CONSIDER SPECIALIST SKILLS AND POTENTIAL IN RELATION TO IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES, TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS THE FULFILMENT IDENTIFIED CAREER GOALS.

Reflection


MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS IN RELATION TO YOUR PORTFOLIO AND FUTURE CAREER GOALS.

Knowledge & Understanding


DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE ADVANCED CONCEPTS AND SOLUTIONS, BRINGING CREATIVE IDEAS TO FULL RESOLUTION.

Communication


PROMOTE YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY AND ARTICULATELY, VISUALLY AND VERBALLY.

Application

You will present for assessment a body of work as outlined in the module information pack; this will include:


PORTFOLIO & Career Development Pack; (2500 words or 8/10 minutes) documenting¿the research planning and implementation of a personal employment search strategy. Weighted 100%. (LO1-4)


The portfolio should contain:

Wide-ranging skills, expertise, and project execution with the chosen creative specialism; online portfolios, Etc.

Wide-ranging creative and digital literacy; project content and design development, Etc.

Online profile, creative presence, and professional networking; Linkedin, social media, Etc.



CAREER DEVELOPMENT PACK should contain:

Personal marketing and promotional materials, Etc

Supporting materials such as CV, business card and an on-line presence, etc. –¿this may complement or build on work produced from earlier modules such as Creative Enterprise, but not overlap significantly.

Research that demonstrates job search activity and understanding of current industry/employer expectations



KEY INFORMATION SETS
100% coursework

This module is structured to equip students for future steps in entering the creative industry as professional practitioners or freelancers. The goal is to enable you to make informed and realistic decisions regarding your career trajectory, as well as to facilitate a smooth transition from undergraduate studies to your subsequent career phase.


This module combines industry insights with the knowledge acquired from previous modules, focusing on developing self-marketing strategies, improving professional presentation skills, enhancing interview techniques, and building a strong freelance portfolio. It encourages students to visually explore personal concepts relevant to their area of study, fostering clear outcomes and enhancing technical skills.


Students will collaborate with faculty to devise a suitable work plan. These discussions ensure that the plan is feasible, adequately resourced, and aligns with the module's learning objectives.


Created with an eye towards practical application, the module aims to equip students for future steps in the creative industry. It facilitates a smooth transition from undergraduate studies to their subsequent career phase, offering guidance on navigating the job market and available employment opportunities, including freelance work.


Key topics covered will include crafting a compelling self-promotion pack, establishing a professional online presence, and developing a comprehensive freelance portfolio. It also includes strategies for self-promotion, presenting work professionally, and expanding one's professional network. The module offers opportunities for students to interact directly with professionals, strengthening their employability and focusing on their own career potential, including freelance opportunities.


Throughout the module, students will engage in regular 'reviews’, presenting their work for group discussion and feedback, serving as checkpoints to guide them through project milestones and offer valuable insights. As part of the final assessment, students will be asked to ‘pitch’ ideas informally and respond to questions from both lecturers and peers, further enhancing their communication, presentation skills, and freelance capabilities in real-world scenarios.


Visiting Speakers & Industry Guests: scheduled throughout the year, guest lectures will share professional insights and case studies, providing valuable perspectives on freelance opportunities and work within the creative industries.

Creative Futures; prepares students for their professional journey in the creative industries. Key module elements include developing self-marketing strategies, enhancing professional presentation skills, and improving interview techniques. Students create a comprehensive portfolio and a ‘Career Development Pack’, demonstrating their specialist skills, project execution and industry understanding. Students also engage in regular reviews, presentations and discussions to enhance communication skills.

This module connects the industrial research activities from previous modules (Creative Directions) and links them with each students' personal career plans. Content will assist students in preparing a digital profile and portfolio, or showreel, to support their future work in the creative industries.


You will be required to participate in:

Introduction to module

Introductory lectures

Integration of industry insights and portfolio reviews by faculty

Collaborative class activities emphasizing self-marketing tactics, professional work presentation, and skills development for interviews and personal presentations

Engagement in faculty-led discussions to initiate and evolve a work plan, leveraging knowledge and experience from previous modules

Conducting research, generating ideas, and problem-solving, including the exploration of personal concepts through visual means

Continuous reflection, refinement, and assessment of the work

Formative assessment –¿group review meetings, and mid-module presentations

Group tutorials and discussion

Individual tutorials and specialist guidance

Action planning and target setting

Independent study in support of your portfolio work



KEY INFORMATION SETS
24% scheduled Learning & Teaching activities
76% guided independent learning

Cyr L. (2002): Brochure Design That Works. London. Rockport
Johnson M. (2000): Problem Solved. London. Phaidon.
Jury D (2002): About Face. London. Rotavision
Klanten R. (2012): Introducing: Visual Identities for Small Businesses
Taylor F. (2012) How to Create a Portfolio & Get Hired: A Guide for Graphic Designers & Illustrators
Williams G. (2001): Branded

Burrill, A. (2020) Work hard and be nice to people. Penguin.
Heller, S. and Vienne, V. (2015) Becoming a Graphic and Digital Designer: A Guide to Careers in Design.
Volk L. and Currier, D. (2014) No Plastic Sleeves: Portfolio and Self Promotion Guide. Taylor and Francis.



Students will also develop a personal reading list and acquire professional texts related to their chosen specialist route (graphic design, illustration, photography, or animation). They are expected to utilise the library facilities within the University, ensuring they keep abreast of current trends and developments through relevant design, communication, illustration and animation-related industry periodicals.

Digital Suites

Specialist teaching spaces and resources; including studios, photographic studio, motion capture, Etc.
Lecture theatre and teaching rooms
Design collection
Library
IT facilities and digital suites.


The canvas virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.


Additional resources may be shared by the teaching team through the following digital platforms; MS Teams, Notion, OneDrive or Padlet.