Design Publication Crit

Today we had a small discussion about our ideas for our design publication.

I brought my initial ideas that I had had and the formats etc. 
Everyone seemed to like the idea and it was suggested that I should swap the books content around and that in my outside interests book there should be really no text at all as it doesn't need explaining.

And so I will be going ahead with the format and content of my design publication, I am excited to try out the format and binding technique I also asked about where I can buy the metal for the binding and I was given the things I needed and so this is sorted I also found out the name for them properly for any future use, Acco Fastners.

DS.Emotion Placement

23/04 - 17/05

Placement at DS.Emotion

Over the Easter holidays and a week before then I have been on placement at DS.Emotion, I went there after meeting Dan and James (the senior directors) in January and securing a placement a few weeks after. 

I am now writing a reflection on my placement there, I am not allowed to mention any of the projects specifically as its down to client and company confidentiality. Although I have two good/ strong projects for my portfolio now which I am very pleased with. 

My placement overall was a good experience and I enjoyed my time there. DS.Emotion is a big company with some very big clients, it also has a high volume of work going through and the people are all nice and hardworking. 

I enjoyed the studio environment and I enjoyed working in a modern office, it was nice to go to work in a modern office that had inspiration around the room. 

In comparison DS is quite a big company, and the office is very big which shows that they are successful, and I feel lucky to have been granted a placement at a company like DS.

I would say that I completed around 2 large projects, 2 medium and 2 small projects in a month and I felt like I had done so much in a month and now reflecting back I have learnt a lot more already which I knew I was going to do. 

Whilst I was there I asked the designers questions about printing etc and they where happy to tell me and advise me. I think that I worked hard and that I created some good work that I am proud of. I also learnt a little more about the cost of work and what studios charge for certain things which was also interesting and helpful to see.

I think that this has given me a huge confidence boost in speaking to other studios and showing my work and confidence in my own ability. 

I think that the type of work DS creates is varied and I do like this, I felt that I had been given some really interesting things to do and I am not sure as to whether this would always be the case but I am motivated to do any type of work as after all it is design. 

I think that moving on from DS I have learned a lot not just about design but about where I want to be and who I want to work with and what type of studio I want to work in. I know now that I would rather work with 2/3+ designers in a studio and I need/ want a strong boss who is confident someone to inspires and motivates so that you create better design. 

I also know that I want to work in a place where the staff are friends and get along, I don't need to have conversations all day long but I like the idea of having friends at work, and I know from others experiences that this isn't the case, at DS the staff are all friendly and do go out occasionally which is nice. I was invited out in my last week but I could not go because I had other commitments, viewing a house.

I won't be returning to DS at this moment in time as they have not mentioned anything, and I am not sure if an internship is the most appropriate thing for me after university, but we are keeping in contact and I will be going down to them again soon to reprint some work and ask for some advice on a project. 

Anderson Advertising Meeting

This morning I met up with Emma Scattergood the director at Anderson Advertising, we had emailed last week about meeting up and discussing my work. 

I had been introduced to Emma through Danielle who currently works at Anderson's, she knew that I have a keen interest in property/ architecture and interior design. She had suggested that the two of us should meet as Anderson's only produce work for this sector.

And so this morning I took my portfolio over to Anderson's at Wira House in Horsforth, and had an informal meeting with Emma. 

Horsforth in itself is ideal for me as it is near to where my parents live and it is in Leeds, which is where I am looking to stay right now and after I finish. As well as this it is a good location for commuting and there is parking, even though it is not in the centre of Leeds it is less than ten minutes away and so I can see that this is also good for business.

She introduced the company and gave me some background into them and what they do, I found out more from this and I knew that I was interested in the company. 

We then looked through my work, I felt that this went really well and I had some briefs that had relevance to the company and Emma liked this too. 

After looking through my portfolio she seemed really interested and was complimentary about the work I had produced and my concept development etc. 

Then we swapped over and she showed me some of their work and I really enjoyed seeing that there was a lot of focus on print which is my strength and I liked that they looked into the use of different stocks and print finishes.

She then told me she was interested in having me at the studio and we discussed some other details about when I finish university. 

She has said to me she will be getting back to me soon and I am very excited to hear back from her. I will have to wait and see. 

This Is Where I Leave You... Presentation

This is my final presentation of the course. 

In this presentation I reviewed the following:

• Who I am as  a learner 
• and a designer
• How the things I have experienced over the past nine months have affected me
• My current aims and ambitions
• My creative concerns, personal aims and professional ambitions
• What has made me, the person I am now and why?

To begin with I looked at a question we had been asked at the very start of the course, this was what 5 things did I want to learn throughout the entire programme?

1. I wanted to learn digital print processes- this meant that I wanted to learn about the digital print room downstairs, reprographics etc, I wanted to learn how to print my work to a more professional standard and I wanted to learn about print in industry. 

I would say that I definetly learned how to print my work more professionally I learnt a lot about the print process and CMYK, I also used the digital print room a lot, and I would say that my knowledge has increased a little more about industry printing techniques but I wouldn't say I knew it completely.

2. I also wanted to learn screen printing processes- I wanted to learn more about screen printing and use the resource more, I also wanted to learn how to foil and emboss.

I used the screen printing room enough and I  am confident in my abilities, I also practiced foil blocking and it mostly came out successful, I learnt how to emboss and tried it a few times but I think that for an emboss you have to have this done commercially. And I have learnt a bit more about industry printing and foiling on my placement at DS.Emotion recently.

3. I wanted to improve my Adobe Software skills to a high level- I originally meant photoshop, illustrator and indesign. 

However I now know that there are more software programmes, and I have tried them a little bit but not really found them necessary or suitable to me, especially dreamweaver- coding and html/ css. I have also not really used adobe after effects but in the next few weeks I plan to try little experiments, I do not feel that it is a necessity but it would be nice to learn a bit about and use even if its very simply. But I do feel very competent in the three main software programmes and my biggest strengths are indesign and illustrator. 

4. How to manage myself as a professional- I think that I meant networking etc. 

I feel that I learnt a lot about business and set up in my second year of PPP, I feel that self promotion and branding is clear to me as it is a design brief and I feel that this final year in PPP has taught me about portfolios (2nd and 3rd year has taught me how to present verbally and on boards) and getting in contact with people and having some confidence to do so, I think that this for me is an ongoing process but I feel that in doing my placement I have already gained more confidence within myself and speaking to people. 

5. Idea Generation and Brief Communication- I think that this meant being able to come up with more ideas and being successful at a brief.

I think through extended practice etc every brief/ task set on the programme I have done this well and to the best of my ability, I think to add to this how to pick briefs and what I like doing, what my strengths are and what isn't.

Then in the presentation I explored First Year,

I began by describing my personal interests and how they influenced me as a designer. 

I then looked at pivotal moments, modules where I felt that I had learnt a lot or I was proud of what I had done. 

I felt that design principles taught me a lot about design and basics, especially type, grid, colour and semiotics. In creating a publication about this I applied these rules and put them into practice I felt that it was really suitable and helped me a lot.

Design Context was probably my favourite module of this year I I was proud of my publication I created, I enjoyed looking at contexts and applying this. 

And in Design Practice my favourite brief was one where I created a series of leaflets selling Chanel makeup through there connection to Marilyn Monroe, again my personal interests helped me within this project and I did through research where I went to the Chanel counter and got samples etc. 

Second Year

In second year I felt that design for print and web was my worst module of the whole programme! In this module I felt that I had worked myself too hard and I ended up very stressed and I tried to take shortcuts and this just made for bad practice and design, I also had a hard time learning how to design for web. 

However responsive pushed me to do a lot of briefs some of which upon reflection I wondered why I had picked them but from this I learnt my strengths and weaknesses, I also learnt about collaboration, and picking a suitable partner, in the end I liked our design and work however I had felt that I had created the majority and had to be quite pushy, however this showed me that I have a good level of commitment and showed me how much work I can produce. 

I also felt that in this year this is when I started looking into other studios I did this mainly through the PPP module, I really liked Socio Design, Construct and Made (Publishers) I loved their work, simple sophisticated and modern, also seemingly quite high end. 

Third Year

I feel like through summer and this year I have learnt a lot about myself, I have also changed my work commitments and could now focus on the course which has benefitted me greatly, not just on the course but for myself. I also feel that my personal interests have slightly shifted and I am happy to show what interests me and what my main influences are. 

I am greatly interested in lifestyle, especially home life, architecture and interior design, home decor etc. 

I also want to travel, this is motivated by my interests in animals, and history, but I also want to see new things. 

I love films and tv series, these also heavily influence my work. 

As mentioned Nature plays a big part in my interests and life, not just animals but environment. 

I think most things work in harmony and each inform one another and learning to understand this has benefited me a lot. 

This year Design Context has been my biggest success to date. I felt that I worked extremely hard in this module I began early and did a lot of research I spent quite a lot of time defining my topic but I had a lot of relevant research. 

As well as this my practical which I felt was a little bit of a second thought at some points also turned out really well, again my interests in architecture and lifestyle shone through. And I felt that my design was appropriate to the brief and it was more refined and modern. I also used recycled stock for the most part and it was nice to see that this can be an alternative to normal stock.

I think that for my Design Practice module I have got parts of work that seem like they where made a long time ago, however after being told that an extensive brief is better than lots of briefs I feel happier with what I have done and I also want to revisit some of my brief s and extend them so that I have some more portfolio work I feel that this is the most important thing now over how much I have produced etc.

I also feel that in the last month or two I have had a shift in attitude towards web design and I am now trying to practice this in all of my briefs.

My Creative Concerns Now:

Is a longer list than first year due to gaining more knowledge and learning about more in general!

Brand and Identity

Publishing and Editorial

Promotion

Design for Print

Print Finishes- Foiling

Stock

Type Based

Grid and Layout

Lifestyle Sectors

Building Sector

Studio based Designer (as opposed to freelance)

Design for Web (basic layout etc)

I also listed studios that inspire me the most, and who's work I admire and what sectors they work for/ with. On the presentation I also mentioned where they are as I feel that it is relevant to show this at it shows that I am willing to move it depends on the studio and salary in my eyes! 

Future aims: I am currently on placement at D.S Emotion and I feel that I have already learnt a lot and I feel that it is and has been hugely beneficial, I am happy that I agreed to do a month as I have had a variety of projects including a really strong/ extensive brief that will be going into my portfolio. I have also learnt more about working in a studio and how a studio operates and getting to work and life around working in general. 

I do aim to get a job/ career in design, I feel that it suits me I enjoy what I am doing and I feel confident that I am capable. 

I then concluded with a final summary to round of my reflection of my three years at Leeds College of Art

• I have learnt a lot about myself and design.
• My interests have remained similar througout.
• I feel ready to go out and work, and learn more.
• I am a primarily a print designer, but ready to learn and push web design skills.
• My personal interests have a strong influnce on my design work and where I want to be.
• Through PPP I have gained more confidence in presenting myself and my work and also finding my place within Graphic Design.
• Design Practice; Producing high quality, thought out work, extension, presenting work professionally, production methods, software development...

Personal Branding Research (Personal Stationary)

The Brief

Produce a range of self promotional material for delivery through print and electronic media. You will be expected to produce:

• Print based portfolio of work
• An appropriate online presence
• Personal branded CV business cards and stationary
• Any other material appropriate to the promotion of your design practice or stated progression strategy

I like this branding because it is very minimal and sophisticated. I like the fact that there is a logo mark I think that this works well with a name and the two can work over a variety of formats.

Design by: Anti, Norway 

http://anti.as/projects/?anti=design

http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_and_identity_for_acapo_by_anti.php#.UwQATEKSzfk

I like the stock choice and the foil really stands out it looks quite bespoke and I like that the envelope is the the same foil colour. 

The type work well on the back of the business card and there is a subtle hint of the foil.

Again I like this identity as it is minimal, I think that this may be a little bit too minimal for me, but the print costs would be quite low as it is just black ink onto stock. 

I like the way the name has been made into an pattern through the letterforms and then applied to other aspects of the stationary I think that this is quite interesting. The emboss also looks good and creates interest.

Designer: Ryan Romanes

Client: Jason O. Stevens

Printing: Moo.com & Stich Press

https://www.behance.net/gallery/23935247/Jason-O-Stevens

I really like the colours of the stock etc used for this identity. Again with a foil finish the stationary looks more considered, and it stands out. I also like the way that the type isn't black, its really in keeping with the brand and it has a softer finish. I think that the silver foil on the darker grey works better than the one above.

Design: Two Create, London

https://www.behance.net/gallery/15608645/HOUSE-OF-THE-NOBLEMAN

The stationary also appears to have a border when the main colour is white. This isn't an effect you see often and I think that it again adds more consistency to the brand. 

I also like the button effect but I think that this would be impractical for a large scale commercial print, it would be expensive and fiddly to actually tie. I don't like it at the bottom of the envelope either this is impractical too, but they have considered this and created the smaller standard envelope. I like this more as it is sophisticated. 

Again another simple but effective logo mark, similar to the JOS branding, using a combination of the letterforms and space.

They have used a combination of embossing and laser cutting, which means the colour of the stock is the focus. I would rather use one or the other, especially as it would add cost for me.  

I don't really like the colour of the identity and I wouldn't consider using a brown but this is suitable for the client in this instance.

Design: Heydays, Norway

http://bpando.org/2013/12/17/logo-mellbye-architecture/

I like the small mark on the top buisness card I also like the way the copy is laid out on the buisness card, but I dont like how the name has been written over the top in yellow there is a mixture of styles and the brand is unclear.

http://www.fromupnorth.com/

I like this minimal branding, and again I like the layout of the copy, there is a logo mark too which works for the identity.

http://www.fromupnorth.com/

This is very sophisticated and stylish, I think that the stationary is very consistent and simple. 

http://www.fromupnorth.com/

I like the colour combination of this branding, I do think it is very feminine and I would try avoid this in my own branding. I like the foil finish and that the copy matches the colour of the stock on the back.

'these cards were foil blocked using fluted dies to create a raised impression, then duplexed with two contrasting sheets of paper – 350gm Curious Touch Nude and 540gsm Colorplan Frost with fabric emboss.'

Design: Team Impression, Leeds

http://www.team-impression.com/news/

Focussing on the type alone I like the capitalisation of the letters and I like the under/over line on the 'A' I think that it would work well on its own and with the type. A downside is that it may look unbalanced with just the type. 

Design: Sociedad Anónima and S – Design Consultants 

http://www.logoed.co.uk/2013/03/14/archivoi/