Evaulation ougd203

Evaluation ougd203

BA (Hons.) GRAPHIC DESIGN	LEVEL	05
Module Code	OUGD203

END OF MODULE SELF-EVALUATION

NAME

Chloe Wilkinson

1.  What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them? Throughout this module I have really started to understand how I work and the sort of work that I appreciate. Visually I have become a lot more aware of what I am looking at in everyday life and most importantly why I like it. This in itself has helped me a great deal in designing for both the Peacocks YCN brief and also the Scarlet Whisky brief that was edited to help me head in a direction of design that I wanted to explore further.  Throughout the beginning of this year I found it hard to completely work a brief out in my head, never really grasping and the basics of my intention. Identifying a few of the issues (problem/audience/context/method/delivery) was a tricky part for me, especially my method of delivery. I could identify a problem but could not come up with a concept that ever seemed to work.  With the Peacocks brief I could see that there was obviously no identity for the company, especially one that was coherent or complimentary to the brand. It seemed obvious as to what they needed to do and this problem solving was something that I could get my head round for the first time. With regards to projects earlier in the year, my ideas were always something that had been done, or became compromised with limitations such as relevance.  With regards to technical skills, I have really started to work with illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. I feel that I am using each of them appropriately too. Before this project my knowledge of Photoshop has been rather limited, but for this module, especially the Whisky brief I have really tried to learn more and take my designs to the next level. Tools such as 3D revolve and extrude and bevel has really helped me. But generally my skills have been drastically improved once again. (Still a lot more to learn though).  My working process has also really started to become a lot more practical, rather than academically analysing something and then coming up with a resolution in response to this, I have started to design, then use my research to inform my designing. I hope this is evidenced with regards to my context blog.
2. What approaches to/methods of design production have you developed and how have they informed your design development process? As mentioned earlier, I think that my design production has become a lot more informed with regards to linking what I am seeing to what I am doing. And as silly as that sounds, it’s made a big difference. I spend a lot of my time reading different things from blogs, to magazines, to way finding in shops, to posters and flyers etc. Despite knowing what I like, I've never made the connection. With this module I have tried to identify what I like in design. SO for example, with regards to the logo for the Scarlet Whisky, I took a lot from what I was seeing, from fashion logos, to signage that I liked and tried to find a common ground that was still relevant for the product.  With this method of designing it also meant that I actually quite like my designs. Obviously, once immediately finished I can see how and where I could improve/change however, I believe this is one of my strongest modules yet. If it does not translate to grades wise then I feel have got something really wrong as this module it feels as the penny has dropped. I can see a brief, analyse it and then answer it. (Hopefully).  Knowledge from more specific parts of the course such as the type module/designing for print/design for screen/ and others. has all started to come together to result in considered mediums and tones of voice, that are hopefully relevant to the target audience. Basically, an accumulation of the past 2 years work has, for me, slowly started to come together.  This has also been the first time when we have seriously started to collaborate with college projects. This has been something that I can really recognise the benefits of, and can recognise that generally I do enjoy another person’s impact. It made me realise that just doing half the work each was something that I found quite hard, it was quite tricky to get started and to identify what sort of outcome we wanted. So I think then we worked out a few things, it became easier to design together in a more effective way. This is something that I will definitely learn from. I think when deciding on issues such as target audience etc., discuss the design plan as well. Communication was vital for that brief, and this is something that I have recognised with regards to the entire module. Working with people around you is something that can really help; this is also helped by the improvement in our crits. Everyone has seemed to have taken the work bought to crits up but for the feedback and discussions to be much more useful and effective.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these? My strengths with regards to this module is a keen eye for quite corporate briefs. I have enjoyed working with a logo and recognising where the relevance of each target audience is. Although, I can see that I have chosen quite similar target audiences, and this is something that I do want to try and diversify. The 'corporateness' of these projects has allowed me to imagine the resolutions in the 'real world', I think I have achieved outcomes that are not unrealistic but consider the problem/audience and delivery well with notice of the context. Other previous projects have been quite hard for me due to the fact I could not envisage the outcome. The reality and chance that this could be achieved is something that helps my work, thus resulting in the strength I have of considering the aspects of the consumer.  Another strength is my broad range of products. I have tried to create a variety of promotional pieces. From both digital media and printed branding. I have created outcomes that all create a strong cohesive identity. I think everything fits well together and nothing looks out of place. Altogether the range is strong with an effective tone of voice. I have tried to also consider how to take the project further; I have the belief that a client will always want something more, so offering other suggestions is something I have tried to do to offer added information. With regards to my boards I have also tried to adopt a good tone of voice, trying to communicate professionally with the input of my research and factual reinforcement, which I think, gives strength to my pitch.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in the future? My main weakness within this project is the lack of printed media, especially with regards to the Scarlet Whisky brief, I have proposed all of my outcomes, and this is something that I believe is a weakness. With specific reference to things such as the packaging and the invitation where I think the final outcomes would have really benefitted from an understanding of the stock and how it was to interact. Another positive would have been regarding the size of things. Another part of the project that I think I have neglected slightly is an element of more adventurous design, I have stuck to quite stereotypical formats, I hope to try and experiment and take more risks with regards to my projects. I have realised that I don't use colour a lot in my work, and if I hadn't have been working with Claudia in the YCN brief, I probably wouldn’t have been so brave with the use of it. This is something that I need to work on so that I can broaden my knowledge and general designing.
5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these? 1.              Print out final outcomes to ensure a further understanding of the print process and appropriateness of stocks. 2.              As always, improve my time management, especially with regards to blogging - to improve the level of personal understanding and record making so that my thought/design process is more apparent.  3.              With regards to my further considerations, I would like to design more environmental advertising such as way finding. I think that this form of promotion is something that I need to explore. 4.              I wish I could have produced some editorial pieces as I enjoy working with type and want to further my knowledge in regards to this. 5.              Explore colour, to increase further knowledge.
Attendance - 5
Punctuality - 5
Motivation - 4
Commitment - 4
Quantity of work produced - 4
Quality of work produced - 4
Contribution to the group - 4