Tutorial with Alec - Placement Discussion

Having contacted an ever-increasing and somewhat lengthy list of studios and agencies, and receiving no response, today I had a tutorial with Alec to see where I was going wrong in my endeavour to secure a placement.

Advice from Alec

• If studios/agencies are ignoring mailers which clearly took time to make, they aren't worth your time/you probably don't want to work there.
• Try direct messaging on Instagram.
• Use email to establish contact, try and move to phone call/face-to-face meetings ASAP.
• Make language more confident.
• Remember, I have just as much to give them and they have to give me.
• Know your worth.
• Broaden options - opportunity to learn more. 

Career Track Tuesday: Networking Skills

Tonight I attended a Networking Skills workshop, run by marketing consultant Anna Franks and actor/trainer Rick Ferguson. The workshop detailed how to identify the best networking opportunities, introduce yourself effectively, explain what you do concisely, be confident about appropriate conversation topics and improve your active listening skills.

Notes:

Where to network:

• Online, through friends or colleagues.
• Events (Use Eventbrite to find events to attend).
• Junior Chamber of Commerce
• Yorkshire Mafia
• Leeds Arts University events
• Glug (Next event 21st March)

Planning Ahead

• Know where the event is, and plan how long it will take to get there. Make sure you're on time, or even better, slightly early. 
• Source an invite list of attendees (if possible) and do your research about them, especially those you may want to have as a contact.
• Set yourself targets and goals (e.g. Talk to 5 people, get 5 business cards etc.)

Tips

• Think about your body language. Make sure you appear open and approachable.
• Make sure you don't close a group by standing closed. 
• Simple conversation starter: 'What brings you here tonight?'
• Visualise talking points.
• Establish a personal connection.
• Find common ground.

Elevator pitch

• Who do you work with? 
• What do you do? 
• What particular skills do you possess?

Filler Questions

• What clients are you working with at the moment?
• What do you love the most about your job?
• What other networking events have you been to/recommend?

Conversation Exit Strategies

• 'Please excuse me while I go and get another drink.'
• 'Do you have a business card so that we can connect?'
• 'Sorry, I've just spotted someone that I really need to speak to. Do you mind if I go to speak to them?'
• 'Do you know anyone else at the event?'
• "Please excuse me while I go to the loo.'

Following Up

• Send a follow soon after the event to solidify connection made.
• Request to connect on LinkedIn, with a personalised message.
• Say something along the lines of 'Hi. It was nice meeting you last night, I hope you don't mind if we connect and stay in touch.'

While the thought of attending a networking event solo is still very daunting to me, as someone who feels anxious meeting new people and unfamiliar social environments, I feel the workshop has equipped me with the knowledge and skills to 'fake it' and act professionally at such events where there are networking opportunities. I also feel better prepared to face this type of situation going forward.

SO Creative Studio

SO is a boutique creative agency based in London’s 'vibrant' East End. Since being founded in 2000, the agency have gained a reputation for exceptional creativity, high quality design and a bespoke, tailor made service. These attributes that have undoubtedly led towards the enviable client list they have today. 

The SO team is small, and they only work with people they like and on projects they like, which they say makes for a 'good experience on both sides' and 'a more rewarding process' due to the more openness which yields better results. The agency's down to earth honesty and unpretentious approach is what gets them their clients, and reason why 90% of their work comes from referrals.

Though SO's client base spans a diverse range of sectors, the majority of their work is focused on luxury or aspirational brands that want a fresh and unique approach. Un-paralled attention to detail is what they say ensures the creative vision stays cohesive throughout. They take great pride in their practice and therefore consistently make their work stand out.

As a designer wishing to work for aspirational and luxury brands myself, with a focus on attention to detail and high-end finishing, SO agency is something of a dream to me. The work they produce and reputation they have is a narrative I would love to be a part of, or somewhere very similar to this.

I emailed SO in the hopes of spending some time with them, though this was not possible due to the small nature of the agency. Jo Steadman, creative director of the agency, did however reply and was most pleasant. This email also led to a follow on instagram, as well as a comment on a piece of work.

https://www.socreative.co.uk

Visit: Evolution Print - Sheffield

Evolution Print are a Sheffield-based, award-winning commercial colour print specialist company, responsible for many multi-layered and diverse projects for an ever growing list of National clients,

including The Hepworth Gallery (Wakefield), The Modernist magazine (Manchester) and Sheffield University. 

With the facilities to print B1 & B2, digital and wide format, Evolution are one of the best equipped facilites in the region and specialise in high quality commercial print collateral. 

The printers' have a growing reputation in the Retail and Further Education sectors, aided by a number of awards. In 2009 they were awarded 'Most Innovative Printer of the Year' by Print Week, and were winners of the 'Antalis Quality Award' in 2013 and Print and Paper monthly brochure printer of the year in 2015.

The company was founded in 1975, and at present has around 50 employees.

As a print-based designer myself, I always find it greatly beneficial visiting commercial printers. Not only does it allow you to see the possibilities of print and provide inspiration, but also provides insight into the printing process, the knowledge of which makes the design process more informed and easily understood. By increasing awareness of printing processes, the possibilities and limitations of print are made increasingly apparent which subsequently allows myself as a designer to generate ideas that are achievable. 

1-2-1 Careers Advice & Guidance Session

As I am finding getting a placement so challenging, and also beginning to feel apprehensive about life after university (e.g. finding a job, when to start looking etc.), I booked an appointment with the universities' consultant Sue Holdsworth for a 1-2-1 Careers Advice & Guidance Session.

I talked through my failure to receive any responses from the studios and agencies I have contacted, to which Sue encouraged me to be persistent and try again. She also suggested contacting via telephone may be a quicker and more successful approach.

Sue advised that while it was important to be aware of jobs being posted at present, it will be most beneficial to focus on university until a time closer to graduation - when studios and agencies are looking for graduates and my availability is assured.  

The importance of having an up to date CV was stressed, as it is required for almost all jobs in the application process.

I felt less anxious following the session and plan to utilise Sue's advice in the coming weeks.

Creative Convos - Day 5 - Abraham Asefaw of The Pop Up Agency

The Pop Up Agency is a creative consultancy, known for traveling the world and solving briefs in 48h. Creative process is at the centre of everything the agency do. Abraham Asefew visited the studio to talk to us about the agency.

Abraham was born in Saudi Arabia, though moved frequently, and grew up for the most part in Sweden. He is now based in London, where he has lived for the last 6 years.

The agency was founded in 2012 by 5 students studying at Hyper Island, Stockholm. Two weeks into the program, after reflecting on their needs and values, they decided to start a side project. They wanted to work globally, on short projects, no roles involved, in a dynamic work environment. They spent the first year together prototyping and testing the business model/agency concept. The team, with backing from the school, used their 15 week internship period to launch the agency, using the only time they had, weekends, hence the 48 hour time period. They called this 'The Pop-Up Tour' which saw the team visit 15 clients, in 15 countries, over the 15 weeks.

Now, only 2 of the 5 founders remain at The Pop-Up Agency, Abraham and Maksimilian Kallhed.

Within the 48 hour period, the team follow this action plan:

• Brief
• Research
• Ideation
• Prototyping 
• User Testing 
• Treatment 
• Pitch

The agency has now solved 48 hour briefs in over 40 countries, with a client list including Facebook, Coca Cola, Saint Laurent, Conde Nast, Cheap Monday, TBWA, BBH, Hyper Island, Media Monks, KLM, and Adidas.

Advice

• Be naive enough to believe in big ideas, be stubborn enough to see them through. 
• We are a reaction of our time. 
• Have an open mind.
• Stay focused.
• Collaborate.
• Start each day by 'Checking in' with your state of mind.
• ^'Check Out' at the end of each day.
• Connections lead to clients.
• Understand your value.
• Understand the value of guidance (mentors and advisers).
• Constructive feedback leads to growth.
• Create your own opportunities.
• Champion Creativity.
• Empower people to use creativity.
• Apply creativity to outer contexts.
• Always dissect brief into 1 sentence. 
• Set clear goals and expectations.
• Don't forget to revisit goals and expectations. 
• Everyone is creative.
• Balance time and finances.
• Identify you value as a creative.

Workshop

During the session, in groups of 5, we were set the task to each consider our own needs and values, devise business ideas that align with them, and then come together to expand the idea and pitch it to Abraham.

Creative Convos - Day 4 - The Elephant Room

The Elephant Room are a recently established advertising agency based in London. Less than a year old, having been set up in  June 2017, the agency are at the beginning. A core team of 5 (Will, Shannie, Dan, Katie and Chris), the agency regularly collaborate with freelancers, artists, models,  and designers etc. While everyone in the studio has their own role, they work together flexibly to produce the freshest creative solutions from a fresh perspective. They agency are huge advocates of diversity, and celebrating different cultures, genders, abilities etc. Clients so far include Dyson, Decca Records and Wileyfox.

We were visited by co-founders of the agency Head of Talent Shannie Mears and Cultural Strategist Will De Groot.

Originally from Birmingham, Shannie now lives in London. She was previously a dancer, though decided to pursue a different creative career. After graduating university in 2015, she got a job as a brand manager for underground magazine GUAP in London. Shannie has also been featured in 'She Says,' an award-winning global network organization focused on the engagement, education and advancement of women in the creative industries.

Will is originally from York and studied English Literature at Brighton University. After graduating in 2010, he moved to Japan to teach English, and moved to London when he returned. Once in London, he did unpaid internships at PR/media firms to gain experience before going on to work at brand consultancy 'Flamingo'. He notes that the agencies that he'd worked at before The Elephant Room lacked diversity and culture, and were very much one-dimensional.

Advice

• Work out what you do and don't enjoy.
• Potential over experience, you can take it further.
• Own what you're about.
• Don't settle for mediocre.
• Be persistent. 

Useful Links

• YCC (Young Creative Council)
• Exposure LDN
• Social Fixt
• Facebook
• Its Nice That
• Creative Equals
• The Other Box
• Product Hunt
• Liberty
• D&AD
• The Dots
• Hiive
• Creative Access