OUGD504 Module Evaluation

Module Evaluation

One of the most enjoyable modules I have undertaken on the course, OUGD504 was a challenge however relating all 4 briefs to my own personal interests made the work I was creating more enjoyable. A focus on contemporary Graphic Design, an aspect in which I believe to be my favourite, has been evident throughout my work; always starting with a concept and creating the aesthetic from this, not merely imitating trends.

I believe one of my strongest aspects of the module has been my conceptual development, I have focused on basing all projects on a strong concept; Finding Clarity from distortion in SB 1, -6 Characters in the transition from Arabic to Latin and neutral curating in SB3 and 4. This has made my work a lot stronger and somewhat easier to produce; personally, defining the concept directly influences everything resulting in more defined resolutions.

Research has been a large focus of this module; I do believe it is the most I have read in relation to any module on the course. Reading theories and their relationships to design in study tasks and expanding this to original writings, contemporary publications to fairly distant sources such as deconstruction in architecture. This wide range of research has helped me to inform my own opinion and approach to subjects such as ‘The Pretty Ugly’, Deconstruction, blog culture to the brand strategy of Hugo Boss and Geological folds.

I have experienced limitations in regards to production; I don’t believe the responses I have included in my submission are equivalent to a professional response;

Ideally my response to Studio Brief 01 would have been printed on a coated stock that would not show any crease marks after a user has attempted to fold the leaflet however such a stock was not available.

Studio Brief 02 would ideally have been screen printed as the exhibition itself is a showcase of printed works. I believed the production of screen printing promotional material would have been beneficial however not worth the consumption of time, which has been sorely precious this module.

Studio brief 04 responses are the closest I have got to a professional production, the stickers are functional although my rush in production means the stickers are not cut neatly, in a professional context this would be done with a dye cutter.

I would have enjoyed learning to code in Studio Brief 03 and developed my front-end web skills, the one session we had was productive and the opportunity was there to develop my skills myself however my poor planning of time and other commitments resulted in me not being able to develop skills while coinciding the brief. I need to develop my skills in Adobe Dreamweaver and other applications that are to aid my development of design for screen.

I do agree with the idea that a creative can dilute their skills if they attempt to delve into several aspects of these aspects however in the context of a design studio, Numiko for example, different members of the team are to focus on individual aspects to create a whole, in this sense, I don’t believe it is necessary for me to learn how to code etc. I do need to know about the processes and related design aspects for screen as to inform my design.

In relation to the production of screen based responses, I believe I could have improved my imaginings of the website. I have presented the imagining in a GIF, showing each function of the webpage as a user would, I would have preferred to show this in a video format, reducing the stress of being exposed to large charges quickly however my skills in after effects are non-existent and I did not have the time available to learn so.

With the forthcoming module, I do agree changes need to be made with my design process, an emphasis on research is to be a key point, as well as documenting this research as it happens, this is to greater inform initial ideas along with the benefit of managing time better.

I have produced more than the required deliverables on the majority of briefs, I am particularly happy with the further development of Studio Brief 03 however I am to focus on this aspect in the future to create stronger brandings and imaginings, while enhancing my professional practice; beginning to create a portfolio.