[smallbeer]

it sounds good. I'm actually quite jealous of you having such passion for your chosen profession at such an early age (that probably sounded patronising).

From the little I remember I was too busy getting off my tits.

[Narate]

I was terrified at my uni interview every person who went in came out crying, which was about 5 of them and it was just me and my mate sat there thinking "Fuck this Im gonna get laughed at"

I went in there slapped my crap folio on there and the bloke started saying all my work was shit but I had potential and I got on the course

[pat]

Originally Posted by smallbeer

it sounds good. I'm actually quite jealous of you having such passion for your chosen profession at such an early age (that probably sounded patronising).

From the little I remember I was too busy getting off my tits.

cheers smallbeer. I indulge in good old fashioned british binging as well, but manage to squeeze in a bit of passion here and there.

[dan]

I think the only thing I'd say would be along the lines of briljant oranje's comments. It reads as a very practicle statement of what you have done (which is great) but somewhere in the middle of your work experience paragraph I got bored. Maybe slim that aspect of it down a little and add a bit about influences etc. Not sure about namechecking software either?

Might benefit from a little re-ordering too. Reading that you set up an agency and learnt about business skills seems as though it may fit in a little better later on, but that's just a personal opinion.

Like everyone else I got in purely based on the college I was from (reasonable rep) and my portfolio - I haven't a clue what I wrote in my UCAS statement and can't even imagine what I might of written, being of teh SB persuasion when it came to college. All the guy could think to say to me was that it was very stylish and he liked my life drawing. Ah well go figure.

Plus don't forget to say you managed to stay on a forum even though everyone seemed to be doing their best to get rid of you for a while, a task at which many have failed

[pat]

shucks, you guys.

[pat]

bit of an update:

Originally Posted by Pat

Patrick Johnson
Personal Statement

Graphic Design has become a way of life for me – I eat my lunch over a sketch pad, check my e-mails after working through design magazines and lose sleep mulling over articles on contemporary typography.

Graphic Design and perhaps typography in particular, is a fascination that has grown with me throughout adolescence. I spend free periods at sixth form college idea-storming, concocting projects. For me, an appreciation of good design is an appreciation of modern life. Everywhere I go, I find myself extolling the aesthetics of high street signage and questioning the relevance of logotypes. It is my passion, my ambition and my escape.

Major contemporary influences on my approach (aside from the Bauhaus and Neue Grafik movements) come to a large degree from experimental European studios. French design in the mould of Michael Amzalag and Mathias Augustyniak (of M/M Paris) makes my spine tingle, and print-outs from Swiss studio Happypets’ website litter my bedroom. My collection of design books, ranging from the work of Peter Saville to the Conran Design Directory of 1988, is one of my most prized possessions.

Work experience placements at Interior Design firm Connections in Design, and Graphic Design consultancy Whitehouse & Mainwaring have given me the oppurtunity to explore the professional side of Design, and begin to understand the need for a successful relationship between creativity and business. Aside from the practical lessons I learned in working with state of the art software, I most valued being treated as a member of the team, working to high expectations and fixed deadlines.

My A and AS level studies of Art, English Language & Literature and Media Studies have allowed me to indulge my passion, and I have found interest in both theoretical and practical sides of all three subjects. My love of literature and the “ins and outs” of language has led me to appreciate the linguistic and communicative elements of Design, and now instantly pick out the linguistic techniques that give Graphic Design the ability to be humourous or profound.

Away from Design, I’ve played rugby competitively since the age of six, as Captain for my School and Club on a number of occasions. Aside from the conventional notions of broken limbs and beer, my ability to interact, to lead, to work as part of a team, and to listen is a direct result of my rugby playing. I also hold the position of Prefect at my School and take charge of day-to-day responsibilities such as canteen queues and the happiness of new pupils.

A hobby in which I take a particular pride and passion is Book Binding. I started attending a local evening class earlier this year, and have learned most of the skills needed to traditionally sew a book in sections, case and cover it. I’m now well on my way to completing my first book of over 100 pages.

The prospect of studying Graphic Design at University excites me – I want to learn techniques, theories, context, how to print, how to attract an audience, and how to progress in a competitive world. I look forward to studio work, and a better environment for independent study and working. The course offered can give me a start in Graphic Design that I won’t get anywhere else. My ambition is to become a successful Graphic Designer – an ambition which all of my energy is focused on.

[briljant oranje]

sometimes i feel that my life is a dress rehersal for a one man play that will never be staged,
that i am destined to depart the mortal coil having never touched the soul of another,
i feel that i shall never find love, and that if love had ever apperared before me, i was somehow looking the other way, and more and more, with every passing, loveless day i fear life has passed me by, and my existence has made not a scratch on the life of another.

then i read the personal statement of Patrick Johnson, and suddenly felt much worse

[pat]

hahaha. Not sure if that's a piss-take or a compliment but cheers anyway. I think i'm coing across as a Graphic Design pervert now though.

[Scott]

(rugby) what position did you play pat? i play openside flanker will be playing with sunderland uni soon ....shud be fun as they are suposed to be alright .

[dan]

Arrrggg, what have we done. Those first couple of paragraphs are a bit ott. Stick it somewhere in teh middle and I think you're sorted...

Graphic Design has become a way of life for me – I eat my lunch over a sketch pad,

Sorry but that sounds wanky, as does

I find myself extolling the aesthetics of high street signage

Big words can be good. But they can also be bad. I think the work experience paragraphs and down are good, but those first three fly a little close to the edge of being a tosser now.

I'm beginning to think pat might be Bill

[pat]

mnah. Look out your window, Dan.

But you're exactly right. It's far too OTT to begin with, embarassingly so. Least i know where i'm aiming now. I'll pop up a final version tomorrow.

Bluesteel, i play tight-head prop.

[Scott]

aa nice one, brother used 2 play loose head for england U16's then he quit - falcons for me nxt year

also - i agree with DAN - You don't know exactly who will be reading this, you don't really know what sort of level they are at. You don't want them to be using a dictionary whilst attempting to read your statement.

I tend to keep away from extra long and clever sounding words to people in general, simply because not everybody knows what they mean, therefore they find it hard to understand you properly and eventually will just ignore what you say .

[pat]

All done:

Originally Posted by Personal Statement

Patrick Johnson
Personal Statement

At the age of seven, I had already told my Mum that I was going to be an artist. Ten years later I am still reassuring her that there is a career for me in art and design, and reminding her that the most important thing is getting on to the best course possible.

Graphic Design,and perhaps typography in particular, is a fascination that has grown with me throughout adolescence. I spend free periods at sixth form college idea-storming, concocting projects. For me, an appreciation of good design is an appreciation of modern life. I find myself commenting on aesthetics, and questioning concepts. Design is my passion, my ambition and my escape.

My appetite for Graphic and Visual Arts has been fed to a large degree by the Bauhaus and Neue Grafik movements. Herbert Bayer’s vision of(and reasoning for) a lowercase alphabet impressed on me the importance of a conceptual approach to design. I visit exhibitions whenever possible, and keenly anticipate a lively Art and Design scene surrounding the University. Michael Amzalag and Mathias Augustyniak (of M/M Paris) are in my opinion, at the forefront of contemporary graphic design, and I find much of my inspiration in French, Swiss, and especially Scandinavian studios (such as Happypets, Bleed, and Stéphane Buckho. My collection of design books, ranging from the work of Peter Saville to the Conran Design Directory of 1988, is so well used that some pages are beginning to fray!

Very successful work experience placements at Interior Design firm Connections in Design, and Graphic Design consultancy Whitehouse & Mainwaring allowed me to explore the professional side of Design, and understand the need for a successful relationship between creativity and business. Aside from the practical lessons I learned in working with state of the art software, I most valued being treated as a member of the team, working to high expectations and fixed deadlines.

My A and AS level studies of Art, English Language & Literature and Media Studies permit
me to indulge my passion, and I have found interest in both theoretical and practical sides of all three subjects. My love of literature and the subtleties of language let me appreciate the communicative elements of Design, and I now recognise the linguistic techniques that give Graphic Design its ability to be humorous or profound. In order to put some of these techniques into practice, a friend and I formed a small Web and Graphic Design collaborative called Juvenile. We have completed a number of projects, including an identity and website for Focus Security Solutions Ltd. and a number of marks and printed materials for a local music event called Hopwoodstock. We also delved into the complexities of printing and bank accounts, an experience which I hope to find useful in the future.

Beyond my interest in Design, I have played rugby competitively since the age of six,
captaining my School, and Club (Moseley), on occasions. Aside from the conventional notions of broken limbs and beer, my abilities to interact, to lead, to work as part of a team, and to listen are a direct result of my rugby background. I also hold the position of Prefect at my School and undertake day-to-day responsibilities and duties to maintain a positive school environment; I was proud to be selected for this role. I have also enjoyed representing the Art and Media Departments during School Open Days.

In the last year I have developed a serious interest in Book Binding. I have attended a local evening class, and learned most of the skills needed to traditionally sew a book in sections, case and cover it. I am now well on my way to completing my first book of over 100 pages.

The prospect of studying Graphic Design at University excites me – I want to learn techniques, theories, context; how to print, how to attract an audience, and how to progress in a competitive world. I cannot wait to work in a studio, alongside others who
are as enthusiastic as I am. The course offered will give me such a privileged opening into the world of Graphic Design. My ambition is to become a successful Graphic Designer – an ambition on which I am fully focused.