Notes Form Kurb Talk 

By Carl Holder

• Been in design for 18 years

• Attended 3D art college

• Started his own web design business before web design all got big

• Sold it then moved to future media - http://www.bbc.co.uk/careers/what-we-do/future-media

• Then he joined Kurb and has now been there for 7 years

• Most companies seem to be struggling to keep up with technology due to constantly changing

• people have to use guess work to figure out problems

• Kurb mainly build for mobile devices now - usually include social tools such as Facebook, game centre

• Web design is too competitive now which is pulling the prices down

• mobile cost more to produce for at the moment

• still uses flash

• it can make you more creative when you have a tighter framework to work in

• they do 35-40 projects a year

• only do games, play, toys ideas, campaigns

• check out the misfits superpower viral campaign - drive brand awareness to the brand, aiming to get people to watch the live show 

• Shape shifter integrated into Facebook profiles, calls up info from Facebook creating a guessing game of find the false post.

• a toy is usually a short term disposable thing

• Idea generating - they sometimes use large groups but can sometimes be better with smaller groups. It depends on the project and problem. he prefers smaller groups as its easier to stay on track with the ideas

• Everyone in the company has their own speciality

• They use paper prototypes before going into the coding part at kurb

• they use flash and marmalade - unity platform

• appdata.com - Facebook related stats site

• Most important thing employers look for in employees - self-supporting  know what you are doing, be able to work things out for yourself

• When looking for a job - have to show that you love what you are doing, put a lot of time into what you do

• People tend not to sell themselves very well

• Keep C.V short and to the point

• Make it worth the companies time to click on the link to look at your portfolio work

• Sell yourself as a brand

• Show you understand the mechanics, know what to research, show your keen

• Keep up to date with technology

• At Kurb they work with people for a few weeks over email to test them, send them problems to solve, make sure they are the right person for the job

• show you can use new software, languages, new challenges 

• It pays to contact a company and prove how good you are

• Be linked to other people doing similar things

• Write about research using a blog

• Linked in and Twitter accounts are useful tools to get networking

I found it interesting that Kurb have moved away from web design and now mainly design for mobile devices. Carl described how the web industry has been saturated by too many people/companies which in result are causing people to undercut each other to get work. Mobile technology is now a necessary skill to learn as more and more people are viewing web content through their mobile devices.

Carl gave us some useful tips when searching for work once we graduate. Having a good portfolio is important so potential employers can easily access and view their potential employees work. A clean, simple and relevant C.V is very important. It needs to stand out when the employer is flicking through hundreds of applicants. They need to be able to see the relevant skills and information suited for the job without having to make then think.

Carl mentioned social network site such as Twitter and Linked in as useful tools to get connected which other designers and companies. They are a good way for people to sell themselves and get their work seen by others.