Web site for fine art degree show

http://www.ruskin-sch.ox.ac.uk/degreeshow/2010/

Phill the IM guy's Idea

After attending last year’s Degree show I started getting together ideas for our degree show.

I created the mood boards below:

The keywords I have come up with for our degree show are:

• Identity
• Light
• Bright
• Modern
• Engaging

Identity

I believe the most important focus of our degree show should be self promotion. We should have photos of ourselves and clear labels to show not only who we are but what we do. This will establish our identity not only as individuals but if we keep it consistent it will help show us as a cohesive group.

Light, Bright & Modern

I think the other courses within the school got the feeling right last year, when I looked at their work the display areas were light, bright and well organised with individual booths to show work,

I think this should be our approach but I also feel we have some good group projects that are worthy of display and I feel we should have an area to show that work too, i.e The Docks project, Big screen, Humber mouth etc....

Engaging

The main focus of previous degree shows has been the digital products produced by students and this is very important as it is our digital platform knowledge that sets us apart from other specialisms. I also agree with previous posts that we need to display more of our design work along with our finished digital products as this will provide a better visual experience for the people attending our degree show and it is important for us to attract people to our work visually before trying to engage them in interactivity.

Interactivity is not only about our digital apps, games or sites I feel we need to offer our guests an experience that they can take away, in this case literally we could produce a booklet in which we each have a double page spread about us and what we do. We could also have an attached CD that features a digital portfolio of all our work, this way our guest can have an opportunity to take a more considered view of our work at their own leisure.

Any other business

The alcohol debate is underway and I believe last year the focus on the bar area was disproportionate to the important part of the show, the students work. I think we should have a bar, a discreet bar offering possibly wine and soft drinks or maybe tea and coffee, this is important as essentially we are inviting people to attend our event and thus it makes the attendees our guests and I believe it is hospitable to offer refreshments to your guests. We should try and offer a classy experience and the non alcoholic beverages are very important as many guests attending the event may be driving.

Fund Raising

We have already missed the boat on the bake sale this year, what a shame but we do need to raise some money and I am proposing a Karaoke night as this is something that I can offer. We will need to promote whatever we do but we need to think about any skills we have maybe not even uni related that can be turned into a cash raising event or scheme.

Another idea is a HSAD Poker tournament but my knowledge of poker is limited so if anybody is a keen gambler please let me know, this would have to be a point’s tournament with a non cash prize. But small cash buy in.

Third Idea HSAD Christmas party I could DJ, we could put a band on if we can find one, we sell tickets and book a venue.

Tombola is also a good idea but we need prizes.

Idea

Rob a Bank!

Sarah Aylward Idea

I agree with both Emma and Claires comments.

1. There should be more paper based work on show including visuals. I went to the degree show after the degree show night and like Emma found none of the pcs switched on, it basically looked like no one cared about anybody that may want to view the work after the degree show night

2. I think we should still have alcohol at the degree show but perhaps the choice of drink should be classy and a bit more up market from a can of larger! Im not sure what they had at last years show, but perhaps glasses of fizzy wine on a tray would be more suitable. People can pick them up to drink as they are walking round.

3. Me and claire have already discussed having booths made of the boards similar to the ones they use for illustration and graphics and I think this is a great idea to give people something to look at.

4. As for music on the night, I know its a long way off but as my project is music based (and if all goes to plan!) I would like it if I could use some of the music from the website, this would be some songs from locals bands. It doesnt have to be for the full night but I was hoping to promote part of the website that night in the form of compilations people could buy.

5. As for fund raising, I thought what the games students did last year was a good idea. Hosting gaming competitions at local bars were people could go and play against each other, with and entry/participating fee.

6. I think with christmas coming up it would be great to capitilize on those sales for our fund raising. Having a bake sale is getting a bit old now I think, so in regards to what emma said a raffle would be a nice alternative.

7. Crazy idea alert!! Haha, okay with it being christmas I did have a christmas themed fund raising idea which was to to have a christmas stall within the college where people could buy bits and bobs, then I thought how about we have candy canes on sale downstairs and people could buy them with intentions of sending them to someone in the college. Once they have bought one we could hand deliver them to whatever room they are in. haha! If anyones seen the film 'mean girls' they might no what I mean! Crazy... but different...and possibly more interesting than a bake sale!

Claire's Idea

I agree with Emma and think we should have lots of paper-based work on display in addition to our work on the PCs. I found that the illustration and art rooms were much more interesting to walk around because they had a lot of visuals and were giving out free stuff.

I think it would be great if we could have our own seperate booths which have a PC or two inside them. The booths could then be decorated with our artwork/designs and could be individually themed around our projects. A lot of us have talked about getting books of our work published, giving out keyrings, displaying photos of us all, etc. and I think this would make the room look a lot more interesting.

I don't think we should get rid of the alcohol/party feel completely but I think there should be less emphasis on it and more emphasis on our design work. I think last year's degree show had too many balloons and not enough work on the walls!

Emma's Idea

Posting this for Emma because she doesn't have access to the internet.

"What I think for the degree show is that it shouldn't be a 'party', that it shouldn't just be about one night but about looking professional the whole time the show is on. So I don't agree with wasting money on alcohol for the opening night.

I think there should be design work or something else paper based as well as the computers as me and Chris went to one of the days after the opening night and all of the PCs but one where off and with no work in the background it just looked like a PC room rather than an exhibition of their work.

For fund raising ideas I think a raffle with local shops donating prizes."

Starting Point

A place for us all to start posting our ideas for fundraising for the degree show and for further planning. Discuss ideas in the comments and any progress you make you can post here. Let's make this the best degree show by far! :)