More exhibitions to see. Design Museum, New Designers.

Design Museum
New Designers at The Business Design Centre Islington, I recommend that you go and see this to look at how you can exhibit and promote your work, this is a showcase for young design graduates to show their work, who knows this could be you next year.

The Non-Designers Design Book by Robin Williams

Jessica recommends this book as an introduction to how you can use the basics of design and type.
The Non-Designers Design Book by Robin Williams

Free Branding Advice

Take a look at this for some simple advice on branding.

A very talented student

Whilst looking at an award winning music video [Cinnamon Chasers-Luv Deluxe] I found that the 'actress' in it is actually an illustration student. Her blog has some superb illustration and storyboard work as well as 3D designs. It just goes to show that creativity crosses boundaries [oh and she did an illustration for Stephanie Meyers-the Twighlight author].
Take a look at her work.

The Cool Hunter is very cooooll

Look at these Branded Art Installations showing how brands and art can be combined to great artistic effect. Art and commerce can make beautiful music together...

New links of interest

Hello

I've put some new links that may be of interest, particularly Design Observer and Culture Critic for insight in to the design world. Take a look.

Matthew

More posts please people!

Hi to anyone reading this, let's see some more posting please, at least once a week, keep us up to date with your progress and inspirations!

Matthew

Some new links. Taschen. Juxtapoz. Mark Ryden.

Hi

I've just added a few new links to the 'useful' links. Take a look at Juxtapz magazine which is full of street art, painting, graffiti and all sorts of great stuff. Mark Rydens paintings are sort of weird and I quite like them. Lastly take a look at the Taschen books store, they have some amazing [and some slightly rude] art, design and visual arts books for inspiration.

Matthew

C2C

Hello,
I'd like you to research the area of C2C. Can you explain what it is and how it could affect your design work? Take a look at Design for Life part 1, with Phillipe Starck.

Kuntzel & Deygas

Hi to anyone reading this [hopefully you Foundation Degree students]

Take a look at the work of Kuntzel & Deygas a very fabulous multi-disciplinary pair of designers working in Paris. They did the title sequence for Catch me if you can [a Spielberg film] and produce very excellent work that show how you can work in what might seem very different fields from illustration, animation and product design, lovely stuff. Oh and they like dogs.

Matthew

Objectives and Strategy

1) Creating your objectives: -
What is it that you really want to achieve? This should tell you to do only one single action! Focus. Small actions over time are what create big results. Each objective should be quantified or easily measured. This way you can see how close you are to achieving your goal or if you have already succeeded! This is not the why or who at this point; remember to keep it simple. The objective should be challenging yet attainable and be sure to set a timeline for it. This is very important! Also make certain that your objectives align with your personal brand Lastly, the objective should be result oriented. Results oriented objectives are stronger than an activity related/measured objective. For example, "I will increase my sales this quarter by 15%" is results oriented where "I will make 5 more sales calls per week" is activity oriented. The first will prove to be more effective than the later.

2) Understand your "why" behind your objectives: -
What are my ultimate reasons for creating this objective? This question will help you focus on your motives. The stronger your motives behind your "why", the greater the chances for creating and implementing your strategy. So find your ultimate why, and create a strong list of objectives. You will then be able to develop this personal strategy that is focused on your purpose, vision, resources, and network surrounding you.

Personal Branding

Personal brands need to be four things: compelling to their market; authentic; consistent; and known.
1. Find out how you are actually perceived or what your reputation is. Ask a variety of people.
2. Spend time exploring what it is about you that is compelling to your target market.
3. Ask yourself if what you are offering is authentic. If not, it will breed only mistrust.
4. Make sure that your message or what you deliver is consistent. If it is erratic, it will undermine your efforts.
5. Create a personal brand statement outlining who you are, what you do, how you do it and why it is compelling . . . and use abridged versions of it consistently wherever appropriate.
6. Explore how you can make your personal brand known to your market or audience and then act on it.

Brand and Logo error. GAP

Just found this story on the BBC news site about the Gap and their new 'Brand' logo that lasted exactly one week. A disaster that was changed after an online campaign.

Foundation Degree in Creative Arts at Southgate College London

Hello

This is the first post in the blog for the Foundation Degree in Creative Arts at Southgate College. I will be putting links to students own personal blogs and websites here and using this as a hub for exchanging information and ideas.

Matthew