End of module Self evaluation

What skills have you developed throughout this module and how effectively have you applied them? The main skills I have developed and started to apply is definitely type and layout from Graeme's type module, this gave me the understanding and the foundations of type design to start exploring it for myself, this project gave me a good opportunity to capitalise on what I have learn so far. Another skill is my photography skills, I have always been good with a camera and I saw this project as an opportunity to explore that, which allowed me to not only work with type and image but to have a lot of freedom on what image I am using and what kind of design would fit with it. My web design skills have also developed as I had to do my first real attempt at doing a mock up this gave me an idea of what dimensions web has and how to work with it. Photoshop and Indesign skills are the two, which benefited the most, I now comfortably know my way, round photoshop and I now automatically go to layout all my work in indesign. Communication with other designer, getting into contact with other designers to use their work not only helped me in my own practice but helped build connections within the industry. Designing with the idea to apply across a range is definitely a skill which I have developed as throughout this project everything I did I tried to keep in mind that it needs to be functional across various platforms and formats. For YCN I developed my packaging skills, something I have not been that interested in but yet I have learnt how to apply design across a three dimensional format much better. It has also opened my eyes to ridiculously strick rules when it comes to clients proposing briefs, this in future will inform me much better if I am willing to attempt a brief or not depending on the restrictions. It has also developed my collaborative skills, I have learnt that I now much prefer designing on my own but the concept development with 2 heads is definitely better than 1. What approaches to/methods of design production have you developed and how have they informed your design development process? I have developed my planning stage a lot more as this project before starting I planned out my content well which lead me to start my project far better as I was incredibly clear to what Image and type I needed which delegated what software I had to use. I also developed my Stock and colour schemes knowledge and planning as these were key to keeping everything within a range. Drawing, got much better at drawing up packaging models when working on a packaging brief I find drawing is by far the only and the best start for a project It helps rationalise shapes in my head and allow me to design better to apply design on a 3 dimensional scale.  What strengths can you identify in your work and how will you capitalize on these? Photography, I forgot that I am pretty much a self taught photographer over year and years of curiosity and practice, not sure why I haven't capitalised on this until now but this is something I am going to keep working on in future projects as I feel this comfortably sets me apart from my peer group. Using my own photographs also means endless options when it comes to compositions and post production. Typography, my type and layout has significantly improved this project and I feel that my style of layout's clarity is something I want to keep working on to see where it will take me. Indesign and photoshop skills have been a strength in this project as well, it has given me much more confidence and I will keep capitalising on these skills. I have become much more confident in my idea and drawing process' of my design, I use to believe I am purely a process driven designer which is still true to an extent but I now love concept development, If I get a good idea I work twice as hard to make it a reality. Being able to dumb down my over complicated idea's, this has been a major problem for me in the past making things which are far too complicated, but taking a step back rethinking things has started to sink in well. Working with interesting materials like high density foam, this gave my project a somewhat different and unique feeling which allows it to stand out against the market. Interesting materials are also much more fun to work with then your standard formats and choices. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you adress these in the future? Colour schemes, it might not necessarily be a weakness but I feel as my colour scheme was a little bit all over the shop, when looking at my design I can clearly see that I am incredibly structural in my work but in reality my notes and initial designs are a organised mess, it's been hard for me to go from these two extremes and colour schemes have obviously been slightly neglected especially as I constantly want to do something new instead of sticking to a range. This feeling of always wanting to move on to the next project can probably be seen within my project a little bit, I touch on various area's of ranges (stationary, promotion, web) instead of just really capitalising in one area.  Not being able to fold packaging very well, I have realised this in the first module of the year and now I have confirmed it. I cant fold a complicated packaging model... Its a 1 in 3 if its going to be accurate or not even if I have measured every dimension down to the millimeter, my hands and brain just do not work together on packaging. Identify 5 things you would do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from them? 1. Buy another A4 sketchbook, this has been the first project where I haven't worked side by side with a personal sketchbook. I have had notebooks and layout pads but just does not feel as personal without a sketchbook. 2. Start blogging earlier, this project has not been bad for blogging at all. But can still be improved. 3. Blog more systematically and clear, I am incredibly disorganised in my notes ever since I can remember and I need to try and make it more clear on my blog. 4. Ask tutors for feedback, found that this project as much as I like student crits getting feedback from a professional is more beneficial. Getting direct feedback would be far more beneficial... 5. Be more open to web, I have been avoiding web a lot which is unlike me mainly due to my interest in type/layout and print but this is a gap I need to close this summer. Attendance: 5 Punctuality: 3.5 Motivation: 5 Commitment: 5 Quality of work produced: 4 Quantity of work produced: 4 Contribution to group: N/A