10 Statements

My ambition is to work for well established design company at present around the yorkshire area, working in illustration and print.

I would love the opportunity to design work for wallpaper, clothing and pattern prints. I like creating these for fun and for no specific purpose.

Currently i feel my skills lay along illustration and print, although i do enjoy working in other medias.

When producing work for a client, i would like to have input into the ideas and not just be a producer.

I would like to work around people, i feel i work best in this environment with ideas buzzing around off one another.

Researching dance websites and looking at the graphic side to the companies has made me realise i would quite like to work in this area and promote something that is close to me.

At some point in the near future, before i establish myself in a company i want the opportunity to work in at least one EU country to gain more experience and if i get the opportunity as a bonus it would be amazing to work in any country outside the EU.

I want to firstly start working with smaller businesses so i can continue to learn and understand the industry as it will be like stepping into a large pond, but it would be amazing to have a few of the larger clients.

I feel it would be best if my competitors were both national and international, thus giving me a larger competitive base to keep me on my toes and hopefully put my name out there.

Promoting my work through a website would probably be the most cost effective method this way i can show my work to the world through an online portfolio. 

Task 4 - who else is out there - how good are they?

I have chosen to evaluate 2 design agencies in my local area, as i don't really have any specific influences and think it would be beneficial to me to look at agencies around my area they are - Big Cheese Designs and Design Zest.

I will evaluate the agencies based on the information i find on the websites, i will base it on unique selling points, what the agencies offer, prices, content of the business, work they have done.

What they offer.

Big cheese- corporate image, advertising campaign, website, brochure, 

Design Zest- corporate identity, product visualisation, interactive and printed media, 

Unique selling point ?

Big Cheese- they offer 'an enthusiastic design solution with the imagination, know how and technology to get the job done.'

Design Zest - 'bringing together a number of design disciplines including graphic design, interaction design and product visualisation.'

Examples of work

Big Cheese - none

Design Zest - examples of different types of work clearly shown on first page of the website.

Big Cheese

Strengths-

10 years old.

Local company 

Specialise on corporate identity.

Offer more than one service.

Weaknesses -

No examples of work

Nothing interactive and no visuals at all.

No recent news of how the business is going.

No pricing examples.

Opportunities -

Include examples of recent work.

Show and widen the areas of design they offer.

Offer more information on the company.

Make the website more interactive.

Introduce a unique selling point for customers to remember you by.

Advertise the company through its specialist areas, such as corporate logos.

Design Zest.

Strengths -

Examples of recent projects.

Recent news.

Small profiles.

A range of services wider than above.

testimonials.

information and maps on how to locate the company.

Location - close to leeds and sheffield motorway exits.

Weaknesses -

No history on the company.

No price information.

Show information on time scales as some clients may have very short deadlines.

Opportunities -

More information on the agency and its history.

Show which companies they have worked for to gain status.

Develop working methods - offer more.

Show major contracts, so future contacts can have faith in the work.

Christmas- theme some work or the website around the season so potential clients feel you are upto date and in with the seasons.

Let us know who works on your team, do you contract people in?

Big cheese, for the website to be much more successful and attract more people i think just by introducing recent work onto the website would make such a large impact similar to Design Zest it adds something extra for you to see and gives you more faith in the company because they are showing off there work, with Big Cheese i wonder why they are hiding it? I think its beneficial for both website to include mor eon the history of the company and who they have worked for, introducing a better unique selling point, because people who don't know about these businesses like myself want to know more and buy into the company as well.

How will i promote myself? what do they want to hear?

Promoting myself will entirely depend on what i am producing, being a graphic designer i seem some methods will work better for me than others, especially if i am new to the business.

For me personally i think although a relatively slow and time consuming process with experience of sales i think personal or 'direct selling' would work quite well for me, the most appropriate place would probably we at an exhibition however to go for a larger audience direct selling to 'the boss' of a company which could potentially sell on my behalf such as in a shop. I feel sponsorship from a popular business would work well for my products this way people would associate my product with something well known and glamorous, they will feel they are buying into something safe and known. Promotions always work well, especially around christmas, but as Bridget said to us we should cut prices we should offer something extra. Which is a really clever idea especially in the competitive Graphic Design world, potential clients coming back will remember me over another client that i added something a little extra. I think if i am looking at large scale distribution of my product Direct marketing would work well, as i have the opportunity to show the client how it works, give them a 'mok' of my product to try out and use, giving me the opportunity to engage with the client. Then i can tailor the product to their company to their needs to make it feel more individual.

When selling my product i really need to consider where i am selling it, if the area or place i am selling it in suits it, for example trying to advertise or promote a set of health products in a pizza shop. I need to look at what audience will be drinking the drink, for example the middle aged, working class, generally busy stressed people or people who want to improve their health, so it would be better to place the advertisements in a health shop such as holland and barrettes, a slimming class or a gym.

The most effective way of marketing my product seems to be using a sales agent, which would be appropriate for a Graphic Designer and me because at present i don't no much about where to go and who to talk to about my potentially products, when i have more experience within the field maybe, this would also give me more creative time on my work and less time on research where it can go and who goes to which places etc.

Task 2

I want to primarily work individually, i don't occasionally mind working as part of a team. I enjoy working for a means, rather than creating something just to look pretty. I most enjoy working to create for something that will make an impact upon somebody for it to be individual. My prefer method of design is illustration, i am at present working on illustration and type together i prefer not to work with type alone. I would like the opportunity to work abroad, simply for the experience of it, i don't at present want it to be for a long period of time i think it would be really good for me to get away and go some where new especially as i haven't moved away for university. I would like my potential clients to come for a variety of areas, this way i would get the opportunity to work in a variety of media. I would primarily prefer to work with hand made or handmade taken into photoshop/illustrator.

Who are they?

For this i have thought about things i would potentially like to create :/

Local.

advertising local speciality shops - weddings, dance or vintage. 

National.

wallpaper design companies.

European.

poster designs.

Transnational.

DSI dance suppliers.

P - there is the opportunity for work abroad although its a british based company, they have a license to import and export across the world. Some images would be considered disrespectful with too much flesh on show, so this would have to be considered. The tax would also differ outside of european countries.

E - a discount is offered to dress makers (not customers) this could be discussed through promotion. The exchange rates would differ if sending work abroad to advertise the company. China, Japan and Korea have a larger 'boom' for the products that european countries so there would be a larger consumer demand.

S - different countries have different fashions and styles, different dance societies also have different rules and regulations.

T - i could access design or print companies abroad as the dance suppliers have contacts abroad so there are more options for different and better technology, which could also save money of expenses. 

Where are they? How will they find me?

I feel i work best on my own, however working freelance i no would not suit me.  At this current time i need someone behind my in the background pushing me to make sure i achieve as i can easily slip into laziness. Some were studio based would probably work better for me as then i can separate my work environment to my home environment. Although i like working independently i do like working around people and everyones ideas buzzing of one another. It would also be harder to establish myself working free lance, i think i would be afraid to go it alone so soon, i would like to gain more experience working with a company in the industry and firstly making myself known through this path. 

Although freelance would be easier in some ways, the negative affect i mention above puts me off initially working this way. Working is a design studio also has a negative side; you need to find a design studio that you like and fit into, especially when your working with or around these people for long periods of time. Then there is the competitive interview process, hopefully leading to the job. 

Pest analysis

Political.

I would need to consider my area of work firstly, but if this was studio based i would need to consider copyright and plagiarism. Working in a large environment i would also need to take into account my carbon footprint how much waste i was causing with paper and electrical uses that isn't necessary.

Economical.

In times like these with a recession on economics is very important especially considering costs, for example  just because it is easier for something to be printed somewhere doesn't mean it's economically cheap to get it done there. You need to take in to consideration the currency and exchange rates of different companies when working abroad or working for companies abroad.

Social.

Differences need to be noted cultural and religious especially when creating work which could offend others. A designer needs to be in touch with the social side of the work as much as designing it so to get a full understanding. You would work differently working abroad as to working at home in your own environment, a designer needs to be aware of this when producing work for different countries, for example, Spain might want something bright than England would.

Technological.

Peoples first impressions or examples of Graphic Design are always computer based Graphics, and it is true Computers and the software we use plays a major roll in Graphic Design work, even for me who doesn't particularly enjoy using it, in one way or another i will use an Adobe program in my work some how. 

The 4 P's

Product.

Working is graphic design, the thing i am producing is the product, however 9 times out of 10 i wont be choosing what i am producing, i will be working for someone so my initial brief will not be of my own choosing even if what i am creating is. The variation of thing i can produce is large from computer based work to print.

Place.

Thanks to my choice of work, i can pretty much work anywhere all i need is my mac and a pen and sketch pad the majority of my work would be done with these three items. I am able to produce a whole load of work with very little equipment thanks to the technology available to me, so the place i work really depends on the environment i work best.

Price.

Bridget mentioned that the price of our work should be based on what am i worth, and what other things around me are selling for a similar price. I don't want to cut myself short just so i have got something out there. I should look at how many hours i have put in, what cost i have paid. Different clients have different needs, therefore there will be different prices dependent on the time i have spent on each brief, the materials i have used, how many mock ups i have and proofs, a lot of things need to be taken account for before a price can be stated.

Promotion.

My work may eventually be established within the Graphic Design world, but for now i need to promote my work an let people know i am hear. 

Who am i? Who are they?

Studying Graphic design for a year already an i am still unsure where to place myself within the graphic industry, i am yet to realise what my work is or what i enjoy most from what i do.

Up to this point i do no that i am really not the best on a computer as my skills are quite limited, would love to be able to create all the amazing computer graphics but then that really isn't me. I also no by now that i really don't enjoy typography, if have the opportunity to take it or leave it, i would definitely leave it. However saying this when i look at why i dislike these areas it is probably because i have limited skills on them, with the chance i would like to improve these areas to add to what i can do and what i currently am.

What i do no is i currently am enjoying working with print and getting involved with my work making things physically not just on screen, i enjoy drawing patterns, and illustrating. I quite like creating things for a purpose that are also aesthetically pleasing. I have found i enjoy looking at patterns of wallpaper and material, small things like shapes in objects that create patters and image, which is new to me. I no i am still developing as a designer and that i am not currently placed within one area at this time.

I will admit i am not the best for continuously checking blogs and design websites to keep upto date and see what is new in the industry i always get bogged down in another area and forget that its actually quite important to do this, to maintain a fresh outlook an see new ideas. I think this wold have a positive impact on my work, as i do have a tendency to jump straight into an idea and not research around the topic/idea enough, which has a negative effect on my work. However saying this, since i have come back from the summer i do feel my working method has changed slightly, i feel that i want to experiment more with ideas, especially with longer briefs, my problem arises when it comes to shorter one week briefs.

In my second year i am working toward developing my image more, and leaving type alone. I want to expand on the skills i have and develop the ones i have so far. I really want to move into printing onto fabric or working on a large scale as this is something that i have never done before and i feel would be a challenge for me. I would also love to no where to place myself within Graphic Design i would feel much more comfortable and feel that i would be able to move forward in my work much easier.