Invite or not Invite?
I am 21 years old and next may i will be graduating having completed a graphic design hnd.
We have an end of year show at 'the workstation' Sheffield, where Designers Republic are based.
The reason i am posting is to ask advice. . .
Even though a few design consultancies and agencies come along to the end of year final show which is highly recognisable for being a good standard, i have been thinking about something else.
I am quite a good designer, i dont mean to be modest but i may have a junior design job secured for next january, have had my work exhibited in a gallery in London, and a few designers say the overall quality is good.
Putting that aside should i send out a promotional pack to design agencies throughout the UK, fairly near Sheffield, to invite people to come visit me and hopefully with my portfolio i might secure some interest.
I am just trying to take some initiative, what does everyone think?
25.Nov.2004 11.54am
Anyone? :'(
25.Nov.2004 12.28pm
I can't see what harm it would do. Go for it.
25.Nov.2004 12.37pm
Any ideas onm approaches, what i should say, what i should send etc etc etc. I am quite creative, my personal stationary is a Sagmeister rip off but effective as i cut the word create into my leg photographed it then printed it on skin textured paper.
I was just wondering whether there is an CD or senior designers out there, what would you like to receive from a student, what would make you want to go see a show see someones work etc etc im trying to think lateral with this lol as always get under the skin see what would make someone in industry make a special trip just to see our show and my work etc etc.
25.Nov.2004 12.53pm
Alex, you should think about this the other way around
25.Nov.2004 12.54pm
I wouldnt want to see another student, cutting himself, trying a Sagmeister impression..
Sorry, just had to post this.. Not.. Helpful.. At.. All.. Sorry..
25.Nov.2004 1.01pm
It was not for that purpose.
Basically i call it a sagmeister rip off because it is what he did, but!
I personally did it because i feel i can express my personality in a much more profound way then sticking 'alex haigh creative design' in helvetica neue on a business card, i dont think there is any design in minimalism when it comies to business cards as the worlds full of them.
My representation was to suggest i am extremely passionate about what the industry i am hoping to enter, the fact that design is skin deep for me and it is not just 'a job', i wanted to give it a meterphoric meaning show my future employees how i try to express design not just aesthetically but with ideas to.
As for secure job, it isnt 'secure' as i go on a trial week, if i get offered a job by a better agency or better pay or personal circumstances for me then i will take it, i am trying to make myself as employable and 'wanting' as possible.
Yes i fully understand no CD or SD will have the time, so thats why i want to create something that could possibly open doors for me.
25.Nov.2004 1.36pm
I thought so..
It sure is hard, giving advice on how to reach and impress all those highly creative creatives, but I think being, stating and proving that you are passionate about design, and everything related, should sure help..
'Herzblut'..
25.Nov.2004 3.14pm
Hi
Over the past ten years I have had quite a bit of experience of this, from trying to find a job, to interviewing for my own agency.
I found that the best route was to call up and ask if people could spare 15 minutes to look at my work. I never asked for a job, just for advice.
Next, when I went to visit an agency I would ask if they could recommend any other good places to approach. Sometimes they would call up and make an appointment with friends at other agencies for me.
My business partner loves it when people send a letter thanking her for seeing them. She gave a job to someone for that reason once.
From your point of view, you should be asking for placements. Try and line up a whole string of them, most people will pay you something. This puts you top of the list if a job does become available.
From the hiring point of view, I like to see good work. But a lot of people have good work. I want someone who wants to learn more... so I would never say that you think you are good.
I personally think that most graduates don't try to find work, they might mail out a cv, or a CD-ROM, but if they really want a job they have to put in more work. The only way to find work is to get sat down with your folio in front of someone. If you get a placement, just make yourself really useful, not only in terms of design, but by offering to cut stuff out, buy coffee, anything which makes you look like you'll work your ••• off.
Good Luck
Jim
===
http://www.sumodesign.co.uk
25.Nov.2004 3.45pm
> anything which makes you look like you'll work your
26.Nov.2004 6.08am
QUOTE>My business partner loves it when people send a letter thanking her for seeing them. She gave a job to someone for that reason once.<QUOTE
Yeah that is my whole point i am going to write to companies in and around my area thanking them for the personal stationary samples they sent me, then i will include a cool little flick chart booklet of my work, make it really nice just a thankyou, then they have the address of the show and if they want to they can come along.
By saying i was good i am not being arrogant mearly pointing out the fact im not a graphic design student that just wants to do for example taking up sport when leaving school, for the sake of it, i was basically just trying to emphasize the fact that i am passionate etc etc etc.
26.Nov.2004 6.26am
Yeah, let's see this business card. Strut your stuff, Alex. We don't bite. Hard. ;)
26.Nov.2004 9.35am
To get one over on your competition try and learn more about print production, for example, always a sticking point for graduates.
Instead of rip off, refer to it as a homage, though whether a potential employer will think 'passionate' or 'stalker' is another matter.
"the fact that design is skin deep for me and it is not just 'a job'"
The saying is more than skin deep, meaning it goes deeper. Check your invitation carefully or better still get someone to look at it critically; your presentation could be let down by bad grammar or spelling.
Still, best of luck
Tim
26.Nov.2004 12.06pm
*stationery
Proper spelling, consistent punctuation, and correct gramm(a)r are sometimes as important as a neat business card.
26.Nov.2004 2.18pm
Dear Alex, we have the same name, a name that has been
spreaded by Greek who gave the name the meaning of
'defender/protector/guardian' of their own folk/people
from: 'alexein' = 'to defend' & 'aner, andros' = 'man.'
But write also your family name on your card. I'll queue
those who would like to see your visit card design.
'design not just aesthetically but with ideas to'
The soul is often in the surface, and the importance
of 'depth' is overestimated. Or like Picasso said:
'Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain
an artist once he grows up.'
'create something that could possibly open doors for me'
Key words & symbols which turn matter into spirit.
Like Mr. Jim Richardson said, caffein help fo' sure.
I read somewhere that if you yell for 8 years, 7 months
and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy
to heat one cup of coffee.
Recently I found out this forum, www.chinwag.com, do
you know ? I also suggest to check out a good map like: www.typophile.com/forums/messages/30/53292.jpg
Toodle Pip,
AS
The Boy With The Moon And Star On His Head
Written By: Cat Stevens
A gardener's daughter stopped me on my way, on
the day I was to wed. It is you who I wish to
share my body with, she said. We'll find a dry
place under the sky with a flower for a bed And
for my joy I will give you a boy with a moon and
star on his head. Her silver hair flowed in the
air laying waves across the sun Her hands were
like the white sands, and her eyes had diamonds
on. We left the road and headed up to the top of
the Whisper Wood And we walked 'till we came to
where the holy magnolia stood. And there we laid
cool in the shade singing songs and making love...
With the naked earth beneath us and the
universe above. The time was late my wedding
wouldn't wait I was sad but I had to go, So
while she was asleep I kissed her cheek for
cheerio. The wedding took place and people came
from many miles around There was plenty
merriment, cider and wine abound But out of all
that I recall I remembered the girl I met 'Cause
she had given me something that my hear could not
forget. A year had passed and everything was just
as it was a year before... As if was a year
before... Until the gift that someone left, a
basket by my door. And in there lay the fairest
little baby crying to be fed, I got down on my
knees and kissed the moon and star on his head.
As years went by the boy grew high and the
village looked on in awe They'd never seen
anything like the boy with the moon and star
before. And people would ride from far and wide
just to seek the word he spread I'll tell you
everything I've learned, and love is all...
he said.
CS_theboy.mp3 (96.8 k)
26.Nov.2004 3.20pm
Hey, I live West of the Crack.
Show us that card. Now! Please?
I don't even have one.
28.Nov.2004 6.16am
Alex,
c'mon post your visit card, I'm on sugo,
literally 'to be on sauce.' I dig visit cards
design so much. So, here is mime :
www.typophile.com/forums/messages/30/42668.jpg
The top one is a stamp, the other is printed
on Fuji photo paper. Wanna challenge ? :->
Dasvidanja,
AS
28.Nov.2004 7.29am
Whats the serif typeface on your card alessandro? it's lovely!
28.Nov.2004 8.46am
I'm guessing it's from Storm, or PsyOps (Hattenbach?)
28.Nov.2004 9.09am
It's "just" Swift, isn't it?
It is an exceptional face.
hhp