We’re always on the lookout for your feedback and love hearing about the events you’ve been to and New Blood is no exception which is why we’ve asked a couple of people who went, what they thought of it.
Tom Northey - 'senior lecturer in BA Graphic Communication at UCA, Farnham
How did you find atmosphere of New Blood?
A really good atmosphere, the buzz was electric, the venue was the best yet.
Did you feel it encompassed all areas of design or leaned toward a certain area?
I think its safe to say that it encompassed all ar
eas of graphic design and beyond, it was great to see some great photography there too.
Did any of your students get approached from industry professionals?
Yes and no. Most students were doing the work. The students were getting out there chatting – not many got approached.
Did you and your students have fun?
We did have fun, it was great to see what other courses are doing too. One of the best stands was Lincoln.
How about you Carlos, what did you make of the show?
Being part of this years New Blood, for me, was a fantastic experience. The Private view was a great success, my name got drawn out of a hat so i got to go in two hours earlier. It was bustling with people enjoying the free beer and wine, perhaps a little more so because of the unbearable heat that day. Aside from the private view there did not 'appear' to be as many art directors as I had hoped, that said it's not always obvious as to who's who. I was pleased to see some great work there by fellow students, however the way in which some universities chose to showcase their students work, I feel really let them down. I can think of one example where they had covered the entire walls of their stall in brown paper. Thankfully this was not the norm.
What did you think to the venue?
The venue was the right size for the amount of exhibitors, however the upstairs space could have been used more effectively. Giant bean bags littered around the ground floor provided a great place to relax, and exchange ideas. Especially if you had been on your feet all day. The four main areas being represented were highlighted by giant banners hanging from the ceiling, handy if you lost your bearings in and amongst the stands.
"Giant bean bags littered around the ground floor provided a great place to exchange ideas"
Did you go to any workshops?
I attended a workshop on the second day. One of the Senior Directors of Blurb.com gave an interesting talk on what services they provide and how you can get into 'Indie Publishing'. I must say if you haven't checked them out already, you should. They are able to print professional standard, one off books for next to nothing. There are certain limitations with formats, but that's what keeps the costs down.
Finally I caught the D&AD's training and advice sessions held on the 2nd of July in Nottinghill. I have to say that although not totally relevant to me because I am an illustrator, all the speakers were very engaging and full of helpful suggestions. They went through various subjects such as; how to make your mark in such a competitive industry, setting up a business, and going freelance. The speakers also made themselves available to answer additional questions at the end of their talks. I would highly recommend attending future D&AD talks because they are such good value for money and it's a great place to network. However if you are an illustrator, be aware that the Association of Illustrators talks may be more geared towards your specific industry.
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