Who am I? - Who are they? continued...

What skills do I have?
These are just a few of the skills I have learnt over the past few years, but are ones which I have enjoyed the most and wish to edulge into further.

• Type
• Layout
• Packaging
• Print
• Software

I am unsure as to where I would fit in in the industry, and which category I wish to endulge in, and I hope to figure this out before I venture into the third year.

Who needs them?

What skills are needed and how do I go about developing them?
I think one of the main skills I need to develop is my organisation, not so much organising my work, but organising my project and time. Management skills and team leading skills are something else I feel if improved would be very benificial to me, and would be something that would be required for a job.

In terms of how I go about developing these skills, I feel I will have the oppertunity when working in teams at college. I need to speak up more and voice my opinion, so hopefully there will be the chance to work as a collaberation. I could also practice these skills around the studio when talking to fellow students.

I will also have the oppertunity to develop these skills when gaining experience in the industry over the summer. I plan to gain work experience with a large number of Graphic Design agencies, and hopefully experience a good variety of atmospheres. I hope to come back into the third year with a lot more confidence, and knowlegde of how the industry works.

What are your professional/creative aims and how do they relate to the needs of the world at large?
As I mentioned before, I would really like to be a freelance Graphic Designer. However, I know I would benefit more by going into a business first and learning exactly how it works. This could possibly make me more sucessful.

In terms of working in a business, I would like to be in an relaxed enviroment, with a variety of people around me, for example, illustrators, photographers etc. I'd like it to be how we are in the studio now, feeding off each other and helping each other.

Possible experience.

I'm not sure whether this should be on the PPD blog, but I felt it was relevant for both.

Last year, my other half was involved in the Sorrell Young Design Program, and had the chance to work with a Graphic Designer in Leeds, Andy Edwards. He brought me up in the conversation, and Andy kindly offered to look through my portfolio, give me some advice and possibly invite me to go and work with him for a few days, which would allow me to see how he works. This would also be a great opportunity for me to ask some questions. I've not emailed him my portfolio yet, as there are a few alterations i'd like to make, but it something that I will keep you up to date with on here.

Who am i? - Who are they?

If i'm honest, my understanding of business' and how they work is a little vague, which is why I am very happy to be learning this now in preperation for the third year. It definitely gives me chance to get my head around things, and of course gain some contacts.

As I stand now, I like to think I have good skills in the following;

• Typography
• Layouts
• Photography
• Print
• Software (Adobe)
• Packaging

This is also what I am currently interested in persuing when I graduate, but whether it works like that I don't know. From what I understand, there's two ways you can go about things, gain skills which people are looking for, or find people who are looking for the skills you already have, which nowadays seems to be hard.

When I think about what I'm going to do when I finish, I'd like to think that I could be a freelance Graphic Designer, however, I know I would benefit myself more by going into a business first and learning how it operates. I will, however, always be doing some freelance work on the side.

So, I thought i'd use the four P's to get me going.

Product
Graphic Design. More specifically typography and editorial layouts. This, however, will be dependant on what the client wants.

Place
UK, Preferably in South Yorkshire. Although, I have been thinking about moving to Australia, where a few members of family are, it would be a completely different strategy over there i'm guessing? Thats something I would need to look into.

If I was to work as a freelance Graphic Designer, I would keep my studio at home, in order to save money on rent and traveling costs.

Promotion
As a freelance Graphic Designer, I would promote myself through business cards, online portfolios, and mainly just getting in touch with clients and remaining in contact with them. Hopefully I would become more of a established Graphic Designer, and begin getting promotion through word of mouth. As fred would say, "Your only as good as your last job".

Price
Enough to cover my lifestyle which is about £20,000 per year. I'm not entirely sure on how things are priced, but if I were to go into a business i'd like to be earning around £30,000 to start off, and then whatever I can get through freelance work.

Plan of action.
I plan to make a list of companies around the Leeds area (within reach) and start ringing/visiting them, find out the sort of skills they are looking for, the type of pay they are offering, and get a general idea of what's out there.