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...
No comments:
Post a Comment