OUGD502 - PPP2 - End of Module Evaluation

Creative Report was a great way to interact with the professional world and ask some questions that I was eager to know the answer to. Emailing current designers also allowed them to learn my name and hopefully remember it for future conversations. I specifically targeted agencies I could see myself working for and most importantly were near by. Rueville Magazine is a publication based in Manchester that has only just begun, founded by two students. I can already see they have a strong direction and ambition towards the project which I highly admire, the graphic style of the magazine, I believe is very similar of my own. My aim is to carry on my contact with Rueville and see if they would have me to help with one of the Issues over the summer. Emailing designers also showed me how competitive the industry actually is, Emailing over 6 people with only 2 replies made me realise that emails don’t stand out and a face to face conversation or nicely design letter will make much more of an impact.

Moving onto ‘Taking Care of Business’ where I was able to work with people of my choice. I have always enjoyed working within a team and this project allowed the team to push for something more than just a project that needed to be completed for the module. Everything ran smoothly within the group and we were able to produce something unique a little out of all our comfort zones. Experimenting with film and stop motion reinforced my personal outlook on the design world, reminding me that I don’t want to be just limited to the title of ‘Graphic Designer’. Although our presentation was unique and personal to our business ethos, one thing that was pointed out that the presentation lacked, was that we didn't display any examples of our own work. In a similar fashion to how we showcased which stock we would use, we should shown examples of our own work so the client could get a really sense of how we work.

The final task, ‘Design Strategy Presentation’ came really easy to me, because after all it was all about me. I didn’t use any notes for my presentation to ensure it flowed nicely and I was looking down at a notebook. I addressed appropriate personal issues and tried to show clear direction of where I want to take my personal practice next. My design of my personal branding hasn't changed but I gave solid reasoning why within the presentation. However, since last year when I had labelled myself a Graphic Designer, I have since changed it to ‘Creative Thinker’. I don’t want to limit myself within the design world. I am interested in many areas of design that I am still yet to explore, such as, interior design, film and many more. 'Creative Thinker' allows people to enquire about what I specialise in and creates a talking point for me.

OUGD502 - PPP2 - Studio Brief 01 - Creative Report - Physical Report

To produce a physical piece of work for one of my interviews, I reviewed the questions and designed something based on Jacobs interests. Taking a look at some of the blogs he recommended and drawing inspiration from his modernist references lead me to what I have designed. The first time I designed the report I used red and white to reinforces the modernist theme I was trying to achieve. However, I decided to change the colour palette to Yellow and Black. Creative Concern is a Manchester based studio, as is Jacob a Manchester based designer and a lot of his heroes/influences are from Manchester. The yellow and black was taken from the Manchester bee.

 I wanted the report to also be more than just an interview so I dedicated one side of the leaflet to a quote from the interview that really stood out to me and inspired me. After reading the interview, the quote can double up as a poster and give the physical document meaning and not be something that would just lie in draw after one read.

OUGD502 - PPP2 - Study Task 01 - Taking Care of Business - Video Link

https://vimeo.com/156551575

OUGD502 - PPP2 - Studio Brief 02 - Personal Branding

This is my mock-up business card. The two colour choices I have gone for are bright red and bright white. When thinking about my personal style as I designer, I realised how much I love type and minimalistic design which I have tried to represent through my design. The C on the front of card will be embossed to give the design a unique style and will be something that will only be appreciated when produced physically. The typeface is Akzidenz-Grotesk, which to me is a beautiful minimal sans serif typeface and represents who I am as a designer perfectly. I think the most important part of my information is definitely my name so I have chosen to set that in red. Last year I had labeled myself a Graphic Design, however, this year I have changed it to 'Creative Thinker'. I dont want to limit myself within the design world. I am interested in many areas of design that I am still yet to explore, such as, interior design, film and many more. 'Creative Thinker' allows people to enquire about what I specialise in and creates a talking point for me.

OUGD502 - PPP2 - Studio Brief 02 - Design Strategy Presentation

Here are the slides that I presented for my Design Strategy presentation. I tried to make the presentation as visual as possible to maintain the audiences attention. Considering the presentation was all about myself, I didn't take any notes up with me and just spoke freely to which ensured the presentation was a bit more 'human' like. I feel I addressed a lot of appropriate matters within my presentation and showed a clear direction of where I want to take my personal practice next. My personal branding hasn't changed but I gave solid reasoning why within the presentation. My next step is to produce some physical elements of my branding such as business cards.

OUGD502 - PPP2 - Studio Brief 01 - Creative Report - Rueville Magazine - Jack Glover

Hey charlie,

I hope these answers are OK. Please keep us informed with feedback.

Why did you and Jack/Jacob decide to partner up and start Rueville? What barriers have you encountered so far making your journey into the professional world difficult?

Myself and Jacob have share very similar interests in design and lifestyle. It’s almost inevitable that we would come together at some point to conduct a self initiated brief based around all of our interests. 

As a student your imagination of hierarchy is exaggerated, especially for the creatives you look up to. Half of the time these designers are more approachable than your tutors.

Do you both have different roles to play in your partnership? Who does what?

We work 100% in harmony together. It’s like our ideas should form a jigsaw, its just finding the right pieces to form the final thing. Another reason why its perfect to be referencing similar sources and inspirations.

How do you see your studio’s character and ethos? Does this help with gaining contributors? 

LEAVE YO EGO AT HOME . 

I suppose us as individuals form the partnership but in a slightly cheeky way. Rueville started as the raw little brother of magazines like Huck, eye, juxtapose or even creative review.

We stay true to being professional, yet we’re also follow a brief of 60% clean 40% dirty.

We’re a little bit like when Madlib became Quasimoto. Stay true to your core and the followers will sure tag along.

How would you describe your design process, from idea to final resolution?

We are very separate with initial ideas and then slightly clash heads. We both know each others weak links and that’s when the fun begins. Having someone to feed off is key in a creative role. 

What are your inspirations within the design world (or outside)? 

Top 5 - 

Ricky (trailer park boys)

Josef Muller Brockmann

The invisible Jazz Cigarette

Nasir Jones

J dilla

Finally, Where do you see Rueville in the future?

Hopefully selling well and producing some really nice work. Mainly Staying true to our brief and having a blast!

-- 

Jack Glover

Rueville Magazine

OUGD502 - PPP2 - Studio Brief 01 - Creative Report - Rueville Magazine - Jacob Critchley

Rueville Magazine

Why did you both decide to partner up and start Rueville? What barriers have you encountered so far making your journey into the professional world difficult?

It all started with a friendship; ultimately giving a shit about the same stuff. I help out at The Modernist Magazine, and I suppose seeing people do it for themselves made us think "why not?". I recently came out of a long term relationship, and it seemed like a healthy idea to channel my energy into Rueville instead of dwelling on the negatives.  

I suppose the professional world isn't as "professional" as you may think. Everyone's a human being; as long as you're being yourself and staying true to your laurels, you'll be fine. I've spent 30 minutes proof reading an email before, to only receive one back with no regard to correct sentence structure. There's far more productive ways of spending 30 minutes. 

Do you both have different roles to play in your partnership? Who does what?

As ridiculous as it may sound; Rueville is 50% Jacob and 50% Jack. We're both sending emails, we're both sitting on indesign for hours, we're both dealing with the "housekeeping". We're not some self appointed bullshit title, we just do what we do. Be it mundane or magnificent, the "roles" of Rueville are totally split down the middle. But it's an unspoken thing, we're almost telepathic. We know each other's strengths and we help each other with our weaknesses.

How do you see your studio’s character and ethos? Does this help with gaining contributors? 

From day one the brief was "we're doing this for ourselves; we're the target market". We're staying true to the things we like, and staying core to what matters. We're not in it to make money, it's about having a good time. I suppose we listen to the voices in our head, and not the people around us. 

How would you describe your design process, from idea to final resolution?

It's all fun. When it starts to do my head in and stops feeling fun, Jack brings the positivity and we talk about what's not working, inhale, exhale, and get back to the grill again. It's very much a fun and collaborative effort.

What are your inspirations within the design world (or outside)? 

Tough question. My top four (it was going to be five but there is too many to choose) humans of all time, and I hope they don't need an explanation. 

- Wim Crouwel

- Ricky Powell

- Beastie Boys

- My Mum

Finally, Where do you see Rueville in the future?

Hopefully still on the shelves, but selling. Still true to the brief, still true to ourselves. Having fun. Having fun, and having fun.

Trust all is well.

Jacob