Tate Art Galleries, with four locations in the United Kingdom, and cultureLabel.com–an unique culture store that offer items from over 70 museum shops, artists, galleries and institutions are announcing an open call to all graphic artists and designers to enter the 2010 Release Contest.

Contest Details
The sponsors of this contest are seeking, “…two outstanding product designs that will be produced and sold in Tate shops, through Tate Online and at CultureLabel.com.”

According to the contest guidelines, the winning product design could:

* Capture the experience of Tate visitors, be they young or old, from the UK or from across the …globe
* Capture the impact that Tate has had on the public’s experience of galleries and its influence on …the arts
* Be inspired by the architecture of the buildings, such as the iconic Tate Modern, which is 10 years …old in 2010
* Be inspired by any of Tate galleries, which include Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Tate St Ives, Tate …Liverpool and also Tate Online

There are two product design categories - products that fall into a retail price range of up to £10 (15 USD) and the second with a retail price of up to £100 (150 USD).

Product Design Guidelines
For a product that will be sold for up to £10 (15 USD) the sponsors state:

“This product will become a much-loved and widely recognized souvenir of any visit to a Tate gallery - the object that anyone visitor will want to take home.

“You might want to focus on London and Tate Modern or Tate Britain and seek to create an iconic tourist souvenir that rivals the ‘Mind the Gap T-shirt’. Or, perhaps you are more inspired by the idyllic coastal setting of Tate St Ives or the post-industrial gallery spaces of Tate Liverpool?

“We want to capture the experience of someone visiting Tate - whether the magic of the first visit or the allure that keeps people coming back. Alternatively, you might seek to capture the impact that Tate has had on the public’s experience of art - transforming galleries into experiential, interactive and lifestyle spaces attracting incredibly diverse audiences.”

For example, some ideas for the sub £10 class of products could be things such as key fobs, cups, posters, t-shirts, folios, pens or other small items.

For product designs that will be sold for up to £100 (150 USD) the guidelines state:

“This more premium product might be the collector’s item that captures the human experience held in Tate.

“We still want to capture the spirit of Tate described above but this product could be a much sought after limited edition, object or accessory and would have the creative flair, artistic and design values reflecting Tate brand and the higher price point.”

Ideas for products in this pricing tier could be, but not limited to, items such as special edition posters or prints, ceramic pieces, jewelry or lithography prints.

Prizes
The winner will receive a cash award of £500 (750 USD) plus royalty payments for the first 6 months of the sales of the design.

Other information
There is an entry fee of £5 (7.50 USD). For the complete rules and guidelines for this contest, click here. To submit your product design idea, click here. All questions regarding this contest should be sent to release [at] culturelabel.com.  The deadline for this contest is March 22, 2010.

What a Career in Jewelry Design is All About
A jewelry designer must be skilled at creating new designs through the use of sketches and computer design software and be able to transform the ideas into a physical creation through the use of various materials, specialized tools, and equipment.

Some jewelry designers are also skilled at repairing jewelry, setting and polishing gemstones, and appraising jewelry.

Creating actual pieces of jewelry such as rings, bracelets and necklaces involves the use of creativity, aesthetic sense, and manual dexterity. The making of a piece of jewelry, after it is designed, requires very close attention to detail and concentration.

Career Training and Education
In order to become a jewelry designer many have traditionally learned their skills through on-the-job training and apprenticeships.

But with the advent of computer-aided design, prospective jewelry designers get their training through graphic design schools, online distance learning centers, vocational schools, or community colleges.

Jewelry manufactures who hire jewelry designers prefer those who have graduated through a formal program at a college or graphic design college. There is bachelor of fine arts or master of fine arts programs in jewelry design.

Some jewelry designers enroll in gemology courses that can train them in identifying and grading various gemstones.

The Job Outlook for Jewelers and Jewelry Designers
Job openings for jewelers and jewelry designers are expected to grow approximately 5% in the decade of 2008-2018. Job opportunities will be best for graduates who have training with computer assisted design and computer assisted manufacturing.

The mean annual wage for jewelers is $35,360.

The Rings and Things “Your Design Rocks!” contest is for all professionals, students and fans of jewelry design. Rings and Things is announcing an open call for designs in one or more of the following categories of jewelry:

* Glass and Crystal
* Gemstones and Crystal
* Mostly Metal
* Metal Clay
* Found Objects/Miscellaneous

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Contest Guidelines

The rules of the contest as stated by Rings and Things are:

• Entry must be an original work for which you retain all rights, and which you have the legal right to submit to us.
• Entry must be a newly-made creation (made since March, 2009).
• Piece may not be currently entered in another competition or have won any contest in the past.
• Entry must be primarily made from items purchased or available from Rings & Things, with the exception of found objects and parts you have made (handmade glass or ceramic parts, wood carvings, etc.). See our frequently asked questions if you’re unsure about what materials you can use or which category you should enter.
• 2009 winners may not enter a category in which they won first place during 2009. We do, however, encourage you to move out of your “comfort zone,” expand your creativity and enter a different category in 2010!
• Entrants under 18 years of age must provide a parent or legal guardian co-signature on a print version of their entry form, ensuring that all guidelines have been read and agreed upon.
• Limit three entries per person or design team.
• Incomplete entries and entries that do not follow these guidelines and our image requirements will be disqualified from judging and disqualified from our Early Bird raffle and New Entrant raffle.
• Rings & Things employees are not eligible for “Your Designs Rock!”

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Judging

Submissions are critiqued on three parameters: originality, craftsmanship, and aesthetics. The panel of judges offers these tips and advice to contestants:

“We’re looking for something different, something eye catching and attention grabbing. Something that hasn’t been seen everywhere.”

“I assume that every detail of your design is something you decided belongs there. In other words, ask yourself: is the piece 100% the way I want it?”

“We love seeing designs that use components in unusual ways. In other words, think outside the bead!”

“A good photo says it all! There are a ton of jewelry images online and in magazines. The jewelry that inevitably catches my eye is what has been well photographed with crisp color and good focus.”

“A major difference between winners and also-rans is how professionally finished the piece is. Are the ends of wires and head pins clean cut and tightly bent into place? Are dents from pliers visible on the wires? If working with a high polish, is it bright and scratch-free?”

Awards and Other Info

Grand Prize: $750 R&T gift certificate
Category First-Place Prizes: $250 R&T gift certificates
Honorable Mentions: $75 R&T gift certificates

The contest is accepting entries starting on January 1, 2010. The deadline for entries is February 28, 2010. Winners will be announced during the first week of June 2010. Winning entries may appear in the 2010 edition of the Rings and Things catalog. For complete details about this contest, click here.

The Standard Resume vs. Creative Resume
When you seek employment, one of the first things your potential employers will want from you is your resume.

People who are looking for a job in business or retail sales will use a standard resume form. It includes contact information, experience, education information, and other facts about the person.

But what if you are seeking a job as a graphic designer, illustrator, or other position in the arts or media? Does a “standard” looking resume work or should you express some of your creativity in your resume?

If you take a look at the numerous books regarding resume writing, most of them will give you a limited selection of resume styles.

But that’s for “regular” jobs, not necessarily for graphic designers or artists.

Should your resume be different and creative? This question isn’t an easy one to answer because each firm, interviewer, or human resource person is wired differently. If your resume is different or stands out, depending on who is on the other end of that resume, you may get noticed or a frown.

The Examples
We’re not sure if the following resumes landed a job for the applicants or not, but they are certainly eye-catching, and different. Look over these examples and decide if you want to try a few of the ideas.

Perhaps the best bet is to have two resumes available for passing out — one that is “standard” and the other one more “creative.” If possible, you can ask the person who is handling resumes which one is more appropriate.

Without further ado, here are the examples.

Will a resume like this be taken seriously or will it be an attention grabber? Click on the image to see the full-sized resume.
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In our next example, the graphic artist has taken the approach of formatting his resume to look like formula guide cards. Click on the image to see the full- sized resume.
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The next example is based upon an old newspaper ad section. In this case however, the graphic designer is selling himself. The idea is interesting and makes reading his resume fun. Click on the image to see the full- sized resume.

As you can see, the variations of what you can do for a creative resume can be almost limitless. But the question remains, when is it appropriate to try a resume such as the ones displayed?

Next Time
We’ll explore a few more creative resumes and talk about what a successful graphic design resume should include. We’ll also try to answer the question of when it is appropriate to use creative resumes.
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The Job Interview
Upon your graduation from graphic design college, the next step is to look for a job.

The job interview process can be mystifying, but in this job interview series, we list pointers and tips that can help you to interview successfully.

What to Do During an Interview
In part one of Interview Tips for Graphic Artists and Designers, advice was given on what to do in preparation for a job interview in graphic arts.

But what can you do during the interview to make it go smoothly?

Here are some tips:

• Be Yourself. This bit of wisdom is rarely given but is very useful in defusing any jitters you may have during the interview. It’s OK to say, “I’m a little nervous,” to the interviewer. The human resources person or potential boss understands this. Putting on a veneer of self-confidence rarely works and is usually quite transparent, so be yourself. Your honesty will be appreciated.

• Talk. Try to be straightforward with your answers and avoid long pauses or periods of silence in your responses. Part of the interview process is to evaluate your communication skills. If you are naturally quiet, that is fine. Just be prepared to speak more than you usually do during the interview.

• Ask Questions. Although job interviews are sometimes thought of as a one-way street — the interviewer asks questions while the interviewee answers, this isn’t necessarily the best approach for job candidates to take. If a question doesn’t make sense, ask for clarification.

• Demonstrate. If your portfolio is reviewed by your interviewer during your interview, you can offer information on what role you played in designing the pieces. Was it a team project or did you produce the work on your own? The interviewer may ask you what creative processes you used to arrive at your designs.

• Technical Terms. In any job there is a specific amount of jargon you need to know and understand. Your interviewer may present questions that are technical in nature such as, “What do you think the CMYK mix for the color of a red fire engine truck would be?” Brush up on your graphic arts terminology.

The Importance of Education
Getting a chance to interview for a design job can be a very exciting and nerve racking experience.

Your artistic talents are laid out for all to see and your work stands on its own to make or break the job deal and this certainly can be a little stressful.

But along with talent is the necessity to get a well-rounded education in your specific field of design.

If you are contemplating a career as a graphic artist, illustrator or media professional, graphic design schools can be of immense help in providing the career training you need to prepare for jobs in design.

The Next Time
What sort of questions will you be asked during the interview process? Should you take the job if the company makes you an offer? What else can you do to increase your chances of landing a job? We’ll cover these topics and more in the next few sessions.