Words of Wisdom
WOW: The Enquiry Desk Team on Timings
Get to grips with timings. Listen to The Enquiry Desk helpful tips on the importance of timings: [audio:WOWtheenquirydesktimings.mp3] The Enquiry Desk Team 2013 The Enquiry Desk brings professional help to creative talent. It caters for students, postgraduates and practicing graphic artists and illustrators who seek constructive professional advice specific to their work. We deliver talks […]
WOW – Designer Carly Murphy-Merrydew
Don’t burn your bridges. 99% of all work you get will be word of mouth. Be nice. Carly Murphy-Merrydew, 2014 I’m lucky enough to keep the wolves at bay doing what I love. Design. I have been freelancing for the past five years, working both directly for clients and within design agencies. Before that I worked for […]
WOW – The Enquiry Desk HQ
What to keep in your portfolio? Every project that you are proud of and still excited by. Lose anything that makes you feel unconfident. Quality over quantity. The Enquiry Desk HQ, 2014 The online WOW project stands for Words of Wisdom and is updated on Wednesdays. Expect inspiring advice and comforting truths from […]
WOW – The Enquiry Desk HQ
Make sure your confidence matches your creativity. Nerves won’t get you anywhere. Neither with conceit. The Enquiry Desk , 2014 The online WOW project stands for Words of Wisdom and is updated every Wednesday. Expect inspiring advice and comforting truths from the team at The Enquiry Desk and our amazing contributors – a healthy […]
WOW – James-Lee Duffy
Burn the Internet and find your inspiration elsewhere. James-Lee Duffy Art Director and Illustrator Studied: Graphic Design, Reigate Art School James-Lee Duffy is six feet, six inches of Art Director, Illustrator and Art ‘Zine Founder. His wealth of experience includes global clients such as Nintendo, Coca-Cola, Carling, Appletiser, Reebok, Diageo, J&B and Smirnoff among many others. […]
WOW – Illustrator and Printmaker La Shuks
In the sea of illustrators, you need to have a distinct recognisable style so that clients remember you clearly when they think of who’s work is right for a particular job. But what if you just can’t narrow down a style? Don’t be afraid to have a couple of different guises! It’s important to keep […]
WOW – Designer and Illustrator Wijtze Valkema
Internships, internships, internships. They are the best way to learn a lot in a short amount of time. Although your investment is big (low or no salary and no time for a job that does pay), doing an internship is an invaluable working experience and a boost to your professional career, regardless if you’re aspiring […]
WOW – Mark Giglio of Pen Pencil Stencil Studio
Take time to do personal work—personal work will keep you excited about what you do. It also gives you a chance to experiment and try new things that you might not otherwise be able to do for clients. Mark Giglio Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Photographer and maker of things. Studied: Print, California College of the Arts […]
WOW – Illustrator & Designer Stephen Chan
Build strong relationships with other like-minded people…be it other illustrators, designers, animators, developers, printers, editors, etc. Work and learn from each other. Viewing things from another persons perspective and seeing how others tackle problems can be very inspiring and informative. Help and support others, and they will repay you when you need it most. Stephen […]
WOW – The Enquiry Desk Team
What projects would you like to do in the future? What would you like to achieve? Doing the cover of your favourite band’s new album? Publishing your own book? Running your own design studio? Launching your own magazine? Whatever they may be, use your ideals to add some structure to your work practice now. Start […]
WOW – Writer & Illustrator Derek Brazell
An illustration career is a two sided coin: Heads (maybe) is the creative work, the dedicated application and exploration, the side you’re most proud of. The Tails are the less glamorous side, the understanding of the business element of your chosen career and the appreciation that you are part of a bigger picture, a picture […]
WOW – The Enquiry Desk
Always double check the final artwork files before you send them to the client. Make sure you are supplying it as requested in the brief – format; dimensions; mode; resolution; colour separation etc. Don’t let yourself lose future work because of silly mistakes like spelling or missing something out. The Enquiry Desk, […]
WOW – Edward from The Enquiry Desk
Chances are that you’re doing other types of work inbetween creative freelance and your own projects. Best not to be bitter about that. You’re bringing money in and learning lots of skills you probably hadn’t even merited… seeing how a business runs, working well with people and being disciplined. Plus, you never know who […]
WOW – Illustrator Caroline Rose Dunning
As a graduate enter as many competitions and exhibitions as you can. Get your work seen! Caroline Rose Dunning 2014 Illustrator and Printmaker Studied: Graphic Communication BA at Bath Spa Since graduating Caroline has worked with a variety of clients from publishing and press. She has exhibited in several galleries across the UK and […]
WOW – The Enquiry Desk
Plan a work routine and stick to it. Remember to factor in accounts, self promotion and updating your portfolio around commissions. It may need to be adaptable during busy spells but will focus you during quiet times. The Enquiry Desk, 2014 We deliver talks and events on creative professional practice and topical industry debates for higher […]
WOW – Illustrator and Printmaker Polly Dunbar
KEEP PLAYING! When drawing becomes your ‘proper job’ it’s easy to forget to make work just for fun. New ideas can grow from experimenting, I find nothing is ever wasted. Polly Dunbar 2014 Illustrator and Printmaker Studied: Illustration BA at Brighton University Polly Dunbar studied Illustration at Brighton University, since graduating she has written and […]
WOW – Jessie Ford of Sugar Snap Studio
Keep drawing! I’m as guilty as the next person for relying on my computer too much… I love the hand drawn line and need to remind myself of this! Nothing beats it. Jessie Ford of Sugar Snap Studio, 2014 Illustrator and Picture Book Creator Studied: Graphic Design (illustration) Bath Spa University College Jessie studied for […]
WOW – Cartoonist & Illustrator Rosie Brooks
Always put your contact details in the front of your sketchbook. They are very easy to lose if you are engrossed at a gallery or museum and nice people do tend to try to return them! Rosie Brooks, 2014 Cartoonist & Illustrator I started off by reading Music in Durham, then went on to complete […]
WOW – Illustrator & Cartoonist Stephen Collins
My best bit of advice to new illustrators is, don’t rely on emails for your self promotion. Instead, send out postcards or packs of prints. And here’s the important bit – follow these physical prints up with phone calls to art directors. I have this theory that half of the illustrators who give up early […]
WOW – The Enquiry Desk Crew
Chill out and play this Christmas. The Enquiry Desk , 2013 Massive thanks to all the WOWers who shared their creative wisdom with us this year. Project WOW will return for it’s third year in January 2014. Expect more inspiring advice and comforting truths from the crew at The Enquiry Desk and our amazing contributors […]
WOW – Freelance Illustrative Designer Steve Simpson
Albert Einstein once said “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new”. It’s from our mistakes that we find new ways of approaching problems, the real talent is recognising we are making mistakes and learning from them. I’ve always been the type of person who is constantly questioning, experimenting and tweaking […]
WOW – Designer & Illustrator Sarah Arnett
Just passing on the words of Charles Mingus, because there are non better! “Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity” Sarah Arnett, 2013 Designer & Illustrator Studied: Woven textiles University of Brighton Sarah is a designer and illustrator. Graduating from the University of Brighton, Sarah originally trained in […]
WOW – Josie Swan Illustrator & Enquiry Desk Founder
See opportunities to be creative and do something good. Josie Swan 2013 Illustrator Josie Jo and Co-Founder The Enquiry Desk Studied: BA Illustration and Animation at Kingston University Throughout November Josie is taking part in Movember to raise money for Men’s health issues including Testicular Cancer and Prostate Cancer. She will be wearing, drawing and […]
WOW – Illustrator Andrew Lyons
Fake it ’til you make it, is the best advice I’ve heard for aspiring illustrators. Act like a pro by keeping regular hours and filling your portfolio with as many subjects as possible. Draw everything! Also, learn from other illustrators by looking at their portfolios, look at how they solve problems and how they present […]