OUGD502 - Saul Studio Professional Talk

The artist expanded on the troubles of starting a studio and the difficulty with finding work. He decided to design and publish a book to give himself work. I saw similarities in his work and mine as he decided to create the photographic book 'Coffee Shop North' with Pressision and had a similar process to me within OUGD504. His feedback aft the lecture was invaluable as he explained points with his book which can help me with my future book prints.

He responded to my questions by informing me that the ISBN number keeps a record of the book.  Large organisations such as Waterstones or WHSmith wouldn't accept the book without a number however, it can be sold on Amazon without one.

OUGD502 - Unit Editions Internship Application

Recently, Unit Editions have posted up an application request for a paid internship. Therefore, I saw this as a great opportunity to utilise my OUGD504 design for print project. I firstly sent an email with the product studio photography of the publication attached but after no response, I decided to send off a copy of my book in the post. I also sent another hand written letter and a printed CV to their studio.

Reflecting on the book which was created in the OUGD504 module, it has given me not only a great piece of work for my portfolio, but also the opportunity to reach out to many different studios and artists within the music and editorial industries. 

OUGD502 - Studio Brief 2 - Hand Written Letter to Studio Build

Following on from where I gave my book to Michael C Place after the Build Studio Talk in the blog post OUGD502 - Studio Brief 2 - Build Studio Professional Talk, I sent an email to the studio shortly after. After a week or so of waiting with no reply, I decided to write a hand written letter to the studio to hopefully force a response.

I also noticed a listing for a paid internship at Unit Editions and sent another hand written letter, a CV and one of my books to their studio. Reflecting on the book which was created in the OUGD504 module, it has given me not only a great piece of work for my portfolio, but also the opportunity to reach out to many different studios and artists within the music and editorial industries. 

OUGD502 - Studio Brief 2 - Skype Chat with Mixmags Creative Director

After emailing Mixmag and enquiring if an interview could be conducted to be incorporated into my book, the secretary gave me the email address of their creative director. It took a couple of weeks to form a response however, a reply was eventually received where we set up a Skype call. Reflecting on the chat, I saw a definite flaw in conducting the chat online as their were a few occasions where the voice quality was lost. This made it particularly difficult as their was also a small language and accent barrier as he originated from Greece. Other than that, the interview was quite successful.

Once he had received one of my books in the post, he sent back an email stating how everyone in the Mixmag studio loved my work and offered for me to come down to London and help out in the Mixmag Lab on a Friday.

A few days after the interview, I got sent a package in the post by Mixmag as a thank you from the team.

OUGD502 - Online Feature & Article

After the success and publicity of the book launch, the publication grabbed the attention of SpiceUk. They reached out to me and asked if they could write an article on the piece, exploring areas of UK rave culture. This has been another great source of free advertising to push the book further.

OUGD502 - Vintage Disco Biscuit Private House Viewing

'Vintage Disco Biscuit' is a project exhibition at Duke Studios which showcases a collection of Ecstasy Tablet artwork from the 80's and 90's. I missed the original exhibition however, contacted the artist and set up a private house viewing of the artwork. Due to my current publication being related somewhat to his artwork, I found it appropriate to bring along a copy of my book to give to the artist. This was a great opportunity to gain more contacts within the music industries as a few Leeds club owners were also at the private house exhibition.

OUGD502 - Expanding My Presentational Skills

In an attempt to improve my presentational skills, I must push myself out of my comfort zone and conduct as many presentations as possible. The presentation below was of a piece of graphic design, reflecting on the outcome, it seemed much more fluid and structured than the movie presentation. I also seemed much more relaxed as I attempted to slow down my speech element. The presentation however, was still rehearsed and written whereas, I want to be able to present without the need for written notes.

OUGD502 - Footprint Professional Talk

Printing processes used

Risoprinting - Digital screen printing




Ethics, Morals & Principles

100% recycled paper, only ship within the UK

Avoid big corporate electrical & gas companies

Recycle all ink cartridges

1% of the annual turnover goes to tree planting

Owned and managed by the workers, to refuse the force of capitalism and come together as a collective.

Ethically informed by not abiding to 'slave' labour. This results in them offering no unpaid internships  as it is considered as ethically wrong.

50p of each our of work goes into a donation pot which can be given to good causes.

Refuse homophobic, sexist and meat advertising printing content

Don't print for any political party as they don't want to be associated with any of them

Part of their ethos dictates affordable printing

Sustainable inks as Risoprinting is based on soya ink

Screens are made from banana leaf

Low energy machines



Rochdale Principles

• Voluntary and open membership. ... 
• Democratic member control. ... 
• Member economic participation. ... 
• Autonomy and independence. ... 
• Education, training, and information. ... 
• Cooperation among cooperatives. ... 
• Concern for community. ... 
• Original version (adopted 1937)

Reflecting on the talk, the printers will be an important asset to keep in mind whenever designing sustainable work. Particularly, for our studio brief 2 which revolves around ethics. Other possible avenues could be to use them, within my cop module when representing a postmodern standpoint. Their views and values create a anti capitalist ideology which could be useful implementing within my visual practice undertaking.

OUGD502 - RedSquare Post-Deadline Advancements & Tutor Feedback

Since the brief OUGD504 - Studio Brief 2 - Design for Screen, I have been making advancements within the application and have been reaching out to people within the business industries trying to push my concept into a reality. A pitch has been scheduled in front of board members where I will present my concept in the hope to get it funded into a working and developed app. The presentation is shown below;

I gathered some feedback off John before structuring and planning the presentation, the notes are listed below;

Keep it simple

must remember copyright put a c in a circle on any slide

how much is it going to cost?

I can put an email together sending pricing

Questions they will ask me

What do you want us to do?

Dylan Red Square  Check if you can use Red Square? It may need to be RED SQUARE (Properties).

All work within this and relating to this product presentation is covered by copyright of Dylan (Surname). ©

Describe what the app does in easy steps, both for Selling and renting.

Step by step.

Introduce yourself as a Graphic Designer  (don’t mention this was a College

project) it is a self initiated as a commercial undertaking.

WHAT IS IT?

Take your time to explain each section and if they try to ask questions tell them

you will answer questions at the end of the presentation as you may cover items 

during the presentation.

WHY IS IT A GOOD APP?

Short explanation as a basic reason.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US?

Take what they see as the opportunity?

If they see this as a NEW business, you want them to :

A) Pay all launch/creative costs, you retain copyright.

The person who was reached out to was a man my mother knew a few years ago, I asked if she still had his number and reached out to him via text. Morgan owns various businesses in the manchester area including the whole barton arcade on deansgate and the loyds bank, if the presentation goes well, he would be the perfect person to collaborate with and push the concept further. 

OUGD502 - Studio 12 Professional Talk

Free equipment such as -

Sound Recording Studios
Add Software
Photography Studios
Library Archive & Service

Work with young people between the ages of 16 - 30

This could be a powerful resource to use when I graduate, I could still have access to many media formats and equipment to help with personal projects.

The studio could be a good opportunity to collaborate with music and grime artists. Interviews could also be conducted through the use of these recording studios.

Radio one extra used this studio last year which is an indication of its quality.

The presentation style was really engaging using videos to keep the audience interested.

OUGD502 - Buttercrumble Professional Talk

Leeds based studio working on between Illustration and Graphic Design.

This talk gave some great feedback about social enterprising and collaboration. They also state their interest in collaborating with individuals, this could be an important contact to keep in mind if every conducting a project based heavily around collaboration.

They strive on being professional, but also being yourself. By reaching out to not only designers but companies can be a great tool to network and get work from clients.

OUGD502 - Studio Brief 2 - Build Studio Professional Talk

The talk by Build Studios Michael C Place was the most relatable and inspiration talk which I have seen so far internally and externally from the university. His journey and relationship with architecture, design and photography really made me see parallels between his practice and my own. He also conducted a variety of work for the music industry throughout the 80's and 90's which relates directly to my OUGD504 publication. At the end of his talk, I approached Michael and gave him one of my books along with my contact details. This could be an amazing opportunity to create a valuable contact, I am hoping to follow this up by interviewing Michael for some primary source information on an insight into the creative music industries throughout the 80's and 90's. This can then be written up as a creative review and implemented into the second edition 'Logo Font Rave Type' publications.