LO2: Task 4 Professional Etiquette

Creative Designer: The responsibilities of a creative director include leading the communication design, interactive design, and concept forward in any work assigned.

Marketing Director: This is a more strategic role than a marketing manager. The role calls for a mix of marketing, marketing communications and sales.

Graphic Designer: Create visual designs for their clients and also oversee the production of the design

Layout Designer: The role of a layout designer is to design where everything should be placed so it suitable for the clients needs.

Photographer: Taking photographs for the business or client etc

Visual Journalist: Role is to produce visuals for online journalism etc on business pages and looking into data 

Interface Designer: Creates the hardware devices for such work to do with graphic design 

Copy Editor: The role of a copy editor is to check for any grammar mistakes and any changes needed to be done

LO1: Task 2: Technological convergence and production techniques

The convergent of technologies has positively impacted the stages of making an audio visual product in pre production, production and post production. Technological convergence is when different technologies come together in one device or place for example ' a black box device' which was theorised by Henry Jenkins. A black box device contains a range of technology all in one place like phones with internet, cameras, apps, touchscreen and over the years our black box devices for example smart phones have been useful for making an audio visual product for producers and prosumers. Prosumers can now make their own movies in the matter of these black box devices and distribute them to a wide audience on YouTube for example which wouldn't be as time consuming or expensive as distributing it to a company. As a result of Web 2.0 we now have many other technologies which allow for audio visual products to be made. Web 2.0 also allows us to use social media platforms for example Facebook and Instagram to talk to people anywhere around the world, this is useful for marketing as it allows us to market films for example to a wider audience on platforms for a wide range of target audiences, due to the amount of advertising we can do due to web 2.0 this therefore makes the companies get a lot more profit than they would before these technological convergence and web 2.0 came along.

There have been many films in the present day which use new technologies one example being motion capture which is highly successful for the film. An example of a film franchise which uses motion capture is the Planet of the Apes. This particular franchise has been widely praised for creating their compelling narrative but also the use of the new technologies they use one being motion capture. This is showing how the actors performance translates to the apes. This has benefitted the film as the CGI is a lot more complex throughout these newer films which benefits the team who produced the films as the audience are more entitled to want to watch them. This could be because it gives the audience visceral pleasure which could give them a physical effect from the film, this relates to Rick Altman's theory that argues genres give off different audience pleasures. This doesn't just benefit the production team but also therefore the audience. The use of motion capture and other new technologies which are used in the present day also are beneficial for the film and also creating an appeal to the audience showing the purpose of entertaining as it allows the audience to escape from reality. This is a main theme which occurs in films like planet of the apes and other science fiction/ adventure films as it allows their audience to escape from their everyday life and get hooked into a film which was what the franchise of Planet of the apes did with the help of CGI and motion capture. Due to the amount of success motion capturing has received in more recent films it has gathered a wider audience who are interested in watching films which use this as it is interesting to see how they are made due to these new technologies.  This is all due to technological convergence and how it has evolved.

In the pre production stage of making an audio visual product an online script writer would be useful for prosumers for example plotbot which allows people to write scripts and share them with friends who can callobrate with you. The great thing about this free online service is you just think of the ideas and it writes the script for you this would be beneficial to people who are just wanting to make a short film and are new to the media industry. Another free software which would be useful for pre production would be 'www.mindmupfree.com' this allows users to create a mind map with loads of ideas on which can be saved from any device and changed whenever needed to suit the ideas the producer/ prosumer is wanting, it is also very easy to use and understand as it is formatted neat for anyone to read it, as you can send the saved mind map to other people which with the clean layout would give you better feedback.

As with pre production apps you can get a lot to help with production too in the stages of making an audio visual product for example on the android play store an app named Movie maker which is great for anyone wanting to make short films as you can apply filters, effects, objects, text and music all in the same place this makes it quick, easy and cheap to distribute to a wider audience on YouTube for example without all the hassle this is due to web 2.0 we can make films in the comfort of our own home for no charge. This app is rated 4.5 stars out of 5 on the play store therefore it must be good for a quick way of making a film and knowing if you have knowledge of camera angles etc. this will make your film even better. Another example of a technological convergence in the production steps would be the app Soundcloud which allows user to produce and consume music for free, this app is great for anyone wanting to make music as it is just based on music unlike YouTube which users allow distribute their music on. Therefore the prosumers have a higher chance of getting a wider audience consuming their products due to the app. It is also a great production app as their are comments sections on the songs this gives the audience a chance to find new musicians and gives the producers feedback on their music. In the film industry Soundcloud would be great for non diegetic sound or diegetic as it would be easier to access and sometimes free of charge after getting permission of the producer. By using music off soundcloud this benefits both the film company (consumers) and the producer as they are getting more recognition of their songs and allowing a wider target audience and for the film company as they are using a song which wouldn't have been used in other promos of independent films which might have been royalty free off the internet.

Finally post production apps which are useful for making an audio visual product would be Adobe Premier as it has a wide range of tools to get your product how you imagined it, this is one of the most commonly used post production software as its not very hard to use and as I've said has a lot of tools on to finish off your final products. It is also great for post production as you can save them on to a variety of devices which allows them to be more obtainable for different audiences. Another app which would be good for post production would be an app on the apple iPhone store called 'Camera Awesome' this is great for sharing straight onto your social media platforms with a click of a button and allows you to access some similar tools to Adobe Premier, however they aren't as many but it is great for someone wanting to make a quick video or product etc. Both these apps are easy to distribute onto YouTube to get a wider target audience and its free which would help the prosumers both.

LO2: Task 3 Career pathways

Graphic Designer


Independent:

The skills needed for this job is to know how to operate Adobe Illustrator and how to do graphic design, however you need to have personal attributes for example good communication skills as the client knows what they want but you need to have accurate information. Organisation skills would impact on being successful in this freelancer job role because the client wants it done within one day of it being sent therefore knowing what order you’re doing everything in etc will be useful. An example of how to find freelance work would be on freelancer.com as you can hire people for jobs or advertise them for yourself.


Voluntary Sector:

For this voluntary job they aren't asking for much experience because you aren't getting paid however they want you to have the ability to use design software and provide a portfolio of your work to see if the standards are good enough. Personal attributes you need will be to have a creative flair, this is useful because you need to create the work from only what they are showing you but it is for 15-25 so you will need to make sure it is appealing for them, by doing this it will impact on how successful you are on the voluntary section.



Employment

To work in employment at Cactus you need to 3 years of commercial experience this is useful to them to know that you will be trustworthy to work with them also a major skill is having a good understanding of photoshop/ illustrator etc as it will be graphically produced. Cactus want you to have patience to appreciate the finer details this means you need to be good at problem solving for example if you rush the project more problems will go wrong with it so having an eye for detail will be useful. You also need to be highly creative to work in this industry because they are wanting you to be responsible for compelling the designs so the more creative you are the further you will get in the industry.


Work based training and higher education

There is a course at Hillsborough college which offers a foundation degree in graphic design however to further my skills I would get a work based training with the college which will help me with the course. There are entry requirements for this course as it is higher education therefore there are skills needed to start this course. You need skills in maths and English to be successful in this course as you must be understanding people’s inquiries and also have an art based skill this is useful as they may want to see your portfolio for example to show you can work in this type of industry.

Further Education


If you are wanting to study graphic design at college for example you may be able to take the course or a creative arts course which will allow you more experience in graphic design in the future. They allow you to learn more about how to work within in a team which will be key for employment, however they would expect you to have some type of skills on design/ art skills to show your creative side and you can work well on the course

LO2: Task 2 Job role in a chosen sector (p)

Graphic Designer (Digital print)

A graphic designer works on a variety of products and activities, such as websites, advertising, books, magazines, posters, computer games, product packaging, exhibitions and displays, corporate communications and corporate identity practical and Technical skills

I would need to show:

· passion and enthusiasm for design, with a creative flair;

· a flexible approach when working in a team;

· excellent communication skills to interpret and negotiate briefs with clients;

· good presentation skills and the confidence to explain and sell ideas to clients and colleagues;

· time management skills and the ability to cope with several projects at a time;

· accuracy and attention to detail when finalising designs;

· being open to feedback and willing to make changes to your designs;

· effective networking skills to build contacts.

Relevant subjects for graphic design work include those that involve visual arts. In particular, a degree or HND in the following subjects may increase your chances:

· 3D design

· communication design

· film/television

· fine art

· graphic design

· illustration

· photography

· visual art

Specific Industry Knowledge

I will need to have deep understanding of how to use software and making sure you don't lack in creativity. You need to have good communication skills to do this job well and web design as this increases your chances of getting a job in this media. Also understanding typography so when to pick the fight font will get you higher in the job.

Communication skills- Oral and written

Graphic Designers need to discuss, understand and interpret the needs, ideas and requirements of their customers accurately, therefore you will need to have good communication skills also as you will be writing them down you need to know exactly what the customer wants so you need to have good written skills.

Organisation

You need good organisation skills to be a graphic designer to make sure everything has excellent attention to detail so being organised with what your doing will make it precise, also you will be doing different sections at a time so having everything organised will make the outcome better

Creativity

The main skill needed to be a graphic designer is to be creative this plays a wide part because you are designing things what are going to be in someone’s house, business etc therefore the more creative you are the better you will be at the job. Also, as it could lead on to a higher graphic designer job for example

· Advertising art director

· Animator

· Creative director

· Illustrator

· Printmaker

· Production designer, theatre/television/film

therefore, you will need to be very creative to get a job at this and they need someone who is different from the rest and creativity shows this

Problem solving

Problem solving is also a major part played in graphic design as you will come across a lot of problems through this job and will need solving up to the customers standard

Working as part of a team

Graphic designers need to have good team working skills because if you are working part pot a company you need to be working as a team and be successful at it however even if you are freelance you still need to work as a team as you your clients will be part of your team as well

LO2: Task 1 Job roles and Skills

I am going to investigate the print and digital content sectors of media. There’s a lot of jobs in the media industry for example;



Textile Designer (Digital print)

The job involves transferring a digital image to the surface of a fabric or soft furnishing product for example a cushion. Some companies may expect you to have a relevant degree for example art however they are more interested to see that you have a creative flair and artistic ability.



http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/724_textile_designer_digital_print

Digital Imaging Specialist (Photographic laboratories)

This role involves colour correction and digital manipulation of images for printing or archiving. You don’t need a formal qualification to be a digital imaging specialist. However, many colleges now offer NVQ and SVQ qualifications in digital imaging.


http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/377_digital_imaging_specialist_photographic_laboratories

Machine Print Operator

You will be producing high quality photographic prints to meet the requirements of photographers and graphic designers. You don’t need a formal qualification to become a machine print operator however you need to be interested in photography and have good computer skills



http://creativeskillset.org/creative_industries/photo_imaging/job_roles/400_machine_print_operator

Minilab Operator

Controlling and maintaining the minilab machines in a photo retail outlet to process and print customers’ images and you won’t need a specific qualification for this role however some employers might accept you to have GCSEs or standard grades in maths and a science subject


http://creativeskillset.org/creative_industries/photo_imaging/job_roles/386_minilab_operator


Digital Imaging Specialist (Picture library)

Digitally manipulating, colour managing, colour correcting and keyboard tagging images in preparation for storage in a pictures library’s archive. You done need to have a formal qualification to do this role. However, there are now NVQs and SVQs in digital imaging, and an apprenticeship in Photo imaging.


http://creativeskillset.org/creative_industries/photo_imaging/job_roles/377_digital_imaging_specialist_photographic_laboratories

Designer

Global water intelligence: research, marketing and IT teams on our portfolio of digital products, print publications and events. You will need any degree in a design role to be able to get this job or someone who has already worked in designing


https://www.artsandmediajobs.com/uk/job/13144/designer-6/

Advertisement Executive

Promoting and selling print advertising/online and digital packages for one of their international B2B magazine titles. You can have any degree to get this job however it would suit a recent graduate with a couple years’ experience in the work place

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/magazine-journalist



Digital Print Operator

This role you will need to have experience print operator or work within a busy team of printers, finishers and install professionals working within the retail and property sectors, you won’t need experience however it is an advantage

https://www.indeed.co.uk/Print-Finisher-jobs?vjk=b5afb14672188dd0

Print Finisher

Turning printed-paper into finished products such as books, catalogues etc.  You will need to have 5 years of print finishing experience and a required licence or certificate to a fork lift


https://cdn.cityandguilds.com/productdocuments/manufacturing_industry/printing_and_graphic_communications/5261/5261_level_2/centre_documents/5261_l2_qualification_handbook_v1.pdf

Digital Print Operative

Work with computers to produce printed materials that will be sent to process.

You will need at least 1-year experience to do this role however some places require 5 years as they have more experience

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/graphic-designer

LO1 Task 1 (P1) Media products in the audio visual industry

OWNERSHIP:

For this unit I am going to be learning about the audio visual industry for example conglomerates such as 21st Century Fox and independent companies like Warp, their ownership talks about  A conglomerate company which owns a lot of subsidiary companies compared to an independent company which is only run by itself therefore it allows the company to do whatever they want, having no one higher above them. 21st Century Fox have ownership to many smaller companies such as 20th Century Fox, Blue sky studios, 20th Century fox television, Fox star studios, Fox, FX networks, Fox news channel, Sky plc and many more they all make different type of products such as films, news, sports, children programs and film series this means that they are a cross media ownership. They use horizontal integration like using its own subsidiaries such as Fox Tv to promote, also they use Vertical integration because they produce, distribute and consume their media products whereas Independent companies such as Warp films tend to just produce. Warp films became successful at the release of their drama film 'This is England' which although warp wasn't very big at the time they managed to gather in 5 million at the box office, this then made warp a more well known independent company.

ADAPTATION:

As 20th century fox is very well known for having a lot of adaptations one of its biggest hits were 'Deadpool' as this was first a comic book and turned into a well known film, it also covers a wide range of audience from anyone above 15 to 30 and maybe older depending on if they are interested in the genre, however it is mostly targeted at more of a male audience than female. Although younger audiences maybe interested in watching the film the BBFC rating is 15 as it is a witty action comedy film. Deadpool benefitted 20th Century fox as it racked up a lot at the box office from being popular within fans who had already read the comic and were waiting for the film to finally be released, the film agedly made around $300 Million Worldwide on its weekend debut. 20th Century Fox use Deadpool to appeal to their audience using theories for example Rick Altmans theory as it uses visceral pleasures for the audience when watching the trailer, film and reading the comic as they get excitement, fear and laughter all in one place this widens the target audience as they watch these types of films to escape from reality. Although the target audience is more of a ABC1 the film could also reach a C2DE audience as it didn't have conventions for either this benefitted 20th Century Fox also by having a wide audience with different preferences to films, the popularity has also helped bring out the news of Deadpool 2 being realised.

BRANDS:

Netflix is a big brand which uses cross media platforms for example social media and billboards of Netflix shows etc. to promote the Netflix brand name, it is targeted at a wide audience range of 13-35 male and female, however shows and films on their could also be for a lower and higher target range depending on what their preference is. Netflix use above the line advertising to reach a mass audience would be adverts on Television for example promoting the release of one of their new shows of on different social media channels which Netflix has an account for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat where they all advertise constantly to promote the brand name. An example of below the line advertising Netflix uses would be direct emailing, when having a Netflix account you can get emails on shows you might enjoy which are taken from genres you've previously watched on your account before, this is a good way of advertising their products as it is targeting you more specifically which might make you want to give it a go.

Sky is another example of a brand which uses cross media platforms as it uses television adverts and sky billboards around the world to promote people to have Sky on their TV, this again has a wide audience range as you= can have different channels for example horror/family/comedy with different genres to suit you more personally, however the target audience is based on the people who are going to pay for the channels therefore it would be 18-35 audience of male and female of an ABC1 class as it isn't cheap although there's a lot of different genres it could suit everyone. Sky uses TV adverts to promote to a mass audience as there on a wide range of channels and also have billboards with sky on this promotes to a wide audience to who may watch shows on VoD sites but may be interested in having Sky.

AUDIENCE PLEASURES:

These brands appeal to certain demographics through the use of audience pleasures. Rick Altman theorised that all genres offer pleasures which would be emotional, visceral and intellectual puzzles which make the audience think about what's happening in the film rather than feeling something. Deadpool for example for its audience of 15-30 year olds uses all three to capture a wider audience, the emotional pleasures may make the audience feel happy or sad when Deadpool is winning in a fight for example or sad when Ajax is winning in one of the fights this would appeal to a certain type of audience of the 15 year olds watching it in contrast to the 30 year old men who have already read the comic books as they would feel more visceral pleasure from patiently waiting for the realise of the film and the excitement while watching it. Furthermore the peer to peer mode of address appeals to this demographic as they would relate to it more. Using these pleasures makes the audience more likely to carry on watching the film instead of stitching off as they need excitement or fear of something happening to keep them tuned in. The audience can also gain pleasures in other ways fro example Denis McQual theory that media products are used for surveillance, building relationships, building personal identity and escapism. In Deadpool the most common pleasure would be escapism as it isn't a realistic film and people go to the cinema or watch films to usually escape from the real life therefore Deadpool would be a good choice. However Deadpool would be a good way of building relationships as it has a couple in there which creates a talking point and a relatable script. Using these audience pleasures helps promote media products better therefore it is key for conglomerates to do so.