1. What is professional/industrial experience?

• Entering into competitions gives experience
• Work placement in agencies is a way of gaining experience
• Seeing other designers portfolios to see how other people work in the industry
• Showing your portfolio to other designers to see what their opinions are on your work and to gain ideas on how to develop your work
• Interviewing designers

2. Why is professional/industrial experience important as part of PPD?

"I am a commercial designer first and foremost, meaning i will take on any project and deliver a professional result that will stand up against the competition. I feel that thorough research and communication are absolutely vital in achieving this. I love all aspects of design and creativity, especially high resolution, visually stimulating print work." David Pugh

"Employers look for more than a degree and work experience can give you that extra edge. It helps you develop an understanding of the world of work and an awareness of your own skills and abilities. The experience may also help you get your first graduate job, as some employers use vacation and longer placements to identify their future workforce."

• To gain an understanding of the industry
• To develop as a designer
• To further understand where you want to fit into the industry
• To see the kind of work thats currently being produced
• To work collaboratively

3. How do you gain professional/industrial experience and what form does it take?

• Industrial/professional experience can be entering competitions
• It can be working in an agency
• It can be be as simple as talking to other designers that work in the industry
• Gain experience by entering competitions
• Talking to designers
• Working with designers
• Entering competitions
• Showing other designers my portfolio

4. What should you aim to gain from professional/industrial experience?

"Work experience will give you a competitive edge in the graduate employment market – it highlights to employers that you have some understanding of what it’s like to work and that you will have gained some of the basic employability skills they want."

"On my placement I designed cards firstly for the male market. As my project that I produced for them was focused on the male market this helped with my colour choices etc. I also did some gift ideas for father’s day and female birthdays. I worked a lot on Photoshop and learnt so much from it!" Vicky Morgan

• A further understanding as to where i want to fit into the industry
• Learn more skills within graphic design
• Gain contacts with agencies and designers
• Develop as a designer