Anthony Smith Talk

Recently i attended a talk held by Anthony Smith who is from the design company called Music.

Anthony graduated at H.N.D level in 1989 at Bolton University, he worked at Tucker Clarke Williams for five years and he went to London and worked as a free lancer - this is just a section of his career to date.

Anthony started his talk by saying how he's split down into four different parts;

1. How got his first job
2. How Music was set up
3. How the company work
4. Some of his current work 

So Anthony started with saying about what it was like for him after he had finished University and what it was like to get a job in the industry after it. It took Anthony roughly a year until he was in permanent employment, he had part time jobs at the council and for a design company in Warrington though so he was able to bring money in to help him buy food and water etc. Whilst he hadn't been in employment he kept his portfolio updated with work, this is something he recommended to do, because a lot of people will just finish there degree and forget about there work, we need to stay optimistic.

After this he started about interviews and what he finds important at them. Firstly he said about presentation, be clear about what the brief was and how we answered the brief, always be positive about your work - even if you don't like that piece so much, if you get into a company ask them for other contacts and mainly ATTITUDE - always ask questions, be interested and make yourself useful.

Anthony then moved onto talk about how Music was set up. Eighteen months ago Dave Simpson from Love Creative asked Anthony if he wanted to set up a company, so obviously the answer was yes. After this they started working in Dave's flat whilst they found a suitable office for the company. They found an office in Ancoats, but they still worked in the flat whilst the office was refurbished. Anthony said if any of us get the chance to set up our own business then go for it! Although he wouldn't recommend doing it on his own.

With setting up a new company it was hard for them to get clients to give them briefs or clients come to them. The good thing about Anthony and Dave setting the company is, that they both have come across clients and received contacts due to the companies they have worked for. Another way they they got work was through there website, word of mouth and awards they have won. When they receive a brief they have a bit of time to digest the brief, understand what the client is asking for and then they back to the client with different answers - pics and ideas etc.

Some of the work the company have done or are currently doing is for D&AD Judging Week and Manchester City Football Club.

This is a company I hadn't heard of before but when Anthony came in I was very impressed with what he has achieved with the company within eighteen months and also the quality of the work that they produce, I will regularly checking there website to keep track of the work they are producing.