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'

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"