As mentioned in a previous post, I was lucky enough to get a visit arrange at Design Politie, one of my favourite Dutch studios. 

http://www.designpolitie.nl

The studio is based sin the centre of Amsterdam, as you can see in the map below: 

The studio itself was really small, with work space being on two levels, almost like bunks: 

It was really good to visit the studio. 

We discussed how internships work in Amsterdam:

- Most interns are current university students, as in Amsterdam students have a few months off for internships. 

- Interns are paid a mire 250 Euros a month. Paying any more means the studio have to do lots of paperwork and pay tax. 

- Working in Amsterdam is expensive as the city is so confined. Rent is extremely expensive unless you stay far away in the North of Amsterdam. 

- There work was even more impressive when Jolien explained more about the projects I had seen online. 

I was offered an Internship! 

Jolien offered me an internship, but told me to really consider living in Amsterdam. It could be very difficult if I do not know anyone. For this reason, I feel that I will not take the internship on, as its something I could not afford. 

I still intend on keeping in contact, and hopefully could be somewhere I could work as a junior designer in the future. I want to keep my options open and take on a few internships first before settling down at a studio. This is to ensure I am working somewhere I enjoy. Taking on a junior designer job in a foreign country could be very risky if I do not enjoy it. 

Between the 4th and 10th of April, Roxxie and I will be visiting Amsterdam. A city known for a really big creative scene, I took the opportunity to contact some studios we could visit.

This is also a city I would consider working in at some point in the near future. 

Below are some studios I liked the look of, that I have also contacted. 

                                                                                                                                          

Our Polite Society
http://www.ourpolitesociety.net/2012/about/

- Very type and layout driven! 

                                                                                                                                          

Main Studio
http://mainstudio.com

- Typical, organised, Dutch modernism. 

                                                                                                                                          

Studio Laucke Siebein
http://studio-laucke-siebein.com

- Quite experimental work, with a rebellious, non-digital feel to it. 

                                                                                                                                          

OK200
http://www.ok200.nl

- A small but innovative studio. 

                                                                                                                                          

KesselKramer
http://www.kesselskramer.com

- After a very interesting talk last year at uni, I would love to visit their Amsterdam studio, which is based in a church! They also have a very different approach to briefs to other studios, and can be very bold with their work. 

                                                                                                                                          

De DesignPolitie
http://www.designpolitie.nl

- Bold, colourful and fun design! 

My dissertation involved lots of primary research into the opinions of type designers and foundries. 

Below is a list of those who gave me responses used:

Yassin Baggar - Fatype Type Foundry

Sindre Bremnes - Monokrom Type Foundry

Mark van Bronkhorst - MVB Font Type Foundry

Béla Frank - Faber Fonts Type Foundry

Victor Gaultney - Ex Adobe Type Designer

Frode Bo Helland - Monokrom Type Foundry

Gerry Leonidas - Head of Reading (MA) Type Design

Tal Leming - Type Supply Type Foundry

Greg Lindy - LuxTypo Type Foundry

James Montelbano - Terminal Design Type Foundry

Thomas Phinney -  Ex Adobe Type Designer

Rich Roat - House Industries Type Foundry

František Štorm - Storm Type Foundry

Sumner Stone - Ex Adobe Type Designer

Jack Usine - Smeltery Type Foundry 

Carol Wahler - Executive Director of Type Directors Club

I intend on emailing all of those involved with the essay to show the outcome of the practical. 

Approach

In the passed, I have emailed studios instead of calling, in order to arrange visits / interviews. This time I decided to call studios up, something much more personal. This can also give me a straight yes or no answer instead of waiting. 

                                                                                                                                                        

Graphic Thought Facility
http://www.graphicthoughtfacility.com

For a long time Graphic Thought Facility have been one of my favourite studios. They are also situated a commutable distance from my home in London. 

I called up, and then ended up speaking with Andy Stevens via email:

                                                                                             

Hi there! 

My name is Joe Leadbeater, i’m a final year BA (Hons) Graphic Design student, studying at Leeds College of Art. I absolutely love your work, it seems you’re an agency with a carefully considered ethos that’s communicated throughout all of your projects. I would love to visit the studio to find out more, and hopefully result in an internship at some point after I graduate in July. After graduation i’ll be moving back home to London, so commuting to your studio wouldn’t cause any difficulty. 

Here’s a link to my website, my most up-to-date portfolio:

www.joelead.com

Looking forward to hearing from you and all the best,

Joe 

Joe Leadbeater

Graphic Designer

www.joelead.com

+44 (0) 7854 398957

                                                                                             

Hello Joe

Why don't you call by the studio in the New Year? It would be good to meet up and then we can take a view on what's available here re internships etc.

Let us know when you are down, possibly in New year before you head back up to Leeds?

Yours, Andy

                                                                                             

Hi Andy, 

That sounds great. I start university on the 6th, so the earlier the better really! Were there any dates you were thinking would work best for you? 

Best, 

Joe 

                                                                                             

It's not true that students get 3 months off at Christmas then. I'm up Scotland for Christmas so earlier might not be possible if I'm heading down and you're heading north. Let's Email after New Year. The 2nd might be possible but if not just give me a heads up for when you're next heading down to London and we can sort something out for then.

Andy

                                                                                             

Unfortunately there was not enough time to meet up with Andy before going back to uni for the next term. I will follow this up and hopefully gain a 3 month internship in the future. 

                                                                                                                                                        

Two Times Elliott
http://2xelliott.co.uk

Hi James!

My name is Joe Leadbeater, i’m a final year BA (Hons) Graphic Design student, studying at Leeds College of Art (I think one of your designers - Matt Tucker, was on my course). I absolutely love your work, it all seems so carefully considered, and executed with beautiful clarity. I would love to visit the studio to find out more, and hopefully result in a placement. Out of term time I live in London, so it would be no problem for me to visit in the next couple of weeks. We’re allowed to take up to 2 weeks off university for placements, so again, this wouldn’t be a problem. 

Here’s a link to my website, my most up-to-date portfolio:

www.joelead.com

Looking forward yo hearing from you and all the best,

Joe 

                                                                                             

Hi Joe,

Really lovely work — how long are you looking for a placement for?

Best,

James Horwitz

Creative Director

—

                                                                                             

After a long email correspondence, we organised an interview for the placement. I visited the studio and the next day was offered a placement! I was really happy with the result, which I will obviously blog when it comes to the placement itself.