Industry Structure
In the design industry there are different ways you can find
work and it’s finding the best way that will suit you as a person and how you
want to work. You could be a person who
needs to work for someone and needs the motivation to get up and do work and
know what you be doing, not only that you may find it has security reasons, you
can grantee you’ll be paid every month. But you might feel restricted so want
to find your own work, everyone is different and it’s finding what works best
for him or her.
Design Houses
This means you will actually be employed to do your work,
but the design company you work for will more than likely have a certain style,
and you would be expected to work in their house style when producing work for
clients. You would be working on briefs from clients in the design house and
externally. The creative director will manage you, making sure you fit the
criteria as you’d be expected to keep design work around the house style, so
you have less freedom that way, but you have security known you are getting
work in and not going weeks without.
I Love Dust is an graphic design house that specialises in
brand identity and development. They are well known for their crafted approach,
attention to detail and unique artistic taste. I Love Dust latest client list
include Nike, LG, Virgin, BBC Radio 2, the Guardian and Pepsi
Example of their work:
Freelance
Freelance you have a lot of freedom, as you work the way you
want to a certain degree, you will work in your style and that’s why clients
would be coming for you because that’s the style they looking for. You get to
work from home or at a studio, could be beneficial working at comfort of your
own home and you will have a flexible timetable, due to working for yourself,
this could be good if you have a family. You secure commissioned work, and are
working to a legal structure, you have to try and work out the cost of your
labour before you start working and this could mean you short yourself as may
have to put more work into it than you anticipated. You have to really
advertise yourself, easiest would be via Internet, to be noticed and
recognised, but will have to be carful encase people try and steal your work.
This is work form a UK Freelancer called Graham Smith, he
focuses logo designs and his logo design studio runs under the name: The Logo
Smith. He can also produce marketing and advertising designs too. This is just
an example of how freelancers can work, as they don’t have to be strict with
their work buy working in house design they can be totally different with every
client.
Example of Graham Smith’s work:
Networking
You have to build a network and then they will support your
market and from this you will be introduced to new markets, expanding your
opportunities. The more people you interact with the better chance you give
yourself of finding work and creating a name for yourself via mouth, also they
could even help you with something if are struggling, the is no harm in getting
to know a wide range of people in the industry, if anything you will benefit
from the experience as it’s giving you a bigger opportunity, connecting with
other designers, as you’ll stand a bigger chance they keep you in mind rather
than someone new, you be giving yourself a better and more creative CV
Example of creative CV’s:
Collaboration
Collaboration is similar to networking in a way, as it is still about who you know and who knows you, and been able to stand out and be noticed to be able to thought of when you would be right for the job. But you are working in pair or in some case a small group of people, but this way you combine different skills of the designers and produce something that would have been impractical if you had tried yourself. Also with more people involved there is more chance you can be noticed due to promotion and could make things more affordable sharing things like studio costs. Doing this will expand your network and may bring in more work for you.
Collaboration is similar to networking in a way, as it is still about who you know and who knows you, and been able to stand out and be noticed to be able to thought of when you would be right for the job. But you are working in pair or in some case a small group of people, but this way you combine different skills of the designers and produce something that would have been impractical if you had tried yourself. Also with more people involved there is more chance you can be noticed due to promotion and could make things more affordable sharing things like studio costs. Doing this will expand your network and may bring in more work for you.
Dirty Hands is mixed media design studio based in Newcastle,
with the members coming from different specialised backgrounds so can cover
across many platforms.
Example of Dirty Hands work:
Exhibition/Gallery
Exhibition your work, showing and selling original prints of
your work, but in some exhibitions they make smaller versions of the art work
and sell for a cheaper price, but the main original can be more expensive for
obvious reasons. This is getting your name known, as people will see your work on
show, this means sometimes people will come to you if they want your work to be
apart of the exhibition they are having. You could encounter in more money
selling the originals, also if they are limit edition pieces of art. You could
even pick a specific site you would like to show your work, as some allow you
to work in the spaces it’s not even on paper it could be on the walls, or you
could have it in installations, so you know it would work and just take over
space. Also your work will be commissioned when you have it shown and up for
sale in a Gallery or Exhibition.
Stefan Sagmeister is a designer who likes to blend in
typography and imagery in a striking fresh and ambitious ways. His Exhibition,
the Happy Show is on his on thought and individual experiences that determine
happiness.
Example of Stefan’s exhibition:
Competitions
Entering yourself and your work in competitions is not a bad
idea as if you win the competition you are giving yourself the chance and
opportunity to maybe advertise yourself and broadcast nationally and
internationally. This exposes yourself to a wider range of audience, as this
shows your talented, and you sometimes entitled to prize money but your winning
artwork is often published or exhibited. This will look good to future and
potential clients, as it will back up your talents and skills as a designer.
D&AD awards is recognised globally as the ultimate
accolade. D&AD have been inspiring creative thinkers by celebrating and
stimulating the finest in design and advertising since 1962. If you win this
award a lot of opportunities will open up to you and you will be awarded the
trophy pencil.
Pencil trophy award and some of the briefs
that pervious winners had.
In my opinion I would prefer to work in either Design houses or Collaboration, reason been; I would like the security of known am going to work and I will have something to work on, unlike trying to find work on top, also if was to be self employed not always grantee to find any and when you do, you might find loads come in at once might be too much of a strain. Also you are always going to get paid at the end of every month, there’s sustainability involved and structure and routine available, I also think I’d be much better motivated to do my work. But I wouldn’t mind working with others as they is more chance in been noticed if the is a group of you combining skills and making everyone involved recognised, the is more luck you will get more work in if more people are broadcasting the work that they can do. Also you can bounce idea and seek inspiration from one another, I think it would be more fun doing and working with other people.
Websites visited:
No comments:
Post a Comment