Life!

I think that over the last few years

i've spent my life observing people

rather than being with them. Maybe that is the

path to becoming a grumpy old man. However

we are allowed to ponder!

Yeah think im getting that grumpy old man thing

and really, its not too bad:)

I love people and how they look so i guess

this is a tribute to my fellow human beings:)

Who always inspire me.

Look and watch

I found these pics funny and also appropriate for

this tittle, see the faces:)

If you can not imagine a guy sticking his tongue out wearing glasses:)

Often as creatives we do have the fundamental floor of

just doing the things we need to.

Who's the wiedo in the right hand corner?

I hope I have crossed that

barrier now, This has been the most interesting area of

my professional development. During my final

year of my studies it has become apparent to me that

during the second year of my

studies I needed to develop my design

in a way that I felt comfortable with and that

is not meant in a totally subjective way it's

just that I often find that my ideas get blocked

with confusion due to my thought direction.

Maybe this is just me finding a voice

and getting over that block I that often descends

on my brain. So I guess that I can say that during

the previous months of my final year I'm learning

to play to what I believe are my strengths and that

is keeping it simple!

Patterns

WEDNESDAY, 22 DECEMBER 2010

Patterns

I have found that during my recent study

patterns have increasingly influenced my

design thinking. It is mainly through the

environment, the little things like pavements

and lines on buildings. This sort of aesthetic

helps my thinking and generally the kind of

work I produce tends to reflect on my observations.

I do believe that this sort of observation does

allow my thinking to be revealed throughout

my creative work and helps me focus although

it is rather linear and does restrict my development

as a graphic designer. I do hope to improve this

aspect of my design attitude in the following semester.

Here are a few examples of my patterns.

Portfolio Visits

This has been an interesting journey for me

and one that I was not particularly looking

forward to as I feel a little embarrassed about

my age. During the three visits that I have had

I have found that as long as my work fits the

criteria then I really do not have too worry too

much about my age. This has been a welcome

relief although I am sure time will be the big

provider of the truth. I do need to introduce

more design work into my portfolio so I have

included my latest project here.

I think that this is a general concern with all

mature students which can only be natural. Having

a previous successful career in the printing

industry it is a worry of where do I go from here

but I cannot be too reflective at this moment in time.

The art of being nosey!

This probably is one of my more left field approaches

to information gathering, however it does pay to have

an inquisitive mind. Often the most interesting stuff

is just over the horizon and slightly out of sight.

During my studies I have always tried to take the trouble

to look a little further, you know cross the odd barrier

to get a different perspective. Here are some examples of

me crossing the odd barrier!

Alexandra Rodchenko (1891-1956)

This artist has had the largest influence on

my photographic thinking since I visited an

exhibition of his work in Barcelona in 2008.

He was an amazingly dynamic artist and his

ability to show a new vision and method was

revolutionary during the 1920's and 1930's.

He invented 'the death of painting' as he once

described.

Gone now forever were the mundane elite, repetitive

and some what mundane repetitions of

landscapes and people. A new dynamic angular

observation was now attained by the new influences

of Europe and America. A new aesthetic was born

one that would produce the new visual language

that until today is graphic design.

My interest even got me to purchase a book written

by his grandson that cost £120 every penny well spent.

I think is it obvious in the work I produce that his

work has had a pertinent influence on my thinking.

Here some examples of the photography I have taken

due to the great mans influence on my work.

Keep It Simple

This has been an interesting area of

my professional development. It became

apparent to me during the second year of my

studies that I needed to develop my design

in a way that I felt comfortable with and that

is not meant in a totally subjective way it's

just that I often find that my ideas get blocked

with confusion due to my thought direction.

Maybe this is just me finding a voice

and getting over that block I that often descends

on my brain. So I guess that I can say that during

the previous months of my final year I'm learning

to play to what I believe are my strengths and that

is keeping it simple.

Fears

Yes this area needs addressing!

During my studies on my degree I have always

had a fear of how limited my creative flare has

been due to my lack of ability to master the creative

software. It really has hindered me at times so I

do find I try and work around it. I have found it

hard when I panic that I do not have the computer

skills to do rather simple things and it is embarrassing

when I have to pester one of my colleagues to help me.

I must say that the more I work on the software the

better I perform and this has been especially true

for the recent project I have worked on 'the con artist'

where I have used a piece of software completely alien

to me Adobe Premier. What really helped me here

was the students in multi-media who bent over backwards

to help me and my understanding of the process became

much more aware of what I was doing. Really enjoyed the help

from Rick and the students in multi-media.

Pixies in the Cellar

Well I finally got around to my third portfolio visit that seemed a distant possibility two weeks previous! pixiesinthecellar is based in Stalybridgepredominately a graphic design company although Peter Farrel who is Pixies is also an artist and photographer. I worked with Peter several yearsago and we have kept in contact since.Basically we met for a coffee in Manchester and I took along my portfoliowhich he hasn't seen in my third year. I sent him my Bloomberg projectand he was very impressed and described it as being 'very Ant'.To be honest Peter is always very complimentary about my work buthe always says to me that I am an artist rather than purely being adesigner. Peter was interested about what the college does to encourageour path into industry. I explained about personal professional developmentto which he was interested in, relaxed and positive discussion.We discussed working on a photographic display together in the new yearand to possibly approach a gallery to show it something in the lineof social dis rest a subject we both have an interest in.

True Creative

Today I visited truecreative.co.uk at the

Towers in Didsbury Manchester. They are

primarily a graphic design business but

have branched out into other areas of creativity

in recent years. I was met by one of the companies

senior designers Mark Rowe who was interested

in my career as a printer.

Mark said that recently they had employed a young

man mainly because he had a printing background,

as they have had problems due to their lack of

understanding of print. This he believed would be

of great importance to me in the future which was

rather encouraging too hear.

We discussed my portfolio and we both agreed

that more graphic design was needed although he

did like the layout and presentation and also the

flick book.

Again this was a positive and interesting meet and

Mark asked me to keep in touch and suggested

we could meet for a beer sometime in the new year.

Presentation Skills

This particular issue within the life of

a professional visual communicator became

pertinent to me today after our end of semester

show. Having the advantage of knowing the importance

of presentation it has never become so obvious

to me of the importance of displaying your own

work well as it did today.

This is especially true when working alone as

you do not have that second pair of eyes to aid you.

I found that through not fault of my own I needed to get

several reprints done which affected my time planning.

I did eventually get my exhibition up and apart from one

error of size by the print department it visually reached

the level I set out to achieve.

I was actually surprised that some of the students didn't

seem too concerned with the display and found that

they spent more time on their work where as others excelled

and made the effort to present well. This has taught me

a great deal on the importance to always make that effort

and always present well!

Central Station

I visited the Richey Goohall Library in Manchester

Last week to view the most recent project by the

iconic Manchester design agency centralstationdesign.

Anyone who is familiar with Stockport College

will who they are as they have probably meet if

not have been taught by the Manchester designer

Pat Caroll.

Pat gave me sound advise when I studied on the

foundation course at Stockport that I should study

on the graphic design degree rather than my preferred

choice at the time which was photography.

After a discussion with Pat last week he encouraged

me to visit the exhibition and view the images

displayed.

centralstationdesign were commissioned by Coronation

Street too produce 25 images of the series hero's

as part of their 50 years celebration of being on our

tv screen.

Typically Pa, Matt and Karen set about this project

in their style. They all have a great interest in the

big screen posters of Hollywood and Bollywood

in particular those produced for Hollywood in the

1930's and 1940's.

I particularly liked the use of colour and texture and

the retro feel of the paintings. Very obviously

with the centralstationdesign flavour to the images

they make you feel rather jealous as to their longevity.

A very interesting and influential display which I am

sure will lead the company from strength to strength.

Hopes, fears and opportunities

As part as my professional development I raised

my concerns with James my tutor as to where I

may fit in the design industry.

We discussed that if and when I may get a portfolio visit

that it would be possible to raise such issues and

include as part of my PDP.

I visited www.thechase.co.uk on Friday of last week and they

were more than welcoming to discuss such concerns

with me which proved to be of great benefit to my

confidence.

My main concern has always been my age and how I

may stand against young students and if this would affect

my career prospects.

Richard Scholey creative director at www.thechase.co.uk

and a senior designer named Stuart were the guys whom

discussed this with me.

They suggested this would not be a problem for me

although they pointed out that I would have to start on

a junior salary. This obviously I do understand and

it is not an issue as I getting the chance of a career in

design would be a major step forward.

So on this journey of mine I felt this was a very positive

step forward and if the placement that they suggested to

me comes off in the new year, well, I certainly could

not ask for more than that from a company as well regarded as

the chase.

The Chase

Yesterday afternoon I had a portfolio visit

to The Chase which is one of Manchester's

premier design companies. www.thechase.co.uk is

situated in a very nice building and the studio

is fitting for a prestigious design company.

My visit was to see Richard Scholey, Creative Director

and a designer called Stuart.

We had a discussion about where I would

stand in the industry and Richard was confidant

that my age would not be a problem which was

some what a relief to me. I must say I was a little

negative about my portfolio but surprisingly they

rather liked it. They felt that I needed more design work

and on the strength of that they would not offer me

a job on my portfolio.

They suggested that I was a fine photographer which

was nice to hear and that there was a lot of intelligent

thinking behind my work. Richard suggested that a

placement would be of benifit to me and Stuart asked

me to email him to arrange something for the new year.

Which was a pleasant surprise. Richard said that he

particularly liked my book covers, they were skillfully

produced and i needed to include more of such in the portfolio.

I was rather surprised that they offered me a placement opportunity

and it has done my confidence much good for future visits

overall a pleasant experience.

Different Approach

WEDNESDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2010

Different Approach

For this semester after a discussion with

James my tutor it was decided that a less formal

approach would be more appropriate. This

is the approach that was applied;

Hello

I would love to get your opinion on where a mature student (age 42)

currently studying for a degree in graphic design might fit into the design industry.

I have 23 year experience in the printing industry (but I don't want to go back there!)

I would be really grateful for 15 minutes of your time – or by you a coffee

Really keen to get some informed opinion (Im not looking for a job)

just your advice

Yours Faithfully

Anthony Wheeldon

I must say I was a little surprised by this

less formal method as i had always been

encouraged to be formal. However it has proved

to be successful and provided me with 2

visits including one to one of the areas best

design agencies The Chase.

Come design with me.

"Come Design With Me" was a night designed to

get past students and some members of industry

together along with ourselves and our tutors.

It was a relaxed and reflective evening in which

refreshments were provided. I found a very pertinent

point being that we all noticed the void and sense

of 'being in the real world' that recent graduates

expressed.

This has proved a difficult time for many of them

and especially for those who have worked over seas

for a period, as the recession is obviously still alive and

kicking with many recent graduates becoming disillusioned.

We started the night by splitting into two

large groups that were split between present students

and graduates. One particularly interesting point

that came across was the rate of change of

their portfolios a constantly evolving and important

archive for our futures.

They outline to my group the difficulties in finding

work and at my age this does concern me. Mike

graduated last summer and he was a good example

of finding work rapidly but he soon realized that

although he had found employment at prestigous

brand "Manchester United" it was not full filling

his creative requirements having producing his own

working in the very creative environment of the

classroom. This issue was expressed by several of

the graduates and one to be mind full of.

I do believe that this evening related well to

our "Hopes and Fears" essay as it will prove to

be a good eye opening exercise for us in the

following few months. All a little daunting

but that's life.