Creative Futures 4th March

Creative Futures 2013

Opening Address-What's current in the creative industries?

Sarah Mair Gates

Opening address was the first talk which was introduced by Dr Stuart Cunningham who also gave talk on what's current in the creative industries and Skillset Cymru. Skillset Cymru is the Welsh arm of Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the creative industries. It is also a industry body with funding from government and industry. It works with the indusrty, sector bodies and government departments to ensure that training and education is responsive to sector needs. Skillset Cymru is overseen by an industry National Board for Wales made up of independent production companies, broadcasters, trade associations, unions, sector support organisations and Skillset support organisations. I thought it was interesting to learn about what's current in the industry at the moment because I need to know all about the indusrty when apply for jobs so I know what's good and bad.

 Sarah Mair Gated who was from Creative and Cultural Skills and a representative from Creative Skills Cymru, gave a talk about Creative and Cultural Skills. I learn't that they are a Sector Skills Council for: performing arts, visual arts, craft, design cultural heritage, music and literature. They do research, development of national occupational standards, apprenticeships, careers information and events, national skills academy and industry relevant training.

Key Note address- Painting over the cracks

Professor Paul Haywood

The next talk was by Professor Paul Haywood, who I thought was an excellent speaker as he really tried to connect with the audience and engage us in his talk. However I didn't really find his talk too relevant to my course but it was interesting that he touched on media city in Salford and the re-branding of Salford. I found media city an interesting topic, because it is goal was to become a leading international hub for the creative and digital sectors. It is a vibrant place to work and live and also the new home for the BBC, ITV, Coronation Street, SIS, University of Salford, Lowry Outlet Shopping and over 80 small businesses.I think this part of the talk was relevant to me because my course is media-based and also I have visited Salford keys and seen media city on a Geography re-branding trip. Much of Paul Haywood's talk was more art based but I still found the talk interesting.

'How not to be a designer!'

Robert Ball

Although I found this talk was more targeted to deign and graphic students, I got some good information on how to create a good portfolio. Robert Ball shared his experiences in the industry  how he made it into the industry and what not to do when your in the industry. He told us to keep our portfolio simple, and it shouldn't take long to load and leave your best work to the second page but put your other good work on the first, like a sandwich. Also don't include any idea or roughs in the portfolio but keep them separate and handy include they want to look at them. And of course your portfolio should be well presented. I thought these tips were useful. Other advice that Ball included was to enter student award because it helps get you a job, always work hard in an placement as it could be rewarding at the end of it, ask for help from others and try to avoid getting inspiration from the internet  Instead go out and find something without the use of internet sites such as Tumblr. 

To Imagine, to create, to Learn

Yann Seznec

The last talk of the day was To Image, To Create, To Learn by Yann Seznec from a company called Lucky Frame. Yann Seznec had appeared on Dragons Den pitching his idea of a Wii remote sound loop, but was unsuccessful. Yann came across to be very interested in his own work that you could tell he was really passionate abou, which was important because in the creative industry you have to come across as passionate and enthusiastic. Seznec also showed us some of his work including: mushroom spurs that included a laser and he spurs triggered instruments to play, gelkies which are chips and components in jars and also the weather cage in Bangor. He then went on to talk about interaction and interface and how he used interaction and interface on children in Scotland in a workshop with coloured paper as part of a music game. Seznec finished off by going through the apps Lucky Frame has created. The apps that have been created were games about creating sound: Bad holet, wave trip and mujek.