PPD Presentation

Open publication - Free publishing - More level 5

SWOT analysis of studios

Better Brand Agency 

(S) A huge strength for award winning design studio Better is their vast amount of clients, it is evident therefore that they do not only create a great rapport with their customers encouraging returning business, but also improving their reputation and ensuring more and more clients. 


(W) Better seem to be driven by their corporate style, this could also be viewed as a strength because they have a clear idea of who they are as designers, therefore for potential clients this clarity could be attractive. I believe that this could also be viewed as a weakness due to the limitations and barriers created by them. They may create the image that they treat every business similarly and this may grow unattractive if they are not ensuring a personal service. 


(O) Their attractiveness to corporate companies means that they are involved with only a certain specific market sector, thus leaving other market areas. 


(T) The obvious threat of Better is their website, it creates a colloquial and friendly service that counteracts from their corporate outcomes so may confuse the message by their outcomes and create a mixed message. 

Fraser Muggeridge studio

(S) Another award winning design company, their strength lies within their strong client base that has been built through effective work and good communication.

(W) Despite having a large client base, they are an intimate team that are limited by the clients and briefs that they can take on to ensure the service they already produce.

(O) They have a clear market that they produce for, this means that they have become specialist for these particular clients and so create the best outcomes for the briefs. This is their USP and can create added value to their intimate service and effectively increase their demand. 

(T) Economically business' are having to make cuts to their spending and so due to their small client base, they are dependent on a smaller amount of companies, therefore creating a larger threat to them if these companies do not do as well as hoped, leading to spending cuts to their promotion and marketing department. 

Absolute.Design 


(S) Down to earth website seems to be their strongest asset, they have an in depth description of all of their areas and as this is the first port of call with potential clients, it creates a good dialogue with them


(W) Despite them stating that their location in Cornwall is a strength, I would identify this as their biggest weakness. Truro, Cornwall is fairly remote and this must lead to limitations in some areas such as potential client  relationships. 


(O) Their location being their weakness, is also an opportunity, business down in Cornwall is a niche market that many do not take the risk to tap into. If they can become dominant in this area then they will be less threatened than if they were in the centre of London.


(T) I found their main threat would be, like many other business', the reduction in business due to the economic climate. 

What next?

Since working at Science Ltd. and meeting Jason I had always hoped to go back there and at least have a chat with him. I have drafted this email...however I don't think my portfolio is strong enough yet so I am going to wait till after my internship with Sherry to talk to them and get some more experience and knowledge.

Further contact

 Contacting Paul at ZeroCollective. Still awaiting feedback so I think I will try and create something to post to them too or perhaps give them a call...

How I prepared for the interview...

I ordered a professional portfolio for my interview so I printed off an A3 version of my portfolio, I also designed a simplistic CD cover for a PDF version that I burnt onto a disc.

I planned to leave both the disc (pdf portfolio) and a business card with them.

A portfolio for my interview at Sherry Design

Open publication - Free publishing - More personal

Organising a summer internship!!

Branding

Logo for signature on emails

Business cards, duplexed with two layers of black card. 

CV

Advice - branding

Letterheads

• Put content in
• Practicality of type the company will use on the letter. Suggest optimum words per line. 
• If designing a letterhead tell them what font size and leading 
• Be aware that they may need to enter a reference number (usually top left), so very rarely fill that space. 
• Make sure you find out where things can't go. 
• No one reads sideways so if there needs to be some type added this can be helpful. 
• If transparency is dropped it will not effect the heirachy.

Business Cards

• Address - if no address then a website is good to create a sense of trustworthyness. 
• If no website then put home address but low heirachy. 
• Leading - good to give white space. 
• If 'GRAPHIC DESIGNER' is top heirachy then may appear experienced and confident. 
• Taking a 'trendy' typeface reduces the size of your target audience. 

Advice regarding info on CV

What to put in it?

name/contact/qualification

Industrial experience

• studio visits
• portfolio surgeries 
• live briefs (YCN)
• member of professional organisations - eg D&AD/YCN
• events - set up 
• pop up shops
• leeds book fair
• freelance
• collaborations
• enterprise

Professional Research 

• show
• conference
• new blood 
• visiting professionals

SHOW THAT YOURE A GOOD DESIGNER BY DESIGNING IT

Website//dreamweaver

Websites

Images of inspiration

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

Final Evaluation

BA (Hons.) GRAPHIC DESIGN	LEVEL	05
Module Code	OUGD202
Module Title	DESIGN PRODUCTION - DIGITAL

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 obviously learnt how to use after effects, something that I was worried about, however, it has surprised me in how much I have enjoyed it, and the learning process. Specifically I have learnt how to animate type, use the camera and also the light tool. Working with audio is also something I have learnt and improved on. I have applied this knowledge to my final idents and 60second sequences..The learning curve highlighted by the dramatic difference between the silent movies and final outcomes.  More personal skills I have learnt include: improved time management, better blogging, more consistency within my work and a more committed, effective work ethic.  With regards to this module I feel that it is the first module that I have kept my work consistent, especially with regards to pace and blogging. I am starting to work out how I work and to recognise my weaknesses. The improved issues above are where I have previously recognised as a weakness. So the biggest skill I have developed is addressing my weaknesses and changing how I work.
2. What approaches to/methods of design production have you developed and how have they informed your design development process? A key approach to my design production with this project was deciding on something with regards to final outcome planning. Previously I have noticed that I don't commit to an idea or concept early enough to get the most out of it, however, this module has forced me to make key decisions earlier.  The use of storyboarding is something that I have developed through this project and this has helped  allow me to plan my final outcome but in such a detailed way. This particular aspect was something that I really enjoyed, getting my thoughts down onto paper was really productive in not only planning my designing process but also to produce and extend on my ideas, taking them further and causing me to make more developed considerations.  I realise that blogging as research is a lot more effective, researching to actually find something out is something that has helped me with my design process, it allows me to make more informed decisions and hopefully resulting in a more effective way of working.  During this project I also got to learn how to use the laser cutter, this was something that I found interesting and useful, but sadly didn't apply it to this project, so next time I hope to design for this process and broaden my outcomes this way.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these? The main strength with regards to my work is the in depth analysis of target audience, recognising who would I was aiming my product at was something that became a strength. Understanding who the audience was also allowed me to consider why they'd be watching it, when and how. This lead to effective research. The research I carried was broad in terms of what I was looking at, different mediums and different extremes, but it was a lot specific because I was finding out information that was necessary and relevant for my project.  This lead to an outcome that was accurately designed for the right channel, and audience. It was something that I think worked well, each piece considered and not rushed.  Another strength in my work is the variety of options I considered, this was through extensive storyboarding, looking at both timing and composition. This was something I enjoyed, I found it particularly effective and allowed my work to become much more considered. I wasn't leaving important decisions such as layout till last minute.   I have really pushed for this project, putting in a lot more hours and trying to train myself to constantly be working, I have found working late and coming in on a Friday and Saturday something that has been effective, I hope that my outcome reflects this as I believe this is the module that has been the one where I have put everything into. Obviously, I can see weaknesses in my project. But personally, I can confidently say I have tried my hardest. I believe I have put more hours and effort into this project than any others. My commitment is something that I cannot fault.  With regards to the outcomes I believe that I have used the research effectively and been blogging constantly, trying to make every bit of time spent working, count.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in the future? The weaknesses I have noticed is in the variety of subject matter that I was looking at. I had hoped to look at broader mediums, allowing a diversity within my research. I think this would have made my final pieces more interesting and perhaps creative. Especially if I had looked at more specific motion graphics, not only researching film4 and frightfest but a broader range of channels allowing a comparison.  More research and primary research into the top ten films may have helped, but one thing that would have really improved my work would have been to be more adventurous within after effects, playing more with vectors and information might have lead to a more interesting outcome, with more content perhaps I could have created a more interesting opening sequence.
Blogging and time management is still something that I need to improve, the effectiveness of my time and blogging has really improved, but realistically I need to be blogging more and organising my thoughts with more clarity. I am worried that my ideas and intentions do not come across clearly. I have recognised that I overcomplicate my own concepts, and am worried that I convey this through my blogging. I think that I need to have more dexterity within my work and commit to my own concepts. Aim higher earlier, then achieve them.   I realise that the concepts I choose have not really ended up saying much about me, I want to work with projects that say something about me, rather than just randomly selected items. OR perhaps recognise what the current projects say, my personal development through this project has allowed me to realise that I want to build on my own identity as a designer as I feel this is a weakness, personally.
5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these? Decide on a concept earlier - this will allow me to broaden my research and really get into a project, which can only improve my final outcomes and depth of blogging.  Research more consistency and with more variety - Next time I intend to exhaust my research,  Organisation - with regards to my blogging, I feel I need to make my thought processes even more obvious as I am worried that it is hard to follow the way I have thought/worked. I am going to do this by using a diary next project, by making daily to do lists and objectives, writing my thoughts down and recording each decision made. This will be blogged and become part of my practice. Not only will this help with my organisation but hopefully deciding on a concept and research  - and everything (hopefully).  I will try to aim higher with regards to my creativity, not being limited by the audience or appropriateness but to get a big idea and think of how to make something stand out and become interesting through the difference.   Design for using the laser cutter, it was a shame I didn't consider it with reference to this project, but I am going to try and use this facility in the next few projects. Also, I want to try and screen print as I realise I have been limited in my final outcomes and this leaves me with quite a limited portfolio.
6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas:  (please indicate using an ‘x’)   5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
Attendance - 4
Punctuality - 5
Motivation - 5
Commitment - 4
Quantity of work produced - 5
Quality of work produced - 4
Contribution to the group - 5
The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.

Study Task 2 - What is industrial experience?

OUGD201 Self evaluation

BA (Hons.) GRAPHIC DESIGN		LEVEL	05
Module Code	OUGD201
Module Title	DESIGN PRODUCTION - PRINT

END OF MODULE SELF-EVALUATION

NAME

Chloe Wilkinson

BLOG. ADDRESS

http://c-wilkinson1013.blogspot.com/

1.  What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?
Throughout this module I have progressed and learnt an incredible amount, skills wise, I have built on my software knowledge. The mac suite sessions have taught me how to manage colour modes on indesign, photoshop and illustrator.  I have also learnt through the demands of the briefs, how to organise files with the final intention of print. My researching for this module is also something I am beginning to really develop, especially for the manual brief, learning how to use issu has also been developed, this will aid my blogging as it is a great way to show development and trials without posting lots of images on blogger. Ensuring my blog is more effective and concise.
2. What approaches to/methods of design production have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?
I have become more aware of how design can be limited but also hugely improved with the knowledge of print processes. The knowledge we have learnt in this module has allowed me to explore just a small amount of the possible outcomes such as die cutting, foiling and this I believe has improved my work as a designer. Becoming aware of processes will inform and improve my work, but also realising that there is a whole different side of graphic design is very exciting.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?
The strengths within my work surprise me, I have learnt so much and with regards to final outcomes, they are at such a better level. With the knowledge in print processes, it will help inform me throughout my career and I will capitalise on these due to, hopefully, much better executed final outcomes. Another strength is my note taking for this module, I have used the same notebook religiously, this has allowed me to keep all notes organised and a great resource for future referencing. As we don’t usually get anything repeated so it is definitely a shame to miss out. My attendance for this module is infinitely better than last year too, I was unaware last year of how days off were decreasing my attendance percentage and this lead to some doubt in my commitment, this year I have prioritised on top of everything I am involved in. This is a strength, realising that 3 years here will go so fast has made me make the most of all opportunities. I am going to make the most of the facilities, starting with an induction with the laser cutter first week back after Christmas.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in the future? Currently I think that my weaknesses within my work is the limited knowledge of typography. As I am really excited to learn more about this, I can’t wait for the typography chosen module after Christmas, this will hopefully help me address these issues, along with my intention to continue to increase my knowledge from outside reading. I also really enjoyed touching on layout in this project, despite the zine layout not being as well executed as I’d have liked, it is definitely something I enjoy, but I realise that I am quite uninformed so I also plan to increase this knowledge and blog this research too.
5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
BLOG MORE REGULARLY-  A common problem with my work, after the long summer break, I forgot the pain of trying to blog too much work in such a small amount of time. Despite not blogging enough, or frequently enough, I have definitely improved in both quality and quantity of blogging from first year. Increase outside research – learn more from relevant research from the library and publications, the books I did do and out Attend all visiting professional talks on the Friday- invaluable advice from professionals is not worth missing out on. Anticipate designs and sometimes pay for more experimental printing in the printing dungeon. It would give a more interesting range of outcomes and especially for final outcomes, look and definitely feel better. Despite staying till 9pm very regularly, I want to increase this, and from the beginning of the projects stay till at least 7pm each day. This will not only increase my workload and hopefully improve my blogging, but will also force me to work through moments when I don’t have any ideas.
6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas: (please indicate using an ‘x’)  5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
	1	2	3	4	5
Attendance					x
Punctuality					x
Motivation				x
Commitment				x
Quantity of work produced			x
Quality of work produced			x
Contribution to the group					x
The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.