GFSmith came to college to showcase their Colorplan paper stocks. It was really interesting especially for myself as I've always had a keen interest in paper and print. I never knew their was so much that could go into creating paper. The quality of the samples was amazing as well which really made me want to use some high standard stocks.
I've already got in touch with GFSmith and asked for the Colorplan swatch pack so I can reference possible stock choice for my briefs and studio projects in the future.
These are a few of the samples that I had the pleasure of looking at. I particularly enjoyed the bicycle magazine as I was doing a bike anatomy based brief at the time.
http://www.gfsmith.com
Team Impression came in to talk little about the business and the services they can provide. Basically there is a lot that they can offer and the turn around time is very good. It's a perfect connection to have if I were to start a studio or in need of a specialist print job.
http://www.team-impression.com
Dots was a great visit, the guys were really friendly and even though they were very busy they took the time to talk to me and answer my questions. I've been dying to go back and get some experience screen printing their and really improve my knowledge and and technique. These guys are perfect as a contact as well for what I'm doing with OTTO and they may become a key part of the businesses productivity in the future.
Furthermore, they do a lot of collaborative work and creative events with I think is always a good thing to do to keep up the fun and variation in a job and lifestyle.
They also have dogs...studios with dogs are a good thing.
http://dotsprint.co.uk
The Democratic Lecture was great, it was a really refreshing and innovative way of delivering it because as an audience we had some say in what we wanted to hear about and you didn't go into the lecture with the expectation of sitting through slides of someone else's work. In a sense the lecture, the process and the publication are part of Craig's work which paradoxically means we are looking at slides of someone else's work. But more importantly I took away a lot from this lecture.
It was more of a pep talk and an encouraging lecture on how to get yourself out their and be a part of 'the real world' which is different to spending an hour and a half listening to another designers career and success story.
I was inspired enough at the end to purchase the book which I've not started reading yet but If the content is as engaging as the lecture then It'll be a good buy.
I signed up for my portfolio surgery and I'm having mine with Aidan Nolan from AND studio in Huddersfield. I've been looking at his work and he seems like he'd be a good professional to talk to as the studio does a lot of branding work like myself. I've spoken to some people who have already had their surgeries with other professionals and they all said that they were very useful. I've not changed my portfolio based on what I've heard from them however as I want to get feedback on my first idea of my portfolio should look like.
http://www.aidannolan.co.uk
I didn't prepare any questions for the surgery with Aidan but I did bring up a few concerns that I had thought about before meeting him. My main concern was the layout of the work and the overall content. He generally thought it was good and appropriate which was reassuring but suggested that I brighten up the images and there a few things that I could possibly photoshop to tidy up.
