My design for Threadless

http://www.threadless.com/submission/362227/Anna_Rexia

Click on this and rate my design please :D

My Website!!!

My new website is up and running so check it out and look at all my graphic design goodness!!! :)

www.eljaypea.co.uk

Portfolio Site coming soon :D

I've bought my domain and now all that's needed is to get my website up and running!
Need to sort it soon as soon but having a bit of a slow moment :/

When it is up and running it will be at this address www.eljaypea.co.uk

Can't wait to get it all sorted!!!!! :)

3 weeks on...

Well... I was at Jules B for 3 weeks and I feel like I have learned quite a lot!
On my departure I was told that the work I had done was "more than satisfactory" which I think is a good point... I did get asked if I would want to come back over the summer so they mustn't of hated me too much :/ haha!
Feel kind of like I'm ready to go off into the world of graphic design!? I might need to work on my acceptance of criticism after hours of working on something... it is stress inducing to be told to change something that may seem like a tiny thing to them, but when you've sat and created it, you know how long it will take to amend.
Anyway... I did lots and lots of work! Not sure what's allowed to go up on here because some of it hasn't been sent out or used yet... this is part of the Easter emailer I did... it will be sent out soon so here's my favourite part:

I had to develop this idea and make some ideas for the shop window too. It had to simplified a lot because Jules didn't think it was suitable as he said it looked like a fairground poster.

I'll post some more once I am sure I am allowed!!!

Nagi Noda

Just been browsing through some fashion related websites etc. for inspiration and came across these cool bags! They are from the same website as the hair hats (which are also amazing... really detailed animal shaped hair!!!)
Quite a clever design I reckon:

...so many logos!!!

There's this animation on vimeo called Logorama 
"This is a short film that was directed by the French animation collective H5, François Alaux, Hervé de Crécy + Ludovic Houplain. It was presented at the Cannes Film Festival 2009. It opened the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and won a 2010 academy award under the category of animated short."
Hahahahah! Just finished watching it and it's brilliant! I always knew Ronald McDonald was an evil criminal... and it's hilarious to see the little Haribo guy swearing and mooning at the lion.
It's a really cleverly thought out animation EVERYTHING is a logo!!! It is strange to think that there are so many recognisable logos that we all know and we do actually see them just as frequently as in this animation. I guess that's the power of a well designed logo!

Jules B week 2

Really enjoying making the emailers :) I've been doing some pretty creative stuff that I will be putting on here the minute I get them saved and transfered!
Designing the Easter window stickers for the Jules B shop fronts!

First Week at Jules B!

Well one week down 2 to go!
I've done quite a lot this week, been in Photoshop all of the time doing lots of emailers with some expensive clothes on!!! Did the category banners today for the Jules B new look website :D
Learning new bits and bobs as I go. I'm sure I'll be a whizz in most things Photoshop by the end of work experience... and know lots of fashion labels!

Plan plan plan... list list list

No time left at all... made a detailed time table and I am currently making "THE TO DO LIST OF ALL TIME AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN" and no doubt this list will carry on being added to as the time goes by and the amount of things to do keeps multiplying.
Since I feel like absolute poo today I am doing more typing than a typist in a typing factory! Catching up on PPD and recording everything.
Only 5 weeks left (not including Easter Hols) and 3 of those I will be at Jules B doing my work placement (which I am looking forward to quite a bit). The Easter break is going to be no break at all but it will all be worth it in the end :)

Anyway... back to work...

Infinite Personality

Today... in fact just minutes ago we had a presentation from Dave McDonald, the design director of Infinite Design in Newcastle. It was all about getting your first job in industry and how to stand out amongst all the other young new designers!
Dave has been in Graphic Design since graduating from Newcastle College in 1996, and has since worked for 2 leading design agencies in London. However London was not his cup of tea (I can't imagine myself in London either as I don't particularly like the place...) Anyway... Dave has worked at Infinite for 9 years and has some brilliant work to show and many stories to tell. He has produced work for Dance City - major input into the actual architecture of the building, as the brand is an extension of the look of the building i.e. the windows and interiors. Other big names include Metro, Northern Stage, Futureheads and End Clothing.
There was a LOT of advice to take on board and it has made me feel a little more relaxed about future interviews/portfolio advice etc. There were 3 main points, each with their own keywords:

• Personality
• Relaxed 
• Professional 
• Honest 
• Portfolio
• Genuine
• Confident
• Receptive
• Passion
• Brave 
• Committed
• Positive

If you receive negative or constructive feedback on your work don't argue back, take the ideas, write them down and learn from it! But on the other hand, do stand up for yourself and believe in your work, sometimes design work is one persons idea of fab but someone else's idea of absolute pap!

One thing that stuck in my mind was to do personal work, it keeps you sane to do things you enjoy amongst all the job work you will have (once you have aced the interview and impressed the employer) and freelance work for friends on projects you have a massive interest in and you know you will create something awesome. This helps massively to give your portfolio your personality!

BE YOURSELF!

A negative thing is that sometimes you end up doing mass amounts of work and then some poo face can just say they don't like it and then you get screwed over... hopefully this is more rare than having a happy customer!

I've been thinking...

Been puzzling over what I think I should do in the future... after getting a BA (hopefully)! What job can I see myself doing? I've always loved to draw and illustration is something I have thought about many a time... I also love photography but I think that is more of a hobby considering I didn't take Photography as my degree...
Anyway, my friend Max gave me this book to look at 'Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2011' so I flicked through to the illustration section and came across illustrating for cards :) Since I make cards already (Eljaypea Creations) and graphic design has given me a good knowledge of layout and colour etc. I reckon I could produce some nice designs.
I'm thinking that this could be one of my aims for my BA course :D

First Attempt

Decided to have a go of digital painting... it looks pretty awesome when other people do it so I thought why not give it a try!?
Tried to follow a tutorial on youtube but I didn't do all the layers... maybe next time. But here is my attempt:

definitely liked it better before I added colour

need to work on Gradient Maps and all that jazz

So there you have it! Next stop will be a whole face!!!!!!!!!

Colours

I've been thinking today about colours...
It was rubbish weather today when I looked out of the window so I wore yellow!!! It actually really helped my mood... every time I caught sight of the yellow out of the corner of my eye it made me think of sunshine and happy stuff!
So I think it could be helpful to use this in future projects, think deeper into colours linked with mood and maybe create a final outcome (or a few) which are meant to portray different moods!?...
Or maybe not... just think typing...

This yellow is lush!

Oo this could be helpful when deciding on colours for logos and stuff... depending on the target audience and the mood to be set.

Another EP cover :)

Tomahawks For Targets have once again asked me to do their artwork for their second EP!!!

Quite a different look to the first Maggie Thatcher, hand drawn artwork. 

They knew exactly what they wanted, and this is what I came up with:

I used Illustrator to create more of a clean edge than hand drawn look, which I feel has worked really well to produce quite a clinical image, suited to the stationary. The blood was meant to look quite violent, but I kept it darker to make it less of a focal point. 

It is loved by all :) 

Little bit stressed out...

I haven't really posted anything for a while due to being seriously stressy D:
Trying to finish my negotiated project and after I finish one thing, I remember something else that needs to be done... and thinking about completing work for my portfolio... and my website and stationary... and my CV... and the interview that is slowly looming :(

Haven't really had much time to think about anything...

Still need to do the post about 3 companies that I would like to work for... it should be done as soon as possible...but I need to think...

Polyvore :D

Since I love fashion and I love mood boards this is the most brilliant thing!

It is ever so distracting though...

Check out some of my mood boards so far... had a tiny bit of spare time so I made a few!!!

eljaypea's Polyvore

Portfolio Tips :)

For PPD today we were looking at advice on how to make sure your portfolio is fab!
We were told to choose 5 tips that we thought to be the most important/relevant... so here's mine:

1. Think about everything - colour, size, layout etc. of the work inside and even think about how your actual case reflects you.
2. When choosing the work to go in your portfolio be selective! You don't need a bulky portfolio if the work in there is good enough.
3. Also, view your work as if you were someone else, and imagine it in the context in which it is meant to be seen.
4. If the company you are interviewing for specialise in a certain area of graphic design, make sure you have relevant work to show.
5. When it comes to the interview you should know your portfolio inside out, so that when you talk about it it sounds natural!

So there we have it! Now all I need to do is use these points while I am developing my own portfolio!!!

Interview Times!

Had an interview for a 3 week placement at Jules B!
It was meant to be at 10am but over estimated how long it would take to get there...and arrived at half 9! :s
Anyway... sat and talked through my portfolio and discussed what processes I had used to create some of my work. It was pretty relaxed and the feedback I received was all positive! Got told the times I would be working if I got the placement... and I did get it :) In fact they have taken on 3 of us! So I'm going to get all prepared for starting on March 28th!

And in between time preparation for the BA interview needs to be done as well as a tonne of work!!!

Wish me luck! :D

Feeling all experienced!!!!

Even though I was only there for one week I feel a new motivation for graphics and I feel like I could quite happily fit into a small studio like Klaklak! I need to get experience in a larger graphic design agency so I can say that I have an informed choice when it comes to a future career. Even though I feel like I would be better suited to a smaller studio/office where everyone knows each other and they are always there to give advice/guidance on the ideas for the current project!

Sadly I can't show the work I created for Klaklak quite yet... due to disclosure etc. But I did work really hard and achieved quite a bit within the short week which flew by!

Also... news! Got an interview date for the BA Creative Practice course! So I have a LOT of work to be done before that day... need to keep calm and carry on...hah!

Oo... rediscovered!

I was trying to remember the name of an illustrator whos work I really liked... I could only remember her first name so I typed Sarah illustrator ----- and then recognised her surname!!!
So here she is...Sarah Beetson with her crazy colourful amazing illustrations!!!

Best picture ever :) this is what my summer will look like!

Using fabrics and other cool stuff

Anyway... I like this style :D

Work Experience!

I am currently experiencing work!!!
It's really good. I mean I've only been there 2 days now but tomorrow will be half way through!!! Really enjoying the busy-ness business haha!!! Buses have been a bit scary too... where I needed to be had road works so I had to get off and walk... :/ but now I know my way!
Anyway... Klaklak is a really nice place to work and the people there are all really lovely!
:D
Klaklak :)

Omg.want.one.of.these!!!

Just been trying to find a laptop case and came across this mint one :D

Annika Olesen

Just been searching for inspiration of the illustration variety and came across quite a few great ones but I really love Annika Olesen's work!
Annika Olesen's Portfolio has a range of stuff! I really like the fashion and editorial illustrations, they will be pretty good inspiration for my magazine!!!

Love the softness of this one and how the messy lines  make up a really pretty illustration

A different style again

NARC Glasses :D

Been working on the NARC project for their 5th Birthday edition!
One of the first ideas that came into my head was GLASSES! I don't know why this was my first thought but hey, I made the glasses and then my sister kindly volunteered to be my model!
Here are my favourite photos!

Love this picture! Want to use this on the CD cover I reckon

This could also work really well on the CD cover

So there you have it... now... to make them look good as covers...

Mushrooms are awesome!!!

Just found this cute website (yes I know it isn't some sort of design or graphics website... I was researching healthy meals and this came up!
http://www.mushroomsmakesense.com/#/intro
The little mushrooms make cute little popping noises when they grow and I love it :D

Found this too...

Yes in my little trip through old photies I found this one! Some funky packaging of choccies from Hotel Chocolat's halloween range.

I love how simple but awesome they are!