Practitioners Report

Over the past year we have had my creative’s visit the college to give us lectures about their career and experience within the industry. I have decided to compare and contract mike Rigby of the chase and Louise Vormitagg of container plus. I have decided to discuss these two individuals as they approach design in different ways but still have similar thoughts on the industry.

Mike Rigby of the chase has studied design for 4 years and worked for many well known design companies including pentagram London, mark studio, true north and Interbrand Australia. Mike’s career is dedicated to graphic design in a way of designing for brands and advertising. Mike believes graphic design helps give people a voice. Mike explained that a job in design can be competitive, long hours, and lots of pressure. Mike also believes design can have negatives effects on the environment this is due to over packaging and also believes we are contributing to consumerism. Louise has studied design for 7 years and has worked amongst the company container plus which was created in 2002.

At the time, Louise and her friends thought it would be beneficial to merge their styles and strengths as they felt integrating would provide more services. Container plus enjoy designing within the environment and actually hand make and produce on set design. Louise enjoys designing in this way as she feels making things by hand give a different quality. I find the difference between mike and Louise quite interesting not only because they practice design in different ways but mike has been more of a independent designer throughout his career. Louise has worked within container plus which would be a different atmosphere. Working at container plus Louise feels she has become more of a manager than a ‘doer’ which she believes is a shame.

When it comes to inspiration, like myself Louise doesn’t like to look at very well known people and likes to look in a variety of places. Louise explained she can find inspiration from a single conversation. One similarity I noticed between both practitioners is that they both find it important to have breaks from the industry. Mike decided to rejuvenate his design for design by traveling to south east Asia, Vietnam, Australia and many more. He then felt the time had come to get back into what he enjoyed most- design. Louise believes that container plus work so well because they have breaks from each other and keep their work and private life separate. Louise believes that it is important to ‘test’ people out before you collaborate and make sure they are reliable with the same commitment.

At the beginning of mikes career his starting out salary was £13,000 and mike stated that he wouldn’t work for less. Even being in the industry a long time Louise still finds herself having to do other jobs to bring more money in as the design side isn’t too reliable. When it comes to attitude towards your work and other people mike and Louise have similar views. Mike believes that rejection is all part of design. No doesn’t mean you are not good enough, you may just not be right for that company. Mike expressed that you needs to take a professional pride in everything you do and if you don’t get a job straight away you need to keep yourself interested by keep doing briefs. Ask yourself why you are doing it, are you committed? However, having confidence is different to arrogance. Louise believes that putting yourself first within a group does not work. And suggests that for the good of the group there is no room for egos.

On conclusion of both practitioners approach to design I found mikes lecture very honest, humourous and inspiring. He made me realize that there is no rush and you need to enjoy what you are doing and keep yourself committed. I found Louise’s lecture and presentation very interesting because her approach to design was very different. I find handmade design fantastic and I would like to bring more handmade elements into my own design work in the future.

Images taken from: http://www.containerplus.co.uk and http://www.thechase.co.uk/homepage/index.php

Practitioners Report

Over the past year we have had many guest speakers attend the college to give us their thoughts and opinions about the design industry and their experience. Due to graduate soon, we recently had a different type of lecture by Mike Carter who works at Orchard Recruitment who specialize in the design and advertising area. 

I decided to discuss lectures by Mike Rigby (The Chase) and Mike Carter because Mike Carter gave us advice on how to get into the industry and Mike Rigby advised us what to do once in the industry.

Both Mike Carter and Mike Rigby believe that design is a very competitive area. Mike Carter states that there are as many as 456,000 students studying design and there could only be as little as 49,188 actually doing it. Both believe that being a good designer is only a small part of the job. Mike Carter explains that enthusiasm, commitment and determination are just as important.

Mike Carter discussed CV and interview techniques during his lecture and explained that once in the industry you can look to expect £12-14,000 in your first year. Mike Rigby explained in his lecture that he started out on £13,000 and stated he would not work for less. 

It can also be said that rejection is part of design. Mike Rigby sympathetically explained that no doesn't mean you are not good enough it just means you may not fit. Mike Carter believes that your CV has to get people to contact YOU and you have 3 seconds to communicate what  you want to say. If being turned down for placement or employment Mike C believes it is important to keep a positive attitude. Agreeing, Mike R believes you need keep yourself intrested, and to keep doing design briefs. The important thing is to ask yourself why you are doing it, and are you commited?