Wednesday 22 December 2010

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!

Tuesday 21 December 2010

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.

Monday 20 December 2010

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.

Thursday 16 December 2010

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!

Tuesday 14 December 2010

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.

Saturday 11 December 2010

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.

Wednesday 8 December 2010

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.