PPD workshop two; samples of work.

Why do you need samples of work//why would you send samples of work? 
- A summary of your design approach
- An understanding of your interests
- To represent your 'specialisms' within your design practice
- A representation of your conceptual development and creative thinking 
- Shows your software skills
- Demonstrates your skills and capabilties
- To showcase how you and your design practice would suit their studio/company
- To promote yourself
- Demonstrate/showcases the personality of both yourself and your work; sense of humour, interests etc


WHY? 
- To gain studio visits
- Feedback
- Industry/work placement
- Networking and visibility
- To promote yourself


What would you actually send? 
- Design boards; shows development and the process you go through
- Dvd of moving image work/disc of digital work/issuu document
- Evidence of collaborative briefs and live briefs
- Evidence of the areas of interest you have written in your CV; demonstrate skill set
- Work that shows what you can add to their company
- Favourite final pieces 
- Work that reflects your interest and personality
- Physical examples of work for print company
- PDF of work for emailing
- Depends on who you're sending it to
- Freelance work


How could samples of work be sent and recieved? 
- Royal mail
- Special delivery 
- Hand delivered 
- Via email 
- Boards
- Swatch books
- Issuu/PDF documents 
- Dvds/cds
- Printed portfolios/books
- Links to websites 
- Interactive media; motion graphics
- In a presentation (digital and print) 
- Face-to-face meeting/delivery


What problems may occur? 
- It could get lost in the post
- The cost of post
- Size of the file you are sending
- The file could become corrupt
- Quality of the file 
- Items sent by post could get damaged
- Making sure the contact details are correct so it gets to the right person
- Copyright
- Quality of photographs
- Confidence


Other notes from class discussion...
Why do we send samples of work? 
- To demonstrate skills
- Show what you have to offer
- Showcase your work
- Showcase your personality
- Prove your CV content 
- Demonstrate professional knowledge 
- Show project management skills
- Demonstrate problem analysis and problem solving 
- Show your ability to collaborate
- Communicate what makes you unique


What would you actually send? 
- Collaborative work
- Live briefs
- Competition briefs
- Concept development; presentation boards, sketchbooks, blogs, storyboards 
- Technical processes 
- High quality resolutions
- Self initiated work


How could samples be sent and recieved? 
- Fed Ex 
- Digital showreel 
- Skype
- Face time
- Event invitations; trade events, D&AD, end of year shows, book fairs, pop up shops
- Online resources; blogs, Issuu, Behance, Flickr, Etsy
- Email; PDF's and links to online resources
- Websites
- Royal mail; letter, mail show, prints, discs, USB, gifts, publications
- Local press
- Networking


What problems may occur? 
- Things can be deleted from USBs 
- Files could contain a virus
- Post may get there then fall behind a cabinet 
- Files might not be the right format 
- Spam filters may block things you send
- If it's online it might be 100 pages in to a particular website
- How do you know people aren't taking your work from the internet? 
- As soon as you send something you lose control of it.