You've got (real) mail task

Present documentation of the artefact and proof of postage. 

The aim is to make a meaningful, lasting impression.

Explain the rationale for sending to the person in question.

Let the context of who you choose inform the design.

Studios/designers to look into for 'You've got (real) mail':

Kati Forner
Knoed Creative

AesopStud.io London

Anagrama Studio

ContentFormContext

Urszula Krasny

Arithmetic

Lotta Nieminen
Sarah Thorne

Agency lg2

STUDIO CHAPEAUX

Gosia Perkowska

Maria [sin acento] Romero

DekoRatio Branding & Design Studio 

Szani Mészáros

Experience, contacts and mentorship

No experience? Make your own.

Examples:

The Cool Bus - A group of 5 friends who converted an old school bus into a design studio and travelled the US rather than working unpaid internships in NYC.

Søren - He created his self-branding using animation which went viral. It had reached and gain the interest of design studios and magazines.

The Pop Up Agency - The aim is to solve briefs for clients within 48 hours of being given the brief.

They also challenged themselves to do 15 different briefs whilst travelling to 15 different cities, within 15 weeks.

If you're going to take risks, make sure the rewards are truly worth it.

All these designers tap into their creators interest and passion.

Talk it out

How do I establish myself as a professional?

• Stop calling yourself a student online.
• Don't call yourself a recent graduate.
• Sell yourself - play up on your strengths and not your weaknesses.

Fill your portfolio with projects that can something to you. Not competition briefs. Your portfolio is supposed to tell a story. It should show that you are a problem finder, not a solver.

Do some projects that have real world applications and test them.

Ikigai

 

How do I secure  placement, internship or junior position?

Make a real effort to stand out.

Show interest in their work, explain why it interests, influences and parallels with what you're working on. 

Never ask if you can work unpaid.

How can I put myself out there?

Networking is being open to meeting new people whose ideas you admire and goals you may share.

Do it on your own terms.

A list of people whose work you admire, who you think could open doors and who you think you'd like to meet. Contact them.

Visiting Professional - The Design Kids (Frankie Ratford)

Frankie Ratford was originally born in the UK and moved to live in Australia. She founded 'The Design Kids' where she has a team of 31 people to manage. TDK was set up as when she was a Graphic Design student herself; she saw the struggle that came with being a Graphic Designer, in and out of studying. She herself was unsure about what to do after uni, how to contact professionals, studios and how to get work as a designer, this then inspired her to help others. The concept of TDK is to help aspiring student Graphic Designers put their work out there and help them get in contact with the designers that influence their design practice.

Frankie and her team are looking to travel to different countries and talk to Graphic Design students about her work and how the TDK could help them too. TDK have a host in every city with events, workshops and exhibitions where Graphic Design students can attend and show their work, get into contact with likeminded people, learn new skills or to learn more about the industry.

TDK website allows design students to browse events, workshops or exhibitions in different cities that they can get involved in, help them find internships/placements and how to overall expand their portfolio and design knowledge.

Frankie also has a TDK Instagram page where she allows students to submit their work, to in which TDK will share to their followers to help the student be known and seen by people in the design industry.

Frankie has travelled to different cities in her infamous van(s) where she lives whilst on the road, travelling to different countries. Frankie goal is to be the biggest design resource in the world.