The Coronavirus pandemic has undeniably changed our economy and job market the class of 2020 is about to enter. A lot of factors have changed since my initial career plans were formed, I would like to highlight these changes here and reasons behind them.
Italy was one of the first countries in Europe to be heavily impacted by the virus, the data we have on this shows how their gig economy has been affected by this. According to Statista’s figures, 62.9% freelancers experienced ‘cancellation and/or suspension of commissions’ in February 2020, these numbers grew to 89.3% by mid-March. We don’t have the exact figures for the UK, but a lot of my freelance friends reported the same consequences of lost commissions and project cancellations due to the lockdown. On top of this, many companies declared reduced staff budgets and cuts until at least 2021.
As someone who only planned to freelance part-time, these figures are not as bleak. However, I still need to take into consideration that many positions in my desired sector are no longer available. With this shrinking job market, I feel the responsible thing to do is to expand my list of potential employers with a range of companies, where I can utilise at least some of my skills.
My original plan to stay in Brighton after graduating hasn’t changed. Initially, I’d hoped for a part-time job here and to freelance for clients in both Brighton and London. While this is still a very possible outcome, I’m also preparing few other options, in case I’m unable to secure enough clients to sustain myself financially. Depending on my luck securing a job here in Brighton, I’m also considering looking for a part-time job (2-3 days a week) in London and commute, or just find clients to freelance for there. However, I’m preparing for the most possible scenario, when I get a full-time job in Brighton and keep freelancing for Fashion Scout twice a year during London Fashion Week.
I created easily updatable Google Doc with all the companies I’m planning to apply for or seek collaboration projects with.
To find local creative companies I used Wired Sussex Directory. This platform is listing all employers and freelancers pursuing creative careers in the Sussex county. Here are few companies I found very appealing and reasons why. I also created a moodpboard for each company to have a visual understanding of projects they undertake.
House of Juba is a photographic agency based in Brighton. Jody Juba, the founder and director of the company, represents photographers in finding work. Their clients include a range of business across many industries, such as Gucci, Clarks, The Guardian, Bailey’s and Dulux.
Each photographer the agency is representing has a unique style and approach; additional skills they have to offer are: set design, art direction and styling.
I met Jody during her visit at our university, and after chatting with her, we scheduled a meeting. Few weeks later I started freelancing for her as Social Media and Digital Editor, however, I only had a chance to work there 1 week, as the coronavirus spread grew and UK businesses started to shut down.
Me and Jody are still in touch, and planning to resume my one day a week freelancing there, however, the date of it is unknown.
05 Creative is a branding and graphic design agency based in Brighton. They work for a range of clients, including NHS, M&S, All4 and Aviva, creating design & branding solutions, and web design & development. A lot of their projects involve non-for-profit and charity campaigns, which is something I always wanted to work on.
Boostbery is an award-winning brand & communication agency based in Brighton. Their motto is Simplicity & Considered Strategy, and their services include marketing, photography, website, advertising, packaging, print, video, and social media.
Even though marketing is not one of my desired career choices, I was always interested in semiotics and semantics, which are often key elements while designing campaigns. I decided to try and apply to creative marketing companies.
Portal Studio is listed on the Wired Sussex Directory, however, their online presence in under construction. I wasn’t able to find out much about this company, although I’m willing to wait for their website to be launched.
Atom, based in Brighton, specialise in animation, design and illustration. They offer a range of services, including storyboarding, motion graphics, character design, explainer videos, corporate videos and creative direction.
With 20 years experience, Atom is undertaking projects from companies, such as Tesco and Vodafone, while also collaborating with more obscure and local businesses.
Evoke is a Brighton based creative agency specialising in branding. Founded by Tom Leach, the agency has 15 years experience working with various brands and collaborating with other agencies, such as Superunion and Imagination.
The agency’s work include moving image and static graphics, available for both indoor and outdoor display. The styles of graphics vary, but the agency has a clear branding for itself – bright and colourful, playful and fun, but simple and minimal. I feel that my own work is somehow aligned with Evoke’s aesthetics.
The award-winning agency, MintCreative specialises in three areas. Strategy – marketing, story-telling, operations and training. Design – branding, campaigns, experiences and spaces. And Digital – web solutions, email and social, video and animation, and data personalisation.
On the agency’s website, the most showcased work is for big commercial companies, such as Legal&General, American Express, and Bellwood Prestbury. The agency states, however, that they are interested in working with both small businesses and corporations. Unfortunately, MintCreative is not on Instagram, so it’s hard to have a clear visual understanding of heir styles and approaches.
Because of range of areas the agency specialises in, I believe I could find a role within it, whether it being in social media department or animation.
Morever is an agency specialising in videography and animation. The multi-skilled team delivers powerful ideas through art, technology and science. Their clients include Unesco, National Geographic, All4, Breast Cancer Care, MTV, BBC, and more.
The company’s philosophy and culture appeal to me, because of a range of subjects and issues they undertake through their projects.
ThreeDeeDave is a Brighton based 3D printing company, focusing on quality and sustainability of this medium. Their clients include artists, businesses, students, architects, designers, engineers and hobbyists.
Even though I don’t have experience in 3D printing, I included this company on my list. I could utilise my office and or social media and digital editing skills, if there is a vacancy available.
WeAreTilt is a multi-disciplinary agency mainly specialising in producing films and animations for various purposes. The projects also include web design and development. They work with brands, such as, Sainsbury’s, BBC, Barclays and Nickelodeon, creating campaigns and other promotional materials.
Woodman Digital is a creative agency, founded by Samuel Woodman (freelance digital artist, editor and video producer), based in Brighton. The company specialises in high-end video production, illustration and animation, for mainly commercial clients and for music videos purposes.
My videography and animation skills are not as polished as for example my graphic design, however, perhaps interning for a company like Woodman Digital could be a great opportunity for development in these areas.
SansFrontiere is a full-service marketing agency, located in Lewes. Their services include seamless digital marketing, social media, traditional marketing, point and Pr solutions. The projects pursues by the company are mainly commercial, and the companies they work with are probably not in my range of interests. However, I find creative marketing very interesting and I would not mind spending some time working at such place.
AweCreative is an agency specialising in design & branding, content creation and social media. They’re located in Crawley, and most of their projects involve digital marketing.
They are not sharing a lot of their work online, however, their Instagram is full of funny memes and photos from events the company is attending.
I included 2 companies from London on my list. I would like to approach them for freelance work or project based work, or if needed for part-time position in their London office.
Pentagram is the world’s largest independently-owned design studio, with offices in London, Berlin, New York, and Austin. Because of the size of agency, they pursue multi-disciplinary projects across various industries. These include Arts & Culture, Banking & Finance, Civic & Public, Design & Architecture, Education, Entertainment, Fashion & Beauty, Food & Drink, Healthcare, Hospitality & Leisure, Manufacturing & Industrials, Non-for-Profit, Professional Services, Publishing, Real Estate, Retails, Technology, and Transport. The projects can be categories by the type of work as well, which involves brand identity, signage & environmental graphics, book design, campaigns, data visualisation, digital design, editorial design, exhibition design, film & motion graphics, industrial/product design, interiors & architecture, naming, packaging, and sound design.
Imagination in an independent experience company with 12 offices located worldwide (Cologne, Coventry, London, Dubai, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Shanghai, and Sydney). They specialise in experience design, human behaviour and storytelling; and the services they offer include trends, research, strategy, user experience, brand experiences, digital platforms, social medial, retail, hotel & leisure, live events, brand/visual identities, immersive technology, content, dashboards, analysis, data science and CRM.
Shortly after submitting all my projects this semester, I’m planning to contact all of these companies with my portfolio.
