Evaluation. Now bring on the third year!

Upon finishing my second year, I had pre-arranged a work placement at a Design studio in Brighton. I had a week off before starting what was essentially the beginning of my final year, as I knew that the experience would influence my life and my career as a whole.

Crush were a studio within the town of Brighton, near where I live in Sussex. They offer a range of professional skills within the field of Graphic Design, and I hoped to learn a lot about the industry through them as I wanted to begin my career in a studio of a similar size. There were some interesting things going on there, some projects that I would most certainly have been interested in taking upon for my own portfolio.

However soon after beginning my placement there, I began to sense and notice that there was a restriction on their creativity. I'm sure that they were capable of coming up with really interesting and strong solutions although it seemed as though their clients credentials for briefs were holding them back from doing what was potentially some really strong graphic design.

When I had finished my time there I was severely lacking in confidence in myself and what my purpose in life was. Is this what Graphic Design has been all about all along? Have the skills and abilities I have been nurturing on my course been a complete waste of time? Could I do this for a living?

No. No & No. I've realised now that I don't wish to work in a design studio like theirs, as I don't feel that it was right for me. The environment was great but there was a limit to creativity, above all I don't know exactly what to be honest. The skills I have developed on my course have not gone to waste because they are skills for life, including the ability to question and break briefs. Making something dull exciting.

If I do go into Graphic Design post graduation, I want to be involved in a company that takes on open-minded clients, who can be creative and showcase beautiful work. In that sense, I will complete this course and feel very proud of myself.

I now want to develop my skills as a layout specialist for web and magazine design. I have been learning dreamweaver and will be taking taught sessions this year in developing these skills as to become someone with the ability to be useful for more clients in contemporary design.

Also, looking for work placements this year as a means to bulk up my CV and show that I am not a moron with a degree, come this time next year. So if you're a company looking for some extra keen under-graduate talent and you're interested in my work... feel free to contact me!

I'm still heavily interested in clear, clean and corporate style design. It's something thats a part of me now, and I think it's going to stay this way. I'm writing my dissertation on Helvetica... what does that say about me? hehe


Here's to the 3rd year and beyond....