Networking Study task

The Dots is a platform for jobs aimed at creatives and is similar to Linkedin.

Linkedin - I have signed up and I have made 40 connections

Using facebook to network shouldnt be underestimated - there are groups like this one that can be very engaging and useful.

I asked to volunteer at an immersive sound installation as I thought that it would lead to making contacts in the 'audiovisual' discipline. Something that i have a vested interest in.

Aesthetica film festival would be a good place to network face to face, not far to travel either.

Due to my interests in poetry and poetic film, this would be a great festival to visit and make contacts to work with in the future.

Anything local is always a plus, Leeds international film festival may be useful in gaining contacts closer to home.

I have found instagram to be great platform for networking due to the accessability of its DM system.

Hiive is another platform for creative professionals.

Twitter is another very accessable platform for networking with industry professionals, I have signed up to twitter but i am not very active as of yet.

Behance is a platform used by lots of industry professionals and is used to showcase portfolio work. A good place to put yourself out.

The Facebook animation group Festivus put on small events like this one, in manchester.

MAF is a very good place to meet new contacts face to face.

Exit Strategy

Upon leaving university, I plan on seeking out part-time work and using the spare time to work on my own projects and freelance commissions. The reason why this is my favoured plan of action as opposed to working for a large studio, is that at this point I need time to gain back some enthusiasm and passion for my own creative endeavours - otherwise I can see myself feeling like working on creative projects is a chore.

I plan to use what I have learnt about marketing myself, networking etc to build up a framework for my own practice outside of university.

Contact with Gross Bus Animation

Contact with Raman Djafari

Seed Animation - research

Seed



Seed was an animation/digital media production company that i discovered through seeing the work of Andy Khosravani's in a video that they had put together for breast cancer awareness. And upon further research I learned that seed collaborate with a large number of creatives and invite them to work on certain projects. A studio like Seed may be worth getting in contact with for junior animating positions and the like.

Animade

Animade

Animade are a studio that have a very considered approach to work, and they also show/ explain how their work was created - which is something I had not encountered whilst researching other studios.

The thing that I have noticed about animade is that they have used CINEMA 4D to produce some of they're work - something that I am not familiar with.

Arina Shabanova

Arina shabanova




Arina is another practitioner that I have been following for her colourful and quirky illustrations and animations. She diversifies in her work so that it is commercial yet of her own choice it would seem -as her work is of a consistency that suggests that she has not had to compromise much in terms of the aesthetics she employs in her work.

I use this individual as research as well as others like Simon Landrien, Raman Djafari as a reminder to myself that working for a studio is not the only way forward. Self publishing, putting on local exhibitions, etc helps to get your name out there and this is how you build up a network of contacts.

Simon Landrien

Simon Landrien

I include Simon Landrien in my research into studios and individuals, in that he is primarily an illustrator but does foray into animation with great affect. He has a consistent approach to aesthetic and I think that it is this consistency that has helped gain him success in what he does.

This is something to think about also when branding/marketing myself, for professionalism consistency is key.

Radio - research

Radio

Radio is more of a design/illustration based studio that use very bold distinct styles, in relation to my own illustrative style i would say that the work is similar in some aspects. The reason why i include this studio in my research is that the work is very simple/clean cut etc but also i feel this is an example of a studio that has managed to network well in order to gain the attention of bigger clients.

Marketing is a massive part of pulling in work from new clients, and the way this studio presents itself in a clear and concise way is something that I aim to do in terms of branding for myself.

Fettle

Fettle


researching fettle animation has given me confidence in that, small studios do in fact have the power to create really interesting and relatable content that draws the viewer in. The studio's founder/director is Shane Whittingham. He works primarily in 2D animation with a handmade aesthetic and this is the preferred medium of most - if not - all of the productions coming out of Fettle, with some live action thrown in for good measure.

Fettle may be a studio that I approach for work in the future, due to the exclusivity of the 2D/ hand drawn aesthetic and its application combined with live action footage.

Gross Bus Animation

Gross Bus Animation

Gross Bus Animation is a choice for research in that they were started in college and the aesthetic is very rough and ready - I decided to include them in my research as they are an example producing work for the love of it and being original and eye catching in they're approach to character and background designs, Keeping it simple and playful using bold colour pallettes and experimenting with VHS tape conversion.

I contacted them through Facebook as I noticed they hadn't released much for a while.

looking at Gross Bus as an example is relative to my own practice and where I see myself as a practitioner and how I progress beyond university. As more and more I am starting to see myself as a practitioner who wants to work for himself and create work that he is passionate about - whilst taking on more corporate jobs freelance to pay the bills.

trunk animation - research

Trunk

Trunk are an animation production company that have worked for a number of well known corporate clients. I have included Trunk as an example of the type of studio that I might like to work for due to the varying types of work and approach tom each job - from pixelation for a Land Rover production to a more cut out Gilliam-esque music promo for the work of Julian Lennon.

The key here is the diverse approach to work - I have found that I have a short attention span in terms of sticking to one medium.

Research into Studios/ individuals - OK Dog/ Raman Djafari

OK Dog

OK Dog is a collective based in Berlin. In this collective/the person that brought my attention to it is Raman Djafari. I first started following Raman on Instagram and became inspired by his often twisted and psychedelic illustrations and animations.

CONTACT WITH PROFFESIONAL - Narcsville a.k.a Nick Scott

One of the names that came up in conversation whilst inquiring in jumbo records, about people who might be able to give me advice, was Nick Scott A.K.A Narcsville.

Nick Scott has had a lot of experience as an illustrator/graphic designer, with a lot of his work being used by people in the music industry, The Cribs being one of his clients.

My first contact with Nick was through email, from there we decided that It would be easier to communicate through Whatsapp.

The first point that came up in conversation was how acquiring work within the music industry as a designer can be hard unless you already have contact with artists in your local scene. This is something that I have tried to establish with previous work for example a J insert for a cassette tape and a single cover. I have also tried to put a lot of emphasis on a musical theme through some of the work on my Instagram feed.

On a non creative note, some of the best advice that I received from Nick and that I can reflect on is the business aspect of creating work for artists/labels. He told me that often jobs will tend to 'fatten up' in that a label may ask you at first to produce an album cover, then a live gig poster and so on - so it is important to be clear with the client that you are working with what it is that you are willing to produce for an agreed fee. This should also be in writing.

Another thing that Nick told me to watch out for is the grey areas/ confusions or as he put it 'willful avoidances of clarity' by clients. Often people will take ages to respond to proofs and in this respect you need to be insistent, organised and motivated. Especially if working with a certain client ensures that your rent is to be paid on time!

Another piece of advice that Nick gave me was to not pigeon hole myself into a certain area of design and diversify in areas that might be much more corporate - but pay the bills. Not only does work of that nature pay the bills but it may also teach you valuable technical skills.