Debbie Millman for Creative Mornings: The Top 10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Graduated College

Though I have seen this talk multiple times previously, I find it more and more beneficial each time I watch it. Different lessons and notions Millman speaks of seem more relevant to my life every time I watch it, and I therefore come away from the video each time with an enhanced sense of clarity regarding one or more of the lessons she gives. The talk doesn't only provide clarity and understanding in terms of design, but life in general also. It is insightful, revealing 

and inspiring.

Stripped back to the basic 10 things Millman wish she knew when she graduated college are featured below:

1. Design talent is equivalent to operational excellence.

Provide empathy, talk about what you do in a way that allows viewers to understand your message. Understand your message and communicate it to others.

2. Design is not about design - it is about a lot of other things.

We need an encyclopaedic knowledge of the world. The client is looking for a return on their investment, the difference will it make in somebody’s life.

3. There are two things that are not really about what we think they are about; money and sex.

Money is rarely about money, convince them that the value you’ll provide will be valuable enough for them to pay for it.

4. Ideas are easy - Strategy is much harder.

Strategy is the unique point of difference. It is choosing activities differently. You should be able to communicate what you are doing and why you do what you do. 

5. know what you are talking about.

Tell the truth especially when you don’t know something. People love to teach

6. Common vocabulary does not equate to common behaviour.

Work on the design brief with the client to decide what the client language means.

7. Relentlessly prepare.

Prepare yourself for every possible outcome.

8. Beware of artificial harmony.

It allows you to come up with a game plan.

9. Seek out criticism.

Only use work that you love in your portfolio, don’t use fillers to show your skills. If you’re not making enough mistakes you’re not taking enough risks.

10. You need to know how to present.

Take a class - Talk about your work in a way that creates a framework and decide what your criteria for success is.

A further two quotes from Millman I love in this talk are:

“Busy is a way of organising you priorities if you really want to do something you’ll find the time to do it.”

“Take opportunities to continue to be educated”

Austin Kleon - Show Your Work

Today I was shown an SXSW Keynote video featuring Austin Kleon as a speaker, presenting his views on creativity and sharing influence. Kleon is an artist and writer based in Austin, Texas, USA who's work is primarily concerned with creativity in today's world and how to harness it, share it and keep it alive.

Kleon's talk focuses on the ideology of their being two major identities within our lives and creative practices. He allegorises the industry as a 'monster movie' in which there are Vampires and Human Spam.

Vampires are those who suck the energy out of the people around them, later using this energy for themselves and their own practices.

Human Spam are the people who want to be listen to, but don't want to listen to others. The people who want the support of others, but do not support anyone else themselves.

Both these types of people, according to Kleon, believe to become known and produce their masterpieces as 'geniuses' they must work in solitude waiting for creativity to strike.

Though geniuses may have the most acclaimed work, creativity is in short supply to them. Klein suggests that there is a new way for designers to become and stay more creative than ever - by becoming part of a Scenius. A scene of people, collaborating, sharing, contributing to a wider purpose. These groups of people take and swap ideas from one another, allowing conversation and inspiration to manifest itself into new, shared ideas that ultimately yield greater work, and also self progression.

Watching the talk made me realise that you don't have to be a genius to become known and gain recognition, but instead through collaboration, listening to others and sharing ideas the work you produce will undoubtedly reach more people through a network of like-minded practitioners and therefore open doors of opportunity and development. 

OUGD403 - Design Skills - Module Assessment Feedback and Marks

Today I received the Module Assessment Feedback and Marks for OUGD403, Design Skills. Despite concerns regarding the predictability of the work I had produced and the mark I would receive as a result, I have achieved a grade of 70%. This grade was my aim and is the minimum mark I wish to achieve for any given module. I am ecstatic that I have been able to meet this mark and hope to be able to achieve the same or above in the future - though I know it will require me to go further and work harder.

Visiting Professionals - Alphabet

Alphabet are a Leeds-based design agency who specialise in branding and creative direction. They produce 'bold and brave work for bold and brave clients.' The agency was founded by Sam Lane, Abbas Mushtaq and Sebastian Needler - all recent graduates from Leeds College of Art's graphic design course - the course I am now studying. Alphabet are concept driven,  building brands and telling stories through branding, print, web, social and physical forms. 

Alphabet provide the following services:

• Strategy
• Positioning
• Brand & Identity
• Art Direction
• Messaging
• Packaging
• Editorial
• Marketing 
• Digital

Listening to the group speak about all the things they had achieved and projects they had completed for some big clients in such a short time after graduation was inspirational. Knowing that with hard work and the foundation set by LCA these graduates have been able to achieve so much in a short amount of time makes me excited at the prospects I myself may have after graduating if I give my all to the course. The talk they gave has given me extra motivation to succeed and insight into what to expect over the next three years.