602: Collective Stories (Employability Fortnight)

Collective Stories, works in FMCG - fast moving commercial goods.

• Take stories of many and deliver a strategically derived dynamic output. 
• Storytellers 
• Don't be afraid to work for free if you're going to benefit from it. 
  - Interesting thought, opposes what lots of people tell you in talks like these.
• Know what you're good at and find your specialism. But keep your skills up to date, don't close any doors. 
• When working within agencies be clear about where you want to go, and how, people aren't going to give you a sense of direction you need to pick one up for yourself. If you want to shadow this person get that sorted. Helen mentions about mentors, seek out a mentor and ask for contact with them.
  > Development 
  > Network
  > Mentors
  These are the key call outs for a graphic design 
• I asked the question: Would love to work in publication design (not sure how to get into this since everything's moving towards digital design).
  Response:
  > Sell yourself for how long you've studied, show your portfolio, talks about your specific niches make sure people know you're qualified.
  > In terms of digital design, need to keep upgrading your skills, getting a mentor in areas you're unsure about to help you move forward. 
  - Was a difficult response because I would love to go into publication design but Helen's response made it seem like this wasn't possible. 
  - Wanting to find a way to succeed in print, and think it is. Didn't find this advice of learning for digital too helpful. Advice about know that you're qualified is interesting, remembering own worth is important.

Reflection:

• Feel like this talk isn't intended for me, it seems more like creative advertisers would benefit from the talk as Helen works in product sales.
• Helen has set up her own business which is really impressive with an original idea, she can advise on setting up your own business, however, this isn't something I'm interested in doing, I'm wanting to work in studios or agencies.
• Felt like the session was built to ask Helen questions, would be beneficial if I was in a different area or with different aspirations. However for me I felt as though asking tutors the question I have.