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.

Transcript

1. Hi, my name is GARETH STRANGE @garethstrange
2. I eat lots of VEGETABLES
3. DYLAN That’s Bob Dylan
5. Graduated from THE ATRIUM
6. Designer & Illustrator Since 2009
7. My role at Bluegg BRANDING
 DESIGN FOR PRINT WEB DESIGN ILLUSTRATION
8. The amazing powers of ILLUSTRATION
9. INTERESTING IDEAS + FACETIOUS = ENGAGING
10. 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
11. At first glance I thought this poster was trying to raise awareness of Western Australia’s shark cull
12. What on Earth is FRACKING?
14. I will choose this way every single time! ! ! ! dangersoffracking.com
17. How we work PERSONALITY ENGAGING STORYTELLING COMMUNICATE FUNCTION
19. 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.
20. Scheduled DRINK BREAK
22. It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be. Paul Arden
23. Your brief: DESIGN A BOB DYLAN POSTER
24. Making time for PERSONAL PROJECTS
25. Personal Projects can be rewarding for: YOURSELF YOUR EMPLOYER & YOUR FRIENDS
26. Only for my best drawings
27. My walls are not bare They are full of art and illustrations by people I admire and who inspire me
28. BECAUSE WE’RE NOT IN IT JUST FOR THE MONEY right?
29. The sooner you understand why, the sooner you’ll be on your way to creating actual value. Sean McCabe
30. 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?!?!
31. ! A HEAD FULL OF IDEAS ! but, not enough time
32. I had time to watch 86 hours of this Twice
40. Everyone has the same 24 HOURS
42. As an experiment I designed a Valentine’s Day card and put it up for sale…
44. Why are you so late?
45. Urm… I was drawing Allen Ginsberg
46. Share You never know who will see
47. A project from the UNITED STATES
48. Wunderlist The app that remembers all my ideas for me
49. Something that always inspires me is TRAVEL
50. A trip to YOSEMITE
51. It turns out the bear was actually a pretty friendly guy
52. The new Kellogg’s box A place I could share my best drawings Thanks again Paul!
53. THIS WAS A WEBSITE FOR ME ! so, what did I want from it?
54. #ALMUNECAR
55. 35 Inspiring Portfolios Blog Which increased traffic and enquiries
56. HELPING STUDENTS
58. MY WEBSITE GOT STOLEN
60. 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
61. I WAS DEVELOPING MY TECHNIQUES AND LEARNING NEW SKILLS ! I could take this stuff to work
62. Great relationship with THE BOSSES
65. Designers need to play AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT WE WERE ALLOWED
66. I’m always amazed by agencies who stop their designers doing freelance work and personal projects. @tomalloyd
67. 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?
68. TRUST
69. 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
70. HOW CAN YOUR
 FRIENDS BENEFIT? ! That’s up to you
71. My friend, Phil and his incredible beard ! (Yes, that’s a top hat)
72. My friend, Phil and his moustache ! (No, it wasn’t even November)
74. Keynote doesn’t support animated GIFs, so here’s a video of the GIF ! so, I’m going to have another drink
75. WHAT’S THE CURRENT PERSONAL PROJECT? ! As soon as this talk is done
76. 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?!?!
78. Cal-LYRIC-graphy
79. @garethstrange