Creative Presence | Contacting Breakdown Press

Email

Here is a copy of the email I send to Breakdown Press...

Questions

If they respond to me, I have some questions lined up that I could ask them. I still have time to revise/reword these questions if necessary, but here is just the basic idea:

1. What is your experience of running an independent publishing company? Do you enjoy the collaborative elements of what you do?
2. The graphic novel/comics industry can often be very U.S.-centric, so I enjoy that you are a UK-based publisher that also works with international artists. How do you find new and exciting work from different places? and what do you make of the alternative comics scene in the UK?
3. How did you progress to the stage you're at now with the publishing business? Did you set out with this in mind?
4. What duties does running an independent press entail?
5. Discovering and reading graphic novels and sequential illustration only began for me when I started university. There's so much scope for what can be done both aesthetically and in terms of storytelling, and some of them are particularly memorable (Mark Beyer, Seth, Anna Haifisch, and Kramers Ergot to name a few!) What is the selection process like for deciding to publish a piece of work, and what makes you want to work with particular artists?
6. I read that Breakdown intends to expand into other kinds of publishing (photography, and other types of artist books, for example) - why do you think embracing many different creative disciplines is beneficial?

Life's A Pitch | Final Presentation

Here is our final presentation which will be delivered tomorrow. We're all pretty happy with our concept, and have practised running through the slides as a group in preparation for tomorrow.

Life's A Pitch | Collective Meeting

Last week we met as a group to devise our collective name, and what sort of creative venture we would propose in our presentation.

We wanted it to be interesting, lighthearted, with an element of humour. Here are some of our notes from our meeting - brainstorming names, contexts, and potential ideas for the proposal.

Eventually we came up with the name FIELD TRIP. We all like finding things out and discovering, and this is what you do on a field trip. Our proposal will involve a quarterly art publication, also called Field Trip, that takes the reader on an adventure that's full of learning, and visuals. Cabinet Magazine was very inspiring to us, as well as the collaborative nature of No Brow magazine, which frequently has contributors.

Though this is not an educational publication, it's more about illuminating different topics and themes from the world around us (real or otherwise) - much like in our discipline of illustration.

Life's A Pitch | Inspiring Publications

Analysing some existing examples of art-centred magazines that have interesting content, aesthetics, or both, as our collective plans to propose the idea of a quarterly publication that is grounded within the discipline of illustration.

CABINET MAGAZINE

"Its hybrid sensibility merges the popular appeal of an arts periodical, the visually engaging style of a design magazine, and the in-depth exploration of a scholarly journal to create a sourcebook of ideas for an eclectic international audience of readers, from artists and designers to scientists, philosophers, and historians"• Broad topics, but rooted in art and culture.
• However, they operate "with the most expansive and inclusive definition of culture possible"
• The magazines content is so broad, and presents the themes and information of each issue in interesting visual ways (photographs, drawings, ephemera, diagrams, etc...)
• The magazine aims to "foster curiosity" about the world we live in
• Cabinet also publish books, CDs, organise exhibitions and events, panels, workshops...

FRANKIE MAGAZINE

• Encompasses design, fashion, art, music, travel, and lifestyle

• Their whimsical, playful tone of voice draws all of these elements together

• They clearly have an idea of their target audience - predominantly female, interested in visual culture and lifestyle, probably the ages of 16 to 24?

NOBROW MAGAZINE

• Not strictly a 'magazine', but more of an art/illustration/design publication.

• The publication aims to tell stories and showcase the new and existing talent of international creatives

• Their focus is one art, design, narrative, and production. Creating publications that are beautiful as well as full of engaging content is important to them, aiming to raise the standard within "visual publishing"

Life's A Pitch | Collective Research

Looking into collectives to see what different kinds there are and how they operate and create work together under one name.

NOUS VOUS

Jay Cover, William Luz, and Nicolas Burrows working together on illustration, graphic design, publishing, and exhibition work. I like how their projects span a range of contexts and purposes. I suppose what unites their individual practices, making it work so well together, is the naive and playful tone of each of their illustrations.

Their collective is sort of split into two sections - the studio (which consists of their zines, drawings, paintings, and other physical artworks), and Nous Vous Press (books, prints, editions). Having these two designated areas allows their collective practice to remain organised, and everything has it's place.

PUCK

Puck Collective originally started in 2010 with just 5 illustrators and artists, but has grown into one of the largest UK illustration collectives. Although they are UK-based, their members are from around the world.

They also founded Puck Studio which acts as a print studio and also puts on exhibitions.

HUNGRY SANDWICH CLUB

H.S.C. is a Leeds-based collective working in animation, motion graphics, and illustration. Because of their interest in all of these disciplines, their work seems to fit a range of contexts and purposes. From publications, web content, branding, to advertisements, murals, and decals.

Out of Order | Level 6 Show

Last week we briefly visited Colours May Vary to see the work that level 6 had exhibited. There were some really good prints, and it was interesting to see all of the varied responses to the title of the show/theme. 

However what I liked the most were the smaller personal touches, such as business cards, and zines/publications that people had also displayed to look at and/or sell. I found this interesting because I think they are more likely to be picked up, and can be memorable and a unique feature to a show that is predominantly made up of printed work on the wall.

Publications allow the reader to engage with something, have a look, flick through the pages. Maybe this is something I could consider for our own show in May?

 

Introduction to Presentation Skills | Rick Ferguson

• Presentations can be professional, engaging, and memorable

Looking at the following in a presentation:

• Behaviour
• Structure
• Content

Why would you like to improve your presentation skills?

• As part of PPP so I can successfully complete that part of the module, as well as any required presentations, briefings, or pitches I may need to deliver in future.

BEHAVIOUR

Three ways we communicate:

• How we say the words
• Non-verbal (body language)
• The words we use

...body language and the way we carry ourselves is arguably the most important.


• When speaking, we can alter our pitch, volume that we speak at, and the speed

• Don't rely on crutch words (er, okay, right, um, y'know...). Instead, use pauses to emphasise certain words or phrases

• Appropriate eye contact

• Be aware of tics or gestures which we may rely on. Instead, use gestures that reinforce the words you are saying

STRUCTURE

• Bookending - introducing something at the start of the presentation and returning to it at the end. Could be a picture, idea, quotation, story, anecdote...

• Power of 3 - using clusters of 3 things in a speech because it tends to be more memorable. Usually in a sentence, quote, or story. ("I came, I saw, I conquered...")

Example:• Introduction (bookend 1)
• First section
• Second section
• Third section
• Conclusion (bookend 2)

CONTENT

• Head ( where, what, how)
• Heart (why, who, who else)

Logical levels:

1. Environment
2. Behaviour
3. Skills + capabilities
4. Values + beliefs
5. Identity
6. Mission

———

For the sessions after easter...

Prepare and practice a short (1.5 - 2.5 minute) presentation about you.
Consider: Behaviour, structure, content

Work on over the next 3 weeks, practice....