Identify 5 companies/studios
which you
consider
potentially synergetic
to you
personally.
Write a
short explanatory paragraph
and
reasons for each.
Identify
the top choice and WHY you feel that
they may
have synergy with your practice
now, or
in the near future.
Is your
choice based on:
LOCATION
DIRECTION
OF PRACTICE
THE BRAND
PHILOSOPHY
CLIENT
BASE
What if
none of those is your main
reason
for choosing to follow this organization,
what is
it specifically?
When
considering these practices:
Please
CONSIDER
WHO they
are/who are you?
WHY you
are contacting them
and why
they should listen?
WHAT do
you want them to do next
and what
do you actually want.
WHY they
should get back to you?
Generation Press
The first
studio that I have been following for a while is Generation Press. They are a
printers based near Brighton. I managed to go down and visit them for a day in
the summer, so a dialogue has already been established. I emailed ex student
Anand, and then arranged a time to go down. I also initially sent them some
work samples, and then brought down some Inpress branding work which I got some
great feedback from, on both a design and specialist print aspect.
What
initially drew me to Generation Press was my love for print and specialist
processes such as letterpress and foil block. I am intrigued by the whole
process, and not just the finished product, so I can see myself leaning towards
print production. Their location is also relatively convenient for me, as I
have family close by and I am familiar with the area.
Generation
Press also have a green policy, produce sustainable print and are carbon
neutral. To me these are all very respectable and important things to strive
towards in the current state of the planet. I feel that it is important to
justify what we do as designers and printers by considering how we can have the
most eco friendly practice as possible.
Filthy Media
I first
came across Filthy Media when I found their stationary designs on a blog, I
then later found that it was printed by Generation Press. They produce a lot of
brand and logo designs, as well as a lot of album artwork. Branding and
promotional design work are areas that I feel myself heading towards, so they
would be fitting in that aspect. However I am mainly drawn to them as it is
clear to see that they have a liking for specialist print processes, as they
are used throughout a lot of their projects.
Their
studio is also based in Brighton, which as I previously said, is an area that I
am familiar with. Although far away from Leeds, it is convenient for me in
terms of places to stay, and it is definitely a place I would consider
relocating to.
Filthy Media
also seem like a relatively small studio, which I like. The kind of dynamic you
get working in a smaller group of people is something I want when looking for a
job, I seem to be put off by larger studios.
I have
known about and been interested in the work produced by The Beautiful Meme for
some time, but when their creative director came to the last Inpress event, it
gave me a starting point to get into contact.
The
beautiful Meme is a creative studio that produces work that is ideas based.
They try not to play it safe, and do not produce work that is overly corporate,
which I like about them. They produce a mixture of projects including what I'm
interested in, print, identities, publications and more. They are based in
York, which is not too far from Leeds, making it easy to get to for a
visit.
Build
Build
produce a lot of Generation Press' design work, which I have already expressed
interest in. They are based in London, where I would love to go back to to
live. They poduce a mixture of work for both corporate and independent
companies, however I do not get a corporate feel from their design work. They
produce a lot of print, and their passion for specialist print is definitely
evident in a lot of their work.
The Church of London
The
Church of London are a London based (who would have thought it??) creative
studio. They produce a wide range of work, from digital to publishing to
design. A lot of their publication and design work is heavily image based,
which I like. They are not a very small studio, but not huge and corporate
either. They also have a hand in a lot of events, which is something I love
doing. After organising events for Inpress, I feel that this is something I can
definitely carry on into my career.
Now you
have identified initially these studios
you feel
synergy with. Please list 8 methods you
could
utilize to contact them.
I have
already contacted Generation Press and been down for a visit. The next step I
think, is to hopefully go down and see if I can have a hand in anything. I am
going to finalise some designs for my business cards, which I would like to get
printed by them and then perhaps email them asking if I could come down to see
them printed.
Before
Christmas I designed, printed and bound some 2013 calendars, aimed at designers
and printers to encourage them to follow a more sustainable practice. I sent
one each to Build, The Beautiful Meme and Generation Press. I only included a
business card, so that I can contact them in the future and will have something
to reference to.
After the
creative director from The Beautiful Meme came to the last Inpress event, I
sent him one of my calendars, as I didn't get a chance to speak to him. I sent
it along with a personal and Inpress business card. He got back to me via
twitter, and asked that I drop into the studio. I am going to email him and
hopefully arrange a visit.
I intend
to send some work in the post to The Church of London and Filthy Media, so that
they can get a feel for the kind of work I produce.
Following
the mailers, I will send out a PDF to the design studios.
As I have
already established a dialogue with some of these studios, the best way to
contact them I think is to pick up the phone and try to arrange a visit.
I could
send out invites to the next Inpress event, as this is something people always
seem drawn to or interested in. This could be a problem for the studios based
further away however.
The next
visit I take to London, it is always worth a shot just turning up at the
studios if all else fails. By then hopefully I will have a portfolio put
together to take along!
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