Professional Practices Handbook

Researching Job Categories within your Market

2020-12-23T11:47:00.001-05:00

What are the job categories for your illustration/digital media market?
What are the job descriptions?
Find some to include in your Research Presentation.

Employment Situations to look for in the overall genre:
What are the general employment situations?
What type of/lack of benefits can you anticipate?
• Freelance? In which case there will be no benefits- you will be responsible for providing insurance and other benifits yourself.
• Work for hire. You as the artists retain no rights in creative. All rights are transferred.
• Sell usage for media, every time it is used you can get more money. (This is becoming rarer in the industry).
• In-house contract (duration of the show)? With benefits?
• Full-time- Benefits discussed with employer
• Contract Agencies- They set up benefits. Then have right to terminate contract whenever they want.

Supplementary Places for Research:
Kendall Weblab > Resources > Employment
Kendall Job Bulletin
Also see other listings in the Career Services Section of the Kendall site.

Essential reading for project:
US Department of Labor Stats

Notice the different types of portfolios for the different markets:

Create a list of what is required for your portfolio by the time that you graduate by comparing your work to people in the genre you are researching. This should help you to determine your direction while in school.

Example portfolio content:
sketches, full color images, comic pages, pencil work, inked work, animations, walk cycle, website, flash games

Check off what you have and what you need.
Continue to refer to it through out your time in school.

CHOOSE A CATEGORY TO RESEARCH FOR THIS CLASS
Review the Genre Handout
Choose one of the categories
Remember that this is a seminar style class and you will be learning from your classmates about markets which may interest you. For the benefit of the class, if there is more than one person who has selected one market you may be selected to research another area within that market so that there will be no repeats.

Illustration and Digital Media Market Research Presentation

2020-06-23T11:14:00.005-04:00

Project Description:
• The first part of the semester will be spent researching illustration markets. Students will make a presentation to the class covering emerging trends, and examples of professional work for a chosen market.
• Intro to the concept of becoming an entrepreneur. How will you brand yourself? Discuss in class of each person's ideal job.
• Research your ideal job and the companies that you would be an ideal fit, in some cases a market will be assigned to you so that the class can cover as many as possible to share in a seminar style.
• Tell the story of becoming a professional in your market.
• Create a database of companies, organizations and blogs that relate to your market.

• Project Deliverables include:
• Research Slideshow Presentation in Powerpoint (or exported into ppt) (or .swf - if you know flash slideshow)
• Logo in Illustrator that will be placed in the presentation

Example • Market Research Presentation

• Market List in Excel Spreadsheet (or exported into excel)
Example • Market List

• Freelance Studio Cost Analysis in Excel Spreadsheet (or exported into excel)
Example • Studio 1 Year Operating Expenses
Freelance Studio Operating Expenses Blank Template
Input your numbers and the document will do the math for you.

• Market Research Presentation includes:
• 3 companies or individuals working in your market w/ work examples and links
• 1-3 professional organization w/ work examples and links
• 2 blogs or related websites w/ work examples and links
• Studio 1 year Operating Expenses for working in your market
• Summary of your market findings

• Market List:
This is to be a working document that you can refer to as you market yourself to get jobs.
You will want to continue to add to this as you develop relationships within the market.
include:

• 20 companies or individuals working in your market
• 1-5 professional organizations
• at least 10 blogs or related websites
• A written summary of all of your market findings, this writing will be included in your presentation.

To start to develop relationships with professionals in your market ask them questions like these:
Example Market Research Phone / Email Survey Script

Supplementary Resources for Student Research:
KendallWeblab.com
Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, Pricing and Ethical Guidelines
Inside the Business of Illustration
Childrens Writers & Illustrators Market
Writers and Illustrators Market

User Experience Design

2009-11-03T13:36:00.009-05:00

What is User Experience Design?
UX Design
Based on Ergonomics- How can the user experience of a website and all content help to to inform, and comfort- it would address the needs of the user first- instead of selling a product outright.

UX Example:

The Dove Beauty Campaign

Dove Films

In this Ad Campaign the product is not mentioned.

Instead they suggest girls and womens user experience with product is a result of mass media influence.

Dove suggests they are different, natural- Click on the link above to see the films.

The website is also a tool to help build self esteem in girls.

Check out the Dove Website to experience the entire UX design

Interactive components of the Dove campaign

This will be a group project that will include:

• Research
• Strategy
• Execution

Group Project:
Client is American Heart Association
Project is to revise the website on Heart Disease
to include:
• 3D animation
• 2D Animation
• Motion Graphics
• Imaging
• Text
• Video

We will pull 3d graphics, motion graphics and animation off the web to use as a surrogate:
Resources:
Heart Hub Video Index from the American Heart Association (Includes motion, 2d and 3d Animation)

Research:
Questions to ask:

Who is the audience?
Be specific, include:
• age
• gender
• culture
• online communities
• print media they buy
• average internet download speed
• What is their emotive push towards going to this website?
• primary language
• color blindness

What mood should the site have?

What information should be conveyed?
What is the best approach to sharing that information?

What does the client feel is the most important thing for this website?

What is the point of view?

If there is an Animated Character - who is it?

If there is narration - who is it?

Examples

• Expert

• Voice of God

• Doctor

• Successful Patient

• Nurse

• Insurance Company

• A heart

Strategy:
Concept (menu item) ----- Visuals of what? ----- Deliverables to client

Diagnosis ----- Video of Dr. ------- Storyboard

PreOp ----- Illustration and Text ---- Layout Sketches - then a finished layout

OP ---- 3D Graphics ----- Storyboard ---- example Common Procedures -Angioplasty

Post-Op ---- Illustration, text ---- Layout Sketch ---- example Heart Association (3d) Illustration Library

Recovery ---- Illustration, text ---- Layout Sketch ---- example Heart Association Recovery

Therapy, New Life Choices---- Illustration, text ---- Layout Sketch ---- example Lifestyle Changes

Your Team ---- Digitally Altered Photos of Drs, etc, location and contact info ---- Layout Sketch ---- example Spectrum Health Find a Dr.

Prevention ----- 2D Animation ---- Storyboard ---- example "The Bad Fats Brothers"

Strategy:
Deliverables:
• Site Map
• Storyboard - example: Marcia Bujold Design
• Mechanicals
• Layouts - finished (Homepage)

We will pitch the deliverables to a "client"-TBD, visiting professional
How to pitch your idea:
Digitally present it
Example: Wubzy Bible
Created by Bob Doyle

Timeline Cover Letter and Resume -Bonner's Class

2009-11-01T18:08:00.007-05:00

Time-line for Implementation:
10/28 • Bring your existing resume or a list of accomplishments. In class rewrite resume with goals of clarity of skills, using bullets, using bolds and action words.
11/2 • Work in class to finish Resume. Create Cover letter.
Place on server > 707/708> Professional Practices > Handins > Resume/Cover Letter
BLOG- get yours started by signing up for Google password if you don't have one yet.
11/4 • Deadline send cover letter and resume in a pdf package to susan@visualpump.com as if she is the employer complete with intro email. Blog overview in class. - Setting up the template to be a portfolio site.
11/9- Creating Blog -image prep- bring originals to class -follow post on digital imaging 1 - Digitally Captured and Adjusted Originals
11/11 Visiting Artist

11/16 Blog- Site Maps User Experience Design
7 more classes
Place Images in your blogs- work in class.
Header Image prep- Design Concept
Teacher Evaluations
Resume and Business Plans and Career Plans have been commented on place on the BonnerS server

11/18 •
implement Header designs
make sure you have comments on resume, cover letter, business plan and career plan

11/23
Business Collateral
Post Card Designs - Who is it for? What is the catch?
What is the call to action?
Business Card if you don't have one
Mailing Labels

11/25 no class -Wed before Thanksgiving.

11/30
Post Card Due
Business Card due
Estimates and Invoices Introduced

12/2
Estimate due to Susan via email
Mailing Labels

12/7
Interview questions discussed
Printing issues in class

12/9
Blog Due w 6-10 pieces
must have good UX Design
Final Deliverables:
Print outs of post card
Print outs of business card
Print out of Estimate
Print out of Resume/Cover Letter
Ready for Mock interviews
Any re-handins must be titled differently then your original
You must email me re-handins

Timeline Career Plan / Business Plan • Bonner

2009-10-22T14:22:00.001-04:00

10/21 Career Plan / Business Plan

How would you execute your goals?
Answer a business / career plan questionairre.
Intro to Visualpump business plan (Artist Guide)
Intro to other students business and career plans.
Discuss the goals of different genres, 2d animator vs. portrait illustrator, need of website, LLC, corp., bus cards, stationary, invoices, google ads, ad club etc.

Visit the Society of Illustrators Exhibition in the Kendall Gallery to discuss markets.
Research the work that fit your market.

10/26
Discuss what you need to do in your studio life and school to accomplish your goals.
Finish the business/career plan questionnaires in class.

10/28
• Place on server > 707/708> Professional Practices > Plans
• Deadline send to susan@visualpump.com as if she is the partner/coach complete with intro email.

How to Market yourself

2009-10-22T10:26:00.000-04:00

Push Marketing
Push your information - the customer may or may not be aware of your product so you will need to push your idea. It requires putting your brand identity on every piece of business collateral.

It requires researching your target audience:
What are your Customer Demographics?
Metric Research- Get the data. What are they looking for? Where are they? Who are they?
Qualitative Research- what is the mood they must be in to make a purchase?

Types of Push Marketing:
google ads so that when your audience searches for what they need they find you
print ads- in magazines and newspapers that are key to your audience
post card campaign -direct mail
banner ads where your audience is hanging out
on-line forums where your audience is hanging out
free listings on websites that are key to your audience
paid listing on websites that are key to your audience
website optimization for best search placement

Pull Marketing
Pull your target audience toward you. Lure them in with freebies, a hip surrounding, something for them to do other then buy.
Types of Pull Marketing:
Twitter
Blogging

Resources for Push-Pull Marketing
Dosh Dosh
a website that is very thorough in its discussion as it relates to artists pushing and pulling.

Professional Example
Visualpump Metatag and Page Copy Toolkit (download)

Timeline Research Project • Bonner

2009-10-20T14:23:00.000-04:00

FALL 2009 • Professional Practices • 12:30 • Susan Bonner

Monday 8/31 First day of class
Concept:
Intro to the concept of becoming an entrepreneur.
Discussion of branding yourself. It's all about you.
Discussion of each person's ideal job
genre worksheet
IE: 2d animator, illustrator

Technical:
Laptop discussion making sure you have the software.
(PPT, EXCEL, ILLUSTRATOR, PSD, InDesign)
right hardware, including backup system.

Demo:
How to research.
Demo screen shot
Intro to excel - for market list

Execute:
Research begins. WEBLAB
Bring their Identity to next class if they have one already.

Wednesday 9/2
Concept:
Do you have a brand identity?
Your portfolio as the example of what you can do to potential employers
"Always be selling." ABS

Execute:
Don't have an identity? -create a logo for your studio or your name in Illustrator.
Text only.
Company name discussed, tag line discussed.
Initial Presentation created (PowerPoint suggested)
Design it well.

Demo:
Register.com - see if your company name is taken by another .com
This is a domain name registration site that you can use to see if others have your company name - if so rethink it.

Demo on research-
how do you find a art directors name-
Who do you add to your contact list?

Monday 9/7 NO CLASS - LABOR DAY

Wednesday 9/9

Deadline:

Company name decided on to discuss with the class.

Taglines determined to share with the class.

Research continued in bookmarks of browser

go to library to see the Illustrators Market Book on reserve.

Technical:
Illustrator.
PowerPoint.

Demo:
Demo file organization.
PowerPoint demos.
Creating their own background with identity.
Demo on how Research images are placed into PowerPoint.

Execute:
Researching to find 3 companies (out of 20 or so), where their genre fits.
Include contact info of 20 in Market List spreadsheet.
What is your ideal job?
Create a logo for your company in illustrator -text only is needed.

Monday 9/14
Deadline:
Logo due. End of class -shown on your computer to class.

Execute:
In class placement of logo in stationary and presentation.
InDesign and Powerpoint.
Research to find 1 professional organization (out of 1-5 which will be included in your Market List spreadsheet).
Research to find 2 blogs (out of at least 10 which will be included in your spreadsheet).
Your presentation is to include points on 1 professional organization and 2 blogs.

Wednesday 9/16
Deadline:
Logo Due Completed beginning of class

Execute:
Business card made in class
Cost Analysis Spreadsheet
Demo:
examples of business cards shown
Equations in excel

Monday 9/21

Research:
Research on pricing and geographies.
Market trip reports from LA and NY discussed.
Cost of living.
Where will they live?
What will they get paid?
Will you do side jobs?
Where will your ideal job land you?
Consider the steps it will take to land your ideal job.
What will be your starter jobs?
What is your ultimate position?

Wednesday 9/23
no class

Monday 9/28
Research:Research pricing for your chosen market, look to Graphic Artist's handbook.
How many projects do you need in a year to make your chosen salary? (30K or more)

Execute:
Cost analysis (income minus expenses) Excel spreadsheet.
What does it cost to run your studio for the year?
Include mail, internet, electric, gas, rent, misc etc.
Write a short summary. (include in presentation)

Show Susan what you have
Go over group issues in class

Split up the Presentation dates:

Prep a portfolio on your computer if you are being reviewed by Mike Williams

Wednesday 9/30

How to make a proposal
work in class on presentations

Monday 10/5

Deadline: ALL STUDENTS:
• Cost analysis spreadsheet

• Market List spreadsheet
• Powerpoint Presentation Folder
ALL placed on BonnerS server in ProfessionalPractices/research/YourMarket-YourName.
Deadline: Your Presentation to the class
Cory C
Megan

Wednesday 10/7
Deadline: Your Presentation to the class

Stacy

Michael E
Britteny

Monday 10/12

Presenting Market Reports:

Cory N

Jeremy

Visiting Artist:

Brandon Miltgen

2:00-3:30 in Professional Practices class- career talk- how he got his job at School Zone, what he does there, printing and proofing issues, digital deliverables etc.

3:30-5:30 Digital Imaging 1 -Show his work and demo on Illustrator brush sets and a fun character in vector

sign up for a portfolio review email susan@visualpump.com
BAM the Art and Design of Brandon Miltgen

Wednesday 10/14

Creative Smackdown anyone?

Deadline:

Your Presentation to the class

Brian
Alex

Katie

Michelle

Justin

Michael G

Andy H
Mary

Creative Smackdown

2009-10-07T21:05:00.000-04:00

Creative students prepare for the Smackdown

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.– Creative Smackdown, a statewide advertising, web
design, and graphic design competition for students, will be held on
October 29, 2009 at Grand Valley State University’s (GVSU) Pew Campus. The
creative competition allows students the opportunity to network, win
scholarships, and have their work critiqued by industry professionals.

“Dozens of students are mixed in with dozens of the best professionals in
the local creative services industry, and baked in the oven at 350 degrees
for approximately two minutes of presentation and critique per person,”
says Creative Smackdown judge Marty Lenger, Creative Services Manager for
Gordon Food Services. “You never know what’s going to come out ounce the
timer goes off!”

Founded by GVSU professor Frank Blossom, Creative Smackdown is designed for
students to present to a panel of 22 professionals. Categories include
advertisement, graphic design, and web design, a new category this year.
The top three winners will each receive a monetary prize as well as
scholarships to The Polishing Center.

Several new elements will be added to the competition this year, including
a special question and answer session with the judges. A booklet of all
participants’ resumes and business cards will also be produced and provided
to the judges.

“Creative Smackdown was such a good experience for me because I
was able to receive feedback from professionals in the industry,” said
Erica Loerop, winner of the 2008 Creative Smackdown for her print ad for
Faygo. “I would recommend the Smackdown to anyone who has a great concept,
a great design, and the willingness to put themselves out there.”

Creative Smackdown will take place on Thursday, October 29,
2009, at 7:00 p.m. in Loosemore Auditorium on GVSU’s Pew Campus in downtown
Grand Rapids, Mich. Students must register before Tuesday, October 20.

For more low-down on the Smackdown, visit the Creative Smackdown web site
at www.creativesmackdown.com or email Frank Blossom at
frank@frankblossom.com

Digital Sketches for Clients

2009-10-06T21:42:00.003-04:00

Digital Sketches have become the best way to communicate with a client.

Some tips for best communication:

• include your branding
• say it is a sketch so they do not get confused that it is a final
• communicate what you will be changing (i.e. color, value, level of detail)

For designers the sketch would be in the form of digital compositing.

Example:
Download the PDF of
Digital Sketches Frutopia Drink Illustration for Alticor
This PDF takes you through 2 changes that were shown to the client
and the final illustration

Finals below
Artwork by Visualpump

Visiting Artists

2009-10-01T14:35:00.003-04:00

Mike Williams -Digital Painter and Illustrator, Alumni of Kendall College of Art and Design.

DIGITAL PAINTING visiting Wednesday 11/11/09

RM 707

8:30-11:30 Painter Hands On Demo Workshop- in digital imaging for print class rm 707

11:30-12:30 Lunch with Faculty

12:30- 2:30 Career Talk in Professional Practices with Digital Media Illustration and Traditional Illustration Students. He will show his work. rm 707

2:30-4:30 Portfolio Review with Advanced students 10 minutes each. rm 707

questions: email Susan - susan@visualpump.com

Students scheduled to get a portfolio review:

will go in this order (10 minutes each):

Megan Messina

Michael Emig

Brian McLaurin

Abe

Meghann Pardee

Jessica Bradhen

Russell Williams

DeAnthony Carter

Brandon Miltgen
visiting Monday Oct 12
RM 707

2:00-3:30 in Professional Practices class- career talk- how he got his job at School Zone, what he does there, printing and proofing issues, digital deliverables etc.

3:30-5:30 Digital Imaging 1 -Show his work and demo on Illustrator brush sets and a fun character in vector

Brandon's Portfolio

sign up for a portfolio review email susan@visualpump.com
BAM the Art and Design of Brandon Miltgen

Just released:
An IPhone Ap

Comfort Love and Adam Withers
-Digital Comic Artists and Illustrators, Alumni of Kendall College of Art and Design.

Visiting Monday 10/19

rm 707

Visit their website to see their comic and find out more.
They will share with you their experience with Comic Cons, working as illustrators, what its like to work with clients and writers, how to make digital on demand prints, advertising yourself. and Budgets!

2:00-3:30 in Professional Practices class- career talk, how to pitch an idea. rm 707

3:30-5:30 Digital Imaging 1 -They will show their work and demo photoshop/illustrator focusing on some special effects like fire, motion and "paste into" from CgTextures.com and how to make word bubbles in illustrator. rm 707

The Uniques
click to enlarge

Additional Online Resources

2009-09-29T12:18:00.013-04:00

ILLUSTRATION PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
The Association of Illustrators
Society of Illustrators
Greeting Card Association
Society of Animal Artists
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Guild of Natural Science Illustrators

Illustration reps
Richard Solomon
The ISpot

Illustration companies
http://www.dixoncovedesign.com
http://www.escapekeygraphics.com/graphics/gallery/illustration.html

Infographics:
Arthur Mount

Chris Philpot
Infographics > theispot.com
Scott Roberts > theispot.com

Greeting Cards:
Artghost
Etsy Greeting Cards
HP-Free Cards for consumers to print

Fashion/t-shirts
Threadless
RVCA:
RVCA
Volcom
Zazzle -on demand printing
Ripple Junction

CONCEPT ART
http://www.Messs.cc
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/
CG Society
Frog Hat Studios
Cryptic Studios
sketchfeed.com blog community for concept artists and illustrators
massiveblack.com concept art company and tutorials
insomniac.com game co
doublefine.com game co.
http://epicgames.com/
http://www.andyparkart.com/
http://turtleart.net/ link collection of concept artists

BLOGS
http://ashleybambaland.blogspot.com/
http://illustration-design.blogspot.com/
http://blog.iaminawe.com/category/design/illustration
http://etsygreetings.blogspot.com/
http://www.chickengirldesign.blogspot.com/
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/
http://www.theiconblog.blogspot.com/
Art:21 Art in the Twenty -First Century

Intractive
Trucktown Interactive Kids books and games
Biggs Gilmore

Motion Graphics
see the kendallweblab

3D Animation
see the kendallweblab

StoryBoarding
Ruby Flores
Adrien VanViersen
Stephen Heneveld
Ben Balistreri
Massive Black
James Suhr

2D Animation
JBullFrog Jeremiah Johnson- Flash Animation and iPhone Aps

Floating Pear
Pileated
Radical Axis
Neptune Studios
Brown Blog Films

Animation Festivals
TAC - Ottowa Television Animation Conference
KAFI Kalamazoo Animation Festival International

Fine Art Animation/Film
William Kentridge -link to PBS documentary

Character Design

Lauren Montgomery

Ben Balistreri

Character Design- traditional

http://scribeswalk.com/scribe_main.html

Gaming
Hero Interactive Games for Facebook, iPhone -St Joseph Mi,

Gaming Careers
http://www.coroflot.com/ the creative world at work
http://epicgames.com/epic_jobs.html
http://www.insomniacgames.com/careers.php -jobs at insomniac
http://www.doublefine.com/news.php/jobs -careers

Virtual Pet illustration

http://warrenkenlee.blogspot.com/

http://www.virtualpet.com/vp/links/links.htm -list of virtual pet games

COMICS
Antarctic Press with online comics
http://www.cbldf.org/ -Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Dark Horse
Kablam - digital on demand printing for comics
Digital Webbing - Talent Search
Alex Ross
kharupt.com

Fonts for Comics
Blambot
daFont
What the Font?

Cartooning

Funny Paperz.com - big list of comic artists and community

Collectables Illustration:
http://bradfordexchange.collectiblestoday.com

MICHIGAN FILM INDUSTRY
http://www.raleighstudiosdetroit.com/

Children's Market Companies

Leapfrog
Leapfrog Careers
Schoolzone Workbooks and Educational Games
Sassy - Baby Toys

Children's Market Individuals
Holli Conger
Candace Trew Camling

Children's Books
SCBWI
Kids Book Link - SCBWI -Michigan
Purple Crayon Questions about Children's Publishing

Peachtree Publishing Twitter
Red Cygnet Publishing
Simon and Schuster
Zoo Books

Laurie Keller
Patricia Storms
David Small
John Scieszka Kids books and Interactive Books - Guys Read!

Picture Books
http://shauntan.net/books.html
http://www.merchco-online.com/grisgrimly/
diterlizzi.com
J OTTO Mr Lunch

Cover Art
Coverarts.com

Wildlife Illustration

Jack Unruh

Society of Animal Artists

Latham Studios

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators

Medical Illustration

Fairman Studios -illustration, animation, hand drawn digitally colored.

Exhibition Design

academystudios.com

Illlustrators Individual

Alon Chu

John K.

Jim Lee

Illustration:

Traditional Illustrators

I M Scared Greg Simkins

How to make a Proposal

2009-09-23T16:30:00.004-04:00

Always follow the guidelines given by the call for proposals.
These may be very detailed.
Create a PDF
Print on nice paper or email with a short written description of the project
Place in a branded package
send before the deadline
Follow up with them to see if they received your package

What to include:
• cover page with branding
• proposal sketch
• project description
repeating the main points that were addressed in the call for proposals
• who you are (who is the team that will be involved)
• who will administer the project
• brief bios of each team partner
• budget - line itemized and totaled
• who provided estimates and consulting
• who has liability
• who installs
• explanation of the process (timeline)
• references
• example images from previous projects

Professional Example:

Community Media Center, Grand Rapids Mi

Dirk Koning Memorial Garden Walkway Design
Collaborative Project, Artists Bill Fischer, Susan Bonner, Shane VanOosterhout
Download the entire Proposal

Job Training through the Arts Mural Proposal
Collaborative Project, Visualpump, Grand Rapids Housing Commission, West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology
Download the entire Proposal

Images:
Dirk Koning Memorial Garden Walkway Design Proposal Cover and layout

How to begin your Market Research

2009-09-23T10:06:00.001-04:00

You could start with going to a illustration rep website that offers a lot of artists genres:
theispot.com
Illustration Web

Input your genre into the search portfolios section that you are interested in researching.

You will come up with lots of portfolios.

Click on the artwork that most fits the type of artwork you can see yourself doing in your career.

Look for an artist with a client list > this will help you to see who buys this type of artwork.

Look at their own website, refer to this in your presentation.

Use the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, Pricing and Ethical Guidelines to determine the going rate for the artwork in the portfolio, based on the project deliverables and the size of the client.

Use these dollar amounts to fill out your Freelance Studio Operating Expenses Blank Template

One of the main things to consider in your research is how much you will get paid per project.

How to Pitch an Idea

2009-09-22T13:16:00.002-04:00

Wow Wow Wuzby

has an excellent example of an animation pitch

Go to the the Wublog Show Bible

WANT TO PITCH YOUR IDEAS TO CARTOON NETWORK’S ADULT SWIM?

SDCC PANEL TELLS YOU HOW!
BY ALEX LUGO

Ever had a great idea for an animated series, but never knew how to do it? Well, if you went to Thursday’s Adult Swim Panel at SDCC, they told you exactly how to do it, and who to send it to. Being an aspiring creator, I had to attend, and learn this secret information. In attendance at the panel were Nick Weidenfeld, the director of development at Adult Swim; Kim Manning, director of programming; Loren Bouchard, Home Movies, Dr. Katz; Dino Stamatopouloos, Mr. Show; and Todd James, Adam de la Pena, and Peter Girardi, Crankyankers.

Nick Weidenfeld, made it very clear he did not want to get any “Hollywood” type or formal pitches. He said the pitching should be “funny, informal, and really just an exchange of ideas.” He also gave an outline of what to do and not to do, which I have copied and listed below:

What to have:
1. A really amazing show idea
2. A show bible that includes:

a. Show concept/ description
b. Main character descriptions and designs
c. Secondary characters and descriptions
d. Description of the environment that the show is set within
e. Episode outlines that include 4 or 5 ideas

What NOT to have:
1. A fully written plot
2. Marketing Plans or Strategies (leave this to Adult Swim)
3. Branding concepts or products (again leave this to Adult Swim)

What NOT to pitch:
1. Defunct superhero shows
2. Re-proposed classic cartoon shows
3. Barbarian/Medieval shows
4. Satirical reality TV shows/Behind the scenes shows
5. Mafia Shows
6. Kid shows gone wrong
7. Anthology shows
8. Zombie shows
9. Shows that compare themselves to other shows
10. Room mate shows

Weidenfeld and the other panelists also insisted that people pitching be very flexible with their ideas and the format of the show. Being collaborative was a plus as well, and that working with actors and people that you like to create a short (if possible) is key and can help in the pitch process. But they still insisted that keeping it “fun and informal” was the best way to go about it. Weidenfeld also stated that anyone pitching ask themselves the following questions:

1. Could this show be on another network?
2. Could this show be live action?
3. Could this work as a kid’s show?
4. Is this show really cheap to make?

If the answers for 1 through 3 were “yes”, and the last one “no”, then it is probably not meant for Adult Swim according to the panelists.

In addition to the pitching instructions, Adult Swim also showed some clips of their new shows for the upcoming season which included: Moral Orel from the head writer of Mr. Show and Funhouse; Minoriteam, from the talent behind Crankyankers; and Lucy, Daughter of the Devil, from the creators of Dr. Katz.

So now that you know how to pitch, you can mail your great ideas to the following address:

[Adult Swim]
Attn: Nick Weidenfeld
1065 Williams Street
Atlanta, GA 30309

Before you go ahead and send off the idea, however, you may want to send them a quick note asking if you need to sign a non-disclosure agreement (a stamped and pre-addressed envelope would be good too). Good luck everyone, I hope to see your show on the air, and mine too!

BY ALEX LUGO

Pricing Advice

2009-09-22T12:54:00.004-04:00

Things to consider when pricing:

1. How big is your client? Large corporations will pay up to four times as much as a small company for the same thing.

2. Hourly rates mean nothing. A project has a "market value". That is simply the amount that, say a trade journal, will pay for a logo and a web site. Wired magazine, a different market, will pay a lot more than that. Look in the Graphic Artists guide to Pricing and Ethics. You need to own this book. Most large bookstores and libraries have it. Get used copies at Amazon.

3. You can't expect to make a high rate starting out for two reasons:
a - you're not that fast at doing this work yet. That comes with practice.
b - you don't have rich clients yet. That comes with upselling your portfolio of commercial work (once you have one) to a richer market. Keep in mind, that you get referred in the market that you work in. It's easy to get stuck there. Eventually you will want to overkill some over your low end client projects so you have some more substantial things to show larger clients and improve the market you are working in.

4. Do research to find out what a potential client is willing to pay. Do this by developing a network of professional friends that you can share this kind of information with. Also, you can check the “Graphic Artists Guide to Pricing”.

5. Ask the client what their budget is. Assure them that you can give them something of value for that price.

6. Estimate your hours, then multiply it times 1.25. That will cover most client revisions and flakiness without having to Nickel and Dime them every time they change their mind. Big changes that cause you to go over budget have to be quoted and approved prior to execution!

7. If you can get paid by the hour, figure that you are going to only pocket half after taxes and expenses.

> Created by Bill Fischer

Animation Students Specific Pricing Advice:

The Animation Guild Minimums 2003-2006 (download)
Animation Students can use this pdf as a guideline for pricing animation for freelance.
Your prices should be in relation to the going rate.

Should I give them free art?

Would you go to the gas station and ask him to give you free gas?

Click this link to see -Harlin Edison, writer for Warner Brothers - Babalon 5 on You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE

Online Market Career Resources

2009-09-11T10:27:00.002-04:00

Careers
Coroflot the creative world at work- job postings
Epic games jobs
insomniac games careers -jobs at insomniac
doublefine jobs -careers in gaming at Doublefine

MICHIGAN FILM INDUSTRY
raleigh studios detroit

Job Postings
estetica-design-forum

Additional Online Resources

2009-09-08T21:30:00.011-04:00

%3Cb%3EILLUSTRATION%26nbsp%3B+PROFESSIONAL+ASSOCIATIONS%3C%2Fb%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaoi.com%2F%22%3EThe+Association+of+Illustrators+UK%3C%2Fa%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.societyillustrators.org%2F%22%3ESociety+of+Illustrators%3C%2Fa%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greetingcard.org%2F%22%3EGreeting+Card+Organization%3C%2Fa%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fanimationguildblog.blogspot.com%2F%22%3EThe+Animation+Guild+Blog%3C%2Fa%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.animationguild.org%2F%22%3EAnimation+Guild+%28California%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scbwi.org%2F%2520%22%3ESociety+of+Children%27s+Book+Writers+and+Illustrators%3C%2Fa%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gnsi.org%2F%22%3EGuild+of+Natural+Science+Illustrators%3C%2Fa%3E%0D%0A%3Cb%3E%0D%0AIllustration+reps%3C%2Fb%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.richardsolomon.com%2F%22%3ERichard+Solomon%3C%2Fa%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Ftheispot.com%2F%22%3Etheispot.com%3C%2Fa%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.illustrationweb.com%2F%22%3EIllustration+Web%3C%2Fa%3E+%0D%0A%3Cb%3E%0D%0AIlllustrators+Individual%3C%2Fb%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fzenvironments.com%2F%22%3EZenvironments%3C%2Fa%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamesjean.com%2F%22%3EJames+Jean%3C%2Fa%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tartelin.com%2F%22%3EStephane+Tartelin%3C%2Fa%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamesclyne.com%2F%22%3EJames+Clyne+-+%3C%2Fa%3EConcept+for+Film%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alon.tw%2F%22%3EAlon+Chu%3C%2Fa%3E+Digital+Painter+makes+tutorials%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cb%3EChildren%27s+Illustration+%3C%2Fb%3E%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chickengirldesign.com%2Findex.html%22%3EChicken+Girl+Design%3C%2Fa%3E-+Childrens+Illustration%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.candaceillustration.blogspot.com%2F%22%3ECandace+Illustration%3C%2Fa%3E-+Kendall+Grad%2C+sweet+spot+illustration%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schoolzone.com%2F%22%3ESchool+Zone%3C%2Fa%3E+-Grand+Rapids+Interactive+children%27s+market%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fbrandonmiltgen.blogspot.com%2F%22%3EBrandon+Miltgen%3C%2Fa%3E-+Kendall+Grad%2C+children%27s+illustrator+%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wendyhalperin.com%2F%22%3EWendy+Halperin%3C%2Fa%3E+-+Published+Michigan+Illustrator%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mattfaulkner.com%2Fbooks.html%22%3EMatt+Faulkner%3C%2Fa%3E+-+Published+Illustrator%2Fwriter%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidsbooklink.org%2F%22%3EKids+Book+Link%3C%2Fa%3E+-+SCBWI+-+Michigan+Chapter%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.underdown.org%2F%22%3EThe+Purple+Crayon+%3C%2Fa%3E-+info+on+writing+and+illustrating+children%27s+books%3Cb%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fb%3E%0D%0A%3Cb%3E%3Ca+href%3D%Proxy-Connection: keep-alive
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Estimates, Invoices and Contracts

2009-09-08T18:11:00.000-04:00

Estimate/Invoice:
• Create the estimate, it will be repurposed as an invoice.
• Choose a job from your business/career plan to estimate.

Example Estimates and Invoices:
Professional Invoice
Professional Estimate
Student Estimate / Invoice

Additional Resources:
Graphic Artists Guild Handbook on Reserve in the Library > there are project contracts in the back.

Contract Information from the Graphic Artists Guild > Contract Monitor
Negotiate that Contract
Letter of Agreement
Contract Glossary

Press Releases and Marketing

2009-09-08T18:01:00.003-04:00

Example Press Release:
Visualpump Launches Internet Art Gallery

Resources:
How-to.com

If you want to get press, note the magazine or paper or website acceptance dates.
Include images, full color.
Send digital files of the image you would like to include.
Name the digital file YourNameArt

Include links to your blog or website.
Followup with a phone call or email.

Professional Examples > The Beerhorst Family Wonderwagon for Art Prize 2009
This is the 4th email in a marketing campaign.
Beerhorst Family Etsy Store
Beerhorst Blog

Career Plan Project - Susan Bonner

2009-09-08T14:19:00.002-04:00

Project Description:

• Create a Career Plan if you will be working for a company based on your research within your market.

Deliverables include:

• Cover Sheet with logo

• Career Plan designed in inDesign

• Contact info on each internal page

• Email the pdf package to susan@visualpump.com with intro email as if she is a

potential partner or investor for business plan or career coach for career plan.

Follow the Career Plan Questionnaire to create a written Career Plan

Supplementary Resources for Student Research:

• Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, Pricing and Ethical Guidelines

• Inside the Business of Illustration

• Pricing Advise
• Career/Business Plans

Career Plan Questionnaire

2009-09-08T13:47:00.009-04:00

These are the necessary questions for artists and designers building a career.

To make this Questionnaire into a Career Plan, copy and paste the questionnaire into your own document, answer the questions, then create paragraphs under each header as in the professional example and student examples (download).

Tell us about you:

Your Name, Address, Phone, Email:

Your Blog address that you will create in this class:

What your career objective?

What is your tagline?

What is your 30 second description?

(Create a cover sheet with this information including your logo)

Your Market:

What are the trends in your market?

What is your market position summary?

Who are your competitors? List 3 include websites.

What is your differential in your market? (Are you faster, more diverse, better, easier to use, online shopping cart, digital, hand in projects digitally, use a tablet, better lighting, style differences ie rotoscoping, flat shapes, rendered foreground with abstract background)

Describe your most important strengths and core competencies.

What factors will make you succeed for the companies you wish to work for?

What do you think your major competitive strengths will be?

What background experience, skills, and strengths do you personally bring to a company that will improve their bottom line? (Are you able to discuss, ideate, rework, give presentations both verbally and written?)

What is your focus within your market?

Describe the customer demographics of the companies you wish to work for? (These are the consumers or businesses who are the most likely to buy from the company you will work for.)

• When choosing a target market of consumers, use some or all of the following parameters: age, gender, where they live, where they work, occupation, education, income level, marital status, race, needs, values, buying patterns, styles, lifestyles, cultures, interests, hobbies, personality types or traits.

• When choosing a target market for businesses, use some or all of the following parameters: industry, type of business, annual sales, number of employees, location, number of years in business, type of ownership, membership in trade associations or organizations.

Your Marketing Plan:

What is your marketing plan in order to get the job you want?

What is your marketing budget for the first year as you look for a job?

How will you advertise your need for work?

How are others in your market advertising?

What type of marketing collateral will you use?

How much will it cost to produce the marketing collateral?

Create a timeline:

• To meet your goals, what do you need to do while in school until graduation?

• What needs to be in your portfolio based on your market research? (List projects by market, medium with details about (length of project if time based))

• What classes will you need to take to meet your goals?

• What do you need to do meet your goals what do you need to have completed Six Months after graduation?

• To meet your goals, what do you need to have completed 2 years after graduation?

• To meet your goals, what do you need to have completed 5 Years after graduation?

What is your brand? You are a product that you need to market to a company.

Colors:

Look and feel of blog and marketing collateral including resume and cover letters:

Typography:

Who can act as a mentor in the market? (Someone that can review your portfolio and help direct it to meet the needs of the market.)

Financials

What is your target salary?

What are the benefits that you will need?

What could you charge per hour if you were working as a freelancer?

What is a typical large job you can perform for your company?

Describe client and Project Details

What is a typical medium job you can perform for your company?

Describe client and Project Details

What is a typical small job you can perform for your company?

Describe client and Project Details

Other notes that help to explain your career plan:

Consider filling out the Business Plan if part of your career you will be operating freelance.

If you are going to be going into freelance,"about 62 percent of artists and related workers are self-employed." United States Department of Labor create a business plan.

Business Plan Questionnaire

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If you are going to be going into freelance,"about 62 percent of artists and related workers are self-employed." United States Department of Labor follow this questionnaire to create a business plan. These are the necessary questions for artists and designers starting their own business.

To make this Questionnaire into a Business Plan, copy and paste the questionnaire into your own document, answer the questions, then create paragraphs under each header as in the professional example and student examples (download).

Business Plan Questionnaire

Owner Name:

Company Name:
Tagline:

url/blog:
What is your 30 second company description?

(Create a cover sheet with this information including your logo)

Business Name

• Business Name Registered with the county (Kent County, Mi Registration info)
• Business Name is available on the web in the form of a dot com check with Register.com
• Business Name is available on Blogger in the form of .blogspot.com check with "Blogger Create A Blog"

Business Structure
What is the form of business ownership?

• Individual (Sole Proprietorship) with a DBA (Doing Business as)

• Limited Liability Company (LLC)

• Partnership

• Corporation

• Non-Profit

Business Mission

What is the mission of your business?

What are the current market trends?

What is your focus within your market? (What makes you different then your competitors)
What is your business philosophy?
What is important to you in business?

Who is the team?

If there is more than one owner, how many owners are there? What are their roles and responsibilities?

Explain each person's experience in this market:

Do you have any formal or informal employees? What are their responsibilities?

Who are the key partners in the business? (ie: web designers, programmers, writers, printers, web services, interns, artists, construction contractors, kids etc.)

Marketing Plan

Market Position Summary

What product or service does your business provide?

What are the trends in your market?

How does your company make its product or how is the service performed? Please be specific.

Who are your competitors? List 3 include websites.

Competition and Pricing:
What is your differential in the marketplace?

When you benchmark your work against others why would a customer choose you?

(For Example: Are you stylistically different: in what way?; faster, cheaper, offer free services, local, digital, hold eMeetings, come to their office, totally on line in contrast to brick and morter, give several choices for design, rich media, etc)

Who are your major competitors and where are they? (include urls)

How do your prices compare to your major competitors?

Marketing Strategy:

How do you encourage repeat business and attract new customers to do business with you?

Where do you sell your products or services? (i.e.: Artists Markets, out of your studio, online, Comic Cons, etc.)

How do customers know about your product/service? (ie: word of mouth, eMarketing, google ads, attending Ad Club meetings, signs, print ads, flyers, business cards etc.)

Customer Demographics:
Who are your customers?

• When choosing a target market of consumers, use some or all of the following parameters:
age, gender, where they live, where they work, occupation, education, income
level, marital status, race, needs, values, buying patterns, styles, lifestyles, cultures,
interests, hobbies, personality types or traits.

• When choosing a target market for businesses, use some or all of the following parameters:
industry, type of business, annual sales, number of employees, location,
number of years in business, type of ownership, membership in trade associations or
organizations.

Where are they located?

What is your customers budget for your product/service?

What is your customer online experience? Include where they go online to find product/services.

Where do they go in person to find product/services? (Ie. Conventions, trade shows, etc.)What kind of advertising experience has been successful in the past to pull/push your particular customer demographic towards your type of business? (i.e.: What are others in your market doing to gain business? - Internet campaigns, Door to Door with Portfolio, Mail campaigns, postcard campaigns, email campaigns, viral marketing, etc.)

Timeline:

• Plan Ahead >

What do you need to accomplish in order to make this business become a reality?

What products/services do you need to have completed?

What do you need in your portfolio?

List what you need in this portfolio. (this portfolio needs to be similar in breadth and depth to your competition.)

What classes do you need to meet your goals?

Do you need an online portfolio?

Put Your Future in a Timeline:

• While in school what needs to be accomplished by graduation

• Six Months after graduation what needs to be accomplished

• 2 years after graduation what needs to be accomplished

• 5 Years after graduation what needs to be accomplished

Start up / Operating Costs

Labor Costs: (Include what it will take you to begin this business, including, marketing, design work, business management, etc.)

Expenses: (a yearly operating expenses summary (attach a cost analysis spreadsheet) including: new equipment, web hosting, credit card services, Office Expenses, Studio Rent (if other then your home), Insurance, cost of production, cost of contracting work, LLC fees, lawyer fees, accountant fees etc.)

Cash Distribution: (How and when will you pay your employees?)

Advertising Costs: (Include leave behinds, google ads, internet marketing, print costs, mailing costs, etc.)

Financial Information

What type of business records kept for your business (financial statements etc.)?

Some written records; some regular reports; Professional/ Accountant)

How much of your own money do you plan to invest over the next year?
How much will you draw from the business over the next year?
How much of the business money will be reinvested into the business?

Where do you get supplies/ materials for the business?

Does the business currently have inventory (stock or digital)?

What do you expect your sales will be in the best month(s)? $____________

What do you expect your sales will be in the worst month(s)?$____________

What will you charge per hour?

What is a typical large job? Who is it for and what will you charge?
Describe client and Project Details

What is a typical medium job? Who is it for and what will you charge?
Describe client and Project Details

What is a typical small job? Who is it for and what will you charge?
Describe client and Project Details

Cash Flow:

How will the customer pay?

When will the customer pay?

How will you distribute funds to your fulfillment sources, contract workers and others involved in your business?

What is your method of employee compensation?

Extra:
Other Things to consider when applying for a loan or asking for key stakeholders to contribute:

Is the business woman-owned?

Is the business minority-owned?

(These answers may help you to apply for a grant.)

Is your business full-time or part-time?

Full-time______

Part-time______

What are the business' hours of operation?

How much money would need to be invested?

Would there be ROI (Return on Investment)?

Market Research Class Distribution

2009-09-01T09:04:00.002-04:00

These are the Markets that you have chosen to research based on the Genre Worksheet (download).
This is a seminar class and remember you will be learning from other students about what markets also interest you.

Brian > eGames, Character, Concept, 3D Animation
Cory C. > 2D Animation, Concept, Games
Justin > 2D Animation
Alex > Storyboards, Character and Production Art

Cory N > Children's Book
Michael > Comics, Consumer/Print

Megan > Graphic Novels, Wildlife Illustration
Mary > Fine Art, Nature, Technical Illustration
Britteny > Nature, Portraits

Stacy > Album Covers, Ltd Edition Prints
Jeremy > Commercial Fine Art
Katie > Portrait, Commercial Fine Art

Writing a Cover Letter and a Resume

2009-08-23T20:32:00.010-04:00

Project Description:
• Now that you have researched markets you have found that you will need to prove who you are through written collateral as well as your work. In this project our aim is to consider a resume and a cover letter as a part of the brand that you are selling, cohesive and desired to fit the need of your potential employer. You will create a resume and a cover letter aiming at a current job description within your chosen market or to be used as an introduction letter as a freelancer.

Intro to professional correspondences
• Deliverables include:
• Cover Letter and Resume PDF
• Email the package to susan@visualpump.com with an intro email as if she is the potential employer using a professional email.

Supplementary Resources for Student Research:
• Examples of Student Resumes and Cover Letters from this class
• Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, Pricing and Ethical Guidelines on Amazon

Resume Writing:
Resources:
Here you will find words and sentence structure that will help you write your resume:
Action words:
• List of Words by category- Scroll down to the creative skills words: http://www.quintcareers.com/action_skills.html
Action words used in sentence structure- change language from passive to active.
• http://www.jasonmcclure.com/Articles/action%20words.pdf

Example:

Passive

Duties included teaching art lessons

Active
Prepared and displayed creative art activities.

Accomplishment-Oriented
Prepared creative art activities, increased students' interest and abilities. Awarded four blue ribbons at District Art Show.

Include:
Contact info: Name, Address, Phone, Email (that’s a professional email)
Use your brand image on your letterhead

Possible Headers:
Objective (What do you want to do for this company)
Education
Experience
References (3)

Additional Creative Resume Headers to consider:
Awards
Computer Skills
Projects
Language
Relevant Course work
Clubs
Internships
Affiliations
Volunteer Experience
Exhibitions
In the Collection of

Consider:
Dates being simple i.e.: 8/09
Location
Bullets
Bolding imaportant information
• Action Words
Name Dropping

Cover Letter Writing:
Resources:
How-to-write-a-resume.org
JobStar.org

Include:
• Your Name, Address, Phone, Email
• Use your brand image on your letterhead
• Contact info built into letterhead
• Short (3 sentences)
• Be Specific
• Bullet your points
• Date on top
• Enclosure: resume
• Action Words
• Bold your differentials

Cover Letter for those looking for a job:
What you can do for them (first line)
Love the corporation, be specific about their differential
Brand yourself (but explain what it can do for co.)

Introductory Letter for those looking for freelance:
• Your qualifications (first line)
• About you and how you are different then your competitors and how you fill their deepest need
• Sell your brand (but explain what it can do for the co.)
• Point to your Client list
• If you don’t have a client list suggest that you are willing to intern for free in exchange for
experience

Career Plan / Business Plan Project - Bonner's Class

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Project Description:
• Create a Business Plan if you are going into Freelance.
• Create a Career Plan if you will be working for a company.

Decide this based on the Market Research Project

Deliverables include:
• Cover Sheet
• Plan designed in illustrator or inDesign
• Email the pdf package to susan@visualpump.com with intro email as if she is a potential partner for business plan or career coach for career plan.

Example Career and Business Plans
Visualpump Artist Guide (example Business Plan)
Student Business Plans/ Student Career Plans

Supplementary Resources for Student Research:
• Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, Pricing and Ethical Guidelines
• Inside the Business of Illustration
• Visualpump Artist Guide

Business / Career Plan Writing:

First follow the Business Plan Questionnaire
Include:
• Your Name, Address, Phone, Email
• Use your brand image on your letterhead
• Contact info built into letterhead
• Use your Brand Language
• Be Specific
• Bullet your points
• Action Words (specific to your area of expertise)
• Mission
• Tagline
• Market Trends
• Focus
• Marketing Plan
• Market Position Summary
• Customer Demographics
• Pricing Sheet for specific items if that would apply

• Plan Ahead > Put Your Future in a Timeline:
• While in school until graduation
• Six Months after graduation
• 2 years after graduation
• 5 Years after graduation
• Start up / Operating Costs

Business Collateral

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Leave Behind:
• Postcard or Re-purposed Animation for self promotion, this is a real object that you
can leave behind with people you interview or that you can mail to potential clients
Leave Behinds

Mailing Labels:
• Create a mailing label using the illustrator templates
Mailing Labels

Business Card:
• Must include contact info, can be printed on icarus as a proof.
• Bonus to create real cards on cardstock for massive self distribution
Business Card

Creating a Self Promotional Blog

2009-08-22T14:58:00.010-04:00

Project Description:
• Create a FREE blog using blogger
• Get a Google User ID if you don't already have one
• Name your blog with your name or your company name
• Make your blog url memorable and easy to get to for your audience
• Find 6-10 images for your portfolio, get them approved by instructor.
• Scan or digitally photograph images
• Digitally manipulate images so that they are clean, crisp and web ready (using curves, hue/sat and sharpen) in Photoshop -in progress only save as a psd.
• After instructor’s approval- final files are saved for web and devices as jpgs start with 60 quality
use the Image Resolution Guide
• Titles of images need to be clear and describe the images for easy search by search engines.
Example: GreenContemporaryFloralIllustration.jpg
• Each Blog site will describe how to place images into blog, follow their instructions.
• Create a bio, Get it approved by instructor, place on blog.
• Include your Logo on blog.

This is a self promotional blog. Artwork should reflect the market that you would like to pursue. Cleaned up artwork needs to be approved by instructor in a psd file before placing on blog.
NO BLURRY, DULL IMAGES!

Supplementary Resources for Student Research:
BLOGS:

See the sidebar of this blog for updated blogs by students and alumni. -->

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/optilevers/collections/72157600100409672/
• http://www.flickr.com/groups/illustrationfriday/
• http://visualpump.blogspot.com/
• http://jamessuhr.blogspot.com
• apakstudio.com

NOTE: Animations can be placed on www.youtube.com or other servers and linked to blog sites if you can
not post them directly on blog site.

Project Description:
• Create a FREE blog using blogger
• Get a Google User ID if you don't already have one
• Name your blog with your name or your company name
• Make your blog url memorable and easy to get to for your audience
• Find 6-10 images for your portfolio, get them approved by instructor.
• Scan or digitally photograph images
• Digitally manipulate images so that they are clean, crisp and web ready (using curves, hue/sat and sharpen) in Photoshop -in progress only save as a psd.
• After instructor’s approval- final files are saved for web and devices as jpgs start with 60 quality
use the Image Resolution Guide
• Titles of images need to be clear and describe the images for easy search by search engines.
Example: GreenContemporaryFloralIllustration.jpg
• Each Blog site will describe how to place images into blog, follow their instructions.
• Create a bio, Get it approved by instructor, place on blog.
• Include your Logo on blog.

This is a self promotional blog. Artwork should reflect the market that you would like to pursue. Cleaned up artwork needs to be approved by instructor in a psd file before placing on blog.
NO BLURRY, DULL IMAGES!

Supplementary Resources for Student Research:
BLOGS:

See the sidebar of this blog for updated blogs by students and alumni. -->

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/optilevers/collections/72157600100409672/
• http://www.flickr.com/groups/illustrationfriday/
• http://visualpump.blogspot.com/
• http://jamessuhr.blogspot.com
• apakstudio.com

NOTE: Animations can be placed on www.youtube.com or other servers and linked to blog sites if you can
not post them directly on blog site.

To put an animation on the blog- you will have to use the old posting editor- go to settings and change to old editor -now when you post it you will have the video upload button on top of the input field.

Professional Practices Syllabus

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KENDALL COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
COURSE NUMBER: KCIL 305
COURSE TITLE: Professional Practices for the Illustrator
INSTRUCTOR: Susan Bonner
BLOG: propractice.blogspot.com

Course Description:
• Students will study current illustration markets, learn essential business practices and create the printed collateral necessary for doing business as an illustrator or animator.

Course Goals:
• To become knowledgeable of the various professional illustration markets.
• To be able to market themselves and conduct business as a free-lance illustrator or animator.

Course of Study:
• The first part of the semester will be spent researching illustration markets. Students will make a
presentation to the class covering emerging trends, and examples of professional work for a chosen
market.
• The second part of the semester will be spent developing a marketing plan for pursuing their work a
particular illustration market. This career plan or business plan will include developing a database of
relevant companies, professional organizations and agents as well as a plan for the creation of promotional
materials (website, brochure, business cards, stationary, etc.). Students will make a presentation to the
class covering legal issues, pricing/salary, agents, market demographics, potential clients and their
promotional plan for a chosen market.
• The third part of the semester will be spent digitally creating the necessary collateral for doing business as an illustrator, including; estimates, invoices, cover letters, resumes and financial spread sheets. A class critique will be held.
• The fourth part of the semester will be to create a simple personal Web Portfolio in the form of a blog.
• The instructor will perform demonstrations/tutorials on using the software including Excel, Powerpoint, Blogger, Illustrator, inDesign and Photoshop.

Attendance:
• More than 3 unexcused absences will negatively effect your grade. Each absence beyond 3 will continue to negatively effect your grade. Arriving to class late will also lower your grade.

Grading will be based on:
• Timeliness and presentation.
• Quality of research and assignment preparation.
• Quality of project execution.

Materials:
• Backup plan: cds or external hard drive.
• 1 3 ring binder notebook - 1/2" or 1" - for hand outs and notes.
• sharpie, pen, pencil, paper.

Supplementary Resources for Student Research:
• kendallweblab.com
• 11th Edition, Graphic Artist’s Guild and North Light Books
ISBN: 0-932102-12-3
• Inside The Business of Illustration by Steven Heller and Marshall Arisman
Allworth Press, New York

Timeline Business Collateral Project • Bonner

2009-07-29T19:15:00.004-04:00

Timeline for implementation:

FALL 2009

All these dates are TBA

• Intro to Blogging (blogspot.com)
-Show Susan portfolio for direction of blog.
-Show Susan final choices images for approval for blog Create invoice in class

• Deadline - all 6-10 images for blog must be scanned or digitally photographed.

• Deadline -email invoice to Susan as the client -Create mailing labels

• Deadline -mailing labels on an envelope

Deadline - Email Susan link to blog as if you are advertising its launch, make

sure you have your brand as a part of the url instead of the given #’s.

Deadline- last day of class- bring in to place on table all collateral including

business plan or career plan, business cards, blog, resume, leave behind, place

in server a folder with your name on it with all of the finals.

Professional Practices Handbook

Researching Job Categories within your Market

Illustration and Digital Media Market Research Presentation

User Experience Design

Timeline Cover Letter and Resume -Bonner's Class

Timeline Career Plan / Business Plan • Bonner

10/21 Career Plan / Business Plan

How to Market yourself

Timeline Research Project • Bonner

Creative Smackdown

Digital Sketches for Clients

Visiting Artists

Additional Online Resources

How to make a Proposal

How to begin your Market Research

How to Pitch an Idea

Pricing Advice

Online Market Career Resources

Additional Online Resources

Estimates, Invoices and Contracts

Press Releases and Marketing

Career Plan Project - Susan Bonner

Career Plan Questionnaire

Business Plan Questionnaire

Market Research Class Distribution

Writing a Cover Letter and a Resume

Career Plan / Business Plan Project - Bonner's Class

Business Collateral

Creating a Self Promotional Blog

Professional Practices Syllabus

Timeline Business Collateral Project • Bonner

FALL 2009

All these dates are TBA

• Intro to Blogging (blogspot.com)-Show Susan portfolio for direction of blog.-Show Susan final choices images for approval for blog Create invoice in class

• Intro to Blogging (blogspot.com)
-Show Susan portfolio for direction of blog.
-Show Susan final choices images for approval for blog Create invoice in class