PPD Tutorial with John 1st May
Discuss aims/needs for summer and start of year 3
Where you see yourself at this point on the course and where you see yourself potentially on a professional level
- [Business cards] Next year, create a series of backs with my images on, with a simple front so that theres space for details to be written, but different examples of my work can be seen on the backs
- Get an agent in different english speaking countries, they take 25%
- Join LinkedIn and look on graphic design forum
- In your emails, need to tell professionals why you are contacting them, the reasons why you chose them, and ask them for their advice as it makes them feel like an expert
- Ask for a visit before you ask for a placement, then if they reply say you would love to do a placement
- Create a PDF with a few images on to send out
- Need to weigh CVs and make sure they're not too heavy to post
- Keep in contact with people who reply
- Contact designers across the world
- People like to see live briefs in your portfolio to stand out
- Can create different CV's for different companies.
- Don't put CV in a brown envelope as it looks like a bill
This lead me to thinking about finishing my CV design that I started a while ago. I want to send them through the post as I think they will get more attention than an email, but I should also create a PDF which can be emailed if necessary. Soon we will have to email companies to ask if we can come and visit, so I need to be prepared for this. Theres lots that I need to do to get on top of the PPD tasks, but I have made a good start with my branding and identity work.
Feedback from Jane 8th May
This is the second part of the PPD tutorials with John and Jane, about our progress so far with contacting professionals.
I showed Jane my ideas for my CV and told her where I was up to to see what to do next. I was struggling
Content for CV:
1. contact details and name
2. education and qualifications
3. work experience (relevant to graphic design)
4. employment
5. skills & interests
6. personal profile
7. referees x 2
- The CV won't work if all one page, needs to be two sided to allow for an organised layout of the information
- Be friendly on emails with a hello and goodbye
- Weigh the letters to check they aren't too heavy with all the content
- Consider the hierarchy of type in the CV
- The colours and style of branding needs to link throughout all branding products
- Send a sample of work
- Consider printing on to coloured stock
- Send a follow up email after the mailshot
- Need to show you're an illustrator in the CV
- Can email first before sending mailshot
- Make the headings coloured to stand out
- Print logo stickers to seal
- Consider how it folds, and how it will be taken out of the envelope
- Would look better folded as a letter in to 3 rather than quarters
After this chat I've made a list of what I need to produce:
- More scamps for website design and get feedback
- Print logo on to sticker paper
- Update twitter, Facebook, behance and link all together
- Finish and print CV
- Design stationery, letterheads, invoice examples
Progress Report
Present and review your mail out and any material you have produced to send out to possible contacts?
Final CV with examples of work - to be posted / also available as a pdf to be included in an email
Business cards
Individual letters sent out with each CV about why I have chosen each company
In process of making a mini package with postcard size print and stickers etc to be sent out with business card (based on the type of things I found you can print in Moo's sample pack)
List 5 activities that you have undertaken to secure opportunities for studio visits etc. Where is the evidence?
- Attended talks from visiting professionals [design context blog posts on visiting professionals]
- Emailed companies about visiting [see progress report]
- Mailed out my CV to companies I want to visit [see progress report]
- Social media networking, promoting myself via tumblr, twitter, linked in...
- Talked to professionals:
List 10 designers / studios / companies that you have contacted as part of this process? What have the results been?
What have you done to follow up on any contacts made?
No one has yet replied and will leave it another week before I will then send out a follow up email with a PDF of my CV incase they didn't receive my mailshot. Then I will email other companies.
What problems have you experienced?
NO REPLIES! Spent so much time designing my CV, writing individual letters and money on stamps and printing costs that I feel really disheartened that the companies can't even send an email saying no thanks.
What have you done to address them?
Send out more CV's to other design agencies, then in a week I will send out an email with a PDF of my CV incase they didn't receive my mailshot. I need to apply to many more places than I thought I would to even receive a reply.
List 5 things you are going to do next and what you aim to achieve from them
- Send out more CV's to other companies - hopefully someone will reply
- Send out follow up e-mails - to remind them about my letter
- Keep updating social media - to draw in new viewers
- Attend gallery nights and try and get contacts through networking
- Try to get some freelance work as that will be professional experience if I don't manage to get a studio visit
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