Networking

We ‘network’ for many reasons, and it can be with friends, family or colleagues, teachers, tutors or whomever you see as beneficial or helpful toward your future practice.

Why do we ‘Network”?

Quite simple. So people know YOU exist as a Creative and can see what makes YOU special. Getting to know your ‘peers’ within the Industry is beneficial in many more ways.

• Advice
• Mentoring
• Feedback
• Visits
• Placements
• Collaborations
• Employment

What methods can you employ to get in contact initially? But, above all we must have a reason to

speak to them. Once you have identified areas that you may have an opinion, synergy or a specific request that you may see as being helpful to you as a young creative.

Get the things you will need in place first.

Why
The reason or requirement from this initial contact.

What
Will you ask, send and what should it be like? Something with a ‘professional’ look and a reason to respond.

• Why are you contacting me?
• What do you want from me?
• In what way do you want them to respond?

What should we consider?

An identity of some kind.

What method of communication do you use?

When you consider email, really think hard about what you put in the

subject box. It can make or break the potential success. If it sounds like an ad for Viagra or PPI you have missed an opportunity this time. But only this time. Don’t give up. So think hard and consider if email is right? Consider other methods we have talked about, letters, mailers etc?

Based on the task we worked on about admiration and heroes, now look at Designers, studios or agencies you see as potentially interesting and we can apply the same principals to planning

contact with a view to visits, contacts via Skype? telephone etc.When I mention visits, it is because there is a better chance to see the workplace without actually asking for a placement and keeps them feeling more comfortable.

THINK
PLAN
CONSIDER
DRAFT
DISCUSS
IMPLEMENT

START.