Professional Practise

I am going to compare and contrast Mike Rigby and Container Plus. I am going to compare and contrast both of these together because, I am going to talk about their ethics as designers and also how they got to where they are now. I am going to talk about the step they took from graduating university, getting jobs, placements and eventually getting jobs.

I am going to talk about Mike Rigby first. This is because his talk he gave us at Stockport College, I felt informed me more about my practise. Mike started talking about his first placement he did after leaving university. Mike did his first placement at Imagination London. Which is a huge design agency, which has different offices for different pathways of design. Mike said working at Imagination London was a huge eye opener, he said the offices was huge, and it even had a street going in-between the building. Mike worked on a placement at Imagination London for 6 months. Mike was getting paid £150 a week, but Mike said he had to save money up else where, because his rent, travel, and food living in London was coming to nearly £250 a week. Mike added this didn’t include any luxuries, he may have wanted. Mike said he learned a lot of things during his placement, but he said he felt like he spent most of his time at the photocopying room, and at one point during his placement he actually fixed the photocopier after a breakdown.

Mike said working on a placement not only gets you contacts for later on in life. It also makes you aware of the speed you need tot work at, he said your not a university no more, you getting paid for time, so employers expects a lot out of you for their money. You get to work on real projects, Mike said especially when you realize the project can go to print, and when you see the project out in the environment, it puts a huge smile on your face.

Mike moved back down to Manchester and got a placement at The Chase. Mike said whilst working on a placement be pro-active, have positive attitude, a lot of enthusiasm, asks questions, be eager and hungry, show interest in all the work, but don’t cross the line and hang over peoples shoulders. Be sociable and always make a brew. He said making a good cup of tea is the most important things you can do on a placement. People are grateful for cups of teas, it also gives you the chance to have a look around the office and talk to other people to see what they are up to, maybe offering them a hand. They will remember you for this. Mike said do not be scared of having your ideas rejected “Rejection is a part of design, do not stand still.” Mike also said don’t get cynical about your work to early. Mike eventually worked six months at The Chase, and he got offered a job there. Mike also given tips to what he thought mattered whilst doing a possible placement interview. Mike said have a good strong six ideas in your portfolio, each having good ideas behind them. Be yourself during the interview, be calm and collective.

Container Plus also gave a talk at Stockport College. Louise came in to give the talk. Louise firstly started talking about how Container Plus first set up their company. It consisted of Louise and Nicola was leaving university and going into the big wide world. Not knowing what they wanted to do, but it was something to do with illustration. So with working together on past projects they decided to set up Container Plus. Container Plus now consists of 3 full time design members, Louise, Nicola and Patricia. But if they need to the will get over people in to help them on certain projects.

I feel Container Plus, especially Louise and Nicola took a completely different route to what Mike took. I can’t hep but feel Mike worked harder to get where he is now. After completing two successful placements, whilst Louise and Nicola did none, I am not knocking Container Plus at all here. They worked as hard as Mike at their work, but I feel Mike did lot more to get to where he is now. I feel luck was on Container Plus’s side. After landing one job after leaving university was a major delight for both Louise and Nicola, but I feel Container Plus landed one job, decorating a window display for Selfridges in Manchester, they sat in the windows display, with other artist each decorating a window panel each. I feel this created a lot of publicity for them, creating contacts and other jobs as a spin off.

I personally haven’t had a placement as of yet. This is partly because of my own fault not emailing companies during my holidays. If I could turn back time, I would of gone about this in a completely different way, spending my holidays doing something valuable and productive, but also more importantly gaining contacts in the industry. Hopefully getting my foot in the door, if you like. I would of loved to gain precious insight of the mechanics of a design agency, the structure of how the offices runs, from talking directly to the clients, handling the accounts or coming up with the ideas. I feel working on a placement could possibly provide work for you portfolio. In my opinion this is a good thing, the more work the better. Also its nice to have some work in your portfolio that maybe could have been printed. Maybe if you where lucky enough you could even see it in situation out in the real world. So you don’t have to mock it up using Live Surface. It will also look good on your personal CV. Design agencies won’t be interested in your shelf stacking skill or till operating skills. They will look at your experience.

I enjoyed both lecture each having their own paths they took into the industry. So my path could be completely different from these. I am looking forward to taking the journey when it comes.