OUGD303 End of Module Evaluation

At the start of the module I was able to choose briefs that I thought I would be able to utilise my skills the best with, and to also improve and learn. I feel they have allowed me to develop my skills that I set out to do and it has helped me focus on who I am as a designer, and to do the type of design that I want. I have pushed myself, and in doing so I have created design work that I am now proud to include as part of my portfolio work. I am now confident that my main interests lye within branding, promotions and publication design.

The first brief, collaborating on the Fine Art yearbook was quite an eye opener, we were able to work closely as a team and each give our input and use each of ours skills to the best of our abilities, each of us having specific jobs, of which mine was mainly to do the layout of the book. Overall I think the yearbook works really well, and after a long process of changing ideas we were able to give them something they wanted. Working on this live brief was an opportunity to incorporate my time management skills working to deadlines, working as part of a team and communicating with clients, which has brought confidence to the work I produce.

The fashion brief was enjoyable as I was working on a sector that I am really interested in. I was able to produce a brand identity for a fashion student, her look book and promotional material. I also did some book binding and working with stocks to create high class, professional printed collateral. Both myself and the client were happy with the results, which overall is what it was all about.

The third brief for St Martins GP Practice was a live brief that I pitched for but didn’t get chosen but decided to carry it through anyway and I am glad I did as I have learned a lot form this brief and about branding, and all the opportunities this brings. I stepped out of my comfort zone as I designed for deliverables and formats that I haven't previously done before including way finding and wall displays. This proved quite difficult as I tried to imagine what the Practice new location would look like, therefore I had to 'make up' what the possibilities could be, as I hadn't visited their new place.

The fourth brief for D&AD, I think I spent the least time on this brief yet it was one of my favourites, I think that when I have less time to do a brief I like the end result more as I don’t spend a lot of time wasting getting initial ideas. I tend to make design decision quicker and since I want a good end result, I seem to work more efficiently and effectively in researching, designing, developing and setting up artworks for print.

The fifth brief I was allowed pretty much free reign as it was self initiated which allowed me to design in any direction I wanted, and looking deeper into the target audience. This was quite a challenge and I had to set myself boundaries, but in the end I created design work that looks as if it would fit in with the high end, luxury sector.

Overall I have enjoyed the FMP project. I am now ready to take the skills I have developed into the real world including brief analysis, reserarch, development, grid system, setting artwork up for print, pre-flighting, knowledge of print process and stocks, craft, software skills, time management and organisation. It has been a long a gruelling project at times but I have learned so much about myself and also the skills that I now have, and I now have work that I will be proud to include in my portfolio.

FMP - Final Presentation Boards

Brief 01 - Fine Art Yearbook:

Open publication - Free publishing - More publication

 Brief 02 - Fashion Identity:

Open publication - Free publishing - More boards

Brief 03 - St Martins Practice:

Open publication - Free publishing - More brand

Brief 04 - D&AD The Typographic Circle

Open publication - Free publishing - More boards

Brief 05 - Jewellery Brand Identity:

Open publication - Free publishing - More branding

Brief 06: Design Context Publication:

Open publication - Free publishing - More context

FMP Briefs - Where I am so far

Having just missed a week of college due to sickness, I have taken a look at all my briefs to see where I am up to and what needs to be done to get on with things so as not to get too behind with it all.

Brief 1:  Fine Art Yearbook
One team member down, we are carrying on the FA yearbook with just four of us so have a bit more work to do, however the group is more focused and communicating better. The stan ideas for the cover are begin worked on and the glitch idea has been scrapped as it just isn't working. I have made a document in inDesign with all the pages needed for the yearbook to get the correct order, and placement of the pages. I have included student pages and images, and dummy text for the other info pages. Still waiting on information for the course ethos, welcome, exhibition, and special projects.
To do:
- Change the font for student pages (titles) Latin Modern Roman
- Include page number - centre bottom
- Work the stamp into the background of the student pages to connect the cover with the inside layouts.
- Info pages - dummy text - layouts
- Make any changes to statements and images - fill any gaps

Brief 2:  Fashion Brand
Having come up with a range of ideas for the logo which I have narrowed down to a 5 symbols and 5 typefaces, of which I need to present to Lorin to see which she prefers.
To do:
- Experiment with colour - brand
- Typeface
- How the designs will work across stationary
- Send over to Lorin - pitch ideas - ASAP
- Sacred Feminine identity - colours, textures, typeface
- Promotional flyer ideas
- Look-book concept

Brief 3:  NHS 
Having pitched the logo concept to St. Martin's they preferred the appearance of a family, as the designs I created are quite floral and feminine - however they liked the colour
To do:
- Logo designs changes
- Print, trace, develop
- Symbol ideas
- Research - questionnaire to people who visit GP practice - environment
- How the designs could work across the GP Practice environment - way finding, etc.
- How the identity can be adaptable
- Stationary

Brief 4:  D&AD - Typographic Circle Supplement
Have decided to go with a more personal supplement as it is an addition to the magazine and should have more than just their work, it should be about them as a person. So I have been looking into what people want to know about them.
To do:
- Gather content
- Create questionnaires to send out to individuals who will be being featured
- Research into individuals - choose 3
- Ideas on what to do with content - how it will work - mock it up - experiment
- Look into stock and print process - as the supplements will be keep-sakes

Brief 5: Jewellers Brand

Not much progress made, few ideas for the name and some research into other Jewellery brands.

To do:

- Choose name

- Brand concept

- Ideas for identity and feel for the brand

- Visual identity ideas - logo

- Define deliverables


FOR ALL BRIEFS:

- I need to fully define the deliverables for each brief, the ones I am going to produce and the ones I am going to propose.
- I need to define the formats, scales and promotional methods - explore the impact this has on each brief.
- Get ideas out of sketchbooks and onto Mac, to see how they work, decide which to use, develop 10 of them (or as many needed) variations - make decisions.
- Need pitch boards for each brief - clarify concept and direction - what is begin designed
- Need to speed up my research and development process so I can start design and production

FMP Briefs - Plan

Here are my briefs more defined, with what I plan to do in the time available and also what I want to get out of them.

Open publication - Free publishing - More brief

Brief 03 - Written Brief

I have written a focused down brief for the Practice, that I am going to work to, regarding all the considerations and aims of the client.

Open publication - Free publishing - More brief

Brief 04 - The Typographic Circle - Written Brief

Here is the D&AD brief I have re-written. It is a more focused down version and is what I am going to work to.

The deadline for entry into the competition is Friday 9th March 2012, I will submit work for this, but I will also consider further developing the designs for module submission and also for my portfolio.

Open publication - Free publishing - More brief

Brief 04 - D&AD The Typographic Circle

Here is the fourth brief I have chosen brief. It is a D&AD competition issued by Pentagram and involves supplements to The Typographic Circle magazine, based around designers and professionals who have been speakers at their events.

I think this is an ideal brief, as it allows me to work with type, layout, grid systems, creating a publication/editorial piece for an existing magazine, and also to work with print finishes, stock, and giving the supplements an exclusive feel to them.

Brief 05 - Jewellery Brand Identity

Open publication - Free publishing - More 05

Brief 02 - Fashion Identity - Written brief

Following a meeting I had today with Lorin, regarding the fashion identity collaboration, I wrote up this brief and sent it across for her to check, to make sure my take on the brief and her expectations are on the same wavelength. She has given her approval, so I can now get started with a clear focus of what she wants.

Open publication - Free publishing - More brief

Yearbook Brief

Open publication - Free publishing - More brief

Here is the Yearbook brief, with the specifications that need to be considered for the Graphic Design yearbook pitch.