Taking Chances...

Charlene De La Cruz
Illustration and Visual Media

Before doing my Portfolio Review with Steph a few months ago, I had no idea what I was going to do with this DPS year. I didn’t know what type of industry I wanted to go into, and I never knew how I could link all my work in my portfolio together. The word “Storytelling” wasn’t something I would ever use to describe my work but when I had my tutorial with Steph, the pieces of the puzzle seemed to fit for some reason.

My proposal has changed majorly since the beginning of DPS and I have done a lot of analysis on what type of work I want to go into and what is my passion. As I started to look into what I wanted to do in more depth, I started researching more into set design, Film production and Advertisement. I was finding it hard to find internships and realised that freelancing and commissions might be the main experiences I have on DPS to build experience. While having a conversation with Steph, she helped me realise that if I wanted to go into any part of the film industry, Networking is key as there usually is a consistent main team for a specific director or production. If I can get in, I could have more consistent work. It made sense as I got jobs being a personal assistant for an interior designer and also a fine artist previously from knowing the right people and networking.

I knew that this DPS year would be harder than I thought but as I have been applying to internships and looking at the options I have and how I can build up my portfolio and get experience, it gets me more excited and motivated. I am anxious about this year, there is so much to do and see before going into my final year of university. My motto for this DPS year is to “Take Chances, whenever it is”.

I have always been torn between going into Design Activism work or going into the print-based or film production industry. I have a passion for the industries and the production of them both, but I realised I can try them out this year to see which one I could carry out as a career. My thesis is focused on how Design Activism evolved from key controversial artists in the 1980s and how design has now evolved into becoming a part of “power of the voice” in a technologically driven world with artist such as Shepard Fairey making their work free for people to download and print for protests.

I’ve decided that I will spend a few months using the workshops at university to complete Self-initiated projects that I feel I wouldn’t have time to finish before graduating university so I can take advantage of the facilities at LCC. The printmaking studios are major parts for my Self-initiated projects as I want to improve my screen-printing skills and go to inductions for other printmaking techniques before going into my final year.
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I’m now working with Sarah Temple and a couple of students on a project about the Global Climate Strike on 20th September. I am also working with Oscar, an MA Screenwriting Student, to design the posters for his mockumentary sitcom. I will try and do as many Self-initiated projects and freelancing work to help build my Portfolio for Film production and Advertising until I can get internships.