Creative Futures - Day Two

After Your Degree: The First Steps - David Boydell

On the second day we were given a lecture by David Boydell, a former student of Glyndwr University who had gone to work in the games industry as a concept and 3D prop artist. He explained that whilst at university he had learnt a variety of skills including digital sculpting, 3D modelling, synopsis writing (world creation) and how to work with game engines such as Unity. He showed us a few bits of his artwork but unfortunately he did so very quickly and it was hard to appreciate the effort that had gone into them.

He expressed how important it was to practice your art and develop your style, yet still be able to alter it if it isn't suitable for a particular client. Sketch books were vital and should be taken to job interviews as they show how you express yourself, although he advised us that we should keep a neat sketchbook and a messy one. Digital art is important and is key in the games industry at the moment so knowledge on how to use it is key. He also explained that experimentation is always good and that a wide variety of media in art shows a diverse artist who can adjust easily.

Another major part of Boydell's lecture was the importance of networking. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Deviantart and Google+ were especially useful when trying to establish yourself whereas business cards get lost and are forgettable but should not be dismissed.

Boydell then ended the talk with a quote from Confucius, "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life"

Getting a Job - BBC

This lecture was given by an employee of BBC Wales who told us the story of how she climbed the ranks of the BBC. She explained that she left education without any real plan and joined the BBC on a whim. Apparently back then the BBC was much more versatile and you could work in several departments on very different projects. She was flexible with her schedule and took any and all opportunities that came her way.
Other than the advice to be flexible there really wasn't much else to this lecture, it seemed a little miss sold too as the only opening in the BBC  she mentioned were either very small roles or a prestigious internship where you have to be the best of the best. On the whole, a rather unhelpful lecture.

Character Design - Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards was another ex student who came to talk to us about his success after university. Edwards began his successful career completely by accident after doodling in a sketch book. Two separate doodles merged together on the page looked like they had been drawn together - a trench coat with legs and arms, and a squiggly cloud as a head. Realising the potential behind the character he created Inspector Cumulus, an inspector with a cloud for a head.

He uploaded an image of the character and it was received well by other bloggers and readers until it was suggested that he make a toy of his creation. He teamed up with Crazy Label, a Chinese toy manufacturer who sent him several prototypes of his character. He expressed the importance of not being scared to ask for adjustments to be made - it is your product, if you are not happy with it then change it! The toy was then made how Edwards had envisaged it and was a hit with fans.

Edwards' next business venture was also an accident. His partner Louise Evans (now known as Feltmistress) was a seamstress and after flicking through Edwards' sketchbook, decided to make one of his characters out of felt. Together they made a few of these felt plushies and quietly sold a few dozen through a friend's shop. However, the couple's big break came when they were tweeting to one another on Twitter about creating felt toys of old celebrities. One celebrity they mentioned happened to be hosting London fashion week that year and saw her tweet. She commissioned a series of fashion inspired felt toys for fashion week. This got the ball rolling and a window display for Selfridges and a trip to a Japan were soon on the cards. Now Edwards' and Evans' business is booming and look like it will stay that way for some time.

This is by far my favourite lecture, it was inspiring and showed how such a simple idea and a series of chances can really change your life in such a positive way. I would definitely advise taking a gander at their website here!