Monday 7 April 2014

WHAT'S BEING HAPPENING?

What's being happening?

It's being a while since I have posted a blog post so here it is! Since finishing my bachelors degree back in June 2013, I joined the millions of unemployed people in the UK. During the first 2 months I experienced ups and downs which I quickly tried to overcome. Whilst finishing my studying, I ended up in A&E after stupidly falling down the stairs that resulted in having to wear a cast for 9 weeks.

My confidence in finding a graduate job had plummeted and I eventually ran out of savings for me to live. My only option was to visit the local job centre and put in a claim for JSA. The first few weeks from making a new claim is tough and demanding. I remember having to look for over 10+ jobs a week in an area that has a deprivation of full time employment.

Every day was a constant cycle of looking on various job sites, handing my CV out to local companies and attending a course my adviser advised my to attend. I have successfully completed 2 courses and achieved a Customer Service Level 1 and BTEC ITQ Level 2 in IT. Once obtaining these qualifications my confidence and employment prospect grew.


Job Opportunity

I was nearing to the end of one of my courses when I had applied to an internship scheme that Teesside University were offering to recent graduates. I received an email confirming I had an interview and my application was successful! I'd already had other interviews for other jobs but they were always unsuccessful.

I remember waiting nervously in the waiting room for my panel interview, the thoughts going through my head saying how I needed this job and remembering the techniques I had read on career websites. The interview went well but I could have done better. I waited for a week and received the email that I had being successful in securing an internship with The West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust. I met with Paul Wales, the operations director and he told me that one of us will be placed in the Know Your Money, Keep The Change Project. I was chosen to work alongside KYM.



Internship

The 6th of January had arrived and my first day of full time employment. The first few days were a challenge to get myself started within a new team but I found myself comfortable and in control with many of the projects that I was working on. Every 2 weeks I was required to attend Teesside University for sessions that would benefit and improve a persons employment prospect.

During my time at KYM, I have built and improved many skills and qualities that have made me more approachable to applying for jobs vacancies. Unfortunately because of funding, I wasn't able to be kept on at KYM. I now work as a volunteer part time in helping them improve their website and promoting events and sessions within the building.


So, yeah.. The past few months have been the worst and the best times of my life. I have improved various skills and qualities that have made me a much better person.

Tuesday 14 May 2013

ROB HOWSAM LECTURE

Date
01/02/2013
 
Company
Purpose, London

This one one lecture that you could learn a lot from. Rob was an above average designer when it came to designing corporate identity and brand building. Rob has also been a judge for D&AD and Purpose use a quote that is both inspiring and driven. 


'Purpose is a creativity, driven brand consultancy. We help our clients to build brands that stand out, connect and prosper.'
 
Lecture Notes
The World Is Changing
> More Knowledge
> More Choice
> More Power
> More Opportunity
> The only limit is our imagination: challenging times
> Brands and Businesses must change
> Think differently, don't follow the crowd
> Stand for something
> Connect with the brands, meaningful relationship with you
> Large companies listen to their consumers - this allows for better products in the future
> Relevant and Meaningful: Brand Experiences
> Brands are now more innovative
> Stay True - Branding is not marketing, they have to stay true to their consumers
> Stay Fresh - New ideas, keeping consumers entertained
> Collaborate - Working with various amounts of people and skills
> Be More Creative - Creativity is King, Imagination = £


The Six Fundamental Aspects

1: Embrace Change
2: Seek Opportunity
3: Ask Good Questions
4: Be Bold
5: Keep It Human (Simplicity is at the heart of good design)
6: Love What You Do



ROB HOWSAM LECTURE 2013 - HAYLEY SIMPSON 2013





YCN AWARDS 2013

Brief
YCN Awards host a number of projects that are open to students from large companies looking for either a re-brand or a new promotional campaign. 

GOJI Collective are a music promoter and merchandiser company set up for 18-25s who sell products for handheld devices such as an iPad and iPhone in Currys PC World. The brief asked students to design a pattern or design that would be applied to their new summer range starting in 2013. Part C required students to design a promotional campaign that would create a buzz to new and old customers either within the store or outside using a range of media platforms.


My Designs

My original designs for this project were lacking creativity and communication, so during April 2013, I re-designed my whole project using a different design that would be applied to the new products in summer 2013.



YCN AWARDS, GOJI COLLECTIVE - HAYLEY SIMPSON 2013


Wednesday 17 April 2013

FINAL TERM - TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY

I haven't posted a blog post about the work I create for competition briefs in over a few months and I think it's about time I started to blog some more about my design experience. In over a month I will be joining thousands of other designers starting in the world of Graphic Design. I am truly looking forward to getting into the industry and building myself up into being a successful but also a productive designer. My 5 years of studying at 3 different institutes has being an amazing experience and I would highly recommend anyone going into studying to further their choice of employment for a better future. I have being gratefully thankful to all my tutors who have taught me various skills over the past 5 years and without their help I wouldn't have being able to understand who I wanted to be as a designer today.


Thursday 4 April 2013

SELF PROMOTION

Brief
As part of the Professional Communication module, the brief asked to create a brand that would promote us into the graphic design industry.
 
My Design
The design is simple and bold. I wanted to create something that was relative to me and the use of red shows that I am passion for my design work and the industry of graphic design. The circle centres my logo and this is the brand for self promotion. 



SELF PROMOTION - HAYLEY SIMPSON 2013
 

Thursday 13 December 2012

CREATIVE TEESSIDE 2012

Brief
Creative Teesside is a magazine that features work from the School of Arts and Media students.'Subject matter is up to you - what do you find inspiring? - Your work environment, people around you, quirkiness, a clever idea, fun, intrigue, the beautiful as sensuous!' A maximum of three images could be used in either 3D, digital, print, photography or drawing. The initial design was to create a piece that would be used to promote the Creative Teesside Event.

My Design
Using the colours of the Teesside University logo, the colours express both creativity and brand. The quote used represents what a new student should think about the campus and also the work of other students.



CREATIVE TEESSIDE 2012 - HAYLEY SIMPSON 2012
 

Thursday 8 November 2012

ILLUSTRATION

Brief
Professional Communication - To design an image or brand for your self promotion.

My Design
For my Professional Communication module, we had to identify what designer we were. I had a huge passion for illustration but also found that I loved other design industries within graphic design. I finally decided on being a graphic design then an illustrator but I love designing illustrations and vectors as well as editorial and branding.  



SELF ILLUSTRATION - HAYLEY SIMPSON 2012