Perry, M. & Medler, A. (2004) Marketing your Creativity: New Approaches for a Changing Industry, Lausanne: AVA Publishing

Perry, M. & Medler, A. (2004) Marketing your Creativity: New Approaches for a Changing Industry, Lausanne: AVA Publishing

The authors have written the book for graduates who are readying themselves for employment in the design sector. They talk about the changing face of employment in the sector describing, “client spending on marketing activity is undoubtedly down and permanent jobs in the industry have suffered, freelance is more buoyant.” (p38) The authors offer an alternative ethos for enhancement employment opportunities, suggesting interdisciplinary awareness and diversity of skill-base being key elements.

The book describes ways that graduates can market themselves for employment. Digital portfolios – CD or web based – are first on the agenda and assert a need for easy to access and readily compatible content the key. A number of other approaches are listed; digital direct mail, email, multimedia, but the portfolio is seen as a fundamental tool. “Turning your traditional portfolio into a digital portfolio opens up all kinds of doors or you.” (p54) And the authors re-state the need for individuality and asserting the “brand of you.”

Booth, H. (2004) ‘Products of Placement’ Design Week, 18 Mar 2004, pp22-23

Booth, H. (2004) ‘Products of Placement’ Design Week, 18 Mar 2004, pp22-23

The author describes a portfolio as being a vital element in the arsenal of a graduate in their search for employment. The article describes exemplary processes from the student perspective to getting a job. Invariably this involves the development of a flexible and portable portfolio; “I wanted them to see I understood what makes a good idea.” The article also highlights the need for expression of individuality and personality in graduate portfolios, re-affirming the basis of design industries being selected themselves on their stylistic approaches.

Another student experiences also identifies peer assessment of a representational portfolio as having facilitated employment opportunities. However, the focus of the article does show that ‘reciprocal’ placement is perceived as playing a far more important role in seeking and gaining employment.

Carson, P. (2004) ‘Placement Survey 2′ Creative Review, April 2004, pp43-45

Carson, P. (2004) ‘Placement Survey 2′ Creative Review, April 2004, pp43-45

The collated perspectives of employers about the value of placements as part of a recruitment process in creative agencies. The narrator explains the balance between advantages to employers and potential employees. “Placements offer fledgling teams the opportunity to meet great creative thinkers, work on live briefs… Agencies in return enjoy a cheap supply of untapped talent and fresh thinking…”

The article describes the diversity of processes undertaken in different organisations in this element of recruitment predominantly populated with graduates. It demonstrates that one size does not fit all, suggesting that this is not unexpected given the creative individuality that drives these types of organisations.

The article is summarised from the employer viewpoint as placement being of intrinsic value to graduates, suggesting that it provides opportunities for vocational experience that cannot even be replicated in jobs of a similar nature. “It’s worth all the agony… When all your mates come out of Uni and walk into their nine-to-five job, they may be enjoying a wage that makes you insanely jealous, but give it a year and watch the tables turn. They’ll be the ones complainging of dul monotony… you’ll be starting your dream job.”