Level 6: Charlotte Ellis Maldari VP Talk

Visual Manifesto

In Latin, Manifesto stands for ‘Clear and Evident’

Your manifesto isn’t a mission statement because they are designed do be very comprehensive and very general at the same time, so can stand for everything but can also t the same time stand for nothing.

A manifesto has a focus and an impact that tells your audience:

Why you exist - as a designer, what you’re here to do, what you can bring, what I have to offer. Unconventional thinking. Does it link to my identity?
What you’re passionate about
Why they should care about what you do.

Start to think about why you ate doing what you’re doing.

The Task:

Create a PDF presentation communication your manifesto

Think about this as a pitch you would make to a potential employer/studio manager/art director/ client - *not tutors*

The presentation should include your manifesto statements and be made in the style of your own personal branding /identity, it may also include images of your work.

The presentation should last 10 mins max.

Group presentations - W/C March 15th.

PRESENTATION BELOW

Founder of Caffine, deals with marketing for Creative Studios
Went to Leeds Uni, Fashion Communication Manager
First job was a company called Rainmaker
Wanted to work in a creative space, but couldn’t be on the creative team.
Worked at Brand Opus, a big brand packaging and design agency. Small agency when she started
Raising the profile of the agency, needed retained clients, they decided that you’re their brand design guardian that would pay you on a ,monthly basis.
Took business calls, rising budget etc. Hosting events, abroad, in the UK etc.
Left Brand Opus to work with a more diverse client base
Coaching 1 on 1 agency founders or marketing people they’ve appointed in smaller agencies, 2 - 20 people. Also creating resources people can buy on a smaller budget.
Centres around gaining more clients and doing the right kind of stuff.
A lot of agencies she works with is a trend of those agencies starting from a younger age.
Works with failing agencies and showing them how to grow without a lot of money.
Have to do a lot of work to get clients and business.

Advice:

Be simple, don’t be afraid to niche down, say if you work within a specific place
Stranger & stranger, premium spirits branding for example. Very specific that’s all they do.
Hone in on what’s important to me.
Think about what’s of interest to the client, where are they hanging out, what do they think, what do they need to know, building a relationship with them
Listening to their challenges and coming up with intelligent solutions before they even start paying you.
Best place to build a client base (freelance). Look at the smaller companies, the start ups, because the advantage you have at this stage is you’re willing to work for less money.
Linkedin as a creative resource. Thinking creatively about where you’re finding people.
Look at graduate competition winners and see what their websites look like.
Squarespace is easy to use, but Wix has a lot more flex - coming from people 15 years in the industry.
Look into graduate programmes for branding agencies. Don’t be disheartened. Client’s haven’t had the time to spend it on initiatives.
Places 2-10 employees, you’ll get more hands on experience.
Smaller agencies more likely to give you full time employment from internships
Never charge for your time (freelance), Charge for the value you’re bringing then the time, you’ll never be able to move past a certain level otherwise.
Never be afraid to ask what their budget is, or say that you’ll never accept less than (x), be always thinking about ‘project based’ rather than ‘time based’
Applying to people directly not just relaying on graduate shows. Make sure you’re reaching the right person. Loads of different ways to look into it.

PDF Presentation

Hi I'm currently studying Graphic Design (graduating 2021) at Leeds Arts University. I have experience in collaborating across a number of practices; including an internship with Raise Digital web design, which involved meeting clients and adapting their website around their aims in an aesthetically unique way.

I'm practiced in typography, publication production, projection mapping. I'm passionate about design that has interactive/experiential elements to it.