London College of Communication blog

London College of Communication (LCC) MA Publishing graduate Paula Merlo has been busy helping launch celebrity gossip magazine ‘Glamour’ in Brazil.

Paula, who graduated in 2011, has been assigned editor of the magazine’s ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ feature as well as working on features about sex, relationships, health and careers.

Speaking of her time at LCC, Paula enthuses:

“Studying an MA in Publishing at LCC has played an essential part in getting me to where I am today. The MA helped me to mature my ideas and understand the scope of cross-media, multi-platform publishing, social media and online content; all of which we debated at length in class.”

Paula made the most of her time studying in London, interning at beauty brand ‘Eyeko’ and Luxure Magazine. She also contributed regularly to Vogue Brazil as their London correspondent, where she had worked previously for five years.

Paula’s time at LCC culminated with the production of ‘Yuppie’, a magazine she worked on with fellow students as a major MA practice project, of which she says:

“Producing Yuppie really helped me to get the attention of editors when seeking job interviews in London. Potential employers saw how well crafted Yuppie was, with real and relevant content, and immediately responded to it. I still receive emails from people who want to contribute to the magazine and website!”

Glamour Brazil officially launch in April 2012, immediately receiving a circulation of over 200,000 copies.

Look out for Paula as the Glamour Brazil team let their hair down after a busy day in the office:

Mark Titchner speaking at London College of Communication on 27 February 2012

Turner Prize nominated artist, Mark Titchner, visited students from the BA Illustration and Visual Media course at London College of Communication (LCC) last week (27 February) to share his experiences of working as an artist.

Titchner spoke about his interest in language and its place via advertising in our culture and how this impacts upon and drives his work. He presented inspiring large-scale work from hoardings and posters through to his 2006 Turner Prize nominated installation, How to Change Behaviour. Students asked questions on the nature of working with people and companies such as Channel 4.

Titchner’s visit is part of a professional practice lecture series based in the illustration studio at the College. Guest lecturers from the world of art, design and illustration come in and give students an insight into how they create their work, what inspires them and the reality of creative work in the professional realm. Guest speakers have included: Claire Scully, Anne Harild, Fed Deakin from Airside, Charlie Hocking from No Days Off and Chris Strong from Blacionica. The lecture series is backed up by visits to professional studios, last week students spent a day at the English National Ballet’s rehearsal studios and this week a group will visit the studios of  the computing games company, Future Games.

Image by Ruta Zukaite, BA Illustration and Visual Media

BA Graphic and Media Design student, Kirsty Hopkins, reports from her internship at Adidas; undertaken as part of her Diploma in Professional Studies year.

“I am 6 weeks into an internship at Adidas, based in the headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Here I am part of the originals graphic design team. Everyone is working on the spring/summer 2013 designs currently. I came at the right time for the start of the season. So I will get to see everything from start to finish.

So far I have been working on women’s wear all overs, which is basically repeat pattern graphics. These are used on apparel from the outside to the lining and sock liners of shoes, etc. There are a lot of levels for the designs to go through yet, such as legal, marketing, etc. but at the moment three of my all overs are being used in women’s in-line over a selection of different products.

Since working on women’s wear I have been given the responsibility of producing all the graphics for a collaboration with Disney within the kids range. It’s been great to be the only designer working on this and to be given the opportunity as an intern. These are both all overs and place prints to go on a selection of clothing and shoes. There are about 20 items.

Adidas is a really great company to intern for. I have been treated really well and respected on the same level as a fully employed designer. I have my own desk with all the same luxuries as everyone else. Such as an iMac, telephone line, graphics tablet etc. The office itself is amazing. It’s a new build on an old army training camp. The main building which I am in is called ‘laces’, and it’s clear to see why from the photos. It is an amazing space to work in and just to explore!

I have gained a lot already from this internship and I still have another five months to go! My skills on Illustrator especially have strengthened and I am surprised how quickly I am able to work. There is so much to learn not only at my desk but also about the company, but I have only just started. I strongly recommend to anyone to apply for any future internships here at Adidas.”

Marjo Loponen, a graduate from LCC’s BA Graphic & Media Design (GMD) course, recently landed a job as a full-time designer in Sydney, Australia with global branding agency, Interbrand.

Before heading to Australia, Marjo interned at London-based brand communication agencies, SEA and HarrimanSteel. This, she tells us, coupled with her degree from LCC, put her in good stead when searching for a job down-under.

“I seemed to get interviews quite effortlessly after mentioning how much I loved studying there [LCC], and how great the tutors were on both the Typo and Info Pathways [GMD], says Marjo. It’s nice to be able to feel proud of my educational background.”

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With an impressive CV already under her belt Postgraduate Diploma Design for Visual Communication graduate, Caroline Nitsch has landed a prestigious job at Harrods as their Lead Online Magazine Designer.

She previously started off as an intern for Elle magazine before becoming a Graphic Designer for NET-A-PORTER. Caroline held this position for three years before making her big move to Harrods.

Talking about her new role at Harrods, Caroline said the whole thing felt ‘surreal’.  

She went on to say, “I’m so passionate about art direction and design and I love the opportunity to be immersed in it that much more.”

She said that her role at NET- A-PORTER allowed her to be openly creative which has helped her end up where she is now.

But it was her time at London College of Communication (LCC) that kick started her career drive. Targeting social design she pushed herself out her comfort zone and projects allowed her to inject her personality which was useful within interviews.

Talking about her overall time at LCC she said:

“All the tutors were ace! The course gave me the confidence I was looking for before diving into my career.”

But what she has learnt the most is how to increase your employability and she provides some useful tips for students or graduates looking to do the same.

Caroline said:

“Intern, and be persistent. If you already know where you want to be, don’t be afraid to approach them! I approached an art director I admired and after I got the classic email of ‘keep in touch and maybe I’ll have something for you’ I did just that – every few weeks. Eventually she said she had to meet me because she’d never encountered someone so persistent. So don’t give up, obviously don’t be annoying about it but if you show that you’re not looking for just any job, it makes a difference. You wouldn’t believe how many interns come in and have no interest in what a company does. 
Show your passion. Show your quirky hobbies and interests. Show that you’re open to learn. If you can’t do something, blag it – then learn how to do it. A good attitude goes a long way.”

Words by Dominique Major

Sophie Chatellier and Oliver Binnian, BA Graphic and Media Design

Max Wilson, FdA Design for Graphic Communication

The Brand Union has awarded three second year LCC students £500 scholarships and an internship during 2011. Sophie Chatellier a Typo/graphics student from BA Graphic and Media Design (BA GMD), Oliver Binnian a BA GMD Illustration student and Max Wilson from FdA Design for Graphic Communication are the lucky recipients.

The Brand Union, part of the WPP group, is a world-class, global brand agency with 35 years experience. They employ 500 people in 20 offices around the world. Both Design Director Lisa Carrana and Creative Director Glenn Tutsell are alumni of LCC’s BA GMD.

Lisa Carrana, Design Director at Brand Union commented:

“The Brand Union have 12 bursary summer placements available each year, we select students from four colleges. This year three places were awarded to LCC students. The standard as always was high at the LCC, it is a college that never disappoints. We are really looking forward to seeing the students in the studio.”

Sophie Chatellier commented:

“I am very grateful indeed to have secured the internship at The Brand Union especially because it is going to be challenging for me. If I am honest, it is not a placement that it would have occurred to me to seek because branding is not something that I really understand, not because I am not interested, but simply because until now, my work focused on other graphic design fields. I have never had experience in branding, and thus I am really looking forward to a completely new experience. I am a typographer and since visiting the Wim Crouwel exhibition, I am much more interested in identity design.”

Oliver Binnian commented:

“Being awarded the scholarship at The Brand Union was very exciting for me. At first I thought that identity was a million miles away from my image-based practice as an illustrator but I then realised that they are not that far apart. The Brand Union are very much about ideas and concepts which definitely ties in well with my work. I’m really looking forward to the experience as I will learn a lot about a particular area of design I don’t know a whole load about. I am planning on spending the £500 on a couple of new screens for screen printing and the rest will go towards travelling and having a good summer!”

Max Wilson commented:

“Over the course of my two years on the FdA, I’ve loved being able to hone (and indulge) my passion for print, typography and branding, and so I’m looking forward to exploring how these interests will play out on a larger scale at The Brand Union. With the role of print increasingly being called into question, it’ll be great to get a deeper insight into the role print might play in a contemporary design practice in the future, both in its own right, and in tandem with digital platforms. The FdA has prepared me brilliantly for the big wide world of design, and it’s incredibly exciting to have the chance to start putting all my learning into practice – I can’t wait!”

Maroon 5

On 22 March, live from London, Coca-Cola and Maroon 5 tore down the virtual walls of the recording studio and brought fans from around the world together for an unforgettable moment. BA Graphic and Media Design – Design for Interaction and Moving Image student Kate Pincott, who is interning at Nexus as part of her year out on the Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS), was involved in the production of the event.

Kate comments:

“I was one of two students from LCC’s DPS year out who worked as runner’s for Nexus Productions at Maroon 5′s 24 Hour Live Session sponsored by Coca-Cola.  It started on 22 March and went on into the night for one epic session, where fans were invited to inspire the band as they composed an original song in just 24 hours. This was enabled by innovative interactive projection technology designed and made by Helicar and Lewis.

As runners we gained excellent production knowledge, freelance running experience and some great contacts for the future.”

During the project, the studio was fitted out with cutting edge technology to allow the band to communicate with fans from across the world. The interactions were centered on a movement based projection system that streamed the thoughts, inspiration and comments of fans onto the studio walls and direct to the band.  Rather than gathering around a computer to access suggestions, and questions from fans, a specially-constructed surface in the studio was the canvas that enabled the band to interact directly with fans.

Throughout the 24 hours, fans were asked to send in words, pictures and comments to inspire the creation of the song and even had a chance to ask Maroon 5 questions and help with critical decisions by voting for different options put to them.

Joe Belliotti, Director of Global Entertainment Marketing, The Coca-Cola Company comments:

“Coca-Cola has a long history of using the power of music to bring people together from around the world in the most relevant and compelling ways. We were excited to be working with Maroon 5. They have a huge global following and a strong track record of producing great music. They have worked closely with us to help shape the event and ensure the session will be a fun experience for fans no matter where in the world they are.”

Joel Gethan Lewis explains the interactive elements of the project in the YouTube video below.

You can check out the highlights from the live session on the Coke Website. The website also features a free, downloadable mp3 of the final song. For the first 100,000 downloads Coca-Cola will make a donation to RAIN (The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation’s Replenish Africa Initiative), an initiative which provides clean water to people in Africa.

Hwasoo Shim is a BA Graphic and Media Design – Design for Advertising student currently undertaking her Diploma in Professional Studies. He is very interested in international television branding and is currently interning at Red Bee Media, the global media branding design agency based in BBC Broadcast Centre at White City. Red Bee Media work with a variety of clients all over the world.

Hwasoo Shim commented:

“Some of the briefs we are given by TV channel and broadcasting companies in UK and overseas are unrelated to BBC design projects. Those briefs are classified into two big branches; rebranding current brand identity (or corporate identity) and new brand identity for new born TV channels. It’s interesting to be utilising so many different media which embrace print, campaign, digital and motion media.

Most of projects Red Bee undertake are media driven briefs that are co-produced by other agencies as well. At Red Bee Media, it is not only creative teams that are working on the brief, but also planners, marketing folk and user experience teams, collaborating with our creative team. My mentors ask me to attend all types of important meetings and presentations at the BBC and Red Bee Media. This has given me a real insight into how business and professional practice works.

There have been so many good opportunities to get involved, such as a BBC One Natural History campaign, a BBC Sport 6 Nations rugby campaign and a BBC Books campaign. These campaigns will be very helpful to me when I go back LCC to continue my final year in Design for Advertising.

The atmosphere here is very welcoming and alive. It might be because creatives here are dealing with motion graphics, videos and audio, which are live all the time. I am very pleased to have worked in Red Bee Media, this experience has definitely given me a vast insight into how the TV graphic design industry works.”

What is consciousness?

Find out if you are an Identity Theorizing Emergent Dualist Behaviourist.

Joshua Lee, BA Graphic and Media Design – Design for Information student, has worked on his most challenging project to date and he would like you to take part in a world wide survey which asks you to consider how your mind works. Joshua is undertaking the Diploma in Professional Studies and is currently interning with David McCandless, founder and author of Information is Beautiful.

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/play/what-is-consciousness

Caroline Claisse and Anish Kapoor

Anish Kapoor, Monumenta, 2011

Anish Kapoor, Monumenta, 2011

BA Graphic and Media Design – Design for Typography student Caroline Claisse has an ambition to work in museum or gallery identity design when she graduates. During her year out, while undertaking the Diploma in Professional Studies, she has worked for the Louvre in Paris and Museum of Modern Art in NYC. Whilst in New York, she also met and worked with Art Observed (AO), a global contemporary arts news organisation.

Caroline and Antony Gormley

ArtParis 2011: Just Art, Grand Palais, ParisAnish Kapoor, Monumenta, 2011

Caroline comments:

“Last December, I met with Art Observed at The New York Art fair. I had an interview and began to cover art events straight away for them. I have taken pictures as well as interviewing artists.  AO has sent me to exciting events from gallery openings and auctions to the biggest art fairs such as the Miami Art Basel 2010. It has given me the opportunity to meet with artists such as Tony Cragg, Antony Gormley and Robert Longo-Xavier Veilhan. I have been able to see the most amazing art such as the recent Monumenta Anish Kapoor work at the Grand Palais in Paris. I have excellent prospects as they are sending me to cover the Venice Biennale press opening as well as the Art Basel 2011 in Switzerland. This has opened up many exciting design prospects for the future for me.”