19.11 - Draft Interview + Research into Site Gallery

What to look at?
Places in Sheffield:
Talk to Nick Deakin about the design scene and what it's like to work from there.
Find places like Site Gallery and see who they have to design their branding and pieces around the gallery.

Research into Site Gallery:
Job Roles:
FRONT OF HOUSE AND OPERATIONS MANAGER
FINANCE ASSISTANT (MATERNITY COVER)
PRODUCER (CITY OF IDEAS)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
TECHNICAL PRODUCER
PARTICIPATION MANAGER
CURATOR (CITY OF IDEAS)
CURATOR
FINANCE MANAGER
MARKETING AND COMMERCIAL MANAGER
ASSISTANT PARTICIPATION PRODUCER (FABS)
ASSISTANT PARTICIPATION PRODUCER (FABS)

Pioneering emerging art practices and ideas, we work in partnership with local, regional and international collaborators to nurture artistic talent and support the development of contemporary art.

We connect people to artists and to art, inspiring new thinking and debate through our exhibitions, talks, events and other public activity.

We work with early career to established artists to commission new work, produce solo and group shows, deliver residencies, performances, events and community programme. Through diverse programming, we reveal the process of making art and invite our audiences and participants to engage, explore and connect.

Talk to The Designers Republic and how they find it being a large design studio/company in Sheffield, as they have specific works dedicated to this. What are the positives, what are the weaknesses?

Studios:
Interested in the way Anyway's were working, interesting creative projects, part of a team, working for clients etc. How they find it as a company in London, how did they become established?

Have these two contrasting sides of a big company in London compared to companies and studios in Sheffield feed into the report.


Questions to Ask:
Nick Deakin:
1. How did you come to being a designer in Sheffield, and why?
2. Did you do work elsewhere during your design career, if so where and how does it compare to your practice now?
3. When you were studying did you create similar work to what you create now? If so in what ways, if not how does it differ?
4. Do you feel as though having a specific style is important when being a designer?
5. How would you describe your design career? Where do you place yourself within the design scene?
6. Have you or have you ever considered moving to a different location to continue designing?
7. Why are you a lecturer as well as a designer?

Site Gallery:
1.  Since your renovations what has changed about Site Gallery?
2. How important to you is it to source local creatives as well as international pieces? Personally what work do you prefer to exhibit, if neither what are the benefits of displaying local work as well as international work?
3. How important to you is it to support local creatives, such as Now Then magazine?
4. I noticed you have a artistic director and technical producer as well as a marketing and commercial manager as roles within the gallery, are there any roles that are similar to the role of a graphic designer? Have you considered having an in-house designer or working practitioner within the team as well?
5. Who designs the thumbnails for your website, eg:

Anyways
1. How does being a creative company in London impact your practise? What are the limitations as well as the benefits?
2. Do you feel as though it is necessary for your base to be in London, if so why?
3. With the work you create do you feel as though it is true to you as an individual, as well as the studio/collective or does it lean toward one more than the other?
4. What was the process of you going from school/uni to getting where you are now?
5. Is this you only job, or do you have another career as well?
6. When working in a studio are you allowed to make and sell you own work commercially as well?

The Designers Republic
1. Your North of Nowhere print came from an interesting place, as someone from Sheffield I'm keen to know why you haven't moved down to London and why you don't feel it is necessary.
2. There are a lot of big companies you've worked for do you also work with smaller independent companies or individuals? If so which do you find more rewarding?
3. How did the studio develop from its initial stages to now?
4. What was your personal creative journey been like before getting to The Designers Republic?
5.Is this your only job, or do you have another career as well?
6. When working in a studio are you allowed to make and sell you own work commercially as well?