TALKING TO PROFESSIONALS - THE ARCHIPELAGO/ PLANT ROOM STUDIO VISIT

I got in touch with the design studio The Archipelago/ The Plant Room after speaking with them at various print fairs and events in order to keep building on our professional relationship. I organised to visit their studio to talk about any advice they had for graduating and to set in some ground work for a possible collaboration with them. 

KEY ADVICE:

• Keep the momentum going - They find that a lot of great designers they see coming out of our Uni take a break and end up having to start from square one further down the line. Either creatively they loose their bold way of working and go safe, or they loose their contacts and people forget who they are. 
• Get my work out there - Use the stuff I've been making for the last year and in the end of year show and take it to bars/ creative spaces in and around Leeds as an exhibition. It'll get my name solidly out there in the creative community. - They went on to say that they will support promoting my work, setting up exhibitions if this is the case
• Try not to get lost in being employed - Obviously I'll have to make some money to live, but don't let that take over unless it's something creative and is going to help me long term. 
• Take up a project/ set up a collaboration group - Make my own projects and work collaboratively with people I'm graduating with as it's easier to be confident and positive in talking about your work in a team of great makers. 
• Don't wait for stuff to happen - Follow up on anyone coming to see the end of year show/ invite them to it

This chat ended in them saying to keep in touch especially with future projects and anything that could fit in with The Plant Room.

MY THOUGHTS:

• Feeling really positive about this meeting and inspired to keep asking for help and putting my work out there. I need to have more confidence in my capabilities. 
• I definitely need to keep getting in touch with them as they have some great contacts in the area.