Creative Report Presentation

Learning Objectives: 6A2 6D2 

I was recently asked to present (see presentation below) my creative report from level 5 to current level 5 students explaining my approach to contacting professionals and process of creating the report itself. When presenting my creative report I focused on what I learnt from each person I interviewed and how I contacted that person, giving a run down of how each person contributed. I started by explaining the importance of using who you know which was how I was able to contact the Hungry Sandwich Club as I knew both Andy and Martin through my brother. Talking about why I wanted to contact each person was the main focus of my presentation as when I wanted to explain the importance of using the creative report to find something out that will help your practice such as if you want to freelance, how to go about doing that. Identifying how graduates and young professionals had set up on their own was a key aspect of the creative report for me as I wanted to see if this was an option of me upon graduation. Another key point demonstrated through the use of Benjamin was to do your research when contacting different people. With Benjamin I'd recognised him around university in first year so knew he had connections to LAU, making sure to mention I was a student to give me a better chance for a reply. Other tips is used when contacting him that I shared was complimenting and showing an interest in their work before sending the questions as you want to build a relationship and have a clear ask, such as would you answer some questions about your practice. This softer approach worked well as the person feels they are making a new connection rather than just answering interview questions. I also suggested that if the students could meet up with the person that would be best as it gives the opportunity to make a connection and build a network as your more rememberable in person than over e-mail. 

These where the main tips given within the presentation:

• compliment recent work 
• do your research 
• mix up subject title, name of work 
• use who you know 

Overall it was interesting sharing my experiences with other students as this isn't something I'd done before. It gave me the opportunity to practice public speaking a new less familiar environment as I'm use to talking in-front of students in my year but not on other levels of the course. I found the experience good practice, getting my points across clearly and concisely which has made me more comfortable talking about my own work and practice with other people giving me more confidence when talking to studios and people I don't know about my work.