OUGD502 - Session - Work experience and why you need it

Work experience and why you need it?

- Placements are about meeting people and finding out what they do rather than learning about skills.
- University of Life understanding how things work in real life , have to learn and change with whats happening

- Work Placement - something that you do while still doing your course and is usually unpaid

- Internships - what you do after you graduate - not funds so should be paid

- A work placement allows you to learn from the people who are already doing it - learn from other people - teach you - speak from experience - mix with like minds -
- Watching how people work or having a mentor, allows you to understand the mindset, time management etc
- Who do you want to work with? Think about synergy with your own interests and personality
- If you don't want to do a work placement tell them
- Choosing the placement or studio is easy but getting it is harder
- Get in touch in different ways, email, letter, etc. Or find a new way
- A Commercial studio is involved in 'real life' situations 'live' briefs and 'actual deadlines'
- Do the work you want to do

Things that may be worked on:
Branding 
3D - stands etc
Print
Art Direction
Editorial
Digital / Apps
Interactive
Packaging

Learn from other people. You are never taught to ride a bike instead you learn from people

Video 1

It is not what you are going to learn but who you are going to meet. It is about the human connections not about learning skills, instead networking. Use the time wisely, the people are the important part and will give you opportunities.

Video 2

- Not easy to find an internship.
- Start with mission statement, portfolio and CV.
- Will have to send lots of emails to find a studio, so make a list of studios. 
- Working with people who are much better can make you feel like you are not  good enough but it is fun and tough
- Learnt not to give up on the process of finding internships, instead you have to keep on trying. Start early if want to find somewhere.
- Use alumni as they are working all around the world. Allow them to help you by connecting with them.
- Getting to know people, allows you to talk about anything. They will have often experienced things in the same way.
- Sometimes good to go somewhere that does different work to you, but finding somewhere that does the work that you do may also suit you.
- Don't stay if you don't like it
- Start conversations , people won't come to you. Use spare time to get in contact with people, even if it means just saying there work is inspiring, you don't necessarily have to ask for anything.