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| Figure 1 - The Happy Little Cake Company - website homepage |
Reaching out to a potential client is something I have never done before. I always felt the best way to work would to be to get my work out there and wait for people who like my work to contact me for something they want doing. However I don't feel this is always how it should work. By putting myself out there was out of my comfort zone is rejection is something that would make me doubt my work. But you never know if you don't try, its important to be ambitious and seem confident about situations even if you're not. I need to be confident and proud of my practice and this communication helped me see that.
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On 10/02/2017 18:20, Lizzie Downhill wrote:
Hello,
My name is Lizzie. Earlier today, my Mum said she was speaking to you at the launch event at the library.
This then encouraged me to go to your website and look at your social media pages. From what my Mum told me you share the same values when it comes to being a coeliac and this is what spurred this email. I have been a coeliac for about 3 and a half years and I'm now 20. I really like that you want to produce high quality treats that break the stereotype of gluten free food not tasting as good as 'normal' food. As a sensitive coeliac however, I can't tolerate oats which is such a shame as I miss out on flapjacks and granola etc.
Another reason for me emailing is that I am currently a second year Illustration student at Gloucestershire University and was wondering if there is any way that my practice could fit in with your business. I knows its ambitious but I would love to be able to be involved with something that is so close to me and be able to apply my art practice to that.
Also if you have a spare moment, here are links to pages that have my artwork on
https://www.myportfolio.com/preview/project
Facebook - @lizziedownhillillustrations
Instagram - @elizabethrosedownhill
Thankyou for taking the time to read this and I would love to hear back from you!
Regards,
Lizzie
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On 11/02/2017 21:16, The Happy Little Cake Company Wrote:
Hi Lizzie,
Thanks for getting in touch. Yes, I had a nice natter with your mum yesterday and we ended up talking about yours and my coeliac diagnosis (not that far apart, I was diagnosed in October 2013 - although I'm considerably older than you!) and our similar approach to living with this pesky auto immune disease.
Your mum said you are away at university so I'm not sure how often you're home but I now supply to a number of coffee shops in Northampton so you'll be able to get yummy cake if you're off into town to meet friends :)
I went to the link you included in your email but it just took me to a general page, not your portfolio. What did you have in mind about us working together?
Vicky
- The response to the email here was more positive than I thought it would be. However I made a massive error here in not attaching a correct link to my online portfolio! This was a very big mistake as I didn't take the time for myself to double check that the link was correct and that it would take my client to the correct page. This may have come across as very unprofessional and could have created a negative first impression about me and the way in which I conduct myself. Luckily, the client was very understanding and I resent the link which I did double, triple check was correct.
- Something else that was interesting was that I was asked about my opinion about the ideas I had. If the client didn't have anything, I would've expected a very black and white response to the question but the fact it was almost open to discussion about my ideas. This made me feel like my idea was taken seriously and that I was in fact being treated as a professional.
On 12/02/2017 11:20, Lizzie Downhill wrote:
Hi again,
Sorry about the link not working, here is one that I'm sure does https://lizziedownhill.myportfolio.com
The main idea about us working together would mainly be to gain some experience in working with a client but to also stretch my illustrations to a further auidence. But I have very recently done a commission for ARTea Room where I have done some illustrations for a section on Cream Tea, they were simple tea cup, a cake stand with cakes and sandwiches and a teapot. And I also sell a set of cake illustrations in the same tearoom a long with a few other things like teacup illustrations and greetings cards. - I will attach copies of some of these mentioned.
I was thinking of producing a set of small illustrations that you could use for a range of areas for your business like your website, labels, stickers etc. Its up to you if you had a gap somewhere that you think an illustration could fill. Or something completely new.
Just let me know what you think,
Regards,
Lizzie
- After this email I didn't receive a reply for 3 weeks. I didn't want to seem pushing and reply straight away but 3 weeks was maybe too long if I was actually producing a piece of work.
On 05/03/2017 17:52, Lizzie Downhill wrote:
Hello,
I recently emailed you about reaching out to you as an illustrator looking to collaborate with your gluten-free business as it is something close to my heart. The main interest was to stretch my work further but also a potential for work experience.
I know your busy so thank you for taking your time to read this.
Looking forward to hearing back from you.
Regards,
Lizzie.
- In most cases I wouldn't want to seem I was pestering the client but in the professional world of illustration, you may want a job done as quickly as possible as leaving it too long may potentially mean you loose work or miss out on the client wanting to work with you again.
- I politely reminded the client of my previous intentions and pushing for an answer but not in a obtrusive way.
On 05/03/2017 18:05, The Happy Little Cake Company wrote:
Hi Lizzie
I am so sorry I didn't get round to replying to your last message. I needed time to think and then just got completely consumed with work and your message slipped down my cluttered inbox!
I would love to think there is a way we could make this work but the concern I have is that I already have a very strong brand and visual identity and wouldn't want to move away from this and am not sure how we could overcome this in a way that would provide you with any useful work experience or stretch your work. What are your thoughts?
Vicky
- Understandably working in a business environment, my emails are not of high priority and will get pushed to the bottom. By re-contatcing her I put my email back to the top and I'm glad I did or I may have never received a reply
- It was really flattering that she asked for my thoughts on the situation which was very professional. Sometimes I forget I am an adult in the professional world and to ask for my input on something like this made me feel respected as an artist. I also enabled me to say okay to being told 'no' in my own way.
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On 05/03/2017 18:56, Lizzie Downhill wrote:
Hello,
No problem at all, these things happen!
Thats completely understandable, it was a bit of a long shot me asking anyway.
Would you be okay with me asking you a few questions about the artwork and how it helps your brand identity instead?
Could you explain a bit about how you came up with the idea for the artwork?
The inspiration for the artwork?
If it was your own personal artwork or if someone else created the artwork with the vision you have?
The way in which the artwork was created? (media, programs etc)
How you feel the artwork helps your company?
Etc. Etc.
This will just help me have an understanding of illustration within a company and in a professional working environment. I will be using the notes to submit as part of one of my modules called 'Professional Practice' if I have you approval to do so?
Thank you again for taking the time to reply to my emails, its much appreciated!
Regards,
Lizzie.
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On 08/03/2017 12:04, The Happy Little Cake Company wrote:
- Instead of leaving it it as that I thought because she was so nice and willing to help me that I would ask her some questions that I would've asked her if being face to face or on work experience. This way I am still gaining some ideas behind using logos and the importance of art/illustration amongst business through an interview instead of being on an actual placement.
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On 08/03/2017 12:04, The Happy Little Cake Company wrote:
Hi Lizzie,
I'm glad you understand where I'm coming from. I think it could be fun to do something together, I'm just not sure how that could work without me asking you to stick to a style that is not necessarily yours and you wouldn't get anything out of!
So, to your questions:
* Could you explain a bit about how you came up with the idea for the artwork?
I knew I wanted the visual identity of my company to be fun and friendly in nature and to have distinct branding. Pink is my favourite colour, purple is my second favourite so they were the colours I chose. I'm always drawn to fun, character-style informal branding myself (think Innocent, Ella's Kitchen, Juicy Lucy etc.) and so knew that I wanted something along those lines for my own business.
See above* The inspiration for the artwork?
I worked with a local artist. Using small local businesses is important to me and I was luckily enough to find someone who (a) was Northamptonshire-based and (b) was able to take what was in my head and interpret it in exactly the way I had imagined :)* If it was your own personal artwork or if someone else created the artwork with the vision you have?
He hand drew them and then converted them to .ai files for me.* The way in which the artwork was created? (media, programs etc)
* How you feel the artwork helps your company?
I hope that helpsIt's instantly recognisable and also a talking point...People often assume the characters (Millie and Marcus for Most Marvellous Baking and Milo and Maddy for The Happy Little Cake Company) are my children. They're not. But it means we end up chatting about how they came about and the story behind the brand. It is a great visual depiction of what I stand for as a business and what I am trying to achieve - happypeople with smiles on their faces brought on by delicious food :)
Vicky
- Being so helpful she answered all the questions as fully as possible which was really really helpful of her.
- This gave me a really good insight to the business and how everything operates within the business in terms of art and illustration within branding.
- I will write these notes from the interview up neater.
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On 08/03/2017 17:11, Lizzie Downhill wrote:
Hey,
Well if you have something that needs doing that you think we could both benefit from at all then just let me know. If not, no worries. Its been really lovely chatting to you regardless.
That's perfect, thank you very much!
Well thank you for taking the time to speak to me and answering my questions, its been a pleasure!
Regards,
Lizzie
- I felt it would be a nice way to finish just to say thank you again for all of her cooperation and how nice she was with the whole thing. It made being told 'no' a lot easy and I also got an interview about the things that interested me about the branding of the business.
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Interview typed up:
The Happy Little Cake Company
- Could you explain a bit about how you came up with the idea for the artwork/what is your inspiration behind the art work?
HLCC: I knew I wanted the visual identity of my company to be fun and friendly in nature and to have distinct branding. Pink is my favourite colour, purple is my second favourite so they were the colours I chose. I'm always drawn to fun, character-style informal branding myself (think Innocent, Ella's Kitchen, Juicy Lucy etc.) and so knew that I wanted something along those lines for my own business.
HLCC: I worked with a local artist. Using small local businesses is important to me and I was luckily enough to find someone who (A) was Northamptonshire-based and (b) was able to take what was in my head and interpret it in exactly the way I had imagined.
HLCC: He hand drew them and then converted them to .ai files for me.
- If it was your own personal artwork or if someone else created the artwork with the vision you have?
HLCC: I worked with a local artist. Using small local businesses is important to me and I was luckily enough to find someone who (A) was Northamptonshire-based and (b) was able to take what was in my head and interpret it in exactly the way I had imagined.
- The way in which the artwork was created? (media, programs etc)
HLCC: He hand drew them and then converted them to .ai files for me.
- How you feel the artwork helps your company?
Following up from the interview it was interesting to know where her real inspiration came from and how other business's branding can inspire other people in a similar industry.
Ella's Kitchen:
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| Figure 2 - Ella's Kitchen logo |
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| Figure 3 - Ella's Kitchen website homepage |
Juicy Lucy:
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| Figure 4 - Juicy Lucy Logo |
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| Figure 5 - Juicy Lucy website homepage |
From this experience I have learnt that people do say no and thats okay. It isn't always personal or about you, its just that they might not have space to fit you into what they are currently doing. In this case, the brands identity is so strong there is nothing that could be done or no where I would fit in as this has all been established. From a creative side though, I can see how using local artists would be useful in terms of business but by having a small business and keeping everything local keeps that 'grass roots' feel. Looking into the future this gives me hope as maybe one day someone could approach me and ask me to do some branding work for them.
I now feel more confident in speaking to smaller scale companies for work, or just to ask questions about their business which is a really good skill to have. If you don't ask you don't get, simple as. It has increased my knowledge of the industry knowing that business do work with local artists and do want the type of skills that I have to support their brand identity.
Reference
- Figure 1 - "The Happy Little Cake Company | Gluten-Free Northampton". The Happy Little Cake Company.
- Figure 2 & 3 - Welcome To Ella's Kitchen Organic Baby Foods Official Website | Ella's Kitchen". Ella's Kitchen.
- Figure 4 & 5 - "Juicy Lucy Designs". Juicy Lucy Designs
Bibliography
"Juicy Lucy Designs". Juicy Lucy Designs. N.p., 2017. Web. 11 May 2017.
"The Happy Little Cake Company | Gluten-Free Northampton". The Happy Little Cake Company. N.p., 2017. Web. 11 May 2017.
"Welcome To Ella's Kitchen Organic Baby Foods Official Website | Ella's Kitchen". Ella's Kitchen. N.p., 2017. Web. 11 May 2017.
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