Friday 25 November 2016

LinkedIn connections

I've spent the last days updating my Linkedin profile to be able to contact professionals offering a profile with information about myself.

I've made sure that I don't present myself as a student, but as an eclectic creative instead.

I have contacted some artists in UK and I want to contact some more in Spain soon, as I am reading a book written by a studio in Barcelona and I would like to give them some feedback.

Ideas for Yahoo

Ideas for coming up with ideas

gallery visits

most obvious answer

most ambiguous answer

free association

key words associations (Tangential approach)

Spitball ideas (many voices, editing different approaches)

Identifying what already exists

subconscious, recognising everyday potential solutions

identifying and working within limitations

re-write the brief in your own words (personal interpretation)

Target audience (personas)

product testing

mindmapping

marketing considerations



Yahoo! Brief





The first thing I realised when reading the brief is that it is not asking the designers to make Yahoo! the new Google, but to make it the most used homepage. The others were suggesting customisation and information display like if it was a phone or the Google Chrome default page. Instead, I proposed that when one opens the browser the intention is to look something up or check something out. Therefore, the homepage is normally ignored. This is probably a concept that hasn't been developed yet to the point that people actually care about their homepage. So in order to get their attention, something bold should appear.

Since we had to present two different ideas, we decided to do both. When thinking about this concept of homepage, I thought about what could be welcoming when opening a browser like it would be when someone goes by the door of a restaurant or a shop and the techniques they use to drag people in.

Internet is supposed to feed someone intellectually, with information, knowledge, entertainment, etc, but in the end it is an intellectual need what is being fulfilled. Therefore, little pieces of knowledge, scientific facts, viral videos or images should be the first thing that the users see, as a way to be welcomed in the browser. Maybe a button on a side that says: Click here for more content like this that takes the user to the Yahoo website could be a good start to exploit the homepage concept.

Monday 14 November 2016

Harrison Park talk

Harrison Park, a former graphic design student from LCA came in to give us a talk about how is the transition between being a student and a professional.

During his presentation he mentioned some interesting facts that gave an idea of what it really looks like. He claimed to have sent more than 100 emails and had to work hard to build relationships, which not always work out, and that's fine. That gives a student peace of mind when facing the scary professional world and more than possible rejection. Also, one needs to be confident about oneself, and think that one is good enough. Encouraged us to ask questions (and a classmate suggested to ask specific questions about a project). And if it's possible, to visit those professionals and have a coffee with them. The creative industry is a community so show your face around.

Once the talk was finished, I asked: What would you say is the best approach when contacting a studio you like?

Harrison said that the most important thing is to be original, think out of the box. Make games, send letters, send presents.

Thursday 10 November 2016

Working in the film industries

When this year started I was interested in looking further into the psychology of typeface, colours, etc, but it was also important to make this work move towards working the film industries.

The modules for this course (Cop, Responsive and Design production) are aiming to this goal.

COP essay is going to be about what are movie titles and how they are informed by the content of a film.

Responsive main brief is for the platform Mobi, which is directly connected with the film industry.

Design Production second brief is also aiming to design a user interface that has anything to do with films or videogames.

Hopefully, working within this line of design, assisting to certain events and contacting some studios will push my position towards having a job for when the time in college finishes.

Wednesday 9 November 2016

Broadening Horizons

Attending to broadening horizons was very useful to improve team work and presentation skills. We were taught how to integrate ourselves and our own personalities into a team and make it work, which resulted in establishing bonds with other people from the very first day.

I had the opportunity to work with people from the Leeds College of Music and also people from LCA in Photography, Visual Communication, fashion, etc. Just like the PPP sessions but with more intensity and variety of students. There were different interesting tips for presenting. For the content, as introduction we were encouraged to use a bookend, introduce something at the top of the pitch then return to it at the end. The power of 3: Overall structure of pitch (beginning, middle and end) – and also within the presentation e.g. ‘I felt strong, safe and secure’. And ‘Heart’ content (values, beliefs, purpose etc.) and ‘Head’ content (what, how, where etc.)

We had to present a brief to the people in charge of the Leeds Film Festival in order to be chosen to participate in it as a film and photography crew. Unfortunately, we didn't win. But it was a great opportunity to put myself under the pressure of working against the clock with a high level of intensity with other students I didn't know. Also, the skills learned were very well adjusted for the type of students we are and to develop a further understanding of how to conduct oneself to others for successful professional relationships.

Working with students from other courses

The experience of working with other courses was an opportunity not to just meet new people interested in other areas of the creative industries, but also to experience in first person how illustrators and animators think differently than a graphic designer when approaching a project.

This refreshing experience also was useful to do other things that differ from graphic design, like script writing or audio recording. Doing this kind of exercises are very beneficial to socialise with future professionals in the creative industry as well as making part of a team of unknown individuals with different backgrounds.

It would have been great to participate in something like this with people from photography

Tuesday 8 November 2016

5 things

- 5 things I've learned


Time management
Feedback (Give and receive)
Processes - Crafts
It's not about the best, but about who gets more involved
How to value stuff I don't like

- 5 things I want to know more about

What I want
Film industry
Psychology behind colours and shapes
Philosophy
The part of the industry I like (apart from film): studios, websites, etc

- 5 skills that are my strengths

Flexibility
In groups, I like everyone to add their bit
Reliable
Communication
Obsessed with accuracy and consistency

- 5 things I want to improve

Organisation
Openness
Design skills in general - grow as a designer, learn all I can
Networking
Interest ID

- 5 heroes

Mathew DiVito
Craig Wrobleski
Salvador Lleo
Andrzej Dragan
Massimo Vignelli

- 5 websites/resources areas

Design Taxi
Cultura Inquieta
gràffica info
Yorokobu
FilmmakerIQ.com
(When something interests me I look it up)