OUGD502 - How To and Not To Effectively Pitch Your Work

Mike Monteiro: 13 Ways To Screw Up A Presentation

1. You are not there to be the client's friend - you are there to help achieve the client's goal, happiness is a side effect of good design, work you didn't sell is no better than work you didn't do at all, avoiding confrontation is increasingly expensive - as a designer you have ethical responsibilities, to solve problems.
2. Not getting off your arse - make it clear who is leading the presentation, confidence makes your client feel better about themselves and gives them more trust in you as a designer - more inclined to trust your decisions and hire you for the job.
3. Starting with an apology - you are always presenting the correct amount of stuff, do not apologise for what you do not have as this simply does not exist - the best way to fix a meeting is to cancel it (however, make sure you only do this once).
4. Not setting the stage properly - why are the audience important, why are we here? Thank them, let them know what participation is needed from them, what will it take for them to leave? What are you hoping to get out of the presentation?
5. Giving the real estate tour - do not talk about what the audience can see, instead get the clients to picture themselves with your work, how they will benefit from it, etc.
6. Taking notes.
7. Reading from a script.
8. Getting defensive - you are working to meet a client's vision, they are allowed to criticise your work if they do not feel it is appropriate or meets their goal.
9. Mentioning typefaces - stop asking for permission to do job you were hired for.
10. Talking about how hard you worked - you are not graded on effort.
11. Reacting to questions as change requests - do not turn questions into problems, be confident in your design decisions.
12. Not guiding the feedback loop - anything that helps you do your job is a part of your job, guide the presentation in a way which gives you access to the feedback you want and need, make this clear.
13. Asking "do you like it?" - SUBJECTIVE - you should have reasoning and research behind all of your design decisions which you know makes it a good piece of work, asking one of the most subjective questions brings down the quality of your work.

OUGD502 - Work to Get Paid

Ask about deadlines and budgets.
1. write out an estimate for the job and itemise that it will take a full day to complete.

2. your own terms - explain (50% upfront).

3. balance on supply of final files.

4. copyright released on full and final payment.

5. any additional work charged at -.

6. project which is 'killed' before completion, all fees remain chargeable to that point.

7. wait for purchase order and approval of terms before start working (legal requirements).

Invoice number.

Date.
Client purchase order.

Min. £30 an hour.

Video: Mike Moteiro, Creative Breakfast Mornings, San Francisco.

OUGD502 - Studio Brief 02 - Ideas Generation

Many of the ideas discussed were based on the history of the university, predominantly that which suggested the building and the courses were heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement. One idea was to have signage in a similar form to that of colour blind tests, whereby the floor number would be situated in the middle in a typical arts and crafts style (plants, nature, etc) and then surrounded by similar patterns in a different colour so that the number is still visible, but stylised.

The Arts and Crafts Movement is also known for its stained glass designs. Based on this, ideas were discussed around the idea of playing with light, a natural source which continues to link back to the roots of the movement. Stained glass could potentially become a feature around the university, in which light is then projected onto the floor, walls or objects to produce a sense of direction. Although a sustainable method using light, this can be unpredictable and so potentially artificial lights would also have to be used in order to maintain constant projections. However, this would counteract the whole idea of using sustainable and natural materials. Mirrors were additionally discussed in terms of these ideas of reflection and projection.

Whilst looking at responses from the student survey at the same time, it was interesting to discuss how these could also potentially be linked to the Arts and Crafts Movement, and as a way of making this seem more contemporary to fit with modern day and the plans for the design of the new university building.

Other discussed ideas were based on the alumni of the university, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth being two of the notable people, both whom have a similar style of working. One idea was to produce bronze sculptures in such styles representing floor numbers and potentially being accompanied by fly posters to hold more information, taking inspiration from the wayfinding system at The Tanks, Tate Modern. However, for this, size and space would have to be carefully considered, again with the discussion of how these could be made to seem more contemporary.

Responses taken from the student survey were considered most importantly, helping us to produce a potential wayfinding system which would work for both new and current students of the university. The main themes which arose were ideas of light, plants and nature, and colour.

OUGD502 - Studio Brief 02 - Collage Mood Boards

How could the new university wayfinding be visualised? What visuals are the university and each course associated with? Colour, image, type, etc?