Portfolio Visit: Love Creative

Luckily when I left college to visit Love Creative in Manchester I had given myself an hour and a half to get there, as for some reason when making the trip from Manchester Piccadilly station to Market Street I subconciously decided to keep walking to Deansgate, walking far past High Street that Love creative studios was situated on. I think I was too busy thinking about the visit and what I was going to say.

After backtracking (alot) , I found myself outside number 65 Highstreet, and luckily someone from LOVE was on his way in to the building, therefore he showed me where to go and told Adam Rix that I had arrived.

The studio was amazing, I sat on leather sofas oppostie the reception desk, observed the wide variety of fruit on the table infront of me but decided against helping myself to it. The receptionist was very friendly and as I waited for Adam and was looking around I began to feel slightly overwhelmed by the colourful studio filled with the hustle and bustle of designers answering briefs. I had researched and read about quite alot of LOVES work so it was great to witness the ideas being put into action.

Adam came over with a friendly smile and way about him so I felt chilled out already, and we went round the corner to another seating area.

I began by reading my portfolio, going through each idea briefly. Then after that Adam went through my portfolio and each idea one by one and said what he liked and what could be developed a bit more. One of the ideas he thought could be refined was the British Postal Museums logo, so I plan on refining it then emailing it back to him for more feedback. Adam said he especially liked the 2 men and a Wardrobe poster and the TED magazine rolled up to visualize a magic wand.

At the end I asked him about placements and staying in contact if ever I needed anymore guidance and direction and he said that was fine, and so I plan on emailing him very soon. Overall I found the experience has made me believe that this is definitely the career choice for me and that I am passionate about graphic design, and that I am going in the right direction. Each portfolio visit has left me with more contacts and has helped me build bridges for the future and also in my work.

Here is the updated portfolio that I showed to Adam Rix at LOVE.

Contact Report: LOVE

At the end of my portfolio visit with Music, I knew that it was important I visited other graphic design agencies as the feedback I had received from Anthony had been very helpful. Therefore, I asked Anthony whether he knew anyone from either LOVE or The Chase. He said he did and that I should email him with my query and he would email back their details. Here is the contact report of this:

My email in White
Anthonys reply in Yellow

Hi Anthony

Just managed to make it back home to send you an email! Thanks for taking
the time to talk to me on Friday - it was much appreciated and found it very
helpful and enlightening. I remember I said my portfolio was a 'work in
progress' and thank goodness it was as I've noticed some spelling mistakes,
I'm sure you noticed them too, I'm getting a page reprinted.

I also mentioned at the end of our meeting about visiting other agencies and
if you knew of anyone that I could email about visiting them with my
portfolio - LOVE and The Chase were two that I would like to visit if there
was anyone there you knew of that I could write to?

Thanks
Katherine


Not at all, it was good to meet you.

You could try Adam Rix or Simon Griffin at Love,
Adam Rix <Adams email insterted here>
Simon Griffin <Simons email insterted here>

Or Craig here in the office mentioned the two people below at Chase
Manchester below:
Lise Brian: Lisa Brians email address
Steve Royle: Steve Royles email adress

regards


Anthony 



After reading this I decided to email Adam Rix at LOVE as I had been
on their website many times and thought it would be amazing if I got
the chance to visit them.

And so I emailed Adam, and 5 minutes later he replied! Here is the contact
report with Adam from LOVE. 

Hi Adam

I am a Graphic Design student from Stockport College currently in my second
year. At the moment we are trying to gain as much experience as we can by
talking to people in the graphic design industry and taking our
portfolio in to see designers for the experience and if possible even
some feedback on our work.

Last Friday I went to visit Anthony Smith at Music and I found the
experience very helpful and enlightening and he said I could try
writing to you to see if you would be able to spare 10 minutes or so to
look at my portfolio?

I have been looking at the Love Website and the MOSI Brief and Idea
was my favourite, especially the advert where people were standing in
the way while you were trying to watch the screen then the T-REX
silhouette comes and eats him up! Each Brief I read I was always intrigued
as to how it would be solved and I really enjoyed browsing your website.

Therefore I would be very grateful to have someone at LOVE look at
my work.

Thanks

Katherine Speak
Design and Visual Arts: Graphic Design Level 2
Stockport College


Hi Katherine

That would be fine by me. When's good for you?

Adam

How about Friday sometime in the afternoon?

Katherine


Aah, sorry should have said - any day except Friday! I'm doing portfolio
surgeries at Manchester Met.

Pick a date and time next week, there's nothing pencilled in just yet.

A

How about Next Monday 27th April? It's a private study day so can do anytime in the afternoon?

Katherine

That sounds good. How about 2.30pm?

I got a "mailer demon" email back so I don't know whether my reply was sent so I'll just write it again just in case.

Thats great for 2.30, thanks!

See you then

Katherine

Portfolio Visit: Music

On Friday 17th April I travelled down to Manchester armed with handwritten directions and A to Z to try and find the Music studio.

As I had just recently dropped my mobile phone in a mop bucket and was not the most map-orientated person, I knew if my directions and map failed me then I'd have to hope and pray that there were phone boxes in the Northern Quarter if I got lost.

Luckily, the only wrong turn I had taken was at Oldham Street, so at half 4 on the dot I rang the bell for the 2nd floor and I got buzzed in to go and meet Anthony on the top floor.

As I entered I shook Anthonys' hand and he offered me a beverage and I asked for water. He showed me to the sofas and said he wouldn't be two minutes, and Matt came over and apologized for the "mess", but he needn't have to I was grateful that they had given me the time to come and see them.

I looked around and checked out the studio, it was very modern looking and comfortable. I noticed on the table the most recent issue of 'Grafik' that I had purchased myself just a few days ago.

Anthony came over and asked me what year I was in and I said Level 2, we then discussed Level 3's idea for the bus. We also discussed his lecture. I said how it had been one of my favourite lectures because it was very down to earth and helpful and I especially liked at the end he had brought in his portfolio and work to have a look at.

He looked through my portfolio and I explained my pieces of work to him. From the feedback I received from Anthony I knew I would have to make my portfolio bigger, and clearer. When commenting on my individual pieces of work Anthony gave me helpful hints of to how to make certain aspects of my work better for example; refining the logo for 'British Postal Museum'. He also pointed out elements he liked including the TED magic wand idea. He asked me what I like to see when I look at other peoples design work and I explained how I like to see a clever idea that gets a smile as a reaction and he agreed.

At the end of the meeting I asked Anthony about how they worked on a brief when they first received it. He said that 2 or 3 of them first sit and discuss the brief, or they might think about it individually first then discuss it. He also explained that he finds it better working with other people for both the working side and the social side, as you can bounce ideas off each other and then when a brief is won they all go out for drinks and celebrate. After leaving my first portfolio visit with Music I realised that if I pushed myself I can think of those clever ideas that I like to see in other peoples work, and this was definitely the career choice for me. It also made me want to see many other companies because I found the whole experience enlightening.

This is my first work in progress portfolio that I showed to Music.

Contact Report: Music

Before Music came to speak to us at Stockport College, I had already emailed them but that was to the general email adress that was given on their website. After the lecture that I really enjoyed, I knew I would have to find some other way of getting in contact so I decided to email Anthony. Here are the emails that show how I got a portfolio visit at music.

From: <ktspeak@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2009 07:37:57 -0400
To: <anthony@designbymusic.com>
Subject: Stockport Lecture

Hi Anthony,

I emailed hello@designbymusic.com yesterday after your lecture but I've been talking to one of my fellow students and she said I'm probably best emailing this one instead - I hope you don't mind.

I thought your lecture was excellent and it is probably one of the best ones I've been to while attending Stockport college. I found it engaging and down to earth and I really liked how you brought in your own work so we could have a look at it at the end.

I stayed behind at the end of the lecture to find out more about your work but I took a bit too much time about it and before I knew it, it was time to leave you to get back to work! I was interested in the font you used for the Manchester City work and also the typeface that you used in the portfolios. I thought it worked really well so I just wanted to know which type-face you used in your portfolio as I'm in the middle of creating mine at the moment and I liked the type you used in yours.

I remember you said that you were not taking anyone on for placements at the moment but I was wondering whether if you could spare 10 minutes or so I could come to Machester and show you my finished porfolio so I could receive a bit of feedback?

Thanks,

Katherine Speak

BA Honours Graphic Design Level 2
Stockport College

Hi Katherine

Thanks for your emails.

I’m so glad it was of some use.
By all means, come over with your portfolio.
I’ll try and get back to you early next week with a time but if you don’t hear do email/call again to remind me mon or Tuesday.

Oh, the fonts I my portfolio were (if I can remember) Stymie and Rockwell (both slab serifs).
The headline font on the Man City stuff is Helvetica Neue – Black 95 and Bold 75.

Have a good weekend.
See you soon.


Anthony


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From: <Ktspeak@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 13:45:04 EDT
To: <anthony@designbymusic.com>
Subject: Re: Stockport Lecture

Hi Anthony

Thanks for replying to my last email, I'm really pleased that you will have a look at my portfolio sometime.
I would had replied earlier but I have just moved out and we havn't got the internet yet and as we are on the Easter break now I have to come back home to use it every now and then.

Im planning on going to Stockport college tomorrow to hopefully finish off my portfolio as the servers have been down so I've not managed to do it yet.

I will probably give Music a ring sometime to see when would be the best time to visit if thats okay.

Speak to you soon

Katherine

Hi Katherine

That’s fine. How about next Thursday (16th) to come in to the studio? Say 4.30?

regards

Anthony


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From: <Ktspeak@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 13:58:28 EDT
To: <anthony@designbymusic.com>
Subject: Re: Stockport Lecture

Yes thats great!!

See you then

Katherine

Hi Katherine
Sorry can you remind me when I said? Not sure if I said Thursday, and I’ve just noticed that I’ll be in London that afternoon.

Cheers

Anthony


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From: <Ktspeak@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 04:55:47 EDT
To: <anthony@designbymusic.com>
Subject: Re: Stockport Lecture

Hi - you did say Thursday 16th at 4.30pm. I'm working all that week but I could get time off for another day if needed. If not next week, any time the following week would be great.

Thanks,

Katherine

How about Fri 17 at 4.30?
Or I can do the following week if it’s easier?

Thanks Katherine

Anthony Smith


---------------------------------------------------------------------

That's fine. I'll see you Friday 17th at 4.30.


Thanks,

Katherine

"Beyond the Canon" - Eye Magazine Vol 17 Summer 2008

This article written by John L Walters has outlined the importance to notice the difference between nostalgia and history - that is looking into the past for inspiration for work. He discusses the difference between the two; history being looking to the past for inspiration whilst nostalgia is having an obsession with the past. The "Canon" consists of "landmark" artists such as Neville Brody, David Carson and Saul Bass, but the article is putting across that whilst these great designers are iconical in their individuality, their ideas and techniques are repeatedly "recycled" in students and graphic designers work. And suggests shouldn't the more neglected artists who don't appear in books and articles that often be used more as an example of a movement.



Walters' article has inspired me to look at other artists that are not so well known but perhaps are just as inspiring in their ideas as better known artists. Examples of these artists I have looked into I have written about already in my blog including Mario Sanchez and Alberto Seveso.

"Creative Futures" - New Talent

It was when reading an article in Creative Review that I realised how many successful people in the Graphic Design/Advertising industry had started out thinking they wanted to do something like that at a very early age, and I could relate to this.

At the beginning of the article about Samuel Akesson and Tomas Mankovsy they say how when growing up growing up they "wanted their future jobs to involve something creative" (Creative Review. 2008. page 52)

I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do but I always used to tell my parents and teachers when I was young that whatever I did, I wanted it to be something creative. I've always loved colour, and in primary school took every opportunity to design posters for discos, fairs and functions and knew that this was going to be something I'd always want to do.

I also liked how they mentioned on page 54 how they said in Advertising you can have bigger ideas - with thoughts that start with "Wouldn't it be cool if..." and I think this is a great outlook and way to think when trying to think of a new and unique idea. This is something else I related to in this article as in my Uni work my ideas usually come from thinking .. "to do this would be quite cool!" however, sometimes I have felt some ideas ideas are too outrageous but as Akesson and Mankovsy did not let that get in the way the article has also taught me to have better self belief and confidence in my work.

One of their works I thought was brilliant was their advert for Sony, which saw "128 musicians assembled to play a composition by Peter Raeburn, unusually where each musician played just one note, meaning that the piece required 32 guitars and 32 drums, along with a multitude of other instruments" (Creative Review. 2008. page 54)