ei mk.5

18:34 Posted by boomer




Proposed Position Statement

1. As mentioned in previous tasks my past childish exploits into t-shirt design have moved on to actual work for small clothing companies and I see myself pursuing this for a long time to come.

2. However it is a growing industry with the range and quality of t-shirt designs increasing continuously and I fully understand my work is cut out, but having both knowledge and experience of the market I feel I can contribute positively.

3. I don’t see myself as being specialist in one form or method, which is something that is both good and bad – I would like to have more focus but am glad that I can work in many different areas.

4. I see myself working both freelance and as part of a creative design team

5. I think that I work well with others in creative groups and so would relish the opportunity to join a creative team to gain experience and a strong portfolio

6. I would prefer to work locally/within the country. I definitely wouldn’t refuse international work, but I would prefer to stay within the country as I love the English sensibilities, humour and culture.

7. This current module, though only a week and a half old, has seemed fairly effortless to get into, and I would like to push my efforts into digital media further beyond this module, though I’m sure I’ll be changing my tune after weeks on after effects.

8. One of my skills is idea generation and not just the production of work so I would like to be a part of the initial creative and not just the overall production

9. I see myself eventually heading a design agency, either of my own or not, and leading a team of creatives – designers, advertisers and more.

10. I would like at some point to write and direct films, either features, shorts or adverts, but either way I would like to move into motion pictures.

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ei mk.3

20:13 Posted by boomer




How will I promote myself – what do they want to hear?

These tasks are proving ever more difficult without knowing exactly what kind of designer I am/would like to be. I understand now is not the time to be pigeon-holing myself, but maybe I should be more focused? Maybe its good to be ambiguous for now? I guess time will tell. However I think I can adequately fulfill this task without such a focus, though some important factors such as whether I promote for print or screen might be important later on.


Marketing Communication Mix

Using the 6 methodologies in the marketing communication mix, here are the ones that I feel I would apply to my personal professional practice. As a new designer and not a brand or business I would be looking for, as my potential clients, design agencies or companies looking for freelance work or new employees.

Personal Selling

For any new and aspiring designer it is important to not only get your name out there, but your face as well. While a website of work examples may be useful, more importantly would be for me to physically meet/track/find potential clients, so they can meet me and view my portfolio personally. Whether successful or not in terms of paid work, hopefully I would impress/pursue them enough to be considered in future or recommended to others, and build a personal relationship with the client.

Advertising

As a designer this would be more relevant for previous work used in advertising, which potential clients would see and then contact me through past employers. It is rarely, if ever, used for personal designer promotion.

Direct Marketing

This is a very important aspect of a graphic designers personal promotion, especially freelancers/unemployed and searching. If used successfully it can be used as a fantastic first point of contact with potential clients where first impressions last. Innovative and interesting greetings cards/business cards/personalised packages well designed can stick in the mind. Personally I would, especially starting out in the business, focus on making use of this kind of promotion.

The Internet

Obviously a massively useful tool in todays society there are many ways in which it can be used efficiently and effectively, starting with web design. A well structured, easy to navigate and good looking website can be invaluable to any business, and for a new designer trying to attract potential clients. Another bonus is it is a 24 hour tool with a portfolio that can be viewed at any time, where a personal meeting for example, would last a short amount of time.

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ei mk.2

23:13 Posted by boomer




Customer Segmentation

Possible Client Groups

Retailers/high street/fashion/food packaging/local businesses/branding/publishers/TV/music/games/clubs/restaurants/books/record labels/

Signage/branding/logos/album art/book covers/window graphics/poster design/leaflets and fliers/idents/advertising/character design/information graphics

For my customer segmentation I am going to focus on my work for an up and coming clothing company, Fallen Heart Clothing.

Demographic

14-30 year old
male and female
working class
independent buyers

Geographic Factors

Urban dwellers/live near city
Tech savvy/internet buyers

Psychology

Rock/alternative
Influencers and buyers (youth and young adolescents)
Materialistic
Independent thinkers

Behaviour

Trend buyers
Exclusive seekers
Regular buyers seeking new innovative designs
Internet users



PEST Analysis

Following on from my writing in task 1, focusing myself as a designer and what I do best is rather difficult for me, which is why trying to nail down exactly who I would want as potential clients/customers has been rather arduous for me. Its not that I don’t have an idea of where I would like to go with my work, but more where I would specialize one over the other.
Not for lack of ambition, but I feel my best work would be produced for, and influenced by, the British market. If I was offered international work of course I would consider it, but as a focus of my energies in locating potential business I would start within this country.

So, as in my segmentation analysis, im going to stick with my current work with a Yorkshire based t-shirt company, and use PEST to analyse the t-shirt design market.

Local – Fallen Heart Clothing
National – Drop Dead Clothing
European – Etnies
Transnational – Atticus


Fallen Heart Clothing

P – Product license
Brand/naming rights
Demographic’s changing views on economy/government

E - Recent recession affecting product pricing
Also affects start-up on new business
Influence customers into making purchases instead of, not as well as, other brands

S - Recent trends for heavy rock/alternative music (known as ‘emo’)
Increased demand for new and innovative band/music t-shirts

T - Recent purchase of professional standard screen printer
Faster and higher output of product



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ei mk.1

17:14 Posted by boomer



so, entering my 2nd year of my graphic design degree, the question of who I am as a designer and what skills I have for some reason seems about as ambiguous as when I started my first. What I can say however is that my knowledge of graphic design practice and my skill set have certainly developed since I started this course. I am also, fortunately or unfortunately, far more aware of my weaknesses than my strengths.

I’m the kind of person who tries to keep his finger in many pies, the kind of kid who when i read those fantasy books that lead you back and forth between pages kept my finger in as many as possible – just in case. this quite accurately defines my approach to design – I want to learn as many different processes as possible so I know how to do almost anything – just in case. the one thing I’ve learned about though is because of this I’m not really sure exactly what my particular, singular, individual skill or skills are. sort of a semi-good at lots of things than a really-good at a few. weakness or strength? I don’t really know.

how to answer this question then, of who I am (as a designer). quick personal history then – I started out as most kids do, doodling and sketching on my school notebooks, sights set on designing CD covers for bands I liked, while in the meantime doing detailed sketches of things in my spare time. I even got 10% knocked off a chemistry GCSE exam for drawing characters round the edge of my paper. then on to painting my own t-shirts for my friends’ bands to wear at gigs. In my first year of this degree I’ve learned all about type, image, layout, colour, all the digital software programs, screen printing, photography among others. all from scratch. fingers, meet pies.

one skill I feel strongly do have is idea generation. now I realize most budding designers say “hey, I’m an idea factory going nuclear!”, but I do think whereas my delivery is occasionally lacking, my ideas are usually quite expansive, often outstretching my available production time. I have noticed I work well in crits with a group, coming up with ideas for other people’s projects, and so I think I have a skill in that too. I work well with most people and am quite adaptable, and I think I would sit well as a part of a creative team. I need structure, something to work towards/in, to keep me focused and, most importantly, on time.

I have developed an interest in, and been inspired by, visual language and simply visual theory. it is a practice I want to work towards, to keep my work simple and to the point. I’m not a complicated man and neither is my work. signs, symbols, and pictograms hold so much meaning and are yet so completely focused, without any needless elements. that’s not to say I don’t appreciate complicated or detailed illustration, but it hasn’t been nor can I see it being a major part of my personal practice. iconography is a timeless practice, whereas a large amount of illustration, and more importantly demand for it, is based mainly on whatever style/approach is popular or in trend, and so can date quickly, meaning the illustrator need have more than one arrow in his quiver in order not to fall out of trend also.

as an aside recently I have been employed by a friend of mine who is starting a clothing company as his “head creative”, which, along with my own clothing brand currently in production and the focus of a group of business degree students promotion strategy project, is an ideal opportunity for me to implement the knowledge and skills I have discovered and developed since the start of this course. hopefully I can do better than when I was 17.

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