Summery Statement......

When I presented my design strategy presentation, I said that my post-uni plan was to try my hardest to become a successful freelance illustrator, specialising in illustrated lettering. I was planning to move to London and work in the pen department at Selfridges as a retail temp whist I pursued my dream, trawling agencies periodically with my portfolio. I also have two placements in London arranged,  the first with Jelly London, an illustration agency based in London, who have encouraged me to go freelance, and who I have had a placement with earlier on in the year. The second is with Tigerprint in London, after having a  weeks placement this easter at the Bradford studio. The placements I had this year really helped me to start to visualize where I saw myself fitting into the industry. This year I have also taken part in all of the pop up shops as well as manchester print fair. I plan to continue engaging in events like this and trying to sell my work independently online. Coming joint first place at Inspire Create and getting a placement off the back of the Creative Milkround event really helped to boost my confidence at the start of the year when I was really doubting my work and employability.
Coming third at the Sh Awards the other day was a completely unexpected surprise, an I now have a 6 month paid placement up north which is a fantastic opportunity. My future plan hasn't necessarily changed, as I still in the long run intend to be a freelance illustrator, however the next year is starting to take shape a little differently than I had planned a month or so ago. The dates have yet to be arranged for the Sh placement, but it means I will probably be postponing moving down to London and possibly postponing my summer placements if necessary. I am planning to create mail outs for the illustration agencies I was planning to target, and try to visit some London agencies prior to starting my placement. I am pleased that I will be able to be earning in the industry I want to work in whilst pursuing my goal, rather than in a shop! I really hadn't thought I was very employable to a studio role, but this recent placement has made me rethink the way I market myself; I am now making sure I market myself as a designer and illustrator equally so as to keep as my doors open as possible!

Horrendous photograph

Full article : http://www.brassagency.com/blog/sh/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Sh%20post

Design Strategy Presentation pdf

PDF Portfolio

Design Presence

Email about my card designs!

Two of my card designs that I completed on my placement look like they might be printed....

New Live brief

E-mail about live brief

E-mails from live illustration brief

It's nice that Graduates competition submission

woohoo!

I came third place at the Sh awards last night which was a real shock! I have won a 6 month paid internship which is just amazing!

Sh awards shortlist

 I received an e-mail informing me that I made the shortlist of 16 applicants for the Sh Awards. 

I had to prepare a 15 minute presentation to present to 6 creative directors which I did this morning! I was really nervous but I think it went really well. and although I don't see myself winning the placement, the various creative directors all seemed interested in hiring me in on a freelance basis, and took my business cards as well as offering me some fantastic advice on interview technique and the layout of my portfolio which actually has inspired my end of year show piece! I look forward to the award ceremony next thursday where our work will be displayed and we will get the opportunity to network with the professionals and the other candidates.

Tigerprint placement

I have just finished my week with Tigerprint at Hallmark House on the outskirts of Bradford.
It was really really great and I learned such a lot. It was really interesting to get some experience in an industry like that as I felt very ignorant about how it works before I went. It went really well and I had some of my concepts for valentines day pitched to Marks and Spencer on the last day - just waiting to here back at the moment on how it went! Janine has been in touch with the London studio who have seen my website and are interested in having me in in the summer. She is going to send them what I have done this week and take it from there. There is the possibility of a freelance contract with them at £8 per hour, which would either be working in the studio on all kinds of different things, or more flexibly being commissioned on a freelance basis as and when they want designs in my particular style. I cant blog any of my designs as they are now owned by Tigerprint, but if they use any I will be paid per concept.

Business cards - rounded edges

Linkdin Profile created and contacts gradually building!

Sh Awards submission

Tigerprint Placement

Just downloaded the placement pack from Tigerprint and I'm getting so excited now!!!

something that made me happy

I got my first live brief from Three Blind Mice today who are the sister studio to Jelly (who I did my placement with). They said they would keep me on their books when the right job came up. Its a small lettering brief for a pitch for a program for channel 4 and I'm not sure I can blog it but its a start! 

The most exciting thing for me was when Roz from TBM e-mailed out my contact details to the guy on the brief and accidentally sent them to me - I liked how she called me a 'lettering artist' - it made me feel like a REAL PERSON.

Manchester print fair

I have decided to submit some work to be sold at Manchester Print fair.

Happy Mothers day