Professional Practice AD5000: Work Experience- Lecture Notes

Week 1 30/09/16

My module brief- part 2

002: 60%

A period of work experience/placement

Arrange a 5-day period of work experience within the creative industries. This can consist of several smaller placements to make up 5 days. Identify contacts and potential placements. Contact relevant employers and maintain a progress report. For Freelance commissions, a daily reflective log is required.

Evaluation

A summary of your work placement and introduction to professional practice. Evaluation of your initial expectations and experiences, conclusions reached and future potential explorations.

My Aims

This module I feel will help my preparation in taking the next step into the professional, creative industry. It will enable me to undertake research in different professions of interests, and actually be able trial them and maybe consider thinking of taking that path in the future, or I may find that I don’t think that particular job is for me, but either way enabling me to narrow down my potential career path, so I am able to specialize and tailor my work more so.

This module will teach me how to correctly write both a professional and a creative CV, so I am in the best position to be offered an interview. Though lectures I will learn how to go about researching potential work establishments, how to contact them and how act in an interview environment. I will be able to then put this theory knowledge to practice in the professional work place, where I can develop my skills as an employee, ask for feedback as to what I can improve on, and hopefully make a good impression, and in turn creating a valuable reference for my CV.

I am interested in gaining freelance commissions, in order to increase network of contacts, enabling me to work on my branding whilst strengthening my promoting abilities. Within the lectures and seminars, I will be taught about copyright,ing licensing and protecting your work, contracts, costing creative work, portfolio management, self and business promotion, networking, an introduction to business structures, setting up as a practitioner/freelancer/business and fundraising. This in turn will steadily increase my knowledge and thirst to enter the creative industry, and making me a better illustrator in hindsight.

In order to do this, I will start applying for as many potential work placements as a can. But first I will update my professional and creative CV, I will then set up a meeting with the University of Gloucestershire careers department to check that it is engaging, and interesting for potential employers, and for any silly mistakes, and for any improvements that could be made. I will document any progress on this blog, which will enable to me keep track of my journey, reflect on the positive, and evaluate on anything that I could possible do better in the future.

Week 1 30/09/16

In our first session, we were introduced to this part of the module. We were told that we need to complete atv least 5 days worth of work experience, and document our progress using a blog. We are going to have lectures with a member of the universities career department on how to get in contact with potential work placement organizations, how to approach contacting them, how to write a good CV and cover letter, how to behave and ensure that you portray the right impression, and how to network and keep in contact with your work placements, for future reference.

We then looked at different types of work experience that we could undertake, as show in the chart below. I was honestly surprise by the variety of job an illustration degree could potentially take you too, for example careers in advertising, TV, web design, the film industry and live theatre, all of which I didn’t think would be possible considering what degree I am undergoing. I am very intrigued with what the illustrators role would be in the film industry, so will research any film production companies and see if they take on work experience.

From the lecture I then went away and began compiling of a list of potential jobs I would like to experience:

· Book publishing- fiction/nonfiction children’s books
· Advertising/editorial
· Film production
· Theatre
· Shadowing artists

What I have learnt

From this session I was extremely surprised, and slighting relieved by the possible careers I could potential step in to by completing my illustration course, and has given me and few more ideas as to what I may like to experience in the future.

Aim

Before my next session I aim to take my list of potential work experience sectors, and gathering a list of companies’ organization, museums and artist that I have interest in and would like to perhaps take on a work placement with.

Week 2- 7/10/16

This week we were introduced to the University career department known as ‘Degree Plus’. A member introduced herself and what her department do. They help current students and graduates get future jobs, though aiding them with their CV, covering letter, applying for work experience, voluntary work, and provide advice regarding interviews and internship.

The notes I took from the lecture are pasted below.

7/10/16

Lecture Notes- Session 1- Work Experience

· Everything you complete, that is relevant to illustration is experience

Work experience- take risks

· Formal experience- an employer
· Informal experience

Work shadowing
Information interview
Internship
Networking- business card
Short courses
Voluntary work
Competitions

What do you want to do…?

· Create illustration

Book publishing, magazines, journals

· Commission/promote

Artist in residence, cathedrals large companies

· Teach

Art theory, schools, collages, day centers, hospitals

· Research
· Branch out …

Making contact

· Research organization/company/person
· Get a name- ring up, intro, appropriate person to contact/title
· Prepare a script/notes- keep it focused

Ring up/email?- 30 seconds- names, education, purpose of your call, check they have time to spare

· Placement

· Develop your skills and self-awareness
· Keep a diary
· Make an impression/ become indispensable
· Avoid your comfort zone
· Ask for feedback
· Theory relates to your practice
· Socialize
· Build contacts
· Update CV
· Promote your successes and develop them
· Explore opportunities- keep in touch with your placement

Networking whilst on placement

What do they do, how can they help?
· Who may they know?
· Let them know what help you are looking for
· Take notes- contacts updated and your progress and success

Social Media

· Linkedin
· Blogs
· About.me

Other sites

· Artquest
· Heaoi.com
· Awn.com
· Creativeskillsnet.org
· Prospect
· Targetjobs.co.uk
· Creative- choices
· Resartis

During this week I have research and produced a list, under the sectors I came up with last week, of potential work placements, organization and artists to shadow, I will contact.

Illustration agencies

· Beehive Illustration- Cirencester
· onlyorca- Bristol
· http://www.columnartsagency.co.uk/contact-us-column-arts-agency/
· http://www.spraymarketing.com/design/art-illustration
· good illustration
· lemonade illustration

Museums

· The Wilson
· Arts and crafts museum
· Castle Gallery
· Paragon gallery

Film production

· Shadowplay
· Action image productions

Shadowing Artists

· Michael Paul Lewis
· Phoebe Goodchild
· David Jones- West midlands

Theatre

· Everyman Theatre
· Tamworth assembly Rooms

What I have learnt

I have learnt how to correctly and professional contact potential employers, via email or preferable by phone. How easy it is to extent your network through social media, and through word of mouth

Aim
Next week I will be visiting the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

Week 3-14/10/16

Tuesday 11^th October

Today we visited the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. We were set the task of drawing an object of our choosing using the rules of perspective we had learnt about the previous week, create 6 sequential images of the objects but each time walking further background at different angels and include the objects surrounding my feature object, the furniture and the structure of the room.

From this experience I gained yet a further insight into art from the past such as Egyptian, and Greek. This experience will therefore influence my future illustrations, and has helped me further with my understanding of perspective.

This week notes from the lecture on how to write a strong CV and covering letter are below.

14/10/16

Lecture Notes- Session 2- CV’s and Making a good impression

What do you want to do?

· Create illustrations
· Commission/promote
· Teach
· Research illustrator
· Branch out a little…

Medical drawings
Forensic artist- court room, on the scene crime
Archaeological
Picture agencies
Advertising
Art therapy
Wed design
Artist in Residence
Picture Researcher

Where do I start?

· Review your skills, achievements, experience and qualities
· Identify you key selling points
· Research the organization and the joB

What skills/ experience do they require

CV Template

1. Contact details- name, email, phone- Don’t put address or postal code, means that you are not restricted to your home town, are able and willing to commute

2. Profile- 3 or 4 punchy focused selling points , aim for 30 secs

3. Qualification- Academic- don’t put all your GSCEs just state how many you have and add grades to the relevant few (save space)

4. Skills- what are you good at- provide evidence- big this section up if you haven’t got much work experience

5. Experience- previous jobs- include voluntary work, projects your working on, freelance work, University work

6. Additional Work- published work, awards, prizes, languages, license

7. Online profile link?- website/Blog address

8. Interests- can show another side of you, other relevant qualification- music, first aid etc.

Personal Profile- express yourself clearly, add detail to make it more personal, but done overcomplicate it

“A second year illustration student…”

“I am looking for a work placement…”

“Strong team member…”

Choosing your style

· 2 pg. max
· plain paper
· logical
· Standard font eh Arial, don’t use Time New Roman- outdated

Producing a Creative CV

· 1 or 2 pages
· 3D?
· Use colour
· Focus on creative skills/experience
· Can be presents graphically
· Visual link to portfolio online
· More than one typeface
· Logo/branding
· Webpage CV?
· ‘Meet the real me”- video CV

Check…

· paper quality
· typeface/colour/layout- clear, readable
· spelling, grammar, punctuation
· envelope- don’t not fold keep flat

Webpage CV

· easily accessible
· Check privacy levels
· Ensure the links work and are current/updates

Example Stephen Biestry

How does he promote himself?

Artistic Statements

· Showcases your personality
· Able to talk about your work/inspiration and provide evidence

This is totally against a professional working CV

Covering letter

· Page long
· Purpose of you writing, put into context
· Why are you sending the CV
· Interest in the job
· Understanding of the company
· Support the application with- highlighting skills, and personality traights
· Explain anything you need to
· Positive ending
· Contact details, email phone number

What I have learnt…

Though my years of education I have been given lots of different templates in or to make the ‘perfect’ CV but after this session I fell that my understanding has been clarified. I have learnt that you don’t have to include all of your GCSE results, only the ones which are relevant, to include a profile about yourself, and have learnt what a creative CV is

Aim

I will continue to research potential work placements. I aim to begin updating my CV ready for it to be checked and sent out. Finally, I will research examples of creative CVs and find some inspiration for when I create my own.

Week 5- 28/10/16

Two University of Gloucestreshire BA Illustration graduates whilst completeing their courses started their own business entitled the ‘Papio Press’. They came to talk to us, and answer any questions we had before they moved from Bristol to Cornwall. My notes from the section are below.

'Papio Press'

· Etsy- prints, notebooks, stationary
· They recycled paper for their products- rainforesr calendar- charity work- help to project endangered animals
· Designing products is very different to narratiuve illustrations- collections have to surround a thjemem
· As you ar your own bisness you can creare anything- lots of responsibilities

branding
photography
accounting
social media- connection with you are you costumer, meet other people who run their own business- exchange ideas tac, anyone can fid you, need to put things out there to be found, its free
customer services
wholesale
ordering packaging
website design
blogging
sourcing manufacturing

Macmillan book cover
Customer print- googles customise...
luckdipclub customise boxes of quality gifts
printerpena- colouring in paper models
Combine making and illustration- to create interesting products
people buy what they are told or encouraged to buy via, media, magazines etc
Don't put too much money into it at first- if they are not going to sell
Buying packaging eBay
attend craft fairs

"Featured Shop: Papio Press". Etsy Blog. N.p., 2016. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.

https://www.papiopress.co.uk

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PapioPress

This was an inspiring section, it has shown me/taught me how simple it can be to start a business, that it simple just takes one product to become popular for everything to take off. I will consider putting my work onto some kind of social media site, in order for it to be seen, in order for my network to start growing.

Week 6 -4/11/16

Illustration Ethics and Plagiarism

This week we had a interactive lecture about ethics and plagiarism. The notes taken from this lecture are below.

Find more information on plagiarism via- University Moodle site- referencing- plagiarism

Digitknow- training Plagiarism

What is Plagiarism?

· Secretive
· Copying direction without reference
· Using others ideas without permission
· Using too many of a piece of text/a person’s words without crediting it
· Submitting somebodies work as your own
· Including diagrams/imagery or date table without permission from owner or without referencing correctly
· Working together and submitting each other’s work- grey area

Avoiding Plagiarism

· Always give credit to somebody else work/ideas

o This demonstrates your understanding of wider issues beyond your opinion

o This is good practice and prevents accusations for your professional career

o It allows you reader to verify the facts/your images- so they can pursue their own research

Website for referencing- reforme- able you to scan the barcode of the book- select Harvard referencing- cite the right version- always check it is correct, as it is not always

Publishing Work

· Where should the line be drawn between inspiration/influence and plagiarism
· Issues regarding the use of images can go beyond plagiarism and academic practice
· On meeting the academic requirements- set by the tutors+ acknowledge all sources- to avoid plagiarism
· Be careful when publishing to print, or publishing online for an audience beyond the University- Blogging

From the hand out that was given after the lecture, which is above I have noted a few points which I didn’t know. Below is a video I watched about this subject matter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-sPAjtdiUE

· Copyright has two parts to it- your economic right- which stops people from copying/broadcasting your work without your permission. Your moral right- protects your reputation- allowing you to object any modifications of your work.
· You can sell your economic right but nor your moral right
· Photographs for art work may/may not still be in copyright- so research will be needed.
· Watermarking- can use Photoshop- by adding a textbox to your image, or use Digimarc plugin- which will embed a strong and almost invisible watermark in your image- Filter- Digimarc- select Watermark
· Metadate- when you image is being downloaded you names goes with the picture- Adobe Bridge
· Keeping your images small means fewer people will try to use them
· Can protect images using a transparent GIF
· Disable right clicking on your page
· Fair dealing- info on the sheet

From this lecture I have enhanced my knowledge for plagiarism and it has increased my awareness of the legal issues surrounding it. But more so I have learnt how easy it is to protect your work. I had no idea that watermarking could be created so easily on Photoshop of Digimarc, and the other ways of protecting your work, which I will continue to look into which include Metadata and using a transparent GIF.

Week 7- 11/11/16

Paul Farrel

This week graphic designer and book illustrator Paul Farrel, spoke to us truthful about his career and his experience in illustrating and publishing his own book Great Britain in Colour.

Paul Farrell- Great Britain In Colour- Paul-farrell.co.uk. (2016). Great Britain in Colour - Paul Farrell. [online] Available at: http://www.paul-farrell.co.uk/publishing/Great-Britain-in-Colour [Accessed 19 Dec. 2016].

Paul-farrell.co.uk. (2016). Great Britain in Colour - Paul Farrell. [online] Available at: http://www.paul-farrell.co.uk/publishing/Great-Britain-in-Colour [Accessed 19 Dec. 2016]

The notes from this talk are below.

· Great Britain in Colour- published September 2016- duration 2yrs
· He is self employed
· Graphic designer 20yrs but was made redundant
· He made stationary and Christmas cards
· Had a website, a good portfolio of products
· He wanted to be a book illustrator
· Created a series of work based on the counties of Britain which worked well
· This then became his idea for a book- he has created enough of the idea to develop into a visual package- so when it came to presenting his idea there was really no need for them to ask questions as they had already been answered- best way to work
· Illustrated just enough, less is more- done showcase everything you are bale to, save something

o Reserve thing- don’t show everything

· Make work that is easily digestible- in the shows of the reader
· Illustrating/publishing a book is a slow process- be patient
· He had a literacy/artist agent- who was true and brief yet insightful conversations
· Questions yourself- how can you break the images down to its bar components
· Digital proof- lithography-colours are different have to have certain tolerance= hard to match the colours on the screen to those on paper
· Publishers like to think they own you- they control what the outcome is to an extent
· He had a problem printing solid black- needed a base colour underneath to richen the colour – not a solid black

o A lot of colour is absorbed by the paper- so colours can look less vivid

· Choose paper carefully- so that designs to not show though the paper- which would have ruined the effect
· He produced his book in Japan= a lot cheaper than in the UK
· His front cover has a matt finish- laminated- protects it from staining- children market
· Make sure to keep producing- that way you are more likely to be noticed

o Instagram- enables you to show work to progress

· Imagery is personal- with hidden messages/ memories
· Didn’t know and still doesn’t know what his style is- varied- but admits it’s not commercial enough

Paul-farrell.co.uk. (2016). Great Britain in Colour - Paul Farrell. [online] Available at: http://www.paul-farrell.co.uk/publishing/Great-Britain-in-Colour [Accessed 19 Dec. 2016].

From this talk I really took on board the length of time it take producing a book. From the initial ideas to the finish product, and the amount of patience and passion for the subject and product you are wanting to create is needed in order for it be a success. I was shocked at the trouble Paul endured recreating the right colour on the paper, how many proof it took to get it right, but even so he wasn’t satisfied with all the the imagery, especially the solid black areas. So from his session I have learnt the importance of checking and experimenting printing colours onto different coloured paper, and have learnt the importance of be

Week 8-18/11/16

Editorial Illustration

This week we had a lecture on the editorial Illustration industry. Below are the notes I took from this session.

· I Candy illustration agency- they get you work

o Promotion

o Write contacts

o Collect fees= gives you more time

· 30/40% of fees goes to your agent-
· agencies demand much higher fees
· as editorial illustrators- it is your job is to engage visual that both supports and explains to accompanying text
· it must balance art directors vision with illustrators and authors ideas, while communicating the articles ideas
· illustrations can either be spot images- illustrations without backgrounds or usually full
· Format- Illustrators are given a layout of where the text and images are going to be placed

o Art directors may also give indication of content for illustration, particular colour palettes

· Never say no- as you don’t have a regular income
· Customers may ask for roughs after 2/3 after brief is set
· Initial sketches- often showcase the personality or though process of the illustrator- so it is important to keep in mind that people have many different opinions and personalities- and do not get offended if you don’t get the commission or if the client doesn’t like you work
· Stages of working

1. Given the brief and requirements

2. Research

3. Initial sketches

4. Send of roughs/email client

5. Await feedback- may take a long time

6. Reflect on comments, make amendments/changes

7. Send back revised roughs/finals- make take a while- back and forth until satisfied

8. Send of final artwork

9. Sign of email from client- always set this- finalized and closed the deal

· Roughs- tone colour, composition

o Jon McNaught

o Digital produced- easier to manipulate- rather than having to redo the whole thing several times

· Finding visual references

o Use yourself/friends

o Be careful of copyright images

o Double crossing children’s books

o Dover publications

o Pixabay- copy right free images

o Morgue file

o NY public library- old images

o Wiki Commons-out of copy right logo

· Smaller illustrations paly less
· Book covers pay more- they stay in the market longer
· Be willing to work unsociable hours- overseas clients
· Unreliable/unpredictable- usually a part time job is needed
· Boring jobs usually pay more
· Harry Potter book cover- £300,00
· Limits to a license

o User

o Area- worldwide or locally

o Duration of the job

o Exclusivities- completely buying out work- or like renting it out

Don’t sign out your copyright- company can use/modify it forever- you no longer have any control over it

YCM- competitions- buying license to use your work

· Uses- license will state when and where your work will be used- any further use will require a different license and a further fee
· Territory- geography- categories UK, US Global
· Exclusivity
· Fees- amount, reputation dependent, length of deadline, attractiveness of the job
· Magazine and Newspapers-

o Artist guide to business and Illustration- book

o Hard to price

o Covers- CD or DVD covers-popularity of band- £500-£1000

o Inside illustration- £150-400 dependent on size

o Full page £400-800

o Educational books- low paid- £300-500 per double page spread

o Children’s books- paid in advance- £3000-5000- paid in installments- but wont earn any royalties until you have earnt any more than the money that you were agreed to be paid

o Greetings cards- £150/250 per design

o Brochures- cover £400-1200, inside £250-1000

o Packaging £200 for small images, up to £1500 for more complicated full page images

o Test pieces- £200- clients choose

o Advertising

o Rejection fees- et paid for each stage- roughs stage 25% of agreed fee, artwork stage 50%

· AOI- association of illustrators.

From this lecture I have learnt a lot about the process of free-lance work, and the importance of having an agent to help find you work, help negotiate a fee, which frees up your time to invest it into your artwork. It has also opened my eyes up to how much different used for your artwork can pay, I was surprised that a book cover may pay a lot more that images inside of book, just because of the amount of marketing and viewing it receives. But this session has really made me aware that I may have to have a part time job as well to sustain my income, as freelance work is unreliable.

28/05/17- Final Lecture

Today we went though some quick question regarding our hand in for this unit, and examined, and annotated the marking Matrix to ensure that we were hitting all of the markers.

Assessment Matrix

Criteria Mark	60%				40%
Criteria Mark	Research and enquiry	Idea Development	Working practices and standards	Realisation of ideas and resolution of work		Acquisition of Skills
100 – 80 Outstanding A	Exceptional depth of enquiry showing a diversity of relevant and primary sources	Outstanding critical engagement with the task with inventiveness and originality in devising and developing ideas	Shows exceptional Initiative, self-motivation and responsibility to own practice.	Lucid, innovative and effective communication of chosen idea/s		Evidence of accomplishment and application of a wide range of skills
79 – 70 Excellent A	Well referenced, in- depth investigation including primary sources	Thorough and intelligent critical engagement with the task, interrogating and evaluating a range of innovative ideas, comprehensively explored	Shows very good resourcefulness, receptiveness, participation and initiative.	Clarity of purpose with fully realised and original ideas		Evidence of high level of skills attained and applied
69 – 60 Very Good B	Broad range of research and enquiry with a wide range of sources consulted, showing references	Critical engagement with an evaluative and reflective approach to outcomes, with a range of ideas thoroughly investigated	Fully engaged with the course and own practice	Resolved idea/s with clear and effective communication		Demonstrates competence in appropriate skills
59 – 50 Good C	Work contains research from a number of sources	Work contains investigation and evaluation of a range of ideas	Good working routine	Achieves coherent communication of resolved ideas		Evidence of the acquisition and development of relevant skills
49 – 40 Adequate D	Satisfactory research from more than one source	Satisfactory idea development	Satisfactory working practice	Basic level of idea implementation and resolution of work		Evidence of some skills acquired
39 – 30 Fail with entitlement to Reassesment F/R	Limited research	Limited or undeveloped ideas	Poor participation and attendance	Inadequate critical engagement with ideas		Insufficient indication of skills acquired
29 – 0 Fail F	No evidence of research	No development of ideas	Failure to engage with the course	No idea development		No evidence of acquired skills

1. Research and enquiry

Researching companies and sectors of the industry

List of expectations and skills

Interviews,

reflecting on work placement so you understand in the environment

Current jobs what’s out there

Business skills

Researching sub genres

Ask about opportunities

Visiting instead of emails

2. Idea Development

Understanding the rules of contracts and the legal side of what your creating

Contract agreements with whoever you're working with, e.g. Logos.

Design company, then owns the work that’s been created.

Young people/children, CRB

Plagiarism

3. Working Practices and Standards

Contacting people

Entrepreneurial

Business cards

Setting up own work experience

Comic fayres

Promotion

4. Realization of and resolution of work

Writing and analyzing,

Work experience has supported or contrasted your idea of that work

Structured report – Blog

What you could do yourself by looking at others work to improve your own work

5. Acquisition of Skills

Evaluate what you have achieved

Bullet point what you want to achieve during work experience

Look at people’s CV's and work experience and compare to your own

What you like to do in response to your work experience

I now have a good idea if what i need to complete in order to fill in the gaps, and tick everything of the matrix assessment grid.

Professional Practice AD5000

Pages

Work Experience- Lecture Notes

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