Research other Design Professionals

Part of the Silver Arts Award Challenge is to research career pathways. As well as asking questions of my Arts Tutor Ami I asked my Aunt who also happens to be an Artist working in the design field. Here's what she said in response to my questions:

1) What is your job title?

Design director

2) When did you first start your Career?

September 1998


3) Did you go to College prior to starting your career?

Yes, I did a first diploma in art and design, a National Diploma in Design and a BA Honors in Design


4) What inspired you to be a designer/run your own business?

I was always a creative person and designing & art seemed to come naturally to me. Anything art & design inspired me from portrait photography to architecture.


5) Do you enjoy your work?

Yes
 
6) Were you encouraged to pursue what you love/loved?

Very much so., I started A Levels at school doing Geography, Biology, Art and Sport. I did a year but I knew in my heart it wasn't where I wanted to be, and I didn't really know where I was going with it. I went home one day and told my mum I wanted to go to Art School, rather than sending me back to school she took me to Hastings Art School the next day with my portfolio and got me enrolled on the First Diploma course starting a week later, the rest is history and without that support I would have never of got to where I am now.


7) What's your favourite part of your job?

Being creative & problem solving


8) Do you work long hours?

8 hours a day, with the odd late night


9) How has your career developed?

After working hard I left Uni with a 2:1 and a good portfolio, I had many numerous interviews and I was offered a job. I started as a Junior designer and after a few years of learning new computer skills, programs, typography skills and how the real world worked in design,  I worked on a pitch for the juice drink Five Alive and the client picked my design and that really kick started my career, over the years I then became a middle weight designer, a senior designer and now I am a design director looking after the junior designers that I once was!


10) Is there anything else career wise you would like to achieve?

No, I could go on to own my own company or indeed part own the company I work at now but it's a stressful and highly competitive industry.


11) Do you have any advice or wise words for me?

Work hard, always be as creative as you can, imagination is everything, think outside the box, take inspiration from what's around you, listen and absorb knowledge from people with experience and always be prepared to take criticism it will push you further.

The Final Workshop of the Challenge!

Today the final workshop took place. 

Ami arrived and we set up the table and equipment ready for the arrival of the first student which was Melissa.

Here's how it went with Melissa

First I ran her through all the tools that she would need to use on Photoshop. Then I showed her from my notebook my own *how to remember photoshop drawings*. I requested that she copied them down too so it would help her. Then she started to colour her character using photoshop with me overseeing. She did need help occasionally from me which I gave but other than that she was really good. Melissa grasped the use of the tools quickly.

Next up was Callum

Callum arrived about half an hour later than Melissa, as planned. This worked really well and the timing was just about right. I repeated the steps above with Callum. Callum didn't need that much tuition with using the  basic photoshop tools as he had previous experience. However, there were still things he didn't know how to do so I was able to demonstrate and guide him. Callum did really well.

Amber

The last student should have been Amber, my sister, but instead of carrying out this final step on the same day with Amber, I decided to make other use of my time with having Ami (my mentor) here to plan the final stages of the challenge.  Amber will do this last part under my leadership on another day.

Yuniku Girls

These are the Yuniku girls!

 Kaia-Mai on the far left

  Elizabeth in the centre left

  Blossum in the centre right and 

  Koneko on the far right

 Kaia-Mai:

Kaia-Mai is a fiery tempered girl who got kicked out of her old school thanks to her temper but now has been accepted into The School Of Majikku. She trys to keep her temper and turn over a new leaf but in the end things don't turn out to well for her...

She has never really had friends before as she can be very intimidating with her bad moods and no one likes to approach her.

Kaia-Mai is very lazy and tends to be late to a number of things. Luckily for her she can move almost as fast as a forest fire. Sadly this wasn't fast enough for her first day at Majikku

 Elizabeth:

Elizabeth is a rather mysterious and mischievous girl who often spends her time alone in the shade of a big black oak tree in the school field. She loves to gossip and learn about the big secrets of the school. Most of the time she'll send her spooky spy friends to listen in on others conversations!

She doesn't tend to speak a lot to the other girls at the school. She just listens a lot. She finds just by listening to someone you can find out so much about them.

Elizabeth is very organised and neat. You'll never find her in a mess! She always makes sure she looks dead straight and perfect with no creases and folds in her outfit.

 Blossum:

Blossum is a generally a very happy enthusiastic girl but sometimes she can get very emotional. She has quiet a few fears and worries and when they all bubble up too much it just makes her want to cry a rainstorm! She really has trouble controlling her emotions.

She loves to socialise but finds it hard to find the right sort of people. At most schools there are bullies and many people all trying to fit in. Blossum is not one of those people who really fits in to the school society.

Blossum cares a lot about the planet and trys her hardest to protect it. For her, nature is a part of her, a part of who she is.

  Koneko:

Koneko is a bubbly girl who adores cats. She loves anything cute. She often eats a bit to many sweet things and goes very hyper VERY FAST! Though she is a bit crazy she does have a calm side and loves to sleep and snuggle up in soft things.

She always wants to make friends with people. She doesn't have a best friend or anything though, she just likes to be around anyone really and is never bothered if people find her annoying or weird!

Koneko is always very happy and childish. She is very accepting of other peoples differences. She is a Purr-fect friend to hang out with and loves going on little adventures.