Project WOW will be back in 2015 while our team concentrate on other creative projects. In the meantime you can still read all the WOWs so far right here. Feel free to also check out our founders’ new work and websites too: Josie Swan and Zara Wood.
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Be confident (not to be confused with arrogant or egotistical). If you truly believe in your ideas and yourself, your clients and others will too. Lewie Evans, 2013 Designer & Founder — Lewie Evans Design Studio Studied: BA Hons Graphic Design at The Surrey Institute of Art & Design, Epsom Since graduating from The Surrey […]
Find your uniqueness by making work about the things that genuinely interest you, however off the wall they might seem. Andy Warhol had a tin of Campbells soup for lunch each day, years before he screenprinted them. Find your own Campbells soup equivalent, and allow yourself to get obsessed. Push that thing further than anyone […]
Don’t be scared of pricing. Your creative skills are a commodity, so value them. The Enquiry Desk Team 2013 For help getting to grips with pricing a job and working out a daily rate check out these publications and organisations: an – artist’s fees toolkit calculator: www.a-n.co.uk The AOI – members dedicated pricing support via email […]
Have BIG plans and HUGE goals but don’t try to reach them all in one step. Ambition is a must but if you try to achieve everything all at once then you’ll completely freak out and end up overwhelmed. Try to write achievable to do lists and you’ll get things done, make progress and feel […]
look out for inspiration – it’s everywhere The Enquiry Desk Crew, 2013 (currently sketching a warrior, clad in intricate armoury, called Pam) The online WOW project stands for Words of Wisdom and is updated every Wednesday. Expect inspiring advice and comforting truths from the crew at The Enquiry Desk and our amazing contributors – […]
Life is short. The art is long. Don’t demand results of any kind too quickly. Holly Wales, 2013 Illustrator Studied: BA Graphic Design, Southampton Solent University, Southampton UK Holly Wales is an illustrator based in London, UK. Her work explores a variety of subject matter and is predominantly drawing-based. She works with multiple layers of […]
The Enquiry Desk would like to thank all those who imparted their wisdom in 2012. Look out for more WOWs starting in January 2013. For now, here’s a selection from this year’s Words of Wisdom: Be the black sheep! Don’t take roads already taken, make your own paths. Nicholas Dawe 2012 Founder and Agent, Folio […]