WEEK ONE

GDE740 SELF INITIATED PROJECTS

All graphic designers have

the potential to become entrepreneurs simply by

virtue of their ability to

think creatively, generate ideas and help clients bring

those ideas to market ...

A great reminder taken from an interesting paper - Graphic Design and Entrepreneurship: The Rise of the Design Entrepreneur written by Denise Anderson Assistant Professor, Robert Busch School of Design Kean University. New Jersey.

The paper goes on to highlight points which I have experienced both to my detriment as well as success

in projects I have either initiated

or taken on as a designer for clients.

If graphic designers want to bring their own ideas to market, they need to know what

to do, how to do it and where to find the network and resources necessary to launch and

build sustainable businesses. In order for this to occur, graphic designers need to think and

act more like traditional entrepreneurs. They need supplemental business education that is

tailored to understanding the full life cycle of how to take a product or service from idea to market. They also need to understand the concept of risk and how much of it they are

willing to take in order to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, as well as understand the

common traits of entrepreneurs and how to draw upon or develop similar traits in the

context of their role as graphic designers. The acquisition of this business knowledge,

coupled with graphic designers’ innate ability to think creatively and innovatively, will be the driving force in helping graphic designers become successful Design Entrepreneurs.

Listening to the intro videos for this weeks work I was struck by the comments of Vince Frost – Frost Collective. Essentially he followed his own ideas and instincts which resulted in a thought becoming a thing of interest to others. Self initiated projects are issues that you are interested in and energised by. In doing this, the work of Vince Frost attracted a lot of attention and he began to surround himself with like minded people. Others with whom he could communicate as they shared the same values, interests etc. Simply because authenticity and enthusiasm energises all who are on the receiving end. It lifts people and is infectious.

One of my life mantras is 'do what brings you alive'.

My brother-in-law is an underpinning specialists for a building company. He works out why buildings are sinking or why they fall down. He spends most of his time plastered in mud in trenches checking out soil structure. When he talks about what he does for a living all you want to do is dig a hole and jump in it too. He does what brings him alive - therefore it brings others alive too.

Self initiated projects - or - doing what brings you alive - are gold.

Knowing and implementing the 'why?' and the 'how?' are always the tricky parts.

Driving a self initiated project I think has to start with some big questions of yourself.

Is it all down to how much you are able to invest of yourself in the actual idea?

Are you inspired more by your own ideas and have the ability to execute them, or are you driven more by the ideas of others?

Does fulfilling a project for someone else provide more motivation?

Do you need a deadline created by others with an agreed fee - or are you self motivated enough to deliver on your own deadline and convinced enough to take the finance risk?

How good are you at asking for help?

How well do you know yourself and your boundaries and limits?

Regardless of how many great ideas a designer can dream up the implementation of them is all down to honest self awareness, financial backing and the ability to work with others.

But, whether the project is self initiated or a clients, the approach to how it is implemented I think is the same.

This is good and reflects how I think and work;

Sam Bombas - I don’t really see what’s a self-initiated project. We treat all our projects, whether it’s self-initiated or for a client, with the same value. All of them need to be planned in the same way.

I wholeheartedly connect with Sam Bompas – Bompas & Parr in the comments;

I always think everyone’s got really great ideas. I get vexed when people talk about ‘creatives’ and put them on a pedestal. When you sit in a pub with your friends, telling a story, if they’re paying attention and are genuinely interested, that could be the subject of your next concept. We wholeheartedly believe that everyone has terrific creative ideas: Harry and I are just geeky enough to put everything into the next 6 months to make it happen. The thing I always worry about, when I get a creative idea, I tell everyone about it and that’s the whole joy of the project: as a consequence, I can’t really be bothered to realise it.

One of the biggest frustrations of a creative is the ability to actualise an idea.

Cue another life mantra;

Your idea is only as good as your ability to communicate it.

In the past I have found myself wishing I didn't have so many ideas. As a young person it got to the point where I wished I was someone different. What is the point of a head full of ideas if you couldn't do anything with them?

The natural response to an idea from a business head who lacks the original idea but has business acumen is 'you could make a fortune out of that'. This statement for a creative person is the equivalent of asking them to sprout wings and fly.

Side Note - As we live in an extreme capitalist, commercially driven society we are conditioned to believe that all ideas are only worth dwelling on if they lead to financial reward.

Yes, we need to earn a living and how great to be able to do that with something you enjoy - and even better - your original idea. But, the creative mind will always be dreaming up ideas. Just enjoy who you are and the fun of being able to imagine - just for pure pleasure.

Dream within a structured environment as a design entrepreneur but make space to dream outside of that - just for the pure enjoyment of it. Capitalism and commercialisation are not part of our DNA. They are human constructs which are at times effective. The ability to create is part of what makes us human. Creativity came first. The connection between creativity and financial gain came way, way after.

So - back to actualising an idea.

In looking through the resources for this weeks topics I was intrigued by the introduction (shown below) to the book Creating the Perfect Design Brief;

I would argue that there is a 'magic formula'.

Socratic questions simplify and demystifying the process of writing a brief by taking it down to the basic three questions or a magic formula - Why?, How? and What?

From my years of experience as a graphic designer I can say that I have rarely been given a useful written brief by a client.

Therefore it has been my responsibility to draw out a brief from the client. The success of the project has been entirely down to my ability to ask the right questions, my perception and understanding of the person in front of me and of the community they aim to communicate with.

Starting with the 'why?' how? and what?' and then applying those questions to a skope of work as outlined in week 2 GDE370 is a good foundation for a self initiated brief. Although, by the time a skope of work is drafted there will be a good idea as to whether the project as a self initiated venture is viable.

This is a life long learning process as reflections on completed projects is possible. Developing the ability to adapt to cultural and communication styles and changes, progress my own design thinking abilities to think through any task or experience and to constantly learn how others live and interact in this world.

But, when I am initiating my own ideas I would still go through my 'magic formula' of no more than three socratic questions. Always starting with the 'why?'.

Simon Sinek sifts the infinite amount of questions we could ask of ourselves or others down to the most effective and searching in his continually viewed TED talk. This process I have always used to define a brief. And, as I have discovered for myself and working with clients the results can be life changing.

On Costing;

The basic daily rate costing of a project I have outlined in GDE730 week two

My preferred way of initiating thinking on costings is to first of all look at value - as outlined in this video. However, with self initiated projects it is difficult to work out costings using value - as by definition there is very little in terms of value to place on a new idea as there is no reference point.

This week you will identify the subject of your four week self-initiated project.

Review the subjects, research and outputs you generated during the GDE710 Contemporary Practice module. Make notes about the topics that interest you and consider the characteristics of your personal interests, identity and experiences.

As I wasn't on the course when the GDE710 module was delivered I am unable to respond. But the answer to the rest of the request starts with my 'SNAPSHOT' at the beginning of this website. It reads;

A born questioner, relentless mind mapping thinker, a wife, mum, grandma, an off shore rower, graphic designer, friend, typography geek, book lover, happier outdoors or sat around a full table, a thinker and philosopher who likes to change the world but be home by tea-time, a reader, book dipper, writer, scribbler, incessant sketcher constantly inspired by people and their ideas.

Having trained as a graphic designer in the days of drawing boards, cow gum and scalpels these skills have continually evolved into a practice which enables me to draw out great ideas, creativity and intentional communication in others. Therefore, I am now a Lecturer in Art and Design taking on this MA in order to continue doing what I love.

On considering the characteristics of my personal interests, identity and experiences I would say they can be distilled in to the following words, quotes and I am sure a whole lot more! A lot of the response to this request is also covered in WEEK ONE blog for GDE730.

Our lives are complex and forever changing. Invariably language is limiting as we try to articulate the complexities of who we are - but we make attempts - like this;

Inclusion of others, authenticity, power with instead of power over, enabling others to thrive, engaging with others in developing ideas, a belief in the innate goodness of humanity and a benevolent universe, the art of looking, the conversation, the belly laugh, intentional communication, being present, a lot of energy, the outdoors, 'work it out and get back to the table', constantly discovering something new, 'everything is spiritual', forever chasing the 'why?', a fascination with the creative process, the healing power of creativity including music ...

Minus the fruity language, Jonathan Pies post Brexit rant, as mentioned in a previous blog, reflects a lot of my thinking towards how we engage with others. This position has informed in parts my world view, ideas and basis for how I spend my time. It also plays a large part in the initial research for this self initiated project.

At the risk of being dismissed as corny or too fluffy, this powerful avert just about sums up my life ethos. Please watch;

Also this. Gets me every time;

Write a short description to outline four potential self-initiated project ideas (up to 100 words per project idea) and add these notes to your blog.

Select one self-initiated project and post an overview to the Ideas Wall, to encourage discussion and feedback.
Write a brief for your self-initiated project and upload it to your blog. Your brief should include the following:
- The project question – Think of your self-initiated graphic design project as a question, that you will answer and respond to over the next four weeks.
- Aim, objective and critical context – Write a short summary to outline the intent of your self-initiated project and clarify what you plan to achieve.
- Audience – Take time to identify and refine a specific target audience, as this will help focus your project.
- Anticipated final outcome – Consider a final outcome that is appropriate to your target audience

IDEA 1. UCAN.

Pop it. Plant it. Swap it. Pass it on.

Build your own plant exchange community.

As described in GDE730 WEEK EIGHT

Having researched issues that are important to me I came up with an idea and wrote the brief shown below. The result is an initiative that is accessible to all. UCAN. seeks to empower all by addressing universal issues on an individual, local level.

UCAN. is the idea which I would like to develop

The starting point - free seeded coasters.

IDEA 2. MAIDINDEVON - Preserving heritage by keeping a dialect alive.

To design a brand based on traditional expressions used in the dialect of the South West.

These expression come from hearing them within my family and community and from reading the hilarious Jan Stewer books which formed a huge part of community life for generations.

As our our global community increases its impact and reach, individual and community identity can be lost in the noise. Part of what makes us human is in belonging and in knowing where we come from. Local dialect is a huge part of that.

Having a place or a dialect in common creates an instant connection. The aim of MAIDINDEVON is to keep alive within a contemporary context the Devonian and Cornish dialect which - I am sticking my neck out here in fear and trepidation - contain many similarities.

Within in the WEEK ELEVEN blog for GDE730 the MAIDINDEVON concept and its progress is described in the detail required for this entry.

IDEA 3

Spark. a collaborative, evolving, on-line and physical resource of short projects or 'SPARKS' for use as additional support and inspiration with core subjects in the development of influential graphic designers within graphic design design courses.

This resource will highlight the benefit for collaboration with other practitioners alongside the traditional core subjects in order to grow a curious, confident, creative mind which sees others, collaborates to generate ideas and is then able to connect those ideas effectively with a given community.

This resource will be an evolving, living collection of SPARKS submitted by a global community of designers and practitioners of all generations and background. All with the same aim of encouraging and inspiring the development of ideas and good design.

The initial idea has progressed to a point where I now can see this as an inclusive, living, evolving collection of creative challenges. All the SPARKS will be categorised into the sections outlined below. These sections - as far as I can see at the moment - make up the core practices and foundations of graphic design.

The SPARKS within each category can be used to enrich an existing module.

Don't worry about the design of the visual, colours, fonts etc depicted below. What I need to nail are the categories to involve in this creative ideas exchange tool.

Examples of initial SPARKS to be included in the appropriate categories are included in these pdf's in their raw format;

The central title will be creative process and the users profile. Composition will be replaced with image.

So - to simplify, focus and work through navigation and function of the app I am starting with the centre ring which I would consider the core or self awareness/personal development aspect of a curriculum module.

NAVIGATION;

Hover over or click each section to reveal its own categories.

Select a category to choose a challenge from its content.

Once a challenge is completed and posted in a 'gallery' it will be listed as 'achieved' on the users profile.

Each challenge has a profile of the contributor and an opportunity to dialogue.

WEEK ONE

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