Salford Key?

During October FD travelled over to the University of Salford twice. On the first occasion while the first years were in the Allerton library with Agent Paton, the editor - via a taxi race from Salford Crescent along with the second years ventured down to Salford Quay's and the University's annex to watch a presentation by Year 2 BA Students to a Manchester Moss Side community incentive named Carisma.

Posh surroundings, a proper lecturer theatre, big screen [only missing the popcorn] and all on the back row, FD2 watched as forty-odd students went through their paces directed by Tash and Jo, lecturers at the University's Allerton Studios on the BA graphics course.

Some impressive work - put as the group confirmed, nothing they couldn't match! Love their attitude!! They'll have the opportunity very soon to prove it as all of the group are applying to the BA Top-Up.

Spiders-Web

It must be 3 years ago since Andy Golpys first walked into the FD studio. On that occasion he had come to see Darryl Monks who was looking for placement with Andy's company MadebyShape. Before that could happen 'Daz' has applied for a job even though he'd not completed his second years study and didn't have the experience JD Sports were looking for in their website department.

But you guessed it - they loved his enthusiasm, his skill, his desire and they employed him!!! Although the editor and Andy had regular email contact - like ships in the night . . . .

Then at the beginning of October 2012 Andy made a return visit to talk about a career in web design, placement . . . and his time lecturing at our affiliated university, so those going on to Salford would be making his association once more.

The group had to admire Andy's desire and drive in someone just 26 years old - a lesson to each one of them. Contact from FD2 has been made.

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.

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.  

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.

. . . 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.

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'