Work experience...

A few weeks ago I sent a digital version of my portfolio off to numerous agencies near to me such as in Sheffield and Leeds looking for some more work experience. I have had a few replies but all their work experience places are filled for this year but it was great of them to reply to me anyway. A couple of agencies did say they liked my work and pointed out projects they liked and said my work looked promising. Its always good to get feedback on my work as its good to get another persons view and opinion, and coming from design agencies it was great to get good feedback. Fingers crossed for some more work experience...

Code blog...

click the image to enlarge.

The image is quite small but it shows the layout and design of the blog page I designed whilst at Code. Again using the strong branding to ensure the blog feels part of them. I had fun designing this page, trying to incorporate fun elements of the agency with features such as "check this out" where they can upload videos of photos of what the agency has been upto. Also making the illustrations connect with the layout rather than stand alone for example the robot peering over the top of the header holding the link for 'home.' I hope to get the chance to return to code to mount up the work...

Code projects...

Below are the images of the work I produced whilst at Code, the six book covers...

                                                         

Each 'fable' relates to one of the services provided by code...using their branding guidelines ie: colours, typeface and the red line (one of the main branding features of code) I really enjoyed working on the covers as I could have fun and be creative with the titles to try and reflect the fun nature of the agency. The story behind each title links to the service provided, for example "James and his giant robotic arm" describes 'usability.'

Photoshop is not one of my strongest skills but whilst at code I found they do all their design work in photoshop so I produced the work I did in photoshop. I was able to improve some of my skills but it is a programme I need to continue to learn...

Code Computer Love...

Throughout second year a number of design agencies came in to talk to us and a few gave us the opportunity to work on a brief for them. I chose to work on the brief for 'Code Computer Love,' a brief to redesign a website for Jimmy Choo. I thought this was a great opportunity, not only to work on a website design (something I would like to do more of) but also the chance to get work experience with Code. 

A few weeks after sending our work to Code I found out I was one of the three people they had picked to go in for an "interview" to show them more of our work and I was able to go and work at Code for two weeks on work experience.

I had a great time at Code, it was such a fast paced agency with lots going on and I learnt I will have to work a lot quicker when I go into industry! My first week at Code was the 10th birthday for the agency so I was able to help out with organising the party with Wini at Mint Lounge.  The branding for code is based on drawings by Andrew Rae an illustrator. The illustrations can be seen on code's website and my task was to project on to the walls of the club and paint the outlines on. Hopefully I will have some photos soon to upload of these. The party was great and continued until 4 am so the next day at work was pretty quiet! A few other people from our course were there and it was a really good night!

I worked on a few different projects whilst on work experience, giving me the chance to work with brand guidelines, experimenting with type setting whilst being restricted by the agency guidelines, such as the use of colour and typeface. I was set a project to produce a set of books that explained the services that code provide but in a 'fable' style,' taking inspiration from Bateman books with the playful type setting and use of colours. I had never seen any of the Bateman covers before but they are a great reference for me for the future.

 I was given two titles to initially work with and had to think of four others that explained the services: strategy, planning, usability, design & build, digital marketing and measurement.  The titles I worked on were: 'James & the giant robotic arm'

  'The hare and the robot legs'

  'The wonderful wizards of the web'

  'Jack and the big idea'

  'Charlie and the online factory'

  'The hotel in the desert'

I also worked on designing a blog page for the code website which I really enjoyed working on as I was able to improve my skills in photoshop during the design process and worked on a new style of design. The images of the work I did whilst at code will up uploaded shortly...

My time at code was a great experience. Being such a big agency there was lots going on which gave me a real insight into life in a fast paced design agency working with big clients and producing high quality design work. I definitely want to keep in touch with the guys at code as they were really welcoming and I will keep in contact with them throughout my third year getting help from my mentor with input on my work and they will be a great contact for the future. 

I definitely want to try and get more work experience at different agencies having been to a digital agency I would love the opportunity to work at a more print based design agency hope to get in contact with some more agencies soon.

Hi there...

Welcome to my blog...the place I will update about my general interests, my life as a third year student and my design inspirations....enjoy! x