Creative Strategy Summary

Personal aims for the year-

- Time management. Instead of sitting and chatting with a brew when I get in from uni and accidentally loosing 3 hours, I'm going to try and blog as soon as I get in. A little each day will make life so much easier.

- Try to be as creative as possible. I often feel there is no time to be creative because the work load is so intense, but this year I think there will be lots more room for creativity- which I am really looking forward to.

- Have some hobbies outside of the classroom. Ive enrolled onto a ceramics course, but i would also like to start swimming and climbing some more. I need a way to release stress which isn't smoking. Really want to stop smoking- thats a personal aim.


Professional aims for the year

- Consider the future a lot more. I will be attending the start up Wednesday sessions and a few of the career track Tuesdays, which should hopefully help boost my condense and tell me all I need to know about being my own boss.

- I would really like to do an internship or volunteer somewhere. Something like the Granby studios that I contacted last year. Or perhaps an illustrator, to see how they manage the professional world. Maybe i'll go to Berlin and hang out with Riikka Laakso because I think she's really great.

- Push myself. Use the incredible facilities to my advantage, because who knows when I will be able to screen print again. Put my all into it.



Research and Opportunities undertaken over the summer

- Being commissioned for the logo's was a great opportunity. I felt a great deal more confidence coming out of level 5, and ready to put what I had learnt into practice. Collaborating with Sophie on this was also something that worked really well. Forward thinking- I think I work better with others.

- The leeds zine fair was a good networking opportunity. Organising all of that and getting it all sorted was something I enjoyed doing.

- I need to do some more research in the way of professional agencies and studios etc.

What do I need/ want to know more about?

- Pricing work, freelance work and how to price it. Hopefully career track Tuesday's will help me with this.

- Really want to look into working studios or workshops that make a positive impact on social environments or community's.

- Need to research into facilities I will be able to use after uni.

- Setting up my own company. Whether it would be financially feasible, the market I would be targeting etc.

- I need and want to know a lot more about a lot of things, you can never know enough really.


Self promotion moving forward

- Try and go to more fair's like the Leeds zine fair, great places to promote my work and network at the same time.

- Make a more up to date website, and one thats really selective. No filling in the gaps, only work that I want to be on display.

- Have a really great portfolio, that I'm super proud of.

Too much writing here's a sunday drawing for your eyes

First day back- Mega Crit

Enjoyed looking around at all of the work, so much to see! The picture above was one of my favourites. The mixed media and the composition really did it for me, and it was just a really lovely sketchbook page. 

Here's some more that I thought were pretty awesome-

Its good to look around at the talent and remember how awesome the studio environment can be. Always try to be inspired rather than disheartened. 

ILLUSTRATOR OF THE WEEK- Riikka Laasko

Recently discovered an illustrator whose work I've instantly fell in love with. I would really like to contact her in regards to her work, but really want to consider what to say carefully. I may be able to use some of her work within my dissertation research, so if this is the case, I will centre a question or two around that particular image. Unfortunately the article it was for is in German, and I've contacted the magazine asking if they have it in English, and they contacted me back straight away, but no luck.
So now I'm getting a friend of mine to translate one of the articles for me, so hopefully will be able to gather some information and then questions once I have the translation.

But I am in love with her work! Her Lino's are something else I would ask her about, as this year myself and my house mate are planning on completing an A0 Lino. Dream big hey.

Given myself the challenge to find a new illustrator/designer/creative every week and analyse their work and what not. Its something I definitely didn't do enough of last year, but something I was to keep on top of this year. Laakso is totally illustrator of the month though she's so great.

Logos being used

These are pictures taken from her Facebook page and her website, so my work is being used across an array of platforms which is a great way to become recognised. 

Unfortunately for me I tend to dislike my work after a week of completion. But trying to get rid of that habit, be happy and move on.

Leeds zine fair

Leeds zine fair at Left bank was a really great day, and successful in various ways.
Firstly is was a really good place to network, meet people, talk about work and design and gather some contacts.
Secondly our stall did really well. I personally didn't have much to sell, but there were 4 of us in total sharing, and between us we made over £70, which was awesome! I think I really enjoy organising events like this, even if I wasn't there with much of my own stuff. I enjoyed talking to the customers, promoting our work and finding out about events.

My favourite part of the day was learning all about risograph, and trying it out myself! I met a few of the guys who work down at footprint, who were all lovely, and I showed a lot of interest so they talked me through the machine and what not.
As a part of the event they did a print a zine in a day thing, so I tried to do a 2 colour simply piece for mine. Was pretty hard to line it up without a light box or anything but I really like the 'not perfect' look, I think it goes well with the riso effect.

People had some great work at the fair, and it was so varied. I think the thing that made our stall so interesting was that we were a collective, and had plenty of interesting little bits on the table that drew people over. Definitely want to do one again, really enjoyed it and it gave me a wee creative boost. Really needed it.