Self Evaluation

[Introduction] - Self Evaluation

This is the writing from a self evaluation sheet given to us to fill out at the end of the How-to brief group project we undertook on the second week here. It's about my evaluation of my self in a group brief and how I performed.

What role(s) did you take on in the group?

I took the role of helping the group with Adobe Illustrator because alot of the group hadn't much experience in the software, rather they specialised in something else and hadn't really been near it. I took control of creating the logo and getting the files to everyone and one another and setting up communication through Facebook, creating a group for us to all contribute on. I also went out and bought the tote bags that we went and printed on with the design I created up from Jake's drawings also.

How well do you think you performed in the role(s)?

I believe I performed really well and took to second in the group's slight leadership, if that's what you can call it. I feel I could have stood out to talk more but I took upon that during the presentation at the end to make up for it. For the first group brief I've taken on in this format, I'd say I did alright.

How well do you think you worked as a group?

As a group however I feel we worked really well together, we all go stuck in really fast and got along from the get go. It really worked out. Everyone brought something different to the table and juggled their part in the project and helped it all come together in their own way in one part or another.

What were the positives of working in a group?

The positives of working in a group would for sure be the amount of ideas that can be generated, the volume we had was something that'd take awhile on your own. Pulling them all back by commenting on one and another is what the other positive is to. It narrowed down the ideas and brought it into some fresh and in the end a reality. A solution was worked and was viable.

What were the negatives of working in a group?

The negatives to group work however was some people had their ideas and they wanted to stick with them, I felt like they hadn't really worked as a group before and I felt they were alot more confident in their own work rather then venturing to use the work the rest of us were generating to make the work load easier on our selves. That's probably down to ego, so I'd say ego's are probably the negative of group work. Having said that, having the ego to convince the rest of the group your idea is best is the switch side to that.

What will you do differently next time?

Next time I would try and push for a more consistent approach, I feel a bit of a perfectionist saying that, but I am. I felt a twitch seeing the spacings not the same and the wrong colour used when it was supposed to be a series. That'd be my only irk that however. 

Where could you have improved your resolution?

I feel creating the resolution with the real ways it would have been done: i.e: silk screen for the tote bag. Would have majorly benefitted over using the iron on print and using the heat-press to create it. However as an alternative was still effective it just wasn't how it would be done. The outcomes however I felt were great, not the design I'd change, just the production.

What were the strengths of your presentation?

I feel the strengths in the presentation were probably the slideshow we created, the speaking however on all our parts was alright. But I feel we didn't really pull strong as some of the other groups did and seemed a bit ill-prepared for it. It was good and straight to the point but there's always room for improvement.

Group Peer Progress Critique

[Introduction] - Group Peer Progress Group Critique Feedback

To get feedback onto the group project we had a group critique where we gave feedback on one group then they gave feedback to us. The format of how the critique was given to was different from what I was used to but it was a rather fun experience. The following here is the feedback we received [summarised] from the group who viewed our presentation to them:

Presentation of the problem:

The feedback we got here is that they all understood our How-to, and that we produced useful products, something that's a viable thing for a student to use. 

How has the problem been analysed and researched:

We gave of a well informed and researched solution for one product [discount card] but the rest not so much. But what we had done showed we had looked into what students need, I suppose we considered our selves the research for the rest of the solutions and thats why we didn't really consider researching into the other products as much as we did as the discount card, because it's something we're not really aware of fully on how it works, unlike a leaflet and packet of noodles.

Proposed solution to the problem feedback:

The feedback we got on the proposed solution was that we had created a range of solutions, all very interactive and the solutions were a possible real-life reality that could be created and they would actually help.  

Clarity of the information presented:

A point made from what they said on clarity of information was how we used a phone to present one of the pieces that was still been worked on the computer, but it would have been better if we had them it printed like we had the other material. Another point was how the rest of the group could have chipped in, which is a valid criticism of the group on that part because there was only one real main speaker. Apart from that the feedback for that is that it was clear and we seemed confident on our ideas.

Comments and suggestions:

There was only one person who wrote in the comments and suggestions box, but the suggestion they did put however was to add a title to the leaflet we produced, however we never went with this, mainly because the leaflet stood as an art piece with a description of what everything it was supposed to stand for on the back of it. A natural reaction to picking up a leaflet is seeing the other side to it, for me anyway if it's interesting.

1.  Feedback form

2.  Feedback form

Why am I here? What do I want to learn? [2]

[Study Task 1] - Identify 10 examples of design that illustrate your fields of creative interest

Thom Yorke - The Eraser [Stanley Donwood]

Music doesn't just bring musicians into my field of interest it also brings artists along with it too, one of them been Stanley Donwood. Famous for collaborating mostly with Radiohead on their album covers and promotional material. His work continues to inspire me as he's inspired by the musicians. His work really ranges, I really like his Lino prints that he created for 'The Eraser' which are incredibly impressive to see. The work that goes into albums is what I really admire, I love flicking through the booklets that come with them.

Eboy

I've always had a huge curiosity for Pixel art, It's got a certain charm to it that I find myself coming back too. It's not that it's really all that practical it's just impressive that someones draw with dots to create that which gets me, although the same could be said for digital art of any kind.

Baltic Art Gallery [Founded]

The Baltic art gallery's shopping bags caught my attention when I was there last, I was never able to get one but I ended up phoning them up and they sent a load of them down when I ordered online which was pretty nice of them. Created by Founded I love all kinds of promotional material that interacts with the holder like these too.

Alexander Rodchenko - Books

Constructivism first caught my attention on a BBC4 documentary called 'Smashing the mould' seeing these works that were created from paper amazed me. They were so simple, yet they were incredibly effective at what they were communicating. I was inspired, this eventually got me into finding out why which is just as interesting

.http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00phtcz

Jon Burgerman

I haven't found a illustrator that is as colourful and childishly charming as Jon Burgerman's work, doodle art such as this is while at the same time rather crude. I have to say it's rather effective. It doesn't really have much of a target audience, other than them been doodles. They're just what they , simple scribbles half the time anyway. 

Stefan Sagmeister

Stefan sagmeister's use of materials and concepts is what I really like,  creating work from any other means other then simply creating work in illustrator/photoshop and banging that out. A lot of it has a lot more than that put into it. This bananas one been an example, the ripe ones showing the writing within and the pattern. I find it rather inspiring.

Jean Baptiste Mondino's Album Photography. [Bjork - Post]

Again with the album covers, I really like photography works as well. It's not all the design related, but it's a creative interest of mine. Photography. JBM been another inspiration, photography is just another way of communication a message.

Saul Bass - West side story [Movie Poster]

Movie posters, especially simple colours are also a huge favourite of mine, effective ones that give you a concept of the film. West side story gives the hint of it been a musical simply from the stances of the woman and man, the flinging of themselves it's awfully camp but it's example the attitude in the film. It's work like this I'd hope to one day to produce.

Olly Moss - Rubber

Another more modern take and perhaps Saul bass, but its simply to illustrate my interests in movie posters, the simplicity is sometimes all that's needed. I like to try and stick to this thinking when I working only trying to keep what I need and getting rid of any embellishments that don't communicate.

Everything is Illuminated [Book Cover]

5 Inspirations

Music

As a daily inspiration and a constantly evolving one, in-tune with my tastes, music is something I always fall back on when I'm stuck with where to go to loosen myself up before a brainstorm. I love discovering new sounds and bands. I wish I could name them all but that'd be unreasonable, but picking a favorite one out of the bunch would definitely be awarded to Radiohead. They're great just to kick back too as well.

Film and Television Series

I don't often find my self actively wanting to sit and watch television ( well not anymore, with moving out and all that) or go to the cinema,  but there are some shows and films that just stick with me and create a lot of contextual influence for me to take back with. Tarantino's films are great for that. But sometimes it's not the show's stories them selves that are inspiring, but more or less the cinematography, Breaking Bad's point of view shots and previously inspired one of my pieces of work:

As well as POV it's also a place to find different perspectives on life, Louie and Curb Your Enthusiasm are two great shows that go against the norm and point are aspects in life people go don't give thought on and point them out. It's a great influence and I try and put my self in the same thought perspective when it comes to critical thinking and help find ideas to work with. The use of inflammatories and how unspoken policies.

Computer Arts

I buy the Computer Arts magazine more often or not most months, it's a great source to pick up on new things I've found and they produce spin-off series now and then which are more or less banks of information such as their: Collection series. With a lot of tutorials and what, where and whens, and the lastest contemporary art they're something I find are great for browsing late at night with a blocked mind.

The Seaside

Coming from living by the seaside, I can't help but say it's definitely been a influence on me in the past when I've been creating work. There's always something happening, even if you can't see it by the sea. Ships in the distance, crustaceans living in the shallow pools left behind by the tide and fishermen fishing from the shore line. It's a place people are drawn too from inland seeking silky sands, locally or abroad. For me however, it's a combination of everything happening there, as well as along the coast line. It's a culture unlike what exists inland and I miss it's presence. I photographed a lot while by it's side so i've created quite the archive so I can still draw in my inspirations from it while still been away from it.

Photograph taken by me on Saltburn's Pier. 

I will find a place in Leeds as picturesque as this one day. [related to post below]

Walking

Walking is a great get away, for me anyway. To take a break, often with my camera at my side. I've taken to documenting my routes, although away from the country and seaside now I'd like to get back to it, although I don't think it's going to be the same as it was back home. I hope walking here is still going to provide and get me to the places where i'll gather influence, although I suppose walking to college and to town now has replaced that and getting to see the design work Leeds is filled with provides me with even bigger influences then it ever did walking into the countryside.

Why am I here? What do I want to learn?

[Study Task 1]

Why did I choose to study on the graphic design programme at LCA?

- It’s a specialised course, getting me to focus into only graphic design.

- The small class size.

-  The course’s resources are huge and this lets me experiment with my work further than  I could imagine.

- The tutors all have a lot of experience under their belts and still practice in what they teach.

- The intensity of the course itself, I want something that would push me and give me room to push myself as a person as well.

Why did I choose to study on the graphic design programme at LCA?

- The ability to present my ideas and work to an audience confidently.

- Self-evaluation of myself and the work I create critically to help myself improve.

- Skills in the relevant design programmes and ability to use them to the best of my ability.

- Traditional techniques such as using a letterpress and also silk screen printing.

- Properly managing my time and getting the most out of each hour.

What do I believe are my strengths?

- Working with colour, and having a eye for matching colour combinations together.

- Composition and layout, harmonising blocks and text and imagery to work together.

- Going against my gut feeling and trying something new, instead of something that works over and over.

-Using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and using both programmes alongside each other.

- Collaborating with other people, although I feel I work best on my own, I take upon making my self most useful in group work.

What are the things I want to improve?

- Time keeping, as much as I try and be organised it’s the one thing that always slips. I’ve decided to set all my clocks 10 minutes ahead to compensate.

- Laying out my ideas in full, I get too many ideas and I don’t have a way I find effective to help expand on them and I fall ill with spider diagrams and thought clouds.

- Writing, especially now that I have to write a lot for the blog.

- My abilities with InDesign and the rest of the Adobe suite.

- I’d like to improve talking to audiences, I can do it now, but I don’t feel I convey everything I would like effectively.

How will I evaluate my progress while on the programme?

-Through my blog, which I’ll be using to archive all of my work in the next 3 years.

- Critiques and feedback from my peers in the class and not to forget presentations.

- One to one tutorials with tutors and the feedback from them.

- Through looking at other people’s work and relating myself to them in terms of progress.

- Self-evaluation of my own work through analysis at critical points.

What are the questions I want to find the answer to?

- Is it worth going for a master’s after this degree programme?

- How do I hook myself up with an internship?

- What is it I want to specialise in?

- How do I build links with contacts within the industry?

- What’s the best way to get myself known?