Where to start.
Not to sound arrogant, but I feel the communication side of PPP has been easier for me than others. This is sheerly down to confidence, drive and positivity. When presenting, I feel my presentations have been confident, friendly and informative. In first year, I had very little confidence in my work, but now I am happy to speak about it, therefore speaking in front of the class is much easier. This has been carried forward in placements, where I've transferred those skills to presenting my ideas to others in the studio. This confidence is carried over when approaching studios, where i've found calling up a studio is the best way to get someones attention. I learnt this when calling studios for placements, when I called up two of my favourite studios in January (Two Times Elliott & Graphic Thought Facility), and within 15 minutes both emailed me back with interviews, one of which resulting in a placement.
In terms of speaking to creatives, I'm sure i've approached it the right way, something i've learnt from Jon Watters. I've never met a tutor so genuine. The way he speaks to us as a year group is almost the exact approach I've taken when speaking to studios. It's down to earth and informal, yet intelligent and professional.
Jon has taught me that being creative is a gift that should be pushed, and shouldn't be pigeon-holed or held back. He's made me consider bigger and brighter ideas, to push my work and to push where I want to work. I never would have thought that I would be offered a placement in one of my favourite studios in Amsterdam, something I will definitely follow up with at some point in the future.
The beauty of the design industry is that creativity is a fantastic common ground that almost instantly brings people together, no matter where they are in the world. Networking online is incredibly easy, and organising international visits with an online portfolio to display makes getting a job anywhere much easier.
Creativity can be pushed out of your defined skill set. I've learned how to make things 'look pretty', but i've also learned to think conceptually and to broaden my mind. I want to push creativity in industries or areas that are alien to me - in fact I've started to produce music as a slight break from design. Believe it or not, without opening my mind to ideas, I really don't think this would have happened.
Doing this degree has done more than taught me a skill set, or given me a grade I can impress my grandparents with. I've learnt that unlike vocational degrees, i've come away with aspirations and future ambitions, not just for myself, but also to inspire others, and to pass on the beauty of creativity.
