Design Practice: May 2009

BA (Hons.) GRAPHIC DESIGN LEVEL 01
Module Code OUGD103
Module Title Design Practice

END OF MODULE SELF-EVALUATION

NAME Dan Boome BLOG. ADDRESS www.danboomedesignpractice.blogspot.com

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

The skills i have learned this module have been mostly about working practices and ways of working. This was most evident in the final 2 briefs - i used to focus on one idea too soon, without enough background research to support it, but, especially in the Speaking From Experience brief, I didn't focus on any specific idea too quickly, meaning it evolved from one thing to another because i wasn't tied down to a particular idea. However, there was a downside to this in that as i came to the conclusion of the brief i was short for time to complete the final product and unfortunately didn't actually finish it.
Something i would consider a developing skill is working with a partner, which we did in the Communication Is A Virus brief. It helped that i got on well personally with my partner, but i think we both felt that despite being friends we ran a tight ship, produced a fair amount of work and were both dedicated to the project we were working on. Working with a partner helped me to set shorter term targets for getting work done and definately influenced my time management of future projects.
I also improved my digital media skills, with illustrator and photoshop, and had the chance to use the various equipment in the wood workshop and improve my skills in there.

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

In my last evaluation i mentioned a problem i had with doing research for research sake, and for the most part of this module i have tried to find research relative to my overall concept as opposed to the individual idea, so that the ideas are informed by relative research.
I've never before used surveys or questionaires as a form of primary research but i have a number of times during this module, each becoming part of the idea. For example, the responses to 'who do you admire most' in the Speaking From Experience brief, led to me changing my idea from providing the inspirational figures for the poster to planning a do-it-yorself approach as most people quoted a family member or relative as the person they admire most.
Also i've tried more to use physical examples or inspiration in my work rather than just internet sourced material.

3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?

I really enjoy the physical aspect of my work, by which i mean the craft/making part of the project, for example, the EchoStick, from Communication Is A Virus, and the Caloster's in Speaking From Experience. I personally see this as a strength of mine, whether other people agree with me I don't know, but its definately something i enjoy and take pride in. Also screen printing i have done a lot, am very familiar with the process and count it as a strength. This aspect of my work has been useful when creating mock ups and preview designs, and adds a different quality to my work rather than all digital.

4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?

Well the 2 main weaknesses i can identify from this module specifically are actually completely contrasting and opposite, one from the start of the module, then swinging to the complete opposite later. First i started just like i usually do, heading straight first into ideas without much research, coming a little unstuck towrads the middle of the brief. I quickly corrected this, recognising this is what i've been doing all year and need to correct it, and for the last 3 projects i focused much more on doing research first before focusing on 'the winning idea'. Which, in the final brief, became a weakness, as i feel i instead took too long to focus on an idea, meaning coming to the end of the project i didn't have enough time to fully realise my idea.
This was also due in part to losing focus slightly during the project, where i paid too much attention to certain aspects of the design and slightly waylaid others. This is a weakness i have identified throughout various projects which i try to keep in mind but sometimes forget. So in future i need to find the balance between research and ideas, or basically make sure within whatever time frame i spend enough time, but not too much, on each of those sections. And along with that keeping focus on the brief, the message and the audience.

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

1. I need to make sure i manage my time properly - but this time in the opposite to the way i used to. I used to manage my time poorly so that i didn't fill my time correctly; now i fill my time with too much of certain parts of my work and neglect others. So making sure i have tome to finish things.

2. Not losing focus. As in, keeping in mind the brief and message.

3. Do more physical testing of materials and designs

4. Broaden my ideas to incorporate someting new and different ie not stick to the usual

5. Have fun with my work and enjoy it more, rather than seeing it as work

6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas:
(please indicate using an ‘x’)

5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor

Attendance 5
Punctuality 5
Motivation 4
Commitment 4
Quantity of work produced 4
Quality of work produced 3
Contribution to the group 4

The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.