This module has felt like a
step backwards for me. At the end of last year I found that my design process
was becoming smoother and my outcomes were getting better and being created at
a more professional standard.
This module I have found that
my greatest enemy was stock choice. I have learnt a lot from my mistakes and
endless experimentation with different stocks, but I am still making mistakes
and have on occasion been left with a design that I’m really proud of, printed
incorrectly and not having the outcome I want. This is the case for my studio
brief 4 cube and pull out cards. I plan to make a conscious effort to learn
more about stocks in the next design production module.
This module has had some
really interesting briefs that allow for a wide range of creative outcomes.
Reflecting on my work now I would like to have experimented with some more of
the colleges resources. I tend to make an effort to try production techniques
when I can, but this module I have simply used a digital printer for my
outcomes. I have been eager to use the laser cutter and try foiling since I
started the course, but have not been self motivated enough to go and find out
how I would do it. I am however glad that I was motivated enough to get a video
camera out for studio brief 4. I have not worked with film much in the past,
but I am eager to in the future. The video I made was good practice for a video
I have been asked to make for a responsive brief. Another skill of mine I
improved was hand rendered type. I would like to have produced a hand rendered
type logo for studio brief 2, but unfortunately my outcomes were still not at a
professional standard.
I have always been good at
time management, although in this module I found that the responsive module
made it more difficult to do so. I had a lot of ideas for my studio brief 4
which I would have loved to produce, but my lack of time management left me
settling with ideas that were more realistic for the time frame. I hope to
build on my time management skills and do blog and create design boards as I go
along so that it will not interrupt me creating work at the end of the module.
In my end of year evaluation
last year I reflected on my outcomes and found that I produced too many flat,
vector based outcomes. Another observation I made was that I did not experiment
with colour and used a lot of red and black. This year I set out to change both
of these recurring patterns in my work. I believe I have accomplished this. I
originally had vector based designs for my website, but decided to change this
and I am more than pleased with the interesting watercolour styled designs I
produced. I was so pleased my web designs that I made it my first project on
Behance. I would like to have learnt more about the coding involved with web
design, but I will try to do this in my own time. Next module I plan to produce
more work at a professional standard that I am proud so that I can increase my
portfolio and in turn help my Personal and Professional Practice.
One technique that I found especially
interesting to try this module was the art of paper engineering. The endless
possibilities of what can be produced fascinates me and will definitely
influence my designs in the future.
Overall this module has had
ups and downs for me. I am glad to see it off and eager put what I have learnt
from my ongoing self-reflection into practice with the next design production
and responsive modules.
