Seriously f*cking cool

I liked having a talk given by a student who graduated last year as she has been in my position and I think gave some good tips on making a good portfolio, for example have an online portfolio but make sure you always have some of you work printed and laid out professionally, also a book is better as you can make a cover and that gives it a face and an identity which can make it easy to remember. I was also told to use the s facility's at university as it costs a lot to use some of the techniques so you might not have chance to use them once you have finished. You should also practice your presentation and communication skills so when you have interviews you can stay clam and not panic and they way more of your personality comes across.
As a designer it is important to stay in contact with people and social networking can be a great way to do that you also have to make sure to stay on the design trends and not fall behind.

Why not do batman?

This was one of my favorite talks as it was good to get an in sight to how a graphic design company works. The company foto fire was started 14 years ago and since then has expanded, the business started as a photography business but to make more money branched out into different areas. I liked seeing the area they worked in and how relaxed it looked, it was also nice to find out that as a team they interact with each other outside of work and it seems like a very down to earth friendly business, I was shocked when I found out the company was based in Wrexham as I didn’t think as graphics companies where around here.
The most important piece of information I took away from this talk was that you have to make sure websites work on all different formats and you have to make them mobile responsive.

The Ten Questions to ask when going for an interview

• ·      Will you be involved in client meetings
• ·      Ask who your line manger will be 
• ·      Ask if they use project management software 
• ·      Ask if it's PC or Mac 
• ·      What sort of clients you will work with 
• ·      Ask how long projects last 
• ·      Do they have social team events 
• ·      Different departments in the agency 
• ·      Ask if they provide training 
• ·      Is there scope for career progression 

Great they sent me a potted plant

I always said that once I finished university I would hold out for a job that was to do with design but hearing from Abbie carter it made me realize that this finically probably wouldn’t work as I would have bills to pay and debts to clear, however she taught me to put a spin on the jobs I would get such as working in a supermarket would mean you have good people and communication skills and I would have to make these stand out to employers as they would then know I was confident and had good work ethics.

She also gave an in sit to working with clients and having a good sense of humor to me stands out hear as clients do want a good advert in the paper but they also want to relate to you and you want them to keep coming back so having a laugh with them can help make them feel more relaxed and can also help bring them more customers.
You still need a life out side of work and this can help your design as you get to talk to people from different backgrounds and therefore it widens up your knowledge of the public and your audience.

I want it more potato than chip

Creative futures is a week where you are able to meet and network with all the art and design students from the first years to the third years, go to lectures that are given by people who know the creative industry and tell you about how they got a job, what they do and some tips on how to get a job once you have finished university.

10 design recommendations 

• ·      Don't limit context 
• ·      Use design to differentiate
• ·      Focus on the clients needs not the competition
• ·      Integrate design and branding
• ·      Reinforce the brand 
• ·      Introduce design process 
• ·      Trust and support your design team 
• ·      Embed design in your organization culture 
• ·      Design your work environment 
• ·      Don't let the designers role be straitjacket 

Although the talk from Barry Purves didn’t relate to my course I’m glad I went to his lecture as he is so passionate about what he does, he spoke about how having a big budget is not always important as you can make something look very dramatic just by using a black backdrop and lighting. I also liked his composition of the animations he did as it wasn’t always in the center he had used the rule of third grid to give some very theatrical and intense affects.

I really enjoyed Sid Madge’s lecture on branding, as this is one of my favorite areas in graphic design and also to do with the fact that I’m currently creating a rebrand for a law firm and I wanted to get ideas of what Colours to use. Sid set up his own company 4 years ago, which is called Mad Hen, because he wanted to be closer with his family. The drive for Sid to make his own business was also in part because he was told he couldn’t do anything so he went out and learnt and I would like to think I have the drive to not give up just because someone tells me I cant do something. I think a big part of why I liked Sid Madge so much because like myself Sid is dyslexic and even though I know the majority of art and design students are dyslexic it was reassuring to no that he has been able to make his own business and be a successful graphic designer.

Whilst in the lecture I learnt that colours play a huge role in brand identity as a certain colour can instantly make you feel something and that 90 per cent of an assessment on a product or brand is based on colour alone.