Summative Position Statement

Currently I am at a turning point in my creative career. For the past three years I have explored digital image making, using elements like lighting, colour and cinematic composition to build an atmosphere, in a contemporary and highly illustrative way. 

However, my graphic design background prior to starting the course, and my ever increasing interest in design as a whole has shaped my direction for future areas of exploration and career goals. 

Because of my interest within design processes, I feel I have struggled to maintain a visual consistency within my outcomes that do not merge into one portfolio. My aim for the near future is to build a consistent portfolio of commercial design work that utilises both illustrative and graphic processes, that would help me to work effectively for design agencies. 

Despite not using my Illustration degree to go down a traditional path, I have built a solid foundation for the rest of my creative career, through exploration of communicative and graphic processes that I can apply to a variety of platforms. I aim to utilise these skills in a way that make me more than a graphic designer, but still a relevant applicant for design roles within studios and agencies. 

Over summer I will be remaining in Leeds, working part time, yet continuing to develop my practice through live briefs/competitions and freelance projects. I aim to gain experience of networking and working within design studios, hopefully leading to a permanent role in Leeds or London. 

Professional Portfolio of Work (ISSUU)

OUIL602 Final Summative Evaluation + Evaluation Form

This year's PPP module has been hugely beneficial for me in terms of forcing me to make decisions about my practice. I feel that towards the end of the module I had successfully identified a path for future exploration, and a plan for my career goals, which a short while ago were incredibly vague and ineffective. This module has helped me to understand alot about how the creative industries work, for example, how an illustrator would usually be commissioned on a freelance basis by an advertising agency, as opposed to what I previously believed, that illustrators would work in-house. I've done a great amount of learning which has informed my decisions about the future, and pushed me to aim for a path that is less freelance illustration, and more design based. 

Despite my decisions concerning Illustration and Graphic Design, I'm confident that this course was beneficial to me. I started with an interest in commercial image making and design, and feel that it has just helped me to identify areas that I want to develop but also discard. I feel that I have also gained a much more in-depth understanding of the term Illustration.

In comparison to other people on the course, I feel I haven't developed professionally as much, mainly because of my struggle with my creative identity and defining the ideal direction for my development. I have struggled with maintaining confidence in my work which has resulted in a lack of self-application and engagement with the industry. If this module deadline was extended by a few months I feel that I would have been able to approach practitioners, employers, job applications etc, with a much fuller picture of what I am offering as a professional, which I intend to define over summer. 

Where appropriate I have engaged with opportunities that I felt would benefit my practice however, including the Stratstone BMW brief and the various exhibitions at Colours May Vary that are displayed in my current portfolio. I feel that the skills I have built over the duration of the course have created a solid foundation that I can use with a range of platforms, and apply to graphic design projects, but also to general business. 

When developing my creative presence for the module, I found it difficult to identify certain elements of my current practice that I want to promote/market. I based alot of my decisions on the feedback from Ben Cox, when he gave me an insight into which pieces of my work would be commercially viable and which wouldn't. The less commercially viable (the darker, atmospheric images) I avoided using on my business cards as that style of working isn't relevant to how I want to develop my practice, and wouldn't be the type of work I want to be commissioned for. Ultimately, I was so happy with how my brand identity turned out, because I feel that it is effective and relevant to my future goals, and looks really professional. 

Overall, PPP hasn't been a straight forward path for me because of my lack of confidence and inability to capitalise on successful areas of my practice, and because of this it's been a struggle to fully engage with. I'm confident that I have created an effective action plan to get where I want to be, also learning about various tools and platforms that will benefit my professional development. I also found blogging to be a really effective tool in terms of expressing my thoughts and developing opinions, which is something that I would really consider for the rest of my continuing practice. 

Final Presentation

Creative Presence: Presentation Boards

Creative CV

From looking at job listings of roles that I will eventually be applying for, I have noticed that a CV often key to the application process. So I've taken it upon myself to try designing one, based on my practice as a Designer and Illustrator.

CV Header Designs

Although I know CV's are generally quite formal, I felt it would be appropriate to get a little bit of personality in there so that it's not completely boring to read - and if I can manage to communicate the necessary info properly with in a light hearted way, then it's a winner! 

My final CV design:

I've tried to make my CV look a bit more advanced by adding a business card holder, as a cheeky way to display some work but also get my business card to the employer! 

I based my design on posting a physical paper copy to employers (as it is more personal and shows i've done research) - however I will make be making a digital version just in case. 

Presentation Planning (Part 2)

PART 1

- Intro

- Who was I prior to this year?

- Graphic Design and Photography (composite image making) at College.

- Thought Illustration would be my best bet as still didn’t know what to do and it was quite open. Chose this course to explore visual creation in all areas.

- First year – very experimental – didn’t have a preferred way of working when I started the course and didn’t understand the importance of having a style.

All work very average.

And I probably did everything you shouldn’t do. Trying to force a style and be someone I’m not.

Not sure if its lack of capitalising on successful elements and pushing them – or I just get bored really easily?

Sounds a bit superficial, but at this point I think I realised that this doesn’t look good and I need a style that’s more commercial? From a business point of view, this wasn’t viable.

- After a year of trying to be someone I wasn’t, I finally started to return to what I naturally liked to do in my old photography projects, create scenes/landscapes/atmospheres, and found a way of working that I enjoyed and was relevant to contemporary, trendy illustration?

- Second year, pushing composition/scenery/landscape element with style that I liked and enjoyed.

- Always enjoyed presenting my artwork with text, adding finishing touches, making design boards. Presentational elements were what I enjoyed as equally as making the actual images.

- Fjall Raven book / The Seed - Illustration & graphic design

- Slowly starting to capitalise on what I enjoy and they are becoming clear. 

PART 2

- Who am I? What have I achieved up to this point? How am I marketing myself? 

- AOI Sounds of the City Prize for Illustration - using it as my spring board. Amazing opportunity to get myself out there so my self promotion needs to be on point. 

- Dan Gilmartin is a Leeds based image maker and designer who explores light and atmosphere through his digital narrative works. Driven by shape and texture, his work has featured in the Off the Page (2016) and Out Of Order (2017) exhibitions at Colours May Vary Gallery, and he has worked with clients such as Stratstone BMW. Having completed A-levels in Graphic Design and Photography and a UAL Foundation diploma at Carmel College, Merseyside, he is now a final year BA (Hons) Illustration student at Leeds College Of Art. 

- Branding

Design choices, website, 

- Why I haven't decided to create mailers/fliers for employers. I'M NOT READY

- Need more time - putting alot of pressure on myself to have a complete idea of where I'm going before I leave uni, with each year that passes is another wave of graduates and talent  CHILL OUT

PART 3
- Who do I want to be? How am I going to get there? WHATS THE PLAN?
- Take what I've learnt here in being an illustrator - and attempt to merge with my passion for graphic design. 
There's a whole load of graphic designers down stairs so I need to use my illustration to help me to stand out.
I want to be more of a designer that uses Illustrative processes, rather than an illustrator. 
- Feel like more of a commercially viable path - something that i'd enjoy more with a bit more stability?
- Using Ben Cox's advice on commercial illustration, Images I want to take forward and build my portfolio around 
- PLAN 
- Work part time whilst building my portfolio over summer, Including work for St Wilfrids, another amazing opportunity to develop my process of illustration and graphic design more. 

Presentation Planning

So it's that time of year again when I have to start thinking about how to sum up my year and experiences in a horrible 15 minute presentation. I'm not feeling as nervous about it as felt in previous years because I'm alot more comfortable talking about my work, but I think I just really need to practice as much as I can so that I am confident with what i'm talking about, which will hopefully come through in my presenting. 

I'm a bit scared that this year hasn't been particularly positive for me and that my presentation is going to be a bit sad? I feel like I've learnt alot about myself and possible pathways I could go down though which is obviously a good thing. 

Key topics to be discussed

• Starting 3rd year - alot more professional attitude, with more of an idea of where I see my practice
• learning alot more about how the industry actually works - Misunderstanding of where an illustrator fits in to advertising industry 
• Favourite Projects from this year - TKAMB, Sounds Of The City, Stratstone
• Not confident in my work, or my future as an "illustrator"
• Sadly I think i am just in it for the money? Ben Cox said my shadowy/atmospheric stuff isn't commercial which got me thinking about my whole practice - I DON'T WANT TO BE AN ILLUSTRATOR??
• TIME - feel like i'm running out of it constantly, another year over is another wave of graduates and talent. 
• Future plans? more design work in my portfolio - more typography based projects and branding projects - maybe more generic illustration? Stuff that is easily commissionable 

Slide Plan

PART 1

1 - WHO AM I NOW 

Logo, Branding, Visual Identity.

Website, Business Cards, How am I marketing myself?`

2 - What has lead to this moment? what projects, transformative moments have led to my current identity?

Big push with working digitally, creating atmosphere - Carl Sagan Project, Vectors, Shape and Texture. 

3 - Current portfolio - Atmospheric, lighting, shape and texture. VERY ILLUSTRATIVE.
 where would my work fit in???

4 - Not confident in my current portfolio, 
Ben Cox - Dark/gloomy isn't commercially viable. 
Also doesn't reflect my intentions of design atall.
 Lacking in branding/design experience >>>

---------------------------------------------------------------
PART 2

4 - WHO DO I WANT TO BE(& how am i going to get there?)

5 - Research into industry - During summer/before this year, I had preconceived ideas about where an illustrator would fit in to industry. Instead of looking into working in the advertising industry, I should have been looking into 'freelance commercial illustration' > FREELANCE TERRIFIES ME
How can I find a way of being in-house but still have an illustrative approach?

6 - Design agencies are where I see myself right now.
In my opinion my portfolio isn't ready and Im not sure of who I am yet as a practitioner (fml right)
Plan to combine Illustration and Graphic Design? 
Use more illustration in branding - more typographic, animation projects 
I feel like I may have an advantage over graphic design students as someone who has trained in a range of fields???

7. I want to show Design Agency employers that i'm a practitioner with an all round skill set that they would be mad not to hire 
BUT IM JUST NOT THERE YET

7. TIME - so much pressure on getting there as soon as I get out of uni its killing me and im so stressed - each year that passes is another wave of graduates and talent. but is that a big deal? Can I find a way to stay afloat in the ever increasing talent pool?

8. I need to CHILL OUT. Over summer I will be working in Leeds with a part time job to pay for rent, but in my spare time beefing up my portfolio using both Commercial Illustration and design, getting ready to send to employers by the end of this year. It's going to be tough but I've still got some learning to do, and at the moment I've got the motivation to make this work.

PART3
My experience as an Illustration student at Leeds College Of Art

I've spent alot of time thinking I know what I want to do, but when the safety blanket is slowly being ripped off I realise that I don't actually have a clue. 

What should a successful design portfolio contain?

After Ben Cox's talk, I had a better understanding of what a successful portfolio for illustration should contain - 
Maps, Typography, Food, People, Landscapes etc.

As I'm hoping to market myself as more of a designer, this inspired me to look into what elements I should be aiming to include in a design portfolio, which would be something to work towards over summer.

SAMPLE PRETEND (but still real) PROJECTS
1. The DREAM client website
2. The non profit or mom n pop website
3. Your twist on an icon set
4. Improved mobile product UX
5. Redesigned newsletter template
https://skillcrush.com/2014/08/11/portfolio-advice-2/

What to include in your graphic design portfolio:

https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/what-to-include-in-your-graphic-design-portfolio/

Some things I can think of off the top of my head:

Logo design

Poster design

Motion Graphics/Gifs

Publications

Illustrations

Web Design

Font Design

Design Studios

List of studios to contact, once I have a design based portfolio:

Elmwood - Leeds/London/International
Corporate, very commercial 
Really interested in this one, i'd love to work in a big team with connections all over the world.

NB Studios - corporate - London

Smiling wolf - Liverpool

Gorilla Studios - Manchester

Diagram - Warrington

Instruct - Manchester

Robot Food - Leeds

I have chosen these studios for a number of reasons, but mainly because each of them employ a colourful and energetic approach to their briefs. Their selection of projects are alot more commercial, and are places where I think my work will hopefully fit in. 

Website - Update

After my tutorial with Ben and portfolio review with Ben Cox, I wanted to update my website to show my work in the best way possible.

Things I considered: 

- Sounds of the city right entry at the top of my website so that I am instantly identifiable after the show.

- As I want to work more commercially, I have put the most commercially viable work(according to Ben Cox) at the top also. 

Creative Identity - Branding MYSELF?

By far one of the most challenging things I've ever had to do, but i'm happy with how it's turned out. I think my use of Serif font has a kinda vintage but modern effect which hopefully creates the idea that I have traditional values but with a modern twist? I didn't want it to look too illustrative either, as previously stated, because I don't want to limit myself to illustration. 

Live Brief - Meeting with St Wilfrids

Today I visited St Wilfrid's school and sixth form in Featherstone, and had a meeting with Chris Slater the head of Business and Marketing for the college. 

I was there discussing an opportunity that my Aunt (who works at the school) put me forward for - A new project focused on creating new marketing material to generate more publicity for the college, and recruit more students for the next academic year. 

At first I was slightly apprehensive to contact them as It sounded like it was going to be quite a web-heavy outcome using html etc, but I still felt that I should go and discuss. Prior to meeting Chris I looked at their website and current marketing material, looking at their current marketing techniques and their core values/mission statement as an educational establishment. 

When discussing with Chris it was so much easier than I thought. He was really concerned with helping me to get something out of the project aswell as helping them which I thought was really nice. We discussed that I was an Illustrator and designer and that i've worked with various platforms - which started our conversation about what actually could be achieved, in recognition of his ideas about why the school isn't recruiting as many people as it should be. I also got a tour of the school to get an idea of facilities and just a general feel for the place. 

We also managed to agree on a brief and deadline, which I will start as soon as possible. 

I'm really excited to be starting this live brief for a client which is actually quite a big deal? I have agreed to do get something to them under the pretence of Extended Practice so I am not being paid for it, however this could be a huge opportunity to build a relationship with a client that could provide me with work in future when I am working professionally. 

ALSO I feel that this is perfect opportunity to start building my design portfolio. 

Christoph Niemann - 'Abstract' on Netflix

I recently found this series on Netflix which explores the design processes of a variety of practitioners, working across all creative platforms. The first episode was about Illustration and focused on the work of Christoph Niemann. His thoughts and ideas when tackling specific subject matter were really eye opening - it was amazing to see first hand how a designer uses illustration to aid his process. 

Though the episode is based around 'Illustration', I feel that Niemann could be considered more of a designer in the way that his work does not have a specific subject matter or style, and that he solves problems using the most appropriate visual tools at the time. This can be seen on his website where he shows a range of drawing, vector work, photography and animation:

www.christophniemann.com/portfolio/

He is clearly very skilled and has had work on countless New Yorker covers - my only question is, how is his work commissionable if he uses a different method of working each time? Even his Illustration work is all extremely diverse which confuses me - perhaps the client has alot of trust in his design choices and he constantly gets it right first time? 

AOI Prize For Illustration - Shipping to London

So the day has arrived for me to ship my framed artwork to London for the prize for Illustration! I've got a courier coming tomorrow to collect it so it's all packaged a ready to go. Considering I was chose to be in the show, It's been alot of hard work printing, framing, packaging and printing forms, and all together it's cost me about £70 to arrange everything so i'm hoping it'll be worth it - I'm sure it will be amazing publicity though so I just need to make sure my website is up to scratch. 

I'm a little bit worried that at this moment in time this piece doesn't reflect who I want to be as a practitioner? would this be kind of fake advertising? or could I build a new practice around this image? 

This seems a lot more commercial in comparison to my darker highly illustrative images - something to take forward?