection of contemporary collages that celebrate the connection between women's bodies and nature. The juxtaposition of the female form alongside the natural landscape suggests that the two are closely connected - each in their raw form. There are also contrasts present - a rugged and harsh landscape combined with the soft and delicate nature of a women's body. The similarities are especially prominent in 'Pink Ladies', where the elegance and grandeur of the flamingos are combined with the seductive and sensual image of the female body'.

'BLISS'

'PINK LADIES'

'VACATION'

'NAVIGATION'

'GALACTIC'

'CANYON'

OUGD602 - Study Task 01 - Time to Get Online - Website Development

Once a basic design strategy was in place, I was then able to start putting my website together.


For the background of the homepage, I used the image of the vintage cadillac as I felt this gave the site not only a retro feel but a Barbie-esque vibe too.

I then placed the image I created with my branding on infront of the background. I made this into a basic GIF in which the text in the middle of the image moved around slightly, to provide another dimension to the site and make it feel interactive.



Once you ran your cursor over the GIF, it changed to slightly translucent, and you clicked it to enter the site.

The next page was a contact page, which I felt would be the next best thing for the visitor of the website to come across. Putting your contact details straight out there suggests you are open and friendly (and also makes them easy to find!).

I came across this image online which I just loved - the washed out, vintagey feel along with the LV logos went with the vibe of the site perfectly.

I put my name and contact info over the image.




Once on the site, I added some interactive buttons next to the text that the user could click to take them directly there (to instagram page etc).

I also added the same background image as the one I had used for the info. I just felt this looked best visually and added another dimension to the site.




Once the user had pressed the arrow button next to 'archive', they were then taken to the next page, which was a project named 'Nature Feels'. I created this collection of 6 collages specifically to go on the website. I wanted something that best matched with my own personal branding and the whole vibe of the site. I used another 'boujee' Louis Vuitton picture that I edited in the same washed out colours to link with the previous page.


Background image.


Archive page;


On this page all 6 collages were placed in a grid formation so they could all be viewed together as a collection.

Once the user clicked the arrow button underneath the project name, they were taken to the next page, which contained a short description of the project on a Bokeh-style vintagey background.

OUGD602 - Study Task 01 - Time to Get Online - Personal Branding Development

I wanted to update my personal branding ready for it to go on my website.

Whilst I was still quite fond of my previous branding, I wanted something slightly more contemporary and up-to-date that would function properly on a website.

Old branding;





New Ideas;

I am really into gothic/old english style text and I knew I definitely wanted to keep this within my own branding. I was quite keen on a sort of vintagey/washed out/retro feel to take forward into my branding, and I came across a few particular instagram accounts that I just loved the aesthetic of-





 I wanted a boujee, girly feel to the my branding that represented me as a person whilst alluding to tradition/vintage/retro.

Other inspo images;

 
Love the colour palette on these.


 
Girly/almost Barbie vibes.


Experimentation;

I started playing around with a renaissance feel alongside my chosen gothic typeface.



I created a GIF in which my name flashed down the image from top to bottom but I wasn't too keen on how this looked.

I then came across this image and felt it was perfect to represent myself;


Whilst this image isn't me (copyright issues etc) I felt for the purpose of a quick mockup website it would be ideal. Anyone who knows me knows I'm really into pink, really into girliness, and always have my nails done.

I placed my name over the image;


This to me was perfect, the typeface and image work really together and represent me perfectly.

OUGD602 - Study Task 01 - Time to Get Online - Web Clinic

Learning Outcomes - 6C2 + 6D2

Inspiration;

-Soren Danielson - soren.works

-DISPLAY CONSISTENCY IN WORK  - more important than showing everything
-swap and change projects depending on what you apply for
-can feature however much

-Syddharth.com - simple page, professional, works on phone

-josephlebus.co.uk
-clairekoster.com
-fanqiaowang.com

*add a mailto: link* !!!!!!!!!

OUGD602 - Study Task 01 - Time to Get Online - Briefing

Learning Outcome - 6C2 + 6D2

Submission date - 29th November, 3pm

*two weeks to get a personal website live*

-portfolio
-behance doesn't count
-mindful of photos

NEEDS;
-consistent application of branding
-curated selection of work
-present best work only
-engaging bio
-contact details

-All links must function, inbound and outbound

-Web Clinic - 23rd November

Potential sites to use;
-squarespace
-persona.co
-cargo collective
-readymag

OUGD602 - Using University to Launch Career

Learning Outcomes - 6A2 + 6B2

Using a uni project to help launch your career
-internships - experience, contacts, mentorship

*make your own experience*

Nomadic designer;
-Dan Cooper - portable designs
-giving two days, getting one back
-6 week projects - london to reykjavik and back through eurpoe


The Cool Bus;
-four graduates and yoga teacher
-mobile graphic design studio
-saved money from summer jobs
-3 months travelling
-Paul - interview to talk about Cool Bus - offered art director instead of junior designer

Soren Danielsen;
-tactic to go viral
-made promo video

The Pop Up Agency;
-solve any brief in 48 hours
-15 briefs, 15 cities, 15 weeks
-take risk and make sure rewards are worth it

Kate Darby;
-parents studio
-enrolled on social enterprise accelerator programme
-Dovetail app

Today I have leant that you can use your time in university to experiment, and you shouldn't be afraid to fail. Ikigai is a technique which helps you find balance within your life.

OUGD602 - Get to the Point Session

Learning Outcomes - 6A2 + 6D2

Today's session was based on our worries, concerns and anxieties about our own practice.

Any concerns we had, we wrote on post-it notes and then hid them away. I found this exercise really useful as it immediately highlighted to me my own areas of concern. We then focused on our main concern, and mine was actually being good enough to get a job after university. Once we had written out own concerns down on a large sheet, we then swapped seats repeatedly with the person next to us and responded with a solution to their concern. It was nice to approach our concerns in a positive way by offering potential solutions!

My concern and the responses;

Once we had all decided on the most common issue within the group, which was getting employed after graduation, we started to research solutions to the problem. Our idea was to create a weekly design podcast that helps people push themselves with creative challenges.





Overall I really enjoyed this session as I found it helpful to focus on my anxieties and how to get around the problems I was facing.

OUGD602 - Initial Briefing

Themes this year;
-money
-networking
-professional
-self promotion

*work out who and what you want to be*

Studio Brief 1- Personal Branding
-tell the world what you do and who you are
-start each blog post with learning outcomes

Studio Brief 2- Design Strategy
-interaction with professional world
-what and why

To Do;
-website
-emails
-online press

Learning Outcomes;
6A2 - knowledge of professional and contextual location of practice
6B2 - networking
6C2 - self branding
6D2 - understanding use of social media, sending emails and other communication