An internship in London followed by another one in the US or Europe with lots of learning, networking, travelling, exploration and gathering research – that was my plan for the DPS year. It’s a known fact that getting a visa to work abroad is quite difficult but DPS was my ticket to internships abroad – on a student visa! It would’ve been an experience like no other. But if there’s anything that the global reset has taught me, it’s that things don’t always go according to plan and there will be situations where NOTHING I do will let me pursue my original plans. While my repatriation flight back home took off, my hopes to work abroad came crashing down. With the restrictions due to coronavirus I didn’t even see myself travelling domestically for internships, let alone internationally. I knew there was no going back to London before end of the year, and that is me being overly optimistic about things. “What now? Should I not do DPS? Should I take a gap year instead? Can I not do the same things I intended on doing during DPS on a gap year?” These were a few questions that I constantly had on my mind in June. After talking with my tutors and parents (since they’re the ones sponsoring my education) I decided to go ahead with DPS but with that came a new set of questions. “How should I go about things now? Is my portfolio good enough? Will I get an internship? Is it going to be worth it? What’s next? “ Despite being uncertain about what the year now held for me, I was determined to make DPS year worthwhile. While I prepared to build my portfolio and researched for internships, I simultaneously took part in the modUAL workshop. It was a five day workshop and was an interesting experience. It made me excited and stressed at the same time! It allowed me to meet and brainstorm ideas with a number of people and coming up with a pitch in just two and a half days was definitely an achievement. Collaborative projects aren’t always easy. There were disagreements, contradicting critiques and a there even came a point when we decided to scrap our idea and start afresh with only a day to spare! This is one of the outcomes of the pitch we made for modUAL. You can also find the pitch video here. The process of making a portfolio took way longer than I expected. Sending out applications was nerve wrecking and not getting any replies was way worse than rejection. Rejection – I was prepared for, but who likes being ghosted? Come August, I got an internship with a reputed company in India, PeeSafe. PeeSafe was incepted post the troubles of a woman while visiting a public washroom. Gradually, they identified the need and began producing many hygiene essentials as well as talk about things that are usually hushed in our society. I personally use and love their products so I was really excited for this internship. However, it wasn’t what I expected. 95% of the work I did was making story sets for their Instagram. It became monotonous after a while. Other times, it was tasks like downloading images from their website and organising them. There were days with no work at all. And what disappointed me the most was the absence of meeting new people. Their office was in a different city and only a few people, including me, were working from home. My contact was limited to the head designer who assigned tasks for me. Reflecting back on this internship, most of my thoughts were negative, however, I remembered a conversation I had with Mr. Vikas, the co-founder of PeeSafe. I had mentioned that I didn’t have experience with social media to which he replied that that is exactly why I was an intern and not an employee. I had the free pass to make mistakes and learn from it. I had the freedom to acknowledge that I didn’t know how to do certain things and use this opportunity to change that. On further reflection I realised that while this internship was not what I hoped for, it helped me brush up my skills of after effects and increased my knowledge of design for social media. This internship made me resonate with the idea of working in smaller companies in studios. While more renowned companies “look good” on the CV, real learning happens within a community. “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much” – Helen Keller So, when the opportunity came knocking, I took it. Design Piñata, a studio I interned with for a short period last year, approached me with a job offer. I didn’t even have to think twice to accept it. Design Piñata is a reputed studio in Kolkata that was established over a decade ago. We are small team of 6 people. They get a range of design projects from branding to social media to editorial design. Branding was one thing I hadn’t explored much and most of the projects I’ve been doing now are just that. I sure do love it! Within just a week of working, I had learnt so much about logo design. The ways to research for concept development, nitty-gritty details that I would have otherwise overlooked and certain dos and don’ts. Designing a good logo, it’s no cakewalk. Avanti, the founder and creative director, has been with me through this journey as my mentor. I appreciate her letting me lead a lot of projects and at the same time acknowledging that it’s still my first time, that I’m still learning and that I will make mistakes. While its work from home at the moment, the team often gets on video call together to talk through projects and even celebrate when needed. We plan to work from the studio at least twice a week soon and I can’t wait. As of now, I’m still hopeful that I’ll be able to do an internship abroad – one that’s not work from home. If the situation allows, maybe by early 2021. If not, that’s ok too. I’ve accepted the situation and I know whatever I do instead of that ‘international internship’, it will in some way or the other help shape my creative journey – might not be the way I hoped but maybe it’ll be for the better. Who knows?
What New Agency comes from a complete global reset, you ask? Its: New questions. New plans. New opportunities New challenges. New solutions. New perspectives. New attitude. And most importantly, new optimism. Muskaan Sethia | Graphic & Media Design
0 Comments
I know I will look at myself by the end of this DPS year thinking : " you have grown ". I started this year facing uncertainty and anxiety about my future. I didn't know where I was going and what I was doing, but I just went for it. I realised things I didn't know I was capable of : + Basics things such as building a portfolio and being happy and satisfied with the work I was presenting. + Going to interviews and defending my projects in a language that isn't mine. + Facing critics and accepting them. I know I grew from the little time I had as a DPS student already. And I know I am still growing. I have so much to learn and to see before being confident enough to take the path that I've always wanted to take. Fantine Dubreuil - GMD
https://fantinedubreuil.cargo.site DPS instagram : https://www.instagram.com/fan_dps/ It goes without saying that we are living in uNpReCeDeNtEd times; the Coronavirus pandemic has affected our lives more than we could possibly ever have imagined. What was once a small news story of a distant viral outbreak in Asia, has now manifested its way into almost every facet of our everyday lives. Even our dictionary has seen some new additions, such as terms like ‘social-distancing’, ‘flattening the curve’ and even ‘Zoom’. The global crisis has forced both individual and businesses alike to adapt and change in order to survive. Mental health was already a hot topic before the worldwide upheaval took effect. However, it has become an increasingly salient subject in the wake of events such as lockdown, which really took its toll on many. It was made clear by the government to follow their guidelines which initially only allowed for half an hour of daily outdoor exercise. Therefore, it was only natural that over 60% of adults said their mental health suffered during the first lockdown, according to mental health charity, Mind. There were also rules instilled refusing meeting with others outside of one’s household. The news showed saddening footage of family members visiting their loved-ones through windows. With all these restrictions, I hence find the term ‘agency’ somewhat of an oxymoron. That being said, there have been many positive things to arise from the virus. I was intrigued to discover how companies took the pandemic in their stride and managed to change their business models in order to survive with a real sense of agency. I don’t know about you, but I am a big fan of coffee shops. It’s often thought of as the office for many freelance workers. So when the news broke that they would be required to shut up shop for the duration of the first lockdown, I felt somewhat disheartened. One of my favourite places to go is the popular sandwich chain, Pret. Ambiance aside, I am partial to their turmeric lattes and tasty cookies. It was interesting to see how this company would embrace the challenges brought on by the virus. CEO, Pano Christou, described Covid-19 as ‘an opportunity’. Pret capitalised on the fact that take-away sales rose dramatically over the lockdown period, with 60% of 18-24 year olds claiming their use of online delivery services, such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo, has increased. Once non-essential shops were allowed to re-open, along with their revised business model of solely operating as takeaway and delivery, Pret decided to offer a ‘Heat at Home’ range. This allows their customers to enjoy their food from the safety and comfort of their own homes. Pret was also one of the first food chains to offer a significant discount to key workers, such as NHS staff. In order to try and positively impact their lives, the brand offered these essential workers free hot drinks and up to 50% off the price of all other items. Many companies were quick to follow suit and also offered discounts to key workers. However, in my opinion it was often the case that the discount was too small to really make a difference and thus could be interpreted as merely a performative gesture. Truly authentic brands, such as Airbnb, absorbed the cost of their gestures in order to really make an impact on the lives of key workers. Airbnb decided to restrict all rental bookings to key workers and were able to provide over 1,200 free stays to frontline medical workers in the UK during the initial lockdown. I am currently writing this as we are in the midst of the second lockdown in the UK. This time around the weather isn’t so pleasant as the first, and has naturally led to the majority of people spending more time indoors. It is also that time of year when brands launch their Christmas campaigns and advertisements. The highly anticipated John Lewis advert was released last week and has produced mixed feelings towards the two minute animation. I personally feel the ad has managed to encapsulate everything we need at this point in time. Unveiled on National Kindness Day, the message is simple: ‘Give A Little Love’. Typically, the John Lewis Christmas advert usually hints towards…well Christmas. However, executive director of Waitrose, James Bailey, stated ‘Our advertising this year will leave a lasting legacy and in that way we hope it won't just be for Christmas’. Throughout this calamitous year, there have been examples where a real sense of community is demonstrated, whether it was the weekly clapping for our carers, or assisting the more vulnerable. The message of giving back is one most definitely needed at this time. Whilst there are subtle hints towards the virus and the ‘new normal’ that has come about because of it, the advert does well to steer clear of adding to the constant, inescapable reminder of the virus projected by all media sources. Amazon, though, focused their entire narrative around the pandemic. Perhaps this is because they saw a gigantic surge in online deliveries since the virus threatened the existence of brick and mortar. According to the latest McKinsey report, e-commerce managed to achieve what they did in ten years in eight weeks. Eight weeks. This staggering advancement in online shopping has since made founder, Jeff Bezos, the wealthiest man in the world. The Amazon Christmas ad shone a spotlight (excuse the pun) on empowering oneself and embracing the challenges brought upon by the pandemic . This message is of equal importance to John Lewis’. Whilst Amazon may be a large contributor to the pitfall of consumerism, they sure can make a heartwarming Christmas spot. These adverts provide much needed uplifting entertainment in between one’s favourite shows. So whilst this is not at all how I envisioned my year in industry, I can only follow the examples of the brands above and try my best to embrace the unknown, to give back and accept this is the ‘new normal’ for now, at least… Abi Baker Smith
Graphic Branding & Identity @abs_graphics / @abs_fine_art After some in-depth investigation and consideration, I have come to the conclusion that my purpose is so much more and beyond the idea of Escapism. It focuses more on the wellbeing of animals and people. It upsets me when I see animals being mistreated or killed for their body parts & organs, and the impact that society/illnesses have on the human mind. I still plan to create characters and fantasy worlds that people can confined in, but by doing so I’ll be adding meaning into the illustrations by telling narratives that link to real life issues to communicate with my audience. ~Taiga Purpose Illustration Sketch~ Author: Nicole Briley
Course: Illustration and Visual Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinyinuko/ Blog: https://nicolebrileyillustrationandvisualmedia.photo.blog Involuntarily riding a roller coaster, blindfolded; my metaphor for 2020.When talking about a global reset in 2020 one cannot mask the undeniable effects of the Covid-19 crisis, paired with political, economic, and social disruption it leaves many people puzzled and the future fuzzy. Involuntarily riding a roller coaster ride, blindfolded. Is my metaphor for this year. Imagine you have been blindfolded, kidnapped, and thrown onto a ride. With no control or vision of what is to come, forced to think, sit, and wait. Hoping it ends but not knowing when it will, you are physically fluctuating in height and speed, a mix of emotions following shortly in its footsteps. It feels never ending, repetitive, until one day it stops. The blindfold is lifted, and you are set free from your confined seat, any ride after that will not match this experience. It has shaped you as a person, adapting to a new normal, is difficult at first but it gets easier and things take time, but at least there is an end to the ride. This is my own, very dramatic, way of saying that this situation is temporary, personally having this mindset helps me maintain a positive attitude and to whoever is reading this, whether it be your up or down day, I hope you may feel a sense of reassurance. It will be over one day and though both I and you have gone through different experiences within this year, do not give up because this will do you more harm then good. Trust me, I was a potato in the first lockdown, and it did not do me well. It is easy to feel discouraged when opportunities are denied but that does not mean they have disappeared, who knows where one will be in a years’ time? Adapting and making the most out of an undesired and inconvenient situation, is the new agency that comes from this global reset. Increased reliance on technology and online platforms have created a high demand for UI and UX design, helping businesses and society, which is why I have chosen to do a short course in Creative Computing. Upskilling, as well as combining practices, I want to give more space for my ideas to grow into a reality. ‘’Design is one of our most powerful tools in the Covid-19 crisis’’ – Design Emergency The quote above by Design Emergency is valid and respected, additionally I suggest that it is creativity that fuels one of the most powerful tools in the Covid-19 crisis. Without the creative thought process there is no design, concepts influenced to make this reality more practical I hope will not go unvalued. Furthermore, creativity, for many including myself during lockdown, has acted as a coping mechanism for isolated days. Such as baking, music, drawing, dancing etc. Framework is defined as a basic structure underlying a system concept or text, this global reset that is currently underway has made me question the various forms of framework. Structure is a concept, which varies from person to person, and it can change if there is a shift in mentality. For example, lockdown has broken the structure for how a person goes about their day, this does not mean a new structure is impossible or bad. It is just unfamiliar at first, new and old structures can be merged or used to grow in areas of work and lifestyle. By shifting my mentality on my idea of structure, I have found a new way of working whilst unintentionally realising the faults and successes of the old. This is my reflection and change in framework during this global reset, fear has affected my creative practice, the fear of committing to a specific industry, of not being good enough, the fear of change. If you said I was procrastinating that would be a compliment, initially I was doing nothing, and I only had myself to blame. Putting pen to paper, towards the end of the first lockdown, I realised that drawing was what started my journey as a designer and is something I have always enjoyed doing. I still have the same doubts and fears, but this is something I am passionate about, that should be what matters and if I let myself be overwhelmed by my fears it will become my reality. Currently I am improving my animations and learning to code to grow within what I relish; this process has humbled me. Patience and effort are powerful, nothing comes easy and just because I think I know something does not mean I cannot learn more. Joining a collective, brief me, and seeing my peer’s unique illustrations has further motivated me to grow in my creative practice. Everyone has their own style, learning to appreciate and detach the need to compare your work to others is something I keep having to remind myself. Instead of thinking I need to change my style, I have the mindset of what can I do to improve, this is particularly relevant with social media. I have taken on a few briefs, working for various clients, the aim is to create stronger pieces of work to add to my portfolio, alongside adapting to the clients’ needs whilst remaining true to my style. Going back to the metaphor, when you step off that rollercoaster all other rides will seem less intimidating, the same can be said for this global reset. Change is inevitable and despite everyone’s unique struggle during this rough period I believe that something positive will emerge from this experience. For me, I now view this global reset as a lesson that I can learn from rather than a punishment. So, what newfound agency comes from a global reset? I am not talking about businesses but rather what I define as power in chaotic times. You and I have the right to feel sad, down or discouraged, it is ok and normal to feel that way, but I will not let that define me. Have hope, as generic and cringe as that sounds, having hope can act as a catalyst for action and that is what I deem to be powerful, my new agency.
The idea of defining your purpose - blog post 2My purpose as a designer is to create a positive atmosphere for viewers through my creativity and designs, whether it be making them smile through storytelling, unifying communities through social design or pleasing a client. Design is a strong form of communication, the act of creating, connecting, and communicating through design work is a passion that feeds into my purpose. Within my practice, I hope to develop my storytelling through moving image, creating work that stimulates emotions. I started designing because it was my escape route, it makes me feel and I hope to create the same experience for others vimeo.com/452525386
Ran Tai r.tai0720181@arts.ac.uk Graphic and Media Design @rt_depictions vimeo.com/ranimatioon New Agency to Radically Act. Since it’s beginning, my internship gave me the possibility to look at the role of design and it’s possibilities with another vision and from another perspective. Now, I aspire to design to create a community, design to radically respond to the situation, design to create empathy and knowledge. It is not any more “art for the art sake”, but it is design to collaboratively progress. I have the possibility to undertake my internship at Lampoon Magazine, a cultural and fashion magazine based in Milan. Before in studio, now remotely, I have worked as a graphic designer, image research, print coordinator and social media manager. I went alone for a week near Bologna to direct the printing process of The Commitment Issue, the 500 pages magazine by Lampoon. Before the pandemic returned, marking the closure of the city, I had the possibility to meet a group of Italian based artists, writers and singers. With their perspective in relation to the one from Lampoon, I had the possibility to professionally see what means to be in the industry. I saw aspiration, desire, sometimes disillusionment but at the base of everything radical activism. Dedicating my time in reading the magazine’s articles in order to find the images for the galleries, I have now developed knowledge and understand around the topic of sustainability, that is filtered by the aesthetic sense of Lampoon. One of the articles that have been published reports: “How can we enact generosity, how can it be relational?” (Cornelia Lauf from We must become idealist to confront this world, 2020). This question has become essential in my everyday work, the engagement I put into what I produce, and the images I research for the magazine. I can no longer conceive a design which is for my self-satisfaction, my ego, for an idea of momentary success, or just a design to create something. Hans-Ulrich Obrist in conversation with Stefano Boeri makes the point: “We must become idealist to confront this world". Maybe there was a time when creating just to aesthetically please the eyes could have worked. On the contrary, after this pandemic time in which the only perspective is the incessant increase of the temperature with its consequences, that way of designing is arid, suffocating, and voiceless. Unfortunately, having this in mind is not always simple to end the day satisfied with what I have done. As my role is image research and social media manager, sometimes what I do looks pointless to me. Every day the same topic and the normal routine. Contrarily, after three months is clear to me that the study of a subject is the basis. It is important to know what is being done and why, know what has been done before, and know the cultural context in which we live to open a dialogue. A sense of urgency followed by the desire to actively respond has been raised by the constant research on the topic discussed and curiosity this raised in me. “Change today is to take the reality and make it better by being honest”, said the creative director in one of our first meetings.
However, as it has been said during an online meeting I attended by Grace Francis, the Chief Experience Officer at Karmarama London, this desire to radically respond to the cultural context we live into, can become a loop. The discussed topic is destined to become old-fashion and normalised. The created relationships in the office, and with the artists I met in Milan, made me realise that to radically act for a long-term purpose I can no longer conceive myself as a single designer. We are the revolution, there is no time for despair but only for mutual stimulation. By Gabriela Grozavu In the view of the pandemic, my trajectory for DPS year changed as I came back to my home country Romania. What I thought at the beginning that it’s going to last for 3 months maximum, it is clearly that it’s length is extending with even more changes in our lives. |
Archives
December 2021
Categories |