Saturday, 18 December 2010
Friday, 17 December 2010
What If.. Final Designs
Website
Blog posts and updates.
Features many photographs of graffiti in Leeds, categorised by their location.
Image enlarged when clicked.
Interactive Google Maps showing its whereabouts.
Poster
Flyers
Presentation Boards
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
What If... Self Evaluation
What problem did you identify?
As a group, our collective theme was the visual landscape in Leeds. Graffiti is a problem all over the UK and most evidently, in Leeds. However, the majority of people ridicule this artform due to its negative associations - it is usually seen in areas where crime is rife, deters businesses from moving into the area etc. We therefore wanted to change the negative stigma into a positive one and try to make the artform more socially acceptable - though not to encourage it.
What evidence did you find to support your decisions?
As a group, we initially looked into graffiti individually to find any important articles, statistics or facts which would help support that this is a current problem which needs to be solved. You can find my research here. Alongside this, Chris and Yafet asked a diverse range of people from all ages their views on graffiti in Leeds to gain insight whether residents believe it is a true problem.
What methods did you use to gather your evidence and what forms did it take?
The majority of our research was secondary and that consisted of looking at news articles, statistics and facts. This originated from the Leeds government website and a wide range of other sites publishing their own findings. Yafet and Chris also asked for peoples views and opinions on graffiti - though no statistical date was involved; this formed our qualitative research. However, we realised that we lacked in primary quantitative research therefore, aforementioned, we devised further surveys and questionnaires to ask the residents on the graffiti what they thought of graffiti through yes or no questions. This enabled us to devise percentages, statistics and figures alongside a specific question which we could then present in an informative way. We also took photographs of graffiti around Leeds to show graffiti is evident and it therefore may be seen as a destructive or negative art form.
What methods of research did you find useful and why?
I believe the primary quantitative research most informative as we could display, effectively and concisely, the true views of people in Leeds and not just the odd, worded opinion we found in a news article from a few years ago. However, there were some facts and statistics which we would be unable to find therefore secondary research proved effective, also.
How did these inform your response to your problem?
We needed the primary research to gain insight into what people thought of graffiti in Leeds. If all the responses proved that no-one deemed it as a negative artform, there was no point trying to solve an unrealistic problem.
What methods did you encounter as problematic?
Although we asked a diverse range of people in Leeds, we could ask even more residents to obtain a more substancial amount of research - however, this was not necessary for this as it was evident that graffiti was deemed a problem. The secondary research was gathered from various sources therefore the content in another may be exaggerated due to the biased nature of the article or the complete opposite etc. We therefore did not know if it was 100% accurate hence why the primary research was the most effective.
How did you overcome this?
Aforementioned, we devised our own surveys and questionnaires and formulated these into charts to display in our presentation.
What research could you have carried out that would have proved more useful?
Although we sourced many worded opinions and factual data, all of this was proving that graffiti was deemed as socially unnaceptable and therefore formed the problem we needed to solve. However, we could have researched the positives in more depth to strengthen our ideas.
Five things that I have learnt about the design process:
1) You should not settle on one idea based on a limited amount of research but explore a range of possible design solutions instead.
2) Gather an extensive amount of research and target a more specific area suited to the problem rather than covering something far too broad and ultimately useless.
3) Research is as important as the final outcome - without proper knowledge, the outcome will not be as successful if you looked at the root of the problem in more depth.
4) Continue researching and gathering information throughout the design process instead of following a forumulated plan i.e. Research for 1 week, development for the next 2 and final outcome for the final week.
5) Gather research from all possible sources - don't rely on websites for information.
As a group, our collective theme was the visual landscape in Leeds. Graffiti is a problem all over the UK and most evidently, in Leeds. However, the majority of people ridicule this artform due to its negative associations - it is usually seen in areas where crime is rife, deters businesses from moving into the area etc. We therefore wanted to change the negative stigma into a positive one and try to make the artform more socially acceptable - though not to encourage it.
What evidence did you find to support your decisions?
As a group, we initially looked into graffiti individually to find any important articles, statistics or facts which would help support that this is a current problem which needs to be solved. You can find my research here. Alongside this, Chris and Yafet asked a diverse range of people from all ages their views on graffiti in Leeds to gain insight whether residents believe it is a true problem.
What methods did you use to gather your evidence and what forms did it take?
The majority of our research was secondary and that consisted of looking at news articles, statistics and facts. This originated from the Leeds government website and a wide range of other sites publishing their own findings. Yafet and Chris also asked for peoples views and opinions on graffiti - though no statistical date was involved; this formed our qualitative research. However, we realised that we lacked in primary quantitative research therefore, aforementioned, we devised further surveys and questionnaires to ask the residents on the graffiti what they thought of graffiti through yes or no questions. This enabled us to devise percentages, statistics and figures alongside a specific question which we could then present in an informative way. We also took photographs of graffiti around Leeds to show graffiti is evident and it therefore may be seen as a destructive or negative art form.
What methods of research did you find useful and why?
I believe the primary quantitative research most informative as we could display, effectively and concisely, the true views of people in Leeds and not just the odd, worded opinion we found in a news article from a few years ago. However, there were some facts and statistics which we would be unable to find therefore secondary research proved effective, also.
How did these inform your response to your problem?
We needed the primary research to gain insight into what people thought of graffiti in Leeds. If all the responses proved that no-one deemed it as a negative artform, there was no point trying to solve an unrealistic problem.
What methods did you encounter as problematic?
Although we asked a diverse range of people in Leeds, we could ask even more residents to obtain a more substancial amount of research - however, this was not necessary for this as it was evident that graffiti was deemed a problem. The secondary research was gathered from various sources therefore the content in another may be exaggerated due to the biased nature of the article or the complete opposite etc. We therefore did not know if it was 100% accurate hence why the primary research was the most effective.
How did you overcome this?
Aforementioned, we devised our own surveys and questionnaires and formulated these into charts to display in our presentation.
What research could you have carried out that would have proved more useful?
Although we sourced many worded opinions and factual data, all of this was proving that graffiti was deemed as socially unnaceptable and therefore formed the problem we needed to solve. However, we could have researched the positives in more depth to strengthen our ideas.
Five things that I have learnt about the design process:
1) You should not settle on one idea based on a limited amount of research but explore a range of possible design solutions instead.
2) Gather an extensive amount of research and target a more specific area suited to the problem rather than covering something far too broad and ultimately useless.
3) Research is as important as the final outcome - without proper knowledge, the outcome will not be as successful if you looked at the root of the problem in more depth.
4) Continue researching and gathering information throughout the design process instead of following a forumulated plan i.e. Research for 1 week, development for the next 2 and final outcome for the final week.
5) Gather research from all possible sources - don't rely on websites for information.
Monday, 22 November 2010
OUGD101 - End of Module Self-Evaluation
Module Code: OUGD101
Module Title: Design Principles
Name: Joe Warburton
Blog Address: http://www.j-warburton1013.blogspot.com
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1) What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?
Previous to starting this course, I was far more comfortable using computer based programs and software as opposed to hand-rendered media. However, I have experimented using paper crafting and a combination of hand-rendered and computer generated design to create the most effective outcomes in the briefs. For example, the first part of the Alphabet Soup brief required us to create 10 letterforms, at A6 scale, based on the word 'Flatten'. Rather than immediately using the computer to devise the outcome, I used hand-crafting to create the letterforms. This was received well in the crit and I was surprised how pleased I was with the final outcome along with how much I enjoyed using different techniques and processes.
2) What approached to/methods of research have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?
I constantly search for inspiring works which influence my own work in some way - both directly and indirectly. I have referenced some designs as part of the 'What is Graphic Design?' brief as inspiration for my other projects throughout the development process of each outcome but the majority of my research was for the 'No News is Good News' brief as we were required to collect primary research including opinions, facts, words, images and statistics as opposed to design research. This gave me a wider insight into the topic (in this case, Facebook) and rather than following my immediate response to the two briefs, I used the research as reference and a basis for the development phases.
3) What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?
Aforementioned, although I have experimented with hand-rendered processes in these first few projects, I will begin to capitalise and expand my knowledge on computer based software. I am most comfortable with Adobe Photoshop but I believe I have adequate skills when it comes to Adobe Illustrator also, especially after using it for the later briefs.
4) What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?
I usually seem to stick with one idea which I think would be the most effective and ignore all other possibilities. However, I need to make sure I explore as many routes as possible in order to devise a wide range of design ideas which I could then choose to develop and explore in more depth. I am not completely happy with my final resolutions as there is always something which I can improve.
5) Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
1 - Explore many possible routes so I am able to develop some in more depth, thus creating a more thorough body of work.
2 - Plan more ideas on paper rather than developing ideas in my head. I will note down and explore ideas on design sheets so I am able to visualise my thought processes.
3 - Carry a notebook at all times to write/draw ideas, words, things that interest me etc which will all ultimately aid the design process.
4) Blog work/research as soon as possible so posts do not back-date. Although for the majority, I am organised and structured with my work, there are incidents where I realise I should have posted something a while ago. This will make sure I am not wondering whether there is something I need to update.
5) (Will update)
Attendance = 4
Punctuality = 5
Motivation = 4
Commitment = 5
Quantity of work produced = 3
Quality of work produced = 3/4
Contribution to the group = 2
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Sunday, 7 November 2010
No News is Good News - Feedback
Rather than our usual crit, we were split into 2 groups and were asked to fill in 2 or more sheets on someone elses work anonymously. This way, you are able to give honest constructive criticism and/or praise without having to tell them directly. These are the 2 feedback sheets I received.
Points I can work on:
- Make sure slight change in colour behind Facebook logo is removed
- Simplify image design for those without any knowledge on this feature
Points I can work on:
- Experiment with different compositions
- Enlarge point size of text
Final outcomes
Monday, 18 October 2010
Alphabet Soup Part 2 - Evaluation
Which personality traits did you choose to respond to and apply to the typeface?
I chose to use 'Academic', 'Precise' and 'Neat' as I believed these were the best to convey through type. They all had similar connotations and all relate to each other in some way. From the initial conversation with Beth, we discovered we were similar in some aspects - the main being these 3 words therefore out final outcomes conveyed these words effectively but in a completely different form.
What are the reasons behind the design decisions you have made for the typeface?
My immediate response to the aforementioned words was to incorporate geometric shapes and logic to the letterforms. I experimented using different shapes, both 2D and 3D and lines, evident in my final outcome. I chose an uppercase alphabet as the straight lines in the majority of the letterforms allowed me to show the technique effectively.
In what ways are the results effective?
I believe the words I chose to reflect Beth's personality are present in the design. 'Precise' and 'Neat' are shown through the detail and the logic used whereas 'Academic' is portrayed through the mathematical aspect. I was pleased with the final outcome. However, I wish to re-create the letterforms in lowercase using the same process but adapting it differently. Most uppercase letters consist of straight lines whereas this is the opposite to lowercase letters therefore the concept may be challenging. I want to overcome this and create a full typeface which is consistent throughout.
Final outcome:
I chose to use 'Academic', 'Precise' and 'Neat' as I believed these were the best to convey through type. They all had similar connotations and all relate to each other in some way. From the initial conversation with Beth, we discovered we were similar in some aspects - the main being these 3 words therefore out final outcomes conveyed these words effectively but in a completely different form.
What are the reasons behind the design decisions you have made for the typeface?
My immediate response to the aforementioned words was to incorporate geometric shapes and logic to the letterforms. I experimented using different shapes, both 2D and 3D and lines, evident in my final outcome. I chose an uppercase alphabet as the straight lines in the majority of the letterforms allowed me to show the technique effectively.
In what ways are the results effective?
I believe the words I chose to reflect Beth's personality are present in the design. 'Precise' and 'Neat' are shown through the detail and the logic used whereas 'Academic' is portrayed through the mathematical aspect. I was pleased with the final outcome. However, I wish to re-create the letterforms in lowercase using the same process but adapting it differently. Most uppercase letters consist of straight lines whereas this is the opposite to lowercase letters therefore the concept may be challenging. I want to overcome this and create a full typeface which is consistent throughout.
Final outcome:
Friday, 15 October 2010
Alphabet Soup Part 2
Alphabet Soup Rational
Final Crit
During our final crit, I noted down several things which I could work on in the week I have available. These included:
- Design a lowercase alphabet using the same concept.
- Use the typeface in context through words, sentences, in large and small scale.
- Use thinner lines & bolder outlines to create more of an impact and so the letterforms are defined.
Also, the pen I used tended to smudge and bleed when drawing on high quality tracing paper therefore the finish was not as aesthetically pleasing as I'd hoped. I will therefore use a pen more suited to my design and produce another outcome.
Final Crit
During our final crit, I noted down several things which I could work on in the week I have available. These included:
- Design a lowercase alphabet using the same concept.
- Use the typeface in context through words, sentences, in large and small scale.
- Use thinner lines & bolder outlines to create more of an impact and so the letterforms are defined.
Also, the pen I used tended to smudge and bleed when drawing on high quality tracing paper therefore the finish was not as aesthetically pleasing as I'd hoped. I will therefore use a pen more suited to my design and produce another outcome.
Final outcome
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Alphabet Soup - Self Evaluation
What is being communicated and how?
The word I selected was 'flatten'. Rather than choosing my immediate response - to flatten or squash the letter in height - I decided to go with a different route. The idea of flatpacking soon came to mind after my research and I wanted to present the letters in a compact form. Using lines of symmetry, I extracted half of a letter and folded this over, revealing the entirety of the letterform; this can then be folded back into the paper in reference to the flatpack concept.
How well does this answer the brief?
The response from the group crit was positive and I believe it connotes the word effectively. However, I wish I explored more ideas and concepts and experimented with other techniques and processes to expand on developmental work.
How well has the idea been visually explored?
Aforementioned, I believe I could have devised more ideas in order to create a thorough body of work. Although I chose 2 ideas - flatpacking and 3D letterforms from my initial mind map, I did not explore them both in as much depth as I'd liked. Also, my concept of flatpacking through lines of symmetry will not work for all letters therefore I would need to find a way to overcome this.
What are the strengths of the resolution?
Again, I received positive feedback in the group crit and we all had very different resolutions - showing how the brief can be interpreted in so many ways. Although my designs were very minimalist, I believe it communicates the word I chose well. I was worried that the outcomes may be too simplistic but overall, I was pleased.
How could it be improved?
Not all letters in the alphabet have lines of symmetry and this was the main basis of my concept. If I were to do this again or even carry on with the idea by creating all letterforms, I would need to find a solution to this. Also, I believe the outcome could be improved by spending more time extracting the letters.
General comments
As the majority of my work is created digitally, I am more comfortable using Adobe programs, for example, to achieve my final outcomes. However, I wanted to explore a more "hands on" approach by creating hand-rendered outcomes so I am very pleased with the result.
The word I selected was 'flatten'. Rather than choosing my immediate response - to flatten or squash the letter in height - I decided to go with a different route. The idea of flatpacking soon came to mind after my research and I wanted to present the letters in a compact form. Using lines of symmetry, I extracted half of a letter and folded this over, revealing the entirety of the letterform; this can then be folded back into the paper in reference to the flatpack concept.
How well does this answer the brief?
The response from the group crit was positive and I believe it connotes the word effectively. However, I wish I explored more ideas and concepts and experimented with other techniques and processes to expand on developmental work.
How well has the idea been visually explored?
Aforementioned, I believe I could have devised more ideas in order to create a thorough body of work. Although I chose 2 ideas - flatpacking and 3D letterforms from my initial mind map, I did not explore them both in as much depth as I'd liked. Also, my concept of flatpacking through lines of symmetry will not work for all letters therefore I would need to find a way to overcome this.
What are the strengths of the resolution?
Again, I received positive feedback in the group crit and we all had very different resolutions - showing how the brief can be interpreted in so many ways. Although my designs were very minimalist, I believe it communicates the word I chose well. I was worried that the outcomes may be too simplistic but overall, I was pleased.
How could it be improved?
Not all letters in the alphabet have lines of symmetry and this was the main basis of my concept. If I were to do this again or even carry on with the idea by creating all letterforms, I would need to find a solution to this. Also, I believe the outcome could be improved by spending more time extracting the letters.
General comments
As the majority of my work is created digitally, I am more comfortable using Adobe programs, for example, to achieve my final outcomes. However, I wanted to explore a more "hands on" approach by creating hand-rendered outcomes so I am very pleased with the result.
Alphabet Soup - Final designs
These are the 10 A6 letterforms based on the word, flatten. The majority of letters in the alphabet have lines of symmetry so I took advantage of this by using this line to fold a letterform in half - this in result is 'flat-packing' the letter and presenting it in a compact form.
Monday, 27 September 2010
Personal Targets
We were asked to devise 10 'targets' which we wish to achieve during our first year on the course.
1) Experiment more with hand-rendered typography and image
2) Look into the history and contextual side of graphic design in more depth
3) Use traditional printing techniques
Aforementioned, I primarily design using standard printing techniques creating deliverables such as posters, flyer etc but I want to experiment with more materials and use diverse techniques.
4) Document my work and research effectively on the blogs
5) Focus more on typography
6) Create packaging in future projects
7) Gain experience in book binding/making
8) Become more organised - have good time management
9) Be more confident in presentations/public speaking
10) To constantly try new things
1) Experiment more with hand-rendered typography and image
The majority (if not all) of my work is digital therefore I want to expand my knowledge using all media
2) Look into the history and contextual side of graphic design in more depth
3) Use traditional printing techniques
Aforementioned, I primarily design using standard printing techniques creating deliverables such as posters, flyer etc but I want to experiment with more materials and use diverse techniques.
4) Document my work and research effectively on the blogs
I have never used a blog to document my work before therefore this process is completely alien. However, I want to make sure that everything I post is organised, well analysed and answers the brief effectively.
5) Focus more on typography
6) Create packaging in future projects
7) Gain experience in book binding/making
Something which I have always been interested in but lacked tools and training in my national diploma course.
8) Become more organised - have good time management
9) Be more confident in presentations/public speaking
10) To constantly try new things
Sunday, 26 September 2010
"How to..." Rational & Evaluation
HOW TO... RATIONAL
EVALUATION
What role(s) did you take on in the group?
General design ideas and putting them into practice/preparing them for print - we all worked on all aspects in some way.
How well do you think you performed in the role(s)?
I tried to input as many ideas as possible and believe I worked well as a team member.
How well do you think you worked as a group?
We all put forward our suggestions, took a role in design work and collectively, created an outcome which solved the original problem effectively.
What were the positives of working in a group?
Rather than following one specific design route, we were all able to put across our own ideas and feedback in order to create the most effective outcome.
What were the negatives of working in a group?
Within the time constraints, it was difficult to all meet up as a group outside of college times.
What will you do differently next time?
I would make sure the design/s are consistent throughout all media/outcomes to provide a consistent and ongoing theme.
Where could you have improved your resolution?
Aforementioned, I would keep a consistent identity so each deliverable looked part of a set rather than several individual designs. However, this was hard to maintain/plan in the small amount of time we had.
What were the strengths of your presentation?
I believe our concept/answer in relation to the brief was evident throughout and all of the group had something to say during the presentation.
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