PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Why am I here - What do I want to learn/achieve?

After some time now studying Graphic Design in Leeds College of Art I have to identify the following things that will help me to build an unique and customised professional career.

A) 5 reasons why I chose to study on this course

1.- Quality and reputation within the industry of creative design.

This was my main goal when I came to the UK: being accepted by one of the best universities in the country. I want to do my best and if I am not able to achieve the best grades it is fine, as long as I know I do everything I can. The effort plus the good reputation of Leeds College of Art should be enough to not just find a job in the sector, which is very important, but also to have more ambitious aspirations within the field backed up by hard work and a valuable degree.

2.- Best facilities in UK.

If I want to be able to develop myself as a professional I should have the option to use as many equipment as I possibly can. More equipment I learn how to use a more competent professional I will become and new fields of creative arts I will be able to explore.

3.- Most interesting interview.

When I always have an interview I also try to analyse everything from the other side, and that is what I did when I had the interviews in different universities. I really liked the way they were conducted here. The psychological questions did not just make the process more relaxed and informal, but also allowed to answer in a creative way that shows your personality as designer rather than answering descriptive questions.

4.- Emerging industry in Leeds.

Possibly the capital of graphic design in the north. Cultural events going on in Leeds all the time, a growing city with a growing economy… a nice place to be in!

5.- The course itself.

Despite my interests are mostly about photography and cinematography I wanted to do something more challenging. Learning new things and approaches will allow me to be flexible in the future not just in terms of job applications, but also when solving creative problems.

B) 5 things that I want to learn during my time on the course

1.- How to use colour palettes.

Incredibly important and something I am obsessed with. It is very hard to me to find colour combinations I am happy with, and I am sure this is something I will develop here.

2.- How to be subtle and avoid being obvious.

In my previous works I always avoided to be too obvious, and here I am learning that it is a very important thing. It is not rocket science, but it is not simple as well. It is something that needs a good base to build on the rest of principles.

3.- How to identify and use my strengths to be a wanted professional.

I know I have strengths, like everyone else. I can identify some, but I need to identify all of them, as well as the weaknesses. I believe that is not important what you do not have, what is important is what you have and what you do with it.

4.- How to be able to apply graphic design in other fields like interior design, cinematography, etc.

My dream job would be to become a film editor. I really enjoy setting the pace of a piece of a video as well as working with colours and doing motion graphics if necessary. All these aspects of edition are something I am passionated about, and intrinsically it is graphic design. If I learn how to control my graphic design skills, I should be able to expand it to almost any other creative field.

5.- How to be able to identify the appropriateness of different designs for different purposes.

Knowing that blue is cold and red is hot is not always enough. There are infinite ways to express something, but there is always a range of reduced possibilities and identifying them are the key to have accurate approaches.

C) 5 things that I think are my strengths

1.- Very perfectionist and attention to detail.

This nature of mine allowed me in several times to identify problems within a project and the solution improved the final product. However, I always try to keep that sense of perfection within some boundaries or every work would work forever.

2.- Work well with deadlines.

Working within deadlines is something always help me to manage my time and know what is needed to do when. I see deadlines as an indicator that helps me to behave professionally rather than a ghost that chases me.

3.- I consider myself an open minded person.

I have my own ideals and beliefs, and they are quite strong. Although, I am always open to be surprised and my mind is always ready to be changed. I always try to see things through others' eyes and I like to ask opinions about design to people that are not designers to understand things from other perspectives.

4.- I enjoy psychology and philosophy.

It is something I love and I always try to apply it into designs. I have a notebook where I write every quote or thought I think needs to be rescued. Sometimes I look back at that notebook and I identify ideas that could be used in designs. Maybe at some point.

5.- I consider myself a person with practical ideas.

When I struggle with a work I normally find a way to keep going. If there is no solution, I try to come up with one. A project cannot be stuck, or it will be likely to be forgotten or thrown away. It always needs to evolve… at some point that development can result in something else that has no limitations.

D) 5 things you would like to improve.

1.- Sometimes I lose perspective.

I want to be able to avoid this. I know that everyone has suffered this at some point, but it is extremely important to keep the right perspective.

2.- To think more out of the box.

This is something I consider really difficult to do. It is not about just doing the opposite of everyone else or just being different, it is about of finding a solution to a problem no one had come up with in the past. And anything is not enough, it has to be better than previous solutions.

3.- I'd like to read more and watch more films.

The eternal fight. There are always not enough films, not enough books (not enough books over all) and is something that chases me. Even though I consume this kind of content quite often.

4.- My general perspective towards arts.

I would be able to interpret and analyse different expressions of art, not only in Graphic Design. And being able to describe it in a professional way.

5.- How to successfully engage someone.

A design can be good and laborious, but not necessarily engaging. When something is engaging is working in another level. One buys a book, a film or a game without knowing about it, just because of the cover… there is something about it, and understanding it has to feel incredible.

E) 5 things that inspire me

1.- Salvador Lleo

This cinematographer came from the same lost island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean that I come from, but there are a few differences between us (please, notice the sarcasm): he owns a cinematographic studio in Los Angeles and has worked with important artists, such as Noel Gallagher, Sho-Hai and many others, and has been accepted in the American Film Institute's Cinematography Discipline. His work as cinematographer both impresses and inspires me in so many ways... but over all I have to highlight the unique shots, colour correction, photography and style. He is a complete unknown both in Spain and in the rest of the world, which surprises me. Part of me wants him being recognised, and another part rather not to, since his beautiful style might be affected by that. This is his website.

2.- Pete Rock and Hip-Hop

If someday there is a film about my life, Pete Rock would be in charge of supplying the music for the O.S.T. This hip-hop producer has the ability to create a sound for a sun beam - or at least that is how I feel it - and to me his music is suitable for every single moment in my life. Needless to say how inspirational that is.

Other hip hop artists I like are Guru, C.L. Smooth, Group Home, Tribe Called Quest and many others. Despite Common is not amongst my favourites, his beat and music video of Be makes me fly through my imagination.

3.- Celtic music

My first interest in arts was given by an inherent interest in Celtic music from a very young age. Very interested in Spanish artists like Hevia, Carlos Nuñez or Anxo Lorenzo I ended up knowing the awesome Irish musician Brian Finnegan through his music band, Flook, which I listen to quite often lately. His unique way to interpret Irish music and mixing it with other styles in such a powerful way makes me believe there is nothing impossible and it is very inspiring not just because his music bring memories from my past, but also I have the feeling of being able to experience others' while I am enjoying it.

4.- Games

From a very young age Final Fantasy universe has affected the way I see the world. The person responsible of this is probably Yoshitaka Amano, illustrator and character designer. Cannot really say how this series affected my taste and the way I make graphical decisions, but probably more than I think, as I played the numbers VII, VIII, IX, X, X-2, XII, XIII and XIII-2.

Another game that have influenced my tastes has been World of Warcraft, as it was the platform I used to meet my friends from the distance and spend good time 'together'.

Other games: Fallout, Assasins Creed, Metal Gear and also the card game Magic: the Gathering.

5.- Films and TV series

I really like watching films, and if I had to choose my favourite directors they probably would be Darren Aronofsky and Charlie Kaufman. Both screenwriters are two of my favourite minds when creating plots. While Darren Aronofsky was a master mind in films like Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain or The Wrestler Charlie Kaufman is responsible of master pieces like Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind or Synecdoche, New York. I would say most of these films are mandatory in a person's life! So if you are reading it make sure you watch these incredible works.

TV series are also an important part of my inspiration. At some point I really started to like everything related to the italian mafia. One always starts with the basics: The Godfather, Pulp Fiction, The Departed, etc. And eventually one finds something outstanding, entertaining and so well done that you lose track of time and reality. This show is so good that you cannot picture the actors out of this context. It feels like looking the real mafia through a hole in the wall.

Many other TV series have impressed me, but after Sopranos just Lost really deserves to be mentioned. This sadly misunderstood series are one of the best things that have happened to my brain: after watching it I am much flexible! Lessons about philosophy, life, decision making, and a long etc. take place in this fabulous piece of art.