Creative CV's Research

To make my CV stand out, it needs to look good, get across who I am and my skills quickly. 

I have looked on the internet as well as looking at the examples John showed us, to see some creative CV's to help inspire me to create mine. 

This cv looks professional, with lots of information but still simplistic, which is good, as a lot of CV's seem to have too much writing on so may get overlooked. I like the info graphics style way of showing their skills, which could relate to what type of work the person is looking for.

I like these CV's as they seem more fun and interesting than plain white CV's, with a lot of information organised in a way that is interesting to look at, and also showing off the designers illustration and layout skills.

I like the CV on the left as it is simple and short, getting all the information across quickly and not being too distracting. I think having a panel which is quite decorative or interesting next to a simple space for the information is a good way to create a CV which looks good but is easy to read. The one of the left is quite different, with maybe a bit too much going on, but I like how the alignment is different and there are contrasting elements.

This CV is quite different from the others so it stands out. I think printed CV's make much more of an impact rather than emailing your CV, especially if you want to design for print. I will definitely take time considering stock and how my design will print and send my CV rather than emailing it.

These are more examples of simple CV's (above and below), I really like the way a logo, or image to represent the designer is placed next to all the information that is needed, keeping the design clear, clean and easy to use. These all show a good use of layout and organisation of elements.

Tips I have found for creating a good CV:

smashingmagazine

- The whole thing should fit on one page

- Keep it short (leave something to talk about in the interview)

- Don't overdo it with fancy bits, make sure the content doesn't get lost

- Keep it simple and organised

- Don't include a whole history, leave some details off

- Attention to detail should be perfect, everything should be aligned, etc...

- Use a grid

- Design it so it is printable

- Create a PDF copy with links to your website

- Show your interests and personality

- Think outside the box

- Leave out things that aren't relevant to design

- Get lots of people to check over it for mistakes

What to include:

youthedesigner

- Name and contact info

- Mission statement

- Job experience

- Education

- Strengths

- Software Skills

- Design Organisations (if you belong to any)

- Awards

- References (don't include on the CV but say they are available)

Look at my post on my PPD blog to see my development:

My Creative CV

Enterprise... Extra Research

Here are some websites I will look at to get some extra research, as well as the business studies books I have been reading.


http://www.ipo.gov.uk
http://www.mindtools.com
http://www.businessballs.com
http://www.berr.gov.uk
http://www.designcouncil.org.uk
http://www.dacs.org
http://portal.leeds-art.ac.uk/moodle/file.php/230/sustainablemarketingguide.pdf
https://www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/ukti/appmanager/ukti/sectors?_nfls=false&_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=sectors_landing

2nd Year So Far...

Review

I thought now would be a good time to reflect on my year in Graphic Design and think about how 2nd year has been going so far and what I need to improve on.

I am looking forward to the image elective, as it feels like the first module where I will be doing something that I feel I am good at.

I still don't feel confident in my work but I know that I am improving, so hopefully one day I will get there.

I still don't completely know what I want to do but I'm exploring my options rather than not paying them any attention.

I am enjoying the current module a lot as it is something completely new to me that I previously didn't think I would be able to do.

I am struggling to stay interested in enterprise, (especially the tasks), as I just want to do my own things such as PPD development.

As with last year, CTS is my strongest area. I find it fascinating and enjoy doing extra research to help me find out more about the topics we have touched on.

Things that I have achieved

I have learnt so much so far this year at such a fast pace, such as:

- OUGD201: Improved illustrator and indesign skills, Correct use of colour, How to print, Better concept building skills, Experimentation with different sized outcomes (packaging, books etc)
- OUGD202: Storyboard, After effects
- Enterprise: Basic business studies skills
- Critical Studies: More independent CTS learning

Strengths in my work include:

- Well thought concepts and planning
- Good experimentation with things like nets, etc.
- Good at explaining ideas
- Clear ideas
- Initiative of trying new things such as letterpress printing
- Better time management and quantity of work compared to last year
- Doing a lot more ppd things, and extra work to get ahead, not just what is set
- Continuous evaluation of work and thinking about how the course is going in general

Things I need to improve on

These are things that were pointed out to me in my feedback from OUGD201, as well as just general things I have already stated that I need to improve on, and more than I have thought of since then.

- Lack of confidence in work
- Lack of motivation
- Not enough experimentation with actual design
- Lack of software skills
- Context needs to be relevant, explained and actually have an impact on the final design
- Need to understand the conditions of creating your own font
- Presentation of work and greater care with photography of final pieces
- Need to not lose motivation so easily due to setbacks

Targets

I think its good to continually look at my targets that I made earlier on in the year to see what I am improving on and what needs working on. I am quite surprised at how much I have actually improved on that I wanted to, so it has made me feel better looking at my targets! The things above that I have written I need to improve on will also work as new targets to look back over when the OUGD202 module is over.

1. To take advantage of the printing facilities, such as screen printing
- I haven't had time to screen print yet, but intend to when it will be relevant to my work

2. To not be lazy and use the resources at Vernon street
- I have letter pressed at Vernon street, and would like to recap on some of the workshops we did last year, such as book binding eventually

3. To be able to ask for help when I need it
- I have got better at this, asking friends and tutors when I need help, but I also should ask software technicians when I need help with software

4. To create a moving image and learn how to use the required software
- Luckily this is what I am doing for my current module so by the end of the module hopefully I will feel confident with after effects

5. To put in to use the new skills I have learnt in inductions
- I feel like I need to recap on these inductions to feel more confident before I can use them in my designs

6. To use initiative and take it upon myself to learn and try new things that what we have been told to
- I have been completing online tutorials to help me learn more

7. To feel more confident and proud about my work, and enter competitions or try to get some freelance work
- I haven't had time to enter any competitions, but in the summer I will concentrate on trying to get some freelance work and work experience

8. To get the most out of every day at college by arriving early and staying late
- I have been arriving earlier instead of staying late which is a compromise, but as it gets lighter I will stay later

9. To update my design context blog more regularly and make sure there is a link between the work I am putting on there and my design practice work 
- This is my biggest weakest which for some reason I am struggling to improve on

10. To make my briefs 'live' and actually usable and useful
- My concept building skills are greatly improving so the things that I create are useful

11. Celebrate my favourite work - create a website for others to see
- I have set up websites and social media to display my work, but am yet to feel confident enough to put any work on there

12. To get my work 'out there' -  promote myself
13. To sell some work - start with creating an Etsy store, sell a few pieces
14. Discover other websites and forms of social media that could be useful to promote work

- Again, these cannot be achieved until I am confident with my work

Enterprise... Group Business

1st Meeting: 1/12/11

We got together for our first group meeting to talk about what we want to do and how we plan to progress over the coming months... (notes from Marty's blog.) 


We started by discussing our strengths and weaknesses as graphic designers to see what we could bring to the group. I think between us we have a good mix of skills and its a good thing that we have different interests and skills; hopefully we will all learn from each other.

Our Group. 

Charlie Crosby 
Strengths - committed, great at planning, strong design skills on illustrator and confident presentation skills, had work placements
Weaknesses - Indecisive, visual thinker, researching

Lisa Whitaker
Strengths - Excellent background in this area, tenacity, excellent time management, strong at research
Weaknesses - Lives out side Leeds, shy at presentations

Claudia Griffin
Strengths - good with words, intelligent, strong illustrator, organised, easy to get along with
Weaknesses - No career direction, easily not motivated, research

Marty Edwards
Strengths - Confident, good at layouts, visual thinker, good presentation
Weaknesses - Bad organisation, bad punctuality

Plan of Action.

- Individually think about where we want to go and what we want to achieve and be located.
 - Gather a business plan and bring to the next meeting.
- Bring research of other business of that we think what we want to be involved in so we can then model ourselves on parts of each business 


My Response


I thought a good place to start was thinking of businesses that I admire to use as inspiration.

- Catalogue (Graphic Design) - These two LCA BAGD graduates came in to talk about their business last month and I found the way they work inspiring
- Generation Press (Graphic Design) - Also, these came to visit us and give a talk, and I was impressed by their eco way of working as the environment is something which is important to me.
- Body Shop -
- Google -
- Innocent -

Where I want the business to go:

- I think we need to find our 'unique selling point' and have some sort of service we can offer that others can't

I have started looking at basic business studies books to help me understand setting up our own business. I was involved in young enterprise when I was in high school, so I have a basic knowledge, but definitely need to recap.

Presentation Date: 28/12/12