OUGD602 - PPP3 - Recent Communications

Just an update on all the people I've been communicating with since my last post about this sort of thing:

JoraVision, NL -  are a Themed Entertainment company based in the Netherlands (which is a damn site closer than the USA!) So of course they concern theme park design etc so I decided to just go for it and send them an email with my cover letter and CV, and politely ask for some pointers. To which came this reply:

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for your interest in Jora Vison.

Unfortunately we are looking for illustrators with different skill sets then we see in your portfolio.

Thank you for your enthusiastic letter and wishing you the best by finding a new job.

Met vriendelijke groet | With kind regards,

Sigrid Beens

I think there may have been some sort of a misunderstanding, as they refer to me as an illustrator, when I introduced myself as a Graphic Designer. Or they realised I was a Graphic Designer and just made it clear that if anything, they're looking for an illustrator. I don't know whether I need to clear this up with them or just take a hint haha.

***

I also caught up with this guy I used to regularly email last year, Ian Giles, a Graphic Designer of whom I first contacted when I knew that he won the ImagiNations competitions at Disney.

I asked him for some portfolio pointers, as he is now working freelance for the Disney Design Group! (mainly merchandise etc)

'Good luck with your applications! Disney HR is so big and busy it can feel like you're just sending your resume into a black hole sometimes. So make sure to really maintain and nourish any relationships you have made. '

'For your portfolio, I'd do whatever you're passionate about. Try to show variety, which I wish I could show more of. But really just do what you're passionate about if it isn't a paid job! '

'I always try to put something in my portfolio that allows me to speak about it with passion. I have a mix of paid stuff, student stuff, boring stuff from work that isn't even on my portfolio (!), then the passion stuff like models and sketches and ideas. '

I have been really nervous about my portfolio recently, as I've been finding it difficult creating briefs that both fulfill

I also contacted a guy I met on LinkedIn, Edd Musgrove because I could see that he did the Disney College Program a year before I did and now works freelance for Merlin Entertainment!:

Hi Sarah,

Sorry for taking a while to reply! I worked on Stitch so it wasn't much of an improvement to The Land Pavilion! 
The best advice I could give would be to just talk to literally everyone, email around, find who you can connect with etc. I've met most of my connections through just asking questions and being a bit persistent. Everyone is always really busy but they're usually always willing to help out! Also, find the things you're good at and get really good at them because I've found that you've always got to sell yourself to various people. Hope that helps a bit!

Edd

I always love to get in touch from people who in my mind have 'made it' because it tends to reassure me that it actually is possible! There is a big real world out there!