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.
