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