Unit Handbook - Creative Platforms

Creative Platforms
Unit Documentation and Resources

Unit Blog - http://creative-platforms.tumblr.com/
Claire Sambrook - CREATIVE PLATFORMS UNIT HANDBOOK claire.sambrook@port.ac.uk
Table of Contents
Learning Outcomes
Marking Criteria
CV Checklist
Skillset CV Guide
SWOT
Sketchbook Examples
Blog Examples
Contact Details
Blog Guide
Buzzwords
Student examples from previous years
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
THIS UNIT REQUIRES A FULL COMMITMENT. YOU MUST DOCUMENT AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE AND DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT AND ENTHUSIASM THROUGHOUT.
Please send me a copy of your current CV as soon
as possible.
I will be looking through these and giving you
constructive feedback over the beginning of the
unit.
Email - claire.sambrook@port.ac.uk
Creative Platforms 2013 /14
UNIT OUTLINE
This unit integrates negotiated professional projects with professional liaison and self-promotion enabling the student
to build from their body of work with direct relevance to their career aspirations. Extensive collaborative work is
encouraged enabling students to develop an advanced level of experience and competence in promoting their
skills. The curriculum content is based on the premise that those seeking a career as design professionals and
creatives in the industry require a comprehensive understanding of its structure and the requirements for employment.
AIMS
1 To enable students to present a coherent account of their professional work and experience
enabling them to demonstrate their skills to prospective employers or other educational establishments.
2 To clarify the key elements of good layout, management of work and design.
3 To develop students understanding of their project management processes for the unit.
4 To introduce the element of documentation of processes in the form of sketchbooks and blogs.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
On successful completion of this unit, students will be expected at the threshold level, to be able to
1 Exhibit project management skills in the context of the unit - how to manage workload and
organise material effectively.
2 Create a platform (in journals online/offline) showcasing their skills and examples of work.
3 Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of their work with reflective reviews and evaluation.
4 Document their processes for each assignment in a professional cohesive way.
Learning and Teaching Strategy
Students will be introduced to the processes of presenting work through a variety of formats through practical
workshops. Students will develop their individual Showreels and CVs through a series of show and tell sessions.
Towards the end of the semester students will have a critical presentation which will enable them to gauge reaction
and evaluation from their peers.
Overall Assessment Strategy
Students individually will produce a CV and Showreel/Business Card in an agreed, pitched and appropriate
format to highly professional standards. They will also be required to back up working processes in an
accompanying journal.
ASSESSMENT PATTERN
100% Coursework:
1Artefact70% Showreel/Working Journal - Individual students will produce a portfolio of work in an appropriate
medium. This activity will be unsupervised and tutor assessed, this will assess learning outcomes 1 and 2.
2Artefact30%CV/Business Card - Individual students will PRODUCE an industry pitched CV and Business Card
intended for their career path after graduation. This will assess learning outcomes 1 and 2
The topics covered in the unit will include:
1Strategies for enabling students to demonstrate their work in a Showreel.
2Strategy for shaping portfolios to meet the requirements of a variety of prospective employers.
3Strategy for presentations/packaging/other promotional material for prospective employers.
4Keeping journals/blogs/websites.
Claire Sambrook / HAND IN TBC
CREATIVE PLATFORMS
MARKING CRITERIA
100% COURSEWORK
High marks will be awarded for innovative overall design, production and
presentation of the Showreel, CV and Business Card.
ARTEFACT (SHOWREEL) / SUPPORTING JOURNAL (BLOG) 70%
Structure: Are the artefacts logical and relevant to the intended audience and are
they effectively ordered? (20)
Style: Is the content uent, appropriate and free from repetition? Do the artefacts
have a consistent and professional appearance? (20)
Self Awareness: Do the artefacts present your strengths effectively? Is evidence
for these strengths presented through relevant examples? (20)
Quality of Presentation: Professional designed standard and pitched to the
intended audience (20)
Journal/Blog Evidence - Does it reect the working creative processes, key
concerns, issues and solutions of the artefacts? Evidence of appropriate
research for the intended audience? (20)
CV / BUSINESS CARD / SUPPORTING JOURNAL (BLOG) 30%
Structure: Are the artefacts logical and relevant to the intended audience and are
they effectively ordered? (20)
Style: Is the content uent, appropriate and free from repetition? Do the artefacts
have a consistent and professional appearance? (20)
Self Awareness: Do the artefacts present your strengths effectively? Is evidence
for these strengths presented through relevant examples? (20)
Quality of Presentation: Professional designed standard and pitched to the
intended audience (20)
Journal/Blog Evidence - Does it reect the working creative processes, key
concerns, issues and solutions of the artefacts? Evidence of appropriate
research for the intended audience? (20)
Marker: Claire Sambrook
Moderator: Rod Jeffcote
Helpline Numbers: (*Also available to callers from Northern Ireland)
England 08080 300 900* | Scotland 0808 100 8094 | Wales 0800 0121815
www.skillset.org/careers
Wr|t|ng a Ov for the creative media industries
Med|a careers h|nts & tips
A CV is a marketing document. You can choose what to include and
what to |eave out, but |t shou|d refect your persona||ty and show your
passion for the industry. Unlike other industries where personnel staff
are employed to lter applications, your CV could arrive directly on
the desk of the person with the power to give you a job. They will be
very busy and your CV will have only seconds to impress.
Wr|te your Ov w|th the emp|oyer |n m|nd. se on|y the most
relevant information about your career, education and skills
Prov|de an accurate portra|t of yourse|f. Remember,
overselling is as bad as underselling
One standard Ov |s not enough. Ta||or |t to the |nd|v|dua| emp|oyer
or at least to the type of employer you approach (eg broadcaster,
picture library, photographer, corporate sector, education sector).
Make sure that you`ve thorough|y researched the emp|oyer you`re
targeting, so its clear to them that youre familiar with the types of
programmes or projects that they work on
Be pos|t|ve.
Your Ov shou|d be conc|se, re|evant and we|| |a|d out. Keep |t short
- two pages max|mum - and use the space w|se|y, wh|ch takes
thought and p|ann|ng. Make sure |t |ooks profess|ona|.
ls |t typed? ls |t on good qua||ty paper? ls the spe|||ng and
grammar correct? Don`t just re|y on spe||-check!}
ls |t easy to read? Avo|d |ong sentences. se act|ve words,
eg developed, managed, researched, organised etc
Ohoose a modern font to refect the |mage of the job - Ar|a| |s a
safe bet and dont use more than one font. Capitals, italics etc.
can be used for emphasis but be consistent and dont overdo
it. Leave plenty of space on the page
Employers will be looking for the following information, which should
be on the front page:
What you can do for them
What work you have done of the k|nd that they produce eg a Tv
or radio programme, a photo shoot, a game etc)
lf you haven`t worked |n th|s area, what new |deas and sk|||s you
can bring from other areas you have worked in
Who you have worked for that the emp|oyer knows and trusts
Whether you want to work for th|s emp|oyer or are just anx|ous to
get work generally
Where you ||ve
Whether you can be contacted eas||y
Your CV should always be sent with a covering letter.
This is an opportunity to speak directly to the employer, so it
|s worth spend|ng t|me gett|ng |t r|ght. Remember, |t shou|d:
be addressed to the r|ght person. Research th|s thorough|y
beforehand
be br|ef and not repeat |nformat|on |n the Ov
have three parts:
1. The reason for writing, eg I was very interested in the article
|n Ju|y`s [MAGAZlNE TlT|E| on [REFER TO ARTlO|E|"
2. Your se|||ng po|nts or how your Ov meets th|s need - fag up
the relevant points in your CV
3. A prompt for further action, eg Id welcome the chance to meet
you. And remember to follow up, striking a balance between
genuine interest and causing irritation.
Overleaf are some suggested headings for your CV.
These notes are |ntended as a gu|de, not fxed ru|es.
Creative Platforms Sketchbook Examples
Creative Platforms Blog and Showreel Examples
SWOT Analysis Questions
These questions are designed to help you with your career SWOT analysis
Strengths
What are your advantages?
What do you do well?
Why did you decide to enter the field you will enter upon graduation?
What were the motivating factors and influences?
Do these factors still represent some of your inherent strengths?
What need do you expect to fill?
What have been your most notable achievements?
To what do you attribute your success?
How do you measure your success?
What knowledge or expertise will you bring to the company you join
that may not have been available to the organisation before?
What is your greatest asset?

Weaknesses
What could be improved?
What do you do badly?
What should you avoid?
What are your professional weaknesses?
How do they affect your job performance? (These might include

weakness in technical skill areas or in leadership or interpersonal skills.)
Think about your most unpleasant experiences in school or in past jobs

and consider whether some aspect of your personal or professional life
could be a root cause.
Opportunities
Where are the promising prospects facing you?
What is the "state of the art" in your particular area of expertise?
Are you doing everything you can to enhance your exposure to this area?
What formal training and education can you add to your credentials that might position
you appropriately for more opportunities?
Would an MSc/MA or another graduate degree add to your advantage?
How quickly are you likely to advance in your chosen career?
Useful opportunities can come from such things as:

o
Changes in technology and markets on both a broad and industry-specific
scale
o
Changes in government policy related to your field
o
Changes in social patterns, population profiles, lifestyle changes, etc.
Threats
What obstacles do you face?
Are the requirements for your desired job field changing?
Does changing technology threaten your prospective position?
What is the current trend line for your personal area of expertise?
Could your area of interest be fading in comparison with more emergent fields?
Is your chosen field subject to internal politics that will lead to conflict?
Is there any way to change the politics or to perhaps defuse your involvement in
potential disputes?
How might the economy negatively affect your future company and your work group?
Will your future company provide enough access to new challenges to keep you sharp
-- and marketable -- in the event of sudden unemployment?
Complete as much of this
as you can and be
prepared to present it in
class before the Christmas
break
Showreels Examples
Blogs from 2010
Blog Examples from Creative Platforms
MY FULL CONTACT DETAILS ARE:
Claire Sambrook
Senior Lecturer
University of Portsmouth
Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI)
School of Creative Technologies
Eldon Building, 2nd Floor
Winston Churchill Avenue
Portsmouth
P01 2DJ
Tel- 023 92845481
Mobile: 07843057897
Email -claire.sambrook@port.ac.uk
There is also a Unit Blog which will be updated on a weekly basis with content and resources to help
you on this unit at: http://creative-platforms.tumblr.com/
Best way to contact me initially is by email.
Please try to come to the sessions as my time is limited
out of class hours.
INDUSTRY BUZZWORDS
Sell yourself on you CV

Created Instructed Negotiated
Planned Sold Completed
Designed Consulted Evaluated
Calculated Identified Performed
Improved Obtained Instructed
Counselled Distributed Arranged
Developed Edited Wrote
Analysed Produced Conducted
Delivered Assisted Increased
Trained Supplied Maintained
Advised Installed Corresponded
Audited Co-ordinated Researched
Implemented Presented Instituted
Directed Managed Provided
Solved Determined Collected
Referred Served Networked
Observed Studied Improved
Consolidated Ordered Invented
Diagnosed Examined Lectured
Processed Reviewed Translated
Prescribed Charted Represented
Promoted Recorded Operated
Supervised Organised Expanded
Devised Prepared Interpreted
Interviewed Discovered Assembled

The Creative CV Guide
is packed with new approaches, ideas and new material for today's
emerging creative professionals.
focuses on the reasons for sending the CV and the sector at which it
is aimed - from interior design and graphics, to fashion, photography
and architecture - to help students determine the content, style and
tone.
containsreal examples of creative CVs fromstudents and graduates
along with sample cover letters, emails and websites.
Thestudent workbrings the Creative CV Guide alive with
contemporary ideas and relevance to future students in
the creative arts.
Portsmouth University Library has copies of this and
also the Careers Department in Purple Door.
Examples of Showreels
2012
from BA Illustration and BA
Graphic Design courses

Unit Handbook - Creative Platforms

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Unit Handbook - Creative Platforms

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Creative Platforms

Unit Documentation and Resources

What are your advantages?

What do you do well?

What were the motivating factors and influences?

Do these factors still represent some of your inherent strengths?

What need do you expect to fill?

What have been your most notable achievements?

To what do you attribute your success?

How do you measure your success?

What is your greatest asset?

What could be improved?

What do you do badly?

What should you avoid?

What are your professional weaknesses?

How do they affect your job performance? (These might include

Think about your most unpleasant experiences in school or in past jobs

Where are the promising prospects facing you?

What is the "state of the art" in your particular area of expertise?

Would an MSc/MA or another graduate degree add to your advantage?

How quickly are you likely to advance in your chosen career?

Useful opportunities can come from such things as:

What obstacles do you face?

Are the requirements for your desired job field changing?

Does changing technology threaten your prospective position?

You might also like