How It Works & What We Expect

Words by &y, typeset by Ted.

Pertinent for us all as we embrace the new academic year.

Typefaces: Font Bureau’s Farnham and Monotype’s Masqualero

Colours: Yellow, Magenta and Black. (Cyan is self-isolating.)

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We will set you a series of problems to solve

We will interrogate your ideas and thinking

We want you to be open minded – about everything

We want you to be interested in everything: – film, music, art, architecture, exhibitions, books, magazines, design, advertising, marketing, radio, internet, podcasts, blogs, social behaviour and wider culture

We want you to embrace research and understand the importance of research

We want you to draw, sketch, collect and start compiling your ideas & thoughts

We want you to use technology to your ends and not let it use you

We want you to take risks, and not to be afraid of taking risks

We will point you in relevant directions

We want you to realise you are not at school

We will teach you how to learn 

We want you to learn off and from each other

We want you to bond as a group

We want you to be competitive as a group

We want you to be proud of the course you are on

We want you to socialise as a group 

We want you to get to know the other years above

We want you to consider the bigger picture as well as the minute details

We want you to embrace and understand the subject area

We want you to look at things from all angles, both literally and laterally

We want you to be ‘on the ball’

We want you to read and understand – all forms of media

We want you to rationalise and contextualise

We want you to push yourself 

We want to see your personality develop through your work

We want you to win awards

We want you to embrace self-initiated study

We want you to be focused while in the studio and not distracted

We want you to listen

We want you to be punctual

We want you to be organises

We want you to question and debate

We want you to be vocal

We want you to argue

We want you to surprise us

We want you to have an opinion and to form opinions

We want you to be interested and inquisitive

We want you to be obsessed by detail, craft and presentation

We want you to measure things

We want you to enjoy it and have fun 

We want you to be the future

We want you to leave us with an excellent folder of work

We want you to get a job

We don’t want a lot do we!

Hegarty on... lessons in creativity

Spotted by &y, this is a frankly brilliant resource for the budding creative. See the link at the end.

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“The greatest strategy you can employ in a communication industry is telling the truth. The only thing you have to do is to make it interesting. And that is the challenge of creativity.”

– John Hegarty

Have a face-to-face meeting with one of the most famous names in the advertising industry, and the co-founder of Bartle Bogle Hegarty in his iconic London office. Hegarty On… is an immersive experience about creativity, art, philosophy, and advertising.

Sir John will see you now

809 seconds of sound advice

The recording below covers the 5 key areas of the design process and is an aid to improving any budding students day to day working practice.

Placement Review – Glorious Creative

The above extract is from Sarah Gregory’s current placement review as she nears the end of her 2 month stint at Glorious Creative, click here to read the full blog post.

Ben Tallon interviews &y Bainbridge

As regular readers will know, we recently mentioned that Ben Tallon who interviewed Jack Renwick during conference week had also interviewed UCLan graphic design's senior lecturer, Andy Bainbridge. The episode is now available so please head on over to Arrest All Mimics and have a listen.

Oh Sh*t… What Now

Former conference week speaker and friend of the course Craig Oldham is hosting an event created specifically for students, graduates and young creatives, i.e. the readers of this website.

Building on his recently released book, it will be an invaluable opportunity to glean some advice, tips and first hand experience. 

The event is free, is on May 24th in Manchester, and at the Whitworth which itself is worth a trip over either way.

Oh Sh*t… What Now? attempts to make a genuine and honest attempt at bridging the gap into the creative industry. And though many might think this was an already well discussed topic, the reality is that the problem is almost never fully addressed in a meaningful, insightful, human manner. The majority of advice available to young and aspiring creatives is a sort-of feedback loop of inane maxims and idle advice, constantly spinning the same strained clichés.

Craig's aim is to try and remedy this. In his honest and direct (Yorkshire) manner.

Book your tickets here.

Ben Tallon interviews Jack Renwick

Having spoken on the same day at conference week, Ben Tallon took the opportunity to interview Jack Renwick for his podcast Arrest All Mimics. Have a listen.

Both of their talks are available at the Uclan Graphic Design group's video page.

Jack has some great insights on what she looks for in new talent and tells some good stories of getting started herself.

Make sure to follow the podcast, as Andy B has also recorded an interview to be available shortly.