Creative Strategy - Professional Practice Presentation

PLAN


STRUCTURE

1. Review of year (level 5, intentions for l6, developing process, professionalism)

2. Ethos and principles (development of a theoretical focus, promote heritage, research at forefront)

3. Manifesto/ after uni (find my place in the heritage & culture sector, how not to go freelance, integrate in research & heritage community)

POINTS TO COVER

- Reflect on learning taken place on PP
- How have I changed as an illustrator and learner?
- Have my ambitions/ professional outlook changed over the course of L6?
- What personal concerns have I developed and how did i resolve these?
- Has PP altered my decisions about my career?
- What aspects of my developing skills set will I take forward after uni, particularly in the professional sense?

SLIDE STRUCTURE

1. Welcome & intro (bookend)

2. INTENTIONS - Successes of L5 and intentions for development over L6

3. VALUES - Transformative moment - volunteering in print workshop JOY OF PHYSICAL CRAFT & WORK

4. PERSONAL PRACTICE - How my practice has built on research and contextual groundings

5. PROCESS - Transformative moment - lettering and concrete poetry

6. PROCESS - learning of new skills > letter press, sign writing, weaving

7. ETHOS - Consolidated my existing focus on aspects of heritage, using my illustration practice to promote accessibility and visibility

9. CHALLENGES - Feeling alienated by constant reminder of being freelance, unsuccessful print fairs

10. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE - Outward facing profile

11. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE - Taking on lead roles in delivery of a professional event

12. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE - Getting in touch with professionals relevant to me

12. AFTER UNI - Establishing thorough experience, researching post-grad study

13. Thanks & questions (bookend)



SCRIPT

SLIDE 1 : INTRODUCTION

Hello there. Reflecting on the year, I've broken my presentation down into 3 areas; a review of my year, my current ethos and principles, and establishing a plan for after uni.

SLIDE 2 : LEVEL 5

-My approach to the initial stages of level 6 was largely informed by the successes and enjoyment of level 5
-My brass band zine and Shakespeare work were both heavily informative to my evolving practice. Both projects allowed me to explore thorough contextual research, a process that grounds my work consistently
-Toward the end of L5, my work became more type and lettering based, another area that has solidified in my L6 practice
-Work was primarily focused on British traditions and heritage, an approach I wanted to explore further this year

SLIDE 3 : TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENT - VOLUNTEERING

- I spent several months over summer, volunteering in the print workshop
- This opportunity served as a transformative moment in my practice as I learnt a great deal more about the practical outlets I could employ my skills in, without being an 'illustrator'
- The experience consolidated my absolute joy in handling objects and machinery, a joy that I would love to have in my professional life, therefore sparking ideas for career opportunities
- I learnt a lot about the maintenance and delivery of a workshop and my image making became more process led, and my outlook became more concerned with this value of 'the maker'

SLIDE 4 : RESEARCH FOCUS

-Starting with my research into Mining banners, then onto brass bands and heritage more widely, contextual and theoretical research is now at the forefront of all my work
-Stumbling across publications such as 'In Loving Memory of Work', enabled me to realise that there is a connection and need for visual language within theory
-Research, critical reading and writing are pivotal to my work and I enjoy reading essays and articles around the themes of my work to really engross myself in the subject
-My practice is grounded in an ethos around the value of sharing heritage and as such writing is important to my creative practice

SLIDE 5 : TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENT - CONCRETE POETRY

-My lettering work in extended practice has been a real turning point for me. It encouraged me to remind my construction of type, but also consider how playful and energetic type can be. 
-Lettering feels like a very free and personal process and I found exhaustive ink work really set my work in motion
-The context of lettering or sign writing fits neatly in my intent for practice, to explore heritage practices, so practically the process of exploring and constructing concrete poetry, supports my image making and conceptual concerns

SLIDE 6 : MORE HERITAGE PROCESSES JOIN THE TEAM

-From my volunteering over summer, I have been encouraged to think even more about the crafts and processes I want to form the base of my practice
-Tangibility is pivotal to my ethos as I love the absolute joy of handling objects and sensing the hand of the maker
-I pushed for a letter press induction as I felt this was not only a skill I could employ in my visual work, but also a practical skill which would aid employment prospects
-As part of my investigation into mining banners, I built a loom and taught myself weaving, and then tried my hand at sign-writing; because why not?

SLIDE 7 : REFINING MY ETHOS

-Stemming from an underlying interest in social history, the role of heritage has really consolidated in my work this year, starting with COP
-My intent for practice revolves around a belief in the value of heritage and traditions, something I felt encouraged to pursue having seen the 'These Northern Types' Exhibition. This exhibition captured the essence of what I wasn't sure I was even supposed to do or make
-I wanted my work to serve a conceptual purpose and drive a conversation about visual media and identity

-Accessibility naturally stems from the issues around heritage and culture so play is still central to developing an appropriate visual language


SLIDE 9 : STRUGGLES & CHALLENGES

- I identified in the middle of L5 that I really didn't want to be a freelance illustrator
- I realised that I didn't see the value in making work for someone else's needs when the whole reason I enjoy my work is because it is made with the intention of processing a personal interest
- Level 6 has naturally been more heavily focussed around being a professional illustrator and so I did feel increasingly alienated and frustrated by sessions about being freelance, I think I just felt a bit isolated and needs to find my own path
- Reaching out to fellow heritage geeks has helped to reaffirm the value in my interests and I've been able to consolidate my definition of illustration
- Being commercial doesn't work for me, I think niche things and make niche work, but that's ok because to make it in research is to expose new things.
-Spending a lot of time writing and reading is right for me! I don't have to draw picture to be an illustrator.

SLIDE 10 : OUTWARD FACING PROFILE

- The PP seminars and workshops have really strengthened my awareness of the necessities of a professional profile. 
- Building a website and promo-pack has encouraged me to be more select with the profile I share with fellow creatives and potential clients
- I have learnt to keep better records and filing systems for my work, in order to maintain a consistent and high quality online presence
- Producing a promotional book allowed me to think about my practice as a short story; what tale to I want to tell clients? The production of a fix-free publication was really rewarding and felt like a real manifestation of hard work

SLIDE 11 : PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE - EVENTS

- Professional development opportunities have come primarily in the form of the Hanbury Symposim, but also through print fairs
- The Hanbury event was a great opportunity to work to a schedule and as part of a team
- I took the lead on production and binding of the group publication, making 20 books for out guests to take away, a laborious but rewarding job
-Opportunities like the symposium have also enabled me to develop my professional communication skills. As an interviewer on the publishing panel, I had to speak in front of an audience, listen intently and form relevant and encouraging questions

SLIDE 10 : CONTACTING 

- I learnt towards the end of level 5 that I don't think I could ever be a freelance illustrator, I enjoy team work and want a community facing practice with research at the forefront of what I do
-Over the course of the year I have had conversations, meetings, and exchanged emails with several professionals working in heritage or researching the field.

- Sustained dialogue with Amy Goodwin, sign painter and current PhD student, has enabled me to find clarity in what it means to 'research visual media'
- A visit to the G F Smith offices in London also reassured me of the opportunities for designers in production and distribution.

SLIDE 12 : AFTER UNI

-On leaving uni, I really want to zone in on my research. My main goal is to become an expert in British visual heritage; I want to celebrate and promote the absolute joy of tangible and crafted objects
-While heritage underpins my intent for practice, I need to embrace this more in my professional work and will need to continue to gather relevant work experience
-A professional profile within the local arts and heritage scene will aid my professional development, something which hopefully should come to fruition from my recent application to join the gallery and heritage team and Sunny Bank mills
- Finally, to feel completely satisfied with my degree, I want to make work for me and for the communities I valu

SLIDE 13 : CONCLUSION

-Thank you
-Any questions?