New Opportunities

The month of August has also been very exciting in other ways for me, as lots of new opportunities have arisen.

Firstly, I had an interview for a Graduate scheme I applied for to win a free post grad course in Creative Business Management and a 6 month paid placement, which I recently found out I'd won.  After swearing I would not go back in to education even if someone paid me, 2 months later and I will be enrolling on a seven week post grad course at UCLAN (on my birthday, no less).  However, 7 weeks is not long, and they are paying me, so it was too good of an opportunity to turn down!  Then in October I will start a new 6 month paid placement as Graphics and Marketing assistant at a textile company called Panaz.  I am really excited about the possibilities and experience I will gain from this, and hope it will lead onto bigger and better things.  The only downside is the area, an old textile mill near Burnley - but I will be living in a gorgeous house with some new people and hopefully lots of new things to explore!

Secondly, I was approached by the agency Let Loose Design and asked to go for an interview there, so I am now officially on the books as a freelancer.  Quite how I will juggle these two things, I'm not sure yet, but for the time being things are pretty busy!

So, having recently gained a car, a new house, a job and a freelance roll, and about to turn 23, I feel like a real grown up now!  Eek! I have to pay council tax!

Cheethem Bell JWT

During the DNA event at the end of term, I had a number of interviews and portfolio crits which lead to me meeting Dom Rodwell, Digital Creative Director of JWT Manchester.  After getting back in touch with him, I organised to go there for a month placement so that is where I have spent the wet and rainy August!

Working on digital campaigns for BMI Baby, The Cornerhouse and Whitbread Pub Chain, I had my first real experience of working within social media and website design.  I learned a lot while I was there, made some good friends and connections and added to the growing list of agencies I've worked in.

Vivid London

Since graduating I have been busy busy busy.

A few months before uni ended I was thinking, what am I going to do... each year the whole summer stretches out before me and I think, oh I'll have plenty of time to do that, and visit so and so and catch up on that and then low and behold the weeks start to fill up and suddenly it's september again.

But now September will never be a significant month in the year again.  No more first day backs on my birthday (every year since I started school).  No, now I just have the rest of my life stretching out in front of me!

Last week I finished my first placement of the summer at Vivid London, a marketing and communications agency in London.  I had a really great time here, and learned more than I have at any other placement.  I enjoyed working in a small agency and a close knit environment where everyone was working together and responsible for everything.  I got the chance to work on a number of jobs including design, writing, market research and PR lists.  I even spent an hour as a 'pretend make-up artist' - brief: touch the client a lot and make him feel as uncomfortable as possible.  All in a day's work for media training!

My logo designs for one of their clients was chosen to be used as well, so all in all it was a great two weeks and I want to thank Vivid London for having me!

You can read their blog here, which has some great articles on it, well worth the read!

Onto the next placement for now, but I do hope I'll get to go back to Vivid London as I had a great time there.