Showing posts with label OUPD201. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OUPD201. Show all posts
24.1.13
Contacting Printers
Given one of the key focuses in my practice is PRINT I took the oppertunaty of working with a photographer to contact a few printers regarding his business cards. Because of the realitively low budget the client and I are working towards I choose to contact a Riso Printers in London for interesting but cheap alternatives to Litho printing. I spoke to 'Ben' who is part of the management of Ditto Press over the weekend and he offered me a few alternatives... its who you know... you know.
6.6.12
TWO‡ DO‡ LIST
Quick review of what I need to do before PPD hand in at the end of tomorrow, and another list of things to do after hand in when I get some more time
Before hand in
‡ Revise my creative CV
Noticed a few spelling mistakes, need to make it more personal, doesn't reflect my personality
After hand in
‡ Finish dissertation proposal form
- Make a structured plan for summer to make significant progress
‡ Get business cards printed
Contact a few different printers to get an idea of pricing...
‡ Finish and Upload website
‡ Make a plan for summer
- Finish sending emails out / contacting studios
- Set myself at least 5 briefs to complete over summer
‡ Plans for 3rd year - Module Credits
- Dissertation - 30 Credits
- PPD3 - 10 Credits
- Practice 3 - 30 Credits
- FMP - 50 Credits
Total - 120 Credits
Structure my year and assign time for dissertation around each project.
Before hand in
‡ Revise my creative CV
Noticed a few spelling mistakes, need to make it more personal, doesn't reflect my personality
After hand in
‡ Finish dissertation proposal form
- Make a structured plan for summer to make significant progress
‡ Get business cards printed
Contact a few different printers to get an idea of pricing...
‡ Finish and Upload website
‡ Make a plan for summer
- Finish sending emails out / contacting studios
- Set myself at least 5 briefs to complete over summer
‡ Plans for 3rd year - Module Credits
- Dissertation - 30 Credits
- PPD3 - 10 Credits
- Practice 3 - 30 Credits
- FMP - 50 Credits
Total - 120 Credits
Structure my year and assign time for dissertation around each project.
Presentation Notes
Slide 1 - Introduction
Year two has made me realise the role I want to play as a designer
Focus on type / identity and print
Slide 2 - Self Branding
Red as a subtle reference, even matches my trainers
Focus on type, simple geometric sans serif typeface, reflects my practice
Slide 3 - Good and the bad
THE BAD
- Print module
Slow start, lack of focus. Lack of concept
- Enterprise
Confusing / interesting / a struggle
Learning curve - considering opening my own studio, and how it has affected my freelance work
- Product range distribution
Allowed me to explore type and identity - areas of interest
Learn't about writing my own brief, how this can be applied to freelance work
- Book works
Collaborative practice, setting me up to work in a studio
Applying practical skills from print /
Slide 4 - My Good and Bad
- Technical ability
Talk with Fred - need to be more conceptual
- Type skills
although I am gaining in confidence and knowledge of type I feel it is something that I will constantly have to work on and develop. Dissertation etc
- Motivation
Although I am highly motivated I need to maintain the same high level of focus during the entire process to really make the most of the briefs
- Print Costings
Get in touch with printers, hard for students to know and hard to get experience
- Business Skills
Area for improvement, keep freelancing and working on skills
Slide 5 - Working with clients
Quote from client, no matter how much I like the design its not for me.
How to find articulate myself when balancing being rude and giving professional advice
I aim to keep doing freelance work over summer, but work out rates and progress from there.
Slide 6 - Plans for Summer
Nicer approach than text,
What I like about Dutch design,
Studios with a focus on type / publishing
Advice for dissertation - form follows function
Slide 7 - Plans for 3rd year
Essentially apply everything I have lean't so far and consistently evaluate my progress.
Year two has made me realise the role I want to play as a designer
Focus on type / identity and print
Slide 2 - Self Branding
Red as a subtle reference, even matches my trainers
Focus on type, simple geometric sans serif typeface, reflects my practice
Slide 3 - Good and the bad
THE BAD
- Print module
Slow start, lack of focus. Lack of concept
- Enterprise
Confusing / interesting / a struggle
Learning curve - considering opening my own studio, and how it has affected my freelance work
- Product range distribution
Allowed me to explore type and identity - areas of interest
Learn't about writing my own brief, how this can be applied to freelance work
- Book works
Collaborative practice, setting me up to work in a studio
Applying practical skills from print /
Slide 4 - My Good and Bad
- Technical ability
Talk with Fred - need to be more conceptual
- Type skills
although I am gaining in confidence and knowledge of type I feel it is something that I will constantly have to work on and develop. Dissertation etc
- Motivation
Although I am highly motivated I need to maintain the same high level of focus during the entire process to really make the most of the briefs
- Print Costings
Get in touch with printers, hard for students to know and hard to get experience
- Business Skills
Area for improvement, keep freelancing and working on skills
Slide 5 - Working with clients
Quote from client, no matter how much I like the design its not for me.
How to find articulate myself when balancing being rude and giving professional advice
I aim to keep doing freelance work over summer, but work out rates and progress from there.
Slide 6 - Plans for Summer
Nicer approach than text,
What I like about Dutch design,
Studios with a focus on type / publishing
Advice for dissertation - form follows function
Slide 7 - Plans for 3rd year
Essentially apply everything I have lean't so far and consistently evaluate my progress.
5.6.12
Qubik Studio
A wonderful little studio in Leeds that I have looked up to since starting the course and researching professional practice. Given its location and relation to my own practice I felt it was a perfect addition to my SWOT analysis of different studios practice.
I went about the last analysis in the wrong manor, in this I will have more of a focus on how they promote themselves and get their work out there.
The studio exists on multiple social networking sites such as Twitter, facebook and tumblr, as well as their website. Although I have a twitter and tumblr account I don't think I want to use facebook as a platform for promoting my work as many of the studios I am visiting seem to be against the idea. This is something I will do more research into when visiting studios over summer.
The key strength of the studio is its high quality of finish and exquisite use of type throughout all its projects. Also because its a reasonably small studio it allows the designers to interact on a personal level with its clients. This is good on a business front but for me means that it would be hard to ever get into the studio given their small nature I assume this is something they want to maintain.
The weakness of the studio is that the work has a well defined aesthetic which essentially could limit the amount of business they may intake. This may also put a date on the work, but business seems to be doing well so it must not be to much of a pressing issue.
The obvious opportunities are that as it is located in Leeds, it would make it easy for me to go in and have a chat to find out some more about design. This is something I aim to do at some point over summer depending how much time the studio has on its hands, even if it just means getting some feedback on my work. - might be more appropriate next year...
Threats again are fairly obvious because of its location it could take away possible business from my freelance progress but my work would be in a completely different price category. It might be an idea to go in and speak to them about pricing as this is a bit of a grey area in my current practice.
I went about the last analysis in the wrong manor, in this I will have more of a focus on how they promote themselves and get their work out there.
The studio exists on multiple social networking sites such as Twitter, facebook and tumblr, as well as their website. Although I have a twitter and tumblr account I don't think I want to use facebook as a platform for promoting my work as many of the studios I am visiting seem to be against the idea. This is something I will do more research into when visiting studios over summer.
The key strength of the studio is its high quality of finish and exquisite use of type throughout all its projects. Also because its a reasonably small studio it allows the designers to interact on a personal level with its clients. This is good on a business front but for me means that it would be hard to ever get into the studio given their small nature I assume this is something they want to maintain.
The weakness of the studio is that the work has a well defined aesthetic which essentially could limit the amount of business they may intake. This may also put a date on the work, but business seems to be doing well so it must not be to much of a pressing issue.
The obvious opportunities are that as it is located in Leeds, it would make it easy for me to go in and have a chat to find out some more about design. This is something I aim to do at some point over summer depending how much time the studio has on its hands, even if it just means getting some feedback on my work. - might be more appropriate next year...
Threats again are fairly obvious because of its location it could take away possible business from my freelance progress but my work would be in a completely different price category. It might be an idea to go in and speak to them about pricing as this is a bit of a grey area in my current practice.
Coöp Studio
Coöp Studio in Melbourne, Australia is one of the most interesting studios I have discovered in recent months with a range of stand out projects in different sectors. Seems like an appopriate studio to do my initial SWOT anlysis.
Strengths
The studio takes an amazingly hands on and proactive approach to the design process, with many of their outcomes taking different forms and formats. This is something I aim to work on within my own practice, particularly within creating branding and identities. A good example of this in their work is the identity for digital studio C2 where they created amzinly intricate and interesting patterns made from tiny parts of computer parts using tweezers to put them together.
As a basic summary, the studio goes from strength to strength showing what is achievable in modern graphic design where clients trust them to create interesting and playful design.
Weaknesses
The first weakness I would say is that their approach might not be as commercial as necessary to get many clients, but that's not to say they couldn't create commercial work. Also because their approach is very technical and hands on this could possibly result in slower turn around than studios working within a more digitally orientated process.
Opportunities
Luckily I actually have an Uncle in Australia who said he would be more than happy for me to stay at his house for a few weeks, however he is based in Perth which makes it slightly less practical as its a 4 hour flight to Melbourne. But if I was able to spend some time in Perth and save money on accommodation it may make the trip slightly more worthwhile and I could visit the other coast.
Threats
The obvious threats are the outstanding quality of their work and the region of graphic design they focus on is very similar to my own practice, with a passion for typography what would stop a client going to me over them. This however would probably be largely based on location.
Strengths
The studio takes an amazingly hands on and proactive approach to the design process, with many of their outcomes taking different forms and formats. This is something I aim to work on within my own practice, particularly within creating branding and identities. A good example of this in their work is the identity for digital studio C2 where they created amzinly intricate and interesting patterns made from tiny parts of computer parts using tweezers to put them together.
As a basic summary, the studio goes from strength to strength showing what is achievable in modern graphic design where clients trust them to create interesting and playful design.
Weaknesses
The first weakness I would say is that their approach might not be as commercial as necessary to get many clients, but that's not to say they couldn't create commercial work. Also because their approach is very technical and hands on this could possibly result in slower turn around than studios working within a more digitally orientated process.
Opportunities
Luckily I actually have an Uncle in Australia who said he would be more than happy for me to stay at his house for a few weeks, however he is based in Perth which makes it slightly less practical as its a 4 hour flight to Melbourne. But if I was able to spend some time in Perth and save money on accommodation it may make the trip slightly more worthwhile and I could visit the other coast.
Threats
The obvious threats are the outstanding quality of their work and the region of graphic design they focus on is very similar to my own practice, with a passion for typography what would stop a client going to me over them. This however would probably be largely based on location.
Creative CV
I will keep updating this over summer after visiting studios and making contacts...
I have however kept it consistent with the rest of my personal identity / branding in relation to colour and general layout. I finally feel as if my identity is starting to come together, I just need to apply it to some different pieces of stationary and get my business cards sent off to Moo or screen print them (preferably) after I have finished my presentation.
I have however kept it consistent with the rest of my personal identity / branding in relation to colour and general layout. I finally feel as if my identity is starting to come together, I just need to apply it to some different pieces of stationary and get my business cards sent off to Moo or screen print them (preferably) after I have finished my presentation.
Website Progress
I had a few problems getting my 3 columns aligned but using different coloured blocks I was able to make sure that they all stay in the right place allowing me to easily add text and information. Also making sure that the red used matched the rest of my online presence really enforcing this idea of myself as a brand.
This was my digital plan - stemming from my scamps
Basic information
- 3 column website
- Right and left columns fixed
- Roll over links expand to wider kerning and same web safe red colour used on my logo
- Blog links out to my personal tumblr
- Content column works with scrolls / and information at the side
- Contact makes business card appear in the bottom left (.png with a clear background)
sorting out columns
This was my digital plan - stemming from my scamps
- 3 column website
- Right and left columns fixed
- Roll over links expand to wider kerning and same web safe red colour used on my logo
- Blog links out to my personal tumblr
- Content column works with scrolls / and information at the side
- Contact makes business card appear in the bottom left (.png with a clear background)
2.6.12
Website First Draught
Putting the new found web knowledge to use, not happy with this design, the text is to big and its hard to place images but I learnt a lot after going back through the process and should speed up transferring my ideas from paper to screen a bit faster.
The movement of the icons is nice but needs to be a bit more subtle, I will continue working on my ideas on paper before starting my final website.
The movement of the icons is nice but needs to be a bit more subtle, I will continue working on my ideas on paper before starting my final website.
1.6.12
Creative CV
A few notes on todays session, thinking about my creative CV...
- Include a photo, will have more of an impact on their memory of you
- About your work and just as importantly yourself
- Something memerable
- Contact details
- Personal interests
- Personality
- Engaging visuals
- Good spelling / grammar
- Current design interests
- Include a photo, will have more of an impact on their memory of you
- About your work and just as importantly yourself
- Something memerable
- Contact details
- Personal interests
- Personality
- Engaging visuals
- Good spelling / grammar
- Current design interests
30.5.12
Website Plans
I want to get the layout sorted before moving onto the computer again, these are a selection of my sketches and progress with my website.
Just been thinking about the layout I want, been doing really rough sketches just to get ideas out but I will be do some more accurate and detailed scamps. I already have a website working on Dreamweaver and I have purchased a URL but the layout doesn't reflect my aims as a designer.
Sticking with the same colour scheme used for my business cards... These are a selection of ideas from different dates (don't want to clog up my blog with separate posts)
Just been thinking about the layout I want, been doing really rough sketches just to get ideas out but I will be do some more accurate and detailed scamps. I already have a website working on Dreamweaver and I have purchased a URL but the layout doesn't reflect my aims as a designer.
Sticking with the same colour scheme used for my business cards... These are a selection of ideas from different dates (don't want to clog up my blog with separate posts)
13.5.12
Dutch Studios
I wanted to get out of the UK and learn about design abroad, particularly within Europe with a focus on the Netherlands and Germany. I feel this will have a huge impact on how I see design and feel that it will be hugely beneficial for me to understand different approaches to design and the design process.
I decided simply writing an email was not good enough and wanted to do something a bit more personal. Here is one of the PNG files that I sent out to a number of Dutch studios. This felt a bit more in-tune with the rest of my branding and more appropriate to the European and dutch design industry.
I will employ a similar approach for the UK studios I get into contact with but with a slightly different aesthetic, something that fits with my branding but with less of a European aesthetic.
I decided simply writing an email was not good enough and wanted to do something a bit more personal. Here is one of the PNG files that I sent out to a number of Dutch studios. This felt a bit more in-tune with the rest of my branding and more appropriate to the European and dutch design industry.
I will employ a similar approach for the UK studios I get into contact with but with a slightly different aesthetic, something that fits with my branding but with less of a European aesthetic.
1.5.12
Concept Feedback
Action Plan
- Research Vintage shops - successful & unsuccessful evaluate why
- Photograph Kenny's - big and little stores
- Commercial retailers with vintage communication - urban outfitters
- Decide on design direction
------ I will complete the rest of my action plan once these initial tasks are complete...
10 things for next week
- Initial design sheets - range, format, deliverable's
- Test pieces / prototypes
- Existing examples - physical, online / market research
- Clarified brief / rationale / concept statement
- Primary / secondary research (qualitative and quantitative)
- Distribution methods and details
- Defined specific audience - show understanding of audience - who they are / interests
- Specific content
- Exploration of range - evidence conceptually
- Progress evaluation
- Research Vintage shops - successful & unsuccessful evaluate why
- Photograph Kenny's - big and little stores
- Commercial retailers with vintage communication - urban outfitters
- Decide on design direction
------ I will complete the rest of my action plan once these initial tasks are complete...
- Initial design sheets - range, format, deliverable's
- Test pieces / prototypes
- Existing examples - physical, online / market research
- Clarified brief / rationale / concept statement
- Primary / secondary research (qualitative and quantitative)
- Distribution methods and details
- Defined specific audience - show understanding of audience - who they are / interests
- Specific content
- Exploration of range - evidence conceptually
- Progress evaluation
29.4.12
V&A Exhibition
Put aside a day over Easter to make a visit to the 'British Design 1948-2012' at the V&A gallery in Kensington, defiantly worth and covers a broad selection of design including some of the early macs, an original mini cooper and even a recreation of part of the Hacienda and record sleeves from the beetles, factory records and many more.
I enjoyed taking into account the graphic designers role in the exhibition looking at signage which was built up on different pieces of material and bold sans serif typefaces printed on. I also really liked the branding for the exhibition with a simple, nicely printed little handbook for the exhibition.
I wasn't as impressed with the set up so much, I appreciate that its hard to cram so many years of iconic design into a relatively small space but the way you interact and walk round the gallery is often confusing due to the lack of a defined route having to complete zig zag around sections. I would defiantly advise a trip down there for any of you creatives that enjoy design and the history of design.
Get tickets for the event here - running until the 12th of August 2012
I enjoyed taking into account the graphic designers role in the exhibition looking at signage which was built up on different pieces of material and bold sans serif typefaces printed on. I also really liked the branding for the exhibition with a simple, nicely printed little handbook for the exhibition.
I wasn't as impressed with the set up so much, I appreciate that its hard to cram so many years of iconic design into a relatively small space but the way you interact and walk round the gallery is often confusing due to the lack of a defined route having to complete zig zag around sections. I would defiantly advise a trip down there for any of you creatives that enjoy design and the history of design.
Get tickets for the event here - running until the 12th of August 2012
Course Tumblr
After deciding a different direction with the Accept & Succeed role it was decided me and Dom were going to take over the course blog showing applicants and the general course what the course is about. I have been posting a section of alumni students and current work but I am waiting on more files to be sent over from other students. I have changed the theme about and feel this is alright for the moment but need a quick run over with the tutors to see if they want any changes made.
http://lcabagd.tumblr.com/
http://lcabagd.tumblr.com/
Accept & Succeed
Accept & Succeed poster proposal to be sent out to first year students who have been accepted a place on the course.
Matttuc Branding
Branding Progress
based on a series of sketching putting a few typefaces together and adapting them to fit around my own branding, based on creating my online presence but can be applied to printed matter - invoices / CV / business cards. I am still working on my CV and invoices, don't want to post anything until I've got someone else to check through for spelling errors etc.
I will keep working my branding and see what alternative process I could apply when sending out samples of work to studios. I am running this development alongside the studios I have been looking at and trying to reflect my design practice within it.
The branding is going to be applied across my blogs and all of my online presence and works on a selection of alternating logos interacting with different lines and zig zags.
Cargo Behance Tumblr
- The web safe RGB colour match is #ff5858
- I will decide on the pantone match before screen printing / sending my business cards off
- I have paid for a website URL and web hosting space - will progress with this in the next session with Simon
based on a series of sketching putting a few typefaces together and adapting them to fit around my own branding, based on creating my online presence but can be applied to printed matter - invoices / CV / business cards. I am still working on my CV and invoices, don't want to post anything until I've got someone else to check through for spelling errors etc.
I will keep working my branding and see what alternative process I could apply when sending out samples of work to studios. I am running this development alongside the studios I have been looking at and trying to reflect my design practice within it.
The branding is going to be applied across my blogs and all of my online presence and works on a selection of alternating logos interacting with different lines and zig zags.
Cargo Behance Tumblr
- The web safe RGB colour match is #ff5858
- I will decide on the pantone match before screen printing / sending my business cards off
- I have paid for a website URL and web hosting space - will progress with this in the next session with Simon
26.4.12
Dissertation Briefing 26.04.12
Academic writing course
G23 - 3 sessions starting next week
Not about context but expression
- - - Sign up for the one that starts in September
What is a dissertation?
A stand point about the topic
Arguing for a particular way in the topic you have chosen
Powers of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ analysis
Needs to be concise and coherent - specific subject matter
Something that interests me and ties in with my practice
Demonstrate your understanding of critical analysis
Magazines, journals, newspapers, web, books - have a good breadth of sources
Obtain references over summer
How you have selected evidence - picking out whats important
Academic quality
Keep revisiting the brief
Lectures (about dissertations not contextual studies)
Look at responses to previous dissertations on moodle - summary's of responses
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Typographic subject matter
;knasdc
G23 - 3 sessions starting next week
Not about context but expression
- - - Sign up for the one that starts in September
What is a dissertation?
A stand point about the topic
Arguing for a particular way in the topic you have chosen
Powers of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ analysis
Needs to be concise and coherent - specific subject matter
Something that interests me and ties in with my practice
Demonstrate your understanding of critical analysis
Magazines, journals, newspapers, web, books - have a good breadth of sources
Obtain references over summer
How you have selected evidence - picking out whats important
Academic quality
Keep revisiting the brief
Lectures (about dissertations not contextual studies)
Look at responses to previous dissertations on moodle - summary's of responses
;knasdc
Accept & Succeed
Working on a poster design to be sent out to those accepted on the course, these are some of my notes after the initial talk with Fred, Dom, Luke and Ross. My thought process was mainly based around different references to acceptance and evolution exploring the changes students go through during the course.
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