OUGD602 - PPP3: Ben Casey (The Chase)

Ellen and I went to a talk by Ben Casey, the founder of The Chase agency in Manchester. The talk was very inspirational and we came away feeling really pleased that we had managed to go.

We also went to an Adidas exhibition afterwards which was good fun too. 

OUGD602 - PPP3: Tigerprint Contact

One of my friends who I went to school with now works for Hallmark which is in the same building as Tigerprint. When I told her that I have submitted designs to Tigerprint before for competitions she was really interested to hear how I had got on. She has seen some of my recent work and said that she could really imagine me working there. I asked if she would be able to pass my details on to the relevant people. So emailed her with an updated portfolio. I haven't heard anything back yet but I am still hopeful for at least some work experience.

OUGD602 - PPP3: Workshop at Leeds Uni

At Leeds Uni there was an event held there called The Green Exchange. A couple of us from Leeds College of Art went along for the workshop they were hosting. We were put into groups and asked to come up with sustainable concepts which could be implemented around Leeds to help the less fortunate. 

This was a refreshing break from working at college and was a good change of environment.

OUGD602 - PPP3: Tony Broomhead Possible Placement

When we were in the workshop with Tony today, we had lots of opportunities to speak to him and ask him any questions about what he does. He asked us a lot of questions regarding the course and the kind of work we produce, as he is a tutor at Sheffield University. 

I asked him a lot of questions about OS31 as I wanted to find out whether it would be possible for me to do a placement with him. He said at the moment the three of them work in quite a small studio space and there is stuff absolutely everywhere (prototypes etc). I asked whether they have ever had any students in for a placement. He said that everyone he teaches constantly ask him about whether they can come and work with him, but he said to me that at the end of the day, they don't really need another architect, so perhaps a Graphic Designer would be suitable! 

I then went on to ask him whether there would be any chance for me to visit him in Sheffield or maybe even have a placement with him. He said that if I kept in touch with him then we could see about sorting something out. 

I would absolutely love the chance to work with a group of architects as I think it would be so inspiring and would allow me to engage with a completely different kind of design. I am going to keep in touch with Tony (as I already have been doing) and contact him in the New Year about the possibility of future work with him and his team. 

OUGD602 - PPP3: Summer Studio Visit

During the Summer holidays, I completed a two month placement with a packaging design company. I worked in house which wasn't new to me, as I did it for two years prior to coming to Leeds College of Art. However, it was a very different structure and I came away with a lot more experience and knowledge which was brilliant.

Alongside completing this placement, I was also constantly contacting other studios nearby to where I live at home. I researched into studios in Liverpool, and unfortunately there are very few which are packaging based, and at this moment in time I am thinking that this is probably the sector I would like to be in. 

I was able to get in touch with one of the girls I worked with from my placement in first year at Rippleffect, and she put me in touch with someone who had recently set up a studio in Liverpool. I contacted them straight away and was asked to go in for a visit and to talk through my portfolio with them.

When I arrived I was made to feel quite uncomfortable. The director had forgotten my name, forgotten that we had organised a meeting, and failed to give me any feedback on my work which I found to be quite disconcerting. I left the studio within minutes of being there as they didn't keep me for very long. They said that they would be in contact within the next week and failed to do so. 

I could have contacted them myself, but didn't really feel the need to, as I didn't really want to have another conversation with them after my first experience. I thought this was worth writing about on here, as I found it quite astonishing that I was treated in that way. It definitely gave me a real insight into what the industry can be like, and the types of people I may come across during my career as a graphic designer. 

It also made me question whether working in a studio is really for me, or whether I would be more suited to working in house somewhere or perhaps even as a freelancer. At this moment in time I am feeling quite confused about it all, and think that this has all stemmed from my Summer experiences. Hopefully I will have more of an idea after the Christmas break, once I have completed my dissertation and can focus my attention even more on networking and meeting even more people. 

OUGD602 - PPP3: Port Sunlight Visit

Today I visited Port Sunlight and went to the Lever Brothers museum. This was a fantastic opportunity for me to gather research for my dissertation and it was a refreshing change, instead of sitting behind a computer all day writing an essay. I feel as though it is important to take the time out to enjoy myself in order to maintain productivity and a positive attitude. The museum itself as well as Port Sunlight was so lovely. I'm really pleased I made the effort to go.

OUGD602 - PPP3: Robot Food

After contacting Robot Food via LinkedIn, today I went in and visited them. They gave me a tour around their studio and sat me down to review my portfolio and give me feedback. It was great to see what their studio is like inside and Simon said that they are hoping to expand, so when they do there may be an opportunity for a placement.