Sunday, May 7, 2017

OUGD502 End of Module Evaluation

End of Module Evaluation:
Overall I think that I have developed a lot from first year as I have learnt a great deal. In particular I have engaged with the design world more fully by attending exhibitions, talks and studio visits. This has allowed me to make more of a connection and really see and understand what is happening within the real world of design. My next step for 3rd year would be to try and engage myself in conversation with someone at one of these events, to help develop my networking skills. I did this a couple of times this year by speaking to the girls at She Does Digital and Footprint, but I would like to develop more of a confidence to approach people.

Studio brief 02 has also been really beneficial as it has pushed me out of my comfort zone and I have contacted someone who I admire, whereas I might not have been able to have the courage to do before. It has also taught more valuable skills for contacting professionals and the best methods of communication, and to be more confident asking questions that I want to know the answers to. Hopefully by creating a creative report for Robot Food it could lead to the opportunity of possibly doing a work placement within my final year.

One of the things that I am still working on is time management, and organising the different briefs. I think that next year I will take things a lot more seriously and really try and put in 100% effort, as I have sometimes struggled with motivation this year. For my final year I really want to make the most of all of the facilities the college has to offer as well as trying out techniques such as foiling. I have identified that lino print is something that I would definitely like to experiment with.

Over the summer I want to relax to an extent but I want to carry on doing little pieces of design work. This is because after coming back from summer to the start of second year it took a while to adjust and get back into the flow of things. I also feel that I need to get better on the design programs, this was something that I should have done last summer but I really don't want to be at a disadvantage when I graduate, so I think this is important to develop.

Having more presentation practice this year has definitely helped me to feel more comfortable. Although its definitely still an area for improvement I think that I have slowly started to develop more confidence. Confidence in my work still needs working on, but I aim to create a behance to get more of my work out there. I am really looking forward to the opportunities in 3rd year as well as learning how to be a more professional designer.

OUGD502 Traditional Print for 505

Traditional Print for 505:
As part of Studio Brief 01 for 505 we were to produce a traditional print on a past event in Leeds. I decided to do Leeds Indie Food Festival, it was really interesting discovering all that Leeds has to offer and it has made me more aware of all the different events. Being as I needed to do a traditional print, I decided to try and do screen print. In the past this was something that I struggled with and it was an area I identified definitely needed improving. After seeing New Analogs gig posters it inspired me to have another go, as I can see how effective it can be.

I tried a different method of printing called split fountain where different coloured inks are placed on the screen and blended with the squeegee. I found this process a lot harder than I expected as I struggled to blend the inks, looking back this could have been due to not using enough ink. I struggled to line my design up on to paper leading to a lot of wonky prints. The screen also started to get blocked quickly leaving a patch where the ink wouldn't transfer to the paper properly. 

I am glad to have tried out screen print again but is definitely something I need further practice on as I find the whole process of printing to be difficult, as I struggle to get a clean print. Hopefully if I persevere with it next year I will be able to master screen print at last.


OUGD502 Studio Brief 02 - Creative Report - Issuu

Creative Report - Issuu



OUGD502 Studio Brief 02 - Creative Report - Final Outcome & Evaluation

Creative Report - Final Outcome:
Within the design of my report I wanted the studios work and story to be clear and the main point of focus. Therefore, I kept the design simple, on one side a large scale image and on the other the quotes. The quotes are placed in coloured speech marks to help emphasise the way that they use bright bold colours within their designs. 

I decided to put some words / phrases in bold to emphasise the message behind what Simon is saying. This will help to stick in peoples minds and realise what is the most important.

Unfortunately, the slits on the card are too wide which means you can't put the cards together from any side. This was unexpected as I thought that you would be able to build different structures but you can only build a tower. This still works though as it is how Simon has built his studio up, these quotes are a small snippet of how he has created his career. The structure also reflects how their designs go onto 3D packaging. 

Presenting the information in this way is more engaging and hopefully more memorable as the interactive side allows people to be really involved and digest the information.















Evaluation:
At the start of this brief I was really interested in becoming more involved and learning about the real design world. However, getting a response from people isn't as easy as just sending an email I have come to realise. You need to do something more, that will make you stand out to get a response. It was also quite nerve racking contacting Simon at Robot Food as this is a studio I really admire and I love the work from, so I think initially I was a bit too shy about contacting him properly. However, having sent off the letter and getting a reply it has given me more confidence to engage with professionals and this is something that I want to try and do more of, going into 3rd year. Hearing Simons personal experiences setting up Robot Food was also really beneficial as it has shown that lot's of hard work does pay off but it is very challenging. This is something I need to prepare myself for when I start going into the world of work. Putting myself out there more and getting connections is really important. 

For the design of my creative report I wanted something more considered then just a publication as I didn't think it most appropriate for the studio it was representing. I think the concept I have come up with building together this tower structure, reflecting on how he has built this successful studio as well as the packaging element, is a more informed, appropriate response. If I had organised my time more I would have liked to have adjusted the slits on the card so that they could attach from any angle. Overall I have really engaged with this brief and I have got a lot out of it, Im hoping that I will continue to engage with studios, designers etc. going into 3rd year.

I want to send the report to Simon as hopefully this will keep open the line of communication and I will then be able to ask about work placements, as I would love to do one at Robot Food. It seems to be the studio that I most connect with and share the same values.

Thursday, May 4, 2017

OUGD502 Evaluation of Context of Practice 2

Evaluation of Context of Practice 2:

I have really enjoyed researching into my chosen theme as I have found it interesting and engaging. However I struggled to find a range of appropriate research, this is something I should have discussed earlier with my tutor. Having done the essay before Christmas, it was hard to come back to and work on. This is something I need to be aware of as I need to consistently make sure it is in the back of mind and not forgotten about. More structure and planning would also help me to organise the information appropriately.

In relation to the essay for the practical piece I explored 'How are people persuaded to buy something considered a luxury?' I have learnt the different techniques in design which help to produce the illusion of a luxury item. Researching into typography, colour, and minimalism are all techniques used to persuade the consumer that this is a better product than its competitors. My practical piece aimed to see if these design techniques would help to make the product look better and more high-end as well as seeing if people would be more persuaded to buy it.

I have found this task quite challenging as I was trying to play around with the idea of minimalism but from some of the feedback, it was said that there wasn't enough to the design. This suggest that I didn't appropriately achieve the right effect, however it was interesting to work further and learn about this style.

The feedback from the questionnaire was mainly positive with the majority saying that it does look like a luxury food item, however there were points of feedback were it was said the design does not work and needed further improvement. This shows that although some would be more inclined to buy based on the design, it does not have that effect for everyone. This could be due to my design or going against what I have looked into in my essay, people are not that bothered by luxury. 

I think because my results are not completely conclusive it has left me feeling unsure about the project and whether it was successful or not. However I have learnt about the considerations that are needed when designing a luxury product and what techniques are used.

I think next time I will try and think more in depth about what I am going to produce for my practical piece as this is what I struggled the most with, I also want to try and give myself more time.

OUGD502 Studio Brief 01 - A Creative Strategy - Presentation

Presentation:


So who am I as a graphic designer? To be honest I'm still not entirely sure but I know that I have a love for big ideas and creative concepts, I enjoy illustrative design and working collaboratively, with a focus on branding and packaging design.



At the start of second year I found it really challenging and maybe I didn’t quite prepare myself for the workload or the level of professionalism.


But, I have learnt a great deal too, from producing a more professional publication, gaining an understanding of user experience and digital design, contacting professionals and taking part in live briefs and competitions.


For the publication brief I did a zine on handwriting. I found this project interesting as I could research into the number of different print processes. Having a basic understanding of them will be beneficial and prepare me for when I go into the industry. Overall I believe that I have achieved my aim of creating a publication which works cohesively with the content. However working with a content that required a simple design has its own challenges. It made me less confident with what I was doing as I didn’t know how far to take it, whether I had put enough into it, or how effective it is. I have also identified that I want to try and work further on the front cover as I feel that it lets the publication down.


Next we began to learn about digital design and user interface which is something that is completely new to me but I found really engaging. I redesigned an old app called ‘platter’ and added my own ideas for user experience. It has become clear that understanding the process, roles and collaboration, are extremely important to produce a good digital design. Thinking about the user experience has also added another layer to the design process and requires a different way of thinking that I have had to come to grips with. I have learned some valuable skills and I am now aware of the impact digital design is having.



One big thing that I have learnt In regards to contacting professionals is, emails don’t work. Well they haven’t in my case. I’ve emailed Michael C Place from Build regarding the talk that he did, as for me I found it really motivating and inspiring. I also emailed Robot Food a branding agency based in Leeds, with strengths in packaging design.


I am really interested in this design studio, the work that they do is always bright and fun. Their work is also consistently really strong which shows the high level of professionalism. These are some of the values that the studio have and I think it is really important as it allows them as designers to stay true to who they are and what they believe in. It is really inspiring to see this because it gives them personality and intrigue, it seems less corporate and inspires creativity. As emailing hasn’t worked I am going to go down to their studio and see if I can get a face to face interview.


I really enjoy engaging with the design world by attending exhibitions, talks and studio visits as I always feel motivated and inspired. Most recently on the trip to Berlin we went to the Hamburg Bahnhof Contemporary Art Museum where there were pop artists on display such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. This was quite nostalgic of when I did art in school, so it was really good to get up close to these bright colourful pieces, encouraging me to consider colour more within my work.



As part of the responsive module I am working with two others on the fur for animals brief. I have really enjoyed working collaboratively, I like bouncing around ideas and using peoples skills effectively. It has shown how important it is for big projects as it helps you to produce the best possible design. I want to do further collaborations in level 06 as I think it will help me to develop my communication and learn new skills more effectively.


As part of the competitions and live briefs I took part in the Papyrus brief who are a charity for the prevention of young suicide. The brief was to produce a line drawing for an adult colouring book, that created a visual representation of something that helps you feel calm and relaxed, with a couple of lines explaining what it is you’ve drawn and why. So this was my interpretation, and it actually got shortlisted. But I was asked to add further details onto the trees.


I added the extra details in and just yesterday I heard back from the lady to confirm that I’ve been shortlisted. She also asked for links to a website/online portfolio, so I might quickly try and set up an Instagram account for my work. It was nice to hear that it got shortlisted as I wasn’t particularly confident in the design. I think confidence in my work is something that I struggle with, I want to try and feel comfortable to show off my work, this is something that I want to focus on within third year.


This ties in with how I communicate my practice which hasn’t been very well. I aim to try and create accounts on these platforms to help get myself out there and better develop that confidence.


My plans for the summer are to go back to my part-time job at Starbucks to try and earn some money. 


I’m also going to Barcelona for a week which I am really excited about to see all the different architecture. 



But other than than I want to try and draw / paint more as this is something I really miss doing and will help me to feel a bit more creative.


I also want to try and get a head start with my dissertation and start researching as I don’t want to be stressed out by it. 


I also want to try and make some more contacts with professionals, that way I can more easily ask for work placements.


I want to concentrate next year on building up my confidence and refining my professionalism so that I know how to present myself and I am ready for the real world. My work will take more focus into branding/packaging design as this is the area that I am most interested in and want to start developing my portfolio around this. During my last year I also want to take advantage of the range of facilities at the college, particularly the print facilities. I took an induction to use the dark rooms earlier this year and want to try and work with film photography more so that I can use this facility next year. Overall I am looking forward to next year and I want to make the most of my time here, thanks for listening.

Evaluation:
Initially I felt quite nervous as public speaking is something that I struggle with, but presenting in a nice smaller group gave me the confidence to successfully present. I tried to focus on projecting my voice so that the nerves weren't obvious. I had also made sure in advance to practice my presentation so that I knew what to talk about. I wrote up notes to take in with me to provide me the support if I got stuck for what to say. Overall I think that it went really well and hopefully further practice doing presentations will help with my confidence. Watching other peoples presentations was also really beneficial seeing the work people had produced was really inspirational and interesting to see. Also, looking at different presentation styles such as quick fire slides was interesting to see what effect that has on the audience. Compared with last years PPP presentation I think I have definitely improved my confidence and hopefully this will continue to further develop into my final year.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

OUGD502 Evaluation of Responsive

Overall I found this module to be really engaging and valuable as I have learnt how to work on professional briefs as well as with others. Working on professional briefs means working to client requirements and time restraints which has been challenging at times. Also a higher level of professionalism was needed to make sure designs were fit for real world application.

For one of the smaller briefs for studio brief 01, I undertook the Penguin book cover design competition. I produced an outcome for the cover of 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote. I really engaged with this brief as I found the research and idea generation the most fun part as I could be as creative and free with my ideas as possible. I wanted to create a unique design that takes a more conceptual approach, as I have a love for developing strong concepts. I tried to keep my design contextual referenced by applying a pop art / psychedelic style, which was around when the book was published, by the use of contrasting colours that produce a high impact visual. I have also become more aware just how important feedback is, as I was able to make the necessary changes to produce a more succinct design. I found it difficult working with typography, selecting the most appropriate as well as positioning on the page was something that I struggled with. Gaining feedback for this was really beneficial as this is an area that I want to improve and gain a better understanding. Even though it is a competition brief it has felt more relaxed and I have been able to enjoy the work as it hasn't felt too intense and the work has been manageable.

For my other smaller brief I took part in the Papyrus colouring book brief, which allowed me to produce work that is going towards a good cause. This was one of the main reasons I was attracted to this brief as it allows for my design to do good. As well as that it sounded like a fun brief that would be quite relaxing to do, free from the pressure of a bigger competition. Initially I felt quite stuck for ideas as I wanted to produce something different, something that hadn't been done before. I also wasn't all that confident with my drawing abilities, and it is a skill that I want to work on and improve. After submitting I didn't really think that it would go any further as I wasn't confident in the design. However, hearing that it got shortlisted has really given me a confidence boost, and has shown me that I need to have more self belief. I think that this was really good for me as confidence in my work is something I really lack. It also made me create an instagram account, encouraging me to put more of my work out there. Overall I have really benefitted from this small brief as I've got a lot out of it, and it has encouraged me to keep getting things out there.

I chose to do YCN's, The Grown Up Chocolate Company's brief as part of my big brief for studio brief 01. I chose this brief because of my interest within packaging design, and this allowed me to explore that further. I have found this brief to be extremely challenging as I really struggled to come up with strong design ideas. I think this was due to the brief being to broad and maybe I wasn't quite connecting enough with the humorous nature of the brand. I struggled to try and inject humour into the design but I have kept the design fun and playful. I think that this brief would have worked better if I had worked collaboratively with someone else as I would have been able to bounce ideas around. It has felt like a big project to take on by myself due to the extra requirements of mocking up a webpage. However I think that the challenge has been really beneficial as it has pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Working with the net was also challenging trying to apply the design correctly so that it would look right when 3D, it was using a more practical way of thinking that I really enjoyed. I have struggled slightly with time management as I was so stuck for ideas at the beginning of the project that really held me back. Next time I will try and get more feedback and support if I am struggling for ideas as I realise how detrimental that can be to a project. I have enjoyed working on a more professional brief but because I struggled with it, it has made it less enjoyable. Although, I am reasonably happy with my final design as it is more abstract and expressive than I would usually do, and I believe that I met all the requirements and guidelines within the brief.

Studio Brief 02 working collaboratively on D&AD's Fur For Animals brief has been the most enjoyable part of the module. I really enjoy working with other people as I understand the importance of how it can produce a more developed design. Working within the team has been really beneficial to work on my communication skills. Discussing ideas and working together to produce a successful outcome has been really rewarding. Although I didn't physically create the design or animate the video, I have really enjoyed helping with the art direction, developing ideas and organising. Art direction is something that I am really interested in and I felt like that was one of my main roles within the group as well as developing the campaign further. The only negative would be that I wanted to take on more of a design role as I haven't really got anything that I have physically produced. However, I do think the job roles were appropriate, Kieran being an illustrator did the illustrations, and Ed feeling more confident on after effects than me, working on the animation. The video that we have produced works well as it doesn't shock or scare but takes a softer approach through the style. This way people will be more receptive to the message and create a more personal connection with the character. I believe our team worked extremely well together and this is clear through the successful animation we have produced.

Working in a team on a professional brief allowed for the more refined professionalism of the overall outcome. It also provided the necessary pressure so that everyone worked and stuck to deadlines. I definitely want to undertake more collaborations in the future as I am really proud of what we have produced, and hopefully I will be able to take on more of a hands on role and further develop my art direction. Working with people from other disciplines is something I am interested to do further as I can see the potentials to produce really good work.

OUGD502 Instagram

Instagram:
After needing to create a social media account to be put into the papyrus colouring book, it has finally forced me to make one. I have struggled with my confidence especially within my work as I never think that it is good enough. However, I understand the importance of putting my work out there and the opportunities it could bring. I want to try and keep this updated with my work as something I can use to gain more recognition. 




OUGD502 Papyrus Colouring Book Brief

I decided to do the papyrus brief because it sounded like fun and it was for a good cause. I connected with the brief as I felt like it was really trying to help address an important issue. Initially I felt quite stuck for ideas as I wanted to produce something different, something that hadn't been done before. I also wasn't all that confident with my drawing abilities, and it's a skill that I want to work on and improve. After submitting I didn't really think that it would go any further as I wasn't confident in the design. However, hearing that it got shortlisted has really given me a confidence boost, and has shown me that I need to have more self belief. I think that this was really good for me as confidence in my work is something I really lack. It also made me create an instagram account, encouraging me to put more of my work out there. Overall I have really benefitted from this small brief as I've got a lot out of it, and it has encouraged me to keep getting things out there.



Tuesday, May 2, 2017

OUGD502 Studio Brief 02 - Creative Report - Ideas

Creative Report - Ideas:

As I wanted to think about the structure / packaging element to present my report, I began looking at nets in books from the library. 

Possible Ideas:










After thinking further about these possible structures one stuck out to me in particular. The last structure, which is double sided cards that slot together to build a tower or other 3D object. I think this relates to how Simon built his studio, the challenges he faced, but how all of these things make up the successful studio he has. It can also be seen in another way relating to how the studio builds brands. To me this is an interesting way to display the creative report that reflects the studio well. Hopefully this also won't be too challenging to make, as it only requires cutting out. As the cards are flat these can easily be posted out to people where they can make there own structures whilst learning about the studio, it will make it more interactive and create something more memorable that sticks in the mind.

I now need to work on how I am going to design these cards, I have had problems with double sided print not lining up properly so I will need to take this into consideration. Potentially printing the designs single side and sticking them together so that it lines up appropriately.

Colour is also going to be really important as I want to produce something bright, bold and engaging that reflects their portfolio.

OUGD502 Studio Brief 02 - Robot Food - Response

Robot Food - Response

Thankfully Simon has responded to my letter by email, which I am really grateful for.

'Hi Georgina,

Thanks for getting in touch and sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Your handwritten letter and doodle is good and here’s the answers to your questions:

1) When we started, we wanted a name that wasn’t our surnames and would stand out. Robot Food stuck.

2) Everything was a challenge setting up. Lack of funds, lack of experience and lack of clients all meant we needed to get noticed, but without any clients we had to design concepts and get them featured anywhere we could to build on our lack of portfolio.

3) I didn’t go to university. I studied art and design ant college and our co founder, Mike had a degree in design.

4) Vocation brewery was great to work on and it’s the project we’re most proud of. The client had confidence to leave the direction to us and we feel we created a pretty compelling brand. It was our first experience in beer and it it’s had huge success, being stocked in Tesco, ASDA and CoOp nationally, as well as all the coolest bars and beer shops. It’s also landed us work with Carlsberg and we took the project on with a limited budget for what it would bring to our portfolio. 

5) I admire anyone who sticks to their guns and follows their own beliefs. All the greatest creatives have done so and it always pays off.

6) We decline a lot of projects, as we’re quite picky. We don’t want to take on everything and grow for the sake of it and we want to keep the focus on new creative projects only, as roll-out is dull. We’re only interested in working with good people on projects that will benefit our portfolio.

7) Inspiration can come from anywhere, but pressure is the best way to draw it out.

8) To avoid a creative block you just reset and think of the challenge from a whole new angle. It’s not so hard to steer ideas in a different direction. 

9) My biggest achievement has been retaining every good creative we’ve taken on and creating an environment that they are proud to call home.

10) If you want to get hired stand out. We took on a couple of graduates who created bespoke books. When I asked them who they’ve sent it to they both said, ‘just Robot Food’. They didn’t just want a job. They wanted to work here. One came with us on a research trip to New York while on a placement and wen’t on to lead a presentation to a major retailer in his first month and the other went on to designing Cadbury Mini Rolls pack fronts in his first month. They’re both now key players in our team.

I hope this helps!

Thanks,


Simon'


Simons response's are really informative, concise and straight to the point, this is due to the nature of quick questions, which allow for a more direct response than in an interview. However, he also seems like quite a direct, straight to the point person which is probably how he managed to set up such a successful studio. Using this information I am going to put together my creative report, I want to try and create a more structural or packaging inspired format as this directly relates the studio.

OUGD502 Studio Brief 02 - Robot Food - Letter

Robot Food - Letter:

Unfortunately I never got a response from Robot Food via email, this is probably due to them receiving a high volume of emails, and it probably doesn't stand out enough. I was planning to go down to there studio to see if I could get a face to face interview, however due to going back to work over easter, I thought it best to see if I could get a response via letter.

On the front of the letter I decided to do a quick doodle relating to their studio. I thought that this would be more personal and something that would provoke a response.



On the other side I wrote out what I wanted to say to Simon Forster, founder and creative director of Robot Food.



I then wrote out 10 questions which will help me to better understand about his studio and his own creative practice.


I was slightly nervous to send the letter off as I was conscious of my handwriting and I also didn't know if the doodle came across a bit too cheesy. As it's a studio that I really admire I am really hoping that I get a response. I have asked for a response by either email or letter.