OUGD402 Evaluation

Evaluation

1.  What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?

This module has enabled me to see the different avenues graphic design has to offer.
I’ve also have learn how to evaluate and give feedback on peoples work as well as my own, this has been really beneficial to me as I have extended my vocabulary and learnt how to give honest and knowledgeable feedback. 

2. What approaches to/methods of design production have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?

The year has really changed and challenged me as a learner, an individual and as a designer. Reflecting on the work previous to the course and in the first few months has really shown me how far I’ve come. Not only that but I now know specifically what drives me as a designer. I still think I need to continue pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

I have found that the workshops have enabled me to see what influences me, who I am and where I want to be which has been a major driving force in keeping me motivated. I have become more confident, self sufficient and also more engaged when it comes to private study and working within groups. Also the fact that the staff and tutors are so passionate about their subject area.

I feel I have learnt so many things this year both in design and about me as a person which comes hand in hand on this course. My knowledge behind software, terminology and graphic design has significantly increased and I have felt I've come a long way as a designer.

3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?

I think I also have a strength in communication as a designer, I think i've acquired a lot more confidence in talking to people and networking which has been beneficial in previous modules and will continue to do so to create contacts.

A strength of mine is the capability to experiment with different methods and designs. I liked to take risks as a designer and if I make a mistake I can take it as a lesson learnt and not something to dwell over. 

I also work well independently as well as within a group. 

4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in the future?

 A weakness of mine I would say is the final production of my work I think I'm not very good at assembling my work and how it looked digitally sometimes comes out not the way I intended when printed. I think due to me being stressed and rushing. I need to take time to focus and take things at a slower pace. 

For next year  I want my blog to look more professional, with good quality photographs of my work. I also want to know more about types of finishes, so for next year I need to manage my time better so its not a last minute rush. I also have difficulty in illustration, I want to be a better drawer. I think is something I just need to keep practicing, especially over summer as I will have free time between working.

5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?

1. To be more critical on work I have looked at and sourced because it will enable me to improve my feedback and analytical skills further.

2. Look further into design blogs, studios

3. To keep up to date with blogging including feedback from every module and studios tasks. I feel it is a really important module in the development of me as a designer as well as an individual as it will allow me to reflect on what I need to improve on.

4.  Be less stressed about deadlines and work, I come across laid back but in my head I’m pretty stressed out. So definitely in be more organised and up-to-date with my time keeping.

5. Contact more professionals and studios

OUGD402 Final Outcome

 Final Outcome

Overall, I think its impossible to brand myself, just yet as I have only started out as a Graphic Designer. I decided to create a visual CV.

PPP Presentation

http://issuu.com/vanessacain/docs/untitled-4

Today I delivered my 7 minute presentation to the class. I think it went alright I was slightly nervous. I just tried to remember to take my time saying stuff and just generally pacing myself. 

OUGD402: Presentation

Presentation Topics

As an individual...

I can be quite shy at times and not very confident in myself, I can address this issue by making myself step out of my comfort zone because in the past this has always worked.
I worry a lot and sometimes and I need to address this by becoming more organised.


As a designer...
I sometimes play it safe by sticking to what I know, I have notice this by the way I tackle a brief that I am unsure of/not enjoying. I tend to go for simple vector designs and colour schemes that I have used before. I need to push myself and experiment more.
My weakness's also lie in some of the more practical things such as book binding and manual printing. I wish I had more of a knowledge to these types of finishes because I think they could make my work step up a level. I need to time manage my time better so I can fit these things in whilst the facilities are at my grasp.

I think some of my presentation/finishing skills of my work could do with improvement. I think it is important that you end a project on a high. I sometimes struggle with the finishing touches, like folding and gluing work neatly and sometimes the paper stock I have chosen is not durable for my product. I will address this issue by practicing and taking my time at the end.

I was originally worried that I would not have enough to say, but after brainstorming my interests and stuff I think I have plenty to say! 

Research: Self-Branding Ideas

Ideas

Stuck on what to do, I began researching 'self-branding' for the brief. Below, I found these images on Behance. I like the idea of these visual CVs, and simple infographics that I could do about myself as an individual, they are very simple to read, and eye-catching. I'm tiring to steer clear of making business cards as I'm not an established designer. 

I really like the idea of a package on myself, whether it comes in an envelope or scroll. I think infographics about myself is the way to go.

Studio Brief 2 - It's Up To You.

Studio Brief 2 - It's Up To You.

BA (HONS) Graphic Design
Studio BriefOUGD402 Personal & Professional Practice 20 Credits		Level  04
Module Brief	CREATIVE PRACTICE
Module Tutors	AMBER SMITH
Semester	2
Outcomes Assessed	1,2,3,4,5

STUDIO BRIEF 2 - It's Up To You

Brief

Design, develop and produce an information pack that effectivey communicates or promotes you as an individual, designer and learner. You will need to reflect on the first year of the programe and aim to communicate what you have learned, the skills you have developed and how you see yourself applying them in the future. You should  also aim to communicate the context of your interest by referencing specific designers, studios, principles and audiences where necessary. You should use this brief as an opportunity to explore, develop and demonstrate content, processes and areas of design that interets you at this point in time and may indicate your emerging creative concerns in Graphic Design.

Background / Considerations

Your resolution to this brief should be a representation of what YOU see as important as an individual designer and learner in light of what you have learned on the programme to date. You will need to consider the following: Who are you now? What have you learned? What skills do you have? What do you know? What do you believe? In answering these questions remember that your design practice is informaed by a broad range of social, ethical, creative and professional concerns. What are they. What information do you need to include? and what formats can you use to effectively communicate or promote this information? What tone of voice best reflects you, your practice anf your ambitions?  What experiences have shaped your opinions and views both in and outside of te programme? What are your creative concerns, opinions and beliefs and how do you communicate these practically, conceptually a practically? Wht has informed these decsions and who are the contextual references that reflect your individual focus? What is 'Brand You'? Your visual identity will help tie the information together. What fonts, formats,colours and productio methods will help communicate and enhance your content.

COP Evaluation

CoP Evaluation

Overall the CoP module has been useful. It has given me an understanding of the conceptual side behind Graphic Design and Artwork.

 Throughout the study tasks, it has helped me to reinforce concepts such as, connotations and denotations, and semiotics behind an image or piece of graphics. This is something that I didn't know about before. Overall, it gave me an insight and understanding of conceptual thinking and writing.

Writing the essay helped to bring everything I had learnt together. I was lucky to achieve a B in English Literature A Level, so it was good revision for me to write an essay.  

From my essay I decided that my publication would be a book on women in the 1960s, looking at the fashion trends, mods, and the change in roles and that it was acceptable for a women to be independent and single. I had already done quite a bit of research due to the nature of my essay, being about women portrayed in perfume advertising, as well as doing some research outside on the essay, purely because of self interest in advertising and fashion.

PPP: Publication Evaluation

Publication Evaluation

Below is my evaluation for my visual outcome for Context of Practice (OUGD401)

My essay compared how women are portrayed through advertising, and how women are sexual objectified. The main thing I concluded from my essay was that looking into advertisements had fascinated me. The way we are constantly bombarded with subliminal messages, into spending our money. That advertising is unquestionably powerful and persuasive- encouraging and demonstrating the ideals of glamour, sophistication and quality through women roles. Overall, Advertising enlightens and inspires, reflects values, hopes and dreams whilst questioning social norms and attitudes. Marshall McLuhan states, ‘Advertising is the greatest art form of the twentieth century’ (Advertising Age) and I could not agree more. Simply put, an advert will change the way you think or feel if you let it.

From this I decided that my publication would be a book on women in the 1960s, looking at the fashion trends, mods, and the change in roles and that it was acceptable for a women to be independent and single. I had already done quite a bit of research due to the nature of my essay, being about women portrayed in perfume advertising, as well as doing some research outside on the essay, purely because of self interest in advertising and fashion.

The main thing, I knew I wanted to combine was my love of women fashion and 1960s in a book. An A5 saddle stitched  book seemed like the most appropriate type of production. I think makes the Format of my essay relevant to the Content.

The aim of my book was to show a range of photographs and inform readers about women in the 1960s with a description of a trend and talk about them and how they changed women roles. My research translated very nicely into content, although for this project I had to research more specifically into fashion photography. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it interesting.

Overall, I am happy with how my publication has turned out. I took my brief slightly further by creating a tumblr which has already got a few followers, which I've try to regularly posting/re-blogging photographs .

Printing Visit/Pression

Today we had a trip to Pression, a local printers just outside Leeds in Bramley. I really enjoyed the day, seeing the printers in action was fascinating as well as what they product. The day gave me a real insight. 

This was clear foil stamped onto paper using this plate below.

Printer in action.