This is the general format i have used. Obviously i have tailored them to the companies work that i have found on their Websites as a point of direct acknowledgment of their core business.
Dear Sir or Madam
My name is Anthony Wheeldon and i am a mature student presently studying graphic design at Stockport College on level 2 of the BA(hons) Design and Visual Arts degree. As part of my present module i am required to present my portfolio to companies within the graphic design industry and would like to ask if you would be interested in giving me a portfolio visit. It would greatly help that you could give me this opportunity to discuss my portfolio with you as your understanding of what is required can help me evolve my understanding of what companies like yourselves look for within a students portfolio. I look forward to your reply
Regards Anthony Wheeldon
I have found that i have not received any interest or replies as yet so i decided to try the tried and tested method of phoning companies and asking if a visit would be possible which i found far more successful and i managed to get the two visits necessary.
I approached Paramount Press Pepper road Hazel Grove and spoke to Rob Shaw the works/production manager and he agreed to a portfolio visit on 23rd April. I found this a helpful experience and having worked at the company under a different name it was formally Qualitech i was familiar with many of the staff with whom i had previously worked with. My portfolio was well received and Rob was particularly impressed with the variety of projects that i have engaged with in particular the Howies tea shirt project. Over all this was a good positive visit with no negative feed back.
For my second visit i phoned The British Council in Manchester and arranged to visit Andrea Ward who is the print buyer for the company. I visited her on 18th April and having printed many jobs for them in the past Andrea was quite fascinated by my ability to be creative from spending most of my life running printing machines. Again this proved to be a positive visit and with a particular interest in the photography that i have included in my portfolio. She did comment that i should work on getting more variety as i develop my portfolio more but liked the layout and described it as looking very professional in the charcoal case.
All in all i think both visits were helpful and positively received. Both companies showed an interest in the change of path i have taken.
