OUGD502 - PPP2

During this PPP module, I aim to identify which area of graphic design that I want to focus on as I progress through my degree. To achieve this I will document my progress and development as a creative through my blog and continue to engage with the creative world. Graphic design is an ever changing industry so I aim to identify areas of my practice that I enjoy. Reflecting on my experiences during the first year, I have identified areas of my practice that I struggled with so that I can begin to dissect which areas of graphic design that I need to work on during this year and also areas of design that I want to take further.

My outcome for last years PPP module was a set of 5 bespoke notebooks with my details letterpressed inside. This was to reflect my passion for bookbinding and hands on style of work that I can send to design studios as a unique business card. Reflecting on this, the production methods that I used were all analogue and to a good standard however I still need to identify relevant studios to send my publication to.

I need to take myself out of my comfort zone in order to improve, making mistakes is part of the research/learning process, these are areas that I need to work on this year:

Communication

Last year I didn't feel comfortable with my communication skills, for example presenting my work at the front of the class, this is a skill I'll need to develop if I want to pitch concepts to clients. A confident and relaxed pitch will make the audience feel more comfortable and ultimately listen to what I have to say. To overcome this I aim to prepare and practice my presentation so that I'm more confident in what I'm saying. Attending events such as the LAW and NEST magazine launch introduced me to professional creatives, however I didn't have the confidence to approach them because I didn't know what would be appropriate to say. Good communication skills are important for becoming a confident designer as networking with other creatives is important for exposure and briefs.

Digital 

I aim to improve my understanding of the Adobe creative software because it is industry standard software. To achieve this I will attend all the digital workshops and take advantage of the IT technicians because I won't get this opportunity again.

Objective

I need to make more objective decisions so that my outcome is appropriate for its target audience and commercial use. I have made design decisions in the past that don't relate to my concept so the outcome wasn't cohesive. My concepts are often subjective so I need to consider form follows function in order to make them more objective.

Research

Broad and thorough research helps to decide on a well considered concept, however I am often still researching late in the project which isn't relevant to my concept. Diverse research is important, however it must be relevant otherwise the influences can confuse the concept.

Overcomplicating 

I have a tendency to overcomplicate and overwork concepts until they are no longer recognisable. I think this links to my research technique as I take in too many influences. To overcome this, I will need to be more decisive so that I don't waste time and destroy a good concept.

Areas of design that I have enjoyed and would consider taking into level 6:

Editorial Design

Creating and exploring the form and function of a publication has always intrigued me and I have enjoyed learning the techniques and processes used to produce them. Using bespoke and unique adaptations to publications is exciting, however there are a lot of considerations to think about. Editorial designers such as Brighton based Stanley James Press:

'We hand bind a lot of books produced in shorter runs. Binding books in this way allows us to create more unusual and complicated structures, including pop ups and paper mechanics. We've also produced other paper products such as swing tags and limited edition record sleeves.' - I like how Stanley James Press are adapting and manipulating design for print to produce unique products.

Print - Digital/Traditional

This is an area of practice that I am interested in because I enjoy organising image and text as well as the production methods of the book. Design for print offers more finishes such as foiling and embossing, adding to aesthetics. As a designer, I would much rather have an outcome that I could physically hold, touch and smell, rather than see it behind a screen. In this modern age, design for screen is important because that's how a lot of designers get exposure so it's important all print media is photographed to a high, professional standard. I enjoy using traditional printing methods such as letterpress, monoprint, lino and screen printing because it makes print media bespoke and also provides opportunity to create texture and tactility. Processes such as screen print make reproducing prints very cheap.

Stop-Motion

A useful and simple method of moving image using a camera and paper - This would provide lots of opportunity for digital sources such as a blog or website. I have experience with the process, however I want to put it into a graphics context - There is potential to collaborate with an animator.

Art

My interest in art is why I am on this course. I came to Leeds from an art and design diploma which offered me a range of processes and techniques. I would like to collaborate with artists and designers to produce publications or posters, etc. The-Art-Form is a magazine that showcases work from artists, providing information on their practice and personal lives. This is something I aspire to do.