Thursday 15 November 2012

Secret Agent Wilcock

The Foundation Degree came into existence simply because in the days of Higher National Diploma, all we had on offer was a Two & Two - that's two years at Wigan School for the Arts and two years at a university to gain BA(Hons). But many students didn't want four years higher education and went straight to their chosen university - only to discover the huge difference in the contact time with lecturers and the effect it had on their study.

HND was very much hands-on, at university students had to email or phone to book an appointment with your lecturer. So it wasn't surprising that 25% of students who went to university failed to complete their course.

In changing to a Foundation Degree, from the outset it was the editors priority to raise the academic level of students joining the course and drill into them the dedication and effort needed to succeed without losing that personal touch. Hard work never hurt anyone but so many thought all they had to do was turn up and they'd make it into the industry.

It's just not like that. In the first year of FD seven of the group wanted to continue to the University of Salford to complete their study. One was offered a single year on Design Futures - but decided against it and is now a creative director in a company housed in MediaCity. Another was offered a single year in Advertising - but didn't enrol. His colleague was offered two years Advertising, but they decided to head in a different direction. A third student who wanted to study Illustration didn't enrol after being offered a two year opportunity.

But three students did arrive. Matt Page wanted two years in Motion Graphics to study the software and develop the new skills in this area of a changing industry, which he achieved and is now doing brilliantly - having launched his own company to rival his study. Emma and Jordan were offered two years with Robert studying Graphic Illustration - they are doing really well too. I can't wait to see their final show.

But for the editor there are too many 'Two Years'!

During FD Green's time at WSA everyone worked diligently to get the standards and amount of work to a higher level. Encouragingly the University have asked that recommendations are given as to the quality of work and whether the student heading their way would, in the editors opinion, be able to 'hack-it'.
Janine (on the right) discusses development with her third year colleagues at the University.
Two of the group especially stood out. One, who was always late for everything, couldn't make up their mind - the other grabbed the opportunity of a single year in Graphic Communication with both hands. Working alongside the third year tutor Tash, Janine Wilcock has taken on the role of a WSA Guinea Pig! 

It's come as little surprise to the editor that Janine has integrated easily into the group and what is more, enjoying it too! In conversation Janine said she had recently come back from The Behance Portfolio Reviews in the Northern Quarter. And that she had a really good long chat with John Owens from Instruct, a regular contributor to industrial talks at the University who went through her portfolio giving constructive criticism and key points to consider. To quote Janine "I got such a buzz from it all, just loving every minute of it!" It appeared that the editor got mentioned a couple of times when chatting with John - ah, fame travels!

On one occasion Janine and her group met in a bar called Night & Day in the Northern Quarter to have their University critique. From there they went on to met a guy involved in running 22NQ magazine who gave the group positive feedback - brilliant - real world experience. 

So, the link has been made, two years on FD followed by a single year at the University's premier graphic course and not for one moment has she been out of her depth. 

Janine has set the benchmark that those currently studying in their second year on the FD course must reach - anything less and the specter of 'TWO' returns - and in these days of increased fees no one wants to double up on university costs.  

You're a trail-blazer Janine!!! Below the star at (final year) work.

Sunday 14 October 2012

Industry-comes-a-calling : FD2

Picture this . . . the editor and course leader from Pre-degree Foundation scurrying around the corridors and receptions of a local 6th form school, but have come to the conclusion no matter what, they can't find any pop-up stands, any literature . . . not even a 'gonk' pen as a freebee to entice pupils at their schools open evening on to the Wigan & Leigh stand (empty space).

If it hadn't been for their wit and 'roll your sleeves up' attitude it may have been a disaster. But as it was the three hours just flew past and as a result the editor met an industry professional, there with his son and the start of a mutually beneficial relationship began.

Cleverly (editorial comment) at the start of the year, the course leader asked FD2 to indicate which of the several pathways through the University of Salford they intended to follow. Graphic communicator, illustrator, advertiser,  new media . . . and then built the first brief for the Design & Production module to include team working.

In groups of three with each student following a different design discipline five design consultancies were formed. Their task was to select a product/company/service and rebrand. The start of that rebrand required a proposal as to why the group had decided to tackle a new look and what they hoped to achieve.

In no particular order the selected projects aim to rebrand Henney's Cider, RyanAir, Bose, The Woodland Trust and a Powerade 6 Pack.

It's essential in the learning process that students put their professional heads on and there is no better way of achieving this than suggesting that their proposal will be inspected by the business and their final solution will be presented to a design practitioner.

Each group submitted their proposal to the editor, and once happy with the content forwarded to the design professional met at the school open evening. Enter Tony Lythgoe.

From the left : Matt, Tom, Chris, Tom, Emily, Emma, Melissa, Jemma, Tony Lythgoe, Danny, Josh, Dec, Adam & Ryan. Missing from the grilling Anthony, Natasha & Josh.
Via a slightly dubious lunch break in a local hostelry, on his return, Tony invited each group to present their ideas and commented upon their proposal asking some very searching questions. With some surprise at his knowledge of their work so far, each of the group discussed their proposal, took into consideration Tony's industry reasoning, on the move forward and to answer questions that some have over looked.

The following day the editor caught up with the groups to gauge their reaction to the previous days presentation. Every one acknowledged the benefit of talking 'shop' with the business.

Time to develop the rebrand further - to make those 'calls', to get tighter as a group - one of the issues Tony identified was in places the glue was a little thin - and as a Team consider all the debated actions.

Tony will be back in mid December to judge the final solution - in the meantime, his 'door' is open should any of the group wish to run further suggestions past him. Brilliant.  

Sunday 30 September 2012

Up-and-Running!

Four weeks in and we have 10 FD1 and 16 FD2 students and the change in the second years is already very clear to see. The group all headed off to the University of Salford a week last Wednesday for Industry Day, several lectures by seasoned professionals, both designers and illustrators.

To get the first years Up-and-Running, following a day of FD ethos and loads of paperwork the group headed off to Tate Liverpool for the Turner, Monet & Twombly exhibition - what a shame visitors cannot take images in the gallery. There was a fleeting appearance from one student who thought the challenge was too much and so decided not to remain onboard.

Wigan to Liverpool is an hour long journey on an ever increasingly busy train, squeezing through the standstone cut tunnels before emerging into the editors home town station . . . that have been the start of many-a-journey.
FD1 from left to right : Becky, half hidden Chloe, Rosie, Sophie before another fall, Naomi, Beth, Karl, JoshW, JoshD,
the departed Mr Hodkinson and Matty
Arriving at Lime Street station the group wandered through Liverpool 1, via the Apple Mac shop  - and a play with all the latest 'must-haves', then down to Albert Dock. There was a minor 'medical' but on the whole once inside the 'hushed' caverns of the old warehouse the day took on a different complextion.

So it's time to stand an look. Three very different and yet unusually three quite similar exhibits on show. The editor visited the Turner exhibition at Tate Britain several years ago but hadn't viewed this work of Monet or seen anything by Twombly. It was all new for the group and it was great to see them wandering and discussing and considering . . . shame the day is over so quick.


Friday 17 August 2012

. . . and it starts all over again!

Place : Studio 201. Activity : the new second years go to work!

Last year, Matt and Swaddy from FDOrange, who had finished their course came back in and helped the editor rebuild the studio after their exhibition. That was a first - as usually the editor has to lug the boards and tables about himself.

But as ever you can't please everyone and one or two aired their concerns over the build. So, being a diplomatic sort the editor invited those who had other ideas to come back into the studio to arrange their working environment.

On Tuesday only half the class arrived, several didn't even respond to the invite - looks like the editor going to have to reintroduce his favourite word that the summer has removed from some of the groups memory . . . COMMUNICATE!

Big thanks to those who did arrive - in the picture below Emma/Adam/TomS/Chris/JoshH - out of camera Jemma/JoshA/Emily/Natasha.

Monday 13 August 2012

Another Year Over . . .


To say goodbye to a year we have to start at the beginning. Early September 2010, the second FD group - FDGreen. Very much an eclectic group - 11 from WSA and three from the outside world. Click the picture to meet the group.

Everyone sets off with the desire to reach the professional world of graphic design - in one form or another . . . but there are always casualties. The editor finds it particularly disappointing when talented artists and designers lose their focus and never quite fulfill their potential. By the end of the year we had lost four of the number . . . to catch up with FDGreen's final year and show visit 'Departed:2012'

Monday 25 June 2012

St John Rigby Show

'Tis the season for art shows . . . and twice within a few weeks the editor has ventured to other institutions (hmmm, sounds a little "one flew over the cuckoo nest" like that) to cast a 'critical' eye over the work on display. The first was MediaCity with all it's posturing and on Monday evening it was the more humble setting of St John Rigby 6th form college - which has over the last couple of years provided quite a number of FD students.
There was a completely different feel between Salford Quay's and Orrell as you'd expect. The community that the college is built around was obvious, with tablecloth covered tables, a barbecue doing great business, a quartet of musicians playing and an ice-cream van on one of the few sunny evenings in June handing out cornets and 99's!
The atmosphere was friendly, bustling, and full of pride in the students exhibition. One lad took the microphone and presented a very witty-ditty on The World Cup to those gathered - very good.
The art and design work, which is why the editor was there and not for the 'burger-on-a-bap' was quite excellent. A varied display of great illustrations, digital graphics, photography and effective use of multi-media.
Congratulations to all the staff and the students exhibiting for a great show set within a 'family' environment.

Media City

For the first time the University of Salford art & design show was launched at their expensive facility over in Media City. For the graphics department this was a pre-curser to the 'secret' show in Manchester's Northern Quarter. An impressive building and layout it was with mezzanine floors and a staircase to 'heaven' it would appear.
The editor happened to catch a couple of guys from Love Creative who were 'tweaking' up the quite amazing digital video board where by scanning the QR code and then following that to a website and clicking on 'draw' you could create a pattern on your mobile phone and send it to the bigger digital screen on display. Wow.
As ever there was a good exhibition of work from graphics, advertising, design futures and MINT - only thing lacking was people . . . maybe it was the driving rain.

End of Year Designs

Quite possibly the first time the world gets a chance to see how the new intake of FD students are progressing is when they have to exhibit their End of Year Show branding. Their designs are shown in the foyer at college for the rest of the Art School to select the theme. It's all done very democratic with voting slips and counted under the watchful eye of an impartial editor.
The brief is to design a poster, that is sent out to schools and colleges, invites that are sent out to applicants and VIPs and board tags that go on each exhibitors board.
Initially mood boards on art and design themes are created and the reasoning behind explained to FD2. From there, the suggestions of second year colleagues and staff drive the design forward until they eventually appear on display. Here is this years selection - with the winner in the centre with the reflection of the editor doing the snapping. Well done Chris Wordley . . . "there is only thing is missing"

Garden of Eden

So . . . the serpent deceived Eve into eating fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and all hell (literally) broke out. Adam persuaded by the woman also took a bite and when God said "what you two up to?" they blamed each other, the serpent and God himself. Unhappy at providing such a wonderful environment and then getting flack for it, God condemned man to a life of toil and woman to the pain of childbirth and chucked them out of the Garden! So he loses a rib and his 'Des-Res'.
Transport yourself forward a century or ten to London at the end of May 2012. Not so much the Garden of Eden but Covent Garden and our latter day Adam & Eve.
The award winning advertising agency visited by FD in 2011 who welcomed the group with open arms are facing temptation once again.
For the purpose of our Biblical comparison and probably wrongly cast as the serpent by the editor DDB came-a-calling to offer the couple untold 'fruit' to sample. In fact it looks like the take over could be a way of supporting what is reported in the advertising press as a 'flagging' DDB. Two of the creative directors at A&E Ben and Emer - who the group unluckily ran out of time to meet back in March left DDB to join A&E.
The three founders of A&E, Murphy, Golding and Priest seem to have secured decent high-ranking positions within the new Adam&Eve/DDB. Good friend of FD Graphics Mat Goff chief account executive in email conversation confirmed everyone the group had met was safe.
He was looking forward to the 'pretty powerful combination' taking the market by storm. Only downside, a move from their home in Shorts Gardens to Paddington - the editor could try (tenuously and in a contrived way) to link the aforementioned district of London to the Bear of the same name from Peru and that South American country's ManĂº National Park's biosphere reserve to the Garden of Eden . . . but perhaps not!

Making Good

Although each year students who have come through HND in the past or latterly FD go straight into industry, there are those who want to complete their education to BA(Hons).
In the final Higher National Diploma year (2010) two lads who both came to WSA from St John Rigby made that choice.
Will Rawson who often arrived in the studio pink faced having 'legged-it' from Swinley to make the 9.15 lock-out went on to the University of Salford for a two year top-up, James Davies went on to ManMet to complete his BA(Hons) graphics course. Both have achieved success, would admit the two years at WSA were essential to get them ready for the stresses of university. Will has completed his BA - and although at the time of going to press the editor is aware of his grade, there is still a little time before the result becomes official, James has also reached the end of his course but wants to go into teaching (don't do it James) and has applied to go to Hallam University to study for his PGCE. James had the ability, and was approached at his final show at WSA by industry to go straight into the big world of design, but decided not to . . . and although he dodges around what should be his natural progression he couldn't avoid being mentioned in D&AD 'dispatches' for an excellent piece of work. Come on James, don't fight it, industry, not education needs you! http://www.dandad.org/awards/student/2012/categories/18/graphic-design/08346/james-davies

Creative Wigan

Friday 2nd March : As usual on the last minute the editor and his helper Bertie Blair arrived at the Leigh Sports Village to be at the launch of a new website championing the creative talent pool that is Wigan armed with a college pop-up banner and pens to give away.
Anywhere were there is a champagne reception coupled with various pies has to be worth attending. The event which is to promote the use of local creatives by commerce within the Wigan postcode area was opened by Dave Guest off the BBC - it's right what 'they' say about TV putting weight on you - he's a lot slimmer than appears on screen. He was followed by Andy Burnham MP who was as confident as you'd expect and very supportive in promoting the initiative.
Next up was an old 'mate' of the editor. Casting his mind back to 1975 and Wigan Technical College graphic design courses in Library Street the editor recalled a guy in year three who was a roadie for a local group called 'Kettle' and getting into bother with Walt Disney. A larger than life character Winston Higham now the Chief Executive of JJB Fitness was full of stories of Wigan girls and his adventures within the business had the room in fits of laughter. He had to disappear soon after as a certain Mr Whelan was expecting him back behind his desk.
Already featured in the pages of this blog was the next guest speaker. Brian Cannon in body if not mind mused about the desire to succeed and the belief designers must have to reach the top.
Then another television personality and someone the editor has seen in the Fat Olive talked about team work. Phil Clarke the Sky Sports rugby frontman leant his support.
Although the idea of Creative Wigan has been the child of many eminent voices it wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the next speaker and friend of FD Graphics Will Bentley. His company BD2 who have welcomed FD Graphic students into their agency have created the website and continue to host.
The final speaker was the deputy leader of Wigan Council Dave Molyneux who is a keen advocate of the Council’s buy local initiative.
Speeches over, time for pie and networking. A brief hello to Danny Parker of Parker Sandford, a catch up with former student Matt Owen from Nectar Creative and an unexpected chat - via Bertie with Ian Greenhalgh from Greenhalgh Kerr who discussed where qualified students who haven't secured employment meet. The Wigan & Leigh pens seemed very popular, especially with a local theatre company.
The site has gone from strength to strength and is supporting the Wigan Expo to be held at the DW Stadium in early October - bob on to have a look www.creativewigan.com and click the register link to join up and support the initiative.