PPD Summary. life. graphic design.

3 years ago, I started this course doing every bit of design on Photoshop. Don't judge me. 3 years later I can't even begin to explain how much my graphic design practice, and my life has changed. I don't think I've been through anything as intense as this course, but it really has made me realise how much I do love graphic design.

Throughout the past 3 years I've never really known where I wanted to be after I graduated and to be honest I still don't know. I think that I really need to focus on trying to get internships and placements as I don't know exactly where I fit in. I really like the idea of working in house but somewhere that is beauty/fashion related - and for this I need a few years experience first. I'm hoping that the internship at Made By Six and Vast works out - and then hoping to spend some more time at Work design over summer, at which point I'll be looking for permanent jobs. I don't have a master plan. I'll see how it goes. Cause that is how I roll.

My Business Cards arrived yay!

£115 on 100 red foiled cards - 700gsm colorplan stock. I love print. I really do.
Thanks to rugbyprinter.co.uk BOOM.

Summer update.

Darren from Made by Six got in touch, he said he liked my work and would be alright with me coming in for some time over summer, after I've been to visit them first though! EXCITED YO.

2013 Portfolio & CV

Linkedin Profile

uk.linkedin.com/pub/baljeet-samra/55/39b/781/

Business Cards!

EOYS Proposal

Studio Visit : Manifest

I had decided to get in touch with Martin at Manifest again, having already been to the studio once before, martin had told me to keep in touch. I knew they were moving to a new studio, and I couldn't wait to go and check it out.

Spent about an hour talking with Martin about my new work and my plans for uni, I got some really good feedback about the stuff I had been working on and he said it was great to see how I had developed since we last met. He said to keep in touch, and I mentioned that I might be in Leeds over summer so he said to let him know when I was free and he would see if I could pop in for a few days on placement. Looking forward to seeing what happens!

Studio Visit : Vast

I got the chance to meet Phil Morrison and design agency Vast, after Amber told me that they were looking for interns. Having followed the studio for a while I was really excited to go and see the type of work the produce. Phil talked through a lot of the projects they were currently working on and the kind of stuff that they generally do. He said he would be happy for me to come in over summer, he originally said July, but I'm hoping I might be able to do the last 2 weeks in June after EOYS. We shall see..

Job Applications

I just haven't been applying for jobs. I have however been networking with people and I think I would be happier trying to sort out some internships for summer to get some experience rather than going straight into a job. But who knows what might happen.

Baljeet. Ppd Presentation Oh Dear by Baljeet Kaur Samra

Studio Visit : Work Design

On Friday whilst I was at home I had arranged to go and see Matt at Work Design, where I had done my placement at the end of Aug. I had been in touch but thought it would be a good time to go and show Matt what I had been up to. I got the chance to go though my work with both Matt and Neil which was great. What I hadn't realised was that how demotivated and negative I was about my work, graduating and life in general. I really didn't think it was so noticeable. But it was. 

Matt and Neil both gave me some really constructive criticism regarding my portfolio and gave me some really useful pointers about my FMP brief. I also hadn't realised just how lost I was with my briefs. Oh dear.

Portfolio
- Black and white - make more of the graphics, craft the 'floral collection' logo show the branding not the patterns. Make the print, labels and packaging the main focus. (Pretty much need to change it to how it was before my progress surgeries..)

- Alternative careers - one of the strongest projects, the type and layout is really strong - need to showcase that more

- Ella Ruth Branding - a good project, pages seem a but busy, showcase the logo larger and then include a few images of my work.

- YCN - UK Greetings, xmas card project. Another strong project, the idea is really good, maybe consider the point of sale. How could it work in a more commercial context.

- Vintage Luxe - Tabby Rose - Love the vintage luxe branding, refine the tabby rose branding, focus on the packaging and include this.

- Out of View - weakest project, take it out.

- Seventeen - A good brief but too similar to the lola and grace one - consider taking it out.

- Lola & Grace - show the relationship between the pattern and the logo. Great brief. Focus more on the packaging, second page isn't as strong. 

http://www.totaljobs.com/JobSearch/JobDetails.aspx?JobId=56041644&Keywords=internship&CompanyType=2

oh well.

http://bareescentuals.hodesiq.com/job_detail.asp?JobID=3556180&user_id=
http://uk.linkedin.com/jobs/jobs-Communication-Designer-4995115

Portfolio Surgery

- Put all briefs onto 2 pages each for continuity 

- Remove top ten brief

- Have more 3rd year briefs

- Remove logo on left hand page - don't repeat title on second page

- Re do transfers brief 

B+W 

- Include logo and patterns on first page

- Dinnerware and group photo on second page

- web?

Ella Ruth

- Scan Portfolio cover x 2 - then have business cards next to it. Showcase Ella's photography.

- Page 2 - group shot and any smaller details

Alternative C

- Scan Front & Back of book

- Poster - Some individual Logos larger

YCN - Xmas

- Show patterns on first page then include group photos on second page

YCN Swarovski 

- Patterns on page 1 - And then packaging on second page

Transfers

- Re design / Print & Photograph Asap. 

If you weren't a Graphic Designer..

Really nice to have a few people tweet me saying thank you for the alternative careers print :)
Greig - Effektive

Mark Diggins

Kent Lyons

Martin Farrar Smith

Manifest Communications

Portfolio Surgery with Chris Jackson

Had a really positive portfolio surgery with Chris. He really like the body of work that I had presented and said that although it was quite varied as a series of projects they all worked together quite well. In terms of the layout of the portfolio Chris mentioned that I could alter some of the pages and just refine the layout - for the Black and White brief I need to have a better introduction to it, focus more on the branding and the series of patterns as they are the main elements of the brief. He commented on the fact that he liked that I had actual print outs of the work which always make it better than just having the photographs. One of the points that was raised was the similarities between the 17 and the swarovski brief - Chris said to either mix up the layout of the pages or to maybe drop a brief once I had some more this module. I Just need to change up some of the layouts and alter some of the pictures but overall I was really pleased with the way it went and it was great to get another opinion on my current portfolio.

Working with Lee Goater.

So just before christmas Amber sent out a message about a potential placement opportunity with Lee Goater. I got in touch and didn't really here anything back until when Lee asked if I would like to get started on a quick project.

Ill upload what I've been up to soon..