Final project research: voter engagement

My final project is based around voter engagement in young people.  Inspired by the recent elections, I kind of wish I'd got round to this before the general vote, as I have been researching and planning this project since before Christmas, but never the less, this will be the final cherry on the cake to complete my portfolio.  I have a couple of strong ideas already, which I will spend the last two weeks executing, but both are quite visually difficult to bring off so I have been looking to get as much inspiration as possible!  Here's some new research, some old research and some lovely ideas!

  

           

                  

   

 

           

  

        

 

Website

As we only have two weeks to go today (Eeek!) I am starting to think about rounding up all the little things that need to be done.  I still have two projects to round up (slash do) but fingers crossed should have plenty of time to finish.

One big task was my website, which has needed finishing for a while now.  It's taken quite a while, and been through 3 different design over haul's, but now it's finally ready!  See it here.  It took me ages to sort out all the images and decide what to put on there.  I've still got a couple of projects to add and there's a few design tweaks I'm having trouble with (main image needs to be centred, more of a margin between the menu lists and borders etc) but I will have to wait for some trusty advice from Chris for that.  In the mean time I finally have a respectable website as a result of the web workshops with Chris which I am very happy with!  These workshops were one of the best things about this term, and I'm so glad I was given and took this opportunity in the end.

Fairwell journal!

This year I decided to approach my journal differently.  It's the first year that I really felt like I understood exactly what it is they were looking for.  After seeing Libby's journal and that she got 85% for it, I felt this was a great opportunity to pick up marks and as I really enjoyed doing it, that's a bonus.  I decided to tackle the journal as more of a brief, a design problem.  Although they said that they don't mark design itself, this is what we do for a living so I think it's important to make it look nice, and as it's the last year I wanted something I was proud of and could keep.  

So, most of my design decisions were based around making it accessible and as easy as possible to navigate, highlighting the links between different things.  I did separate bitesize books for each section, with titles down the edge of the pages so it could be 'flicked through'.  Then I used fold out pages so that I could show the key points clearly, meaning the tutors don't have to read the full write up to see the significance of that topic, with the in depth writing underneath.    

As my cover, I decided to use an image I took from the studio, which is where I've spent most of my time this year and also to represent getting out into the big wide world.  I designed a rating calender overview type thing of the whole year also on the poster for a quick summery that could be folded out and viewed alongside the books to help contextualise the year.

I have put a lot of work into this journal, going all out for the final year, but was careful not to neglect my other work or spend too much time on it.  However, the journal is worth half of our practical work this term so I think it's worth the extra effort!  I think I might even miss doing the journal when we leave, dare I say it!


                                           

Google Chrome

This has been a very drawn out project for me.  One that I started researching at the beginning of the term and intended to finish for the YCN deadline in March.  I've actually had this idea since then but for some reason I've found it impossible to execute it and it's taken ages for me to decide how to display it.  Because it was an idea that was really a proposal and also was based a lot on the copy I wrote for the adverts this made it very hard!  Eventually, I realised that the best and only way to display this in my portfolio was to actually do it.  I went to Homes 4 u on Oxford Road and asked them if I could stick my adverts up in the window.  They thought it was very strange and couldn't quite understand what I was doing but I managed to persuade them to let me, only if I turned up at half 7 when they opened.

However, this was definitely worth it as now the idea is much more bought to life for my portfolio and it really shows off my idea in the best light.  I'm glad to have another advertising brief in my portfolio for when I leave, and this one is a little different from the normal., but stuck very much to the brief.  Overall, I'm really pleased with how this project finally turned out, now I'm just in the process of designing a sample of the website which the 'Browser and choice' shop window is directing viewers too!

stamps- finally finished!

          

Here's my final stamp designs for the stamp project.  They've been finished for ages now but not had a chance to update blog.  Thought I better get started before we hand in the journal and they (hopefully) start taking into account the ongoing work gone into this as part of that unit!

In the end, I decided not to go for the whole 16 stamps as it would have become a massive project for me and this is never how I intended it.  After discussing this with Liz in our tutorials I thought it was best to go for variety and sticking with just 4 designs would have the most impact.  I have really enjoyed this project, and although I was worried at first that I hadn't done as much as I could with some of the amazing images I took, I was careful not to create stuff just for the sake of it.

I've also made a little animation using the photos which is not quite finished yet so watch this space!

SEA

On Tuesday we had a talk from Bryan Edmondson from design agency SEA.  I didn't think I'd heard of them before, but I recognised the book they'd produced with the metallic logo on the front.

Founded by Bryan in 1997, he described the company as pure and simple graphic design.  I spoke to him after about the short amount of time between graduating and setting up his business, just 5 years.  He said he felt they'd started to early and as a result had to learn a lot as they went along at their own expense.  This was an interesting viewpoint, different from everyone so far.  Although I appreciated what he said, I guess I wouldn't mind making mistakes at my own expense if there wasn't any job to be had anyway!

Anyway, moving on... I don't really have much to say about this lecture, the work was lovely, although not really my thing and he didn't really give us anything else other than his work.  So here's a visual feast of Sea Design!

This Is England

Over Easter there was a British film season on Film 4 and I only managed to catch This Is England.  I have been waiting to watch this film for a while, and I was in the midst of ideas for my British Stamp project so it felt very relevant.

Set in 1983, a 12 year old boy gets mixed up with a gang of Skinheads after his father is killed in the Falklands war.  He spends his summer holiday with them and they soon become like his family.  However he soon gets involved with the drinking, drugs and sex of the older kids, and when the leaders Nazi pal gets out of jail, he unwittingly gets sucked up into a racist, right wing movement, which ends in murder.

This film is a harsh and tear jerking adaptation of Thatcher's Britain and youth sub-culture gangs.  The whole film feels desolate and there is always this sense of impending danger.  There is some great acting from all the cast, especially Shaun the boy.  It succeeds in making you feel like you've been transported back to 80's England, and similar to Billy Elliot, you really feel that sense of desperation and low moral from the community.

I would recommend this film to everyone!

The Time Traveller's wife

This weekend has been spent finishing off my CPT writing (mainly because I wanted to avoid the more important work that I really should be doing).  Here are a couple more reviews I've written!

I've just finished reading The Time Traveller's wife.  After being told repeatedly that it's really great I thought I'd give it a go.  At first I couldn't really get into it but about a third of the way in I was hooked.  It wasn't at all what I expected it to be, which was a soppy romantic story.  It was a lot more serious than that, some pretty nasty things happen to poor old Claire and Henry!  The time travelling wasn't romanticised as I expected, but actually a big shadow hanging over their lives and quite a nasty reality.  Somehow the book seemed quite down to earth and believable, although I have to say getting my head round the concept of time travelling blags my head, especially since in this book Henry couldn't change what had already happened, instead he was already part of what happens.

I'd like to see the film now despite the bad reviews!

Portfolio Crit: Craig Oldham

My 3rd portfolio crit was at Music with Craig Oldham.  I sneaked in on this one as there was a cancellation going, the more the merrier I thought.  The crit was in Music's lovely office (although located in the middle of nowhere I got totally lost!) This crit was a mix or reviews about work and the approach to the agency.

The tips Craig went through about approaching a company were really useful.  Most of them seem so obvious, I really thought I wouldn't have problems on this front and didn't need advice, but he made a few points I hadn't thought of and it's just great to have a little check list to always make sure I've remembered everything.

1.  Never ask for a job or a placement, just ask for advice.  It's a lot more difficult to refuse someone face to face.
2.  Always give a sample of your best work, but don't give away everything otherwise there'll be nothing left to show.  It's nice to put a link to your website, simple and easy way to let people choose how much they want to see.
3.CV's are only really important if you've had work experience or freelance work.  As for a covering letter approach, try not to repeat the CV and consider just writing it in the email? Don't go overboard on describing what you do - if your a designer people know what this is and will get a better idea from your work than any description.
4. Be humble and flatter.  Tell them you know how busy they are and appreciate their time, always say thank you and try to make it personal.
5.  Always make sure your approaching the right person whose in charge of student placements.  You can ring and find out before hand, find out how they'd like to be contacted and always check up on your application.

When it came to the work crit I didn't get the reaction I have from other people.  I went last and so felt a bit rushed when presenting as he was clearly running out of time.  He questioned something on almost every project, not something I was particularly phased by as I was able to fight my corner with the reasons behind my choices, but it was a little off putting.  He said I should iron out the layouts and just work on making them all conform, something I have already done but didn't want to print until I'd had feedback from everyone so that was good advice.  He ended by saying it was a good book, although I felt a bit like I hadn't got as much from him as the others and was a bit down hearted.

Never the less, I learned a lot from him so I'm glad I went.  One thing that has come from all these portfolio crits is a massive boost in confidence, some people will love your work, some people won't, but if you're confident in what you do then someone, one day, will be on board with that!

Portfolio Crit: Adrian Shaugnessy

My 4th portfolio crit was on Thursday afternoon with legend Adrian Shaugnessy.  I have met him once before when I asked him to sign his book for me after the lecture he gave us in second year.  As it was my 5th (counting James Greenhow) portfolio crit over the last few weeks I felt well practised and ready to impress.  He asked us to get in touch with him before hand and left an address and email.  I chose to email him with my CV and covering letter.  The crit was about our presentation and how we approached Adrian, rather than our work, so it was a nice balance compared to all the others I've attended.

Adrian firstly agreed with Craig Oldham in that it is important to include a sample of work when you approach someone to give them a taste of what you do.  He liked the idea of handwriting the envelope, with a name on rather than just an address.  He said this was a personal and more considered approach and meant he was more likely to open it.  I suppose I should have really made the effort to post something as well as email, always a double whammy and they are more likely to remember you.  When I leave in June it will be vital to go the extra mile to get attention.

When we got down to the presentation itself, he made more overall comments about us all.  He really appreciated the fact myself and Maaya presented our books right too him rather than too ourselves or the rest of the group (admittedly a little tip we picked up from Alison who saw him in the morning).  I have to say that I thought I would have done this anyway, but after he said no one so far had, I wondered if I would have done?

He mentioned a few people had had to over explain some of their projects which probably meant they hadn't made them clear enough in the portfolio.  Although he didn't say that to me, it is something I am always conscious of as my work is quite conceptual.  I have concentrated hard on making my portfolio as clear as possible.  

The main point that he ended on was that everyone you meet is a potential job interview and a contact that you should always follow up.  Even if you don't get anything out of it other than a meeting, you can then always keep in touch with this person for advice and an update.  It's got me thinking that perhaps I should get back in touch with a few of the contacts I made in London and arrange a trip down their soon!

He also said he liked Belle's portfolio because it stood out from the rest.  He liked single sheets that could be handled and passed around and certainly hers looked very professional.  Although I don't think that approach is suitable for a more advertising based portfolio, I have been told many times by creative directors that they're looking for the work and want it to be simple to navigate and look at.  It has given me that extra push to invest in a new portfolio before the end of term and get it printed on better paper!

Thanks Adrian!

Russell Hancock: Freelancing

Russell graduated from the same year as Craig Oldham and yesterday he dropped in to give us his words of wisdom about leaving uni.  It was a very interesting and informative talk, which covered very different things from Craig Oldham's.  He focused a lot on work you do when you leave which is more likely than not going to be for free.  It is great when we get the chance to hear from someone who is much closer to our own experiences and lives, just a few years ahead of us, rather than just intimidating big designers (Although these are great too!).  For me, it gives me a sense of comfort that it can be done and it will turn out alright in the end.  I felt that Russell was totally honest about his experiences, especially admitting that it has gone wrong, he has moved back home, he has felt like giving up.  I know that it is not going to be easy when we leave, we're not going to walk straight into our dream jobs, but I do believe that as long as i'm prepared for that and willing to keep going despite rejection that I will get there eventually!

I will actually take away from his talk quite a few pieces of great advice.
Firstly, the nitty-gritty of legal stuff and contracts.  Things like this had never really crossed my mind and for Russell to not only explain and go through this side, but to actually give us template documents was probably the most invaluable thing we've received all year!

Secondly, the chat that we had afterwards was really insightful.  Myself and a few others have seriously been considering the idea of setting up our own business when we leave and just diving straight into things.  My heart is totally for this idea, would relish the challenge and be willing to do everything it takes to succeed, but my head has been pulling me back saying that no one would take us seriously and we don't have enough experience.  Russell said that it depends on how you feel, it's different for everyone, but believed that if you feel you can do things better, you can deliver the goods and you put the work in, people will take you seriously and it can work.  This idea is starting to become a serious consideration for me...

Thirdly,  I thought his cinema project was great.  I loved the fact that he had actively taken a problem he identified and tried to fix it, set up his own pitch to the council and despite all the set backs ended up turning it into a great business prospect.  I really identify with the idea of fixing problems that you find around you, it's where I hope i'm headed in the future, but to see him put this into action for no other reason than passion and a slim opportunity was an absolute inspiration to me!

James Greenhow: portfolio crit

On Monday afternoon I got my chance to speak to James Greenhow and take him through my portfolio.  It was another great portfolio crit! I got some great feedback on my projects, he described my work as very varied which is good, and said I had a knack for executing intelligent ideas very clearly and simply so they had an immediate impact on the viewer.  This was a great compliment!  He again liked my Stonewall project ( brownie points for leaving it in again!) and although he agreed with Love that perhaps it would work better with photographs, he said it showed off my skills in designing round a restriction in the brief and thought it was very creative.

All these portfolio crits have been great practice for June when we leave, they've certainly boosted my confidence massively - I have to admit it is so great to finally sit there and have people validate and commend your work when we spend so much time having it criticised and ripped to shreds.  I also feel I am taking the time to really scrutinise the layout, order and presentation of my portfolio which I think can only come from going through it time and time again with people.  I have a few changes I will make for the June hand in and leaving based on how I know i've felt when flicking though it which I hope will make that extra difference.

So 3 down, 2 to go, tomorrow I have sneaked into a spare spot at Music and have Adrian at Unit Editions!

Noise Lab!

A long over due post about our fabulous exhibition at Noise Lab last month!

A lot of hard work went into organising this exhibition, as well as a helping hand from most of the year group, Alessandra and Helen put all their precious time into making this happen so we were very greatfull to them! It was a huge success and a great opportunity for us all to squeezee in another project and exhibit to such a large audience. Here's some pics from the experience...

My Work: