Hard Work Paying Off...
So the plan of me doing blogposts didn’t last long! But hey, I could always take it up sometime soon, I just need things to blog about. So this is one that I was planning on posting last week but I think that posting it now is better timing.
As mentioned in previous blog posts I went to the D&AD New Blood Festival in Spitalfields Market and exhibited my work. Not only was this a great opportunity to get my name and work out there, but also a good way to see what other university students were doing and how strong their work was, so after it was over and I was on a “I want to be in London” downer for a week I up’d my portfolio game. Hearing about people getting placements and jobs straight after graduating pushed me towards improving on my portfolio and how it was set out, originally it was all about me talking through it with the person, this worked if I was there but how would it work if I wasnt?!
So for the next three to four weeks after New Blood I worked the majority of nights on my portfolio. Multiple cups of coffee, various different versions and many “I’m sick of looking at this shit” moments came to where I am right now, eventually happy with how my portfolio layout. I knew I needed a second opinion on it from someone in the industry, someone who had experience looking at various portfolios and knew the difference between a good and a bad one. Having already spoke to her at Newcastle College Final Show and attending a talk by her at College earlier on in my course I chose to email Sarah Tempest from a Newcastle based agency Sumo, asking for a crit on my portfolio, both printed and a small email version I have to spike a little interest.
This process helped out a great deal, Sarah gave some really useful advice and invited me into the studio for a look through my portfolio as well as giving me the contact details to one of her friends that was looking for a graduate to be part of an 8 week placement, the interview for this was first in the week and went really well, this was the first time I had shown the new full printed folio with the changes Sarah said and it went down a storm. Later in the week I had the Sumo interview, so this was showing Sarah that I took the feedback she gave me and acted on it, and again, it went down really well.
So that brings me to where I am now, four weeks into the 8 week placement with a three week placement lined up at Sumo straight after. Not only that but I think I’ve made some good contacts in the North East and all of this experience will look good on my CV. The placements are also teaching me a lot about the foundations of design that I was aware of, but never really understood. Looks like all of those coffee fuelled late night/early mornings payed off! And hopefully it wont stop here.
Next thing on the list is getting a website/online presence sorted, stay posted, I’m thinking either on here or Behance. Who knows, but itll happen soon!