Website pointers

• image dimensions - need to be cropped correctly
• images need to be below 1MG to prevent page loading times being too long
• needs to appear beautifully photographed/made
• re-shoot publications
• mock-ups can look very similar and can get boring - try to avoid
• avoid receptive images in projects 
• gifs
• mailtolink - be conscious about user experience
• test website on different platforms - desktop, browsers

Nest in a Night Challenge

TWO OUTCOMES IN A NIGHT CHALLENGE

MISSION:

• Create two outcomes within a night for Nest Magazine submission
• Focus on the theme RED

I really wanted to do this challenge to see if I could create outcomes under pressure that were good enough to be involved in the publication or the exhibition.

Outcome 1 Mood board 

Outcome 2 Mood board



Hue

Lust

Undertaken in my bedroom, using my bed sheets, a red torch (previously ordered for NEST) and my Nikon DLSR.

Tote Bag Making

(displaying my tote bag creation on my design instagram! https://www.instagram.com/dominiccartledge/)

Learning how to use a sewing machine and creating my own tote bags recently is a skill that hopefully comes into play throughout my PPP module this year. They're a great way of bringing in audiences when handing them out for free at events and are also a simple way of starting up a self branded business or method to get a name out there. A lot of artists/designers that I have been researching into have a sort of online shop attached to their website where their designs can be bought on t-shirts, bags and prints. This is something I want to explore within my own website this year.

Girl Gang and Networking

GIRL GANG!

Girl Gang is a group set within Leeds and Sheffield that brings together girls and non-binary people together to celebrate each other and create a community. I attended not entirely knowing this, but I was accepted as a male into the group with no trouble.

It was a really refreshing way of networking and getting to know people who I wouldn't usually come in contact with, within the university environment. There were people there who worked for the NHS within the Mental Health departments, graduates, early business entrepreneurs and other fellow creatives.

I got talking to a photographer called Meg (https://www.instagram.com/meggtg/) who works as an experimental photographer in her spare time. I was really impressed by her work and thought straight away I could possibly collaborate with her for some of my photography based projects.

Attending Girl Gang has definitely given me a confident boast when it comes to networking. It has also made me realise going to events that aren't particularly 'creative people' based is still as beneficial and necessary.

Art piece at the event.

Aims for the Year

Self Branding 

• Will mostly come from Extended Practice briefs

Website

• Ask Alec what is the best option for a personal website as I am unsure

Behance

• My main issue with my current status on Behance is that not a lot of my work has been photographed to a high standard
• Over the next two months my personal aim is to get all my work photographed and displayed to  professional standard
• It is essential for future clients and placements to see my work clearly

Linked In

• Within the next month to set up a Linked In account so networking will become much more easier and so I can reach out to my favourite studios/designers

Instagram

• Over the summer I set up a design account for Instagram which is where I will be updating my design ventures throughout the year
• Through this account I have already made connections and future collaborations for my projects this year

PPP - Responsive Evaluations

PPP - Evaluation

http://issuu.com/domcxrt/docs/evaluation

Studio Brief 01 - SWOT anaylsis

S (Strengths)

• Photography
• Publications
• Zines

W (Weaknesses)

• Idea generation 
• Typography

O (Opportunities)

• Chances to apply for exhibitions 

T (Threats)

• Ability to collaborate comfortably 
• Motivation to be the best designer I can be - often doubt myself

Studio Brief 01 - MAMA: Showroom open call

http://www.showroommama.nl/en/projects/887/OPEN-CALL-WALLPAPER/

http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/35657/1/art-baby-gallery-opens-all-inclusive-art-show-in-europe-wallpaper-rotterdam

This is a really cool opportunity to get my work out there. The exhibition will take place in Rotterdam over the summer and is basically a collective of online artists that get to have their work displayed in a physical place. My recent work for my sticker zine has been heavily inspired by some of Art Baby Girl's work and even after not receiving a final response as part of Studio Brief 02, I still haven't been put off by connecting to the artist by applying for her online exhibition.

My submission to the exhibition:

Studio Brief 01 - Presentation slides

Studio Brief 02 - Failed interview attempts and afterthoughts

Below are professionals that I have contacted and either not got a reply, or have said they would answer my questions, but then didn't.

MXDVS

Hattie Stewart

artbabygirl

Petra Collins

Contacting working professionals has been a real learning curve. For the most part I jumped into the deep end and asked who ever I wanted (within reason) if they were interested in the interview. I usually started off using Instagram as a tool to communicate - and then moved onto email if the professional was interested.

I subconsciously contacted global artists, rather than local. I don't really seem to pay attention to many professionals within Leeds and Manchester or other cities/towns nearby and this is something I am going to start doing over the summer and through third year. As this could lead on to more collaborations and potential placements/work opportunities.

However, I still think contacting artists that are not within distance is relevant. The internet has made this possible and a it also means collaborations are arguably more likely to occur.

From this experience I've learnt that even if the message is personal and you are seriously inspired by their work and show that through your communication it often is not enough - because people are busy and don't necessarily care about answering a few questions to their audience, which, in my opinion is totally understandable. Through this I have learnt to manage my time well and contact professionals early incase they don't reply to the questions. 

On a more positive note, I feel capable of approaching an artist now, no matter now "important" or "successful" they are which will definitely help me in the future when I want to contact someone.

Studio Brief 01 - Nest magazine launch

• Got me connecting with people for Responsive group collaboration.
• Ended up meeting one of my partners there for the group collaboration.
• Inspired me to apply for Nest's next launch, which ultimately paid of as I was selected by Nest for the next issue. I put a lot of my efforts for Nest within Responsive as I wanted to be apart of it as it is a good way of getting my name out there (exposure).
• Has helped build up my portfolio.
• Feels really good to be part of a editorial project 

"Another Planet" selected for Nest "Space" issue.

Studio Brief 01 - Salford Zine Library

To get some exposure for my zines I have sent them off to be a part of Salford Zine Library in Manchester. This is a great way to get my name out there and give myself a little bit of exposure. Through PPP this year I have learnt it is really important to apply for exhibitions, send work off to studios and to not be afraid to do. Failure is one of my biggest fears when it comes to showing my designs to the rest of the world and it is in a way in insecurity that needs to be overcome. By doing this it has helped me gain exposure and gave me the ability to be confident when sending my work out to be displayed for public viewing.