Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Professional Studies About my report 10/12/13

I am going to write my report on working as an Arts Evaluator in the community have decided to write my report on this because its where I have done my placement so I think its beneficial to be able to talk about my experience and how the placement has helped me to develop my skills and knowledge about presenting art and also working with different artists and also the community.


I could write a cover letter to so I could apply for a job this experience would help me to right a cover letter, I could also mention this in a job interview as the experience I have had and what I did in this time and what I gained from this experience and what I could bring to the company.   

Tuesday, 3 December 2013

business

looking at setting up my own business i don't think i am suitable i would like to have a wage so i no what money is coming in.

Professional Studies -Self-employment tax national insurance legal issues and basic planning

Today i have looked at:

Paying tax and action insurance
No what is required from keep a record 
Tax and national insurance 
Set business expenses against tax bill
Only tax on net expenses 
Tax alliance to use before you pay tax
Form to send to tax
Self-assessment form online
National insurance -normal payment class two
Class 4 contributions
Keep record of
Sales and takings
Purchase and expenses
Records show profit loss
Health insurance
Public liability insurance
Employment of people further insurance  
Copyright law
CRB checks
Vat register –you can claim vat back
Basic business plan
It will help focus aims targets set aims
You need a business plan for funding
Benefits
Basic Business Planning
Business plan stating:
·         mission/vision
·         the history of the business
·         the product and the service - unique selling point = USP, what is the product, who will buy it)
·         market research - is there a demand for the producr, what research have you done, field research where to question the public, describe yur customer, describe the characteristics of the customer
·         the market – what is the size of the market is it growing describe the target customer and competition
·         research and development – what work have you done so far on your product
·         basis of operation – sole trader, premises, staff
·         management - have you got a management team, who is involved, how many people, the staffs background and commitment, staff qualifications

·         cost – initial set up costs, on-going costs, funding requirement or potential sources

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Professional Studies 26/11/2013 Self Employment

Self-employment
What is self-employment, where would I choose to work what materials would I need to get? Who would I contact after I graduate some people choose to work for themselves and also work for a company, I may choose to be self-employed, I even may choose to work for a agent. Then I would be responsible for invoices to the company. If I was a designer maker I would have to sort my own tax out etc.
The types of self-employment I could look at:
·         Sole trader
·         Partnership
·         A co-operative  
·         Limited company
·         Franchise

Realities of self-employment
You have to put in a lot of hours but you can choose where ever you want to work, I could work from home, hire a studio and I could also work anywhere in the world. If I worked for myself I can do what I want and I don’t have to follow trends whereas if I worked for someone else I would have to follow their brief. I would have to brand myself and my products I would look at my business cards and marketing material I would have to tell the HMRC, to register any sale I make, I may not always have a regular income from been self-employed, whilst getting on your feet you can claim working and child tax credit. There is lots of help out there. If you work from home its important you inform the correct people, it can be lonely working from home but you could employ people to work with you. You can use some of the bills and offset it against your tax. Studios you can network and socialize with others there may be open days to sell your work, you can discuss issues with other designers. Your own shop or gallery could be a good place to work, you have to consider public insurance in case anyone has an accident, but you have a great opportunity to sell work as you make it. It will be an investment to start off with.

Where can you work?
·         From home
·         A studio

·         Your own shop or gallery

Devolving contacts
Social media is important and as a personal assistance can be useful to get your name out there both public and trade can see this word of mouth and press can be very important so you can get the word out about you so you want it to be good. Blogs can be good and using copyright to protect your work, work experience can be very useful and helps you develop contacts you could even get a job from this. 

Setting up
A business plan is a way to visualize your ideas and get some clear ideas of what you are doing you can claim job seekers allowance when setting up your business and there’s also quite a bit of free money out there to help you set up and there is lots of information on the website. You can ask banks for a loan but you have to pay it back, you could get a loan there is also national funding agencies that you can look at that will help you. 









Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Professional studies Cv's 19/11/13

CV

Extend knowledge and develop CV
Techniques for finding information                                                          
Types of CV's
Expectations of industry
Use it software
Gather information on yourself
Use word
What type are there
Summary of personal details, you need one to give to employers a chance to sell yourself
Jobs always for CV
You can hand them out in trade shows people that you select
List 4 good and bad points
Bad
1.       Providing irrelevant personal information
2.       Burying important information
3.       Spelling errors, typos and poor grammar
4.       Lying or misleading information

            Good

·         Well presented
·         Making the most of experienced
·         Keep cv up-to-date
·         Include references

What should be on a CV

Name
Personal details address phone number email blog or website
Profile and objectives
Skills keep relevant
Education reverse order
Employment
Interests
References one academic one from employment and one from work experience
Keep it simple to read
Layout shows flare for creativity
Keep too to pages as max
Short and simple
Highlight important facts
Page one must have impact
Font size and layout must be readable
Check spelling and grammar
Make a visual impact  
Academic language
Cover letters are important
Quality paper

CV types
Conventional
Skills based
Academic
Electronic save as a PDF file
European
Scientific
Creative CV

Skills based CV
·         Communication
·         Teamwork
·         Flexibility
·         Initiative  
·         Leadership
·         Commitment
·         Interpersonal
·         Numeracy
·         Problem solving


*Always back up what you say 


Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Professional Studies Copyright 12/11/13

Copyright
You cannot own an idea only the expression and documentation. Copyright lasts the designer’s lifetime plus 70 years after they decease. This intellectual property can be bought, sold or licenced Copyright does not protect the ides for work, only the work itself is fixed, e.g. in writing. Copyright is difficult with design, one slight change can change a design significantly causing copyright issues, e.g. ready to wear is copied by many high street stores.
Designer Makers and Designers have different copyright issues:
As a designer maker you retain the copyright and can make multiple products with the same imagery. A designer maker must be aware of bigger companies being influenced by you and using your ideas. You must copyright your own work. You must also make sure you are not influenced to the point where copyright may be infringed by yourself in new designs by becoming inspired by/including others intellectual property in the work produced by yourself.
A designer sells an idea or prototype, the copyright fir these ideas or prototype is usually sold. You sell the idea as a designer! By selling the copyright a designer receives a bigger fee. You cannot use the same motifs on different design/garment shapes even if it is a different colour. But if the first motif was printed and used on different designs but changed considerably this is ok.
Tips to avoid copyright issues:
Don’t use images found on the internet or in other published material as they will sue you for copyright, thus use primary work e.g. go and take your own photographs.
Acid are a company associated with intellectual property, also Dacs. Read up on these for more copyright information.
How to copyright work:
On the reverse of your work/photographs/photocopies mark with a ‘c’ with a circle around it ‘©’, your name and date of creation.
Place images in an envelope, seal them and post them to yourself. Keep the sealed envelope with the date and stamp unbroken. This way you can open the envelope in front of a solicitor if copyright issues emerge.
Keep your blog up-to-date so everyone can see when posts were made with the date and time displayed. Images of work on your blog and can also help copyright
Save folders of digital images with titles, such as Autumn/Winter 2013, and date modified will be proof when the work was completed.
Keep a digital log up-to-date including sizes of material, material used etc.
Print photographs with the date in corner or on the reverse.

For more information see the Design council website which explains copyright clearly (designcouncil.org.uk/resources-and-events/designers/guides/legal-issues/)

Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Professional studies 05/11/13 Trade shows, sales paperwork, presenting yourself and your work

A trade fair..... 

Is a good way to market yourself, there are big events that can be held in exhibition halls, trade shows are international events, product areas are linked to together for better sales,  a trade show is an international platform to sell your work, it’s a great opportunity to meet lots of people, it can also be a social event, it’s a good launch pad for new collections, in trade shows there are too main seasons, for fashion and interior, samples can be shapes, rectangular, or in shape of the garments, you can sell and talk big orders on the stands, there is lots of different markets to sell your work to on the stand, some people will be looking out to see what’s happening, you can apply for trade shows, but sometimes you wouldn't be accepted depending on the ‘look’ the trade show wants. You work doesn't have to relate to trends, some trade shows only sell designs or products some trade shows will mix designer makers and designers together.  In Trade fairs designs can be sold at Indigo, Vision, Surtex, Heimtex, Decorex and Direction. Presentation of my work, buyers is normally employed from companies, I would sell my work at a trade fair price, I will sell my work presented in collections, and qualities must be a high quality. Samples are often goo d to have on show, then the work can be ordered I could also take a brochure of my products, you can put together repeats to show customers how my work could be used as a repeat, I will present all of my work on white paper headers.  It’s very important how you look your stand, you could put business cards on your stand, packing is very important you must be organised I will need good communication skills and I must have realistic time scales.  It’s important I take into account different cultures and different people, Paperwork, how do I want my business cards to looks, invoices, and terms of sale is important would I have order forms, do I off discount for more than one, receipts are important. Have lots of stationary, I.e. black pens, Look at designing a press release in case you are asked for one. After the show I would need invoices, delivery notes, receipts. Funding with trade shows, at college there pay for stand but when you have finished you look at regional funding options, north east finance northeast access to finance, Northumberland business survives, UKTI help fund trade shows and many more.   

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Professional studies 22/10/13 Identifying customer markets, Materials and Techniques, Design brief and freelancing and working to commissions time management and difficult clients


Identifying customer markets, Materials and Techniques, Design brief and freelancing and working to commissions time management and difficult clients
A target market is a specific group of customers I would sell my work to. I would be aiming to look at the higher end market. To find out who would be my target market I would look at age/sex/style etc.
The sort of techniques I would look at is embroidery digital print or screen printing I would look at the profit I would make and how much the material would cost me. I would have to check out the market I would sell to this would influence how I would cost my product and how many I would make. If I was been commissioned I would have to look again at costing and look at discussing this with the client. It is very important to look at the budgeting. I would look at where can be cheapest to have my work produced, that maybe different parts of the world.
When working with clients it’s very important to look at ideas together, it’s important to say if changes are made this will cost them, I would need to make sure everyone is happy, I would look at the aims and objectives, where does the client see the work going, how much time is there to complete the project, time management is very important.
Freelancing I could do this independently would I be on a daily or hourly rate, how much I would I charge, I could research different designers and find out how much other people are charging taking into account I am a new designer and my name isn’t out there. The problem with freelancing is I would have to fund all travel costs, it takes a lot of time, it is important to be confident about my work it freelancing alone I would get a 100% of the money. But I would have to chase people up for payments. Independently I could build up good relationships.
I could use an agent but the agent would take a cut, An agent would do the traveling and selling then I could spend all of my time designing there also isn’t a cost form travel and trade shows with an agent but all of the feedback would be second hand, the agent can take a cut of 40/50% of my work it would be good to negotiate a price. It can be hard to find an appropriate agent. Some agents visit trade shows trust would be very important and communication would have to be exceptional.        
How would my client find me I would have to look at advertising, where I display my work, this can be important for getting noticed. I would talk to the client so a good relationship can be established. Every commission should have a brief and a budget which includes a deadline, how will the work be presented always remember a budge, I could create a plan and tick things of as I go, contact the client of there is a problem, keeping on top of time management is very important.  

Getting paid I would need to think do I need any payment upfront will this depend on the project and if I have any money to run with it, I would need to sort out payment times upfront how long can I wait, if I was at the end of the payment date and I haven’t been paid I could send a polite email to remind them. It can help by getting everything in writing, keep a track of email could help in this stage. Have face to face contact often could be through Skype meetings, I would need to listen to the client their maybe fussy I need to remember there are the client.  

Saturday, 19 October 2013

Evaluation training!

Today was the last day of training for been an evaluator, (I am going to be evaluating projects for juice festival) my job is to evaluate 6 gallery spaces all by  different artists, an anime event and also a circus event with the influence of art, I really can't wait! 

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Professional studies 15/10/13

This week i have been thinking about report topics i have decided as i am going to volunteer at Juice Festive week, it would be a good idea to to base my report on this as its also my work experience for year two, i am going to be evaluating other peoples projects, i have recently taken part in workshops to teach me the skills so i can apply myself to the post professionally i have one more training session to go then i will be class as a 'young evaluate'.

I  have also have spent some of my time researching artists such as Esme winter,Mini Morderns,Rachel Taylor,Jessica Hogarth,Noemi Paul and Alison Willoughby this has extended my knowledge and also inspired my studio work.

From last weeks session i have been researching business plans and financing from businesses i have also been asking my mum for business advice. I feel its important to keep researching for new information that can help me in later life.
   

Tuesday, 8 October 2013

Professional studies encounter

Today in professional studies we have learnt the following

Its important to include the following in an invoice Invoice ,Name,Contact,Work done,Date,Payment terms,
Customer address, Details 

I also learnt how important it is to have a contract either by you or the company, before you start the job

You must keep up to date with all of with all your work throughout all aspects like business, invoices, contracts, payment ect..  

Here is a costing account example

£25 per hour for studio work, time the cost by 2, then the wholesale price by 2.5 equals the retail price you could sell your work at....

Sunday, 19 May 2013

Monday, 22 April 2013

Busy as a bumble bee today :)

Well Koda trace time well I did loads today made the graph drew on the graph then traced onto the Koda trace and even managed to paint the dark areas ready to print... What a busy day busying around like a bumble bee.... All worth it!















Wednesday, 3 April 2013

Scarfs

Well I decided to have the bank holiday to start a small art project for myself, I decided to create a scarf- using hand painting.











Saturday, 30 March 2013

Inspiration

Looking through all my samples and research from London I have decided I am going to try and create children's interiors

Here is some of my ideas to see how finals could work painting and crayons....



Hand Painting

Painted red roses to look "regal"

Sunday, 24 March 2013

A productive day

Well what a productive day, today has been, contextual studies done professional studies done to date and now my final fashion embroidery is done, and one painting finished! :)

London

Well we are all back from London had such a good time I didn't want to come home, Chelsea Harbour design centre was amazing it made me want to work so much harder I am full of inspiration, the food, coffee and wine was also good!!, Me and a couple of my friends got offered an internship for a company that creates rugs for millionaires I would love to go for it! Maybe next summer when I have more experience in the design field, the V & A was good an I enjoyed the fact I must have understood contextual studies more than I thought, in this time I also popped to the Natural History Museum which I love!! Then I choose on the last day to go Camdon Market which may not seem very arty but I saw the most beautiful hand painted t-shirts which gave me some ideas of what to do in my work... I would like to say a massive thank you to Claire and Julie my tutors for taking us (even though their probs wont see this) it was much appreciated!!!



























Thursday, 7 March 2013

New words

After all I have changed my word to ethereal "dreamy" that's me.... Here is some images I have drawn some are still in the process of been worked on















Sunday, 3 March 2013

2nd half of new project rather excited :D

Well I have decided to choose "contained" as my concept word and focus on an old suitcase filled with objects that help your mind travel i truly believe you can be anywhere you want or be with anyone you too be in any dimension!

Saturday, 2 March 2013

Hours passing by

Working very hard on my latest skirt design after 51 hours I think it's finally done!











Monday, 28 January 2013

 


Some of my UNI work

 


Taking part in this extra workshop in event week was great fun and i learnt so many new skills thanks CCAD