Research for attendee's Hanbury - NO.3

Heart agency -

Heart was originally an illustration collective formed in 1994. Since then they now represent 35 International illustrators from France, Germany , Italy , the US and the UK. Illustrators can submit work to the in the form of a digital portfolio and a written submission of why they need representation. A agency in the future  could be useful, especially in the initial stages of my career. Heart have a good approach to promoting their clients as they advertise them across many platforms , such as Youtube and their website. But more crucially they have intent connections to other countries. This then puts the different illustrators in a position to contact each other, build networks, gain more contacts. It is a platform in which supports and promotes. The things I would like to know are, how dose the relationship between agent and client work? what are the fees/ are there fees? Contracts? Sales / commission numbers ? How do they pick the illustrators they wish to represent? Is there any other ways in which an illustrator could become represented by the agency? what kind of jobs to clients get? are there certain values or ethics that you follow in terms of the the organisation as a whole? How dose the communication work between agency and commissioner? How else do you promote clients and is there opportunity for the client to go to events are self promote?

Research for attendee's Hanbury - NO.2

It's Nice That -

It's Nice That is a bi annual magazine that believes in ' creating inspiration is for everyone and by championing the most exciting and enacting work...' https://www.itsnicethat.com/about The magazine was created in 2007 and since has grown across a wide range of platforms for example digital (website, Instagram, blog) and print , it reaches millions a month. But the main features it runs are the website which is updated daily , the bi annual magazine and a lecture program Nicer Tuesdays. The magazine works in collaboration with a group names Hudson Bec Group ' Exists to enable creativity to thrive.' http://www.thehudsonbecgroup.com The group is a collective of like minded companies and organisations that share similar values and purposes.  It's Values are:

• Make it happen (Be positive)
• Embrace the new (Be brave)
• Find out more  (Be curious)
• Everyone matters (Be Human)
• Work with others (Be collaborative)

It's Nice That also work with a group Anyways who are a creative agency in London. But between all of these groups the magazine is the pinical. The main thing that I would like to know from them is how do illustrators/designers become part of the magazine, How is it working as part of a collective group, how dose this influence the organisation. What other opportunities dose working along side these groups offer, e.g. nicer Tuesday , How do you measure the positive impact the values have? Publishing and editorial are areas that I am interested in and talking to them I will hopefully get an idea of how a magazine works in commissioning illustrators and how the keep an audience compared to broadsheets and weekly magazines that discuss political and social issues.

Research for attendee's Hanbury - NO.1

Anthropology-

Anthropologie another large company specialising in fashion and homeware. Their target buyer is the 'creative-minded woman, who want to look like herself, not the masses.' ' Our products offering consists of women's apparel and accessories, intimates and home furniture...'  They also cover products in beauty, gifts, and decor. They say that each caters to the lifestyle of 'our five muses: soft and delicate; boho chic; easy cool; elegant classic; and modern sporty. I like the mode of synthesis they have put in to ensure that they are making with the customer in mind first. The two that stand out to me the most are boho chic, which is based on bohemian and hippy dress influences. This is a style that I tend to personally find most appealing when I shopping for clothes and decor myself. Within their company, they are interested in sustainability. The store is connected to a wider company that house Urban Outfitters, Free people and Vetri Family. The clothing within Anthropologie for example dresses ranges from £100 - £400, shirts - £50- £90. The homeware £60 - just over £100. The products they sell are of a high-quality standard, so would last and the prices do place it on the higher end of the market.  I really like what the store produces and stands for. Their designs are contemporary and have a calming, comforting quality/ feel to them. It embodies all the qualities I look for when shopping for myself and I believe that it is a form of design that is up and coming.
I don't know much about the commercial sector, so I need to know the basics of that. How are designers commintioned? are the commissioned or is it a job interview situation where you have to bring a portfolio get selected to become an in-house designer? How do in-house designers work? studio space? Digital methods of communication?

Evaluation on collaboration with the refugee council.

This collaboration and project is a significant learning curve, not just for me as a practitioner but a person. The stories I was told were deeply personal and highly sensitive and as a person it made me reflect on my own life but as a practitioner I thought inventive print was completely the wrong way to tell these stories. The illustrations need to be minimal, barely edited, raw and simple. The message must be the key element to get through.

I did start off this project looking back now naively. I did have experience in running and organising workshops but never by myself. One key element that I wish I had more knowledge over was negotiating with charities over funds.  I thought that charities are organisations that don’t have much money so heavily rely on external donations but this is not always the case.  Some get substantial funds from the heads of the organisations and patrons. I am not sure where the refugee council stands within all this but I think I could have negotiated with then over the issue of fund. I am a student on a very limited budget with no external fund, so saying that I would fund materials and travel for the participants is something I should have thought about more and tried to get better funding for. The arts council could have been a good place to go for help with this.  

But this was the first time I approached with external clients by myself and it was daunting at first but once I settled into it became straight forward. It has given me a lot more confidence in working with future clients and not to be intimidated by the thought of meetings and negotiation. Collaboration was the best approach to take with the organisation as it allowed for everyone to have input to give the best opportunities to the clients. It was a shame that I couldn’t continue the project further but I was over ambitious at the start and thought I have more time than I did but this will improve with experience.

Overall the aims of the project where met. It was a privilage to have the workshops attended by the councils clients and it took a lot for some of the indivuals to attend and I hope they got something positive out of it , they definetly enjoyed them.  

Creative Presence- Promotional material action plan.

What Do I Want?

• To have a promotional pack rather than a single piece. 
• A print no bigger than A4, screen printed? and backed. Limited edition series, details on the back. 
• The second thing, only small but not like a traditional business card, something more original and print-based or based on a narrative. Badges? something they can interact with !!
• Will have details on the back of the print or the small add-on.  
•  Regular business cards can sit on the exhibition space but are there for passers-by, the specific people who I target will get a print 
• The prints could be half of a story and they then have to come to the next show or contact me to get the other half?
• Nicely packaged in self-made tote bags? screen printed. 

What Do I Need To Do?

• Print room - twilight sessions and general room availability.
• Digital print.
• Buying materials - tote bags, inks, paper.

Time Plan:

• Use existing work for the prints and bags. 
• Work and design branding. Type.
• Print- one or two colours only! 
• Design extras using a section of a print and type. 
• Digitally Print. 
• Back Screen Prints and package giveaways in bags.
• In addition, add branding to blog, and kick off the website! 

Change of workshops plan.

So after several phones conversations with the council we weere able to arrange dates and participants of the workshop. Also the university progressions team became involved  which was great as I was able to get free materials and free sketchbooks and pencils to give out to the particpants at the end. I also got the help of an ambassador to help me run the workshop which was a life saver as we had a one or two more people than we aticipated turn up. We had a large family with very young childern from Somalia. I decied bacsed on workshops that I had been involved with preiously that simple screen printing stencils should work fine and with support is a fun activity for small children to do. They all really enjoyed the workshop and went home with a large amount of work. But unfortunetly due to time I wasn't able to keep on running any further workshops. This is a massive shame as now I have got the hang of runing and orgainsing activities. However this has highlighted an intersting part of my practice that is somthing I am going to consider take further int he future. Not nesserly the workshops elements but the repotage and documentations of conversations. The workshops where a really good platform for this but it would be amazing in the future to go to another country and talk and record coversations about significant political and social issues for an editorial piece.

Task 3 self evaluation

Within my work, I have achieved a high level of print knowledge and skill. My work towards the end of the second year had a refined process and was very detailed. However, I kept using this same process, which was very restricting. I need to loosen up and re start. I have perfected lino print to a standard I’m happy with, but I want to focus on quicker processes so I have more time to think about more in-depth images in terms of composition with multiple features and image narrative. By freeing up my practice I hope to improve initial drawing skill and make it versatile. Last year I was just focusing on editorial, this year I need to expand my practice to cover more commercial illustration. Printed textiles is an area in which I want to do this. Dealing with less heavy subjects and more lighter ones will make my practice more diverse. Creating illustration that tells a clear narrative is another aim. By finding a method that is quick, enables me to produce a high quality and involved fun/ playful compassions is the aim.

No 5 website - Handsome Frank.

https://handsomefrank.com

Very simple first page, illustrious with text and name in grid format with small running show reel when arrow it hovers over.  White background easy to read text. A new element which the other websites didn't have was a side pop out menu. This holds all the artist names in a quick scroll through menu and is on a different coloured background and type, making the text easier to read in a larger format. Above tabs are simply labelled in one work and laid out well spaced and gives the viewer room to absorb information.  And echo as the other websites to an image lead approach.

No 4 website - Blink Art

https://www.blinkart.co.uk
 First page like big active contains and moving show reel but of images that takes up the whole first page , but there is an arrow indicating to scroll down. The different coloured type as well is a good idea. It gives it a point of difference and defines the categories clearly but dose clash with some of the images in the reel making in hard to read, but this is only momentarily. The logos colour and style fits with the rest of the text on the page. This help the design to look complete and well rounded. A professional finish. A change in background as you scroll down to a clear bold categories accompanied with simple graphic motifs. The artists catalog is in the grid format again but images are evenly sized and on a white background. When arrow hovers over an image box and small show reel sicks though at a good speed showing snippets of that artist work.

No 3 website - Big Active.

http://www.bigactive.com/artists/

Big Active front page has a simple but close layout. First page shows similar tabs above as other websites but has a show reel that covers the full first page. The show reel dose contain videos which works well. Make the viewer click and then they stay on the sight for longer but there may need to be more information to scroll down as there is a large amount of good content below but this is not made that obvious. Again image lead approach with layout in a slightly off set gird format and with minimal text , but with varying size of images it dose make the page interesting and demonstrates the versatility of the arts the agency holds. It is a music lead website so shows the protest it has previously been involved with and in regards to the artist catalog the same layout with image of work and name underneath. It is also all based on a white background again, this definitely allows for more colour and images to be on display and also the use of a different type face that is softer makes it easy to read. Mobile and desktop friendly and the close compassion works well on a desktop because it breaks down the images you see into a few at a time.

No2 website - Central illustration Agency

https://centralillustration.com

Houses illustrators and animators. Similar layout to Heart in that is it an image lead approach. Clean , legible and all placed on a white background. Tabs above also include a link to a blog and projects in which the artists have contributed to. Social media icons are easy to spot , enabling the agency to have an increase web presence.  Again shows a wide verity of work. Positioning of the floating images seems to be within a grid format. This has been present on both sights and if is format that works and makes all the artists information easy to see.
Show reel , takes up most of the first page when you enter the sight catches your eye and you automatically end up watching it. Then is structured cleverly so you see the boxes bellow labelled illustrators , animators and latest blog but have to scroll down in order to see the full thing.Making you stay in the page even longer. (example below)

Web site Task 3 part 2 - No1- Heart Agency

https://heartagency.com

Floating motifs of artist work on the first page of the website. No names till you scroll down, it lets the work speak for itself.  The tabs above home, artist, beat (publication), contact and store. Simple, easy to coordinate and well controlled. Need social media icons on show if the agency runs these, however there is a store link in which artist can sell their work/ products. That would help to increase web presence. It also has an image lead approach with little writing. This allows for a large selection of illustrators work to be shown in small snippets at the side which can be clicked to enlarge to the full image. It demonstrates well the large verity of work of the illustrators it houses. The look of the website too is clean, orders and not overcrowded. A white background definitely helps with this.

Collaboration with the refugee council on the workshops within the council building.

In additon to the workshops I proposed to carry out , the council asked to to run a series 3 workshops with them at their office in leeds. Before the workshops could start however , they asked me to paint aporx 8ft by 8ft tree on one of the walls in the new floor of office. With the help of a voulenteer of the council we painted the tree on the wall in two afternoon sessions. From there we set up and ran workshops with the clients who came in for dropin sessions and the staff. The aim of the project was to promote community within the building and make it a more friendly and welcoming place. The tree needed to be decorated and on the wall by the time they had there office opening event. The project defiently met the aim as it promoted unity. But also it highlighted for me how vunrable the refugee and asylum seekers are. The turn out was low and after talking to some of the staff , they said that it was one of the biggest challenges they face with getting people in to reseve support. They lack a lot of confidence and so it takes a lot for them to go anyware that is new or unfamilar. Overall however this sereies of wrokshops was fun and good to do, defeinelty helped having that intial work before commensing my own workshop.
 Examples of work and tree below: