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