Studio analysis & potential contact plan and Exhibition visits
Studio's Throughout this year I plan on analyzing a number of local, national and international studios to inform my focused creative practice on conceptual branding and consideration to process's to influence the self branding that comes along with it, my professional/entrepreneurial attitude and potential plans for placements.
By analyzing successful international and national studios & creatives it will inform me on how studios/creatives target a range of specific audiences across different cultures, social hierarchies and interests over different locations through the use of unique creative approaches that make these studios individual and successful.
Analyzing more local studios will inform my future plans on placements and potential visits by making plans for contact or contacting them for potential visits and placements over the summer months. Particular attention attention and focus will be made on studios and creatives who take a multi-disciplinary approach to work within the process, production and concepts of there work. Exhibition visits To influence and informed direction within conceptual branding and to give me some direction within the development and production of my own brand identity, promotion material and web presence I will combine aspects from studio analysis and exhibition visits into these outcomes. By visiting a range of exhibitions I can gain influence from a range of sources that include both historic and contemporary practices as both are equally important in the creative industry today as past art practices tend to influence more modern creatives. I can also learn from other creative disciplines, in my level 4 presentation and evaluation of the year I mentioned how other creative disciplines like illustration informed my multi disciplinary process's so expanding on this will help me consider a wider range of influences to inform my conceptual branding approach. (Sculpture, installations, illustrations, painting, moving image etc)
My Brand Studio Brief 1 Intro, Study Task 1 & Initial Thoughts
Today we had the introduction to the new level 5 PP module, from the module overview I got the basic main points that we will be aiming to achieve through set studio briefs and tasks.
An increased focus on Time management on this module due to only 1 day a week planned studio time, its an important module in my eyes due to the help it gives us in becoming employable or giving us an introduction into aspects of starting up out own business. So I want to put a good amount of personal time into this module to gain more long term results.
I feel the personal investigation into studios and individual creative interests will link well with the COP module, both will feed off each other to merge together to give me a better understanding into the theory side of things, the professional side of the industry as well as feeding it all into my creative personal practice.
All tasks and briefs will help me develop a personal focus on my design practice. Help me understand what area of the creative industry I want to focus into, help me discover the design I am in a professional sense (Which will support the theory side of things in COP)
Constant evaluation of studios and designers alongside contacting them will also feed into my overall success in this module while gaining external recognition (Link responsive module into PPP tasks and blogging)
When looking at studios look at there blogs and avoid there corporate website fronts, this is more promotional and "serious" get down to the personal side of there practice by looking at blogs. Will help me connect with them a little more, understand them more.
Focus external investigation into studios around the area of graphic design I want to progress in.
The first brief will help us us develop a visualization of our personal identity through a promotion pack and website, an expansion of level 4's promo pack but now with more focus on us and our practice in a branding outcome.
We will be aiming towards a final presentation like level 4, how we have developed throughout the year and constantly evaluating ourselves. I think it would be nice to actually carry out points I mentioned in that presentation, work form points I said I needed improvements on, do things I said I wanted to do, expand on strengths etc.
Think about the journey and progression of my practice when blogging, evaluating and developing work.
Constant blogging of John's Tasks and presentations and what I can learn from them for PPP and other modules will all help provide a base of influence throughout the year.
Consider how to protect ourselves when doing external work or presenting work on online portfolios like Behance. Copywriting work. (Will help responsive module)
Studio Brief 1 - My Brand
We are aiming towards an expansion on last years promotion pack we are progressing from this this in level 5 making it a more personally influences expression of my design practice as we are starting to develop into a set speciality this year aiming towards a solid professional influence in level 6. Sort of framing the basis of our practice for level 6 is how I interpret it.
Brief Part 1 - PPP Blog
Collect, categorise and reflect on a body of investigative research and creative references, which documents your ongoing development as a Graphic Designer and your engagement with contemporary creative culture via your PPP course blog. You must demonstrate a more refined understanding of the graphic design and creative industries particularly by researching and reflecting on the operating practices of local and national designers and studios. This research should then feed into the on-going assessment and development of your self-branding created last year.
You will need to maintain an ongoing evaluation of your individual progress in Level 05 of the programme by regularly reflecting on what you have learned and your development as an increasingly independent designer/learner. As part of this process you should post copies of each End of Module Self-evaluation to your blog in order to maintain an ongoing recored of your reflective skills and analytical responses to your own development. Certain Tasks will be set and you will need to record your responses to them but you should use them as a starting point for your own independent research activities.
Brief Part 2 - Self Branding
Continuing from your logo and identity developed in level 4 you must assess, evaluate, adapt and develop your own brand as a designer and apply this to a number of deliverable items
Your Visual Identity
Your own professional visual l identity for 'Brand You' and apply it to an appropriate range of stationary and promotional material. You should aim to create a simple but effective visual identity that communicates the essence of your creative 'image' and details about your emerging design practice. You will need to consider the practicalities of your identity which may include a logo or bespoke typeface. How readable, legible and usable is your identity?
Your Promo Pack
A promotional package the communicates your skills, abilities creative concerns and professional competencies to appropriate sectors of the creative and cultural industries. This pack should include a business card, introductory information, samples of work a creative CV, contact details and other relevant material and information
Your Website
You have been introduced to the fundamentals of web design and web design software through a series of workshops in previous modules. Based on these workshops propose/produce the structure and content of your own personal website. Keep it simple and make sure that your visual identity forms the basis of your online brand.
Background & Considerations
Scale: Your identity will need to work across a range of scales and formats from the the size of a projection screen to that of a letterhead. Content: Too much and it becomes confusing, too little and it will not communicate. Too complex and it will not be practical. Too simple and it will be unrecognizable.
Color: It will need to work in mono (one colour or b/w). It will be cheaper, more practical and easier to (re)produce. Think how the color of the stock can help.
Production: The quality of the stock can say as much as your design. It can also make your design unreadable and illegible. Consider how it will be produced, by who and using what processes.
Mandatory Requirements & Deliverables
All posts to your blog. should be labeled in line with the programme's naming conventions.
All posts should be date stamped and supported by appropriate levels of self reflection, analysis and evaluation.
Work should be referenced and sources should be acknowledged where appropriate.
Project evaluation of 500 words
PPP Blog complete with annotated images and reflective writing that will demonstrate both your understanding and your intentions.
Promo pack using your developed identity (again, this should be accompanied by notes)
Study Task 1 To get us started on studio brief 1 we had a quick workshop in the afternoon were we needed to present our information pack we made last year, the one that was supposed to be our personal identity.
Then discuss how it may change through the year or already has changed over the summer and why?
An important consideration I noted was for the outcome I create at the end of this brief is that it needed to be sustainable and concise in the message it conveys about my practice through the delivery of the digital and analogue outcomes (Website, Visual Identity & Promo Pack) Presenting my information pack I made, wich wasn't a visual identity for me as I felt it was far too soon to be promoting myself as a professional design let alone promoting a specialist area I catogorise myself. So I presented this idea (Last years quote). "The main concept is based on how I have changed from the beginning of the year to now, simulated through the interpretation of the common quote "from A-B" based on the traveling of one point to another"
I remember feedback last year been positive over the concept idea and how I delivered it in this product but I personally don't like the outcome anymore so this was a main thing I pointed out, I really didn't want to expand on this idea I would definitely be starting a fresh.
So the feedback I received was more based on the work I have produced so far this year and peoples personal opinions on my working style that they noticed so far this year and last year.
Mo mentioned that I have adapted a style that makes use of geometric shapes, lines and a very mathematical accuracy to the aesthetics of these elements within my work. A distinct style that definitely defines me at the moment.
I am happy with this aesthetic and way I work that I seem to be developing so will definitely be progressing this and at current its a good element I could take forward into this brief.
Elliot mentioned that I consider concepts alot within my work and portray them well and to carry on pushing this.
I didn't see my concept presentation as been that strong but to hear that my peers see it as quite successful this give me confidence in my conceptual approach, this will definitely be pushed throughout the year and brought into this brief. John mentioned how he doesn't like to describe his job role as "Graphic Designer" and I agree with this, it needs to be focused on you and a strength you can portray. So the fact I am quite a conceptual designer could give influence to a more considered description of my services. e.g. Conceptual thinker?
Other feedback mentioned how I could present this journey here in a concertina construction if I was to bring this element of a journey into my personal branding I would need to present it in a way that would benefit the customer/client.
I see this as a problem I don't see how this could work very well which is why I am thinking of scrapping this whole idea, it needs to represent me as a person and what I can offer to the client. Not on how I have changed in my practice, how is that going to convince them to let me produce work for them?
A final thought was the element of sustainability within my personal branding, with the cost of printed material been quite high Its important to keep a sustainable brand that doesn't require adjustment, also a sustainable brand will help in clients recognizing your creative practice. If you keep switching and changing they will get confused but with a consistent brand people can begin to maintain constant recognition of me & my practice.
Initial thoughts on studio brief 1, study task 1 & presentations.
Taking forward all the mentioned key points from my crit feedback and the key points I made about the module overview along with some presentations John gave and some points he made on aspects of personal branding and promotions I got alot of supporting points that will help me create a more considered final solution for the whole of studio brief 1.
All the resources and presentations I received helped outline how important self branding can be and I will outline all possible ways of creating a successful self brand and why its so important.
Jacob Cass's advice on creating social presence and a personal brand
He talks about importance of social presence through this, I wasn't keen on the aesthetics of the work he created and his website but it definitely give me a good idea on how to make a good social presence in this upcoming new media age.
Made up of a combination of Branding, Blogging & Social media to achieve recognition.
How blogs and social media can help find job opportunities, so don't let the presentation of these elements slack as they could help me find work.
Look into dribble as another way of getting my work out there, along with sorting my linkedin & behance accounts out.
Define the brand (Me), Create Website and utilize social media to promote your brand and website/portfolio.
Reflect what I want to be in my brand and website
Present my unique selling point through branding, what makes me stand out from the rest (present this in portfolio, branding and website)
How colors, stationery, aesthetics, printed or digital media reflect my brand (me)
Basic required website components: Home page, Portfilio/Case Study, About/History, Testimonial & Blog (Agree on all apart from testimonial, your work should promote itself without the need of reviews and support!)
Brand consistency, create a recognizable element that people recognize and link to you and your creative practice.
Easy to navigate website.
Blog is an important part of your website, presents up dated work, presents personality of the brand through presentation of your interests not just design work, shows your not a corporate robot, shows passion of your work and practice.
Cover as many social media networks to broaden possible target market, not everyone has twitter or Facebook.
Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook are primary networks.
Show personality through all areas in website, logo, brand, portfolio, bloging posts.
Aim to gaining a following to gain word of mouth recognition and a viral element of promotion, do this through grabbing attention in my blog as well as work that people admire and share.
Link all social medias together, if you create a post on your blog link it to twitter, Facebook, blogger etc. Snowball effect.
Linkedin is a focus on professional aspect of the networking element. (Past experiences, skills etc)
Cargo Collectives Christopher Doyles take on a CV A CV is a very important part of a job application. Its what makes you stand out in the first stage of a job application, the problem is they done see you face to face so can't really see your personality in a bunch of words its just some persons interoperation of you, if they like the sound of you then your in. Christopher Doyles take on a CV amused me and inspired me equally as much. He really expressed his personality through his unique CV application. His method of presenting himself through company identity guidelines was very clever, breaking down every element about him into a identity guideline style. While providing an entertaining approach too a job application it also provided a very clear presentation of the guys personality alongside important supporting details of his actual skills, experiences and what he could bring forward to the company. His consideration in presenting his personality into a vessel that can be easily understood is a clever way of creating a memorable brand experience, something I need to consider when creating mine. He really did a good job at presenting his personality through this. Its very unique, unique makes you stand out and employable. Think about this. It goes against the grain, theres a fine line with doing this so If i do something that rebels against things I need to be careful it doesn't sway away from the intentions of personal branding completely. Or that the image i portray turns out to be a bad one.
Johnny Cupcakes talk on his alternative entrepreneur techniques
Didn't get full opportunity to watch the whole hour long talk but from what I got from it was a very unique approach on your typical "business plans".
He created a brand experience that really expressed him in all ways, really focused for its intended target market so a consideration to the image that the brand portrays is so important.
Outlines how taking an alternative approach to business and how you go about producing work can pay off. Been original helps you stand out.
He saw an opportunity and pushed it, from all ages he was looking for opportunities and each opportunity he saw he put 110 percent in. This element of work ethic is very inspiring to me and I see myself as a person who would be his own boss more than a general worker and piece of a companies big puzzle so I am definitely going to give this a full watch to take some more detailed notes. Watch this space!
Final Thoughts
To round off the large body of inspiration and resources I have taken in today I will outline a few points I have gathered from everything and this will not only feed into PPP but all other modules too. As well as outlining why self branding is important and aspects about good self branding.
How a product and the brand promoting that product sit together, consider this alot.
What makes a brand stand out from the crowd.
The brand really needs to communicate me as a person do I have a unique personal aspect that could be used as a selling point? Like someone tall can incorporate this into aesthetics of there designs, can't do this though I'm pretty short.
Consider the target market, it will probably be aimed at the clients looking for work relevant to my specialist creative practice so consider how I can establish a link between me and the potential clients.
Consider relevance of analogue and digital mediums in my branding, which mediums portray me the best?
Create a sustainable and recognizable brand. A brand that is consistently recognized to achieve a wide recognition from target markets.
Consider printing methods for analogue mediums, how they help communicate me as a person and my services.
Identify my specialist area before starting to develop ideas of branding around this.
What influences me? Be it creative or non creative, this could form a large bank of inspiration in my work.
Present individualism, don't just portray myself as a graphic designer put a personal touch too it, present my specialism in it.
A business card can be an extremely important aspect of the brand image, for example Japanese culture see anyone without a business card as unprofessional. Its also a great way in reaching potential customers in everyday life by handing out a business card if the opportunity of design work comes up in conversation.
Show a passion for your subject area in website, branding and promo pack.
