OUGD602 - Creative Convos - Regular Practice

OUGD602 

Creative Convos

Regular Practice 

Regular Practice is a graphic design studio based in London. Our workplaces a primary concern on typography and process, which we use to develop books, typefaces, identities, exhibitions, and websites. By engaging and interrogating the technical limitations of our work, we seek to turn limitations into features, to discover a design rather than wrestle it into existence. By focusing on the smallest building block of a design, we make minuscule, but important decisions that ultimately end up permeating a project. As well as commercial work, the studio also involves itself in self-initiated work and teaching.

Masters at the Royal College of Art - where they met

Encouraged collaboration 

Consider themselves technically proficient but we use traditional/experimental/ analog approach to create something new.

Trying things together that they didn't do as part of their formal education.

Jazz night poster used for radical experiments. 

Experiments in form.

Where does there work come from?

Informa > saw work in show and press online > emailed to see if they would pitch

Tinted Window > Kris worked on a book with the creative writing course at RCA > replied to a mass email.

British council > directly linked to the jazz posters > with architecture students. 

Serpentine Work Marathon

All the early work they got links back to people they met at the RCA.

Preparing for industry

- Nothing can replace good work

- Don't make a website in a night - focus on documentation and a strong portfolio 

- Utilise your time in education to make interesting work

- Strategise and customise your approach to people - don't do mass emails

- go to stuff - show you are interested in the field. Meet people. ask questions

OUGD602 - Creative Convos - BAFIC

OUGD602 

Creative Convos

BAFIC

Film & Photography

Process founded in graphic design

BAFIC - date of birth in letters

everything manmade is designed

Roles and opportunities that lie ahead are not always easily defined.

Brands have a core message, they are selling an object.
Similar to politics, but politics sell ideas (which is more dangerous)

Your future clients are the people next to you

zoom out, look at something, realise there are no rules

Saul Bass Quote:
The designer's general visual awareness is unquestionably helpful - this plus the kind of understanding they have about a particular problem they are dealing with from a content point of view. But the qualities that make a graphic designer a good filmmaker really haven't got to do with the specific aesthetic of design. They have more to do with their sense of story, their inventiveness, and their visual/aural sensitivity. 

OUGD602 - Creative convos - Eva Cremers

OUGD602 

Creative convos

Eva Cremers

Dutch Designer currently doing a three-month internship at Man Vs MAchine London

Man Vs Machine: a multidimensional creative studio

Internships 

SNASK Stockholm 

plan of attack
you don't need the confidence, you just need the courage. 
You can either feel bored and safe or challenged and scared.

Boost Instagram
Think of fun projects to do
Learn new skills

Learn cinema 4D

Things I have learned so far
- Throw work online
- Use the positive side of Instagram 
- Pinterest is training
- Don't be afraid of 'big' designers
- Being insecure about your work is normal
- It's normal to have no idea what they are doing

Use grayscale gorilla tutorials - Youtube

OUGD602 - Creative Convos - Kieran Walsh

OUGD602

Creative Convos

Kieran Walsh

Background:
Moved to London as a graduate
worked in a startup
Went freelance - hated it
Now works for wired

Things I wish I knew:
- Make a work Instagram
- Make a site
- Learn CSS / HTML
- learn how to prioritize 
- go to the signings / parties / talks / openings
- Spell check your CV
- Stay in and research the company
- Future proof of your skills. People expect you to be able to do everything. 
- Be nice - 'compliment the AD's new jacket'
- No more than four work drinks - keep it professional - reputations are important
- Find an excuse to talk to that person
- Learn After Effects / Cinema 4D - broad working knowledge
- Enter competitions / call for submissions
- Is the attached PDF CMYK ??? don't make silly mistakes.

OUDG602 - Creative Convos - Commission Studio

OUDG602 

Creative Convos 

Commission Studio 

15 years in the industry 
Set up commission 5 years ago
Specializes in branding from global fashion to social enterprise. 

Fashion is the main interest - fashion has informed their view as it uses tactile and interesting print. 

Making your work look good

There is no point being a good graphic designer if you can't sell your work to people 
Sell your work by presenting it beautifully
Documenting your work is one of the most important parts of any graphic design project

How to do it?
Your project holds the answer

Commission approach:
it's a premium purchase
create a mood
how does it feel?

Revisiting and improving
as a company grows - more funds for photographers/props
keep it up to scratch with current work.

Other approaches

Haw-lin Services

Haw-lin Services is a multidisciplinary creative studio offering creative direction, photography and graphic design. We strive to create intelligent and engaging visual communication and to establish continuous and progressive client relationships. Our process is focused on research, concept development, and iterative/fluid collaboration.

Based in Berlin.

Keep it simple

very clean / modernist / clinical 

Documented - texture added

clean backgrounds

modernist focus on graphic design 

appropriate for the style of their work

OK.RM
Context and Pace

The interaction between the exhibition and the print work made for the exhibition.
Real world context
Not always a clean background.
show every aspect of a project.

Veronica Ditting

Studio Veronica Ditting is an award-winning creative direction and design studio. Based in London but with an international client list, the practice works with fashion houses, artists and art institutions, and architectural firms on a wide range of projects, of varying scale and intricacy. Veronica is the creative director of the award-winning biannual women’s magazine The Gentlewoman, which has been designed and produced in collaboration with Studio Veronica Ditting since its first edition in 2010.

Petronio Associates

Petronio Associates is a multi-disciplinary strategic and creative agency. Our clients represent a selection of the world’s most prestigious fashion, fragrance, beauty, and luxury brands.
The agency’s expertise lies in the development of brand communication platforms and strategic integration across digital and traditional communication tools.

Nonchalant / Raw styling
super flash / disposable camera vibe
just scanned in, shot on a table with a strong flash
Makes it all about the work
It appears effortless but actually very considered.
Natural daylight

Think about context
when is the right time to use these techniques?

The directors cut
making the best of a project to get your next project.

OUGD602 - Creative Convos - Andrew Odong

OUGD602 

Creative Convos

Andrew Odong

Founder of Pesa Productions.

Pesa Productions is a content-driven creative production company, specialising in premium events and creative content. Supported by Virgin StartUp.

Adrew studied physics at university, but his first job was as a conference producer. This involved curating content and speakers for industry events. The indepth research gave an understanding of the creative market. 

After this he became a freelancer working with an art director in the theatre industry. During this time he gained a lot of transferable skills. 

He began his own business because he wanted to create something bigger than himself. This is also why he chose to name the company Pesa rather than after himself. On his website he always refers to the work being done by a group of people rather than an individual. He says 'we' instead of 'I'. 

Pesa is a content driven creative production company which prodes itself on being culturally diverse and diverse in the ages they cater for. 

Types of creative production:
events, film, photographs, podcasts. 

Production as a service and a product, 

A producer has to be an enabler of creative ideas

Design & Production:
- web design
- portfolio
- Pitch decks
- Typography and logo
- Film Graphics
- Instillation and set design
- Event branding & design

Be proactive

5 things you should know
- value based networking
- Identify your value
- customer and client experience
- Ideas are useless without action
- Find your advocates

andrew@pesaproductions.com

OUGD602 - Creative Convos - Valentina Medina

OUGD602

 Creative Convos 

Valentina Medina

founder of Suspira magazine.
Originally from Berlin she did her masters in journalism.
Before Suspira magazine she worked in a collective as a social media editor. This was unpaid and she worked on the side. 
She burned out after a while and re-evaluated what she really wanted to do. Realising she was always interested in creating a print magazine she began doing market research. 

She became a creative director. This wasn't her intention as she had always been more drawn to the editor role but it is a versatile role. 

The biggest challenge Valentina has faced is paying bills without selling her soul. 
Many creative jobs made her feel crippled. But freelancing came with the anxiety of not knowing where the next pay check is coming from.

Suspira

'Encapsulating multitudes of the macabre and horros of the human psyche, Suspira dissects sinister subjects though a feminine lens. Each themed issue explores an archetype of fear and fascination.'

She spent around 6 months fleshing out the idea and decided to do themed issues. This was encouraged by peers. 

\She sees independent publishing as a platform for marginalised people  / unique groups of people to get their voices heard.

Print processes - the tactile quality if the magazine, including the logo which is not printed but de-bossed. 

The research approach was a organic process which grows from previous issues. 

The magazines don't include any adverts. Most promotion comes from Instagram. 

Initial Funding and Team

She found someone who backed her ideas and invested. 

The first issue didn't make any money, just enough to cover print costs and the cost of hiring graphic designers. 

Typefaces used in magazine

Stanley by Optim

F Grotesk by Random Pesko

Dreadful Press

'A publisher and brand consultancy. Home to award winning titles Sabat and Suspira. We specialise in print magazines and editorial identities.'

OUGD602 - Sending Posterzines

OUGD602 

6A2 6B2 6C2 6D2

Sending Posterzines

To try to get the attention of studios I admire without sending emails, I designed some Posterzines. 

I sent them to five studios:
Magpie, London,
Gorilla, Manchester.
TK, Leeds.
Love Creative, Manchester.
McCann, Manchester

These were accompanied by business cards.