1. What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?
This module has allowed me to explore a diverse range of media outcomes for an assortment of set projects. For the Communication is a virus brief, for example, we created an installation piece in Leeds consisting of bunting, posters, 3D boxes and leaflets that kept a consistent identity but applied in an unusual way. It allowed me to experiment with an approach I was unfamiliar with, giving insight into what can actually be achieved and how.
Ongoing self-analysis was key. Unlike other modules, I wanted to evaluate and review my work consistently and this was evident especially in the Speaking from Experience brief. Typically, I set on one idea during the initials stages of the development process, forcing myself not to explore and develop other concepts. However, the suggestions noted in the progress crit influenced my designs significantly as I changed my initial concept in order to coincide with the feedback I received.
2. What approaches to/methods of research have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?
As this was the last module, I wanted to apply everything I have learnt in the first year in order to gather a diverse range of information from a variety of sources, both primary and secondary. Throughout the set time scale, research was ongoing and it was constantly affecting my design choices – whether this be a change in user activity on a website or simply a choice of colour; it was all affected by ongoing research. However, the forms of this aforementioned research were relatively generic; I used the internet, for the most part, to gather secondary research whereas the primary research was in the form of questionnaires and surveys. In the past year, I have collected and resourced many design-orientated sites and blogs, which I believe, has influenced my approach to graphic design for the best. It has provided a mass resource of design applied in various media.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?
I constantly strive to create an aesthetically pleasing design, which not only answers the brief effectively, but gives my design work on a whole, a sense of identity and personality. However, I am still not sure whether this is evident in my designs.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?
As the first year on this course is centered on experimentation and trying new ideas, I should have tried to apply my design work to multiple forms of media and not stick solely with digital/web. Although familiar with these processes, other deliverables, techniques and processes would provide me with a range of design choices. In future assignments, although now graded and more focused, I will try to address other possible outcomes and create a thorough body of work to show I have explored all aspects.
5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
Constantly review my work in reference to the brief. Simply re-reading the brief and making sure what it outlines is applied to my work will be the difference between a pass and a fail.
Always ask for feedback – whether it be off the tutors or my peers and no matter what form of response I get, it will always prove beneficial.
Don’t leave things to the last minute. In the Speaking from Experience brief, I intended to create a fully functioning, interactive website but this was not feasible in the time scale I set. Although I am able to create a design interface and user interaction for a website, I have limited knowledge of coding and transforming a still design into a functioning site. I therefore had to ask a friend to help me out. I hope to research more into this field, however, so I can apply the technique to future design outcomes.
Explore a range of concepts. Don’t just stick with the initial idea as this will probably not be the best answer to the brief. I need to devise a thorough project plan so I don’t become too ahead of myself and begin designing during the initial stages where I should still be exploring new ideas.
Use different media. Don’t just use what I familiar with – think outside the box.
Some final designs
Speaking from experience
Website can be viewed here and relevant work including signage icons etc can be found on my design practice blog.
InDesign Workshop
Despite a lack of organisation, I really enjoyed this brief, especially experimenting with primary sourced photographic imagery and text using InDesign. Although I used the program during my last course, I was able to develop my skills even more through the software workshop and simply through experimentation and manipulation. Although the context aspect was evident - through thorough research etc, I wish I looked at more possible design outcomes though this is probably due to the lack of initial designs.
