OUGD502 PPP2: 5 things

OUGD502
PPP2
STUDY TASK 1
5 THINGS


Identify and explain 5 reasons why you chose to study on this programme.

Reputation- The first reason and most attractive reason was the reputation of BAGD at Leeds college of art, The calibre and diversity of the alumni and seeing how far they had come. Originally I thought i would struggle to get a place on the course due to the competitiveness and large number of applicants with only 50 students selected. I also came to the course straight from A level and doubted my chances of being accepted to the course due to the lack of art foundation, I was encouraged to apply for a local foundation course, but i have always been head strong and new that i wanted to study graphic design at Leeds College of Art. My graphic design tutor took a great deal of care in to preparing me for my interview, and helping me to produce a strong portfolio, always showing her belief in my skills. I also contacted a boy who studied at my sixth form college and was currently in his 3rd year on the graphic design course at LCA for tips and tricks for the interview process.

Challenging- I was really impressed with the work schedule presented at open days. I wanted to study on a course which was challenging and mentally stimulating, rather than a course where i was only in for a few hours a week. The course can be really intense and some times over powering but in my eyes this is a true reflection of working in industry and working against strict deadlines which is why i chose the course. The course challenges me on a regular basis to get as much out of it as possible.

Tutors- Fred Bates in particular was a selling point of the course for me. When i had my interview he was straight up, and to the point, not wrapping anything in cotton wool. He also came across driven and loved the course which made it even more inviting.  Although it was one particular tutor who made me want to study here i have realised the tutors as a whole are extremely driven, passionate and easy to get in contact with. Most tutors are interested in you as a person and your development throughout the year, as well as coming from different back grounds of design and still practicing along side teaching.

Focus on industry - The course was unlike any other that I had researched in to and visited as there was a strong focus on becoming a professional and preparing students for life after university.

Studio space - With the small year groups there was ample studio space. The small year groups also make the tutors a lot more personable and you feel like they really get to know you as a person and creative. The small year groups are also beneficial as you can track the progress of everyone on the course across year groups. It's more of a family as you know everyones name and personality, rather than going to a large university where you are viewed more of a number than a person.

Identify and explain 5 things that you want to learn during your time on the programme.

Professionalism - I want to learn how to conduct my self in a professional manner when looking for placements and jobs.

Print processes - I would like to focus more a varied range of print processes in order to utilise the resources around me and take full advantage of them while i can.

Web coding - Web coding seems to be something that scares everybody, I'd like to learn the basics of how to create a simple yet effective web design.

Finishing and crafting - Finishing and crafting are something i only started to put to good use towards the end of the year last year. This year i need to learn to take more pride in my work and produce professional looking design that looks as high quality as it can.

Identify and explain 5 skills that you think are your strengths.

Typography choices - I am good at selecting typefaces that work well together

Layout - I am good at creating grids and canons to aid the layout of my work

Photography - I think i have a good eye for photography, This is a strength but something i hope to utilise more throughout this year. My a level studies have also given me a good understanding of adobe photoshop and i can use the software professionally and with ease.

Presentation skills - I am confident when it comes to public speaking, i actually enjoy the pressure and nerves that you get before presenting.

Book binding - I am really interested in book binding methods and consider it a strength of mine.


Identify and explain 5 things that you want to improve.

Research - I think i need to improve on the breadth and depth of the research that i conduct. I need to consider a wider range of sources and make sure to undertake primary and secondary research in order to inform my practice.

Time management - A constant struggle of mine is time management, I need to learn to utilise my time better to get the most out of briefs.

Blogging - I need to improve on blogging my progression and making sure i don't let it suffer. When i get behind on blogging it makes it hard to go back and recollect what was happening at the time.
Print processes - I would like to focus more a varied range of print processes in order to utilise the resources around me and take full advantage of them while i can.

Collaborative practice - Collaborations haven't always been my strong point, and i often fade in to the background and find it hard to be assertive with my ideas and designs.



Identify and explain 5 ways that you will evaluate your progress.
Self evaluations

Referring to past blog posts

Crit feedback

Tutorials and tutor feedback

Grades and module feedback forms


Identify 5 questions that you want to find the answer to.

What kind of designer do I want to be?

What is my specialist area with in graphic design?

How do I charge clients properly?

How can I get more exposure and get recognised in the world of design?

How do I conduct my self professionally around prospective employees?


Identify and explain 5 things that inspire you.

Wallpaper magazine - I love the magazines layouts and design, they always have interesting articles on a wide range of design. I also love the creativity of the front cover designs, they are always imaginative and often cutting edge.

The Click design agency - The click design studio is an agency based in norwich my home town. I have followed the studio ever since they rebranded my sixth form college, they were the first studio that i really started to follow, They always come up with enervative and conceptual logo design that always inspire me.

My peers - I am always inspired by the people working around me. It is really interesting to see others around you developing their own practice in their own time. It is always motivational to see what others can produce on the same brief as what you are doing.

Behance - Like above it is inspiring to see what designers around the world are achieving. It is also interesting to see design from different countries and cultures.

Blogs - Design blogs such as, It's nice that, Designspiration, Pintrest, This is collate all provide daily inspiration.

Identify 10 examples of design that illustrate your fields of creative interest.

OUGD502 PPP2: Studio briefing

PPP2
OUGD502
STUDIO BRIEFING


This module focus's on personal & professional practice and intwines with other modules
4 main components

Research & evaluation 25%
Critical awareness & Analysis 25%
Problem analysis & project management 25%
Professionalism & communication 25%

- Contextual & ethical dimensions
- More in depth taking about copyright ect
- Start blogging on PPP


STUDY TASK

At the start of the PPP module at level 4 we were asked to identify 5 things that we wanted to improve. The study task set from this session was to reflect on the lists that we made

Identify and explain 5 things that you want to improve?

1: Awareness of target audience- Often design what I personally like and forget about the target audience and purpose of the design.

2: Drawing skills- I am not the most qualified drawer, although i would like to explore and try out bringing illustration into my work.

3: Team work- I am more comfortable working individually, i am not a very confrontational person and sometimes find it hard to speak out against something/someone.

4: Adobe editing suite- With so many programmes and tools available, i would like to experiment more and learn to use the amazing digital facilities at my finger tips.

5: Use of colour- Something that daunts me as it isn't a skill that comes naturally to me.

REFLECTION

1: Awareness of target audience - I think my awareness of target audience has improved no end, i now understand the purpose of a product, who it is aimed at and why it is aimed at that person. This is mainly down to my ability to research more in-depth and more efficiently.

2: Drawing skills - I don't think i have developed my drawing skills that much, but i don't necessarily see this as a bad thing. Instead of developing a skill that isn't relevant to my practice I have instead focussed on honing the existing skills i have as well as practicing new ones that are relevant to my practice, e.g. Screen printing.

3: Team work - I think that over the year i still struggled with collaborative briefs. I found it hard to speak up for my design decisions and what i believed to be right. This is down to my fear of confrontation and is a self confidence issue. I feel that as my design practice gets stronger and i become more confident in my work i will be able to be more assertive and out spoken and challenge other people's opinions.

4: Adobe editing suite - I think my adobe editing skills have developed a lot, I now feel more confident when using indesign and illustrator, rather than being dependent on photoshop which is actually the wrong tool for layout and graphic design. Over the summer i also challenged my self to use Illustrator in particular as that was a weakness in my knowledge in the adobe suite. I think i still have a long journey trying to master the skills needed to use the software efficiently and seamlessly between projects, however i have mad a start which i am pleased with.

5: Use of colour - I have discovered that i am actually in fact quite naturally aware of colour choices, contrary to my statement last year. I have always designed with muted and limited colour schemes and always thought i should be using a wider range, however i have now learned that you don't actually have to throw every colour under the sun in to a design to make it eye catching.

Over all on reflection i have come a long way since writing the list at level 04, but am of no illusion that i still have a long way to go, and so much more to learn, which is exciting and i can'twait to get started.

OUGD502 PPP2: 10 successes

OUGD502

PPP2

10 SUCCESSES

This morning we were asked as a group to think about 10 successes from first year. I quite liked this exercise as it made me realise just how much information and knowledge we have gained as a year group, and it gives me a strong incentive to start forward thinking for the year ahead and ensure that I achieve everything I hope to achieve.

As a group we came up with the following:

1. Screen printing
2. Using certain programme tools and short cuts
3. Management of time / punctuality
4. Management of money
5. Be more confident
6. Creative & theoretical writing
7. Summation feedback
8. Knowledge of contemporary resources
9. Collaborative work
10. Execution of work / printing
11. Module hand in structure
12. Workshops and skill development 

As a class we then came up with a second list:

1. Presentation skills
2. Feedback
3. Workshops
4. Independent
5. Research/Development
6. Understand time management
7. Working in/with groups
8. Confidence
9. Theoretical writing
10. Understand personal style

The next task was to come up with 10 personal things that we would like to be successful over the coming year.

MY FUTURE SUCCESSES:

1. Progressive and well managed blog

2. Improve knowledge and skills of adobe Illustrator

3. Learn fundamentals and basics of web coding

4. Professional finishing and crafting

5. Depth of research and sources

6: Working with clients

7: Utilising Behance and blogs for exposure

8: Considered and executed concept development

9: Self belief and self confidence in my work

10. Networking and meeting creative for possible business ventures.

11: Rounded knowledge of manual print processes (Screen print, foiling, etching) as well as be able to execute them effectively

OUGD402: PPP Presentation

Slide Transcript:

01. Hey everyone my names Samson and I’m a graphic design student. I’m 19 years old and from a small town in Suffolk called Beccles. Moving to Leeds was a slight culture shock for me, I’m used to the countryside and beaches as well as knowing the names of practically everyone in my town. I’ve always considered my self more of a city dweller, but moving to Leeds has taught me that the countryside will always be my home.

02. Moving to Leeds has been the best experience in so many ways and taught me valuable life lessons, before moving here its safe to say I was a bit of a mummy’s boy, I think mentally I have matured loads throughout the year I now know how to use a washing machine, I’m a pretty decent cook, but I still leave my dirty socks all over the place.

03. A change in attitude. Studying for my place on this course was pretty hard, I came straight from A levels, and wasn’t really expecting to get a place here. All in all I was a pessimist. I didn’t have any self belief and often thought my work was inadequate. Gaining a conditional offer on the course really helped boost my confidence and gave me a challenge to work towards in my A levels, it turned out pretty good and I was really pleased with my results. I still struggle with my confidence and self belief, but over the year I feel I have made real progress in changing my attitude towards my self, and try to be more optimistic in all areas of my life, not just my design work and studies.

04. As a designer I feel that I have developed lots over the past year, I feel that my development may have been slower to start with than others on the course and for a while I felt like I was just sailing through it, rather than relishing in the experience and challenging my self as much as possible. I think that as soon as I changed my attitude and started challenging myself a lot more my design worked began to improve; this is reflected in my grades that have continuously crept up, and will hopefully continue to do so.

05. I like clean modernist and functional design. I prefer organized uncluttered design with a clear purpose and meaning. I think over the past year my work has developed dramatically. I prefer muted, monotonous colour schemes with an injection of colour.

06. I think that I have number of strengths that I have shown this year, I think I am hard working and always passionate about what I am doing. I have used my photography skills for a number of briefs this year that has helped show a skill that I have. I think my strongest area of graphic design is editorial, but still want to experiment more within the other fields such as packaging and brand identity

07. Time management is still a major downfall in my work I think that I have made an effort to improve this throughout the year but it is still lacking. Not being well organized and on top of things has often left me feel anxious, nervous and stressed. In the last OUGD406 brief ‘Speaking From Experience’ I planned my time well and was finished in a good amount of time. I struggled with Group work briefs this year often afraid to say my piece and stand up for what I want to, this is something I need to work on. Before starting this degree I did all of my work on Photoshop, it was really hard to come out of my comfort zone and challenge my self to use these programs, I think I have a long way to go to develop my understanding of these but have made good progress this year to learn the basics.

08. The publication I designed for context of practice is my favourite and in my eyes strongest piece of work I have created whilst on the course. I think I had considered every aspect of design and produced a well thought out and planned design. I think that although this is my strongest piece of work it is let down by the essay component that I struggled with.

09. I wasn’t happy with this brief. I think it looks rushed and unprofessional. This is an example of work I left till the last minute, as a consequence its un developed and not up to standard.

10. I’ve found it really interesting learning about colour theory, it really interested me and I loved the scientific side to it. Time management has been a massive learning curve for me, I feel that I have learned what not to do… not leaving everything to the last minute, but I now need to make sure I practice what I preach. I have developed a basic understanding of some of the Adobe software but need to practice further. I have loved going to workshops this year, I’ve found them really interesting, unfortunately I haven't used the facilities such as the print room as much as I would like to but plan to do so next year.

11. I am inspired by a number of different things. In particular modernism an the Bauhaus. More current influences include Anthony Burrill, Massimo vignelli, isidro ferrer and Si Scott. I also have a subscription to Wallpaper magazine, which I love. I find inspiration from a number of different resources including blogs such as graphic design and tattoos, Designspiration.

12. Over the summer and during the 2^nd year I plan to develop my design work, as I feel I am now at a place where I know what I want to be doing but don’t have all the skills to get there. I want to visit lots of galleries and museums over the summer and maybe contact some agencies and designers that I like in order to start networking.

OUGD402: PPP It's Up Yo You

DESIGN PROCESS:

From my research i have decided to make a pack comprising of a business card, book and dvd form of my presentation. I'm planning on cresting a functional folder like design, rather than an elaborate over the top box.

LOGO DESIGN:

 

I was looking to create a logo that is clean simple and clear. This is the logo design I decided to use, I think it really shows mw as a designer. The letters play with the idea of hierarchy of text. The simple muted design is also highlighted by the bright pop of yellow used in the square. The 

BOOK DESIGN:

I Started off by creating some different thumbnails of proposed page layouts.

Here are some hand drawn layouts that i have created. I always find it easier to start with a paper and pen, and then move on digitally afterwards. I think that physically drawing layouts helps me visualise my ideas and realise them in a  more systematical way.

Next I moved on to digitalising my layouts. This helps me see my ideas in a regimented neater format.

This is my favourite layout thumbnail. I think it is simple and effective. I want to make sure my book is both legible and readable, choosing a simple page layout such as this will help aid that.

Here is one of my double page spreads. I have tried to make it consistent with my logo design by incorporating the yellow square.

I have used this layout throughout my book to help break up the repetition of the layout above. I think it works really well as a page breaker and adds a new dimension to the book.

BINDING:

For my binding process I decided to use a saddle stitch method which involved sewing the book together. I chose this method as I think it shows my interest in crafts and manual techniques. I also though it would add a personal touch and high quality finish to the book.

I started the process by making holes down the spine of the book, making sure they were evenly spaced, and there was an odd amount of holes.

Contact information flyer.

CD case

OUGD406 Speaking From Experience: Evaluation

EVALUATION:

I think that over all my work for this brief was good. I feel that i created a decent amount of work for the time period provided. My work developed as the weeks progressed and my end result had strayed from my original brief slightly, however i think it serves the purpose and if i was a first year student i would be pleased to receive this. I also increased the work load adding a publication after it was suggested from one of the crits that i needed enough work to show for the whole period of the brief.

I think that the downfall of my project was time management, unfortunately i didn't plan my time sufficiently enough and consequently didn't get to try as many different techniques as i wanted to. Saying this, i think that the method of production i chose suited my end result. 

OUGD406: Speaking from experience Crit

CRIT:

In prior preparation for the crit we had to produce a set of design boards outlining our concept, method of production and method of distribution. We had to present our initial ideas to Simon and 3 of the 3rd year students as well as a selection of our peers.

FEED BACK:

The general feedback that I received from the crit was positive. Everyone like my ideas. One of the 3rd years mentioned that my design boards above, looked like news paper articles, and maybe I should think about creating a publication to go the posters. This was something i had consider to make sure i had a decent proportion of work to show for the final submission. I think my crit went well, i need to start designing and generating ideas. Taking some designs to the crit would have proved more beneficial as i could have gained feedback from the content of my work, not just the concept.