True North

Today I made a visit to design agency True North to meet with designer Ady Bibby. I was looking forward to sitting down and chatting to Ady on a one to one basis about the design industry, his own reflections and experiences and also looking forward to receiving some valuable feedback about the work I had been producing for my major project.

As I arrived I was shown into a boardroom and offered a nice cup of tea whilst I waited for Ady to tie up a few loose ends. It was really nice and somewhat overwhelming to see all the awards that True North as an agency had won hung up on the walls, some of this work I had already seen in D&AD annuals such as the work for the Manchester deaf centre.

Initially myself and Ady spoke about the industry from everything to placements, to which agency I would like to work in and London. We also covered most of the questions which I had previously sent to Ady via email:

 Do you think it is harder to get a job in the industry now compared to 5 years ago?

Ady felt that it is harder now to get a job as there are so many graduates, however compared to last year where the recession hit people quite hard things are now starting to get easier.

 What would set a student aside from everyone else? What skills would you look for?

We spoke about students and I mentioned that from many guest lectures who had visited college many felt that being enthusiastic and dedicated would be what would set many students aside. Ady agreed with this but felt it was equally important for a student to have a very good portfolio also.

 Have you ever worked in London or considered moving to London? Would you suggest students move from their hometown to look for work?

We spoke about London and I spoke about our recent trip to London meeting with agencies. Ady expressed that moving to London never appealed to himself and he's quite happy commuting to London to meet with agencies but his home is Manchester. We spoke about London and how there are vast amounts of design agencies but Manchester is becoming just as popular. Once again this made me question where I would like to work in the future.

We spoke about placements and Ady was quite shocked that In my three years of studying design I had still not completed one single placement, however this wasn't a bad reflection on myself. Ady felt that the placement system is the most important way to get a job and it was what managed to get himself a job in the industry. 

After this insightful and extremely helpful discussion I spoke to Ady about my major project, my ideas and where I was up to so far. Ady gave me some honest constructive feedback which linked in ideas I had previously been working on with new ideas. He told me to think a little more about how to group everything together and maybe change my strap line but all in all he felt it was a good route to choose. Before meeting with Ady I felt at a somewhat loose end with my project and was confused with which direction to carry on in but Ady reassured me by saying that I already had my idea there and if I was to send my ideas to an advertising agency they would be able to understand it and tweak it to produce the outcome I want.

Before leaving Ady also asked what I wanted to do after graduation and who I want to work for, at the moment I still feel unsure. My heart lies with typography and editorial design yet more recently my work seems to be based around advertising design and agency wise I would love to work for the chase as I love their work ethics and the work they produce. However, after meeting with Ady today True North would definitely be in my top 5 design agencies in Manchester I would like to work for. I felt completely relaxed and everyone was friendly and welcoming. 

When emailing Ady prior to my meeting with him Ady joked by saying ' I'll provide the tea and coffee you bring the biscuits' so as a lasting impression I took some hobnobs and happy faces with me for the team to enjoy! 

I am very greatful to Ady for taking the time out to see me and I hope to stay in contact.

Mick Greer

After today's lecture I thought it would be a good idea to make the most out of Mick being in college and it was suggested by my tutor that I sit down with him and talk through my own copywriting ideas I had been working on for my major project.

I had been in contact with Mick prior to his visit at college as myself and Grace felt at a dead end with our Bacardi work, as the brief we were working on played primarily with copywriting Guy suggested we got in touch with Mick to get some valuable honest feedback, and this is what we got.

Therefore showing my work to Mick today I knew that I would get an honest opinion and maybe a push in the right direction. Mick suggested that hard hitting words would be what would make people read my bullying posters and right now they just weren't hard hitting enough and were also quite long. After feeling in a bit of a rut with my major project the advice that I received from Mick definitely helped and I will turn these negatives into a positive.

I am now working myself to a deadline of producing these designs and Mick's idea for next friday when I visit Ady at True North.

Piano stairs

I came across these fun interactive piano stairs in Sweden, that encourage people to take the stairs rather than taking the escalator. Really clever idea and I know I would take the stairs instead of being lazy!

There's even a video to show the journey and apparently since producing the piano steps 66% more people now chose to take the stairs rather than using the escalator!

You can check these out at Toxel

Topshop

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love fashion and more importantly how my favourite shop is Topshop. I always say that as well as graphic design, illustration and fashion feeds my practice as a designer every day so I was amazed when I saw my favourite aspects of design and fashion brought together. 

Japanese artist Que Houxo works infront of a live audience painting with bright colours and chaotic brush strokes. His work bursts with colour and energy that you can almost en capture the movement of the brush strokes. With this in mind Topshop hired Houxo into a few lucky stores to paint live in their windows.

I always admire Topshop's windows for their fun quirky designs.

True North

As part of my research for my issues and practices essay I had emailed Ady from True North a set of questions about life after graduation.

Email to Ady:

        

        Dear Ady

My name is Michele McKee, I am currently in my final year of Graphic design, studying at Stockport College. 

My main attraction towards your agency is your ability to be thoughtful towards the design process, I really liked the attention to detail especially in the work for Apg visual colour, I thought it worked extremely well producing black and white posters in a bid to attract the viewer rather than producing lavish style posters, it was a clever idea. How long do you normally get on briefs like this, and who do you look at for inspiration when designing?

My main reason for getting in touch with yourself is because I wondered if you could spare a few  minutes of your time to answer a few questions regarding the design industry which will help myself and others when we graduate. It will also help towards research on something I am working on at the moment as part of my degree.

1. Do you think it is harder to get a job in the industry now compared to 5 years ago?

2. Do you think students are well prepared for the jump from university to the workplace?

3. What would set a student aside from everyone else? What skills would you look for?

4. How many placements, if any do you offer and for how long?

5. How many students do you get asking for jobs and placements?

6. Have you ever worked in London or considered moving to London? Would you suggest students move from their hometown to look for work?

7. Did you find it difficult to get a job after studying?

8. What advice would you give to a student regards getting a job after university?

I understand you are very busy but I would be extremely grateful to hear back from you.

Many thanks

Michele McKee

Ba Hons Graphic Design

Stockport College

Ady got back to me very quick to invite me into the studio for a chat about my questions.:

Hi Michele,

that's a big old email to answer, especially as I'm a drawer not a typer.

Happy for you to come in for half an hour next week and have a natter. That any use?

Ady

After a few emails back and forth  it was decided that I would go into meet with Ady next friday at 10am, I will also be taking in some of the designs I have been working on for my major project to get some feedback from himself.

I am extremely grateful for Ady getting back to me so quickly and look forward to meeting with him.

Unusual and Creative Pencils

I came across these most unusual and creative pencils designed by people all over the world. I really like the ideas behind them. I particularly like the pre chewed pencil and the clothes peg pencil. They really made me smile!

  

David Lovelock

After meeting with David Lovelock from Studio Special, I got in contact with him again to Thank him for meeting with us but to also ask him some questions for research as part of my issues and practices. I appreciated how he got back to so quickly and how his answers really helped inform my practice.

Email from David, with my questions and his answers

Hello Michele

I'll have a go at answering these -

1. Do you think it is harder to get a job in the industry now compared to 5 years ago?

A designer would imagine its the same. if the time span was 10 years, then yes, maybe.

If you asked a statistician the answer would also be yes, its harder due to the competition / graduates.

But there are different ways graduates find jobs and placements compared to the past 5 / 10 years.

2. Do you think students are well prepared for the jump from university to the workplace?

Yes and no. Depends on the student and the University.

Students enthusiasm to learn and understand the industry they want to exceed in

University course structure. Is it teaching the students skills or are they just setting industry award briefs and letting them get on with it?

3. What would set a student aside from everyone else? What skills would you look for?

Approach, understanding, intelligence, enthusiasm, passion, literacy and then creativity.

4. How many placements, if any do you offer and for how long??

we've a single placement desk and tend to offer 2-3 months.

5. How many students do you get asking for jobs and placements?

1 - 4 a day

6. Have you ever worked anywhere else other than London? Would you suggest students move from their hometown to look for work?

No - but its not all about London or even cities.

7. Did you find it difficult to get a job after studying?

Right time, right place. I was lucky. 

8. What advice would you give to a student regards getting a job after university?

Question themselves. Do you really want to do this? 

Make a plan of action and research agencies you'd like to work for.

Its not all about design blogs.

Don't send a PDF containing all of your work and expect a reply. It doesn't work like that.

I could spend / go into a lot of detail answering these... but I hope the above help

David