I have been living in England for over a year, I came here to study my MA in Events and Exhibition Management at BCU and during my course I helped as volunteer in all the events that I could, trying to get as much experience as possible and to see what the industry could teach me. It has been an amazing experience and now I am more excited than ever of being at the end of the studies and becoming a pro, because I have been having the opportunity to combine the theory learning process with the practical process.
I have been working for the last 4 months in an event, but the excited about this that is not as a volunteer but as an event manager. Plus+ International Design Festival gave the opportunity of two of my friends Ayesha Kaur (India) and Gul Altuntac (Turkey) and me to be the event management team for the event, we thought that we were going to be involve just as interns, but no, the Plus+ directors Caroline Archer (UKType), Matt Clugston (Clusta), James Glover (Fluid), Alexandre Parre (Illuminate) and Lara Ratnaraja, thought that we are able enough to be in charge of the event and I have to say that until now, a week before the event we haven’t disappointed them.
Plus+ ‘is a unique design-led festival showcasing all that is innovative, pioneering, and novel in the world of international typo/graphic design’ and my role as an event manager have been responsible of all delegates management, sourcing and negotiating sponsorship, online communications; registration system setup and control, blogging, social networking and website maintenance (I have to say that I’m getting a pro in Facebook, twitter, YouTube, blogs, etc), exhibition layout and design, logistical coordination and onsite event management.
It has been an amazing opportunity to be able to put in practice all what I have been learning and my real est is going to come next week when the event is actually happening, I just hope everything goes well and all our effort can be shown at the festival and we can show the potential of three international event management students in England. So if you want to come and see the festival is going to be in Birmingham at Fazeley Studios, 191 Fazeley Street, Digbeth, B5 5SE. Will love to see you there and have the pleasure to meet you!
Magda Nieto N 