OUGD602 - Creative Convos - Robot Food (Eve + Chris)

Eve and Chris from Robot Food, a local design studio in Leeds came in to talk to us about studio culture, 5 day briefs and life after graduating. 

• Both graduated in 2004
• Chris did internships at Robot Food, The Chase and Big Phish in London before leaving LCA and getting a job at Robot Food.
•  Eve graduated, did a couple of placements and internships in Manchester and around the North for a year before going freelance and moving to London. 
• She started Robot Food last year.
• When starting a project on branding and visual identity the first thing you must do is establish and define the core values and perosnalities of the company/product/instituion.
• Projecting this idea should be the main focus rather than tryig to simply make it 'look good'.
• Shout about it's unique selling point whilst keeping the design memorable and simple.
• Disrupt the category by making it completely different to its competitors, eg. load and say cheese projects. 
• Always consider product, range and distribution, how will it be promoted/sold/packaged etc.
• Identitfy a consumer who is not being catered for
• Design for the consumer/audience and the category
• Find out what everyone is doing and do the opposite!
• Introduce unexpected visual styles into stagnant categories (Project-Disrupt)
• Explore 3D rendering
• Keep messaging minimal.
• Spend the first few days of a project brainstorming and coming up with ideas and researching.
• Check out Google Design Sprint - It sets time limits for working on projects.
• Tailor your portfolio to where you want to work.
• Spend a lot of time on research! Be interested in what's going on around that subject
• Show your interest in design to your boss and piers like 'Have you seen this?'
• Designers are promoted the more owenserhip they have over projects - that's how you climb the ladder.
• Working as a freelance designer means you get paid a bit more and freedom to leave and start at your own times on your own terms.
• Robot Food has a good studio culture, everyone works as a team
• Sometimes you have to stay late to get projects finished but most of the time you're out by 6pm.

OUGD602 - Creative Convos - Rose Nordin

Rose Nordin from OOMK (women, art and activism, self published) talks about the options after university, specifically artist residencies.

• Graphic Designer and Freelance at Art Residency in Sommerset House
• Print and Editorial, non-commercial, self directed
• Projects on the representation of female designers
• R2TB - Right to the bone publication - Skate Photography Editorial
• 'What Women Believe' Photogrpahy Exhibition in London
• Applying for residencies means you make a range of work and are constantly collaborating with other designers
• Shy Residencies - A Book Works Publication
• The Lexicon of Labour (A-Z) conversations
• British Council allows you to go travelling for residencies
• Got a residency travelling around Malasyia - generate links to other projects
• Rabbits Road Press - community risograph printing space
• Go to publishing fairs to meet people whjo will pay you to publish their books
• Helpful Websites for Arts Resdencies: Arts Council, Arts Fund, Arts Quest, Art Links
• You propose a budget and suggest the values it would bring but if you don't get it you can always refresh and reapply
• Artist Network - Guide on artist residency payments and aligns it to standardized pay rates. Typical student/graduate rate is £175 a day.
• Avoid working for free as it is exploition. 

OUGD602 - Creative Convos - Dines

Visit from Jonathan Wilkins (Dines) the Founder & Brand Consultant of Blup Creative agency in Leeds. 

• Blup lives the culture: fashion shows, gigs, DJ Events, Big Brands
• There's more to design than magazine layouts
• Establish a vision, get a picture in your mind of your goals and aim towards them in everything you do. That way nothing you do will be a waste of time
• Work out how you can reach those goals
• Get rid of @yahoo.com email accounts. Swap to hello@bethewens.com
• Read the small print
• Prepare yourself for industry
• Be omnipresent - everywhere at the same time
• Be a Yes person, never turn down a good opportunity
• Reach out to people you admire - magazines, websites, organisations etc.
• Mock things up properly to make them look better (logos, books etc.)
• Put work on Society 6
• Learn cinema 4D on youtube 
• Keep in touch with your uni mates. Friends are important and will help you out later on in life
• Express style and creativity if you're going freelance.
• Feed your creativity and don't let mundane tasks get you down.
• Find a way to make money doing what you love
• Learn how to use After Effects and motion graphics properly

OUGD602 - iTunes - Writing my CV and Cover letter

In order to apply to the Apple Internship programme, I must provide my most up to date CV, a cover letter and a link to my website. I began by writing out a rough draft of my CV and then got in contact with Sue Holdsworth, a career guidance officer at university and Alec to help me with the content, layout and style. 

I'd heard about Sue after attending a CV workshop back in November which is how I knew about her 1-2-1 tutorial sessions that she ran at the church during in the week. Sue was great in helping me to properly organise the content of my CV and cover letter, scrapping things that were unnecessary and ordering the relevant content in a way that was clear and easy to read. 

Once I'd decided on the content and layout of my CV and cover letter, I contacted Alec for feedback on the style and also the layout of my website:

The original draft of CV before talking to Sue Holdsworth or Alec:

Finished CV:

As you can see, the finished CV is laid out in a much better way, prioritising the most important parts of information such as achievements and the most relevant work experience. The style is minimalist to adhere to Apple's sleek and minimal visual identity. Originally, I wasn't going to add a photograph of myself, however, after talking to John Watters, he suggested adding a photograph in the top corner to help put a name to the face in amongst thousands of other applicants and to help me be remembered. 

Update: My CV, cover letter and portfolio were good enough to get me through to the next round which will be an online recorded video interview with HireView. 

OUGD602 - CV and cover letter design inspiration

As I'm applying for an internship they have asked me to send over my most up to date CV and cover letter. As I'm applying for a role as a graphic designer this has to be sleek, stylish and perfectly designed with not a single mistake. 

Therefore I've researched some inspiration for potential layouts, colour schemes and styles: 

Using two columns to split up the information seems to be a good way to create a hierarchy in the design, making it easier for employers to scan over and read. This is something I will include in my design. As the company I am applying to is known for it's minimal and sleek visual identity I will strip away any unnecessary colours or decorations to show that I have an in-depth understanding of their style. 

OUGD602 - Photography Refresh

STUDIO SHOOTING

On the Camera

ISO = 100
SHUTTER SPEED = 1/25
APETURE (F) = Find Out with Light Meter (to change hold down AV (+/-) and use scroller)

With the Light Meter

Press MODE and keep clicking til (lighting bolt and c) shows
Change ISO to 100 (by holding down ISO button)
Change Shutter speed (T) to 125 


(attach wire from camera to light meter)

Press the button on the side of the light meter to measure light (it will flash)
Aperture = BIG NUMBER ON SCREEN
Change the camera aperture to the same number

Grey Card

Once Lighting etc. has been set up (above)
Place grey card where your prop is and take a picture of it with the grey filling the screen
Go to MENU and (second icon along at the top of the screen)
Set custom white balance with the last picture taken (of grey card)
Go Back to the main screen / menu
Press the down button (WB) then select the last icon along (custom) 

To make background objects blurry 

Turn lights down to 1.5 on each side
Do new reading with the light meter 
Change aperture on camera to big number on light meter
Take the picture
(if the bar on the light meter says 4.0 but is closer to 5.6 use a 5.6 aperture) 

Notes: