Power of press generating any press
Challenge - Try and get some sort of press coverage this academic year.
Methods
- Print - magazine
- Online - reliable sources e.g. It's Nice That
- Social - Instagram standalone accounts (thebrandidentity, graphicindex, collectgraphics)
- Start Instagram account using hashtags for submissions
- Use tagging and hashtags where possible possible, people, brand
- Instagram is good but can make work interactions more social than formal
- Separating disciplines e.g. illustration and graphics
- Social trends and design challenges timing is everything
- Control narrative who you are, what you do
- Research is the key to success
- Identify what the publisher wants to get featured
- Spotlight feature - Intern
- Make it easy to share sending it to an exact specification
- Have a growth mindset - use press coverage as an opportunity
- Create a coherent set of pieces
- Case study - Michael William Lester - Character building
- Writing a fictional feature is good practice for writing a solid press release.
Task: Write a fictional feature about yourself, take your favourite project so far.
Feature content:
Alexandra Lane's stunning portfolio demonstrates skill far beyond her years. Spanning branding, editorial design, stationary and UX design, the Northern Ireland-based designer combines classic and often a monochrome colour scheme in minimal compositions that are completely irresistible to the eye. Her masterful command of image and space is playful yet restrained, yielding work that is simultaneously creative in a refined discipline focus.
This level of care and control extends beyond Alexandra’s enchanting visuals and into her underlying ideas, giving her work a “conceptual depth greater than just its design and production.” Central to Alexandra’s process is ensuring that there is “a reason behind every decision whether it’s apparent to the audience or not.” The combination of conceptual thoughtfulness and minimalism is beautifully embodied in projects like ‘Wedding Stationary’, the contrast of a script and serif typeface creates a contemporary design relevant to context trends.
Having graduated from Leeds Arts University last year, Alexandra reflects on how the experience shaped her outlook on graphic design. Particularly influential was the University’s professionalism and links to industry. “Lecturers are always encouraging the students to network and makes the most of the facilities” she recalls. “Printing techniques, paper choices, and binding techniques were considered early in the conceptual phases of projects, resulting in more engaging tactile outcomes.”
Despite looking back fondly on her time living and studying in the Leeds, Alexandra is happy to be in Northern Ireland where, for her, the relatively smaller design scene offers more opportunities for newcomers. “There are lots of good studios in Belfast, although this is the starting point and I hope to travel and work in London or America in two years time, with the hopeful mindset of new opportunities and challenges.” We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for some exciting updates on Alexandra's career and future work soon.
Press Release:
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