My 5 Year Plan (first year of study)
I thought it would be a good idea to look back at my 5 year plan which I did in PDP during the first year of study. It will help me to check off things which I have managed to achieve but also look at where I need to focus and things still to include in my new plan. A yearly, or even quarterly review of your targets is a good idea, so you can make sure you are on track with your goals and achieve to the level you set yourself.
Year 1
- Continue personal and profession development through practical application of techniques and processes
- Research the creative industries
- Engage in community arts and events
- Develop my skills for my current employment further
- Make a small and simple product range for independent shops and re-stock ones I had sold in in the past as an extra income
- Complete 1st year Contemporary Craft
REFLECTION:
Although I have progressed in some areas, due to being unsettled in different areas I feel I have not progressed technically. I do how ever feel I am finding my way in terms of specialism and areas of interest, so I am happy about this as I now have more of an idea which techniques I prefer and in which areas I need to develop.
I continue to engage with the creative industries through my practical and research work and through this I am finding areas of design and studio practice which interests me more. I have done this in a variety of ways by attending talks within the university, gallery shows locally and in London, design shops and museums in London and used online resources. It is something I really enjoy doing and see it as a very important part of my practice and as someone who lives in the country, to be looking at what other people are doing in the art/craft and design world and also what has gone before. This leads to personal inspiration for my own projects and career aspirations.
I started to volunteer at Plymouth’s Scrap Store & Play Association on Union Street in my first year after going there for materials. My role was working with a friend of mine who I am in a junk percussion band with, who got a job after going in with me. We work together either volunteering in the HQ or out doing workshops. The scrap store is about taking waste from companies and using it in a creative way, which has definitely affected my studio practice and is a constant source of inspiration and support from the people who work there and the scrap which comes in. After volunteering for a while I was fast tracked to paid employment because of my capabilities and now earn £9 per hour on workshops I attend. I have since ran a workshop on my own and will continue to work here during the summer. I have requested to work in all departments to gain a better understanding of how a creative business is run. I have only really worked in the warehouse and on workshops so for the future I will try to get a more varied experience within the team. I will need to volunteer more to do this which I will be able to do in the summer. I will also need to provide myself with an income. I have lots of vintage clothing to sell and have down sized so I need to sell things which may give me enough to live on.
Through my work at the scrap store and my involvement within the village community I was asked to decorate the town hall for a community event. I decided to run this as a workshop where people and children could come and make something for the hall. I would like to run more things like this in the summer, but will look at the possibility of making some money out of it as another option along side free community arts.
I am no longer employed with my last job, so continue to develop myself further.
I am finding a style of making which I feel needs more development before producing a range to sell. The next module will be a good way to push these ideas forwards with which I can make and sell outside of the course.
Year 2
- Continued skill development in specialism
- Plan and run a workshop
- Volunteer in a local project
- Develop areas of interest and application of craft practices
REFLECTION:
As above, skills and areas of interest being developed.
I have successfully planned and run a workshop. Please see blog post on it here: http://workingtoa3rdpartybrief.wordpress.com/2013/12/01/pom-pom-workshop/
I have recently been involved in a voluntary project at Dartington with a group of offenders who are a part of a project called Landworks. Here we made ceramic tiles with them for an installation in the gardens which they have been landscaping. (Separate blog post to follow) This was a great experience and would definitely like to be more involved in this area of adult education.
Year 3
- Focus on achieving a high grade in final year
- Make industry contacts
- Develop my own individuality and creative style
- Continue to run a workshop and engage in community arts etc…
- Start fundraising and apply for the volunteer project in Cambodia (see task 2)
- Research short courses in pattern cutting, garment tech and web design.
Year 4
- Attend courses as listed above
- Complete Maths GCSE and teacher training
- Continue to work in current employment and build up my CV with relevant experience to my future goal plans
Year 5
- Complete fundraising for volunteer project and go for 6 months.
- Return from abroad and find accommodation which can be used as a home studio also.
- Find work experience and employment within my area of interest
- Plan and run an event in the community
- Research funding opportunities
- Make and sell my own work through various outlets
Work Based Learning 