WRL - Interview with James Roberts

As part of my work related learning module, today I had an informal interview with designer and ex Visual Communication student, James Roberts. He now works at BeCreative based in Brighton and he is a mid level designer, and the companies services include:

• Design for Print - Brochures, Leaflets, Stationary
• Daily National Press Advertising Service
• Direct Mail Campaigns
• Corporate Identity
• Large Format Posters, Banners
• Points of Sale
• Websites, Animated Banners
• Emails, HTML, Newsletters

During my time talking to him, I asked him how he went about this Work Related Learning unit, as I expressed my stress and inability to get a visit from ANY design offices that I had contacted. He said that he too had a hard time getting a placement but eventually managed to find one through 'pesting' companies. Thats how he put it. 'Pesting'. I personally hate this idea. He also said that, like me, he does not enjoy speaking on the telephone. So his jobs came from constant emails to nearly every company in Dorset. I do not want to beg and pest managing directors, as I feel it would become very annoying and the person would just end up not wanting you at all. The way I see it, is the design company are obviously going to be open to hearing people that want to work and will consider you, but the ones that are far too busy wont bother replying. Unfortunately I have had a lot of the latter.

He told me about how he had known people to come up with innovative ways of getting noticed whilst applying for a job. One person he knew had sent the company a toilet brush, with a note saying 'Im willing to scrub the toilets if you're willing to give me a chance. Another one, a personal favourite, was someone sending a photo of himself completely naked (covering up of course), with the strapline 'I need some briefs, can you help me out?'. I might try this one.

I also learnt that it does not hurt to show off other qualities other than design. He said this factor was the reason for him getting his first job. The fact he could speak to the MD in a foreign language was a persuading characteristic that he could use over other candidates, that probably had more experience than him.

James also encouraged me to look in places that you would normally ignore or not even think to look in. He told me about the time he once went into the job centre to see if there were any design related jobs going in there. But he told me that if I ever see anything I like, to take a note of it and not to be scared to email them and ask them about it. 

Student Masterchef

Me and my housemate were bored on sunday afternoon, so after a lazy morning watching Masterchef re-runs, we decided to have a competition to see who could make beans on toast look like a dish on Masterchef. My plate is the top one. 

3rd Visit to Westbourne breakfast for the homeless

Here are a few images taken from my visit to Westbourne Baptist church's open breakfast this morning. The lady in the top photo is the Murial, she is in charge of the running of the breakfast. She is looked up to by everyone involved in the programme and is very passionate about it, saying that she has 'always supported the underdog'. All the homeless community are very polite towards her and they see her as one of her own. She enjoys giving something back to the community as she used to suffer from alcoholism herself, and says she enjoys helping  and seeing results in the people that she serves.

The guy in the next photo down is Paul. I have spoken about Paul before, and before he was skeptical about having his photo taken as he was unsure as to whether he was going to be kicked back out on the streets. Since then he has now found a flat for him and his dog and was happy to have my camera shoved in front of him.

Then the bottom photo is Tom, Tommo or Tommy. Known by nearly everyone in the area, he is a real character. Him and Paul are good friends and Paul tells me about how he had to help Tom when he had his first heart attack (of 2). It sounds as if he has had some stinking luck, from a guy who used to be sous chef at a well known caterers, and had the opportunity to cook in the Houses of Parliament. Unfortunately however, he says he had to cook for Maggie Thatcher! He is a long time sufferer of alcoholism and says that he has no intention of giving it in.

Page examples of book

Through my research I am finding that it is very important to choose a considered paper stock and weight for making a book. It should compliment the content of the page and have reasoning for why it is used. This got me thinking about the subject I have chosen and how I could relate this to stock. A lot of the people of the homeless community that I have met no longer have any address, dental records, health records, insurance, driving license etc. Its almost as if they are invisible on paper as they don't exist in document form, only physical. This feature could be utilized by using vellum paper (semi transparent) to act as an indication of their existence. It is about 100gsm in weight and is very similar to tracing paper.

2nd visit to Westbourne church open breakfast.

I was a little more relaxed going into this one. I had got to know the volunteers and a few of the faces that come in to have their breakfast so I felt a little more at ease. I didnt hang around this week and think I felt more confident with a camera in front of me this week.

Adrian
Adrian didn't speak to me much but I was told about him from one of the volunteers. He used to be a Head Master at a school in the Dorset area but a panic attack saw him lose his job and struggle to hold down work ever since due to the side effects he still suffers. He was a very intelligent man who was noticeably well spoken.

John
John became homeless when his wife kicked him out of the house that they had bought together for them and their children. He had been with her, living in Blackpool, for 14 years before they got married. But were only married for 6 months before their separation. It was the drink that was Johns downfall also. I didn't ask too much about it as it is human nature to not want to talk about your darkest times to complete strangers. But I believe he lost his job as he started turning up late and in no state to work. He is originally from Birmingham and grew up in the same area as my Dad funnily enough. He is getting his life back order, as he now has a bedsit that he can fund with jobseekers allowance, and at the time of writing, is getting ready to start a job in 3 weeks time. He says that if his wife ever sells the house he is giving his half to the kids, stating that he'll be "alright".

Simon 'Doormouse'
Simon is originally from South Africa who moved here with his parents when he was younger. He talked about his very short marriage but not much as to how he became homeless. However whilst I was standing with him, one of his friends asked him when his last 'blow out' was. A blow out is a term used by the homeless community that means you have been sober for a while, and then you just forget about reality and slip into your own little world, whatever and wherever that is. He described the feeling being very addictive and if you haven't drunk for a while it doesn't cost you much at all to have a blowout. He also said that there are many 'soupies' in Bournemouth and there is no reason to ever go hungry.
    

Work Related Learning Progress

I havent been too successful in getting any work experience. I have had an interview with a professional photographer. A meeting I set up and arranged personally. I also went back to an old client who was happy to give me a bit of branding work that he is working on at the moment. However I was told this wasnt what I had to do. Really confusing. I am trying to get work and have emailed many companies in the area. Many of which I have not got any sort of response. The Bournemouth Echo got back to me saying that they will pass my inquiry onto their design and editorial department. I am going to ask a friend who works as a graphic designer if I can shadow him during his work as I feel I will learn more that way than just trying to pester people and get them to talk to me when they really don't want to.

Open Breakfast for the Homeless. Westbourne Church

This morning I attended an open breakfast for the homeless and vulnerable. This is primary research on my subject matter which is the homeless. Although my project will include photographs of these people, I went there today with no intention of photographing anyone, I wanted to talk to a few people, see if they would be interested in being involved with my project and just get glimpse of how it was being run by the volunteers.  Here are a few of the people I spoke to today. 

Paul

Paul was the most helpful and enlightening person I met today. He talked long and with real heart about his dog named Sparky. Sparky has been with him for his entirety of life homeless. Now living in a bedsit. Able to get on benefits. He is very street adapted, very protective. Once Paul was attacked from behind, sparky got in the way of him and the attacker and sparky took a stabbing to his shoulder. Could have been homed in Birmingham but pets were not allowed so he turned it down. Hit by truck. just £1600 compensation. He was famous. He was part of a well known circus. Was an all round performer but specialised in plate spinning. Slept in a tent for 5 years. Police aggresive towards them when found. Have to be discreet about location. Never turned to alcohol.Never turned to drugs. Smokes a bit of pot. This helps as Paul suffers from Arthritis due to his accident. Pot helps with the pain. Used to sell the Big Issue. Made £50 a day. Food for the dog, food for him and money for a bit of pot. He later told me that he was gay, and that his sexuality as unfortunately pushed him away from religion due to the churches not understanding his situation. Used to pick fag butts off of the floor but doesnt anymore. 'Street Baccy' Can leave you prone to disease and infections.  Up at 5 oclock to walk his dog. Then walks him again before attending the breakfast at about half past 8. During my talk with Paul, 3 policemen invited themselves into the building and were very intimidating. Paul told me that they often do this and 'act like nazi's' was how he put it. You could see them looking around, recognizing and remembering faces, and it really left me feeling angry at our justice system. 

Tom

A good friend of Paul, he is truly a natural born survivor. 3 Heart attacks. Blowing on a fire. it blew up in his face, he was thrown backwards which sparked a heart attack. Had a lot of bad luck. Now been diagnosed with diabetes. Has been selling the big issue for years. Paul insists he is a top class salesman and a real charmer for the ladies. He is a married man, to a woman who was also homeless. He in an alcoholic and uses a lot of money that he earns to finance his habbit. He is not a regular at the breakfast, if he has already got the money to get a drink then he will come to breakfast and take his time before he starts work, but if he has not had a drink or not got any money for one then he will start work early and skip breakfast. 

Chris

Used to be a pilot in the 60's. Used to receive £350 which was a lot of money back then for flying planes in the RAF. He lost his dream of this when casually talking to a lady that worked with the crew, he mentioned that he used morphine to help him sleep. She then passed this information onto his manager and he lost his license of being able to fly planes again. 

Yusef 

'Superman on Crack.' The way he talked about his addiction as if it was a person was very intriguing. He would tell me about how it has a hold on everyone and that you would be either a fool or superman for you to say that 'That wont happen to me'. He was very strong in his beliefs of christianity, and he strongly believes that Jesus Christ is a redeemer and that he feels looked after in that knowledge. He claimed to know and had socialised with Bob Marleys younger brother When reminiscing on this period of his life he said 'I owe him a tenner actually'. Yusef comes across as a very reasonable and understanding guy, and I was not told until after talking to him that he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. He talked about how important visuals were in his recovery off of crack. He would visualize himself with a crack pipe in a squat apartment and then visualize himself in a warm house with his 'favourite meal'.  

The voluntary team were a very well run team, with everyone helping out and sticking to their jobs. It is such a selfless act and I have much admiration for them. I aim to talk to them in more depth when I next go to the breakfast in a weeks time to find out a bit more about why they help out.