PPP module evaluation

PPP module evaluation

EVALUATION:

PPP is a module in where I must document and evaluate my progression and my major learning achievements from the course to date alongside marketing myself personally and in a sense, encouraging myself to strive for the best I can and finding a way to get that.

Studio Brief 01 - My Brand

Studio brief one was a continuation on last year’s set PPP brief to personally brand ourselves as professional designers and to document the outcomes. This time around we were gather momentum in the form of online presence.

In a response to what was asked I designed a business card type creation, but refer to it as more of a ‘calling card’ complete with my details. I took this approach rather than creating a business card which I would hand out to clients due to the fact that I don’t at this time in my life see my self becoming a free lance designer, and would work best in a studio environment under the name of a designer company.

The results of the calling card were as I expected, simplistic design, making use of varying print and paper altering methods to create a result that accurately displayed the information I intended to convey.

I also evidenced my behance profile that I am a giant advocate of and enjoy updating my projects, (this will be explained in my presentation and also on my blog). The domain Linkedin will be mentioned as I have discovered that from John’s advice and have created an account but haven’t got to grips with how it works.

Studio Brief 02 - Taking care of business

Taking care of business was a group brief that I enjoyed for once. Each of the members of the group combining to form a feasible design business proposal. I felt that I put in my fair share of work into the groups outcomes, where members of the team lead with the design and branding of the group, other members still had their inputs, as did I.

Forming a design business with friends is something I would consider doing in later life, but first I feel my confidence in approaching work and client projects would have to be boosted and I feel I have a cynical view on finding live projects in the outside world.

Studio Brief 03 - Design Strategy Presentation

My design strategy presentation will cover a range of topics such as work experience to studio visits to what I personally feel I have learnt this year on the course.

I am content with the outcome of the presentation and feel accompanied with the words I use to describe each slides, it should convey a coherent presentation and fulfil the criteria this brief asks for.

Overall, I find PPP a great module for boosting my confidence as a designer and young professional, which is definitely part of what I need from my degree course. I hope there are many more riveting and insightful briefs to come.

Studio Brief 03 - Design Strategy Presentation

Studio Brief 03 - Design Strategy Presentation

Here is my final presentation.

I chose for my presentation to be rather minimal, taking on board the notes which John has explained about presenting such as not involving too much text on the slides so the audience aren't reading off the slides and are taking in the information which I am talking about.

I mainly covered my work experience and my future plans in this presentation, talking about how I don't feel being a freelance designer is for me at this stage and how I am focussed on finding a studio which suits my needs and would be perfect to start my career.

Im not a person who likes to stay in the same place or same job for awfully long, so I mentioned how Id like to expand my career by moving about when necessary to other cities and bigger and better jobs (if possible)

I feel I presented my information well, but after watching around 20 other students' presentations realised I hadn't reflected on my learnings in first and second year much, which I regretted not mentioning as I do have a lot to say about these subjects.

Having text on the screen as I was presenting would have aided me and kept me on track when presenting and I did feel rather stressed and as if there was a lot of pressure on me due to being graded on my presentation skills, and when I was at the front presenting part of my mind wanted it to be over quickly so I could return to my seat, so that aspect of my presenting skills is something I can take into future presentations - have on screen notes/ aids to reminds me to stay on topic and cover every subject I have to talk about. 

1 year Plan

To have gained experience in a variety of places and be in a conversation with agencies etc preparing to gain employment/further experience.

To make the most of my remaining time at LCA hoping that I don't regret the chance that I could have done more whilst I was in education.

Broaden my portfolio and online presence whilst also developing more confidence and pride in my created outcomes.

Produce at least two of each mediums of graphic design which I am very happy with and can publish online

2 year Plan

To be securely in a working environment, progressing up the ladder and gaining respect in the industry. To stay emerged in the design world such as exhibitions and mixing events, travelling and exploring what other cities' design world's have to offer.

To initiate my own briefs or competitions to gain confidence in that respect and gain more contacts.

5 year Plan

To be in a high paid and, well respected and influential role in a design company, with potential to be on my way to running it etc

Possibly a managerial role or something which I am managing my self.

Stay immersed in the design world, gaining momentum, respect and recognition. 

Studio Brief 01 - My Brand

Studio Brief 01 - My Brand

I began experimenting with letter forms, knowing in my mind that I never intended to create a stereotypical business card, and more of a call card/details card for people who I contact/meet. A card to be used in mixing events to quickly pass on my details. 

I felt that all the people I were communicating with would ideally need to remember my name, and my first name so the relationship was on a friendly basis. 

I began by finding a way to connect the letters of my name to form a shape, this didn't work so well with lowercase letters, and I felt bolder letters would have a less subtle feel and make it hard for people to forget my name once they have seen this card.

 Front side of business card -

Making use of a laser cutting process where my personal logo shall be  cutout from the black paper below, creating what’s known as a duplexing style of business card.

This will have more of a designer feel rather than leaving the stock unaltered from printing.

The personal brand has been created in such a way which it can be laser cut and the counters of the letters will still remain.

The font used in the logo was simply Arial, but edited in such a way that the font isn’t recognised as Arial no longer, which is seen as a lazy font choice.

Reverse side of business card -

Using the typeface Osaka as a variant on the original and commonly used sans serif fonts. (Helvetica, gill sans, Gotham), these boxes will display lines of personal details about me as a designer, contact information and websites to visit.

The gradient use is a design element which makes use of negative space on the card and focuses the viewer’s eyes over to the text and should help the important information sink in.

I don’t intend to become a freelance graphic designer or ever work alone and for this reason my card only needs to communicate personal details, as more of a calling card, than a way of advertising myself.

Research into more elegant business cards prints to give my card and my personal brand a more memorable feel.

This photograph evidences the cutout effect of the name on the front side of my business card.

Various coloured stock has been implemented to show that my business card design can be changed vastly and colour can be implemented easily. 

Week work placement - Evolution print

Having started work experience at Evolution Print in Sheffield I have decided to blog about my findings.

Having had the full tour around Evolution print, I was left to the print technician department for the rest of the day to learn how designs are taken from PDF and readied for perfect prints.

NUMIKO VISIT

NUMIKO VISIT

Me and two other students went to Numikos studio, for me, to get an idea of how a studio functions.

We was given a tour by a guy named Colin,

The studio has employed 20 designers, but on this day it only seemed as if around 10 of them were in.

I was surprised how personal and informal the studio was, with the designers having their own personal items on their desks such as lego toys and other novelty items.

We were talked through their Water Aid's Wahoo project and fully explained how the did the entire site, from initial meetings, to budget etc. We were shows the site mocked up in creative adobe software as well as seeing the wire frames. Colin was telling us how the company provided them with the photographs and stock images to use and also a very basic logo which wasn't designed very professionally and a result of this meant that when the logo was opened in software, it was over 50GB in size; this obviously had to be corrected.

We went into the ins and outs of the company and other designers came over to explain things to us, the studio was very laid back and everyone was very friendly and sociable.

We were informed that the junior designers were paid £23,000 a year, a number which impressed me and a figure I would be very happy earning as a graduate job at the age of 21. Colin had told us that

 he didn't go to uni and started design work at age 16.

He compared Numiko to other such companies in Leeds such as 26 and Made by Pie, claiming the industry 26 was  a lot more formal and intensive that Numiko and that the workers there fit more of a 'Mac monkey' role. 

He explained to us how the company had just won a pitch to redesign the Blue cross charity website and that's what they were all working on at that time. They approached the company proposing a new site mapping that would completely change the ease of the site.

We were told how in the last few years internet on phones has massively grown and how that is certain people's only access to the internet are via mobile devices.

We were shown quite a lot of information about web design and wire frames something which relates to our on going project.