OUGD301 Evaluation

Overall I think this module out of any that I have done so far on the degree is the one that I have learnt the most, not just about graphic design but myself and how I work and what works and doesn't work for me.

Jumped headlong into designing without taking much thought and consideration into planning and structuring 4 briefs that were clear. I think one of the biggest mistakes in this module is jumping straight starting to design for the briefs when I haven't fully clarified what it was I was going to do. This is something that looking back on the module I should have taken are bit more time and consideration into planning as this had a knock on effect on the way that I worked on the briefs.

For a large part of the module especially for briefs 1 and 3 I kept switching ideas and changing my mind on various aspects of the projects. This is especially the case when it comes to how the briefs ended up forming. For brief 3 the design direction of this was the most vague as is why the direction changed 2, which hindered my overall progress with the other briefs, but it also opened up scope for my second brief to which at that point had not been clarified. 

I had originally set out to do briefs 2 and 3 a lot differently than they turned out, not clarifying the audience and content early on meant that this was one of the reasons why I kept swapping ideas and what felt like I was going round in circles. 

The barman was the brief that I proposed to complete a mockup of how the app would work for a developer. I think that this brief is the one that I am most happy about as I had the concept of the brief sorted from the start. Although I had a lull after the initial ideas as I hadn’t come up with a clear target audience and how the app would be applicable to them which then would determine how the app would work in a run through. I am happy with the visuals for the app and extending the range to encompass printed material such as a barman gift set and beer mats/flyers.

Akzidenz is the brief that was formed from changing direction in various briefs, as I had to make a decision to choose another brief. I decided to develop the typeface that I created which spanned from the Wordiverse logotype as I thought it would benefit my practice to investigate how letter forms are made up and what develop from this. The main focus for this brief was developing the typeface, creating 3 different variants with 3 weights. What the brief is lacking is how the typeface was showcased over a range within context, on reflection I could have developed how this would have been applicable. In the end I thought that creating a look book wasn’t

(Strongest aspect of the module was the ideas and development stage)

The language supplement I feel mixed about as I managed to produce a range of deliverables for this project focusing on the stock, print and layout of the supplement. Although this being said this is the one brief that I hadn't got a clear idea of what I wanted to do and jumped straight into designing which in turn ended up me changing direction in the project twice.

The Waitress was the brief that I had the quickest turn around as it was neglected but I am happy with the deliverables. I feel that the type experimentation could have been pushed more looking into other ways in which the type can be manipulated on screen and then potentially applying it to a printed format.

Looking at all four of my main briefs and linking them to my rational I have deserved away from what I actually want to do, this module has made me realise that I want to focus more on working with typography and layout. I feel that I have neglected the finishing process to focus more on the idea and would like to do a short brief or two which allows me to focus on the various printing methods and stocks.

Aims for FMP:

-  Clarify the briefs that I propose to do; this includes initial research and various decisions such as what I want to get out of the brief.

-  Shorter deadlines: I think that shorter turn around for projects and setting interim deadlines will help keep me more focused and organised.

-  Develop a better understanding of production, this will allow me to make more informed decisions in my design direction.

-  Have an even balance between the concept and ideas as well as the production.

Final Boards

Brief 01 the Barman Brief 02 Akzidenz Minimal Brief 03 Language Supplement 04 Brief the Waitress Brief 05 Louise Tiler

Decision making workshop

The brief:


Tales to change the word (ISTD)

• 10 Reasons why I am doing the brief?
• 5 Benefits for each one of the 10 reasons.
• What are the problems?
• 10 Questions about the subject matter.
• Presentation.
• Visualise things you need to produce for the brief.

Why am I doing the brief?

1.  Working and experimenting with typography.

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2.  The content is given to me.

  -  Less time finding content

  -  The content is specific

  -  More time can be spent analysing the story.

3.  The brief allows me to submit my research and development as well as the finals.

  -  Shows my way of thinking and problem solving.

  -  It will help contextualise the decisions and designs.

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4.  The brief will help me develop my core typographic skills.

  -  It will give me a chance to show what I know and how I am using the knowledge that I have gained.

  -  It will give me the opportunity to experiment with typography and layout from what I know

  -  It will give me the opportunity to develop my type skills that will help push the direction and focus of my design practice.

5.  I want to be a member of ISTD.

  -  It is an internationally recognised organisation.

  -  It will allow me to interact with experienced designers and typographers.

  -  It will so that I am a capable typographer.

6.  The brief was written by typographers who are looking primarily looking for a typographic response.

  -  The area that I am interested in.

  -  I want to focus my design practice towards type and layout.

  
7.  I am interested in dissecting and trying to find a meaning in the story.

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8.  The deliverables are more specific than the other competition briefs.

9.  It will be a challenge to come up with something defies the ideas of a book allowing me to show what I know about type and how I can use this to display my ideas.

My rational: An investigation of layout with the focus on typography and branding.

What are the problems?

To push the boundaries of conventional book design.

What is the story about?

What are the deliverables?

How does the content relate to the layout?

How do I make it better than everyone else's?

Who is the audience?

10 Questions about the subject matter.

1. What is ISTD?
2. What is The Waitress?
3. Who is the Author? Has he written anything else?
4. What is the story about?
5. What is conventional book design?
6. What is magazine/editorial book design?
7. What are ISTD looking for?
8. What format is a magazine/book? What are they?
9. Who is the target audience?

Presentation has to include:

What are you doing?

Why are you doing it?

Whats the problem?

Answers to the questions.

Have examples of work you want to do, similar what you want it to look like. (contextualise)

Visualise:

Set of 10 things you need to produce for the brief

10 x What you need to produce

10 x What you want to produce

10 x You could produce

BE SPECIFIC

For every produce you identify come up with 10 variations minimum.

Colour

Type

Composition

Content

Thoughts after the crit and tutorial

The Direction I am heading.

Scan in each a4 sheet with the deliverables for each of the projects on them.


Explain for each project, what you want to get out of it.


The crit and tutorial were a real eye opener to where I should be at. One thing that I came away from both the crit and the tutorial was that I needed clarity and to define my target audience and the deliverables for each brief.

Cocktail app (brief 1):

Deliverables-
-  The interactive cocktail app
-  Website
-  Gift pack

Alternate languages (brief 3):

I have narrowed the audience down so that it is people that will be interested in learning an alternate foreign language. A good point that was raised about how people learn languages was that most people use audio cds or computer programs like Rosetta Stone. A good context for promoting learning alternate foreign languages would be as a supplement in a broadsheet newspaper.

Wordiverse typeface (brief 2):

Deliverables-
-  Lower and uppercase
-  Glyphs
-  Numerals

-  Look book documenting the design and development of the typeface
-  3 Poster prints showcasing the typeface

Self evaluation during the crit

Crit with Ric Bell

Had a really good crit with Ric with Dutch, receiving some good positive feedback and things to look into and develop the briefs further.
-   Think about using a different typeface for the menus than the logotype for the app.
-   As I was looking into signs and symbols, look into using them for flashing icons or to direct people in various ways in the app.
-   Make an interactive pdf and demonstrate how the app would work, with potential to film me using that Pdf on an IPad so it looked like I was testing the app out.
-   Check out the site Internet archaeology for various 80/90s images.
-   Areas to look at for inspiration; 80s/90s arcade games. Outer glows and 8bit (softens the images)
-   Agree that the adopt a word/wordiverse has a better concept.
-   Look at kinetic type.
-   Re watch the Planet word episode on identity in languages and take some quotes from Stephen Fry and other language experts for content.
-   Look at kinetic type, this will give a good understanding on how type can be manipulated to look like it is in motion in a printed format.
-  Good site for sounds is Flashkit.

Action Plan 10/11

After a big brainstorming session about the concept of my adopt a word/wordiverse brief I have come up with something that I am happy with and I am getting on with it immediately as time is very precious.


Cocktail application:

• Storyboard/ scamp exactly how the app will work from firstly selecting the application icon to making the cocktails in the app.
• Look at other menus in other applications to see how they are interacted with.
• Look at signs, symbols and Japanese/ Chinese writing for the ideas for the visual content. Also look at Scandinavian special characters.

Adopt a Word:

• Choose one dying language and research the history, location, people, characters, words and why to save it. (This will give the basis for the content of the publication then to expand the range.

ISTD:

• Read through 'The Waitress' and dissect the story find the meaning behind it.
• List what options there are for manipulating the story with various formats, layouts and typography.

Progress tutorial feedback 10/11

There were a couple of interesting points that were raised in the tutorial today about my current projects.


Cocktail app (Brief 1):
-   Good concept but lack of depth of research on how the app can work.
-   One example needs to be chosen to show how the app works then propose the rest. The range will come from this.
-   Don't get bogged down with the content.


Adopt a word (Brief 3):
-    Lacking concept (designing and then just putting it on something)
-    More experimentation with typography needed.
-    Choose a theme(s) this will give the basis for ideas for visuals.


ISTD (Brief 4):
-   What do you want to get out of the brief?
-   The primary idea behind the am of the brief is to come up with a typographic piece with the experimentation of a magazine.
-   Look at the content in the story list options of what you can explore.

Action Plan 20/10

Updated Briefs

All four current up to date briefs relevant to my projects at present.

Open publication - Free publishing - More briefs