http://www.tsbc.co.uk/sbo/hsbckn/viewLesson.aspx?Lid=35&cid=1?WT.srch=1
Above is a link to the HSBC business plan, it's quite lengthy so haven't uploaded it to my blog.
Sunday 24 January 2010
Sunday 13 December 2009
Task 5
As a designer my strengths lie in problem analysis and judging the success of a solution.
My practical skills include photography, illustration, craft/tactile with a developing understanding of typography.
I am able in Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and After Effects.
Interactive design is a particular interest (not specifically digital) and how design can change and develop.
Motion Graphics is something I am keen to explore further.
My professional aims are not to be an art worker but to be able to work on paper as well as using software.
It would be preferable to work for a design agency or freelance rather than work as an in-house designer.
Working on my own or collaboratively are both options. Working with someone who has good idea generation with advanced technical skills would be most beneficial.
As far as location goes, I am willing to relocate for work. Although my language skills are limited to English and a small amount of German.
Currently I believe I am most suited to design that informs or entertains.
My practical skills include photography, illustration, craft/tactile with a developing understanding of typography.
I am able in Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and After Effects.
Interactive design is a particular interest (not specifically digital) and how design can change and develop.
Motion Graphics is something I am keen to explore further.
My professional aims are not to be an art worker but to be able to work on paper as well as using software.
It would be preferable to work for a design agency or freelance rather than work as an in-house designer.
Working on my own or collaboratively are both options. Working with someone who has good idea generation with advanced technical skills would be most beneficial.
As far as location goes, I am willing to relocate for work. Although my language skills are limited to English and a small amount of German.
Currently I believe I am most suited to design that informs or entertains.
Monday 7 December 2009
SWOT Analysis
Of the three Design agencies I have looked at two are based in London and one in Germany. 'Studio One's' homepage opens immediately onto an 'About us' section, where it explains that their clients are businesses, art institutions and other organisations world wide. There is a drop down menu that separates information that visitors might be interested in. 'Studio Two's' website has a 'featured project' which is displayed, this gives an immediate example of the work available. Also present on the homepage is the latest news, letting people know exactly what's current straight away. 'Studio three's' website also opens straight onto news but rather than have any examples of work, there is a small illustration displayed which hints at the sort of design they offer.
Contact details are probably the most important feature of websites in my opinion, because if a client is interested in work they need to be able to get in touch. It would be very unproductive to have a fantastic website and no way of letting potential clients speak to you. All of the agencies I looked at included their address, phone, e-mail. Studio One and Two displayed a map of their location. Studio One also gave a fax number and a description of who worked their, so people know who to contact. Studio Two didn't do this, however they provided photo's of their studio and their designers which gave an idea of what they were like. As well as an email address they also provided a template for an email that could be filled in and sent straight from the website. Studio Three had the most ways to be contacted which included fax, myspace and facebook.
The format for portfolios differed quite a lot for each of the sites. Studio Three's was viewable only by clicking on clients names, and no previews were available. Studio One's however was viewable through the menu and separated by either the type of work (e.g print, branding) or the client. Studio Two's was the only site that showed thumbnails of their work and could be browsed by the type of work or who the client was.
Of all the sites, Studio Two seemed to promote their work a lot more, however the pages were very busy and sometimes it took a lot of searching a page to find what was being looked for. Studio One's was very minimal and by using the menu information was easily found.
Sunday 29 November 2009
How to promote myself.
Continuing with the possibility of designing museum displays/exhibitions/galleries I am considering how to market myself.
Personal Selling - This seems to be the most appropriate and possibily the most valuable of the marketing communication mix for me, as these organisations/businesses deal mainly with the public. Designers need to be able to communicate well to the general public and they would most likely appreciate someone who can talk to them face to face. Some museums ask for volunteers so perhaps this is a way of starting communications or to gain a work placement.
PR - Again the volunteer work could offer good PR, although this is time consuming and I would need to be careful not to start offering design work for free.
Advertising - Advertising in newspapers, magazines etc doesn't seem to be appropriate if I were trying to gain the attention of museums and galleries. It isn't necessarily inappropriate because my ad could be noticed by someone relevant but I don't agree that it is an ideal place to target my clients.
Promotions - Promotions is a possibility, along with the graphics for the exhibtion space other design is involved in the promotion of an exhibition. For example the branding, leaflets, posters, photographing the exhibition once opened, web pages to be linked to the home page of their museum/gallery. With so many different things to be included, there are ample opportunies for giving them more for their money. Photographing the exhibition space during the progress and once the visitors are in could easily be used for other promotional material and could be really useful for them. So that could be offered as the "extra".
Direct Marketing - I don't think that this is a way to gain new clients, however could be useful to get new work from old clients. For example, if I were to send them examples of new work I had been doing. I could even invite them to the openings of new exhibitions I have been involved in the design of. This means that not only am I gaining extra interest for the current exhibition, the previous clients will be reminded of me.
Task Two - ii
Currently I am considering design for museums/galleries/exhibitions as a career possibility. I have identified 4 examples of places that would need this sort of designer.
Locally: Urbis, Manchester
Nationally: Natural History Museum, London
European: Imperial War Museum, Poland
Transnational: Mid American Science Museum
The Natural History Museum rebranded in 2004 and repositioned themselves as an 'ambassador for nature' and their aims are to understand and protect the natural world. They also have a licensing business which they offer to people who have products to sell.
The economy in London has been effected badly during the recession, however is not as bad as the rest of the UK. The annual output growth has not been as low as the rest of the UK for the last 4 years and the last year the employment has been higher in London than the rest of the country.
The museum has been voted Business Venue of the year (Silver) and awarded Gold for Marketing/PR Campaign of the year. It also gained a people's choice award for best london for free experience. These all show good links with society.
On site are 350 scientists who work to ensure accuracy of products and over 10,000 images free to licencsees. Meaning it is likely they have good access to pre-existing technology as well as the potential to develop technology.
Locally: Urbis, Manchester
Nationally: Natural History Museum, London
European: Imperial War Museum, Poland
Transnational: Mid American Science Museum
The Natural History Museum rebranded in 2004 and repositioned themselves as an 'ambassador for nature' and their aims are to understand and protect the natural world. They also have a licensing business which they offer to people who have products to sell.
The economy in London has been effected badly during the recession, however is not as bad as the rest of the UK. The annual output growth has not been as low as the rest of the UK for the last 4 years and the last year the employment has been higher in London than the rest of the country.
The museum has been voted Business Venue of the year (Silver) and awarded Gold for Marketing/PR Campaign of the year. It also gained a people's choice award for best london for free experience. These all show good links with society.
On site are 350 scientists who work to ensure accuracy of products and over 10,000 images free to licencsees. Meaning it is likely they have good access to pre-existing technology as well as the potential to develop technology.
Saturday 31 October 2009
Task Two - Where are they?
Where are my potential clients located?
Having moved from Rugby up to Leeds to study, I now have contacts in both Warwickshire and West Yorkshire. With this in mind, my "universe" is both local and national. This means politically, I don't need to worry about trade restrictions and licences to export and import. With my "universe" being local-national, communication between myself and any potential clients should be easier considering there are no time differences, and if necessary I can meet with clients to discuss work in person.
The economic state of the country is an important consideration. At the moment, there are more unemployed than in previous years, businesses are closing and many of the businesses still running are trying to cut costs. At the same time though, they are desperate for customers which theoretically means they need advertising. Although they may not have a large budget for this, it is a good opportunity to do work for them- with the hope I'll remembered at better financial times. Predictions for after the recession also suggest that there will be a boom in new businesses, again generating more work for designers.
I'm not sure how much "society" affects my potential client. As I said previously I would like to be able to work for any client that needs me, and things like demographics and lifestyle trends I would consider more when thinking about my target audience. However, I do have restrictions with clients when it comes to language as I only speak English.
Having moved from Rugby up to Leeds to study, I now have contacts in both Warwickshire and West Yorkshire. With this in mind, my "universe" is both local and national. This means politically, I don't need to worry about trade restrictions and licences to export and import. With my "universe" being local-national, communication between myself and any potential clients should be easier considering there are no time differences, and if necessary I can meet with clients to discuss work in person.
The economic state of the country is an important consideration. At the moment, there are more unemployed than in previous years, businesses are closing and many of the businesses still running are trying to cut costs. At the same time though, they are desperate for customers which theoretically means they need advertising. Although they may not have a large budget for this, it is a good opportunity to do work for them- with the hope I'll remembered at better financial times. Predictions for after the recession also suggest that there will be a boom in new businesses, again generating more work for designers.
I'm not sure how much "society" affects my potential client. As I said previously I would like to be able to work for any client that needs me, and things like demographics and lifestyle trends I would consider more when thinking about my target audience. However, I do have restrictions with clients when it comes to language as I only speak English.
Friday 30 October 2009
Task One - Skills and Needs
What skills are needed and how do you go about developing them?
What are your professional/creative aims and how do they relate to the needs of the world at large?
Of the 13 sectors I believe I could fit into more than just one. Currently I would say advertising, crafts and design are all suitable possibilities. When it comes to discussing what skills I need to be a successful designer one in particular strikes me as being the most important; adaptability. It seems to me that each client is different in what they want to communicate, their approach, their understanding and their needs from a designer. It is up to me to be able to have the ability to provide specialist skills that they perhaps do not have, but also skills that compliment their own. To be able to do this however, good communication between myself and a client is vital. From PPD sessions I have learnt to talk about my work and explain ideas but this will only become useful after gaining initial contact with potential clients. How to approach client's for work is something that I have not experienced and am quite apprehensive about.
Practical and conceptual skills are also very important. At the moment I feel more confident with conceptual thinking and identifying problems than I do with practical skills and image making. In particular, using software is something I have struggled with and am trying to learn in time outside of college. To develop these skills is just a case of practise and looking at pre-existing design to understand how to successfully communicate a message.
My professional and creative aims at the moment are not well established. I suppose my main aim is to become an adaptable designer, with the ability to work with a number of clients.
What are your professional/creative aims and how do they relate to the needs of the world at large?
Of the 13 sectors I believe I could fit into more than just one. Currently I would say advertising, crafts and design are all suitable possibilities. When it comes to discussing what skills I need to be a successful designer one in particular strikes me as being the most important; adaptability. It seems to me that each client is different in what they want to communicate, their approach, their understanding and their needs from a designer. It is up to me to be able to have the ability to provide specialist skills that they perhaps do not have, but also skills that compliment their own. To be able to do this however, good communication between myself and a client is vital. From PPD sessions I have learnt to talk about my work and explain ideas but this will only become useful after gaining initial contact with potential clients. How to approach client's for work is something that I have not experienced and am quite apprehensive about.
Practical and conceptual skills are also very important. At the moment I feel more confident with conceptual thinking and identifying problems than I do with practical skills and image making. In particular, using software is something I have struggled with and am trying to learn in time outside of college. To develop these skills is just a case of practise and looking at pre-existing design to understand how to successfully communicate a message.
My professional and creative aims at the moment are not well established. I suppose my main aim is to become an adaptable designer, with the ability to work with a number of clients.
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