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Making Time for Personal Projects

Gareth Strange
February 26, 2014

Making Time for Personal Projects

Talk given at LocalHosts

As designers, we love to play. We have heads full of ideas, but sometimes it can be difficult to find the time to execute those ideas. This is a talk about my experiences of "making time for personal projects" and some of the rewards that came with them.

Gareth Strange

February 26, 2014
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Transcript

  1. On explaining why we prefer white turkeys, over their darker

    cousins Showing how long turkeys live for Before the Christmas turkey – peacock, goose and swan was the bird of choice in Britain. Henry VIII was a big fan! letstalkturkey.org.uk
  2. At first glance I thought this poster was trying to

    raise awareness of Western Australia’s shark cull
  3. Bluegg Culture Hi, we're Bluegg. We design websites for all

    devices, digital solutions and brands. All bursting with personality. Our coffee's pretty good too.
  4. My walls are not bare They are full of art

    and illustrations by people I admire and who inspire me
  5. The sooner you understand why, the sooner you’ll be on

    your way to creating actual value. Sean McCabe
  6. Things I wanted to do: Be a better designer Improve

    illustration skills Make prints Web design Learn how to code Calligraphy Make signage Hand typography Read lots of books Take more photographs Make furniture Letter pressing Life drawing Make my own fonts ! ! Get back into painting Get better at DIY Cook adventurous food Draw stupid ideas I get Friend’s greeting cards Screen printing Try out new software Take dog for better walks Cycle further and faster Draw on Munny Customise picture frames Decorate the house Start blogging Public speaking?!?!
  7. The new Kellogg’s box A place I could share my

    best drawings Thanks again Paul!
  8. Reasons for yourself: Makes you happy Develop your techniques Learn

    new skills Keeps you sharp Nice freelance work Raise your profile Chance to help others Inspires others… hopefully
  9. I’m always amazed by agencies who stop their designers doing

    freelance work and personal projects. @tomalloyd
  10. Companies with our industry spend thousands of pounds sending staff

    to conferences and workshops to develop their skills, introduce new ways of thinking and inspire them. ! Why stop the stuff that’s free?
  11. Reasons for your employer: Improves the skills that you can

    take to work Can help projects go smoothly Clients get better work Better relationships More trust & higher morale
  12. Keynote doesn’t support animated GIFs, so here’s a video of

    the GIF ! so, I’m going to have another drink
  13. Things I wanted to do: Be a better designer Improve

    illustration skills Make prints Web design Learn how to code Calligraphy Make signage Hand typography Read lots of books Take more photographs Make furniture Letter pressing Life drawing Make my own fonts ! ! Get back into painting Get better at DIY Cook adventurous food Draw stupid ideas I get Friend’s greeting cards Screen printing Try out new software Take dog for better walks Cycle further and faster Draw on Munny Customise picture frames Decorate the house Start blogging Public speaking?!?!