At the start of the year I knew I wanted to experience a graphic design studio and go on placement. I collected names of graphic design studios I wanted to contact in Leeds and Birmingham as I was confused to whether I wanted to stay in Leeds or go home after uni and I thought getting placement in both cities would help me make my mind up. I got emails back from three studios, Vast in Leeds, Fluid in Birmingham and Risotto in Glasgow. I was over the moon just to get replies!
I was sooo happy just to get an e-mail back off Risotto, a design and print studio I have always admired. I decided to go on placement at Fluid and Risotto, I would of loved to have gone to Vast too however there just wasn't enough time to do all three, and Vast were really busy. I was excited to go to Risotto to work with someone who has gone freelance after university to ask her questions about how she did it. I was also interested to visit Fluid and design with them to see what its like to work with a team of designers in a 9-6 job.
I learnt a hell of a lot going on placements that I would of never of learnt at uni, simple things such as the need to strictly organise your files, how there isn't ever enough time in the day to get some designs how you want and how demanding clients can be and sometimes how clueless they can be about design. I much preferred working at Risotto with Gabriella Marcella in Glasgow than Fluid, Gabriella was always creating much more interesting design, Riso printing at her leisure whereas Fluid was very much more corporate working with huge clients such as Sony. It was great to see each side, Fluid wasn't as creative as I thought, people didn't seem to really enjoy the projects they were working on, just churning out design they weren't 100% happy with. Working with Gabriella has made me think about going freelance more and gaining help from the college to do so.
This year I also visited Berlin a place I have been meaning to go for a long time now, experiencing their culture was great, going to galleries, exhibitions and tours of the history of Berlin. This is definitely somewhere I can see myself living in a few years time, the design scene out there is pretty big and the city is just an overall creative hub full of things to look at and experience.
Previously I have always been comparing my work to peoples on the course, thinking my designs were never good enough, however placement has gave me more confidence in my work and ideas. I have also gained more confidence within presenting my ideas something I was always very nervous about in first year.
I am really happy with my final outcomes from third year, I feel I have managed my time well and began to create a portfolio I can be proud about and talk about confidently. I have really enjoyed seeing all my work come together an collaborating with people of similar interests.
The job hunt begins as soon as the End of Year show ends, I will begin this strategy but contacting studios I actually want to work for by sending them mail in the post so they have to open it and view my work. I will search job websites and apply for all jobs that I am interested in. Hopefully my design career will begin soon.
Overall PPP has been a valuable module throughout the three years, teach me how important it is to actually talk to people, visit places and keep connected with the design world. I feel happy and confident with my design work to take it into the real world and pursue my desired design career.
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