Making Your Mark: Study Visit Review

The AOI’s Derek Brazell recently hosted a lecture for Visual Communications students here in Barnsley. The event titled ‘Making Your Mark – A Guide to Postgraduate Education’ was an incredibly informative affair.
For budding Graphic Designers and Illustrators out there we’ve compiled some top tips from the day;
1.Self Promotion
Don’t underestimate the importance of having an online presence, connect on social media – join sites such as Behance, the Dots, Linked in and get on Facebook, twitter and Instagram. It may be early days for you to have a website but blog, and blog regularly. Include preparatory work, sketches and self initiated projects – don’t mix up your personal and professional life!
2. Want to get noticed?
Use the AOI Client Directories for a list of contacts. Be personal and be creative. Ensure to put the correct postage on physical mail outs and spell names correctly!
3. Copyright
It literally means the Right to Copy. It is a Property Right that protects any work by a “creator”. Do not give away your work – look out for the word ‘assign’ and avoid! Licensing is mutually beneficial to the Illustrator and the Client – pay for actual use and not presumed use.
4. Contracts
Simply put – Who is going to do What by When and for How Much.
Don’t agree to anything straight away and be sure to confirm the details.
5. Pricing
Don’t work for free and quote accurately. You are granting a licence to a client, which allows them to reproduce your image for a specific use, territory and duration.
Students can view all the information from the day online here including more comprehensive information about contracts, copyright and pricing.

OCA student Nicola reports “I thought the session was very informative and useful for students at any stage in their learning- I’m only a level 1 illustration student and although it will probably be a while before I have anything printed or contracts to consider there were many issues raised in the lecture that I think are beneficial to know early on in our illustration careers and I am glad that I attended the lecture.
I was surprised at the amount of money illustrators can charge per illustration- the book provided by the AOI lecturer – The Illustrator’s Guide – will be my bible when it comes to the business and law side of illustration.
It was also nice to find out a bit more about what AOI do and how I might come to utilise them in future. I hope to use the contract and licenses as discussed in the lecture and start building a portfolio ASAP. I already have twitter/ Instagram set up but at the moment it’s a little neglected which I better remedy!
It was also nice having a small number just because I got to speak to the lecturer which may not have happened if there had been a bigger crowd.”
Visit the AOI site here to find out more about what they do.

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