Friday, 18 January 2013

Unit 16 Designing Accessory Briefs


Unit 16 Designing Accessory Briefs &
 Unit 2 & 3 Visual Communication

For our first unit we had to create an accessory for a chosen celebrity, I decided to create an accessory for Marc Bolan, his unique Gibson Les Paul, which was made of cardboard and paper. For unit 2 & 3 we had to make a ceramic of a toy, and then add a couple together in a totem shape to make our final design. Here are some sketches, ideas and designs that developed into my final pieces.















Thursday, 17 January 2013

What Makes A Good Interview?

What Makes A Good Interview?

There are certain points that make a good interview and there are some things that will not impress the interviewer. The candidate must show that they are confident and enthusiastic, this will make the interviewer think that you want the job and that you will be a hard worker.

The candidate must remain calm and confident throughout the interview or else the interviewer might think they cant cope during difficult situation. The candidate should present the interviewer with lots of information, they should explain what their previous job was if they had one, and explain if they enjoyed that job, what it taught them and what skills from that job could you apply to this one. Being well mannered and friendly is important in an interview as the candidate must be polite to the interviewer. A candidate must act formal, the interviewer is looking for someone who looks professional. 

Remember, candidates should sit properly and not cross their legs or arms, this looks defensive towards the interviewer. Do not turn up late for an interview, this will not impress them and they might think the candidate is not bothered about the job. It is rude if the candidate's phone rings in the interview, it is even worse to answer it. If the candidate does not act polite and enthusiastic then the interviewer will not consider hiring them.

Candidates must have all the equipment needed for an interview, they will need to show the interviewer their CV and other various information, they should also bring their portfolio if the interviewer requires it. The candidate should present themselves as a unique individual, that is different compared to other candidates. The interviewer will expect the candidate to answer appropriately to their questions, sometimes the interviewer might ask the candidate questions off topic, maybe something personal which will give the interviewer an idea of your interests or personality. Candidates should always be prepared before entering an interview, it is important to remain organised while in an interview.

Friday, 11 January 2013

Advice For Your Portfolio

Advice For Your Portfolio

You should remember that to make your portfolio unique you could present each piece of work in a different way, this could be through the layout or design of your work. A major strength for a portfolio is to have a sketchbook, it looks more professional if you present the work in a book. Keep in mind that you must annotate your work or else no one will know what your work is about, the same goes for research.

You could come up with a range of ideas on how your final designs would look for your portfolio, you could design them into a poster or advert rather than a drawing. Idea sheets are really important as you will need them for your final design which will go into your portfolio, without an idea sheet you wont be able to develop your work and your skills. You can mount your work on white card to make it look neat and professional, it works very well with graphics. If you are to do this remember to use Spray Mount, this is different to glue as it does not stick to your work and tear its removed, it sticks well and doesn't make a mark, unlike pritt sticks.

An average portfolio costs £100, this is because of the work inside, the equipment used to make that portfolio as well as the case. It is important to be clear about the unit title when explaining the work, as you don' want your work to get mixed up, this links in with organisation and preparation.


What Should a Portfolio Show?

What Should a Portfolio Show?

What are clients looking for in a portfolio & why is sketchbook important?

Things like; invention creativity, uniqueness, organisation, confidence, commitment, enthusiasm are all important in a portfolio.

To present drawings effectively & to show your commitment to your work you should use a sketchbook.

Why is the order of the portfolio important?

To show you're organised and care about your work, it makes it easy for people to look at your and find what stands out.

What can a portfolio do for you?

It can show people what sort of things you can do, for example; experimentation, creativity and effort. It is important in interviews as it shows what your capable of, it shows the artistic abilities you have and the confidence of your work. It can get you further educationally and develop your skills as an artist.

What should a portfolio be?

A portfolio should be organised and show that you care about your work. It must show that you are; confident, creative, talented, enthusiastic and committed etc.


Preparing a Portfolio

Preparing a Portfolio

What type of drawing is the most important & what work could you put into the portfolio?

One that shows your creative and technical skills and shows your confidence, it needs to be unique and should stand out. It shows evidence of your primary research and should have a substantial amount of information.

Drawings, research and information is important in a portfolio as it makes it look neat. You should put in work, which represents you, it should show various skills you have and the variety of techniques that you use in your work, you should also put in work which you think is your best.

Why is it important to have an organised portfolio & what makes a good portfolio?

It is easier to flick through and it shows your commitment to your work if you organise it, the neatness of your work and how tidy it is can make your work stand out.

Skill is important, as you need skill to understand different techniques. Experimentation is a good way to show your knowledge of these techniques. Enthusiasm is important as it shows how confident and committed your are to your work. Confidence helps you to be more creative and experiment more, which is needed to put your ideas on paper.

What should you not & what could you put into a portfolio?

Work that is not your own, a piece of work that does not show the requirements needed in a portfolio.
You could put in a variety of work, it could be drawings, graphics etc. It did not contain information of research , which is needed in the portfolio.

Could you improve on a portfolio?

If you think that your portfolio is lacking in quality, then check if there is enough information and research, try to prepare and organise your portfolio carefully.

The Purpose of A Portfolio

The Purpose of A Portfolio

The purpose of a portfolio is to show what you are capable of; it helps you in interviews if you were to apply for an art course in college, art based jobs etc. A portfolio needs to be organised as it shows your commitment and care for your work; it also makes it easier for someone to look at your work. It can contain anything that represents you as an individual, it can show people your creative and technical skills, it should have your favourite pieces of work you have done and should look neat.

In an interview people would want to see experimentation, what you have come up with by yourself and your skill. Your drawings should contain evidence of primary research and a variety of techniques which you use to draw. A range of ideas is important in a portfolio as this shows your creativity. You must also have confidence in your work and should put effort into it, this will stand out in your portfolio.

You need a substantial amount of research in your portfolio to understand what it's about, also include annotations and illustrations, you should explain what your drawings are, whether they are landscapes, portraits, pen and ink drawing etc. Your work also needs to be unique and contain your own work, don't copy someone else's ideas. Invention is also a way of letting others know that you have skill when it comes to creating your own ideas.

A portfolio promotes you and shows your capabilities, you can also have an online portfolio which further shows your commitment and confidence in your work. Your portfolio should make an interviewer understand your interests and your personality, you should put in what you think stands out and represents you.

You need a wide variety of ideas and skills that can make your portfolio look good, you can use the portfolio to describe your favourite bits of art and why you are interested in art. The portfolio must show the interviewer that you are enthusiastic and confident, your portfolio won't look as good if you don't show you want the job/course etc. Prepare your portfolio carefully and consider what makes a good portfolio and the purpose of a portfolio.