Personal and Professional Development

I feel like I have achieved what I set out to do. I wanted to feel more professional and in turn confident, in my practice as a graphic designer. I think this has mainly come about through continuing to work with clients, as I have done for a few years now, but with a more sophisticated and constructed approach. Instead of telling people I am a graphic designer, I am now able to show them, through the way of my business cards and website.

As for work experience, I have two placements already secured for summer. Ultimately I would like to get overseas at some point and see how creative industries work abroad. Before I do this, I desperately need to locate opportunities between that involve me working as a graphic designer in a professional environment. Once I have done this, I can continue to build up my knowledge even more.

I have been doing some research now that I am coming towards the end of the academic year. I found that About.com provided me with a solid run through/checklist of what I need to be doing and focusing on. It is important for me that I keep the mentality I have developed since Christmas, that I am actually a graphic designer now, that is my job and I have to do it to the best of my ability.

I have managed to secure my first work placement for the summer. It has come about from simply getting my business cards printed. Having had email correspondence with Galloways Printers regarding the paper, printing, sizing and costs of the business cards I wanted, they saw that my card was advertising me as a graphic designer. They went on to tell me about the work they produce there and made an offer to me to go and work with them as a Mac Operator for work experience.

Ill check the dropbox for you then mate. And yes that's fine. As for delivery, I will get them delivered to your address. Once they are printed etc I will give you a buzz to get delivery on them if that's ok? As for payment, see what the process is for it. Theres a mac room here with 5-6 guys doing all the artwork for the printing (retouching colours, and just the general artwork in various different programs - making the final check proofs etc) if that would interest? Regards, Matt Galloway Mob: 07768274575 Galloways Printers Ltd, Malcolm House, First Avenue, Poynton Industrial Estate, Poynton, Cheshire, SK12 1YJ Tel: 01625 870000  Fax: 01625 859339  www.galloways.co.uk

I was contacted by a family member who is currently on holiday in Spain. She told me she was in a bar talking to a young graphic designer based in Cornwall, who had connections in Leeds. After explaining to him what I did, he went on to tell her about a company in Leeds called TwentySix Digital. The graphic designer explained that he was in my position when he got in touch with the company asking for some work experience. He spent two weeks there and explained to my family member that the experience he gained has proven to be invaluable and that having their name on his CV has really helped boost his prospects in the creative industry. It seems like my practice and his were quite similar from what I was told.

I received an email today from the LCA Students' Union with the results of the elections. I was up against one other person and the results were:

Advertising Officer

Carlo Civolani                                    42%

Marc Gallanders                                54%

Re-Open Nominations                       4% 

In regards to getting work placements, I know that for this summer I will be based purely between Manchester and Leeds. On completion of my degree, I think one of two cities are where I will be located. Manchester because it is my home town, my family and friends are there, so a lot of support for me. Leeds because it is a great city where I feel comfortable now, and is still not too far from where I am from and not too expensive to live.

The main company I have identified to contact in Manchester is Rococo Group. I think they cover all of the areas I am interested in, work with big client and have a distinct look as a company. The location is perfect for me as it is close to where I live and if I did get the opportunity to work with them, I think I could really make the most of it. Branding is a key service they offer and this is something I really want to develop more of myself, so I think that when I have at least two more branding projects in my portfolio and my website is fully operational, I will approach them. I have followed the company through social networking and they have quite a casual approach to this, so this could potentially be a way to stir up conversation. 

Created a quick and simple poster for the SU re-elections to accompany my manifesto which reads:

Being the Advertising and Communications Officer since the start of the academic year, I have thoroughly enjoyed visualizing and designing the array of events the LCA Student Union has brought you. I want to continue doing this for the remainder of this academic year and the next with your vote.

The Student Union has accomplished so much in such a short space of time and I want to continue to be part of that team to help improve my fellow students’ experience here at the College. Some of the work I have already done is the ‘Horrible Christmas Jumper Party’ in which I collaborated with a student from the college to promote one of the most successful events to date. Another is the recent RAG week, where the College raised lots of money for various charities. I want to continue to develop the identity of the Student Union and I will continue to create the artwork you see and get you involved with all that’s going on. 

So vote for Marc Gallanders as your Student Union’s Advertising and Communications Officer and come and get involved with us.

VOTE MARC.

I have made a few quick business cards to help me start networking a little easier. I intend to finalize a design by the end of the month and have them professionally printed. This will also give me more experience in dealing with printers directly, as a lot of my work is taken to print by the client.

Through my time as Advertising and Communications Officer at Leeds College of Art, I have got a good grasp of working creatively for someone else. Being given briefs regularly which require various skills to be used and working to deadlines so that the work can be put out to an audience has been very useful to me. In a sense, it is almost like work experience but a bit less formal. I can use what I have learned and take this into work placements in the summer.

I recently did some research for my Live Projects module regarding the requirements of Graphic Design portfolios. I can use this to inform the development of my own.

Graphic Portfolio Content

I requested some feedback from my interview, here's what they had to say...

"Hi Marc Sorry for taking a while to get back to you. We appreciated you coming for interview. Our main concern was that you already seemed to have a lot of other commitments, especially with being a member of the student exec. We were concerned that you may have been unable to work extra hours when necessary. We also thought you lacked enthusiasm and seemed a little unprepared for the interview. Even though you didn't need to bring a printed portfolio, your work didn't seem to be arranged for us to see on the computer. Maybe next time you have an interview and you don't have time to print work, you could format it in a slideshow or PDF, so it is easier to discuss. You had a strong application and CV and from looking at your blog, we can see you have a lot of great work, but it was just a shame that you didn't show us very much of this during the interview. Thanks again for coming to meet us. All the best for the future. Natalie Morton"