Evaluation

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Final Submission Boards for OUGD301

Final Submission Boards Briefs 1-4
OUGD301 - Baljeet Kaur Samra Additional Briefs 5A-5B-5C

PPD Task 2

1. Identify 5 (or more) companies you're really interested in, 'synergy..' (Can't remember the exact question as I can't write quick enough)
- them.co.uk
- apracticeforeverydaylife.com
- dalziel-pow.com
- checklandkindleysides.com
- www.gregorybonnerhale.com
- sb-studio.co.uk
- studio-april.com
- weareboxhead.com
- work-design.co.uk
- newenglishdesign.com

2. Top Choice
ERM. hmm. I don't know, I love them all.
studio-april.com
work-design.co.uk

3. Choice - is it based on location, direction of practice, brand philosophy..
studio-april.com
Well It's based in London so thats a problem.. but besides that I love that when I went to visit them it was being run by 2 successful women. And I like smaller studios.. And the work they do is amazing, with a focus on print which makes me happy. And it's just a great studio.

work-design.co.uk
Small studio - 4 designers. Been there on a work placement so I know what the studio is like, I guess more than anything the fact that it is based on Leicester. But I love the work they produce, as it is for local and national clients. They're awesome.

4. What if none of them are your main reason for choosing.. why?
......

5. Consider - who are they? what do you want them to do next and what you wan? why should they get back to you?
I'll think about this.

Explaining branding to your child..

Someone posted this article on twitter and it's actually really interesting..

http://landor.com/#!/talk/articles-publications/articles/branding-explained-to-a-child-what-is-a-brand/

Grand Designs Live 2012

Kevin McCloud.. Marry me?

PPD Task

List 5 (or more) things you know now that you didn’t before the break.

1. The routine of working in a design studio is much harder than uni.
2. I now know I would like to work in a smaller design studio rather than one with 50 odd people.
3. I definitely couldn't be a freelance designer.
4. I need to work on my illustrator skills. a lot.
5. The real world isn't as fun as uni is. 

List 5 (or more) things you would address differently than you did this Summer.

1. Look at ringing design studios I want to visit or sending them something in the post rather than just relying on emailing them.
2. Have a plan of what I want to do, instead of saying I'll do certain things and then just ignoring them completely.
3. Try to set aside (some) time for personal projects.
4. Go to galleries, exhibitions and other creative events that are relevant to my design practice/dissertation.

List 5 (or more) specific things you will address this Semester, that should be useful.

1. Having the confidence to talk to people on the phone.
2. Learning how to take decent photos of my work for design boards and submission.
3. Ensuring that I undertake a decent amount of research before starting to design.
4. Hand rendering skills, go back to doing some more drawing rather than always relying on my mac.
5. Time management. Have a detailed plan of what needs to be done and by when, can't afford to be wasting time. 

List 5 (or more) things you feel we could address as a group?

1. Tax, business stuff.. It all confuses me..  
2. What is the meaning of life?
3. Erm.. I dont know.

Imagine that blog feature..

I've been following Imagine That for a while now and thought it would be a good time to submit some examples of work that could be featured on their blog.. I sent a submission email and the following day I got a feature on their blog! yay!

http://www.imagine-that.info

SAS London

http://www.saslondon.com/who-we-are/

Motivational/Aspirational stuff.

Studio Visit 4.. New English Design - Leicester.

Last Friday (14/09/12) I went to go and visit Wendy who is the creative director at New English Design. The studio is based in the town centre in Leicester and is probably the most amazing studio I've managed to visit, as soon as I walked in I loved it.. (which has nothing to do with my obsession with exposed brick work and beams). I talked through my work and Wendy gave loads of feedback, on the positive aspects of my portfolio as well as what I could work on, she felt that the uni briefs worked much better than the commercial ones, and that I shouldn't be afraid to take this way of working across all my projects. It's about having a good idea - not just making something look good for the sake of it, take an idea and make it brilliant. She also mentioned that on the whole my work was quite good for someone who hadn't graduated yet - which is always nice to hear. We also spoke about what it was like being a woman in an industry that is mainly dominated by men, she made it clear that I really shouldn't worry about it and that there was no need to assume that it would stop me getting to where I want in the future, I can safely say that Wendy has done pretty well having ran the studio with her partner for the past 15 years, the studio produces some amazing work and has a great client list.

On the whole I found the meeting with Wendy to be really useful, not only has it motivated me and made me feel more comfortable about 3rd year it's also given me the confidence to believe in my work, Wendy was also kind enough to invite me back in Easter to show her what new projects I've been working on and how things have changed.

www.newenglish.co.uk

Studio Visit 3.. Work - Leicester.

http://www.work-design.co.uk/website/index.php

20/08/12
Today I went to visit Matt at Work Design in Leicester.. I had emailed the studio some time ago but didn't hear anything back, when I emailed Matt he invited me to the studio. I took along my portfolio hoping to get some feedback, Matt said he was quite impressed with my work and that it was a strong body of work considering I had just finished 2nd year. We spent a while just having a chat and I was quite shocked when Matt asked whether I would be interested in doing a work placement.. and of course I said yes. Having not done a work placement before it's safe to say I was considerably nervous, Matt warned me that it was quite a busy period and that there was a lot going on.

22/08/12
Day 1.
I honestly had no idea what to expect when I started on my first day, I was introduced to the other designers, Euan and Neil as well as freelance designer Greg. Matt briefed me on a project that was for a  charity/support group who teaches young people about puberty/sexual health and teen pregnancy. I spent the day working on project which Matt had started but still needed quite a bit of content fitting in. I think I got on alright and at the end of the day it wasn't as terrifying as I had imagined.

23/08/12
Day 2.
Spent the morning working on the same project from yesterday and in the afternoon helped Matt with a logo for a domestic violence group. Having not used illustrator in a while as well generally working on any design I don't think I did that well. I think it's gonna take a few days before I start getting back into designing. As I'm in the studio 9-6 and usually I lounge around at home doing nothing I did find myself feeling quite tired.

On the whole it's a good feeling being in the studio, and I don't feel like I'm out of place.. despite being in a room with 5 other men. Oh and I met Paul today, who was away yesterday. The guys have been really welcoming which is nice, and they're pretty cool.

24/08/12
Day 3.
Today was about finishing off the designs for the resource pack about sexual health/puberty.. It took a while, making sure I had managed to include all the content and It took a while but I got through in the end, oh, I didn't however manage to find any supporting photographs of certain sexually transmitted infections. It's got to be said it was quite uncomfortable to have Matt and Paul on either side of me whilst I tried to find a photograph of someone with Syphilis. Thankfully Matt decided I didn't have to find the rest of the images and I moved onto putting the project into a presentation that allows the client to see the content and send back any amendments.

I'm really enjoying being in a studio environment as it's such a huge experience, it is however a complete reality check.. I never expected working life to be easy but it's got to be said I didn't anticipate it to be this difficult, in the sense that working in a design studio with a range of clients is a huge responsibility.. it's fair enough to sit in the studio at uni and focus on designing what you like but in the real world life's not as simple. It's quite tough being in the studio when the guys are pretty stressed and they've got a lot on, I don't want to be burden on them. Seeing as Matt and the guys have told me to come back on Tuesday for another week I'm assuming they haven't got sick of me (yet). Just really quite thankful for the guys to have given me the opportunity to be in the studio.

Despite it being quite tense at times, I get a real buzz from being in the studio, I'm so nervous about graduating from uni and having to make my own way in the world, it really is pretty daunting, but after 3 days of being in the studio I'm already realising that although it feels like deadline day everyday I did make the right choice. And no I'm certain I don't want to be a plumber anymore. Although I still wish I was a wizard and went to Hogwarts. Can't have everything in life though.. Oh and the awkward moment when it got to 6pm and my dad just decided to come to the studio and introduce himself to everyone. cringe.

28/08/12
Day 4.
I'm incredibly tired. Been doing some last minute amends on the resource packs and putting together the presentation.. plus making a jigsaw designed to test peoples knowledge of STI's. brilliant. Seriously, how am I this tired?!

29/08/12
Day 5.
Matt rescued a injured pigeon this morning. Finished the resource packs. kind of. Matt had to check through them and make sure they were alright. Started on a logo.. it's looking good. I'm even more tired. I think reality has sunk in.

30/08/12
Day 6.
Staring working on some invites today with the logo I had been working on yesterday, I think it went well, despite it taking me a while to get the layout sorted, I don't even know how time goes by so quick when I'm in the studio. It's Saturday today and I'm struggling to remember what else I did on Thursday.. Ooops.

31/08/12
Day 7.
Surprised I've lasted this long, and more importantly surprised that the guys are still putting up with me being in the studio. Did a few different things today, started on some A3 posters for a display board type of thing, was nice to try and sort out my type and layout skills. Again a few amends to the resource packs and after this it was about making some amends to a annual report that Matt is working on and finally a quick sticker that didn't take too long. Today was a bit tense as the I've said the guys are quite busy but despite this I am still incredibly thankful to the team for letting me be in the studio as ever day is a huge learning curve, not just in terms of studio culture, but how the team deals with clients and as well my software skills, which are improving, slowly, but still improving. Again Matt has asked me to come back on Monday so I must be doing something right..

03/09/12
Day 8.
Matt: "Did you know using a stroke around the type is a sackable offence?!" haha oh damn.

04/09/12
Day 9.
Errrr. Finished the business card for a local hairdresser, with a considerable amount of help from Matt. I think this task has really made me realise that as a designer, sometimes I need to think outside the box and have a decent concept, rather than just attempting to get something done. A real lesson learnt. Matt also showed me a few skills in illustrator which have helped a lot too. Made some amends for the invite and then spent some time looking for some decent images on istock. Matt also rescued another injured pigeon.

05/09/12
Day 10.
Turns out that the pigeon Matt rescued was the same one.. it died. Spent the day working on a e-newsletter for Neil. Considerably harder than I had anticipated. I think I'm realising that not having done any design work for 2 months has taken it's toll.

06/09/12
Day 11. 
Penultimate day. Got a new nickname, BJ, not impressed. Finished the e-newsletter. Did a quick design on a exam style sheet. Made some amends to the e-newsletter. Quick go at a map for a website. Told the guys I would bring some onion bhajis tomorrow.

07/09/12
Day 12.
:(

Really quite sad that my time at Work is over, It's been an incredible experience, made easier by the fact that Matt, Paul, Neil, Euan and Greg all made me feel so welcome. Being in the studio has taught me a lot about the way in which the studio works, as well as the realities of working life and most importantly some much needed software skills. Onion bhajis went down quite well. Sent Matt a quick email to say thank you..

Oh Dear.

I just realised it's the 7th August and my summer has not been as productive as I anticipated.

Hmm.

Studio Visit 2.. Stocks Taylor Benson - Leicester

06/08/2012

Yesterday I went to visit Jonathan at Stocks Taylor Benson, as always I was quite nervous but once I started talking through my portfolio I felt more comfortable. Jonathan gave me a lot of constructive criticism about my projects which was really useful, it was great to see where I could improve and better my design skills. I really enjoyed the session with Jonathan and I love the studio overall, got a great vibe from it!

I asked about the possibility of a work placement and Jonathan said they're booked for this summer but there might be some possibility for the future. He also asked for an invite to the end of year show, which was great. I'm hoping to stay in touch with Jonathan and look forward to seeing him in the future.

New Blood 2012

Myself, Sarah P and Beth all decided to head down to London for New Blood. It was great to see so much brand new talent from a range of universities and courses. I didn't manage to take many photographs this year but did a collect a few business cards as well as other promotional material. Attending New Blood makes me realise how much I could improve as a designer in the next year.. Although it's daunting knowing I'll be in the final year of my degree It's also quite exciting at the same time.

D&AD North Lecture - Ben Hammersley

I can't find the notes I made in this lecture. Rahhhhhhhhhh.

Studio Visit 1.. Manifest Communications - Leeds

I had been in touch with Martin - the studio manager at Manifest communications and I decided to see if I could come visit the studio, I decided to get most of my recent projects printed out so I could get some feedback.

On arriving at the studio I was already far to excited, a great size studio which had a really nice atmosphere. I got to talk through my work with Martin who gave me some great feedback on the work I had been working on. It's always great to get an opinion on my work from someone who doesn't know what I've been working on. Martins favourite project was the YCN brief, the packaging for the Lola & Grace jewellery which I worked on in collaboration with Sadie.

Martin also told me more about the studio, the kind of projects they work on as well as an insight into the studio it self. I was really surprised when Martin said that he though I had a great portfolio, which in his opinion could belong to someone who has already spent a year in industry. Woah. I was pretty happy with that!

The visit to the studio was a great experience and I look forward to staying in touch with Martin should any opportunities arise in the future.

Final PPD presentation

Baljeet Kaur Samra 6th June 9-30

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