Inspiring Students

A while ago I was contacted by my middle school art teacher and she asked me to come into school and talk about the course I am doing and the opportunities available in the creative industries. I was at this school for school years 7-9 but since leaving, the school has expanded to teaching GCSEs too. I would be speaking to year 11s (aged 15-16) who are currently making decisions about their A level choices. 

I put together a short presentation with lots of examples of my work in context and also brought along some sketchbooks to show the design process behind the outcomes. I wanted to get across that choosing an art or design subject to pursue is a lot more than just drawing or painting, it is a comittment and you really have to love it to dedicate so much time to it. I also wanted to say that there are academic elements too like essay writing and that its definitely not an 'easy option' subject. 

It was clear that the art and design teachers wanted to get across the idea that choosing art is not an easy option. There seems to be the idea that if you don't do well academically then you should choose art which is nonsense. They pointed out that I did do well academically at school but it is okay to steer away from stem subjects to pursue something you really want to do and that you're good at. I also pointed out that I knew that I wanted to do art quite early on and had to brush off comments from (non-art) teachers and other students that I could do 'so much more'. The reality is that there's 'so much more' to the creative industry than people think. I thought it was important that students recognised that the world we live in is a visual world and creative talent is needed to cross over into other subject areas like  therapy, the sciences and business. 

The talk went really well and a lot of the students seemed really engaged. There were obviously a few who you could tell had no intention of carrying on with art but thats only to be expected. Some came up and asked questions about my sketchbooks, how I make and sell things and the processes I use - it was really great to have such a positive response to my work and what I had to say about the industry. 

I have to admit I had a bit of a buzz when I left, it was so rewarding to feel like I might have actually inspired someone to pursue a creative career. I really wish I had an experience like that when I was at that stage in school because I think that's what I needed to clarify in my mind that this is a viable option for a career. I am really glad to see things changing in schools and creative subjects are getting the recognition they deserve! 

It was also generally good practice for my presenting skills and making my selection of work and information suitable for the audience. I also know that I have now created a connection with the school as more of a professional rather than just an ex-student and I would be more than happy to go back and do the same or something similar in the future. 

Leeds College of Art Alumni

While I was at the school I got talking to the art and design department technician who actually studied at LCA on the printed textiles course not too long ago. It was really encouraging to talk to someone who had studied in the same place as me and had managed to get a job afterwords. She works as a design technician but still finds some time to do her own work on the side, she is using the job to get some money behind her so eventually set up on her own. It was really good to hear her speak about her plans and it reassured me that its ok if not everything falls perfectly into place straight after graduation. It takes time to achieve your dream job and the things you do on the way towards it are all valuable learning experiences. 

Hannah Waldron Lecture

• Making textiles as research.
• Illustration based on map making.
• Capturing a memory and getting a feeling of a place while learning practical skills.
• Commission work, weaving, printed textiles, own work, designed and manufactured herself. Limited runs and sold online. Book projects and editorial illustration. Very varied practice. 
• Made a book while studying, managed to get it stocked in Brighton and London. Gets your name out there. Expand to products linking to the book.
• Got a job after uni but kept her own practice going alongside. Solo show in Shoreditch, prime location.
• Fist commission after uni - cd case/cover. Folding poster - inventive idea, something different. 
• Home book - V&A.
• Weaving - horizontal and vertical lines/grid used in drawings translates well into this process. Simplify things down to the most essential elements.
• The thinking hand - Juhani Pallasmaa (book).
• research design agencies and studios who you think are doing good work.
• makes the experience of working for big companies better.
• Travelling influences change in her work.
• Mapping - taking experiences and making them into weavings.
• Submit work to competitions that you might not think you fit into. Your work has more potential purposes than you may think. 
• Be aware of context - if you commit you can get pigeon holed, keep it broad. 
• Textiles as research - language, qualities of materials, making connections, stories about journeys and places, exploring contexts for crafts.
• Textiles for retail
• Designing to commission - collaboration , limitations, reaching wider audiences.
• Illustration - map making, freedom from constraints.
• Create your own manifesto while studying to see how far you've come and refer back to when you feel a little lost with what you are doing.

I found Hannah's talk really interesting, especially the relationship she makes between travel and image making. I love the idea of recording surroundings through imagery. Her work is very shape based which connects well with the restrictions of the weaving process. My work, in contrast, is very line based but I definitely feel inspired by the way she translates a location into imagery. It was also interesting to see how her practice has grown from a lot on monochrome imagery to full of colour. I feel I am just embarking on this change right now, I love working in black and white but I realise that this is not always the best option and colour is almost essential for making my work adaptable. 

I was also really interested to hear about Hannah's professional practice, how she gets work, who she works for and how she manages to maintain doing what she loves. Learning about her work for commission, retail, and as research was interesting - it is clear she gets work from a lot of different avenues and I suppose this is what helps her work to continually evolve and be adaptable. One key thing that I notices in Hannah's talk was that she exhibits her work in as many places as possible and her travels have definitely helped her to reach a wider audience. 

Virgin Media Box Response

I thought I would just do an update post on the positive feedback I have been receiving for my virgin media box. It has been so nice to hear that the boxes being painted in Headingley have brightened up the area and the fact that people have taken the time to message and comment on my work online is a really nice feeling! 

[I have blurred out names of personal accounts - I don't know these people personally and don't know how they would feel about their names being used.]

Aside from comments on my own posts, some people and local groups/accounts actually shared my work on Instagram and tagged me in their photos. Obviously I am now glad that I put my Instagram name on the box itself as otherwise there would have been no way that I would have seen these. 

I am really happy and flattered with the response I have received for this and I'm actually feeling pretty proud of myself. I know it's only a small scale thing but I'd not done anything like it before and to get such a positive response is really great. When doing work like this for free, its nice to know that it has actually made an impact and hearing people say that it has brightened their morning is exactly what I was hoping for! It was definitely worth braving the cold. 

D&AD Talk

Started by Terrence Donovan, David Bailey and Alan Fletcher. 
Finding the best commercial creative work in the UK. 
Its now a global non profit organisation. 

Briefs are client driven work from the last 12 months. 

D&AD Festival - End of April 
Talks, workshops, debates, etc...

New Blood
Programs to elevate and celebrate new creative talent. 
Awards - real briefs, real clients, 
Festival 
Academy 

Three types of brief...
STANDING OUT - get the word out there, persuasion. 
SHIFTING PERCEPTION - start a dialogue, influence opinion.
SHAPING THE FUTURE - innovation, imagination, this is now, what is next? 

You've got to be in it to win it! 

TIPS 
Show personality. 
Evoke emotion.
Make a connection. 
Be brave. 

Be yourself, show emotion and humanity, care about it, have your own voice, originality, get under the skin of the audience, human truths and insights, make a statement, be different, convince yourself and you will convince others. 

Judging Criteria
A good, well executed idea. 
Explain the details. 
How will it work in the real world?
Professional presentation. 
Great skill and craft. 
CONCEPT. 
Does the idea justice. 
Answers the challenge. 

Deadline for D&AD briefs is 22nd March (but imagine it is the week before!)

I am not exactly sure whether I will be doing a D&AD brief this year as I have not fully read through all of the available briefs. It does seem like a really good way of getting your work seen by the right people but from my experience in the responsive module last year, I felt that the 'campaign' briefs weren't really my thing. I am going to read through the briefs and bear them in mind for second semester. This talk has been a good insight into what they are looking for anyway and I'm glad I went.

PPP Session Notes

Breaking things down - what creative jobs are out there...

In Advertising...

Products, Publishing, Publications, Web, Animation, Out of home adverts, Bus stops, billboards, Radio, Cinema, Charity, Social Issues, Events, Merchandise

In a Production Company...

Copywriter, Art Director, Cameramen, Director, Actors, Audio, Casting, Storyboarding, Pre-viz animatic, CGI, Concept, Client, Agencies, Character design, Animators, Hair and makeup, Costume design, Set design, Props, Promotion, Printed material 

This exercise made me think a bit more about the broad range of creative jobs that are out there which might require my skills. It has given me some confidence to think that there is a demand for the skills I have and there are probably more opportunities out there than I think. This has made me think that if I do start applying for jobs towards the end of this year, I need to look beyond the obvious choices because there might be some unusual and interesting jobs that I could possibly do. 

Harrison Developments Ltd - Photo and Prizes

I went to meet one of the directors of Harrison Developments Ltd, the company who I submitted an advent calendar design to. They wanted to meet with the people who had entered their competition and have a look around some of the studios at the college. We had a photograph taken for their website which I am yet to find online, i'm guessing it might not be updated for a little while. They also awarded us all with vouchers which was really nice considering our designs weren't even selected! 

David, the director who came on the visit, was speaking about how Harrison's always try and involve the local community in the projects they run, both working with establishments like LCA and also charities. I think it's really positive that larger, non-creative companies are realising the potential of searching for creative talent locally. It provides a bit of hope that London won't always be the go-to place to search for this. 

Letter to Ohh Deer

I finally plucked up the courage to send a letter. After getting it checked over by John I felt a lot more confident about sending it - what's the worst that could happen?

By the time I had written out the letter by hand, there was no space for me to put my contact details which was frustrating. I wrote these out separately on the back of a small print of my work I had lying around, I prefer this idea now because it is something they might pin on a noticeboard or something - it is less of a throwaway item. 

Anyway, now I just have to wait for a reply...

To Jamie and Mark

I am an illustration student in my third and final year of study at Leeds College of Art. Loughborough is my hometown and where I will most likely be returning after I graduate so the fact that Ohh Deer has set up shop here is really exciting! It’s really great to see creative things happening in Loughborough outside of the university as I think it is something we have been lacking for a while as a town. 

My creative practice at the moment is very much based around paper products, pattern design and the gift market so I would love to learn more about what it is that you do as a company that is working so well in the industry! I am also really keen to understand the processes that take place between artist studio and shop floor. It would be great to experience an environment full of products I have a passion for and people with similar interests to myself so if you have any opportunities for work experience then I would love to hear about them! 

Thanks for taking the time to read my email and I look forward to hearing from you.

Naomi Smith

Virgin Media Box Final Photos

 

Podcast - effective social media, website and SEO advice

Notes and thoughts from listening to Ben Tallon’s 'Arrest All Mimics’ podcast with Nick Leech from Heart Internet.

https://soundcloud.com/arrestallmimics/ep43

Most commercial transactions start with a search engine. 

It is important not to overlook traditional efforts to get work like face to face networking and physical promotional material, but understand that from that point onwards the next step someone will take is probably to search you online. Think about what they are looking for and how I can match my personal presence to my online presence and make it clear what I am about. If they are searching me with a certain thing in mind, how do I make it clear that I would be suitable?

Use a platform that loads easily, you will be demoted on a search engine if your site takes a long time to render, especially on mobile devices which is what a lot of people use nowadays. 

Social media used for entirely personal reasons is very much a showcase of how amazing your life is, whether this is actually true or not. Professionally it can be used as more of a CV as it can show your work as well as your personal interests. If you use social media as a conduit for other content that interest you and reflects you then in effect you are aligning yourself with other people and that gives an impression of who you are personally. 

It is important to strike a balance. Some personal things are okay to show on a professional social media account as someone’s personality is often reflected in their work anyway so the two go hand in hand. However, a constant stream of your daily life as it might put people off giving your page as much attention if they are really only interested in your work. 

Is it better to promote an anonymous brand or to promote me?

In answer to this question I think, for me, an anonymous brand would not get me very far. My long term aim is to work as a freelancer so I think it is important that people who see my social media accounts can see what I look like, my interests, places I like to go and the occasional picture of my very cute dog. I don’t really see the harm in that if i’m honest but I think it is very important to have a functioning website alongside this that is purely professional.

4:1 Ratio - change things up on your social media account, for every four things you post on one theme, post something else that’s different. This could be four sketchbook progress posts and then one of a gallery I visited for example, it maintains people’s interest and also follows a vague rhythm. 

Analysis of my current Instagram account which is the primary social media platform that I use…

212 posts, over 150 of these are direct images of my work. 

The remainder is mainly photos of places I have been exploring, a few events and a handful of photos of my social life and dog (of course). At this stage in my creative career I don’t think this is too bad as the focus is still heavily on my practice and the more personal photos aren’t incriminating in any way, they just give a little glimpse of my life.  

Virgin Media Box Visit 4

Today is the day that I finish this box, even if it ruins me. 

I started this morning at around 9.30am and I was really hoping to finish in the morning but I couldn't get it done this quickly without rushing and ruining it. I got quite a lot done though before I had to leave to go into college for my dissertation tutorial. I had a few bits left to do but I knew i'd be coming back to carry on afterwards, the weather forecast said it would't rain til 8pm and I was counting on that. This was the stage I was at when I had to leave at 1pm. 

I came back to continue at around 3 o'clock and I finished it around 5pm! It was really dark by then so I was using the torch on my phone to finish it. Looking back, this must have been a pretty tragic sight but I was so determined to not spend another day on it. Another kind stranger made me a cup of tea - people are so lovely! 

I signed both sides of the box with my name and included my Instagram name to provide a direct point of contact that wasn't too personal to be on display in public. 

These photographs were taken in the dark so the quality isn't great and some of the paint is still patchy as it is not fully dry. The box will be wrapped again tonight and I am really hoping that nobody vandalises it. As far as I know, the box with be covered with anti graffiti paint on Thursday so I am hoping that if I go this weekend I will be able to get some good photos of the finished thing in daylight. 

I am so happy this is finally finished!

Painting this box has been a really good experience for me. It has got me out of the studio, meeting people, organising myself, talking to strangers about my work and producing work in a way that it totally outside of my comfort zone. Looking back on the project, now that I have thawed out, I see it as really positive. I have been so surprised by the amount of people who have taken the time to speak to me about this even if some only make a comment while passing by, people are interested and reacting positively and thats so good. One lady and her children stopped and spoke to me on two occasions and told me how this is going to brighten up their school run, Ruth told me about an elderly man who lives nearby who asked for my design to be placed near his house so he could see it when he leaves his house, and numerous students have commented on how it really brightens up otherwise dull streets. It's really nice to get such positive feedback from such a range of residents and it did make me feel really good about my work that it is actually making a positive difference, even if only on a small scale. I think the area will look so much better when all twenty boxes are finished, I'm really excited to see what they are all going to look like as I think mine one was one of the first to be completed. 

Virgin Media Box Visit 3

The weather really hasn't been on my side for this project, but I guess thats what you get when you do something like this in November, and in Leeds. I had to dodge the rain today but I was determined to get at least all of my colours finished and potentially start the black outlines. 

Ruth has been covering the boxes in bin bags overnight to discourage graffiti which has proven successful, unfortunately some of my paint had smudged though so I had to paint over a few bits and pieces. 

As the design is starting to come together people passing by are making really positive comments. I got the feeling that people were a bit unsure about what I was doing when I first started with my sketchy outlines and patchy paintwork but I feel like i'm gradually proving myself as the project goes on! People are stopping to chat to me and are really interested and supportive of the whole idea, particularly residents who aren't students but a lot of students seem to be reacting positively too. Someone even brought me a cup of tea today which was so nice because I was SO COLD. 

After getting this far I had to take cover in a coffee shop while it rained for about an hour. Luckily the paint didn't run, it actually dried pretty fast which is good! This was what the box looked like when I finished for the day, all of the colours were complete apart from a few tiny pieces which were difficult to get to while surrounding paint was wet. I am confident that I can get the outlines finished in one more day - this is taking a whole lot longer than I thought it would though! I've never done anything like this before so I had no idea - i'll know for any future projects though that it takes a long time. 

The picture quality isn't great because it was dark and I had to use my iPhone flash...

Website Builder Research

I think it will be important for me to have a website for my practice. Obviously I would want it to be professional but I don't think being too formal is the best way to go with this as it could make me sound unapproachable which is exactly what I don't want. It would need to be simple in layout and easy to navigate. 

What would I want on a website?
I think an online portfolio is important. compiling my best work into some sort of collection that people can look through. Maybe as my body of work grows this could be split into categories based on themes. I think links to social media platforms and potentially a blog are a good idea as not everyone will check a website for updates regularly whereas everyone is always checking up on their Instagram. A blog would be good for keeping people up to date with current things that I am doing. I would like to have an established online shop eventually so a link to this would be crucial, maybe it could be part of the website itself instead of being a link to an external site. 

Squarespace

I really like the templates available on Squarespace, particularly these two which are very simple but would give my images space to breathe. Almost all of the domain names through this site are $20. 

Wix

Weebly

I'm not sure how much I would be able to do with the 500MB of storage in the free version. However, if the website is basically a landing page with links to other websites and platforms then maybe this would be enough. I have come to realise that the layout templates are very similar whichever website builder I use so I think the deciding factor will be what features I can get with each one. 

Big Cartel

Big cartel could be a good starting point on the free plan. 5 products would be limiting but there is always the option to upgrade in the future. 

Potential domain names...

Virgin Media Box Visit 2

I made my way back to Ruth's house today to collect the paints, brushes, and the rest of the little supply pack she has been preparing for all of us who are painting. I helped with filling up containers with the paints I needed and mixing a few colours to match my design. The paints they have got for this project are from Seagulls Paint Store in Leeds who reuse leftover and unwanted paint. Seagulls aims to cut down on waste by providing a sustainable resource but also contribute positively to the local community. They are definitely a name to remember for if I need paint supplies in the future. 

Ruth also reminded me today that I am allowed to sign the box so I need to have a think about what I want to put on it to link it back to me. Do I want my name on there or would it be more worthwhile to put my Instagram name on there (these are the problems you face when you're a SMITH). 

On arrival at my box I noticed someone had decided to make their own mark on it, luckily it wasn't anything major but it was just a bit annoying and it took a good scrub and a few coats of paint to cover it. Anyway, these things happen and life goes on! 

I made a start on painting and then it started to rain - typical! I managed to get three colours done which is better than nothing bit I had planned on getting all my colours done today so I just had the black outlines left to complete. I had to leave it at that though because the forecast for the rest of the afternoon was not great. I've brought all my supplies home with me so that I can go back and continue whenever I want without having to hassle Ruth all the time by collecting things from her house. She's giving up so much of her time to organise all of this I don't want to make it any harder for her and the others involved! 

Thought Bubble

I was working at Thoughtbubble this year as a student ambassador and I had a bit of time before my shift started to have a look around and spend all the money I hadn't earned yet. I didn't have loads of time to look around but I tried to use my time as well as possible, I spoke to a few people but mainly took business cards and noted down what I would want to ask them in an email or social media message. 

Peony Gent

I came across Peony Gent's work online last week and I used her as a reference for my context of practice practical work so I immediately recognised some of her prints when I saw her table. I bought one of her zines titled 'growth'. I thought the illustrations were so fragile and beautiful and I loved that the whole zine was printed entirely in shades of blue. It was also digitally printed on nicer quality stock than a lot of the others I have seen today and it is actually really noticeable. When something feels nice to touch it really does the artwork justice, I know this goes against the idea of a zine but i'd consider this more of a book if I'm honest.

Questions I want to ask her: 
Your work spans various disciplines including illustration, print making and ceramics, what does the label of 'illustrator' mean to you? 
At thought bubble I noticed risograph printing is a popular way for people to print their work. What is it about this process that you like?

Colin Mayhew

 

I liked the line work of Colin Mayhew. Most of his work is digital based and a lot more clean cut than my work but I can draw parallels between the way we both use line as the fundamental aspect of image making. I bought a postcard with the space man design on it because I liked the way he has added colour in quite an unconventional way. I think it works really well and I know that I need to explore colour application in my own work beyond just colouring in my black and white drawings. This might be a good place to start. 

Emily Rose Lambert

I was drawn to Emily's work initially because I saw a zine on her table about a trip to Budapest and I love it when people record cities through drawing, it really made me regret not going on holiday this summer. Anyway, I took her card and researched her work online. What I found online was very different to the work she had on show at thought bubble but I found a lot of textural work which I really liked. It adds so much depth and atmosphere to her images and it shows particularly well in her patterns.

I found out she studied at Loughborough university which is where I did my foundation year and it is also my home town and where I might be returning after I finish university. She now has a job as a greetings card designer which I am interested in learning more about. I am more interested in her professional practice as an illustrator than her practical work. 

Questions I want to ask her:
What is the format of your job, do you work for a specific company or do you licence your own designs out to companies? 
What did you think of the opportunities available in art and design in Loughborough?

Mike Medaglia

I was browsing through Mike's prints at his table and he recognised me from ELCAF this summer and we started talking. Apparently Ellie and I were in a photo that was taken for his Instagram which we didn't even know about and that's why he remembered us. Anyway, we spoke about what he had been doing since then, he's been making new prints and now has another book and calendar. I love the messages in Mike's work and how they are all so positive and motivating. I can draw parallels between my linework and his but we differ a lot on our use of colour as I prefer to keep things very minimal and very rarely produce full colour images like his.