FINAL MODULE EVALUATION OUGD603

In terms of my developed skills, I feel that I have really progressed as a designer this year, with a better understanding of my practice and areas of interest. Throughout this process, I have found that from my original statement of intent, a few aspects have changed, allowing me to refine my visuals. There were a number of briefs that I chose to not to undertake anymore as I felt that they were no longer relevant, allowing me select more appropriate briefs that I felt would show of my illustrative and conceptual skills. I am now extremely passionate about print, pattern and packaging with a strong focus on application and product range, which has allowed me to put together a portfolio that is professional and consistent in terms of content and aesthetics. The use of a photography studio has massively improved my final resolutions, which I would be happy to use after graduation. As well as simply producing outcomes for my own personal gain, I have been involved with a number of briefs that have had context and purpose, including exhibition briefs, live briefs and and briefs for charity. I have therefore had to interact with clients, working to strict deadlines, which has given me the skills and confidence to present my work within an industry environment. 

In addition to this, I feel that I have worked extremely well as part of a number of different collaborations, with both people on the course and off it. I am aware of how to utilise a range of skill sets to produce the best outcome, allowing for the development of strong concepts. I feel that I am organised and professional enough to work well within a team, knowing when I should be around and also knowing when to compromise on certain aspects. The yearbook in particular has been a great opportunity for me this year. I am extremely pleased with how this project has turned out, and we are all glad that we decided to take it on. The content, layout and visuals all really compliment us as individuals, as well as a working group, and this is something that we will definitely be putting in our portfolios. Each step was managed well in order to produce an outcome that we are proud of.

My practice and development has been massively informed by primary research this year. A lot of emphasis was placed on it at the beginning as it is extremely beneficial, allowing you to make a strong connection to the content and the audience you are designing for. As a lot of my design is focused on illustration, it has been paramount for me to look at primary sources so that they could be used as reference tools. I have been able to evaluate the context and purpose of products, gaining a better understanding of successful, working design. This also led to the development of new processes, as I started working with different mediums, such as acrylic paint and watercolour. This has given a unique selling point to my work, strengthening my interest in hand crafting, focusing my design on a specific audience. 

In terms of weaknesses throughout this module, I wish that I had experimented more in terms of stocks, as this has been kept consistent all the way through my briefs. Exploring new stocks would have allowed me to find colours and textures to compliment my visuals in a way that is more exciting than matte white card. I also wish that I had explored more processes whilst I had the chance to use the facilities within university. I feel that screen printing compliments my practice, and therefore this is something that I should have considered exploring if it was appropriate to my concept. This links also to the crafting of products, which hasn't been to the highest standards. I was really impressed with the quality of my design context publication which was printed professionally, therefore I wish that I had considered this for briefs such as my personal branding, as well as Anna's business cards. 

EVALUATION - Design Context

Towards the end of the year, I have felt much more confident in my design, in terms of my abilities but also in terms of the direction that I see my practice going in. It has only been recently that I have become much more influenced by blogs such as Studio DIY, Oh So Beautiful Paper and The Sweetest occasion, who explore personalised stationery and crafting, which had a direct influence on my branding and identity. I started to use Pinterest regularly to document my recent influences and aspirations, splitting these into different boards. This then formed the basis of my publication, giving me the titles to each section in my book – things I love, print and pattern, gifts and greetings, packaging and context of practice. Evidently, this publication does not feature design that is completely new to me; there is evidence of strong influence throughout, showing the love I have always had for packaging and print.

I wanted the content to be well organised, manageable and informed and therefore chose an A5 format that could be transported and used as a point of reference. I sent them away to print so that I had something that was professional and high quality, as this is something that I will want to keep as a log of all of my influences. I chose to get it perfect bound also, as this was the most appropriate time of binding for the number of pages included within the publication.

In terms of written content, I have made sure that each section is thoroughly explained and evaluated in terms of how my practice can be seen throughout, and why I have chose to include that particular area of design. I also included other appropriate content, such as interviews with designers themselves, as this gave a great insight into their working mind, offering tips and advise for graduates and those wishing to head in a similar direction. This was something that was really useful, as it instilled confidence and allowed me to gain a better vision of my future.

In terms of weaknesses, I would have liked to have made the format more appropriate to my design practice. For example, I could have created some packaging for the book. I had also originally hoped to have each heading as a separate book, allowing me to produce a consistent range, bringing them all together as though it was part of a stationery or gifts and greetings range. However, this wasn’t feasible, as I wanted to get the books printed professionally, which is costly. In addition to this, there are also a few images, which haven’t come out perfect quality, which is a shame. I had initially printed a mock up that allowed me to see if there was any pixelating, resolving this issue, however some images are still not as sharp as they could have been.

I now feel much more confident in terms of my practice and the type of studios I want to direct my attention towards. I want to improve my skills in terms of hand lettering and calligraphy, exploring stocks, materials and processes, in order to become much more accustomed to studios that work with personalised stationery and greetings ranges.  

EVALUATION - Harry Ramsdens

I had never worked within this sector of design, and had never completely rebranded an existing company; therefore this was an exciting process that I was unsure whether or not I was going to enjoy. It gave me the chance to work with packaging and illustration, however, which I feel I have learned a lot about in terms of how it can be used and applied to create high quality visuals, reflecting brand values, whilst targeting a specific customer base. I learnt during this process that a lot of brands are very inconsistent within their design, in terms of colour, type and imagery, and through research I was able to see how a brand could be made to be more successful. More contemporary branding was stripped back and minimal, with focus on intricate illustrations and restricted colour palettes on natural stocks, which helped inform my design.

I feel that overall I have created a consistent product range that is suitable and appropriate to the environment it is intended for, and it’s purpose, showing how the new identity would effectively work across a broad range of scales and formats that are relevant to the setting. Everything has been kept consistent on all final outcomes, including colour, print and type, vastly improving on the previous visuals that were conflicting and garish. The design now reflects the price range that the restaurant currently sits in, with a strong focus on heritage through the inclusion of facts, imagery and specific content, such as the date on the logo and inserts in the menus.

In terms of my strengths, I feel that I have become much more aware of how important primary research is, especially in terms of using it as a reference tool for my illustration, making my design work much more informed. It helped me create a connection to the brand and to create a much more focused understanding of the audience and the environment that you would find each visual in.

In terms of weaknesses, I feel that more care and consideration could have been taken into the crafting of the packaging. Whilst I am evidently not going to be an expert in this area, I wish I had taken more time to consider how everything was going to print and fit together. Unfortunately, some products were printed a number of times, wasting time and money, because of annoying things like pixilation and sizing issues. I also feel that it would have been much more appropriate to explore a range of different stocks to create a visual that didn’t show all the imperfections – for example an off white stock. This also would have offered a more natural canvas appropriate to my illustrations.

EVALUATION - personal branding

As we were required to demonstrate appropriate preparation for our stated progression ambitions, it was necessary to have both print and web based outcomes in the form of personal branding in order to create a successful design presence. The basis of my identity was formed from four specific colours that I had come across during research into one of my briefs, that had caught my eye in terms of reflecting my own practice. I feel that I have developed a personal and unique focal visual of my name, taking on a playful and reflective aesthetic, that would work alongside examples of my prints, patterns and illustrations as a direct representation of both my design and my ambitions.

When it came to researching for my personal branding, I found that a lot of the content within my Design Context publication really helped to inform my design decisions. I had already gathered a lot of imagery that focused on range, process, colour and stationery, which was the perfect starting point for determining what exactly my branding should look like. Because of this informed research I was able to be efficient and organised with my design development.

I feel that I have successfully presented myself in a way that not only represents my practice, but also the type of design that interests me. This meant that through the exploration of primary and secondary sources, including business cards, I could see how similar designers had approached their own identity and how they had applied this to a range of appropriate products.

A range of colours were used throughout that automatically connect to the type of design I am attracted to, focusing on pastel shades alongside contrasting elements. Print and pattern has been incorporated throughout as I feel that this is where my practice currently lies. In terms of contacting studios, a small pack would be sent off that would include a cover letter, my CV, a range of postcards and also business cards which have been triplex printed. These would all be tied together with string and sent off in an envelope with a DIY printed liner. I hope that this shows attention to detail, unifying my overall branding.

In terms of weaknesses, I feel that the crafting of my products is not up to the standard that I would have liked. In due course, I will get them printed professionally so that there are no finger marks and no poor quality images. This was allow me to come across as a designer that is certain of the direction that they are heading in, who is willing to learn and willing to work hard. I also feel that I should have explored a different range of stocks so that any imperfections could be hidden. This would have also linked in nicely with my envelopes, which were quite textured. 

EVALUATION - Yearbook

I was extremely happy with how effectively we all worked together during this brief. I feel that we were very organised and efficient, making sure to relay all information to each other and to the tutors. We were always aware of deadlines, and when things needed to be completed by - such as getting all of the content, taking photographs of work and organising the students. In addition to this, when one of us was unable to attend a meeting or a session, this wasn't a problem as any issues raised would be discussed later on and everyone would be brought back into the loop - there was always someone there when needed.

There was a lot of content and information we needed to gather from the textiles students. With the help of Duncan, we were able to post any necessary information on their main forum, setting up a dropbox where files could be sent for us to use. We created a strong relationship with the Textiles team, making sure to always be professional and organised.

As there was three of us, we had a range of skill sets, allowing us to present and design effectively, whilst having equal amounts of work to complete. Compromise was a main factor within this, allowing everyone to have their own input and knowing when to back down. I didn’t particularly think that I would enjoy working with type, grid and layout, however I have become much more confident within this area of design, broadening my practice and allowing me to strengthen my skills, which can then be applied to my design context publication. The brief has been extremely technical, which required more care and consideration than other briefs.

I am extremely pleased with how this project has turned out, and we are all glad that we decided to take it on. The content, layout and visuals all really compliment us as individuals, as well as a working group, and this is something that we will definitely be putting in our portfolios. Each step was managed well in order to produce an outcome that we are proud of.

EVALUATION - UK Greetings

During this brief, I feel that I have developed my illustrative skills. This brief gave me the opportunity to work in a medium that I wouldn't normally use. In order to broaden my skills, I worked a lot with paint and hand drawn image. This allowed me to create new and fresh visuals that reflected the content and theme. By using paint, I was able to put my ideas down on paper before I began digitising anything. This led to further development of ideas, colour and layout. I also feel that this has strengthened my pattern design and also the application of pattern to a range of products. I believe I effectively applied pattern across a number of different products, to create a strong and complete set that worked together.

As well as this, I feel that I have developed my skills in term of process. I have never used laser cut within my work and this was the first time I applied it to my products. This process was quite tricky as I had to take a number of things into consideration - how to keep the greetings cards clean, how to line up the laser exactly and how to create perforation. By taking the time to do this right, I feel I have created a really effective interactive aspect to my greetings cards. They won't simply be ephemeral like most cards received for Christmas, as they have a purpose and decorative form. 

I believe that I have effectively targeted my audience with my product range. There needed to be consideration of competition and the fact that mainly women purchase greetings cards. I feel that I took this into account and created a contemporary set of products that could be seen in shops such as Paperchase. They are finished to a high standard, including processes and the opportunity to interact. When undertaking briefs, understanding of the audience is key, and therefore this will be carried through into other briefs.

To push this brief even further, I could have created point of sale and advertisement for this range. Through primary research, I could have familiarised myself with how cards and supporting products are set out within a shop environment and this could have been mocked up. This would have strengthened the context and also displayed them within a working surrounding. In the future I will make sure to think of all possibilities for the brief so that I get the most from it. 

EVALUATION - Room 101

I chose to put cats in Room 101. Being a dog lover, I see cats as quite self obsessed animals that rarely offer love and affection to anyone but themselves. The illustration therefore reflected this throughout the use of a book format, to represent an autobiography by a self-indulgent cat that has no other friends apart from itself. The tone of voice is humorous, and is not intended to offend, this is strengthened through the use of colour and type.

For the final outcomes, I created an A3 posters, and also a book sleeve to show how the design would be applied to this context. In terms of colour and visuals, the design is strong, bold and eye catching, giving it shelf appeal within a store environment. The concept is strengthened through the tone of voice, choosing to include more colours than the brief initially asked for in order to create more impact and to reflect the personality of the book.

This brief was initially meant to have a quick turn around, as it was simply an A3 poster. However, the development process took longer than anticipated, which has happened on quite a few occasions within my briefs. My initial concept changed quite drastically, which set me back and then I wasn’t happy with the visuals, which led to me returning to the brief at a later date. Although this brief became stretched out, I am extremely glad that I made the decision to re-do the design so that it was much more reflective of my ideas, and visually looked more consistent in terms of my practice.

Although I used some primary sources, if I was to do anything differently next time, I would make sure to collect as many reference images as possible in order to aid my design, as this has been effective in various other briefs.

EVALUATION - M&S Picnic

I feel that during this brief I have really developed my illustrative skills. Before this, I had never experimented with creating characters or individuals through illustration. I have always found it quite difficult to draw figures, and have therefore steered clear of doing so. However, with the help of Jenna and through different forms of research, I was able to come up with something I was really happy with. I feel that the characters created for this brief were extremely effective and reflective of our theme. It allowed us to create a friendly and approachable tone of voice, as well as experiment with colour and shape. They became a main focal point of our products, allowing us to modernise our Scottish theme and create interaction within the composition. 

We also spent a lot of time researching existing products, packaging and illustration. When collaborating, it can be quite tricky putting two different design styles together; therefore we needed to look at a way in which we could both work. This gave us a solid idea in terms of visuals and aesthetics, allowing us to work together, inputting and giving feedback along the way. This is an approach we took to design development throughout. We made sure that whilst designing, we were with each other at all times. This way, we could work on the packaging at the same time, 'mini-critting' each aspect as we did so. By doing this, we were able to bounce ideas off of each other, coming up with strong design ideas. 

In terms of strengths, the crafting of our products was particularly strong during this brief. I felt that we had the time and patience to create something of a high standard, as it had to appeal to a particular target audience. I will continue to work to this quality of end product in the future, so that my outcomes look as neat and tidy as they possibly can.

In terms of weaknesses, due to lack of experience, we struggled when it came to photographing our work. We were given advice on certain aspects, however we were quite unsure on settings, lighting and angles. I don't feel that our final images do our products justice but I still feel that they are a lot more professional than if we had simply taken them in our studio. A strength within this however was our use of food within the photography. Although the photos didn't look as professional as hoped, I am glad we experimented with using real food and products during this process. It gave a context to the brief, and allowed us to show how it would work in a real environment. In the future, I hope to be able to get help from a photography student, or perhaps allow them to take my photos for me so that I am able to use them for my website or my portfolio.

EVALUATION - Dr Me

I feel that Katie and myself worked extremely efficiently and effectively on this brief. She was a great individual to work with, as she is not afraid to think outside of the box and explore different possibilities. We were both extremely pro active during the workshop and therefore we were able to use both of our skill sets to achieve a lot in a short period of time. We were also able to bounce ideas off of each other, and work things out visually, using the resources within the university to find out whether or not our ideas were feasible.

We both worked on our strengths, splitting the brief into individual tasks so that the outcome was the best that it could be. This also allowed us to work on the brief separately and then come together and evaluate the development and progress. It gave us the opportunity to work with materials and processes we had never previously considered, including acetate, collage and digital fabric printing on a large scale. The end product is definitely a decorative piece, with a unique format that allowed us to work with collage and process.

I would definitely work with Katie again after this collaborative brief, as she is full of ideas and willing to explore different avenues of design. It also offered us the opportunity to see our work in an exhibition within a space that wasn't just our usual college environment. 

EVALUATION - Elmwood

Elmwood had been in to set us a brief titled 'brand the boring', where I was given the profession of a removal company. From this, I was lucky enough to be selected to go and pitch my final idea at the studio based in Leeds. Initially I was nervous, however when we arrived Steph was extremely accommodating and friendly which put me at ease. Before the presentations, we were given the opportunity to take a look around the studio to see the working environment, where a vast array of creatives were hard at work. The atmosphere was very inspiring and the surroundings were extremely motivational.

The pitch itself was quite casual and I felt confident in getting my concept across. It was great to get some feedback straight away, taking note on how I could build upon, expand and change my ideas. This experience really helped with my presentation skills, both in terms of speaking and visuals, which will become extremely useful when it comes to pitching my ideas to clients.

The brief itself wasn’t necessarily a brief I would have chosen to do, however it was a great opportunity and it allowed me to really start thinking much more conceptually, focusing on how this can make a brief stronger than the visuals. The visuals I created weren’t too my usual style, and therefore I initially struggled, however I felt that I had successfully branded a removal company to appear much more contemporary, updated and trustworthy. In terms of feedback from Elmwood regarding the practical work, they noted that the name ‘Shift It’ was extremely effective, as were the illustrations, yet they could be expanded on and played around with more in order to explore scale and application. 

EVALUATION - Dialogue

It was a great experience being a part of the Dialogue exhibition as it allowed for the opportunity to display my work to a wider audience, which meant that my design wasn't just restricted to it's usual environment. This then allowed for exposure and increased professional experience, which led to me gaining feedback from individuals outside of the course.

It was great to see how the prints had been combined, seeing how effectively two designs had been paired together to create one outcome. I was extremely proud of Eve and Nathan and all the hard work that they had put into the exhibition. It made me much more aware that I should be trying to find more opportunities like this one where I am able to get my designs out into the real world.

Although this brief was a quick turn around, I am pleased with how my design came out. For this brief, I was able to work with a subject matter that was relatable to my own current thoughts and interests, working with a humorous tone. This made the whole project a more personal experience, allowing me to reflect real life situations and people, whilst offering a memorable space for the chosen quote.

If I were to do it again however, I would have liked to have experimented more with hand written type and I would have developed it further, exploring new visuals. A lot of research was undertaken into designs that feature the maker’s own handwriting, and I am aware that my own skills aren’t quite there yet. However, it is something I want to keep practicing and incorporating into my work. I am still learning in this area, and I therefore want to build upon this in order to produce exciting and contemporary visuals that will work alongside my illustration. 

EVALUATION - Alternative Christmas

As the brief was lyric based, the most appropriate outcome was hand rendered type. Type itself can be just as effective as image as it can use form and shape to reflect feeling and emotion. The script-based type used suggests love and compassion, using red as an indicator of both this and the Christmas theme. This was appropriate to the tone of voice, whilst also been reflective of a greetings card. I feel that I have successfully reflected the chosen lyrics of the song, without creating a tacky or garish visual.

From doing this brief, one of the most important things that I have learned is that I want to involve myself in more projects that are purely for a good cause. It was great that Lizzie spent a lot of time and effort organising and printing to give all of the proceeds to a local charity, and it was great to see so many people on the course getting involved.

In terms of research, I explored the lyrics in the song in order to gain a better understanding of the message and the tone of voice. This then allowed me to explore hand drawn script type, both relevant to, and not relevant to the content and the theme. This helped to inform my design, seeing how type had the ability to reflect a feeling.

Although this brief was intended to have a quick turnaround of a day, I would have liked to have developed the type even further, possibly exploring a more illustrative style that included relevant imagery to strengthen the message.

EVALUATION - Champneys

I have worked with Steph in previous years, creating successful outcomes, and therefore we decided to undertake another brief this year. Mine and Steph's skill sets and interests differ quite drastically. She is used to working digitally with websites and apps and has quite a deep hatred for packaging, which is something that I love. However, we felt that this was in fact an ideal starting point, as it would also us to produce something varied - printed products supported by a website for example. I always learn new things when working with Steph. She is extremely competent on Photoshop, a programme that I had hardly used until now. She taught me a lot in terms of layout and shortcuts, and because of this, I have now been using it to produce the final boards for all of my briefs.

I also feel that I helped her strengthen her skills on Illustrator, working with digital scans and showing her how to add colour, using different brushes and tools. Whilst we were always together when working on this brief, we used our individual skill sets to produce something that we were really proud of. It gave us both the chance to work within areas that we wouldn't usually place ourselves, whilst also allowing us to show off our abilities, which is why I feel we work together extremely effectively and efficiently.

For the research side to this brief, I decided to undertake a large range of primary research, specifically focusing on packaging and existing Champney’s products. I felt that as I was most focused on this aspect of the design, I wanted to gain a strong understanding of what was needed to target a younger audience in order to inform my development and decisions. This also allowed me to see where improvements needed to be made to the Champney’s branding. From this, I was able to relay my findings to Steph and we could then collectively work on visuals. This research was paramount, as much more contemporary branding really stood out on the shelves, and certain aspects such as colour and illustration made it clear who the products were targeted at.

Pattern and packaging design was evidently my strong point during this brief, creating bold, fresh and exciting visuals that looked high end and unique but also affordable. I feel that the new packaging range was a really strong way to entice a younger market, whilst making them aware of the importance of staying healthy through the inclusion of informative leaflets.

In terms of weaknesses, I feel that the digital elements of the brief really let us down in terms of consistency. Although as a stand-alone outcome the blog and app are really effective ways of targeting a younger generation to engage with a brand, I feel that the design differs too much from the packaging, which really stands out. If we were to revisit this, I would want to try and incorporate more elements from the print based products into the digital outcomes.

EVALUATION - Cath Kidston

The main thing that I have learned during this brief is that it can be extremely difficult to emulate an existing brand aesthetic. Cath Kidston prints are so unique that I found that I initially struggled to design something that would effectively work alongside the brands existing products. It took quite a bit of experimentation to finally find a way of working that I felt suited the range of conversational designs, and unfortunately this slowed down the entire process of what should have initially being a short term brief.

I also learned the difficulties of working towards such a specific target audience. The brief had so many requirements in terms of whom the design should be aimed at, that it was hard to cater to every aspect. However, this did in fact help me gain a better understanding of the context and environment that the print would be found in, which in term aided my concept. 

For this brief, I was able to undertake quite a lot of primary research, as the theme was something that was personal to me as well as the brand itself. Living in the countryside meant that I was able to gather a range of photographs and sources that I could then use as a reference tool for my illustrations. For example, I was able to get a range of images of hens, cockerels, flowers and shrubbery. This allowed for a stronger connection to the brief, giving me a better understanding of the visuals and the personality of the brand.

As well as this, I was able to visit a Cath Kidston store, as well as other stores that stocked a range of products from the brand. By doing this, I was able to see the type of environment in which the print would be sold, evidently surrounded by similar products including vintage items and craft. By seeing the products in their context, I was able to apply the finished design to appropriate products, including women’s fashion and homeware.

In terms of strengths, I am actually pleased with how well the print fits alongside existing Cath Kidston designs. Although similar elements have been taken from other conversational prints, I feel that this shows I had the ability to replicate the brand aesthetics to create a unique and nostalgic design. This allowed me to explore different ways of working with illustration, applying my knowledge to a new approach.

In terms of weaknesses, I feel that I could have improved on my mock-ups. This is a skill that I have still not mastered, and I feel that the end product would have looked a lot more professional if I was able to apply the design more effectively to a range. Although I have picked appropriate areas to explore, such as technology and crockery, this is an area that I need to improve upon in the future in order to showcase my final prints.  

EVALUATION - Brabantia

I believe that I have started to really explore my illustrative skills. Instead of simply working with digital illustration, I got off the computer and decided to create something by hand. By doing this, I have been able to target my audience, and really relate to my content. This process was an enjoyable one, and it has allowed my products to work well as a unique range through the application of colour and pattern.

Initially, I struggled to mock-up professional looking prototypes. However, as I needed to show screen-based examples to show that they would work alongside other Brabantia products, I really had to build on these skills, and look into producing some effective mock-ups. A lot of this included the application of pattern, so I also had to work with clipping masks and defining patterns. I became much more confident with this, which allowed me to create a consistent range.

Throughout this brief, I made sure that during my research I didn't simply look at existing Brabantia products and pattern application on kitchenware. Initially, I looked at Brabantia as a brand, and the type of things they were doing, however they didn't really feature too much pattern design. I therefore pushed my research into digital and printed pattern that had been applied to a range of products, not just canisters. This allowed me to gain a better understanding of audience, colour, format and environment and how the product would interact with it's surrounding. Once a pattern was developed, my research then informed me of effective application and how to create a suitable range, balancing colour and composition. 

In terms of strengths, I believe that throughout, one of my main strengths has been my illustrative work. From this, I have enjoyed focusing my work more, and looking at different ways of using colour and line within it. During cries, my peers recognised my illustrations as a skill, describing them as a main focal point to my work. I will continue to experiment with and explore this in order to create appropriate and relevant designs. 

I feel that the products appropriate to the theme, creating a contemporary and updated version of the retro, floral Patrice print, that would work within its context. These products compliment each other, and application has been kept consistent throughout. Colour and pattern have been balanced out to create a set that is not over powering and will therefore appeal to an audience that is looking for high quality, contemporary designs. By working together effectively as a set, they will have shelf appeal, allowing the user to purchase a number of products that can be used together to create a complimentary kitchen environment.

In terms of weaknesses, this brief was initially intended to have a quick turnaround, as the brief only asked for a simple pattern design to be uploaded to their competition site. Although I am happy that I created an effective range of supporting items, I need to work on being content with short briefs. In the future, once a brief is complete, I will make sure to move on from it.

EVALUATION - Anna

The process of working with an individual not on Graphic Design has been invaluable. Initially I found the prospect of the brief quite daunting, as I wanted to reflect the high quality work that Anna produced, however she was great to work with and only ever gave constructive criticism. The experience has allowed me to see what it is like working for a client, requiring me to be professional, organised and willing to compromise in order to suit their needs. The development stage quite long, as I wanted to make sure that Anna was fully content with the final designs. Requirements were also changed half way through the brief, which is something that will prepare me for the possibility of this happening within the industry.

During the initial stages, in order to gain a better understanding of the individual I was working for, I made sure that I was aware of the type of photographer Anna was, and the area that she specialised in. This helped to inform my designs right from the beginning, showing the client that I was both interested and committed to the brief. As I had only ever produced branding for myself, it was necessary to undertake research into existing designs, as well as processes and print services. By doing this, I was able to see what was successful in terms of content, layout and colour, using this information to produce a design that reflected the visuals being used.

In terms of strengths during this brief, I feel that from the outset I had a solid understanding of Anna as an individual and as a photographer, with good knowledge of her existing projects. I listened to her requirements, whilst also making my own suggestions without being too pushy, staying in contact with her throughout the entire process in order to keep us both up to date with what was occurring.

This is not the type of brief that I would usually work on, as it didn’t allow for the opportunity to work with my usual aesthetics. I therefore feel that I have branched out, exploring type and image in a different form to create a successful outcome where the type and content works effectively alongside colour and image.

In terms of weaknesses, I feel that the crafting of the end products wasn’t too the highest of standards, which is something that I had hoped for. As the cards were printed on matte, the black reverse picked up on every finger mark and every piece of dirt. This made a lot of the printed products appear grubby, detracting focus from the triplex process used. This is something that I brought up with Anna, suggesting that she consider using professional print for her End of Year show, in order to reflect the strong, high quality visuals.

PERSONAL BRANDING - final pics

For my personal branding, I asked Anna Jakobson if she would be willing to take some photographs of my brief as a favour for doing her business cards. Of course this was fine, and she was able to come in and use a mini studio that I had set up. I was extremely grateful and very pleased with the results. I set up a little scene with my branding, in order to reflect my recent interest in customisable stationery. Although I had to edit the images myself, I feel that I have done a successful job.