OUGD502- Harrison Park Talk

Harrison is an LCA Graduate, working at 2 studios throughout the week, including StudioDBD, in Manchester 2 days a week

"The most humble people are the best to work with"

Advice to students:

• Build Connections & Relationships
• Its not handed to you on a plate
• Attend as many events as possible
• Don't be a Dick
• Don't be afraid to ask
• Rejection Happens
• Stay true to yourself
• Go to events alone, make friends and get your face out there
• Communicate       

Park discussed selling your Idea's, how you communicate with clients and the importance of making communication personal. He advised to stroke peoples ego's and show/do something different than other students.

• People like receiving mail, much more thoughtful and considerate. - Send letters to studio's/professionals i'm interested in. Try and cut out the PA.
• Theres more to life than London
• Use what you have here- Photography studio, Collaborative Environment, Digital Print
• Building your portfolio isn't through just set briefs- build portfolio in your own time. The majority of work is dull, boring problems
• Grade follows- focus on the portfolio
• Copyright innovative idea's, it allows you to put concepts into words
• You can't teach (or be taught) concept
• ALWAYS email back, even if they reject you- it keeps you in their mind as available

Advice on working life

• Start at a competitive rate, the moneys not great. 
• People disrespect idea's, so fixated on aesthetic its hard to justify why things should be as they are.
• Rejection happens. 9/10 you won't get accepted- you need a passion for design.
• In some studio's its more about the money than the passion - Allocated money per hour, so managing time is essential - "just do it and get it out the door"
• 'Everyone knows everyone', be a part of the community

Relevance of Own Practice/Work :

• Shows you can manage own projects and time
• Expands portfolio from student & studio work
• Proves ability to generate concepts and execute ideas

Relevance to MY practice/ What I can take from this:

• Prior to my upcoming trip to London (29th-30th Nov), I need to identify who I need to speak to/pick the brain of, and how to get to them. If applicable and possible, send letters this week to contact these people in an inventive way- perhaps design the envelope in or put something cool inside?

I am not going to be a Graphic Designer- this all looks like hell- what high paid alternatives are out there to give ME a bread and butter income, without loosing my mind?