Research at Betty's tearooms

                

(PS Level 5) Indigo

Indigo Paris Feb 2014 - Own photo

                             

I have recently took a trip to Paris for the Indigo tradeshow, where I was able to spend a day working on the college stand and looking around the show. I have handed out questionnaires to collect research for my chosen report topic - how to set up a tradeshow. I hope this will help me gain valuable information for the future, if I plan to exhibit my own work after my degree.

My trip to Paris has allowed me to collect research for my next studio module - Negotiated Interiors Project. I have chosen to look at Patisseries and Paris was the perfect place to start my visual research and drawing.

               

Patisserie in Paris 2014 - Own photo

                              

Final Samples for Fashion

Week 14 (PS Lvl 5) Digital Archive

After learning all about copyright lately, I am taking the steps to making sure all my designs are copyrighted. One way is to keep a digital log with a photograph and reference sheet with all the details. I learnt it is a good way to keep track of all the designs you've ever done and where they have been sold, and how much for etc, but I also have to make one for Professional Studies anyways...

Week 13 (PS Lvl 5) Report Topic

Working on professional studies and I have already came to the conclusion that I will be focusing on trade shows for my report, and how I will set up and present myself. I will have to use primary and secondary resources for my information, so my trip to Indigo Paris in February will be a great opportunity to find out some primary facts from current designers. Very excited!

I thought the best way to collect a lot data at a busy event like this would be hand out some questionnaires, so I have made up a draft possible draft...

Week 12 (PS Lvl 5) Employment

The Professional Studies lecture I attended this week focused on Employment rather than self-employment. Although, I have so far looked at a lot of research for businesses, I would also consider working as a designer for a studio. It will be useful to write my report of trade shows, as working for a studio could also involve exhibiting. 

The best website I have found for finding jobs in design is Drapers Jobs. It has a full range of jobs in this industry from design to buying, and full details on what the job entails and skills needed. 

http://www.drapersjobs.com/jobs/print-and-textile-designer/

Weeks 10 & 11 (PS Lvl 5) Self-employment

This weeks professional studies lecture on self-employment has made me consider the possibility of having my own business after this course. Writing my report on trade shows will of course help with this, as I will be aware of how to sell my work from my own business. Firstly, if I was to launch myself at a trade show, I would have to think of how to start the business up, and of course were I could work. There are a few possibilities such as from home, at a studio or in my own shop/gallery. I think renting a studio would realistically be the best option. I have done some research into possible venues....

The Mushroom Works

http://www.mushroomworks.com/studios

The Mushroom Works is in Newcastle near where I live so it would be an ideal studio space, especially for starting out on my own. The cost would obviously depend on the size of the studio space, which would probably be fairly small at first if I was just a small business. 

The Shed

http://shedgateshead.blogspot.co.uk/

The Shed is a Gateshead Council Initiative for creative businesses, which is rent free! This would be ideal for a start out business not having to pay for rent and the location is ideal.

Week 9 (PS Lvl 5) CV's

I am definitely learning alot this year from Professional Studies. The last lecture was on cv's, and before now I was oblivious to how many types there actually are! Conventional, skills based, academic, electronic, european, technical, creative..

I am required to create a skills based cv for this module, so I thought I had better do a some research to find out what this type of cv requires.


Findings...

I have found that unlike a standard cv, a skills based cv focuses mostly on how the experience or achievements you have meet skills that an employer requires. These could be communications, team work, time management, commitment and interpersonal skills etc.

Week 8 (PS Lvl 5) How to: Copyright your own work

Following the lecture at uni- hearing the stories about copyright issues for some designers and after my own research around the subject, I will definitely be copyrighting all of my own designs. I thought I'd share some of the ways we have been taught to do this at uni and after a little internet research of my own...

1. Update your blog regularly - writing about the designs your currently creating but most importantly posting images of your work, will keep a record of dates when work is created, and will be a source of evidence if needs be.  

2. Images posted on Instagram, Facebook pages etc will work in the same way as dates are recorded!

3.  Up date your visual log everytime you finish a piece of work. This will help to record dates and details about the design. I think this is a useful idea anyway for keeping track of all the work you've made, if it has been sold and how much for etc.

4. Photograph your work and print, or upload the photos to a blank disc. 
Write the copyright symbol, your name and date on the back. 
Place in an envelope and post back to yourself. 
Keep the seal intact- if there is an issue in the future, open in the presence of a solicitor and the fact it is in a sealed envelope with the date stamped on it will provide enough evidence. 
(I think this is probably the best way out of the lot to prove the work was created when you say it was as dates can definitely be proved)

Week 8 (PS Lvl 5) Copyright issues affecting designers

Our latest uni lecture has opened my eyes to the many issues regarding copyright for designers. I now think we need all need to become more aware of how easily our designs can be taken and manipulated or copied exactly. I for one, was not aware of how much this actually goes on, and by the end of the lecture I realised I didn't know much about how copyright and intellectual property rights affect designers/makers.

I've found the whole topic very interesting so I thought I'd share an example after the research I've been doing, as It's definitely made me more aware, and I'm hoping raising the issue will make others think twice about protecting their work...


Forever 21 v Diane von Furstenberg

http://www.elle.com/pop-culture/best/designer-lawsuits-614883-7#slide-7

Furstenberg sued Forever 21 in 2007, for copyright infringement of five of her dresses. Forever 21 were permanently stopped from copying any of her designs.


After researching into Copyright issues that other designers have experienced in the past, including the likes of Rachael Taylor and M&S using her design without permission, and Zara using images of bloggers photos on there clothing, I'm going to be more careful in the future about protecting my own work and about the images of work I put on my blog.

After last weeks lecture, I am interested in setting up my own tradeshow after graduation, so copyrighting my work will be something i definitely need to take into account.