Monday 8 June 2009

Personal and Proffessional Portfolio (2007-2009)

Personal and Professional Portfolio (2007-2009)

This course, the last two years have been the best ones of my life. I have made many friends which I deeply respect and admire. I have also gained in confidence and skills, particularly in Macromedia Flash. Two years ago I found Flash to be confusing and difficult, now I can make full length animations and buttons and have produced many funny and interesting pieces for projects.

The way I studied and my working method was also very different back then. I was always relying on teachers to help me make decisions. Even when I followed a brief and wanted my work to be different I could never get a wow from the tutors there was always something wrong with my work. This is probably the reason why I was always wanting class mates or tutors approval with things so I don’t go off the track and get it all completely wrong. I am learning to think more independently with projects and take risks with my work. The future will be full of risks and potential opportunities, I just have to keep my eyes open for any and keep my fingers crossed.

I have also begun to take research more seriously. I can look at a company’s idea, take it and make something from it whether it be a new product inspired by it or an improved form of the product. I have found a new form of inspiration by looking at different technologies and seeing what is good/bad and my own opinions on it or how I can develop it into something better.
Looking back at the last two years, I’ve realized how much I have changed not only as a person but also in the amount and quality of my work. I have learnt to think more positively and many of you will be glad to know that because of it I am enjoying life and feel a better sense of personal satisfaction. I’m really going to miss it all, the friends I’ve made, the experiences and skills I have learnt. I hope to stay friends with many of them in the future. Many, in fact all of the projects I have produced I would use to promote myself when looking for jobs or starting my own company. Some of my personal favourites include the caveman advert I did for a company called New Media Blueprints, My made up media advert which was one of my first Flash animations and one of my best. I am also pleased with a title sequence I did for a Sci-Fi movie which worked brilliantly and The stop-motion presentation I produced on various technologies and how useful they are. That project was for me the most gruelling but the most rewarding project and one I feel was the turning point in my progression as a student, the point where I thought “I know I can do this!”. This is probably due to the fact that it was something I did completely independently over the course of a week which was fantastic in quality and which interested the audience watching.

As for the future, I was never really concerned about the future to begin with. I was more concerned on the present, on the now. However this has changed. I know now that I need to at this stage, look to the future and my future job and carrier. If you don’t think about it and plan ahead then sooner or later it creeps up on you and you have to do something about it. You can’t ignore it forever. I have always been a last minute sort of person when it comes to decisions like these. The last year however I have been trying to overcome this, I don’t want to be stuck with nowhere to go to. I need to learn and develop knew and current skills in order to progress further and get the job and carrier I’m after. I would like to develop my video editing skills, particularly in Adobe After Effects. This will help If I ever end up in advertising which is option B. For option A which is a job in comic book design/illustration or computer games character design/illustration I will certainly need to improve my Flash skills. They have gotten me so far but they need to be much better professionally. It would also be a good idea over the summer to produce designs for characters or design a new comic book which could be useful for my portfolio.

I also have many other targets which I would like to achieve within the next few years. Like all students I would like a well paid job in the creative design world. I would very much like to make a name for myself in the world and be appreciated for my unique style. If possible I would like to be a professional games illustrator or comic book artist as they have given be great inspiration throughout my life and I would like to inspire others in the same way. Like most students I would like an apartment or flat to call my own. This is a big step but one that will eventually need to be taken to progress in life. On a more personal level I want to be driving in the next year and a half as everyone I know drives or are learning to drive, I don’t want to be left behind and it will be very useful in getting to my workplace on time. Another personal target and goal is to go abroad either by myself or with close friends, hopefully to China. I feel I need to go there as it is a land of inspiration and awe, and it has intrigued me for many years. The list will continue to grow as I get older and progress further, that’s the trouble with lists. These one’s in particular I feel I need to accomplish as they will give me valuable life experience and will make me better as a person.

When I have effectively finished my education and have my degree, I would like to first try to find jobs at various graphics, games and illustration companies. This is a comfortable path to take however and would not open many doors, if I want to achieve my targets I will need to make a name for myself and allow my work to go public. In my spare time I would produce pieces of work which reflect my life and which best represent my skills and strengths. An online portfolio would be a nice idea as it would allow my work to be shown to the world, then it is just a matter of being patient and keeping my fingers crossed.

Due to the economic crisis, I may need to change my original plan and opt for my own company. During the course I produced a 15 minute presentation of a potential business plan in the comics industry, producing comics which are read on the iphone and allow the readers to change certain aspects of the comic such as characters, lands and events. I really believe that this idea could work if thought about properly. I would need people possibly friends to help run the company and work on projects. Perhaps with some luck and a lot of hard work we could keep it together and become one of the main sources of comic ideas in Britain. These are just ideas of how I could and would go about finding a job whether or not they will work is yet to be seen.

As with all new and up-coming designers, illustrators web designers etc, they need to promote themselves and show the world and say “here’s something different!” This is what excites me about getting out there. I want people to see my work and instantly say “WOW that’s cool!” I need a correct method of doing this however. An online portfolio which I mentioned above is a great way to promote yourself. It gets straight out there and if it’s presented in a new and interesting way, really gives a boost to your work and impresses the companies. I wouldn’t rely only on that though, I would also turn up to various design fairs and presentations. Here I could meet the company heads face to face so they know my personality as well as get a sample of my work. You have to make sacrifices and take risks if you want to make it big.

I’ve made some dumb decisions in my life but joining this course has been one of the good ones. It has really made a difference to me not only in my work and skills but also as a person. I have more confidence in myself than I have ever had and don’t regret a thing. It was certainly worth it and I have enjoyed every second of it. I was reluctant at first but now I know what I can achieve and although I am nervous about the future I am also excited. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of my tutors and friends who without their support I would never have grown as a person. Now I can look to the future with new found determination.