Progressive Journal by Jen Hingley

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Graphic Design / Web Design / Moving Image

hi@jenhingley.com

+44 (0) 7823 336 926 jenhingley.com

twitter.com/jenhingley

Typefaces: Ostrich Sans and Clarendon Layout inspired by a staircase

Introduction

INTRODUCTION I decided at the begining of this year, to

pursue the briefs that I find most interest-

really focus on the subjects that interest

ing. Good ideas are the basis of everything,

me the most. Music, web design and mov-

but I find I tend to lose a bit of interest in

ing image are all things that I haven’t done

them if I can’t make them work for real - I

that much with during the bulk of my time

feel that this is what’s enabled me to have

on D&AD, but are all things I see myself

a successful final term’s worth of work, as

pursuing in the future - so it would have

I picked a medium that I was comfortable

been very silly to not do anything related to

working within.

these in the final part of the course.

But I’m glad things have worked

up a strong web portfolio - which I have

out the way that they have, over my three

started doing by taking on the extra pro-

years I’ve been pushed out of my pre-de-

ject for The Night Light, treating it as if it

gree comfort zone of being foremost a self-

is a ‘freelance placement’ (if there is such

taught web designer. I’ve built up what I

a thing). I realised at some point in the

think is a strong foundation of experience

year while watching people put together

in a variety of different formats. I’ve found

their portfolio websites, that there are not

through my print work that I have a real in-

many people with existing web knowledge

terest in layout design on a basic level - and

on the course. So my best bet for getting a

feel I’ve been able to apply that influence

job in the real world (as these people will

to every single project I’ve done, no matter

form some of the competition) is to focus on

what the format.

what I can do that other people can’t.

Another of my aims, is to build

From the point of doing the Fu-

ture Shock book covers last year, the po-

I have had a busy year and am pleased to

tential of technology has been a great in-

say that I’ve got myself involved in a lot of

fluence on me. While some of the projects

extra stuff, from moving image workshops,

since then were delivered as conceptual

to conferences, exhibitions and interviews.

‘mock-ups’, it’s been in the last term - by

This journal documents them all, hope-

making a website that I’ve truely been able

fully giving you a bit of perspective as to

to use technology effectively. By calling for

how they have helped me to progress as a

people to submit content for Synaesthetic.

designer.

I find that technical knowledge

matched with design is the best way to

JEN HINGLEY GRAPHIC DESIGN CV Email: hi@jenhingley.com Web: http://jenhingley.com Phone: +44 (0) 7823 336 926

Address: 306 Orient House / Granby Row / Manchester / M1 7AP / United Kingdom

I am a passionate graphic designer and creative thinker, looking for work experience and future employment. I am due to graduate from Manchester School of Art in June 2011 and am eager to hit the ground running armed with some real industry experience to compliment my existing portfolio and skill set. I am a confident user of Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator and Dreamweaver with basic experience of Flash, After Effects, and Premiere. I also have a good understanding of most things web, especially HTML, CSS, PHP and working with Wordpress themes.

QUALIFICATIONS

MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY BA (Hons) Design & Art Direction: In progress (2008 - 2011) MANCHESTER COLLEGE OF ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY Foundation Degree in Art and Design: Merit (2007 - 2008) THAMES VALLEY UNIVERSITY SIXTH FORM ACADEMY A Levels: Graphic Design: B / English Language & Literature: C / Media Studies: D (2005 - 2007) DIDCOT GIRLS’ SCHOOL 10 GCSEs, 10 A* - C Passes including Graphics, English and Music (2000 - 2005)

EXPERIENCE

THE NIGHT LIGHT - WEB DESIGNER (2011) I have been taken on as the sole web designer for an online magazine that publishes stories, poems, plays and artwork. I am currently in the progress of completing the wordpress based site, due for launch in May 2011. FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER (2006 - Present) I have worked on and off as a club photographer, both for textmi.com and Moho Live. I also have had photos published in the national and local press, and on websites such as perezhilton.com. VARIOUS RETAIL POSITIONS (2006 - Present) I have worked as a Sales Assistant to support my academic studies for many years. Working various shops over the last five years, including Jigsaw, Reiss, Karen Millen, Hugo Boss, Hobbs and Fat Face. I have developed a strong sales record, while also gaining confidence and experience in personal shopping, visual merchandising and brand awareness.

EXHIBITIONS

FUTURE EVERYTHING - HANDMADE: DIGITAL | DIY | CRAFT - SYNAESTHETIC.CO.UK (2011) My work has been selected for an exhibition taking place at Victoria Baths in Manchester as part of Future Everything Art and Music festival. It is intended as an ‘art direction experiment’, asking people to submit musical interpretations to a silent video that I have made after devising a way to represent sound visually.

IF YOU REQUIRE ANY REFERENCES, THEN PLEASE JUST ASK.

Contents

Introduction

Experiences

Design / Art Events

Exhibitions Aneesh Kapoor

Recorders

Unspooling

Shrink

The Data Dimension

Handmade: Digital | DIY | Craft

Networking Events Northern Digitals

Manchester Design Symposium

Talks / Lectures

DR. ME

Helen Butterworth

Joanna Niemayer

Owt Creative

Abram Games, Naomi Games

Microdot

Trevor Johnson

Teal Triggs

Paul Gorman, Barney Bubbles

Vaughan Oliver

Russell W Hancock

Future Everything Conference

Industry

McCann Metro

Elle Internship Interview

Spin

Pentagram

The E Word

Urban Outfitters

Artifacts

DR. ME Zine / Postcards

Book Club Zine

Designersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Identities

YCN Annual

The Universal Sigh

OWT 6: Differences

Progression

Personal Design Identity

Online Portfolio

Internet Presence

Logo

Physical Portfolio

Writing

Viral Photography

Workshops

Ian Anderson

North West Film Archive

Johnny Hardstaff

Project Work

Graphic Design 2

Dead Pan

I See Movement in the Darkness

Inkling

Simplifile

Final Term

The Night Light

Music & Image

Sound Videos

Future Everything Idents

Synaesthetic

Future Everything: Handmade

Results

Audio/Visual

iPhone Spectrograph

End

63 06

Experiences > Design/Art Events > Exhibitions

Exhibitions

April 2011 - Manchester Art Gallery manchestergalleries.org

Aneesh kapoor This exhibition, currently being held at

Possibly my favourite piece though was a

Manchester Art Gallery presents a selec-

simple area of the wall that had been ex-

tion of early and more recent works by

truded, as if from the other side of the wall

British artist Aneesh Kapoor. Admittedly,

someone had pressed a round object into

I didn’t know who he was by name – but af-

the wall and it had changed form to allow

ter doing a bit of background research for

it to happen. I don’t have a photo of it (no

this write-up he’s one of the artists that you

photos allowed) but it wasn’t until I stood

then think ‘gosh’ and realise that a lot of

directly in front of it that I found it truly

his work is really well known.

striking. Producing a smooth, weird unexplainable and unidentifiable gradient. I

I was really struck by the way that his

found it the most visually pleasing thing in

works affect the atmosphere of the exhi-

there by far. It didn’t make me scratch my

bition space. You can tell that the light-

head as much.

ing and positioning of the pieces has been

I really enjoyed all of his work on display

very well thought out, giving some things

though, I found it fascinating how art can

a quality that makes you unsure if you are

affect the atmosphere of a space so much.

actually seeing negative space or a more 3d object. The piece on the left, in real life actually looks like it has no depth to it. I spent some time staring at it wondering if it did or not, but couldn’t work it out.

October 2010 - Manchester Art Gallery manchestergalleries.org

RECORDERS Recorders was a major interactive art /

ets or filmed you. As someone who finds it

digital exhibition by Mexican-Canadian

hard to get a lot of modern art, I found this

artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, taking place

show really refreshing and visually entic-

at Manchester Art Gallery over winter

ing. The possibility of technology, and it’s

2010/11.

capacity to push boundaries is something that really interests me, plus I’m a great

This was an exhibition that relied on audi-

fan of art that involves people in a positive

ence participation to exist, some exhibits

way / social experiments. So this exhibition

filmed you, while others took your pulse,

really made me happy. I wish more people

asked you for the contents of your pock-

would do things like this.

October 2010 - Manchester Cornerhouse cornerhouse.org

UNSPOOLING This exhibition looks at the nature of film and challenges it. Film has been re-contextualised in many different ways - it’s been reassembled, changed into archives and adapted by each different artist - in each case creating something personal and entirely new. From an art direction perspective, I enjoy the notion of being able to turn something on it’s head by changing or reappropriating aspects of it. There were lots of references to specific scenes of films, like Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 A Space Odyssey (pictured), taking slit scans from the film and displaying them in a way that represents the ideas and themes represented within it.

Experiences > Design/Art Events > Exhibitions

4th October 2010 - Manchester Freemasons Hall andfestival.org.uk

shrink Part of Abandon Normal Devices Festival.

with the university brief we’d been set

Such a weird Art installation, involving

called ‘static’ – which ended up being about

volunteers being shrink wrapped and sus-

fear rather than isolation or stillness. But

pended in giant sheets of plastic, breathing

it was the sense of peace the participants

through air tubes. Truly a visual experi-

seemed to be in while they were experi-

ence like no other.

encing being shrink wrapped that was the most striking thing for me. Plus they all

At the time it seemed to tie in quite well

seemed fine at the end of it.

11th May 2011 - Manchester Piccadilly Place futureeverything.org

the data dimension Due to my Synaesthetic project’s involve-

are being interpreted by the viewer, but

ment with Future Everything, I have got

technology can also interpret data and then

an artist’s pass – which gives me the same

visualise it itself, evident in the ‘Locus’

access to the festival, music events and

mapping software, that represents articles

conference that a delegate pass would do. I

of news on the Guardian’s website in spa-

decided to head to the opening of ‘The Data

tial fashion.

Dimension’, an exhibition taking place at Piccadilly place on the opening night.

Other things of note were the famed ‘iPad

The exhibition was really varied,

light paintings’ that have been doing the

but the common ground of course was data

rounds on inspiration blogs as-of-late, Fel-

– a reoccurring theme within the festival’s

tron Annual Reports (which have been

art and conference events. Many of the

around for ages, but reading them and see-

pieces on show dealt with data visualisa-

ing the quality of print in real life makes

tion, (Feltron Annual Reports, Data Maps,

them 1000% more amazing). And the Abso-

Trending charts, Nutritional Values of Art

lut FlavorCollider, which uses a headset to

Works) and many dealt with data interpre-

monitor your brain activity and manages to

tation. I think there’s a difference between

work out from that which drink you should

these two things, they can be combined

have. I was really intrigued by this, but by

within a piece of work but can also be sepa-

the time I got to the front of the queue they

rate.

must have given up with it as these head-

For

instance,

Nathalie

Mie-

sets were nowhere to be seen : (.

bach’s: ‘A Duet of Blizzards and Hurricane

Noel II’ encompassed both these things,

ing, but slightly let down by the noise levels

All in all it was pretty interest-

firstly being a visualisation of weather data

of visitors (I guess this was a given) mean-

and secondly having musical interpreta-

ing that most of the sound was unbearable,

tions that you could listen to presented

even through headphones. I’m sorry that I

alongside the visuals. Of course, by the na-

didn’t have time to re-visit the exhibition at

ture of the pieces being on display – they

a quieter time.

Experiences > Design/Art Events > Exhibitions

14th May 2011 - Manchester Victoria Baths futureeverything.org/art/handmade

handmade: Digital | diy | craft Aside from being lucky enough to be a

ating sound artworks - using electronic

part of the event myself (see page??), this

instruments and microphones. The main

Future Everything event showcased an ar-

piece on display was striking - in that it

ray of different examples of digital DIY in-

consisted of several little pocket fans, sus-

novation. From 3D printers, to giant digital

pended from the ceiling, which are being

etch-a-sketches, to audrino workshops. It

propelled around chaotically by their own

was really interesting to see what people

power. There were several microphones

can achieve by themselves in their spare

set up around the pool and each fan made

time. And has encouraged me to think am-

a slightly different sound when they ‘flew’

bitiously about my conceptual ideas and

near one. Creating an effect that is not un-

that nothing is really impossible.

like the sound of Bees.

Although self-generating sound

the digital craft fair, featuring many differ-

artworks are a very different thing, bring-

ent kinds of zines, plus OWT (p.?? Who’s

ing sound into art is relevant to my music &

lattest issue I am lucky enough to be fea-

image project, as especially for me - it helps

tured within). There was also a zine work-

make art less subjective by giving it a tan-

shop, which looked like a lot of fun, with

gible outcome. The ‘random’, natural sound

various materials on hand so that you could

pattern created by these electrical fans was

create your own Zine to take home with

brilliant and got me thinking about how

you.

this would look if you mapped it out. Or

There was also a Zine fair above

In the main pool, Anthony Hall

how it would sound if you found a way to

had set up an art installation called ‘Physi-

‘tune’ each fan into the notes of a chord (by

cal Oscillators’, which from looking at this

changing it’s speed or size), to make more

and his other work, concerns self gener-

of a kinetic song.

networking events

23rd March 2011 - Manchester Deaf Institute northerndigitals.com

northern digitals Ben Holden (Cahoona), Adam Todd +

Having people do talks in 10 minutes or

Brendan Dawes (Magnetic North), Trevor

less is pretty refreshing, with the excep-

Johnson, NoChintz, Chris Gaffey and

tion of Trevor Johnson – whose back cata-

Mark Jermyn (One69a) all talked about

logue of design is so extensive and rich

the things that inspire them. These were

that you can’t really cut it down in such a

all ‘quick fire’ talks taking no longer than

way (though he recently did a talk at our

10 minutes each. This all happened at the

university about his work, so it will still

Deaf Institute, directly after the Design

familiar to me, and not such a shame).

Symposium. Highlights for me were Adam Todd’s Firstly, it was interesting to see the top

obsession with the 60′s girl band ‘The

floor of the Deaf Institute set up as a

Shaggs‘, Brendan Dawes’ collection of

lecture environment, secondly I quickly

paper clips from around the world and

became glad that I could sit on the tiered

Director Chris Gaffey’s funny talk about

seating at the back of the auditorium, as I

finding inspiration in his kids, films, walk-

was pretty tired from a full day of working

ing in the park and by being told that his

/ talks.

ideas are shit.

Experiences > Design/Art Events > Networking

23rd March 2011 - MMU manchesterdesignsymposium.com

Manchester design symposium I was lucky enough to win a ticket to the

cess that an intern will go through with

Manchester Design Symposium . The

him before they are even allowed to open a

speakers were Si Scott, John L Walters

laptop.

(editor of Eye magazine), Bruno Maag, Jonathan Barnbrook and Tom Dorresteijn

Tom Dorresteijn had a different approach,

of Studio Dumbar. Questioning and dis-

being a brand strategist, he argued that

cussing ‘the value of design’.

good design has to ‘turn us on’ before we

will like it. If you can work out how to

Barnbrook has been a massive

hero of mine since I saw him give a talk

emotionally grab people, then you have the

on his work nearly two years ago, but it

key to success.

was seeing him talk again that made me

realise that some of the work that I’ve done

five ways of ‘value’ that he considered in

shares some of the underlying themes as

his work - Editorial, Cultural, Functional,

his (especially his font Nixon – ‘a typeface

Financial and Educational. He also clearly

to tell lies with’). His take being that the

values his magazine a great deal, describ-

value of design is that ‘we are creating

ing how a few years ago they ‘bought out’

new forms for humanity to express itself

their company owners and became inde-

better’.

pendent, they also value the magazine’s

Bruno Maag was also amazing,

opening his talk by saying that if he found

John Walters (eye) described

printed nature and take pride in producing a rich, high quality object.

out that any of us had downloaded any unlicensed versions of his typefaces, then

It was a fantastic experience, but I was

he would hunt us down. He described the

surprised for some reason that the number

great amount of craftsmanship and skill

of students there seemed to outnumber the

that needs to be developed before one can

professionals that were in attendance. But

truly understand type and letterforms.

I obviously wasn’t complaining.

And described the two month drawing pro-

Talks / lectures

February 2011 - Housekeeping dr-me.com

Dr.me Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great to see where people who were

attitude and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inspiring that they have

in our position a year ago have gone in a

stuck to the same mentality that they

short amount of time. Dr. Me talked to us

started off with.

about how they have stayed true to their

values and aspirations throughout their

worked with Umbro, had their work put

year and how they have benefited from it.

into Manchesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Urban Outfitters store,

For instance, they made a list of people

held an exhibition at Common Bar and

they wanted to go and work with and only

taken part in lots of other projects.

contacted them asking for placements.

They ended up going to New York for a few

of presenting their talk - with microsoft

months to work with Mike Perry. Getting

sam (or something to that effect) narrating

a regular mundane design job would be

it for them. Added an instant level of extra

totally detrimental to their practice and

entertainment.

During this time they have

I also enjoyed their original way

Experiences > Talks/Lectures

4th October 2010 - Housekeeping helenbutterworth.com

helen butterworth Helen graduated a year ago from our

‘audio/visual’ typeface. In that it’s both

course, and came to talk to us about her ex-

conceptual and representing sound with

periences in the final year - and her time

the aim of reconstructing it in a way that’s

out of uni to date.

entirely visual

My favorite piece of her work is the lip reading / typography project that she did. She created movement diagrams of people’s lips when they pronounced different letters to make a visual type system. This shares a few things in common with my

4th October 2010 - Housekeeping studio-april.com

joanna niemayer Joanna’s talk was great because she was really open to answering candid questions about the details of projects that no one else I’ve seen has been open enough to reveal – such as how much their company charges for a project and how many stages they go through before delivering a final outcome. I also found her work about female graphic designers really thought provoking – the fact that in education 70% of graphic design students are female, compared to in industry where this drops to only 40%. She and a fellow designer started up their own studio called April, after working at agencies for years. She says this was a huge learning curve because all of a sudden you have to worry about money. I’d love to be in this position some day.

January 2011 - Housekeeping owtcreative.com

owt creative OWT are a collective of five ex-D&AD and

think it’s important to not just stop creat-

some now current masters students, who

ing work when you graduate, especially

have formed a collaboration since graduat-

when you’ve been so active up until that

ing. Since then they have started their own

point. Although I’m not planning on doing

Zine and invited creatives from the North

the masters course, losing focus is some-

West to submit their work to be included

thing that scares me and I’m going to do

in it.

everything to try and avoid.

During the talk they gave a

It’s nice that OWT have created

sense of their journey through third year

a solution for this problem, as if I am ever

and beyond - explaining their reasoning

without work and looking for a creative

for continuing onto doing a masters (they

challenge, I can always take a look at their

didn’t feel they were finished yet). I can

latest call for entries.

sympathize with those ideas because I

Experiences > Talks/Lectures

23rd March 2011 - MMU abramgames.com

Abram games Daughter of the influential graphic de-

writers and people from a number of dif-

signer Abram Games, Naomi Games came

ferent disciplines can refer to. And is

to give us a talk about his life and work.

something that I’d love to achieve (but always seem to make my ideas too com-

Although I did enjoy the talk, and did en-

plicated to boil back down to the basics).

joy gaining a greater insight into Games’ work, firstly (and I feel bad for saying this

I also never realised that in 1955 Games

but) I was a little put off by the feeling that

had created the first ever logo for the

Naomi had towards the audience. Tell-

BBC, and that it in doing so he had actu-

ing people not to take photos of the slides

ally designed a gyroscopic-ish futuristic

and seeming rather stand-off-ish. She is

contraption that they had constructed. But

obviously really proud of her dad’s work

that only worked once before falling apart.

which is understandable, but she didn’t

His work managed to affect people for good

seem to be very inclusive towards us and

and often pushed boundaries. At the time

it made me feel a little uncomfortable.

his thinking was revolutionary and his use of airbrush gave many of his posters a

Any who, what I admire about Games is

unique visual quality and identity. It was a

his ability to visually convey ideas simply

pleasure to see a retrospective of his work

and cleverly. His motto was ‘maximum

and reminded me of the genius of producing

meaning minimum means’, which I think

challenging ideas in simple, relatable ways.

is a concept that designers, advertisers,

Naomi found my blog (which this was

is also very off-putting to have phones

posted on) and posted a reply:

ring and flashes go off (which continued to happen, but I ignored this). If you do

Dear Jen,

want images, please contact me and I Apologies if I appeared ‘stand-

will be happy to help. I have had some

offish’. Not meant at all. It’s tough to be

wonderful feedback from other Man-

intimate with the audience in a lecture

chester students and some are visiting

theatre and be very limited for time.

my home/archive which you are wel-

I have to be very careful in protecting

come to do. Anyway, thanks for the kind

AG’s images as awful things happen to

comments about my dad!

his work especially in the internet age. It is my job to protect the integrity of his

So apologies and wishing you all luck

work and this means no photography of

for the future,

slides. These were Abram’s wishes. It

Naomi

I replied with the following:

respecting his wishes otherwise I would have had a different attitude.

Hey Naomi,

That’s totally understandable

I did genuinely enjoy hearing your in-

and in writing this I never really imag-

sights about Abram and I have a lot of re-

ined what it must be like when you’re up

spect for you for taking the time to com-

there. The majority of people that have

ment. Also thanks for the heads up about

given talks have not minded people tak-

the image, I will change it!

ing photos, so I guess students might not realise how rude / annoying it is. In

- Jen

addition I didn’t realise that you were A lovely response! Thanks, Naomi

Although I had some solid reasoning for why I said Naomi seemed ‘stand-offish’ and she did make me feel slightly uncomfortable. I really respect her for taking the time to post a reply to my post. The correspondence aspect of this has been a startling reminder that by posting things on the internet, you never know who might happen to read them.

Experiences > Talks/Lectures

March 8th 2011 - Housekeeping microdotcreative.co.uk

microdot Brian Cannon came to talk to us about his

image effects are all done in-camera rather

work with Microdot, which he formed af-

than in editing software. Which is an in-

ter graduating in 1990 and since then has

credible achievement (especially in an age

worked for a variety of clients - but most no-

where photoshop is so easily used).

tably working for music releases by bands

such as The Verve, Oasis, Inspiral Carpets

terested when practitioners come in to talk

and Suede.

to us about their work in the Music Indus-

From having an uncle in the

try, as I want to see how they go about in-

Inspiral Carpets and growing up around

terpreting music and attaching an image to

some of this imagery, it was interesting to

it. Brian Cannon’s imagery tends to intro-

hear about his physical approach to setting

duce a narrative element, which characters

up his album covers, creating setups with

(often band members) acting out certain

incredible attention to detail. Most amaz-

scenarios. This makes the covers visually

ing was the fact that for the cover of ‘She’s a

enticing and invites the listener to enter a

Superstar’ by The Verve, they dyed the wa-

more cryptic world in their experience of

ter in a waterfall blue with food colouring.

the album.

I have always been especially in-

In this and in most of Brian’s work, digital

October 4th 2010 - Housekeeping trevorjohnson.com

Trevor johnson Watching Trevor’s presentation was strik-

look at the array of logos to the right, there

ing, as he literally has done everything. It

are no two that look the same. Many of

was interesting to see the way he’s worked

these things I never knew he had a connec-

over the last 30 (ish) years - starting with

tion to, but from living here for the last 4

designing for music. He truly has helped

years, I recognise nearly all of them.

give Manchester a visual identity, brand-

ing and producing logos buildings and

managing perception, directing people’s

even whole areas of the city.

impressions. It’s good to take risks, but

knowing when to stop is important.

What I like especially about

Trevor’s work is that he is versatile, if you

He said branding is all about

November 21st 2011 - MMU @tealtweets

teal triggs It was convenient for me that this talk took

what was happening at that time.

place as I was beginning to compile the re-

search for my HCC3 essay - being about mu-

zines book and this talk centered on her

sic art direction, for which fanzines have

research into the history of them - showing

been very connected with. Some of Tealâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

covers from her own collection in chrono-

slides of punk fanzines lead me to write

logical order, giving a rough round up of

about them in more detail for the essay,

the culture that surrounded their produc-

as they were important with regard to the

tion in different cases.

Teal had just released her Fan-

aesthetic of Punk and the attitudes behind

Experiences > Talks/Lectures

November 2011 - MMU barneybubbles.com

Paul gorman Barney Bubbles

Paul Gorman has put out the book ‘reasons

ple to identify it with. It is for this reason

to be cheerful - the life and work of Barney

that I couldn’t be happier that Barney is fi-

Bubbles, after he realised that in the design

nally starting to get some of the recognition

world that he hardly gets any recognition

that he deserves.

compared to the other great designers of

his generation.

work, Barney was a versatile designer and

For all his intense conceptual

Barney’s work has been a great

was able to create playful ideas as well. He

point of reference in writing my hcc3 essay,

is probably best known for his work with

as much of his work (especially with hawk-

Ian Dury and the Blockheads. As well as

wind) when married with music manages

Elvis Costello.

to achieve an aspect of ‘total artwork’. With

Hawkwind he even considered the perform-

sonal life, his struggles and privacy issues

er’s stage positions and extended the con-

- in his refusal to be credited. It’s evident

ceptual nature of an album across all the

that Barney is a very personal subject

formats that were available to him, giving

for Paul, highlighted especially when he

the band’s complex music an image for peo-

talked of Bubbles’ suicide.

Paul talked about Barney’s per-

February 15th - MMU vaughanoliver.co.uk @

vaughAn oliver I mostly know Vaughan’s work from his

have been created by his imagery don’t di-

work with the Pixies, which I have always

rectly reference any lyric or literal theme

looked at with interest. At the time of this

within them, but instead seem to underly-

talk I had just recently handed in my HCC3

ing what the crux of the music is all about.

essay, which dealt with Music Art Dirc-

tion and I had neglected to mention any

ration was essential to his practice, as he

of Vaughan’s highly relevant work within

tends to have photographers create image-

it. But separately, after looking at the way

ry without him present (though after giv-

other people approach their design for mu-

ing them a brief) and then he applies type

sic, it’s always going to be helpful to hear

and design features afterwards.

another person’s opinion.

Vaughan said that he uses the

Vaughan is that is work in general seems

themes at the centre of the music to build

quite dated, his website has been ‘under

an atmosphere and mood in the artwork

construction’ for what seems like forever

that he creates - not anything too literal.

(literally because the typography on it

Which is fairly in line with the majority of

looks really dated). But I do like the feel

people’s practices that I cited in my HCC3.

and imagery that he uses - and more recent-

The reason why Vaughan’s work suits the

ly his work for David Lynch’s Good Day To-

music of The Pixies so well, is that their

day album. Which is simple, yet really lay-

music seems to suit Vaughan’s signature

ered and dark.

Vaughan expressed that collabo-

The only hunch I have with

style. The darkness, the odd narratives that

Experiences > Talks/Lectures

April 26th 2011 - MMU rwhancock.com

Russell w hancock Russell came to talk to us foremost about

ema put back to it’s original purpose. The

starting a freelance career - encourag-

building has since been bought by a com-

ing us all by providing us with invaluable

pany looking to restore it and turn it into a

templates for invoices, quotes and terms &

‘boutique cinema’, respecting the original

conditions, that we could take and use as

features of the building. This is ending in

we wish.

a ‘best case scenario’ for Russell, who be-

He also gave us a talk about his

career to date and how he ended up free-

came the sole designer involved with the graphics of their company and franchise.

lancing. He started by forming ‘Soup’ collective with some graduates fresh out of

After his talk, Russell also took some time

university, working for small clients and

to have a flick through portfolios and gave

learned that you should be wary of working

me some straight up, enthusastic and con-

for free - saying that it’s a sign you’ll often

structive feedback. Telling me instantly

get ripped off. Especially if the client says

what he thought my strongest projects

that - ‘it’ll be good exposure for you’. But

were and suggesting how I would re-order

you shouldn’t write it off entirely because it

the portfolio to work at greater effect - sug-

can help build a strong portfolio.

gesting that I put these strongest projects

at the beginning, middle and end of it.

After Soup he did a stint as an

intern for Empire making movie posters,

but ultimately didn’t get the job at the end

during his talk and afterwards was his dis-

What was also really helpful,

of it - ‘You have to make them miss you’,

cussion about freelance rates, suggesting

he said of internships and going the extra

how we should price ourselves in an ‘entry

mile there to get the most out of your time

level’ position. I was suprised to hear that

in that environment.

£100 a day is considered ‘cheap’ for agencies and that you could charge a lot more

His career has had highs and lows, a few

for web work (£350+ per day). This has en-

times having to ‘start again’ by moving

couraged me slightly to act on honing my

back in with his parents after leaving em-

web skills a little bit more before I gradu-

pire and again later after he got ill through

ate, meaning that I could hopefully step

possible overworking at ASHA agency. But

into a role with a bit of web ability.

both times he has taken the opportunity

to build a strong local client base - which

of the technical stuff and small print in

ultimately has lead him to better opportu-

contracts that we could use in a freelance

nities. Commenting that ‘everyone needs

situation, how to get yourself set up as self

design’ and it’s something that can really

employed, how to manage finances, etc.

make small businesses stand out in ‘an

All of which I thought would be a lot more

area that has bad design’.

complicated than it actually is - and really

encourages me to consider freelance as an

He also discussed how ‘design

can make a difference’ after trying to do

He also took time to explain all

eventual career option.

something about the neglected cinema in his hometown. Off his own back he created

All in all Russell’s visit was fantastically

a petition and ‘cinema tickets’ highlighting

inspiring and worthwhile, I learned a lot.

overwhelming public support to get the cin-

12th May 2011 - Piccadilly Place futureeverything.org

Future Everything Conference Due to having a Future Everything Artist’s

because they know more people.

pass I thought I would check out the first

day of Future Everything’s data themed

tors, Strangers and Friends’ from Meg

conference at Piccadilly Place. Although

Pickard (Head of Digital Engagement at

not a design event, some of the talks dealt

The Guardian) and Dan Catt (programmer

with data visualisation - which is obviously

at The Guardian, used to work at Flickr).

a huge part of what design is all about.

They talked about how the internet deals

Of the talks I went to, the stand-

with the emergence of social patterns sur-

outs were Our Global Urban future present-

rounding events that occur in the world

ed by Luis Bettencourt - which dealt with

and how these can be interpreted by Robots

the sustainability and growth of cities, how

(crawlers..), rated by strangers or personal-

their expansion benefits their economy

ly recommended by friends. They together

(less electricity cables, infrastructure, etc

have developed The Guardian’s Zeitgeist

when there are more people in a smaller

website, which uses all of these aspects to

space saves money) and how living alone

show how news stories from everywhere

is detrimental to this. He discussed how

develop over time and are shared by others.

the pace of life within a city is faster, more

The pitfalls that you can come across by let-

productive and ascertained that this is why

ting Robots alone collate this information

more and more people are moving to cities

and why using people’s opinion as a filter

all over the world. - To be ‘a part of it’.

is really important.

Another great talk ‘Robots, Edi-

I can sympathize with this as

through growing up in a medium sized

I was thankful to have the opportunity to

town, I always wanted to move to London

visit the conference and the event high-

or a big city when I was old enough to do so,

lighted some issues that have caught my

through boredom. It was also interesting

imagination. Using the internet to generate

to hear about people’s own personal net-

content has been an important aspect of my

works - and how if you put more people into

work, so it’s great to see how this is done in

a smaller place, then they do more things

other areas.

industry experiences

May 4th 2011 - Manchester Northern Quarter mccannmetro.com

mccan metro After applying for a Junior Web Developer

questions that they asked well. There are

job position at McCann Metro - an advertis-

some areas that I stumbled on though -

ing agency based in the northern quarter

like web standards, which admittedly I’ve

in the centre of Manchester. I was invited

never really consciously tried to adhere to

for an interview with Andy Button, head of

(although I don’t think my coding practices

Technical and Tracey Harman Talent and

are bad, just self taught). They also asked

Development Co-ordinator and asked to

me why I wanted to be a web developer,

bring two examples of websites that I had

rather than designer. For which I explained

made, showing my working process.

that most of the ideas and projects that I’ve worked on this year would have required

For this, I picked two websites that I had

some serious knowledge and technical

finished (my personal portfolio and Sy-

development to be realized (iPhone apps,

naesthetic) and also my work in progress

computer programs..). I explained that my

for The Night Light. For each I one mapped

web work has been where I’ve been able to

out the stages that I had gone through in

push some of this thinking into reality (es-

their creation. Showing the initial sketches

pecially with Synaesthetic) and that I feel

that I had made, the photoshop mock-ups

more and more comfortable pushing my

and the main steps taken in building the

ideas and technical knowledge the more

design. The reason in showing a third web-

that I’ve been doing it. I’m also kicking my-

site was to show that I had experience with

self after forgetting to ask what kind of pro-

working with a client and making some-

jects they were currently working on.

thing (a webzine) that was using wordpress in a more advanced way than just blogging.

Regardless of whether I get the role, this

Showing that everything I was making

has been a really valuable experience. I’m

could be customizable within wordpress by

just not sure whether they will see me as

the client, after it’s eventually handed over.

a more ‘technically minded’ candidate, because it’s impossible to escape my creative

I’m pleased to say that they liked my work

side (which obviously isn’t a bad thing, but

and largely I think I answered most of the

perhaps not what they are looking for).

28th February - Hachette Fillipachi London elleuk.com

Elle internship interview

Aside from presenting my portfolio as part

although I appreciate it and keep informed

of an internal ‘portfolio surgery’ this was

of things that happen, in honesty my en-

my first experience of talking someone

thusiasm is limited - and it probably came

through my portfolio, but what an opportu-

across this way due to my lack of prepara-

nity this was.

tion and more obvious answers when he

asked me my favourite photographers and

I received a call from Lewis

Cham, Contributing Art Editor of Elle UK

magazines.

at about half eight at night, two days be-

fore when my interview was going to be

the opportunity and impressed with myself

- showing me the intensity of what would

for getting my portfolio together in a re-

be on the cards if I got the internship. Go-

ally short amount of time. I did learn some

ing to the Elle offices in Marble Arch was

valuable lessons from this experience, like

an incredible experience and I didn’t know

the fact that once I met Lewis - I was not

what to expect. But Lewis was really nice,

actually nervous, which I was very much

welcoming and took hold of my portfolio,

expecting to be.

leaving me to talk about the pages that he

turned to. In hindsight, I feel what lead

think about photographers and magazines

me to not get the position was my lack of

that I find inspiring then maybe I could

specialist knowledge about fashion maga-

have been in with more of a chance, instead

zines. I’ve worked as a personal shopper

I focused much more on having a polished

in various high-end shops for the past five

portfolio to present, thinking this would be

years and didn’t even mention this. I feel I

the most important thing. It wasn’t.

But I’m genuinely thankful for

I feel if I had had the weekend to

have a ‘working’ knowledge of fashion - and

Experiences > Industry

May 13th 2011 - London Portfolio Surgery spin.co.uk

Spin Founded by Patricia Finegan and Tony

afterwards recognising as glaringly obvi-

Brook in 1992, spin is a multi disciplinary

ous. Generally they liked my layout skills,

design studio based in London. I was lucky

in terms of the way the portfolio has been

enough to be one of the students given the

laid out and the clean presentation of the

opportunity to visit their studio and be giv-

Flux page (where I have used Photoshop to

en portfolio feedback.

simulate the pages of a magazine), where

it’s easy to see the typesetting.

It’s interesting coming to a place

like this because you quickly realise that

there is a ‘Spin’ way of doing things and

tual projects, namely Inkling - they wanted

all the designers there are working under

to see more development work and perhaps

the overall creative direction of someone

another application, to save me from talk-

else. When you look at Spin’s body of work,

ing for too long without them seeing any-

though extensive and for many different

thing new. After this, I’m thinking of mak-

outcomes, there is a particular minimal

ing a type specimen book for the project,

kind of look and feel that is synonymous

because I think this will be a great way to

with what they’re about. Therefore al-

showcase the results.

though the feedback we were given was

very valuable and constructive (and by no

to my work, they suggested that we leave

means coming from a close minded place),

personal logos out of our portfolios and

it was clear they were looking at us from

websites, because if they are bad they will

the perspective of potential employers.

put off potential employers. It’s an inter-

With the company’s own creative vision in

esting point, though I sort of disagree - as

mind.

I think it depends on who you’re pitching

As for the Portfolio feedback,

which was given by

While

not

referring

directly

your portfolio too. It’s certainly worth not-

Claudia and Dan-

ing though that this is what people at Spin

iel - both themselves fairly fresh into the

think, and if I’m ever interviewing for a po-

industry, they immediately pointed out a

sition and a well known design company, to

few shortcomings in my portfolio (image

maybe tailor my presentation to suit them

quality caused by my own bad photoshop-

directly.

ping of book covers) that I couldn’t help

They said with the more concep-

May 13th 2011 - London Portfolio Surgery pentagram.com

Pentagram Pentagram is similar to Spin in the way

when people brought things to leave be-

that they are heavily creatively directed

hind, which left me annoyed that I had only

and in the way that the individual design-

brought two flyers with me for my Synaes-

ers do not get credited for their work direct-

thetic project (I literally have hundreds at

ly. It was great though to see first hand in-

home), but at least I could leave her with

side their self contained ‘world’, complete

something, as no one else did.

with it’s own street (pictured), architecture department, workshop, photography stu-

We then were given a tour of the whole

dio, massive archive of publications and

of the office, shown the cafeteria (which

archive of every single bit of work that they

looked amazing - a chef comes in to cook

have ever produced. The building itself is

for everyone everyday) and shown the de-

beautiful and appears to have been lovingly

sign floor. It’s a massive open space where

converted from very old stables - respect-

every single department works.

ing the original features, but combining

them with new, clean lines and glass.

contained they are and how they can pretty

What struck me was how self

Our portfolio surgery was with

much do every single thing they need to do

Associate Partner Jane Pluer, who has

in-house, even eating lunch. I don’t think

worked for them for over a decade. Surpris-

working somewhere like this would be for

ingly I wasn’t really given any negative

me as I rely on outside influences and my

feedback, only that I had accidently sent

own creative ideas. Jane herself expressed

my CV to their New York office (by putting

how she has debated leaving the company

.com instead of .co.uk) which was a point of

to pursue her own creativity at points, but

humour, but seriously was a bit bad of me!

ultimately never has.

She said she especially liked

Experiences > Industry

May 10th 2011 - Trafford Park Manchester theeword.co.uk

The E word The E Word is a Search Engine Optimisa-

I have great experience in web design, but

tion and marketing agency based in Traf-

as someone who is self taught in all of the

ford Park. I applied for their Junior Design-

technical areas, I found myself referring to

er job and was offered an interview with

some things that I didn’t actually know the

Creative Director Tom Glass.

technical name for, but Tom still seemed to

understand everything I was saying.

Controversially I chose not to

bring my portfolio with me, instead opting

to show the live websites that I have recent-

when Tom viewed the source code of one of

Due to this, I was slightly scared

ly launched and a PDF of site layouts that

my websites and started to see whether my

I mainly made prior to my degree (I have

coding was compliant with web standards!

about four years worth of both personal

I had to answer that it was honestly some-

and band website layouts).

thing that I don’t always refer to (as I’m self

I made this decision due to the

taught and have never worked commercial-

web focused nature of the role and didn’t

ly before). But he didn’t seem to think my

regret not having my physical portfolio

coding was that bad.

with me, instead getting my laptop out for

reference. Tom had already seen my online

peared to be my downfall though when a

portfolio and PDF of samples anyway.

few weeks later I got a call from Tom say-

This kind of thing ultimately ap-

ing that although I had really impressed The format of the interview consisted of

him, they had sided with someone with

Tom going through each requirement of

more commercial experience (an emerging

the job role and then asking me questions

theme within my interview failures, haha).

based on what experience I have in all of

But he also said that my work was fantastic

these fields, and how I would apply it to

and he thought that I would have no trouble

situations that would occur in the job.

finding a job. He also said if I ever need any

This is the first interview that

feedback in the future to email him. Which

I’ve felt really confidant in answering more

is really nice and has left me feeling hope-

technical questions (about HTML, CSS, etc)

ful for my future as a web designer.

and I was impressed in my ability to do so.

May 20th 2011 - Covent Garden, London urbanoutfitters.net

urban outfitters At the beginning of May I applied for a

interview. Noting the hints of experimental

‘Web Graphic Designer’ job position at Ur-

typography and attention to detail in their

ban Outfitters in London. They were look-

POS, in store layouts and displays.

ing for a graduate level graphic designer

who could work across different mediums

and she started by asking me to describe

but whose main responsibility would be the

myself. I must admit this threw me off

website.

slightly as I was prepared to talk more

The interview was with Dagma,

It was to my great surprise that

about my work, but in hindsight - she was

Dagma Skiba - HR Advisor emailed me of-

obviously interviewing me first to see if my

fering me an interview at their head office

personality would be the right fit for the

in London. Although this all took place a

company. I found myself, more than usual

few days before our final hand-in, I would

stumbling over some of my words and al-

have been crazy not to pursue this oppor-

though I still articulated my responses to

tunity so readied my portfolio and went to

questions carefully, and had some great an-

London for the interview.

swers to questions. I figured I had probably

The role had been created due

not come across in the best way when she

to expansion of the company, and it was

asked if I’d be able to ‘be outspoken and tell

evident by the busy and cramped nature of

people what they have to do’.

the office that perhaps they are expanding

faster than their space can handle! But get-

but maybe it’s because I had built this up

ting to go to a busy working environment to

in my head as ‘an ideal job’ that I felt add-

see what happens there was fantastic.

ed pressure. I got an email saying that my

Urban Outfitters are one of my

application hadn’t been taken further, al-

favourite shops, over the last few years

though she thought I came across well and

through their email campaigns and in store

had a great portfolio - because another can-

environment, I have come to appreciate the

didate had more commercial experience.

atmosphere that they create through the

Which surprised me as I thought I had just

look and feel of their graphic design as well

messed it up by being nervous. I do though

as just liking the clothes that they sell. So

just feel amazed that I was considered for

I looked at this closely before I got to the

such a fantastic opportunity.

I normally am pretty confidant,

artifacts Spring 2011 dr-me.com

DR.me zine / postcards When DR. ME came and gave us a talk

titude, which they stay true to in each one

about their work, they also gave out a set of

of their projects. While both of these ap-

‘An Apple A Day’ postcards (based on work

plications have different looks, they still

for an exhibition at Common) and copies of

manage to be in-keeping with their mix of

‘B Zine’.

illustration and graphic intervention. Chal-

I especially like the Postcards

as they all juxtapose apples and eyes, al-

lenging and re-appropriating the imagery that they have chosen to use.

though I’m not totally sure what the idea behind this work is - the execution is certainly very nice.

DR. ME have a distinct visual at-

Spring 2011 bookclubclothing.co.uk

book club zine Book club is a collaboration between three designers and illustrators, working with a DIY ethic to primarily produce t shirts, inspired by ‘the sea, books, tattoos, punkrock,

traditional

illustration,

England,

Americana, life, love and everything in between’.

It is run by some friends of mine

and while at the launch for their latest line of t shirts, I got hold of a copy of their latest Zine which contains a selection of drawings, stories, poems and illustrations, all feeling eclectic but very DIY. The Zine itself is photocopied and hand written, adding to the aesthetic.

Liz Farrelly - Laurence King Publishing (2010)

designers’ identities I picked up this book when I was thinking of creating my own personal logo to see how designers have chosen to represent themselves. There are so many different approaches in there and I’ve found myself flicking through it on many different occasions.

Particular favourites of mine

are Inkahoots and their ‘Exhibition Kit’, ScienceWerk’s Business Cards, Sell! Sell!’s Bullshit free zone poster and Aboud Creative’s ‘A’ pattern. But there’s so much in this book that you can find something new every time you look.

It’s a point of question, whether

someone in my position should have a logo as it might put employers off if they don’t like it. But would argue that that’s just an excuse people make.

2010/2011 Issue ycnonline.com

ycn annual This years YCN Annual contains lots of bits

which is really interesting looking through

of advice as to how to succeed in the crea-

when some of the briefs are ones that I’ve

tive industries, which have all been illus-

considered doing in the past. It’s good to

trated by recently graduated illustrators.

see how people have responded and com-

As an object I love the layout, fonts, colours

paring it to how you might have done it.

and paper stock of the book - which com-

municates a general tone of enthusiasm

advice the most interesting reads, and I’ll

and ‘freshness’.

often have a flick through this when I find

myself with time on my hands.

It also contains all of the com-

But I find the articles imparting

mended entries to their Student Awards,

Experiences > Artifacts

April 28th 2011 - Bread & Butter Cafe, Northern Quarter, Manchester radiohead.com

The Universal Sigh I went to get a copy of Radiohead’s publica-

As for the paper, I’m not sure exactly what

tion for The King of Limbs ‘The Universal

I think of it yet. There’s one page that I re-

Sigh’ from these nice gentlemen.

ally love layout-wise, but a lot of the text

The newspapers are being hand-

is understandably a bit cryptic. As typical

ed out in selected cities globally over a few

with Radiohead, I’m sure new meaning will

days, in England it was just Manchester

be given to a lot of the content over time

and London. Sadly after getting home after

(like when Kid A had some hidden artwork

this I found out that Thom Yorke and Stan-

inside the case, containing lyrics from the

ley Donwood were handing them out at the

next album Amnesiac, also illustrated by

London one, but at the time I was pretty

Donwood). With the paper, there was also

impressed with our guys’ hats and mous-

a separate card with a unique code printed

taches. So I guess it wasn’t all too bad.

on it, its purpose currently unspecified.

I’ve really admired the way Radi-

bum’s ongoing happenings are due to the

release and concept around this album. Ra-

fact that it’s events are occurring without

diohead are one of the biggest bands in the

much notice and in doing so capturing peo-

world, and they had managed to announce,

ple’s imagination and interest. It seems

and successfully release an album inside

like there are still events waiting to unfold.

the space of a week while bypassing the entirety of the music press.

Some of the success of the al-

ohead have controlled the announcement,

May 2011 owtcreative.com

owt #6 differences Although I’ve already talked about OWT as

ranged or put up on walls, etc. Although

an organisation on p.16 I thought I’d take

at first I was a bit confused about how one

this opportunity to look a bit more care-

goes about reading it in the easiest way, I

fully at the most recent zine that they have

love that they are doing things differently

produced. The theme being ‘Differences’

and turning the format on it’s head.

(previous issues have been based on At-

mosphere, Reflections, Reality and Direc-

like that they come from a lot of different

tion).

viewpoints. I’ve intended to submit things

As for the entries themselves I

In having a totally open call for

to the zine pretty much since it started, but

submissions and leaving the theme of Dif-

this was the first time that I had actually

ferences totally up for interpretation, the

gotten around to it. I took ‘differences’ to

nature of submissions is really varied and

mean differences in sounds and places over

it proves that subjectivity is what makes

time, and used spectrograph software to

their zine interesting. For this issue they

generate a sound of an image of the Hulme

have also moved away from their origi-

Crescents. Then I fed the sound back

nal more traditional format in favour of a

through the software and the above image

‘swatch card-ish’ like design, which could

is what was produced.

be unscrewed, the pages could be rear-

P r o g r e s s i o n P r o g r e s s i o n P

r g

e r

g o

s e

e r

g o

s e e

r g

e r

s e

r g

s s

r g

i s

s s

s e

s s

e r

n o

s s

i s

o o i

s s

i s

o i

n n o

n o

personal design identity

jenhingley.com

online portfolio I have had an internet presence since I was

time, but honestly I wish I’d set it up ear-

pretty young, be it through personal blogs,

lier. As I’ve found having something that I

the music website I used to run, social net-

don’t mind reading back (layout wise) has

works, art websites like DeviantArt.. etc.

encouraged me to blog more actively.

Therefore I think it’s important that I rep-

resent myself through my own personal

part of the site, it’s been inspired of course

website in the most successful way that I

by the layout of Cargo, but has been coded

can.

from scratch. Through all the site’s past

own

website

has

been

incarnations this basic navigation mecha-

through many changes this year, as my

nism has been tweaked and updated to

work has developed. I’d often find myself

make - what I think is quite a nice thing to

about every month looking at it and itching

use.

to re-design it. Then I would have no choice

but to set aside a day or so to rebuild it pret-

myself more recently becoming eager to re-

ty much from scratch. Though since Febru-

design my website from scratch once again,

ary, it has been in it’s current incarnation,

though I’ve to stop myself doing so due to

reflecting my penchant for Spectrographs

other work. But this time it will be more

(in my most recent work).

of a ‘face lift’ than a complete re-design. I

For the first time in a long time,

want to do something ever so slightly more

I have also integrated a wordpress man-

visually appealing as I move out of my ex-

aged blog into the site. Done with the aim

perimental university time, and try to get a

of amassing a load of writing for this here

bit of web design work.

journal. I did use the blog throughout this

In terms of the actual portfolio

Although I say this, I have found

Portfolio / Blog / Twitter / Behance / LinkedIn / Flickr

internet presence I think it’s really important to participate

in social networks. Twitter has made me

have gained from being online, one is that

There are some virtues that I

feel so much more involved in the design

‘being current’ is important. Replying to

community. Without it I could never say

things quickly shows people that you care

which opportunities I might not have had

and are interested in what they have to say.

because by reading tweets, I am always in-

Being honest is important, you never just

fluenced. I try to conduct myself through

want to agree with people for the sake of

it in a positive way, it’s more public than

it - people will start to value your opinion if

facebook and there are links to my twitter

you begin to question things that are genu-

profile on my website - so if I posted some-

inely a bit off. The last thing I’ve learned

thing rude or inappropriate then anyone

is to always have an eye on how you come

could see it - future clients, potential col-

across. Occasionally I find myself saying

laborators, designers that I really admire

things that ‘are a bit stupid’ on twitter and

(who knows who could be watching).

they aren’t really evident until the next day

The notion that ‘you never know

when I look back at them. I tend avoid the

who your readers are’ has become evident

whole ‘tweeting about every single thing I

by Naiomi Games’ comments on my blog

do’ trap. But I think it’s important to only

(see p.??) as ‘Naomi Games MMU seems to

share information that people will find in-

pull my article up in google search (which

teresting.

is how I imagine that she found it.

logo Throughout my time on the course, it’s become evident that in being a graphic designer - it’s important to represent yourself positively. Prior to making my ‘logo’ I had built a few different portfolio websites over the last couple of years, but it was only once I had done it that I felt able to use the domain name jenhingley.com. Making this logo - inspired by a simplification of my signature has enabled me to represent myself better and hopefully points to a good branding ability (if potential employers actually like it).

The logo has been incorporated

to all of my final hand in work across third year, along with the URL to my website. As well as becoming a symbol for my self-promotion and appearing on business cards which I will distribute at the degree show.

Progression > Personal Design Identity

physical portfolio Over this year, the portfolio has taken on

a new importance - with it being a way to

also been encouraged to talk members of

showcase our work to potential employers.

staff, other students and outside practi-

I’ve adapted my approach throughout the

tioners through our portfolios - as if in an

year and experimented with different ways

‘interview’ situation. I’ve found people’s re-

of displaying my work - some of which has

sponses to this can vary massively. For in-

paid off and some of which hasn’t. It’s been

stance Russell W Hancock suggested that I

a learning process.

have a photo of all four of my second year

Currently

(although

sadly

Future Shock books, set out in a row as my

didn’t have time to recreate this with my

lead image. But I found when I did that it

new work for this third year hand in) my

lacked the impact of the single image that

professional portfolio is laser printed onto

was originally there.

heavy Petersgate A3 paper, and displayed

in my portfolio case without the plastic wal-

tive, helpful suggestions as to how to im-

lets. Part of me really hates plastic wallets

prove on the portfolio. But I’ve found it’s

and views them as unnecessary - but that’s

best to combine these insights with my own

just me. I was determined to find a format

gut feeling. If someone says something that

eventually that meant that I didn’t have to

feels wrong to me and I don’t feel will suit

use them. It was only recently that I’ve felt

my work, then I won’t try and change it any-

confidant enough in my portfolio layout

more. I feel I’m getting to a point where I

and choice of work that I’ve taken the time

can trust my instincts more.

to get it printed out properly in this way.

Throughout the year we have

People will always give construc-

WRITING

viral photography On July 2nd 2010, I noticed a window dis-

sites, and the story even found its way

play in Selfridges Manchester featuring

into national news - months later I found

an Alexander McQueen dress hanging

that it had been in The News of the World

from a light fitting. There’s nothing too

and The Sun.

risqué about that in itself, but it struck

me that considering the designer had a

for Selfridges to post an apology, but the

few months earlier taken his own life - by

display wasn’t changed until a week after

hanging himself, the fact that they had

I had taken the original photo. At first I

chosen to do this was shocking.

thought this was because they had been

I had meant to return to the site

oblivious to the story, but now I know that

of this and photograph it sooner, but in

it had been in the national press, I think

honesty I just figured that by a few days

wanting more publicity may have been a

later that someone would have noticed

factor in their actions. I also think this

the ridiculous ‘oversight’, and changed

probably was their underhand reasoning

the display. It wasn’t until the 8th of July

for making the window display in the first

I happened to walk past again, with-cam-

place.

It only took a few days after that

era and realised that nothing had actually been done about it. So I took a photo-

Surely if I hadn’t drawn attention to this

graph.

‘oversight’ by communicating the story

Not knowing what to do with

to someone with the means to share it to

this ridiculous image, I posted it on my

the world, then someone else would have

blog and twitter - which caused little im-

done? Surely? Something like this occur-

pact because I have hardly any followers.

ring to me is an unusual experience, by

So later that day I emailed it to cocoperez

sending it to cocoperez I ultimately for-

- the fashion subsidiary of perezhilton.

feited my right to a photo credit. Leaving

com. The next day my photo was featured

me anonymous. In this case I really don’t

on the site, with a link to the article on

mind that. But if it ever happens again I’ll

the more popular perezhilton.com. It

probably consider my options far more

was then picked up by numerous copycat

carefully.

workshops

Group ‘colour’ two day brief Working with Chris Mahoney, Abby Hambleton, Millie Cordingley and Dom Kelly

ian anderson This was part of Ian Anderson’s on-going

colour of ‘life’ - growth, movement - etc.

series of workshops, but this time around

We genuinely when looking at every other

he had asked people in the group to bring

colour thought ours should win - based on

‘creative friends’ with which to work. We

the fact that it’s probably the most appro-

were told that we were in the future, and

priate for the task. A bright / mid green

the world is now owned by a single cor-

has not many existing obvious political or

poration. The rights and production meth-

negative connections. We figured all we

ods of each colour were all owned by sepa-

had to do was create a compelling pitch

rate companies, and we - as one of these

that outlined the truths about the colour

‘colour’ companies would have to pitch

green and that if we did this well enough

to the New World Government why they

- without using gimmicks, then our audi-

should pick us for their global identity.

ence might just believe us.

We were given Green, which

was a blessing really, given that it’s the

we won!

Brilliantly enough they did and

the votes for the winning ‘colour’ team are now all in and counted, and it is my pleasure to announce the results, as is customary, in reverse order all scores are out of 20 and averaged out over total score divided by number of votes (some people didn’t vote) 5th — Red — 11.8 4th — Blue — 12.1 3rd — Orange —12.2

constructed presentations.

2nd — Yellow — 13.9

the reason i plumped for yellow was that there were more flaws in green’s

and the winners therefore are

thinking / logic – based on assumptions

1st — Green — 14.5

made etc

if you’re interested, i thought yellow

orange’s presentation started well then

shaded it over green but both were

degenerated into chaos with ad-libbing

impressive, well researched ideas and

etc but overall there were some really good points even though the problem was that they put all their eggs in the same conceptual basket, problem being that if the client didn’t

by their own cleverness in what they

buy that, everything was lost.

planned for the presentation.

blue was some good ideas half realised

red team were disappointing. there’s

drowning in spin – but the presenta-

some real talent there which just

tion was excellent, well written, well

didn’t gel - i think they settled for

performed etc. i think they lost focus

their warmth idea too quickly, it was

and suffered from being too impressed

woolly. there was a sense of them going through the motions, nice touches at the presentation although they were under-rehearsed, nice animation ideas but there wasn’t really a feeling for me they were desperate to convince me. they made it difficult for themselves BUT what was good was that they were still pretty impressive and despite my feedback i thoroughly enjoyed their work as much as the others i’ll have a think about a prize :-)

Progression > Workshops

With Sam Meech vimeo.com/21675687

north west film archive

A few of us third years with an interest

in moving image were invited to crash a

think worked best, in reflection) was sim-

The approach that I have (that I

workshop that a group of second years

ply taking two of the clips we had been

were having with Sam Meech - a ‘vide-

given at random and simply overlaying

osmith’. The aim of the three session

them in Adobe Premiere with the song

workshop was to make a new piece of

that I was listening to/obsessed with at

work with some existing footage from the

the time (I want to be well by Sufjan Ste-

North West Film Archive. The task that

vens).

the second year students had done to get

into the workshop was to respond to some

to be a very happy accident, which con-

stills from the videos - and re-contextual-

sists of schoolboys engaged in a snowball

ize them in their own way.

fight, but they are being coloured in by

In the first workshop Sam had

overlays of clocks and coins. It’s a total

brought a smoothie maker and all differ-

coincidence but the pace of the sequence

ent kinds of fruit and veg - which we were

and the changes that happen (it goes into

invited to create smoothies with a com-

slow motion) seem to really reflect the

bination of whatever we wanted in them.

structure of the song.

This worked as an analogy to show that

when given the same ingredients, eve-

lucky with my outcome for this. I made

ryone combines them in different ways.

a more complex, more narrative lead re-

Which became evident when we started

sponse to the same song, but in the end

sharing some of the work we had done the

sided with this as my final outcome, be-

next week.

cause it’s much less forced.

This created what I consider

I’ll happily admit that I got

Two day brief - ‘Communicate the joys of intoxication’ for Smirnoff

johnny hardstaff This was the second of two workshops run

were sober.

by Johnny Hardstaff, focusing on idea

generation. We had 26 and a half hours

ence, Johnny really liked my idea and told

to create an advertising idea that would

me to get in touch with Piero Frescobaldi,

help the world to experience the joys of

creative partner of Unit9, the production

intoxication. This was amazing because

company that represents him. I sent him

it’s a brief that you could almost never

an email about my idea, but have not

be set due to advertising laws. But there

heard back from him, Johnny has since

were ways around this.

been in contact with me encouraging me

drinking

I focused on the idea that by Smirnoff

you

are

involving

I learned a lot from this experi-

to email him again with the idea, but I’m waiting until all my work is handed in be-

yourself in an experience that is ‘greater

fore I do this.

than the sum of its parts’, ie - there’s the

element of enhancement to your experi-

to be good, not entirely realistic. This has

ence. My idea was an iphone photography

often held me back as I’m always thinking

app that by using the phone’s accelerom-

what can actually be achieved within the

eter would determine when it’s user was

realms of reason, but I guess the point of

drunk. The photos that you took when you

being ‘forward thinking’ is that the things

were more drunk would look more amaz-

we create are unprecedented.

I learnt that your ideas just have

ing than the ones that you took when you

Graphic design 2

dead pan

This was part of the Summer project at

occasional errors that were produced.

the beginning of third year, where we

were asked to create posters for an Art

links to the idea that these ‘Documenta-

House film night or Festival. I chose to

ries’ in a fictional sense would have been

create a ‘Mockumentary’ film festival pro-

‘made’ to be shown on TV (although in re-

viding an eclectic mix of popular, classic

ality that’s not the case).

and art house films.

I called it Dead Pan, because

istics of a face in the design and adapta-

for me the funniest bits in the films are

tion of the Dead Pan logo. Most obviously

when the characters who are subject to

on the ‘Borat’ poster the ‘emoticon’ chang-

the Mockumentary take themselves too

es to become his moustache.

seriously and react in a ‘genuine’ way.

To get the imagery for the post-

poster design on the course and am glad

ers, I tried to capture these expressions

I got the opportunity to do something this

- one from each moment in the film that

bold. If I had time to continue with it then

I think is most appropriate to the ‘Dead

I would have produced some supporting

Pan’ cause. I started to enjoy the effects

material (perhaps a leaflet, flyer, pro-

that were created when I zoomed my cam-

gramme..) to help make this into a more

era right into an old TV screen - and the

realistic campaign.

The RGB television quality also

I also tried to follow character-

I haven’t done much outright

Progression > Graphic Design 2

i see movement in the darkness

This was my response to the very open

some text that described my memories of

‘Static’ brief, where we were asked to

it. The effect gets more and more degrad-

interpret the word in any way we liked.

ed as you go through the book.

After taking the Dead Pan photography a

step further by re-photographing photos

raphy is distorted by the photographic

over and over again to create a degrading

technique. It starts to lose it’s form and

effect - I began to realise that the images I

become something more ominous. This

was producing reminded me of some ter-

project shares some of the virtues of the

rible nightmares that I used to have when

old ‘photocopy of a photocopy of a pho-

I was younger.

tocopy’ cliche. But I think there is a bit

Once I realised this, I decided

more to it, the technique creates some-

to form a personal response based on

thing that is part photomontage and part

these somewhat glitchy dreams and wrote

almost cubist.

I especially like the way typog-

Progression > Graphic Design 2

inkling

Fakery was the catalyst for the train of

work within design and word processing

thought that ended becoming Inkling - a

packages on your computer. It could ex-

variable typeface concept. The idea is that

press any emotion that you wanted, maybe

fonts can be combined together at various

even detect your tone of voice by listening

subtle levels to enhance the subtext of

to you talk - or analyse your handwriting.

language and enhance written messages

without the reader noticing.

because the software would have the ca-

To start with, I went for an

pacity to subtly express what you were

extreme example. Combining Helvetica

thinking by representing it. And the aim

with comic sans in seven ‘seemless(ish)’

was to give this ‘inkling’ of emotion to

in-between states. Then I did the same

whoever might read the text afterwards.

thing with Times New Roman and Gill

Sans, which (perhaps because at first I

tual and I would need to do a ton of re-

had been new to the font production soft-

search into the personality of each type-

ware) turned out much cleaner and more

face to prove that it works. But I had a lot

effective than the first instance.

of fun dreaming up this idea and think

that some aspects of it would work with

I extended the concept into an

idea for a computer plug-in that would

This is what I named Inkling,

Obviously this is very concep-

enough development for sure.

Progression > Graphic Design 2

simplifile

This was my response to a Roses awards

you an estimated value. It would then ask

live brief, asking you to ‘create a con-

you whether you’d like to sell it.

cept or product that sells or campaigns

for simplicity. I’m always trying to sell

much money you could make on the main

things on ebay because I have too many

screen and how much you have made so

things that I don’t need. This was an idea

far. Giving a real financial incentive for

for an iPhone app that would make it easy

you to ‘simplify your life’.

for you to catalogue your belongings us-

ing identification methods - by taking a

brief, I found out about ‘Google Goggles’,

photo of it.

the Android app that identifies brand

The program would work out

names by you pointing your phone cam-

what your item was after you had taken

era at them. If ebay and Google teamed up

it’s picture, then sync with ebay and give

then maybe this concept could be real!

It keeps track of exactly how

Soon

after

completing

this

final term’s work

Website Design thenightlight.co.uk

the night light

Earlier in the term I was put in touch

wanted to achieve, drew up mock-ups and

with The Night Light - an organisation

found solutions to problems.

that publishes stories, poems and plays.

They had several events coming up in

things I want to change about the finished

May and wanted to re launch themselves

site (but little things, mainly the spacing

with a brand new more advanced website

of the footer and finding more content to

and their own magazine.

go in the sidebar), but these are all things

that can be adapted and improved on over

I was really interested in be-

Admittedly, there are a few

ing involved because I’ve been looking

time.

for ways of expanding my web portfolio -

and it seemed like a great opportunity for

happy with their new website - and I’ve

people to ‘stumble’ across my work, and

reassured myself that I do have a future

end up on my website if The Night Light

in web design and perhaps (after continu-

became wildly successful. I met up with

ally building up more skills) serve some

the team regularly, discussed what they

freelance clients sooner rather than later.

The

Night

Light

are

really

Progression > Final Term’s Work

music & image This project spanned the entire term, and

research into the sensory disorder Syn-

became an investigation into the connec-

aesthesia - where in some cases people

tion between music and image. I looked

can experience colours and shapes when

at trying to represent physical musical

they hear different musical notes.

features, such as rhythm and tonality and

‘translate’ them into a visual.

perimental work and generally explains

the route that the body of work - through

found to do this, but the most interesting

to a set of eventual outcomes, the biggest

and underused of them all I found was by

being ‘Synaesthetic’.

using Spectrographs. With them you can

turn any sound into an image and visa

how the book itself turned out and it has

versa.

reassured me that I can actually deal with

There

were

various

ways

The ‘Music and Image’ book

contains an edited version of all of my back-up work for the project, including

It also documents all of my ex-

In itself I’m really please with

print design adequately - that I’m not just a digital designer.

sound videos

One way that I found to represent music

ly). The airport environment also leant

through images, is by overlaying different

itself very well to representing music

colours and layers to represent rhythm

because of the arrangement of window

and different notes. With these videos I

frames - that could be overlaid to repre-

used a Synaesthete’s description of what

sent separate bars of music.

they consider ‘the colour of sound’ to be

and developed a system where I would ap-

the variance in look, feel and pace when

ply a different colour for each note of a

you compare two versions of the footage

song.

edited in time with different music. An

What I think is most striking is

I had decided I wanted to find

example of which you can see above - the

a way of making the camera move in

three colourful images are the same bit of

a steady way - so that was the only real

the video, ‘rendered’ through three differ-

reason for using travelators (as I couldn’t

ent songs.

think of another way of doing this cheap-

Progression > Final Termâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Work

future everything idents

I wanted to find an end use for the videos

11th - 14th this year. The theme of this years

that I have made. I thought that turning

festival is data, so I thought the aesthetic

them into adverts or idents for a music

and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;data visualisationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; aspect of the videos

event would be fitting. Seeing that you

would support the notions that the festival

could edit the footage to a band or sound

stands for.

that is part of the festival to tailor the re-

sponse to something specific.

process to songs from bands in the festival

I looked at applying the editing

and produced a set of short idents, which

Future Everything is a festival of Music,

could be used to promote the festival and

Art and Ideas that takes place from May

also could be used within the festival itself.

synaesthetic After very much speculatively getting in

the soundtrack. Then asking them to sub-

touch with Future Everything - first to

mit what they thought it was.

ask them for a version of their logo (for

use in the idents), then to ask them for

rection experiment’ - Synaesthetic was

feedback. They got back to me asking if

to see if any of the musical features of

I’d like to show the videos I’d made as

an original song that I had chosen (but

part of their ‘Handmade: Digital | DIY |

not revealed) could be picked up by peo-

Craft’ event - taking place on the 14th of

ple who watched the video. I created a

May at Victoria Baths. Of course I said

website to try and appeal to the general

yes, but then the next day emailed them

public. I made a twitter account to follow

back asking if they’d mind if I expanded

people with audio/visual interests. Sub-

my idea.

missions were open for 16 days and dur-

The aim of creating the ‘art di-

Originally I had set out to pro-

ing that time I received 31 submissions,

duce two outcomes for the project - one

many of which were original composi-

that translates music into an image and

tions. The most striking one being where

another that translates images into mu-

someone had been to Manchester airport

sic, I started to wonder whether there

and recorded sound from where I had

would be a way of doing this by showing

filmed the footage

the videos I had made to people without

Progression > Final Term’s Work

future everything: Handmade

I had been given a diagram of where I

pen at some point along the course of the

would be situated at the event and had been

project. He had nothing bad to say about it

to Victoria Baths before, but in truth didn’t

and said the animation was ‘beautiful’. He

know much of what to expect when I got

didn’t mind the subjectivity of it and the

there, or how many people would turn up

fact that I had used the term ‘Synaesthet-

or be interested in the project.

ic’ to represent my work, when only very certain aspects of Synaesthesia have been

I was lucky in that I had a very receptive

considered within it (it’s impossible to cre-

audience, people didn’t shy away from

ate a synaesthetic artwork that represents

coming over to the stand, taking leaflets

everyone’s experiences of audio/visual sy-

and asking questions. Of the people that I

naesthetisia, because everyone experiences

spoke to, the consensus was generally posi-

different colours and forms of it).

tive. I found the further subjectivity of putting myself in that situation an unexpected

Another challenge for me was to get a

weirdness though, with most people look-

leaflet printed en-masse for the event that

ing at me as an artist rather than designer

contained all of the participants. I man-

- I have never considered myself as such.

aged to find I printers that could handle the quick turnaround though and it all

I also was approached by a Synaesthete, something that I was hoping might hap-

worked out alright.

synaesthetic.co.uk/results

results After running all of the submitted tracks

closer to the centre the entry is on the

through a piece of software called Bea-

graph, the closer the submission is to the

Tunes2. I was presented with an analysis

original song.

of each track’s Beats per Minute and key signature.

Aside from showing the results of

Synaesthetic at Future Everything, I

I figured that by comparing

each of these bits of information to the

figured the best way to satisfy the inter-

info from the original track - it would

est of the participants as a whole would

allow me to see if there was a physical

be to make another website showing the

connection or similarity between their

results in an interactive way.

musical features.

with links, I uploaded all of the submis-

I plotted out all of the results

After mapping all of the names

on the graph above with key signatures

sions onto vimeo and made it so that

going from left to right, with B Minor in

when you clicked on each participant’s

the centre (the Key of the original song)

name, the video would start playing in

and each key in the order of shared ac-

the box on the right.

cidentals. - So the closer to the blue line

the submissions are, the more notes they

it seems like the motion of the footage

in theory share with the original track.

and editing caused six people to get the

BPM is easier to classify, the vertical

BPM right - whereas only one person got

position of each submission is specified

the key signature right - a probable lucky

by the speed of the track.

guess. This indeed proves that some mu-

sical features of the song were translated

So taking these two factors

into account (the two factors that I con-

This wasn’t a competition, but

through the image.

sidered when making the footage), the

Progression > Final Term’s Work

Conceptual Type System

audio/visual In order to pronounce words, we use a

is not a true representation of ‘sound’, and

combination of 53 separate sounds. By iso-

that to represent sound using a ‘typeface’

lating each of them and turning them into

phonetic elements are more appropriate

a spectrogram*, we are able to see what

than a basic alphabet.

each sound looks like. spectrograph software available from

Audiovisual can be used to visually con-

http://photosounder.com, eventually this

struct words using the way that we all do

idea could tie in with the iPhone live spec-

when we speak. I feel the alphabet alone

trograph app.

iphone spectrograph concept

This is just a concept, I feel there is un-

or image are encoded produces an affect

chartered territory to be explored with

that is individual to the technique in it-

Spectrographs and their capacity for en-

self. I’m not suggesting that people would

coding sound information. In a basic way

warm to this affect, in the same way that

it could be used as a very primitive way of

people think of vinyl (or whatever ana-

sharing files and encoding messages - as

logue format), but it produces an individ-

a bit of fun. A more advanced use could be

ual kind of sound and can add a new layer

using a spectrograph in a band’s promo-

of experience to a music listener.

tional material - to give a teaser of a yet to

The basis of this idea is to make the Spec-

be heard song.

trograph more accessible. By making an iPhone App that can make live spectro-

I feel the spectrograph is a medium, al-

graphs by ‘scanning photos’ or recording

though digital - with a lot of analogue

sounds and saving them in an opposite

traits. The loss of quality when a sound

format (audio to image or image to audio).

thats it! This has been the most productive year of my life. I feel I’m in an amazing position now to go out and find a job, and I’m leaving to course full of optimism. I really feel I’ve come into my own towards the end of the year, and it’s almost a shame that it has to end. But that’s just the way it goes.

Thanks so much Hitch, Sue, John, Clinton, Hillary, Liz and Graham for being fantastic all the way through the course. I feel really privileged to have worked with you all during my degree :)

jenhingley.com 2011