New 'Think Bike' Adverts

Iv always thought the drink driving adverts and think bike adverts were always really effective.
I have recently noticed this new advert being shown on the TV, i think it is a really good way of getting the message across that road users need to be aware of people on motorbikes as they are a lot more vulnerable if they were to be in a crash.

You can view the advert below:



There is also a radio advert being played on the radio at the moment, so keep listening out for it.

Issues and Practices - Too Many Design Graduates

With my 3rd year of university studying graphic design coming to an end soon, i have been thinking a lot recently on what i'm going to do once i leave university. There is a lot of questioning around me on how i am going to find the situation of having to find a job in the graphic design industry. One of the main fears i have been hearing about recently is that there doesn't appear to be enough jobs to accommodate the amount of graduates leaving university each year, and all of us wanting to land a job in the same industry.

From attending lectures and talks by existing graphic designers, it has become apparent that it is going to be particularly hard for the majority of us to land a job straightaway in the design industry. Not only are the 30 people on my current university course looking to get a job in the same industry as me, but all the other university's around the area and their graduates too ( and there is a lot more than 30 on other university courses!). Getting a placement organised is one of my main priories at the moment, however i have been finding this hard with the world being in a recession. Ever since i started studying for my degree, i have always been faced with the reality of how it is to secure a job in the design industry. Various lectures i have attended presented by local graphic designers, nearly all of the designers had a tricky time trying to get a job. Whether it was that they completed numerous unpaid placements until one finally paid off, or worked in a different industry whilst trying to secure a placement; with their determination they finally got that first job they wanted. Alan Cocks from Sheffield based company Dust, spent the 2years from graduating to finding a job working as a night auditor. This then brings up another question, are we expected to find another career whilst we are applying for design jobs/placements or just hope we get 'lucky' and are in the right place at the right time?

From researching on the internet on how there is too many design graduates compared to the jobs actually available i came across the following website. On the website it has a peice of realistic advice that could be given to students, due to graduate such as myself. The advice reads

"You're in a competitive field. If you're studying automotive design, for example, you're probably not going to get the job cranking out car renderings for Porsche all day -- there just aren't that many jobs like that out there. Same goes for shoe design. Or magazine cover illustration. Or interior design for high-end boutique hotels. If it's a prestigious, high-profile job, lots of people want it, and some of them are probably better than you. Sorry."

I feel this piece of information really hits you hard, however it is the honest truth. There just isn't enough jobs out there for us! Most design agencies feel that someone with experience is better for the job, however i am unsure of how we are ever going to 'climb up the ladder' if we are struggling to find a placement to gain the experience in the first place.

Another question to bring up is whether moving to London or New York would help in the current situation? I have recently visited both of these areas and have taken my portfolio of work along with me to get designers opinions on my design work. I must admit i found this process a lot easier to arrange to meet up with a designer and arrange a portfolio viewing within these areas. This could be due to the fact they are much larger areas with a wider range of design agencies than in Manchester; however this could be because there is in fact more opportunity for design work in places such as London or New York.

In conclusion to the questions above, i feel that by having a determined attitude and enthusiasm is definitely one of the main requirements if you are going to proceed to grab that dream job in the design industry. If you are going to stop trying to make contacts once you have graduated you will never retrieve a design job unless you are extremely lucky. It's all about constantly emailing/contacting new design agencies and making designers aware of your ability to work in the industry.

Don't ever give up; just keep trying.

Hat-Trick Design - Typographic Playing Cards

Whilst researching typographic posters on the internet i came across a pack of playing cards that had been designed by Hat-Trick Design. These cards really caught my eye as they have used purely typography and no images - something you don't usually see on a pack of cards. Apparently you can purchase a pack for around £20, i look forward to doing this when i next get some money to spare. Below is images of each card designed.

Future Brand - London Visit

One of the visits i went to in London was to FutureBrand. Future Brand is a large globally ran design company. They have around 25 offices all over the world, this allows clients to get the best of their service, where ever they are.The list is endless of the names of well known companies they produce work for, Becks, Cadbury's, UPS, Barclay's and MasterCard are just to name a few.

On arrival at Futurebrand, we were greeted by Chris Jenkins and Karen Vance; they were very welcoming and took us upstairs into the studio. I was amazed at how big this company actually was, it was for sure the biggest design company i had ever visited. Chris and Karen talked us through some of the recent projects they had worked on, Chris mainly focused on the beer side of the work and Karen on the chocolate side. Chris talked us through some of his favorite work, he started off by showing us where he started and how he got to the final idea, which i found extremely helpful as when visiting design companies you very rarely get shown how they got to a final idea. He talked us through how he and the team designed a font for Becks Beer (see below)















.

Karen mainly focused on the chocolate side, she talked us through how she and the team got to the final ideas for the new Cadbury's Koko (see below)


















After Chris and Karen had showed us some of their work, they took us on a tour of the studio. They explained to us all the different departments they have in their office and who does what. This was really interesting as i have only really visited smaller companies and they seem to do everything them selves, whereas in a larger company you have designers to draw it out, then a different set of designers to convert it on to the macs and then a different set of designers to print it out!
Once we had finished the tour, we said our thank yous and goodbyes and left with a business card from Chris.

Method Uk, London - Portfolio Visits

Another portfolio visit i attended in London was to see Garry Martin, from Method Uk.
On arrival we were met by Garry himself and taken up to the studio. We sat down and showed him our portfolios and the work we produce. He was very impressed by our work and didn't have any negative feedback to give to us. He even mentioned that we could possibly have a placement if we were to ever come back to London, which was very good.
After showing our work he went on to show us the work that Method Uk produce, he took us around the studio and introduced us to Mike Lee, the head designer. He was also very pleasant and showed us some of the work he is currently producing for Topgear. Garry then went on to show us some of the printed design work they produce for lots of major companies, which was all really good and an experience to actually see the design work in the studio rather than in a shop!
Again overall it was a very positive experience, and i am glad i went to visit Garry at Method Uk, and I am happy he gave me positive feedback on my portfolio. They produce work for various different major companies, to check out there work go to there website on the following link: Method Uk.

Minx Creative, London - Portfolio Visit

Another portfolio visit me and Laura attended was once at Minx Creative based in London.
We were met by Two designers Jess and Charlotte, who i had previously arranged the visit with via email. We presented our portfolio's and explained the outcomes of our work. Both designers, were impressed with our level of design and use of programs etc. They took particular interest to some bags i produced for a Coal Mining Museum, in my first year of the degree.
They didn't give me any negative feedback, as i think they were mostly just being polite, however they were impressed at the knowledge of all the programs and skills we had, (i think in London they musn't get taught as much about the software as we seem to do). Which was nice to hear as i feel i am quite basic on some of the software we use. We spoke about the design industry and how they found it quite hard to get a job after graduating and stressed that we should just keep trying if its what your really want because it will all pay off in the end, like it did for them.
Overall it was a great experience, as i got to talk and show my work to two designers of the company and get there opinion of my work. We both got given and business card and told to keep in touch. To check out their work visit the following link: Minx Creative.

Lavish Creative, London - Portfolio Visit

Whilst on a trip to London, i previously arranged to visit a few design companies and show them my portfolio, to see their opinion on my work. A fellow student, Laura, also accompanied me to the visits and we both displayed our portfolio's.
I paid a visit to Lavish Creative, a design company based just near Piccadilly Circus.
On arrival we were met by Karl Gilbert, the creative director of the company; we were then also joined by Vicky Dudley, who i had previously arranged the visit with via email.

Both were very polite and seemed to be very pleased with our style of work. They didn't really have any negative feedback on my work, only positive, which is very good. We had a chat with them about our university course and the type of work we produce, they were impressed at the amount of programs we were able to use on our own. We talked about the design industry, what their company does and what we would like to do once finishing university.

Overall the visit was a success, and a great experience. Karl gave us a business card and told us both to keep in touch and wished us luck with the rest of our degree.

Lavish creative do work for a wide variety of companies, if you want to check out their work then visit the following link: Lavish Creative .

24 Twelve Design - Contact Report

Again another reply from Samantha Palmer at 24 Twelve Designs, London. Explaining they are busy and haven't got the time to see us.

Trickster Design - Contact Report

Again another reply from Murray Fisher from design agency Trickster Design, London. However again they were to busy, but still found the time to email back, which again was appreciated.

Blast Design - Contact Report

Reply from James Windsor from Blast design, London.
unfortunately they couldn't spare the time to see me and Laura, but were still kind enough to send an email back explaining why, which i really appreciated.
Below is the reply i received.

Minx Creative, London - Contact Report

Another replied i received was from Charlotte Dickason, from the design agency Minx Creative.
Below are the emails that we exchanged.

Lavish Creative, London - Contact Report

Whilst on a trip to London, i arranged a few portfolio visits.
I emailed around 20 different design agencies and recieved only a few replies.
Below are the emails i exchanged with Vicky Dudley from the design agency Lavish Creative, arranging my portfolio visit.