Education and Industry – UCLAN Burnley – 11 Feb 2015

Education and IndustryJake Smith / JP74Burnley College

11 Feb 2015

Who?

Jake Smith@jake74Started working in digital in 1996

Previously

Traditional design/print companyQA Playstation games tester at Sony Europe…

What do I do?

Front end developerDirector

I also do…

HR, Event speaking, UX/UI, copywriting, bit of design, bit of programming, bin emptying and tea making on very special occasions.

Where?

JP74 LimitedStarted in 2001Team of 15 ‘jaypees’

…based in Padiham

What does JP74 do?● In our 14th year● Originally started making Flash/Director

games for children’s entertainment● Moved into CMS / back end programming for

blue chip style businesses● Currently pivoting into a software

development company

We’ve worked for…● D&AD● Panaz● Johnson Tiles● Store First● Bolton Wanderers FC● Durex

What is ‘Industry’?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry

Industry is the production of a goodor service within an economy

You’re in the industry if…

You’re getting paid to regularly do any task relating to the creation of the product/service… web design, software application or video game

Design, coding, accounting, client handling, copywriting…

How did I get started in design?

● Sought an unpaid junior graphic designer position for two weeks

● Did well – got asked back● Ended up working Saturday mornings and

any term breaks

How did I get started on the web?

● Ex-tutor got a call from a company called Subnet looking for Shockwave Flash skills

● Worked freelance on a project, got asked to join full time

● Ended up being there for 5 years

How did we start JP74?

● Everyone was made redundant from Subnet● Pete and I started servicing ex-clients who

now no longer had an agency to work with● We took on our first employee after 3 years

Essentials skills for working ‘in industry’

Communication● Agile / waterfall etc, fluidity of project management

● Stand up meetings

● Tasks and management there of…

● Working in teams

● Issue tracking

● Time management

● Testing

● Deployment

George Bernard Shaw

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion

that it has taken place”

Industry = Collaboration

Collaboration● An understanding of everybody’s role within the organisation

● Knowing your roles and abilities

● Recognise the overlap of skills between roles

● Be prepared to help

● Work well in a team

● Don’t be afraid to ask for help

● Accept assistance, you should all be pulling towards the same goals

How do we work?

Planning Production

Planning

● Scoping● Tech spec● Func docs● Wireframing

Production

Tech Front end

Design

What we work in● Django/Python● HTML5● CSS3● Sass● Compass● PHP

● Javascript● Git● Node● Bower● RESTful● …and so on

How do we find staff?

Channels

● Twitter / LinkedIn / social media● Friends of friends● Colleges and Unis – stay in touch with tutors● Attending end of year shows● Industry events● Recruitment agencies

Getting employed

You need…

● A good (and relevant) CV or portfolio● To show up to an interview on time● To know about the company and possibly

the person you will meet…

● To be yourself

Ethos

● Every studio/agency/company has one● You spend over 8 hours a day with these

people!

● Don’t be a douche

Be eager to learn

● Industry is a place where the hungry will always find work

● Take pride in what you do● Start personal projects● Join others in creating cool new things● Be enthusiastic

Kyle says…

● You learn loads more in industry, it’s well better!

● Do trainee positions – get paid to learn

Industry vs Education

● Tighter deadlines● You can’t make mistakes, as it’s other

people’s money● You learn because you have to accomplish

tasks

Bonus skills

● Ability to spell and use grammar correctly● Care and conscientiousness● Desire to do cool stuff● Have interests outside of computers/design,

and don’t be afraid to talk about it, no matter how daft you may think it sounds

Me. Regularly.

“You do businesswith people”

Freelance

There is another way…

Freelancers need…

● To be organised● To deal with accounts and late payers● Be collaborative with other freelancers or

agencies, as well as their own clients

Detect a theme?

● Communication● Collaboration● Enthusiasm

In summary…

● If you get a chance, take it● Make yourself indispensable, volunteer to

help at every opportunity● Bring fresh ideas and passion to the table● Make the current staff stay on their toes● Don’t be an asshat

Email CVs to amy@jp74.com

Any questions?

@jake74 — @jp74

Thank you