Alix is for hire

1.5.5 Alix is for hire

Alix is a Cape Town based art director. She originates from East London, South Africa. Alix moved to Cape Town to further her education. She completed her BA Degree in Visual Communication specializing in Art Direction at AAA, School of Advertising, Cape Town in 2008. The three year course covered art direction in advertising, TV production, history of graphic design, photography theory and marketing.

Alix is very possibly the most interesting blogger I have included in this body of work. She works on three blogs simultaneously. The first of her blogs I will be discussing is alix is for hire.

She began this blog in November 2008 when she was about to graduate. At the time it consisted mainly of her college work and was used as an online portfolio.

“Most agencies required a CV and a pdf of less than 5megs to be emailed to them. This meant that you could only send about five to seven pieces of your portfolio. I sent a link to alix is for hire along with the pdf and CV so that creative directors or those looking to hire could see all of my work and see that I had taken initiative to market myself and showcase my work on a public platform.” - Alix-Rose Cowie

Using a blog in this way was a fantastic aid to Alix and helped her to secure a job at Cape Town based agency King James. She now uses this blog to showcase her photography, a field she is trying to enter. alix is for hire is a perfect example of successful blog use in the design industry.

“Firstly a blog is another form of marketing, whether you are using it to gain exposure for your work, your product, your brand or even yourself. It's a free marketing tool that allows you to reach people all over the world and the fact that people can leave comments on your blog means that it is a world-wide conversation that gives you research into your market if you are a brand or gives you feedback or new ideas as a designer. For those with personal blogs it can give confidence and positive reinforcement.

Secondly a blog is a form of self-expression. How you want the world to see you or hear you through pictures or word.” -Alix-Rose Cowie

I have included examples, a post of Alix’s graduation work and a post of her recently taken photographs. The first post (posted on March 23rd 2010) that I will discuss is Exhibition. This post consists of two images, photographs that she submitted for an exhibition. The post is both informative and personal. She is showcasing her up-and-coming exhibition, whilst expressing her personal hopes that these two particular photographs will be included in another section of the same exhibition. I feel that her combination of marketing her work and self expression is very successful.

The second post (November 18th 2008) included is entitled Sour Worms. Print. It is a project that Alix completed during her graduate year. I find it interesting that she has not included any text other than the post title. It is short, sharp and to the point, providing a perfect platform to showcase her work.