MA Entertainment Design Alex Forsey is the latest student to take advantage of our work placement scheme.
Tell us a little bit about your recent work placement with Good Soldiers. What were your day to day duties?
I applied for the placement internally through Tileyard Education’s MA Entertainment Design course. The opportunity arose during the very busy deadline week of my second module, so I thought to myself “what’s one more thing to do,” polished off my portfolio, and applied! I was absolutely thrilled to hear that I’d been offered the chance to be a Creative Intern for two weeks, it felt like all my hard work had paid off!
I was tasked at first with creating an artist logo and single artwork for a Good Soldier’s signee Franklin’s debut solo single: “All Mine”. This guy already boasted over a million monthly Spotify listeners, so no pressure! I created more drafts for this one project than anything else I’d ever worked on, probably over 100 designs which were then narrowed down into just a handful of final options. Other duties have included creating and editing One Sheets (essentially a rundown of an artist’s statistics and biggest achievements), retouching press photos, making mood boards to help with the creative direction of upcoming acts, researching TikToks to bring up at weekly meetings, and most recently compiling a database of specialist freelance artists to assist with an upcoming release.
What did you find most exciting about it?
The most exciting part is just being in the room, which sounds a bit cliché but there are too many specific examples to choose from. I feel like I’ve taken something away from every person at the label. Working next to the marketing team, for example, has given me such an unexpected insight into how contemporary record labels operate. Previously everything I’d known was outdated, second-hand knowledge.
It’s also been amazing to work alongside Good Soldier’s Junior In-House Designer, Arthur. Having freelanced for the majority of my career, being able to work with another designer has been a nice change of pace. To have someone to geek out with about artwork and share software tricks with has given me something I didn’t know I was looking for!
We hear that they’ve now offered you an extended paid internship. Congrats! What do you hope to gain from this internship?
Thank you! I was really humbled to be offered the chance to continue working at Good Soldier, as of writing I’m 8 weeks through what is now a 10-week placement and I’ve learned so much already. I’m excited to continue soaking up everything I can, and hopefully, leave a lasting impression!
You are now in the final term of your Master’s in Entertainment Design. How have you found the course so far? What did you enjoy the most?
Being part of the first-ever Entertainment Design cohort has felt really special. I honestly had no intentions of returning to education after graduating from university last June, but when I saw the course advertised on Instagram it felt different to anything I’d been shown before. Never had I seen a program so tailored to my interests. Whilst studying at university I’d always assumed if I wanted to deviate from the norm of ‘branding & packaging’ I would have to do so alone, but to see a program offering to place me in the heart of the music industry was so exciting. Within 24 hours I was booked onto an open day, and a month later I’d accepted a place.
I’ve had the most incredible year studying so far. I’ve expanded upon all facets of my craft. To reference the quote you’ve probably seen slapped on a Facebook meme: “my Bachelors taught me that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell, my Masters taught me how to do my taxes (yes, really)“. I’d learned how to design, but never been taught how to run a design business; I’d been shown how to make a portfolio, but never shown where to find the right jobs. It was just as exciting to have a lecture from a lawyer or an accountant, as it was to have one from a famous designer or photographer. As I enter the final month of the course, I’m saddened at the thought of having no more lectures, but excited to have made so many good connections and friends whilst studying at the Tileyard!
Any advice for prospective design students/designers out there?
Say ‘yes’ to more things. Whilst I don’t advocate for a complete transformation into Jim Carrey’s character from “Yes Man,” obviously knowing your limits and comfort level is essential to maintaining a healthy relationship with your craft, I believe you learn the quickest by embracing opportunities, even if they don’t work out! It would’ve been easy to say ‘no’ to applying for Good Soldier’s placement given how busy (and honestly a little scared) I was at the time, but I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t.
Also, have an answer ready for when someone asks “what’s your favourite album artwork” because I get asked that at least twice a month (it’s “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga).
You can follow Alex and his work here.
