Overall, I have enjoyed PPP this year a lot more than first year. I have really seen the benefits of this module this year as I have begun to really think about the future after university and what kind of career I want to continue in. PPP teaches the skills required and mostly gives life lessons about the real working creative industry whilst still providing help and support throughout the year. Getting in touch with creatives outside of university has been an enjoyable experience and it has definitely excited me more for the future and getting out into the working world and gaining experience and knowledge even further than I already have these past two years at university. Thinking about work experience over summer is something really exciting as I am yet to work in any kind of design environment outside of education so I am really looking forward to seeing what that holds.
In terms of my work produced for this module, I have definitely struggled with time management, this was something I thought about last year as PPP just has a hand in date towards the very end of the year, its not spread out therefore it's quite easy to leave things and forget about things that need doing because there are no constant deadlines throughout the whole year. I have struggled a lot this year in terms of personal reasons happening within my life and it has definitely affected me and my work, something I really wished and hoped didn't happen but something that I have really had no control over. Recent events that have been happening in the past year in my life are making me more determined to do well and taking advantage of what PPP has to offer is definitely something I am taking on board.
Moving onto Level 6, I really want to work on my presenting skills as this is definitely a week area of mine and I really want to get in touch with the creative world and create lots of contacts that I could get in touch with after finishing my final year.
Sunday 20 May 2018
Creative Report Questions
- How would you define yourself as a creative?
- What drives you to create work?
- Where do you find yourself being most creative?
- What inspires your work?
- Do you have any advice for a young creative starting out?
Saturday 19 May 2018
Network and Connections- AndSmile Studio
Here are some tips to keep in mind if at the moment you feel a bit isolated in your work, they all are based on my experience and are extremely subjective and in general some thoughts on the subject.
📺 Both internet based and real life based communities are equally valid.
If you live in a remote place with no like minded people around you or don't have the opportunity to join your local network because of accessibility or meeting times don't feel that the only way to build support system is to meet people face to face. Choose whatever works for you and your situation, don't feel like you have to do one or another
🙋🏼One person and you is already a network/team :)
👯Reach out to people who are in the same place as you in their careers.
If you know of (online or offline) people who are in the same place as you in their careers or are interested in the same things as you, they might feel as isolated as you and want to have that connection both personal and business. Growing together, supporting each other and lifting each other up is an incredible feeling and also incredibly helpful, you can share your experiences and find out shortcuts. It's a great adventure and it's easier and more fun when you have people you can rely on and people you can support.
Be active locally and online
Find local etsy/market anything group. Go to talks, meet ups, join online chats and live streams, FB groups and connect with people on instagram.
Consider getting a studio space
If you feel lonely and isolated consider becoming part of a collective, finding a studio space or a co working space. Some of us work better on our own and some of us need people around us but you will never know without trying and you may make some friends along the way.
Join professional network
Does your profession has an association or maybe a huge FB group? Maybe joining them will benefit you.
Talk to people
Be it online or in real life. We are all people and we all make connections and friends somehow. If you want to say something - say it, if you know someone who might light someone else's work - share the love. I personally believe it takes time to find likeminded people (it certainly took a while for me) but even the most fleeting of connections can be so meaningful. There could be people with who you just chat on instagram about Queer Eye occassionally and there can be people with who you are chatting on daily basis. Both are important.
Don't look for validation from outside
Build it from within. Please do seek constructive cryticism and reviews but do not let anything from outside to affect your personal and professional self worth. I am a strong believer that if you love doing something no one can tell you that you shouldn't draw/crochet/dress making. And sometimes our work doesn't reflect our taste and that's where your support system will help you grow but they can never replace your inner voice which will push you further in your career.
Last but most important..
Be kind to yourself and people around you. There is space for everyone, we are not competition we are peers.
Placement Opportunities
I have luckily been approached and asked if I would like to do some work for the Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation, they work alongside people within Warrington and they create fundraiser events and activities. They also work alongside people with special needs and create events to raise money or raise awareness for issues that are going on.
An example of their event:
For the work that I would be doing, it would be more of a graphic design approach as they employ companies to design posters and flyers for events to advertise them so I would have an opportunity to do this myself but also work alongside other graphic design companies.
Presentation Self-Evaluation
Presenting is something I find incredibly difficult because I struggle a lot in terms of my confidence and my anxiety definitely holds me back from presenting to my true potential and to the best of my abilities. Firstly, I thought before criticising myself I really thought I should think about the positives and the main factor that I actually got up and presented the presentation in front of a small group of people. For that I am very proud of myself, although I did compare my presentation to everyone else's and did feel mine was quite weak just because I let my nerves get the better of me and I completely forgot to refer back to my notes therefore I feel I did not get the chance to say everything I intended to within the presentation. I definitely think I covered the key parts I wanted to get across however.
As I am not completely used to doing presentations like this, its only since coming to university have I been required to but I definitely think my confidence has grown slightly and as cliche as it sounds, practice makes perfect and I only think my presenting skill will get better the more times I do it.
As I am not completely used to doing presentations like this, its only since coming to university have I been required to but I definitely think my confidence has grown slightly and as cliche as it sounds, practice makes perfect and I only think my presenting skill will get better the more times I do it.
Nina Cosford
Nina Cosford is an illustrator who I have admired and loved for years, she is definitely one of the people who inspired me to peruse a creative career and of course someone who I would love to contact for my creative report. I have previously tried to contact Nina in regards to work and question asking yet I did not receive a reply, looking back at the email I definitely didn't think it was really that interesting for her to answer so this has definitely made me think a lot more about what I want to ask and what kind of questions would be interesting for creatives to reply to.
'The Creative Leap' Podcast
After getting into podcasts more over the past couple of years, this one has to be the one that stood out to me most, especially as it stated about making careers out of the hobbies you love. Although the interviewees are not all designers, they all work within the creative industry and Cat herself, the host is a web and product designer.
The podcast introduced me to Cat and her work, from there I found myself looking at her social network pages and her design portfolio. Also another creator who I wish to contact and ask some questions
And Smile Studio
This is the first creator I wish to contact in relation to my creative report, I have followed Viktorija for around a year now on Instagram and have always admired her work and her work ethic. She is based in London and works in a large studio with lots of other creators, her studio space is something I really admire because she has really made it her own.
I am keen in contacting Viktoria because she keeps her Instagram page incredibly interactive with polls and encourages discussions, she also has a very casual bit at the end of her 'About' on her blog in which she gives her email and says 'Let's talk!' therefore I feel she would be a great person to have a friendly chat to and it be quite informal.
'A History Of Magic' Exhibition At The British Library
Harry Potter: A History Of Magic
The British Library
20th October 2017- 28th February 2018
About the exhibition:
'We unveil rare books, manuscripts and magical objects from the British Library’s collection, capturing the traditions of folklore and magic which are at the heart of the Harry Potter stories. Marvel at original drafts and drawings by J.K. Rowling and illustrator Jim Kay, both on display for the first time.
See the gargantuan 16th-century Ripley Scroll that explains how to create a Philosopher’s Stone. Gaze at Sirius in the night sky as imagined by medieval astronomers. Encounter hand-coloured pictures of dragons, unicorns and a phoenix rising from the flames.
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stonewith this extraordinary new addition to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World.'
Although this wasn't an art exhibition directly, it was still something amazing that I am lucky to have seen. Sadly, taking any photographs inside the exhibition was prohibited but it was still an amazing experience. The exhibition was filled with tonnes of ancient historical artefacts, drawings and paintings that had been used for inspiration behind writing the Harry Potter books.
180 The Strand London Exhibitions
Whilst visiting London I also went to view some exhibitions at 180 The Strand. This space was opened in 2016 and its definitely the most unique space I have visited that exhibits art work, it has an incredibly industrial feel to it with huge open spaces filled with unique and some very strange work.
RYOJI IKEDA 'TEST PATTERN'
A new commission by Store X The Vinyl Factory, Ryoji Ikeda's will immersive audio-visual artwork is an unforgettable experience in which the artist converts data (from music, sound, photo and video) into monochrome binary patterns that are generated in real-time and envelop the viewer in a disorientating, highly-charged kinetic environment.
Store X The Vinyl Factory
This autumn, Store X The Vinyl Factory presents multi-disciplinary exhibition Everything At Once with Lisson Gallery alongside three site-specific works at its curated space, Store Studios. These include Jeremy Shaw’s Liminals, in collaboration with König Galerie, Arthur Jafa’s Love is the Message, the Message is Death, in collaboration with Serpentine Galleries and Ryoji Ikeda’s newly commissioned A/V artwork test pattern [N°12].
5 October – 10 December 2017
Arthur Jafa - Love is the Message, the Message is Death
Arthur Jafa’s 2016 work Love Is The Message, The Message Is Death is presented in the UK for the first time by The Store X The Vinyl Factory in partnership with Serpentine Galleries. Soundtracked by Kanye West’s gospel hip-hop track ‘Ultralight Beam’, the meticulously edited 7-minute collage probes the relationship between mainstream media and African-American identity, juxtaposing images of contemporary life in the USA, from civil rights leaders to aeriel footage of the LA Riots.
'Out Of Order' Exhibition
Out Of Order
16-19th November 2017
The Old Truman Brewery London
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| About the exhibition |
I have always admired her work and even though this was only a small exhibition, I was so happy when I was able to see the work created in real life. Art and Design that is created in order to raise awareness of an issue is something that I really admire and love to incorporate within my own work because I'm a strong believer in art playing a part in making change and carrying a strong message. This also allowed me to look more into the other designers that had created work for the exhibition and I really do think the work that was created carried a really strong and powerful message, especially as each artist was also female.
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