PPP: February 2012

I have learnt as a designer

-I have learnt how to use illustrator to an average level.

-I have learn to use InDesign to a beginners level.

-I have experimented with different stocks and have an understanding about stock and the differnece it makes to print.

-I appreciate print and recognise it as a very important part of graphic design

-I have learn how important it is to create design which is informed and has a purpose with relevance.

-I have learnt how to do research in a controlled way which is relevant. Also I have learnt research within graphic design is very important and as a graphic designer I have to be able to inform myself on any subject.

-I have learnt how blog and document my work using blogging. I think this is a big development from using a sketchbook as a main way of documenting work.

-I have learnt the importance of colour and decision to use certain colours need consideration.

-I have learnt some new skills when printing my work. Small ways of working which make a big difference to printing outcomes. Example checking to make sure the work I want to print will be as vibrant as it can be by checking the work in CMYK.

I have learnt how to design on different formats in different contexts.

I have learnt as a person
-How to manage my time at home in order to function as a normal person. For example washing my clothes.

-I have learnt how to rent a private house and provide correct documentation.

-I have learnt how to manage my money to a certain degree. If I spent far too much one week than the next week will consist of living on roughly 2 pounds a day.

-I have learnt how to manage my work and social life in sync with one another

-I have learnt how to live with other people in one residence

-I have learnt some new cuisine recipes

-I have learnt how to manage a long distant relationships

-I have learnt how to save money buy buying non branded food

What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?

I think what I have developed with throughout the 100 Things project is decision making. The appropriateness of the content of research. I have been collecting for medical cannabis and cannabis in general quite a controversial as a subject I felt. With the How To project we also came to a point where we had to change our initial idea from chess to skateboarding and we all agreed as a group this was a good idea.

With the 100 Things project I had to stand back from the decisions and try to look at the decision to go with medical cannabis from a neutral viewpoint. It might sound like a fairly simple decision but with the stigma that some people have with cannabis and medical cannabis it was definitely a decision to consider. I had to start doing research before I could make a decisions; the more research I did the more confident I felt about the subject.

Also collecting information and decided whether the information and data is reliable and relevant. Seeing as the final products are the end result of the statistics and facts we found presenting them graphically it is important my information is accurate. Especially as I was effectively promoting legalisation of medical cannabis for people with diagnosed illnesses. This is a serious subject which meant I had to be careful what message my end products connotes.

I have definitely improved my understanding of presenting figures in the forms of info graphics. When we started the module I had no idea where to start in sorting statistics and facts for graphics. Categorising and finding information which works with the info graphic style. I think my info-graphic style has improved generally from simply looking at other designers work. I have found some good resources which I have shared on my blog.

I have tried to push my experiment with different medias and have created a wide range of products for 100 Things, some of which I havnt tried before; one example are the vinyl stickers and the giant rolling paper net.

When we printed off our group poster if was a really big print. As the height was so huge in resulting in working in a different way. We had to consider how to physically create the graphics on illustrator because the canvas was so big and usual to anything I have worked with before. As a group we also had to fuse our work together which meant accommodating other members of the group work on one canvas. Practicalities, individual style, working practices and physically transferring work had to be considered.

What approaches to/methods of design production have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?

One big consideration that I am becoming more aware of is printing. When printing in college it is a good idea to book in advance which I did for this module. Considering possibility and situations that might occur. For example James being ill. Luckily this didn't effect me massively but it still impacted my work slightly. In the future I will make sure that I am prepared for anything and that I have sufficient time in the printing rooms.

Its not just getting into the print rooms or getting a slot its how the printing is going to turn out. If something miss prints when printing on your own stock you need to make sure you have spare stock available. Just little things in preparation make the whole experience run smoothly.

I am more aware then ever about stocks and the influence they have on a final product. I found the water colour paper looked excellent for my posters but not so good for my rolling paper packet. So more experiment in the future with stocks; maybe I will order some experimental stocks for the future.

The media and context was more consider for this module and for the How To and 100 Things I think we had a good attempt. I think I could refine the purpose and context of a couple my products for example the smoking tips and the informational poster. I went with the conclusion and notion that the informational flyer would be left somewhere in a guerrilla fashion for people to pick up. This was just idea but it ended up happening even though I am not 100% sure about it.

I felt that the smoking tips is borderline great/ terrible idea. Promoting smoking combusted plant matter through a paper filter feels wrong even though I feel I have done it for the right intentions. I found their simply wasn't enough evidence for me to make a fully informed decision. I made the decision based on the current trend of people predominantly smoking cannabis with paper filters already and trying to infiltrate this trend with the end results being that the user would be more informed to alternatives and the safest way to smoke if they were going to anyway. Almost like a cigarette shock message but toned down.

The experimentation with different media was good and I enjoyed making the rolling papers. People seemed impressed with the final designs. I think I made a good choice here in experimenting and testing possibilities. Double sided prints! I didn't enjoy working out the how print double sided prints. I have made so many mistakes with the layouts and printing. Also I didn't realise the method of doing double sided upstairs with the mac studio printers if different to the digital suit method. This links again to preparation when printing and something I had to change on the spot which I found difficult and confusing. Luckily James knows his print and was able to tell me what needed to be done.

What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?I personally found my 100 Thing subject interesting and relevant in the current times. Maybe its only interesting to me but I tried to show why I was so intrigued by the topic and communicate this to others. Hope fully I did this. I think finding something that you can find interesting and can remain focused on developing for a long brief is a skill. I also tried to make things I didn't find that interesting, interesting. I think I did this well with the skateboard brief.

Again I am going to try and keep experimenting with media and continue to try different final products. I will continue to test ideas and keep an open mind to what and where my project might end up.

I think the finish of my work is of a high standard. My work practices when it comes to using a scalpel, storing work, print and construction is good. Even when sometimes it might feel as if it doesn't matter such as concepts I still try and make sure the finish is to the best of my ability. I try to take care where I can and I will continue to do this as it is a good habit and looks professional.

What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in the future?

I still find the presentation of my work in final crits can be improved. I usually focus all of my attention making sure the products can be the best I can get them and then realise the way I have left something on a table isn't complimenting my work as well as it could lets it down. I need to do some research on presentation. I will focus on presentation in the future and will document different interesting techniques which work subtly.

I need to plan my days more efficiently. I tried to make more lists of tasks to do for this module but I found myself loosing track of tasks that needed to be done which has definitely negatively effected the module. Stupid things such as forgetting about a part of a task of documenting design sheets. I am pretty annoyed with myself about this and will address it by working out some kind of fool proof system.

Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?

I will book more print slots with an informed idea and plan of action. This will mean no rushing around and worrying about deadlines. Trying to predict print results and making sure I am covered for anything that might occur.

Using my planner instead of using odd bits of paper. I need an official system of documenting tasks. I use my planner but I don't like the layout and feel as if I cant write everything that needs to be done. I think this will improved my efficiency meaning I will have a larger contents at the end of a module.

More design sheets. I have not got enough design sheets and I think its because I have gone off drawing. I need to practice my drawing and involve it in my design more. I do a lot of digital illustrations now but I need to happen on paper too. I get frustrated when I draw something by hand and it doesn't work well.

More research. Especially primary research and less dependence on the internet for all of my research. I had a few days in Liverpool walking around the city and I found it good for my design as I was constantly picking print up and seeing design in a different context from the web. This will inform my design in the future and it give me a broader range of ideas and possibility's.

Presentation skills as I have mentioned. I will make the presentation of my work just as important as the finish and design. I did a lot of presentation skills on my foundation but focusing on new things here has made me push presentation to one side. Back to basics I think.