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.

Week 7 (PS Lvl 5) Funding

If I want to do a trade show soon after I graduate, I would have to think of ways to fund this as they can be very expensive, especially for someone just starting out in business. I have done a little digging on the internet and found some possible options.

British Council and Arts Council offer grants. However, this is for internationally work, so I would have to consider if I would want to exhibit abroad straight away. 

The Government offer low interest start-up loans for new designers. Obviously, the downside of this is that this would have to be paid back unlike a grant, but I have yet to come across a grant allowing me to do a trade show in the UK first. 

Week 7 (PS Lvl 5) Trade shows

I have been completely inspired by today's lecture on Trade shows. I would love to get a much better insight into the planning and everything that goes into trade shows, as I would like to be prepared for after graduation. I am planning to go to Indigo Paris in February to do work experience on the college stand and I think this would be the perfect opportunity to collect primary research for my report.



I have done a little research into which trade shows would be available to me. The Design Trust I found to have a long list of possibilities.
- Heimtextil in Germany
- New Designers, Surface Design Show,TENT and Top Drawer London
- Printsource New York
- Formex Sweden
- Maison & Objet Paris