27 Club Talk

Notes from their talk:

• Put on an exhibition as they wanted it to exist outside of uni
• Involves work created by others-was very free, just had to keep the artwork in a square 
• Did the branding in the uni so it cost as little as possible, screen printed
• Invites, sent to different studios etc
• Good turn out
• Free badges and catalogues for people to take, making it more engaging and advertising it subtly
• Created a playlist of 27 club artists
• Issues with time management since other briefs were still going on at the same time
• Stick to deadlines
• Take pictures and have good quality evidence to show in the future

The students from the 27 Club then set us a task in which we were to work in groups and pick out a word from a box, we would then come up with a pitch for an exhibition based on this word. The word we got was 'separation'.

We started by making a list of things associated with separations; divorce, break ups, leaving home, being away from what you're used to, missing items/items you lost when you were younger. We decided to base the exhibition off the idea of being separated from items that you have lost.

The separation exhibition would allow the public to bring in items that they have found or lost, which would allow people to possibly find the item that they have lost and be re-connected with it. The exhibition would also have an Instagram page where photographs of lost/found items would be posted. 

We displayed our idea in a humorous way in order to create contrast and distract from the theme of losing something, as it isn't a happy concept. We created 'missing' posters which used emails that Simon regularly sends out about items that have been lost in the studio; memory sticks, cables etc. The posters also contained tearable elements which links to the idea of something being missing. The tearable papers include details of the Instagram page (where to find the lost items)

Level 6 Creative Reports Discussion

This morning, a group of 4 Level 6 students came into the studio to talk about how they approached their creative reports last year. I found this extremely useful as I got an insight on what works and what doesn't in their experience, as well as learning the different ways of approaching my chosen designers.

Wills creative report:

• Chosen to meet his chosen designers in person
• Thoroughly research into the artists before going to meet them, this will help to come up with conversation topics and find out what you want to know about them
• Think about what I actually want to know about them and their work
• Make sure you know a lot about them, this will also impress them
• Talk/ask about certain projects of theirs that particularly interest me

5 Top Tips:

• Email in the morning 8-9am
• Email off your personal account not student gmail
• Memorise certain questions! The 4 or 5 main ones so you're not always looking back at notes and struggling for conversation
• In wills opinion, he suggests not to take photos or voice record, write the notes in your page after the chat
• If you go for drinks, buy them the first round

Niamhs report:

• She already had connections through her brother so it was a lot easier for her to contact them
• She did it just through email conversations
• Benjamin Craven- she contacted him through email, she titled the email 'Jazzy socks' after his recent, catching his eye instantly!
• Keep emailing them, don't just stop after getting your answers, keep the connection!
• Don't say 'I need this' or 'Could you' instead be more chatty, friendly and casual about it

Third student:

• First messaged through Instagram DMs and then moved to email
• Thank the designer 
• Don't be scared to talk to them
• He put in the DM 'I can email you some quick questions' 
• The aesthetic should relate to the actual designer
• Be as professional as you can with the designers, but be enthusiastic!

Emmas report:

• She named it 'insight' as it is an insight to the artist
• She first thought about what she wants to do within her Graphic design practice after Uni, step by step, helped her establish what she wants to know
• She spoke to 3 different people
• She attached the questions to the first email and said that its up to them which questions they want to answer
• Research where they like to go- e.g. do they prefer a cafe/coffee or drinks/pub? stalk their insta to find out
• Compliment them!

It was useful seeing how Will chose to meet up with his chosen designers compared to the other 3 that did it purely by email. I would quite like to meet up with my designers in person as it feels a lot more personal and fun, I feel like you definitely find out more about a person face to face. However, email is the easier option and a lot more formal in the way you ask/word the questions. 

When first contacting my designers, at the end of the email/message I will put something like 'I would really appreciate it if you could answer a few questions for me? I can send them over to you over email or we can go for a drink sometime if you'd prefer that?' It is useful to give them options as it takes them and their schedule into consideration.

Furthermore, I will continue to base my creative report off 3 different designers that I love the work of. Firstly because I think the more I talk to the better as I will find out loads, also because a lot of designers/studios may not reply.