This morning we had a introductory chat with John about networking mainly. I wrote down a couple of key notes which I feel will be important to me now and in the future.
- Sort LinkedIn account this weekend
- Get to know people now
- Main thing that companies look for now is people who love what they are doing
- What makes you you? Include this on your CV and explain who you are to make you stand out from the rest
- Hand written letters are probably the most appropriate form of communication as they attract people's attention
We then had a talk about contacting professionals. I also wrote down a few of the main key points that I picked up on during this session.
- Build a dialogue with these people, it isn't about having a degree it is about who you are and what you have to offer
- Treat contacting professionals like having a brief to complete
- Always have the correct questions to ask people (have them ready in your mind)
- Email, Twitter, post, other?
- Consider why you are asking the questions? A visit would be good? Think about Skype and FaceTime (during one of the chats I had with John he mentioned that he was hoping to get us involved in more opportunities where we could speak to professionals via skype in one of the studios, I think this would be extremely beneficial to us!)
- Think off the wall to stand out
- Don't just be a person with a degree and no experience
- Do not ask for a placement
- The advice you get from people you will know forever and you can then keep in touch with these people
- What will they want to know about you? What kind of creative are you? What kind of work do you see as synergetic to you?
- Invite people to college
- What can you show them? Take work with you
- Don't worry about having a portfolio at this stage
- What should you aim to take away from a meeting? Experience and practice run, an insight in to how a professional studio operates
VISIT LOGO DESIGN LOVE WEBSITE
CV
- What is a creative CV?
- It's all about you and what is great about you up to now. A shop window in essence
- Package my CV
- It is not just a CV but is a reference they may keep on file if it is good enough
Below are some of the examples which John showed us during his presentation. The ones that caught my attention the most are the first two, as I feel they relate closely to me and my practice. I would love to create a CV which could be sent out to studios specifically in the format of packaging. I think this would certainly capture someone's attention more than a 2D CV printed out. I could create it so that it would be easy for me to reproduce at a low cost, and as sustainable as possible. This is something I am going to start thinking about as an extra project on the side. I am going to start a new post on PPP to illustrate any relevant and inspiring research I find which will help me to create my own unique CV.
In the afternoon we had another session with John where he showed us a variety of different videos. We spent most of the time watching a Snask video, this was bizarre and certainly unique. They are a very successful studio though and are very clever to have done as well as they have done. Some of the key things I noted down when watching the video are as follows:
- Say yes to everything
- If you believe in yourself you can do anything
The Lille 2012 video also inspired me to create whatever I like and think big. It also made me think about my current design for print brief, and has made me consider how I could think even bigger and propose a seeded box as opposed to a box which would just have seeds attached to it. This is something I don't think I could physically make so I am going to propose how it could be produced commercially for the use of a large population.
John also mentioned how a lot of the third years now are currently revisited old briefs they completed in first and second year and redesigning them to see what they can come up with and how they can improve upon their original idea. I thought that I would love to do this with my Pooch Pouch Brief which I completed last year. This is something I could consider doing this year or next.
Below are some of the videos John told us to have a look at, some of which we watched during the presentation. I thought it would be worthwhile posting them on my blog so that I can always have them here to refer back to in the future.
Networking
as a tool for Creatives
Establishing
a personal practice as a Graphic Designer, starts early. Mid way
through ones degree or College course we identify (hopefully) the
most attractive direction that our practice
can
offer us as an individual.
However
throughout ones development, we meet many people from not only our
own sphere
of
work, but from many others. Photographers, film producers or
creatives from many other
disciplines.
This adds to the experiences that can interplay within your own
professional framework. As a student, we do this automatically within
the College, course and year groups as a day to day thing. Therefore
we slip into the networking mode virtually automatically through
‘crits’ and by collaborative tasks.
Near
to, or after graduating, we come away from College with a degree
(hopefully) which illustrates/indicates to our profession and others
that we have achieved a certain level of skill, and an academic
understanding of our industry and other areas that we may have
contact with, now or in the future.
It
would be amazing if that was the ‘magic ticket’ to a long and
lucrative career within the business...sadly not true. This is merely
a springboard that has lifted your foot onto the initial rung of our
live’s/career’s ladder.
We
can survive in a bubble now we have the technology, sitting
alone in a room somewhere
completing
and distributing work to whomever and wherever. Becoming a ‘creative
hermit’ has a few downsides however. No one being aware of your
existence, your ability, your brilliance. Remember there are over 7
billion of us clinging to our planet.
Networking
in all of it’s forms will introduce and engage you within the wider
areas of our
profession,
gain you friends (some that can last a lifetime) colleagues and even
clients from near and far (sounds a bit like either a fairy story or
a recruitment ad?).
How
can we effectively network with others?
We
can establish a network in quite a few ways, and I will identify a
few, but you will
more
than likely add a few more yourself.
1.JOIN
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS allied to your discipline. ie the
Graphic Artists
Guild, AIGA and many others.
2.Specific
NETWORKING SITES where one can upload a portfolio and
obtain
feedback from fellow professionals such ad Behance, Cargo,
Coroflot and many
others.
3.Join
CREATIVE CIRCLES and become active amongst your peers.
4.ATTEND
CONFERENCES and symposiums to meet others that may be
attending or
presenting there, this is a ricky one if one is of a reserved
disposition (shy).
But,
remember the phrase I always use as a displaced ‘Geordie’
‘Shy
bairns get nowt!’
- TRAVEL, work abroad or work with other designers/studios outside the UK. This is something I made a specific point of within my own career. It ‘globalizes’ your network and is so much easier today with the internet.
- BLOG AND FOLLOW BLOGS. You can amaze yourself when someone from thousands of miles away comments on your work, thoughts and ideas. Check who is following you and why.
7.VISIT
other creatives and socialize. ‘Most’ are more than pleased to
meet
other
creatives. Establish a dialogue and it can go on for many years
if
you maintain the contact (not as a stalker though!).
THERE
IS NO ONE ON THE PLANET YOU CAN NOT
CONTACT!
When
I say that of course I mean there is no one in the world you can not
attempt to contact.
However,
have a reason to contact them.Even if it is simply to say WOW. Years
ago, I had always enjoyed the work of Milton Glaser in New York (I
LOVE NY) and took a punt and
contacted
him simply to say how over the years I really enjoyed his work. I
still email and get
replies
today...he and I are getting long in the tooth, but both enjoy
creative work.
Do
not wait...start today...but have a reason and identify why you want
to talk.
Networking
has been around since the beginning of the artist/creative days. The
PreRaphaelites, the Impressionists all networked and discussed their
work...I am not suggesting you drink, fight and cut your own ears
off, but networking is a helpful and rewarding
pursuit.
Some
of my own tips for networking to expand your own network.
1.When
you do contact/ meet other creatives you have identified as having
some
synergy with you and your practice, ask who else they would suggest you talk
to/follow.
Keep
in touch on a regular basis (even if it is a postcard from your
vacation), pass on other creative practices projects you have seen, they may appreciate it as much as you do.synergy with you and your practice, ask who else they would suggest you talk
to/follow.
This
is a simple diagram of how it should work.
Why
would anyone want to let me
into their
network
or
interested at all?
Initially
as a new Graduate or a final year student, you are ‘new blood’
and fresh. You have had a number of years where you have been
encouraged to look at the profession in a new
light
and can bring fresh thinking and ‘untainted’ views.
When
wanting to make contacts and seeking advice, you should understand
that professionals
will
want to give advice...it’s really nice to be asked and to be
seen as an ‘expert’
This
may sound like ‘schmoozing’ (look it up) or ego tripping, but
what the heck, if it works,
use
it.
Remember,
recently it has been reported that networking has achieved between
60-80%
of
potential job offers?
Networking
can induct you into important information ‘loops’ and make you
aware of opportunities and projects that a ‘creative hermit’ may
miss out on.
For
those who have seen the movie ‘Meet the Fokkers’ you are
inside the circle of friends.
The
‘FOKKER’ effect
This
you may think is common sense. It actually is. BUT it is surprising
how effective it can be
to
network. The biggest reason people do not network is poor time
management (but that is another story). Not being bothered to take or
make time is something we really should address, it is so easy to say
‘I’m too busy’...or ‘I haven’t has a spare minute’
Think
about that next time you miss out on something you really wanted to
be part of...a few
minutes
every week can be advantageous. Like Facebook and Tweeting.
There
are over 7 Billion people on our planet...why not
speak to a few?
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