ART INSTALLATION

My friend Molly and I are creating an art installation for the music festival 'Secret Garden Party' which takes place in July 2011. Here are the guidelines; ideas and sketches to follow soon!!! Both me Molly and I have a fine art background; Molly studies fine art at Kingston. However, as well as creating and constructing our installation piece, I am going to create some kind of brand identity around it. This will include promotion of some kind, as well as a website/blog. This means that I can make it into something that I can have a lot of fun and freedom with, but hopefully add to my portfolio as well.

Examples of previous installations :

Challenge

You will be installing your work inside a live arts event arena with almost thousands of viewers. Your piece will be competing with live bands, wild celebrations, busy bars and theatrical costumes of all description. It will not be against a white wall.

For this reason you need consider carefully how the piece will have an impact in this challenging festival context – its colours, its size, its location, its illumination and perhaps most importantly its interactive capacity.

In 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 installation artists witnessed festival goers spending more time on, in and around their pieces that they spent watching the headline bands – testimony to how much the art is appreciated in this extraordinary locus.

We are able to offer artists a space of boundless potential. There are no height, width or length restrictions. There are unique areas at the event, such as the boats, trees, stages and lake.

You need to encourage the audience to explore, interact and become part of the work. Touching, climbing, entering - are all encouraged.

Art & Expression Theme 2011: Origins & Frontiers

"Where do we come from? What are We? Where are we going?" – Paul Gaugin

The beginning of the 21st century is staking a claim to be a period of innovation and invention, reconnecting ourselves with our origins, exploring new horizons and breaking boundaries to meet new frontiers.

The Secret Garden Party is a frontier of creative freedom, a world of experiments and expression where anything goes. Its origin lies within you: there is a chemistry to the place and you need to be the catalyst for it to ignite.

In 2011 the Art & Expression theme will be transporting you into a world of origins and frontiers, sources and horizons. Through the myriad of stages, spectacles, action camps and art installations your Garden will be exploring where we have come from and where we are going.

The Secret Garden Party will be revelling in this new age, a gathering dedicated to exploring our past origins and future frontiers. Half of the Party will be dedicated to breaking boundaries, reckless advance, endeavour, innovation and the unknown…the passion of new frontiers

Half of the Party will be dedicated to reconnecting with ourselves, our roots, our wild spirits…revelling in our rich and mysterious origins.

Your application should suggest, reference or represent this theme should it be aesthetically, conceptually or both!

Guidlines

Before filling in the application form please read all of the information below. We want this process to be as free as possible, however there is some basic information we need to share, to ensure the safety of all the festival goers and the future of the SGP.

CLOSING DEADLINE FOR RECEIVED APPLICATIONS: 28th February 2011

Responsibility

• Everyone installing art at The Secret Garden Party must take responsibility for all aspects of that creation
• From filling out the art installation form, developing a conversation with us, arrival at the event, protecting your art and cleanup accountability: every aspect of creating art must be taken seriously.

Communication

• After you fill out the art installation questionnaire, a member of our Art Team will be contacting you to confirm your placement at this year’s SGP. We need as much information as you can possibly give us.

Cleanup Accountability

• You arrive on a clean beautiful field - and that is the way you should leave it.
• Everything you bring MUST BE REMOVED unless your installation is permanent. This will involve working closely with our team to ensure your piece is either returned to your house/workshop/gallery or stored in our warehouse
• If your piece is to be a permanent installation then please ignore the above.

Installation Funding

• The Secret Garden Party has a limited amount funds available for the realisation of your work. We look to cover the cost of all materials and transportation. Only in exceptional circumstances can we pay an artists fee.
• If you can contribute to the funding of your piece this will help in realising the work’s full potential.
• If your piece is chosen for display the Art Manager will work with you to create a payment plan.

Sending the form

Please do both of the below actions to complete your application:
• Post: Once you have clicked 'SUBMIT' the system will automatically email YOU a copy of your application. Please print this and post it to:
  
    Art Installations,
    Secret Productions
    United House
    North Road
    N7 9DP
• Deadline for all proposals: 28th February 2011

WEBSITE DESIGNS SEE THIS POST

AMSTERDAM GRAPHIC DESIGN AGENCIES

I've been thinking about places that I want to apply for industrial experience, or just visit, that are slightly further afield than England. My uncle and auntie have just moved from Holland to England, however their house is still unsold, and they feel that it wont be selling any time particularly soon. I have the oppertunity of a place to stay if I were to go out there. The house is a 30 minute train ride from Amsterdam, the house itself being in Hilversum; which is a the main media/television hub in the whole of Holland. This obviously presents an array of graphic design companies that I could research and potentially contact. I have already had industrial experience for two weeks in an advertising agency called 'Blast Radius' in Amsterdam which I really enjoyed a couple of summers ago. Blast focusses mainly on webdesign which is not something I am masssively interested in. I would prefer to get some experience somewhere else so I can experience a different environment and compare and contrast them. Obviously the house could be sold at any point, so I think I would need to organise visiting in either the reading week or Easter break....


MAINSTUDIO


http://www.mainstudio.com/


Mission statement :
The Amsterdam-based graphic design agency 'Mainstudio' has been established 
by 
Edwin van Gelder in 2005. Mainstudio loves typography, magazines, identities, 
illustration and books. 
Working in the areas of music, theater, fashion and art, Mainstudio collaborates with 
photographers, illustrators and copy writers. 
Winner Golden Cube Art Directors club NY, MARK magazine 2009 


Example of work :

Jekerstraat 86
1078 MG Amsterdam
The Netherlands
T 0031 64 128 1996
F 0031 84 587 7008info@mainstudio.com
facebook


MAESTRO DESIGN AND ADVERTISING


http://www.maestro-dna.com/


Mission statement:

Maestro is the place where design meets advertising. 
We provide our clients with strong visual communications and powerful creative concepts. Our work is based on the philosophy that one picture says more than a thousand words; we apply this theory to all work; from visual identities to print ads, from promotional materials to exhibition, motion graphics and web design.



GRAPHIC DESIGN • ADVERTISING 
VISUAL IDENTITY • MOTION GRAPHICS PHOTOGRAPHY • WEB DESIGN 
PACKAGING • EXHIBITION DESIGN 
RETAIL • INTERACTIVE MEDIA 
TV COMMERCIALS • DOCUMENTARIES RECRUITMENT ADVERTISING


Examples of work : 

Tweede Helmersstraat 17-19
1054 CB Amsterdam 
The Netherlands


MANNSCHAFT


http://www.mannschaft.org/


Mission statement:

we are mannschaft, a graphic design agency based in amsterdam founded in 2002 by Rob Meerman and Andreas Schöfl. in july 2010 Diane Peters came onboard the team.

we believe in creative collaborations with our clients. we cherish dialogues that bring out the best in both parties. we believe in working as a team. we believe in we & you.

we create together. as a team. as one mannschaft.

Examples of work :

vijzelstraat 72 - 3.55
1017 hl   amsterdam, the netherlands
t +31 (0) 20 - 463 30 63

info@mannschaft.org

MERRY CHRISTMAS ME

My pretty pretty tablet...

Now maybe I'll get really good at graphic design ?

POSITION STATEMENT

Rethink into areas of interest :

illustration
art direction
moving image ?
set design
interior design
fashion and textiles
surface pattern
gifting

CHRISTMAS WRAPPING PAPER DESIGNS (2)

CHRISTMAS WRAPPING PAPER DESIGN

'THE POINT'

LOCAL INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE :

'The Point' is a creative advertising agency based in Norwich, which is not far from my hometown and is where I lived for a year when I was on my art foundation. Although The Point is a an advertising agency rather than a graphic design agency, they have a creative department and the head of it, Ian Mckinnon-Evans used to be in a band with my dad (hahahahaha) and is a good friend. It is not set in stone that I could get some industrial experience, but Ian has always been really supportive of my career so I think it would be extremely wise to get in touch with him and see if I could get any experience!

'HERRING BONE DESIGN'

LOCAL GRAPHIC DESIGN:

'Herring bone design' is a small graphic design agency based in Aldeburgh - a popular seaside town close to where I live back home in Suffolk. They specialise in Graphic design and illustration of promotional 
materials for retail, leisure and publishing industries. Their client list includes The British Museum and BT‘s Global Challenge. In all honesty, they are not the sort of company that I imagine myself working for, but all experience is good experience in my opinion, and due to the convenience of the location, if they were to give me any industrial experience, even if it were just for the day, it would be valuable.

ARTICLE FROM THE GUARDIAN OVER PAPERCHASE PLAIGERISING CLAIMS

During my research into companies I would like to work for I discovered this article about a plaigerising complaint against paperchase by another artist. It is important for me to know as much as possible about the company.

Artist sparks Twitter campaign against Paperchase over disputed design

Stationery firm under pressure to withdraw design claimed by Hidden Eloise after complaints go viral online

• Alexandra Topping
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 11 February 2010 19.17 GMT
• Article history

The stationery firm Paperchase is under pressure to withdraw products featuring a design that resembles one created by an artist after her complaints went viral on Twitter today.

The artist, known as Hidden Eloise, accused Paperchase of copying one of her designs on their products, including books and bags.

The company had ignored her claims, she said. But today thousands of Twitter users picked up on the story and within hours it was one of the top trending topics both in the UK and globally.

The design in question features a young dark-haired girl. The artist claims it is a copy of her design, called He says he can hear the Forest whisper.

She urged her followers on Twitter, and fellow artists, to bombard the company with emails. "[I]f you are any bit angry or frustrated with huge ancient vampires sucking the creative juice of indie artists, a simple email sent to them here might save me from having to raise $40,000 for court expenses!" she said.

Paperchase said it had bought the design from a reputable outside agency in good faith, and was trying to get to the bottom of the issue, adding that it was "deeply concerned" about the allegations.

In a statement on the company's website, it said: "We understand that many of you are visiting us today after hearing about the origin of one of our designs. We would like to make it clear that Paperchase bought the design in question in good faith from a reputable design studio. Paperchase is deeply concerned by the allegations and we will be looking into the matter further." A spokesman for the company said it could not confirm the name of the company involved.

On her website the artist said that since she had called the company they had continued to place items with her design on sale. "I'm sure Paperchase think that there is nothing that can make them stop," she said.

In an email she said she had created the artwork in around March 2008 and had sold it in on the craft website Etsy since then.

A fellow seller had contacted her after noticing the girl figure on a Paperchase bag, she said. She contacted Paperchase in November 2009 and the company denied there was any plagiarism, and stated that the company it had bought the design from also denied infringement, she said.

"Paperchase said that the items in question were in short run and that they wouldn't be renewed after they run out," she said. But she later saw that they had been freshly listed, she said.

She sought legal advice but found the prices prohibitive. "It was just too expensive to even start talking with any lawyers and the legal fees could break anyone with non-corporate pockets," she said.

Despite fears about being sued for libel she decided to go public with her claim. "It was a difficult night yesterday but I am glad I took the decision to take a firm stand and speak out for something that is seen as self-evidently wrong by so many people," she said.

"The tweeter eruption that happened this morning is the warmest, kindest and most gentle affirmation that individual people care about each other and intuitively know what is right and what is wrong. And no court of law can take that away from me."

Paperchase later confirmed that it had bought the design in October 2008, from a well-known London design studio, adding that it takes "all reasonable precautions" to check that designs are from reputable sources.

"Above all, we would like to apologise to any customers upset or angered by this allegation against us," said the statement.

"The illustrator who is making the allegation made us aware of her concerns in November 2009 and we duly responded to her in early December, since when we had heard nothing ... until today. Back in November 2009, we spoke at length to the design studio in question and they categorically denied any plagiarism."

It added: "It is worrying that such an allegation can create such reaction and again, Paperchase apologises for any ill-feeling caused."

The company joined Twitter today, under the name @FromPaperchase, to address concerns directly to the online community, tweeting:#Paperchase would like to address your concerns about the origin of one of our purchased designs." It included a link to its statement on the website.

'PEEPSHOW COLLECTIVE'

'Peepshow Collective' is a design collective based in London. Its mission position statement is that it's ' a multi-disciplinary collective focusing on illustration, animation and art direction.' It was founded in 2000 by graduates of the University of Brighton but now has an impressive client list. What appeals to me is the style of the work, and the fact that the collective was formed organically from a group of students which somehow makes it seem less intimidating. The work they do is somewhat playful and usually carries  lighthearted tone, a lot like my own work.

Peepshow facilitates self promotion, share clients and collaborate. I like this aspect; working as part of a team in a way, much like a studio environment. Peepshow work extensively within the areas of illustration, advertising, art direction, moving image, set design, mixed media installation and fashion and textile design; all areas which I am particularly interested in.

Peepshow have fostered relationships with The Victoria and Albert Museum, SHOWstudio and onedotzero as well as many international advertising agencies such as Fallon, Ogilvy and Mather, M&C Saatchi, Wieden + Kennedy and TBWA. Much of the creative input for their commercial work stems from self-initiated activities, events and exhibitions. Their inclusion in The British Council’s touring expo ‘Picture This’ and 'Ecology Earth' at The Museum of Modern Art in Japan has seen them represent the best of British image making.

The illustrators of Peepshow we have frequently appeared in publications such as The Guardian, The Observer, The Telegraph and The New York Times and their work regularly features in Creative Review, Design Week and Varoom. They have been asked to contribute to many books on the subject of illustration including Pen & Mouse, Illusive, The Fundamentals of Illustration, Picture Book and Hand To Eye. Collectively Peepshow's moving image work has been featured at 'onedotzero: adventures in motion' at the ICA, 'Counter:Vision' at The Hayward Gallery and as part of 'Pictoplasma' in New York as well as appearing on channels such as the BBC, Channel 4 and MTV. 

Clients Include _ BBC Blueprint British Council Creative Review Dazed & Confused Diesel DC Shoes Faber & Faber Fallon The Financial Times Ford Honda Icon The Independent Levis MTV The New York Times NHS Orange Penguin Perrier Polydor Puma Quantas Quiksilver Red Bee Media Samsung Sony Swarovski The Times Timeout Victoria & Albert Museum Virgin Atlantic Waitrose Wallpaper Magazine Wieden+Kennedy Wonderland Magazine World of Interiors Zanussi

PAPERCHASE

I really love the design of paperchase projects. I would like to ultimately design for a company like this. I investigated how paperchase select their designs; whether they have in house designers, or whether they source the designs from a multitude of designers. From my research I found that in actual fact they source most of their artwork from agencies which put the designers work forward and Paperchase look through and select the work they like. This offers up two possible opportunities for me to seek out; experience with an agency where they recruit designers/illustrators and also perhaps experience within a Paperchase offices where they make decisions on which designs to choose.

Examples of Paperchase designs that I particularly like :

'GOOD ILLUSTRATION'

 This year I have been doing most of my illustration work on the side away from main course work so as not to loose focus on the briefs. As a result I have found a lot more freelance illustration work to keep me motivated. I dont want to limit my industrial experience to just graphic design based companies, however it is difficult to gain much industrial experience with an illustrator as it is a predominantly freelance industry where artists tend to work individually. Jane suggested that I contact 'Good illustration' which is an illustration agency based in Covent Garden in London. She suggested that I send them an e-mail asking to come and look around at least and see how an agency works. This way I could gain some experience of how an illustration agency works; how they recruit illustrators and distribute the work. She also suggested that I created a new illustration blog, like my original one but select only my best pieces. These are the pieces I chose:

http://pollywilliamsillustration.blogspot.com/

I sent them an e-mail so now all I can do is work and hope for the best! 

HUSH HOUSE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

The t-shirt designs have been sent to be printed now! They asked if I would have a go with altering the full stag for the website slightly to improve the readablility of the word 'HUSH' within the antlers. As you can see before the decorative anlers surrounding the word looked slightly like a 'Y'....

I pointed this out before and they said that they didn't think it did and were happy with it. However, after some more consideration they would like to see what it would look like if I changed this. I think in future I should trust my own opinion and go for it just so I can show the client what I mean. That way they might make their decisions more quickly even if they stick to their guns. The fact that this project is running along side my other work and the deadline is a little while off plays in my favor because it allows changes to be made more gradually.

TASK 3

HOW WILL I PROMOTE MYSELF?



In terms of promoting myself in this industry, the first thing to do would be to define my target audience. I need my mission statement or personal ethos to communicate clearly and without knowing precisely who I'm aiming it at, it wont be clear. In my case I think that my target audience at this point would be graphic design agencies more than anything, which work with a lot of image based design, such as ilovedust, or Tiger print. 

My mission statement would be the most important element of my self promotion. This would be something that would remain the same through all areas of communication with the company. In this statement I would need to explain my overall aims. At this point I would say that my aims lie with creating imaginative and innovative image based design. I want my design to improve and enhance peoples lives by enforcing the value and necessity of beauty within all areas of our life. This is a very loose idea for the lines in which I want my mission statement to lie, but its a start. 
Another way of promoting myself in this industry would be through my identity as a brand. Coming up with some kind of logo/brand identity for myself helps companies and other potential employers to understand what it is I am about. A logo/brand says a lot about what it's representing, it might just be this that gets the attention of the potential employer. It also provides a tiny glance into what kind of work it is that you do.


The situation of this branding is just as essential as the brand itself. Business cards, post cards, headed paper, blogs, PDFs and websites are all situations in which you would display it. These are also often the first point of contact between you and your potential employer, therefore they speak for you in many ways and must be well thought out. Considerations I would need to make are things like stock; a good quality stock with a weight will give the impression of high quality, where a handmade or lightweight environmentally considered stock, perhaps embossed rather than printed in ink will give the impression of a designer concerned with sustainable design. Like with our projects, every decision in terms of design is important as it could say something significant as us as designers, like it would about a product we are designing for.


These are some examples of different designers website branding and the way that they have chosen to present themselves as designers:

Current splash sheet for my blog:

In terms of actually getting in touch with the employer, post or e-mail would be the first port of call. Most design companies that I have looked into provide e-mail addresses and some even encourage communication from new designers. In terms of what to send, a lot of companies are not particularly confident with opening PDF portfolios they could potentially contain a virus. The best way to send my portfolio would be through a blog or website. I think in terms of content for my portfolio, it would be best to select perhaps only 5 key pieces of work that I feel best express my aims and style as a designer. This is partly because most likely they simply do not have the time to look through lots and lots of work and also there is always the possibility that they will ask to see some more; if I have shown them everything at this point, I will be a bit stuck. With this link to my blog or website I would send a well designed CV and perhaps a cover letter. In terms of what I should directly communicate with them, I think it would be important to show a willingless to learn, demonstrate a good knowledge of the company and show a keen interest in what the company does. I should handle regection gracefully and politely ask for some formative feedback, should they not have any positions available at that moment in time, or simply see me as unsuitable for them in some way. Feedback is invaluable and could help me with my next efforts. 

BBC COMPETITION : "SHOW ME THE MONET"

The Show:

BBC 2 has commissioned a new 10-part art series called 'Show Me The Monet' (working title).

We would like artists from across the nation to submit their art to us - whether you have publicly displayed any of your work before or not, whether you have ever sold any of your work before or not, we want to see it! This could be your chance to get your art seen not just by some very prominent members of the art world but also by the nation… and it could be the first step on the road to recognition and success for you.

Our Hanging Committee (a panel of three renowned art experts) is searching for great art from both amateurs and professionals alike. Anyone can enter as long as you submit your own personal work of art. It could be a painting, a sculpture, a photograph, a drawing, a ceramic - as long as you have created it yourself, you can enter it (see terms and conditions).

The Hanging Committee needs great art to put into a new exhibition where members of the art establishment, together with members of the public, can view and buy the work that is selected. All the work at the exhibition will have a guide price attached but will be offered for sale by 'blind bid' - meaning that potential buyers will not know what anyone else has bid until the sale is over!

How to enter: take a photo of your best piece of work (see terms and conditions of entry), download the application form and fill it in, find a photo of yourself and send the photos and application form to the email address.

Submission opening date: 4th November 2010

Submission closing date: 5th December 2010 

This is the piece that I have submitted: