I'm going to compare and contrast two visiting lectures. One of which is Mike Rigby and the other Container Plus. My reason for doing so is that one lecture was delivered by a graphic designer and the other by an illustrator. Therefore there is an interesting comparison as to how two very different people specialising in two very different areas of art succeed in taking on similar jobs, maybe competing or even working alongside eachother.
Mikes first placement was at Imagination London which he described as being 'a huge spectacular piece of architecture that brought two buildings together'. Basically there used to be two different buildings opposite eachother with a street running inbetween. Now Imagination London exists in both of those buildings which have been joined together with the street still running through the middle!
As it was Mikes first placement he said it was a really big eye opener as to how things work in industry. 'Early mornings, lots of tea to be made, very fast pace of work being produced, sometimes late nights but a brilliant social life' were his words. The placement paid Mike &150 per week but that soon became none existant after funding travel, food and rent.
Even though Mike spent a lot of his time photocopying for the guys in the studio and even managing to singly handedly fix a photocopier once, he said he learnt a lot from his placement. Not only does it provide you with a good source to put on your C.V. But it also opens your eyes as to how things really work. He said there are no tutors to hold your hand, no being late. You're being paid to be there so they expect the very best from you. But the reward he said came when the job was sent to print and the finished result reflected all the hard work put in.
Mike then moved back to Manchester where had a second placement at the Chase and after another six month placement is currently working there for £17,000 a year and says he wouldn't work for anything less.
In comparison to Daves talk, Louise, one of three members of Container Plus lead her talk about how they succeeded in creating their company and the success they've had along the way.
Louise and Nicola, two friends throughout university, left college not entirely sure as to what to do next. With a shared passion for illustration, it wasn't until a mutual friend, Patricia, came along that they decided to collaborate and form Container Plus. Things took off from the start. They landed big jobs for companies such as Selfridges, creating huge window space pieces, where they sat in the window infront of the public for hours paining away (which created oppertunity for being recognised), as well as many other interesting and
inspiring works including some sculpture. The three worked very well together and never argued about decision making. If somebodys idea was discarded by a stronger one by one of the three, then they would drop everything and go with that idea. Simple as that. However before long two graduates came along and did some vollentary work for Container Plus. Louise, Nicola and Patricia were so impressed with their work and the aspects they had to offer to the company, that after a long dicussion, they decided to offer them both a place on the team. Things went well for just over a year until one gratuate decided not to put in 100% commitment and the other didn't show up for meetings. Plus the two had too many wacky and clashing ideas when it came to creating work.
So the group of five soon became a trio again and are currently producing fantastic work everywhere.
So in contrast, Mike and Louise tell two very different stories. Mike relied upon placements to work his way into the industry. Working long, low paid hours on the hope that someone would soon like his ethic and comitment enough to take him and offer him a job. Whereas Louise took it upon her self, with the help of others, to create a name for hers
elf and produce, from scratch, her own illustration company.
Personally I'm much more inspired by Louise. I really think to take it upon yourself to create something from nothing takes a hell of a lot of courage and commitment. You have to take into account where will we set up, how to fund it, who your clients will be, why we should land jobs over other companies etc. There is just so much to consider when setting out on your own i feel which must be overwhelming and quite frightening. That alone influences my decision as to how i would like to go about life after college. To have the motivation and drive to create a name for myself and succeed in life.
