End of Module Evaluation - OUGD403

During this module I have learnt so much, including very important aspects and fundamental knowledge about typography. Specifically typographic terminology, such as the baseline, x-height, bowl, counter, stem and cap height. Which allowed me to then apply this knowledge in my design, research and to back up design decisions. I have discovered kerning and realised how much influence it has over a design or typography, it has the power to completely change the personality or meaning behind a company or brand. Which then allowed me to apply this in my own work, specifically the logotype to represent my intended company it the best, most appropriate form. Within this module I have discovered many influential, historic graphic and typographic designers such as Muller Brockmann, Vignelli, Erik Spiekerman, Max Miedinger, whose opinions and ideas have allowed me to understand both typography and design much better and I can now use the context of these opinions to influence my own designs. I have also developed my skills on Illustrator in both studio briefs, which means my design ideas are no longer restricted, I have learnt to use the pen tool, knife tool, and realised the importance of grids and guidelines when designing.

  Both briefs within this module I believe have turned out well and are something I can be extremely proud of in my first ever design module of degree level. I have enjoyed using the facilities available and learning new techniques and processes. Such as our indiction into Letterpress, I feel this will be very valuable in upcoming briefs and it interested me a lot. The digital print induction gave me the final idea for Studio brief 2 and it allowed me to print my alphabet off as stickers, which just finalised my design and placed it into context perfectly. I was also extremely exciting having something you have worked so hard over being printed professionally into something you can actually use and touch. In both briefs I have learnt new ways of working, both through sketchbook work and digital design. I have also come to realise how important crits are and getting opinions on your design work, even if it is still in developing stages, because it is vital to take other people's ideas into consideration and to see if what you are communicating is coming through within 

your design. 

   In conclusion I have really enjoyed my first module and I am looking forward to applying my new knowledge in upcoming designs and briefs and also to continue learning the vast amount of knowledge, opinions and terminology about graphic design that is out there and preparing myself for employment within the design sector after leaving university. To improve in future briefs I will become dependant on my sketchbook and use it to display my ongoing work and ideas, to show my progress throughout the project. I will also ask more questions and be more intuitive within crits about my own design and others. Overall so far, although I am still learning, I feel like I know so much more already and my design work is becoming better for it.

Worries/Concerns- Self Branding

Within this self branding brief, I find it quite hard to talk and think about myself, interest, qualities and what I'm good at. I think everyone experiences the same thoughts, that they think they are boring and there is nothing special about them. I don't feel like there is anything about me that can help me stand out form the crowd. However when playing on word association you get to delve deeper into your thoughts and you begin to realise interests and qualities about you that you never really noticed before but that other people actually find interesting and want to know more. I think it is difficult to brand yourself or give yourself an identity if you don't actually know who you are yourself, as we are still young and we are forever changing and evolving.

Motivations and Reasons

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

- The facilities avaiable were the best out of all the universities I visited. I love the handmade processes within design in general, therefore the amount printing facilities and workshops excited me.

- The size of the college, I have always been in an establishment with a small amount of people compared to those at other universities and schools. I knew if I came here I wouldn't be forgotten about and I would be able to recieve all the support and advice I needed.

- I loved the city itself, I feel like it is a complete change to my hometown, therefore I knew there would be lots of new experineces here, and plenty more shops and cafes!

- When I came for my interview, the lecturers and my interviewers made me feel very comfortable and the interview process was very relaxed.

- Out of all the universities I visited and applied to, Leeds College of Art was the only one I could actually imagine myself being a student in for some reason. I loved the style and layout of the interior, the size, the course itself and the many different design opportuinites that are here just encouaraged me to choose here.


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

- I would like to learn and experiment different printing processes, such as screen printing and letterpress, as this interests and excites me much more than designing on a computer ever could.

- I am interested in learning about layout and grids, as editiroial design is not something I have looked into or tried out yet.

- I would like to learn about how graphic design works in the real world, as a practioner. Therefore I am interested in the printing process, contacting clients and networking and how you settle payments and overall to go about briefs and how you present it to a client. 

- I would like to learn how to bring your own interests and hobbies into your design and how this becomes part of the design process and how you go about a brief.

- Finally I would love to learn about book cover and poster design as this is the type of design that I am most interested in.


Identify and explain 5 things that you think are your strengths

- Knowing what works well together, what is good and bad graphic design, such as in shopping centres and exisiting logos.

- Illustrative graphics is something I have included a lot in my previous work, which I then like to scan in, and then create the piece digitally.

- I am generally quite good at thinking of ideas which are outside the box, especially for other people more so than my own work.


Identify and explain 5 things you would like to improve

- I would like to improve on  my skills on the three main softwares, of Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign, as I feel there are endless possibilities and I am only just touching the surface. 

- Sometimes I have great ideas but then I find it difficult to actually think of a way to make my idea come to life, therefore I would like to improve on this. Then I could create every idea i could possibly have with no restrcitions. 

- I would like to improve on editorial design and know how to use grid layouts properly, as this is something I tend to struggle with and end up breaking too many boundaries.

- I would like to improve my knowledge on graphic designers, photographers and just creative people in genreal and broaden my interests within design and that way I will be able to bring these style into my own work.

Time Management

 This week we were discussing time management, and how organising your time can reduce stress. I also learnt the importance of not only planing time to do work, but also for enrichment activities and time to yourself. The fact that these can help with your creative practice just as much, if not more that actually taking time to do work can. They build you into the person you are and who you will become and makes you an interesting person with lots of experience, which helps you to become a well rounded individual.

Above is my two list of want to and have to. The have to was the work you need to complete, mundane everyday tasks such as washing, showering, cooking tea, therefore you can fit these in to your time plan and see how much time you have left to do things you want. The want to's could range from watching tv to getting married and the higher the aim the better. 

Here is my time management plan for the upcoming week, I have scheduled from 7am to 12pm, with tasks and jobs I have to do. Therefore I can then see where and when I have spare time throughout the week to relax and go out and have fun to enrich my design practice and generate new ideas.

Stress

In our most recent session we carried out a workshop which allowed us to compare and contrast our worries and coping strategies with each other anonymously. We discussed how we de-stressed, what negative thoughts we had had that day, what scares us most and what stresses us out. What was very interesting to see was how many similarities there were, that we were all stressing about the same thing, which made me feel a lot better as everyone is in the same boat, everyone is finding it hard, not just me, I wasn't alone. What worried me the most was how many people had had negative thoughts about their appearance that day, it made me realise that people who may come across as confident are actually extremely self conscious. 

After looking at what other people in the class had written down, we then had to choose our top 12, which most related to us as individuals. The from those 12 we had to create a Haiku using just three of those lines. My final Haiku idea was;

"I'm not good enough,

I don't want to disappoint,

I need to write things down".

Everyone then placed their final haiku upon the wall, which allowed us to see everyone's inner most fears and worries. We then discussed in what context could we put these in which would allow fellow or coming students to know that what they are feeling is normal and everyone is feeling the same as them. Our idea was to place the Haikus either in a booklet which would be part of a welcome pack, when new students move in to their accommodation. Another more interesting idea was to place them up and around the accommodation as murals, which could be designed specifically by art students and culminated into a final piece of artwork.