Monday, 21 November 2011
The Beautiful Meme - Tom Sharp // Visiting Professionals // 18/11/11
Tom Sharp came in and spoke about his role as a copy writer at The Beautiful Meme.. He went over "12 Thoughts About Copywriting and Design" It was interesting to see just how important copy writing is within graphic design and although it seems quite obvious I had never really thought about relevant it is. It's made me realise how important 'words' are within design and advertising and how it can be a integral part within design.
12 thoughts about copy
1) The strongest way to convey an idea is by using words as images are open to interpretation
2) The easiest way to sell is by using words (value proposition)
3) Copy and design are always at war with each other
- You need to find a balance between message & aesthetic
4) Hierarchy (order of importance) is everything
5) People like reading well written copy
"The consumer is not a moron, she is your wife" (Don't underestimate the consumer)
- David Ogilvy
6) Words make your brand human
- People need to engage with your product therefore the language you use must be appropriate
7) Simple is clever
- Good design is good thinking
8) Complicated is stupid
Don't use confusing terminology
9) Tone of voice is a subtlety
- How the type is treated
- Different rhythm, pace
- Alters how you read the copy
10) It's your job to challenge every word
11) A designer and copywriter should be partners
12) Good designers can spell. Great designers can write.
(Thanks Joe!)
12 thoughts about copy
1) The strongest way to convey an idea is by using words as images are open to interpretation
2) The easiest way to sell is by using words (value proposition)
3) Copy and design are always at war with each other
- You need to find a balance between message & aesthetic
4) Hierarchy (order of importance) is everything
5) People like reading well written copy
"The consumer is not a moron, she is your wife" (Don't underestimate the consumer)
- David Ogilvy
6) Words make your brand human
- People need to engage with your product therefore the language you use must be appropriate
7) Simple is clever
- Good design is good thinking
8) Complicated is stupid
Don't use confusing terminology
9) Tone of voice is a subtlety
- How the type is treated
- Different rhythm, pace
- Alters how you read the copy
10) It's your job to challenge every word
11) A designer and copywriter should be partners
12) Good designers can spell. Great designers can write.
(Thanks Joe!)
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Generation Press - Paul Hewitt + An& // Visiting Professionals // 11/11/11
Yesterday Paul Hewitt and Anand Patel from Generation Press came and spoke to use about exactly what they do. Fred always said just how passionate Anand was but you can only believe it when you see it.
I have to state I was extremely excited when Paul mentioned that the print shop was based in a barn.. A BARN.
Both Paul and Anand are so passionate about what they do, you can see just how much pride they take in each and every print project. It's amazing too see how far Anand has come since LCA and it's given me a great amount of motivation and made realise that you won't get anywhere without working hard. Really hard. One of the things that Paul mentioned was that neither printers or designers can work without each other, if you want the best out of your work you've got to maintain a decent relationship with printers.
(Pic of print!)
Got a great print to take away, and yes it was amazing. Would love to go visit at Generation Press one day (and not just to check out the barn!)
I have to state I was extremely excited when Paul mentioned that the print shop was based in a barn.. A BARN.
Both Paul and Anand are so passionate about what they do, you can see just how much pride they take in each and every print project. It's amazing too see how far Anand has come since LCA and it's given me a great amount of motivation and made realise that you won't get anywhere without working hard. Really hard. One of the things that Paul mentioned was that neither printers or designers can work without each other, if you want the best out of your work you've got to maintain a decent relationship with printers.
(Pic of print!)
Got a great print to take away, and yes it was amazing. Would love to go visit at Generation Press one day (and not just to check out the barn!)
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Catalogue // Visiting Professionals // 04/11/11
Yesterday ex-students Tom Pratt and Oliver Shaw came in to talk about their design studio Catalogue and talk through some of their work. After winning the pitch of the Leeds College of Art prospectus and working on some other briefs together in their final year Tom and Oliver decided to get together and set up their own design Studio. Having done some work for a Barbers in Harrogate they were able to rent some space in Harrogate - not being able to much design work here they moved around - from a massive warehouse, to an awful place in Hunslet and finally settling in a studio close to the train station.
It was interesting to see that they have a keen focus on print and 60% of what they do is design and 40% being print. They've worked pretty hard to get there they are now and have been able to work some great clients.
Some of the key points the guys made were;
- Never work for free
- It's not always easy working from home - get yourself a decent studio space
- They prefer to work on more arts and cultural based projects rather than commercial ones
- They work on quite a lot of self initiated projects
- Done let people abuse you and your skills
- Get to know people and network with them
- Always watermark your work...
- Setting up your own studio isn't as tough as it seems - smaller businesses are now doing better than larger design companies
- The guys only work 9-6 Mon - Fri, keeping a healthy balance between work and play is important
- Dont do work you don't want to // work on projects that interest you
It was a real eye opener listening to the guys, they are genuinely passionate about what they do and worked hard to setup their own business, I'm sure they'll continue to work on some great projects. And they're cool guys.
It was interesting to see that they have a keen focus on print and 60% of what they do is design and 40% being print. They've worked pretty hard to get there they are now and have been able to work some great clients.
Some of the key points the guys made were;
- Never work for free
- It's not always easy working from home - get yourself a decent studio space
- They prefer to work on more arts and cultural based projects rather than commercial ones
- They work on quite a lot of self initiated projects
- Done let people abuse you and your skills
- Get to know people and network with them
- Always watermark your work...
- Setting up your own studio isn't as tough as it seems - smaller businesses are now doing better than larger design companies
- The guys only work 9-6 Mon - Fri, keeping a healthy balance between work and play is important
- Dont do work you don't want to // work on projects that interest you
It was a real eye opener listening to the guys, they are genuinely passionate about what they do and worked hard to setup their own business, I'm sure they'll continue to work on some great projects. And they're cool guys.
Friday, 4 November 2011
OUPD201 - PPD Session with John and Jane.
On Tuesday we had out first PPD session with with John and Jane. We got into groups and worked together to put down why we were here.. and we thought about industrial experience. (PPD tasks..)
It was really interesting to working together and finding out that we all had similar concerns about working industry. We worked together to put down out concerns about getting work experience and then John and Jane did their best to get rid of our fears.
It was a really good session and it made me more confident about looking for studios that I would really like to visit. Looking forward to more sessions of PPD now :)
It was really interesting to working together and finding out that we all had similar concerns about working industry. We worked together to put down out concerns about getting work experience and then John and Jane did their best to get rid of our fears.
It was a really good session and it made me more confident about looking for studios that I would really like to visit. Looking forward to more sessions of PPD now :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)