Today in the workshop we have discussed what samples of work we will send out. We need to consider these things all the time when we are choosing what work to send out and remember that its not just about us, but what do the company want?
In groups we answered the questions:
Why do you need samples of work?
- a summary of your design approach
- an understanding of your interests
- to represent your specialist area within your design practice
- a representation of your conceptual development and creative thinking
- shows your software skills
- demonstrates your skills and capabilities
- to showcase how you and your design practice would suit their studio / company
- to promote yourself
- demonstrates the personality of both yourself and your work
- prove what you have said in your CV
- demonstrate your professional knowledge
- showcase your personality
- show project management
- show you can problem solve
- show that you collaborate
- show what makes you unique
Why would you send samples of your work?
- to gain studio visits
- to get feedback
- to get work placements
- to promote yourself
What would you actually send?
- storyboards
- self initiated work
- design boards - shows development and the working process you go through
- dvd of moving image work
- disc of digital work
- issuu document
- evidence of collaborative briefs and live briefs
- evidence of the areas of interest you have written about in your CV and demonstrate your skill set
- work that shows what you can add to their company
- favourite final pieces
- work that reflects your interests and personality
- physical examples of work for print company
- pdf for emailing images
- freelance work
- ... it depends who you are sending it to!
Need to send self-inititaed work - this is what makes you stand out - show what you're doing for yourself. Ideas - could make stationary to sell, or collaborate, do the branding for someone else...
How could samples of work be sent / presented and received?
- postal / special delivery
- hand delivered
- via email
- presentation boards
- swatch books
- issuu / pdf documents
- dvds / cds
- printed portfolios / books
- interactive media - motion graphics, showreel, idents etc
- in a presentation (digital & print)
- face to face meeting
- Skype chat
- invite the person to your exhibition: end of year shows, work exhibit, book fairs, pop up shops, trade events
- through your website
- through social media websites
- through online work portfolio websites: behance, flickr, tumblr etc...
- through online shops: etsy, big cartel
- through a link to your website on a business card
- through a mail shot
- on a disc or usb
- through zines
- prints of work
- a promotional gift
- self-published work
- QR codes to link to website
- media attention / local press
- publicity from being featured in magazines and on blogs
What problems could occur
- it could get lost in the post
- cost of post
- size of file
- corrupt file
- quality of file
- could get damaged
- make sure contact details are correct
- copyright issues
- quality of photography
- confidence in work to send it
- people can steal work
- no control over social media websites
- compatibility of files over different computers
- could be saved in the wrong format
- if on disc or usb there is the opportunity for the work to be edited or deleted
- online is impersonal and you might need to explain your work
- theres a lot of work out there online
- you need to be unique
- does an online photograph show the quality of a printed piece?
- not guaranteed to get a response
- websites - you have more control but they are harder to find
- you're in control of promotion - have to keep it up to date
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