OUGD202... Weekly Progress Evaluation

Week One - 28/11/11

I have found the software workshop this week really useful as after effects is something I have never used before, and I have only worked on basic moving image in the software workshops last year. I feel quite nervous about this module as I have no experience of animation, where some people in the group have created them before. However this means I'm also excited about how much I will learn, as this was similar with the print module of not knowing anything but coming out feeling confident. As I did with the print module, I think I need to take it upon myself to do research of my own, by using the library and internet as resources, to make sure my lack of experience doesn't put me behind. I found the storyboard workshop helpful for getting my ideas down and think completing the task will be also useful.

Week Two - 5/12/11

I found it quite difficult to stay motivated this week after being disappointed with my results from the previous module, but in the end, I have decided that this means that I have to work even harder with this module, as maybe digital design could be more what I am interested in and good at than design for print. I'm enjoying the workshops as I feel like I am learning so much as this is something I've never done before. I've now got some good ideas for my silent movie videos. I think I've been working hard at the tasks I have been set, but I need to go the extra mile and do things myself to help me improve even more. My time management for the past two weeks has been good and I need to keep this up. I'm also going to try and work on the things that were written in my feedback from the previous module to ensure that I don't make the same mistakes again. I've written about this in my 2nd year so far evaluation.

Week Three - 12/12/11

This week I think I have been feeling how most people have - just exhausted and in need of a bit of a rest! We have been set the new brief and I am eager to get on with this but I also want to get as far as I can with the silent movie brief or it will just be getting in my way next year. I have plenty of work to do over Christmas (with critical studies, PPD and enterprise too) to keep me busy but hopefully next year I'll see a big improvement in my work. This could potentially be a good space of time to get caught up with anything I'm behind with and also get a whole range of research for the new brief, so I will continue to evaluate to help make sure I don't get behind.

Week Four - 19/12/11 (Christmas)

This week with it being christmas I have decided to let myself have some time off, to rest and catch up with friends and family. I'm still aware that I have a lot of work to do so it will be a busy week next week!

Week Five - 26/12/11 (Christmas)


Because I let myself have last week off, this week I have been slacking a bit and am finding it hard to get back into, but I need to as I will have so much to do when I get back to college. It has just been quite hard trying to fit everything in, as I don't concentrate as well at home with lots of distractions. I set myself lots of tasks to do as well as the research task, to help aid my ppd development, so I have been getting on with them, but I need to concentrate on the research task too, as this is going to be a really important brief for me, as it is something totally new. Luckily I got lots of things for christmas (such as books) that should help with my research. I need to keep up with my design context blog as I realise from evaluating that this is probably my weakest point, and is what is bringing my grades down. I think it would be good to look at different relevant designers everyday to find things to inspire my development.

Week Six - 02/01/12  (Christmas)

I have done lots of research this week, as I have previously mentioned how this has been a downfall. I have realised how enjoyable research can be and how it can inspire me when I am stuck rather than considering a chore. I especially enjoyed my research for my tv show and ident research, and spent hours looking on youtube at different intros. I now need to link what I have found in to what I am making. I still have a lot of design work to do, and I have been using this week to catch up on other tasks that I feel behind with. No matter how much work I do, I never seem to be on top of it, which is worrying sometimes! I still have my five sequences to think about, as well as finishing my presentation to show next week. I think once I am back at college and we get re-briefed I will feel much more motivated and so work faster.

Week Seven - 09/01/12 

I have worked very hard this week to get my work done, and I am happy with the progress I have made. In just a week, I have done a lot of research, which has helped me define my concept, and I have even started on design ideas. I have spent a lot of time with my presentation this week, in particular the design direction boards, as I wanted them to match in with the chosen theme for my tv show intro. I am pleased with the outcome and its also nice to hear people say that they like the design, so the hard work did pay off. I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up this same level of work throughout - I don't know how long I can last on four hours sleep a night just to get my work done! - but I will definitely be continuing to push myself with this module so that no matter what happens I know that I have done my best.

Week Eight - 16/01/12

This week I have found this module has really not been my focus as I have had so much other work to do, such as my critical studies essay, group business enterprise work and image module brief. I am going to have a lot more work to do now for the module hand-in, so I really need to be organised and think ahead, such as with pre-booking print slots, to make sure that I can get everything finished in time, as I don't want to have a mad panic at the end of the module as I did with the last one, although that may be inevitable! I haven't made much progress apart from thinking about my ident sequences, and learning a bit more on after effects through tutorials I have taken and the software workshops.

Week Nine - 23/01/12

The panic until the end of the module has really start to set in this week, but with the critical studies essay having been handed in, and with us as a group business deciding not to put too much pressure on ourselves until this module has been handed in, I do feel like I will be able to finish my work with a lot of hard work. I have been spending a lot of time on my work for the image module, because I have been really enjoying it, however, I need to prioritise my time as it is this module that is worth the most marks. I have done a lot this week, but I think I should have been at the stage I am at now last week or earlier. As always I am wishing that I had managed my time better. This module I have worked harder that I have with any other module, and I think this will continue to be how it is with every module, as I felt like this with the last module. I have spent a lot of time on this module but don't really feel as if I have a lot to show for it. However, I have learnt to use a completely new piece of software, so I think that is something to be happy with. Now that I have finished creating my assets for my video, and have planned out what I need to do, it is just getting on with it now.

Week Ten - 30/01/12

This week has been a mad rush to get everything done, but, looking back, I have done so much work in the past week, if I had done this much work every week I would be much further ahead than I am, although that would involve two hours sleep a night and not doing anything over that graphic design so I don't think I could cope for long. I think in the next module I will have to start the all nighters much earlier on to be able to fit everything in. I don't know whether I hate after effects or love it at the moment, I have learnt so much, and am really pleased with my outcomes, but at the same time, feel a bit sick of it and want to do something different. I think I feel especially pleased with myself as I do sometimes struggle with software and to get this far with no knowledge is quite an achievement. I wish I could have spent longer on my 60 second intro, as I spent such a long time on my idents, and silent movie sequences, but then had to rush the final sequence. However, because I had learnt so much as I was working, I got quicker and quicker. I have put everything to the side this week that isn't to do with this module, so I am going to use next week to catch up. I wish I could realistically work this hard every week.

My end of module evaluation sums up how I have worked on this module. [See blog post]

Module Hand In - 08/02/12

Enterprise Lecture 8... Stash Your Cash

Lecture Notes

- Accounting - keeping track of who owes you money and how much you are spending on materials and services
- It makes sure you don't end up spending more than you earn
- An invoice is the bill that you send a client and a statement is a reminder
- An invoice details exactly what has been purchased (every single detail itemised so the customer knows what they are being charged from), the date it has been made, who the invoice is to and from (addresses), and a total, with VAT listed separately and then a grand total. Contain a remittance advice slip that you send back when you pay your cheque
- You have a certain amount of days from the day the invoice was made out to send off the money
- A statement might contain a record of any outstanding invoices
- Don't really use cheques anymore, money is usually paid straight into bank account
- A statement contains your address, their address, unpaid invoices, a list of recent invoices you have sent out, total amount outstanding
- On the back of invoices and statements are terms and conditions. The conditions are designed to protect your rights and interests. Costs - how you want to be paid. Delivery options. Payment terms.
- Have to explain who the owner is so it is clear who you are referring to (Terminology - make it clear to the customer, make it obvious and simple so there is no opportunity for them not to pay)
- How much credit you will be willing to give them - (how long before they have to pay it before they have to pay interest) after 30 days, they can charge a very small amount of interest per annum.
- Show your commitment to quality
- Data protection - ensuring the customer that you are not going to pass their address on to any one else
- Example, currys t&c contains: price, payment, warranty, limitation of liability, general, risk/title, cancellation and returns, non-delivery, delivery, description and fitness for purpose, application of terms and interpretation
- Should send statements out before the invoice is due to prompt the customer to pay their invoice on time, if they don't pay it, send a statement out every month thereafter, if it has been outstanding for a long time, tell them that you are going to take action with your solicitor. The less time you are willing to wait the easier it will be to get your money back.

- Accounting software - e.g. quick books (Standard accounting kit - does almost everything for you), bank tree (basic package for low key business), sage (the best equipment)
- Need to know who is spending the most money with you to know who is your best customer - may need to offer incentives
- Keep log of customers, profit and loss accounts
- Need an accountant, you want a certified account not a chartered one (as they are more expensive)
- Always ask for a rough estimate as to how much the accountant will cost you a year

- Businesses spend money on starting up costs, overheads and direct costs
- Overheads refers to the money you have to pay out every month whether or not you have work in or not
- Start up costs: equipment, website, register company name, signs, logo, decorate premises, launch party (one off costs- can be quite expensive)
- Many companies get a loan to cover these initial expenses, which they pay back each month over 2-3 years, as this is a risky time for the business
- Where does the money come from? Banks (hardly lending any money at all at the moment); crowd funding (opening your business up to the public, people give you money to set up your business, often don't have to give anything back, it is because they believe in your company, people can invest little or a lot to encourage you); funding organisations and investors (such as the arts council - these organisations may grant you money without having to give anything back but you have to report back to them); shareholders (But then you do have to give some of your business to them); prizes and award (often get cash prizes and also looks good on your CV)

- Investors want to see a solid marketing plan, and to know how much money you need and how much money you have got, how you spend the money, and how you will pay it back
- In order to tell someone how you will pay them back you need to have an idea of how much you will earn

- Indirect costs are things you have to pay for weather you get any business or not, including: utilities, rent, phone lines etc
- These regular payments are also known as overheads, fixed costs and the cost of doing business
- Direct costs apply to anything that you sell to a customer that they take away with them
- E.g. everything involved with the manufacture and presenting for sale of that product
- In terms of a bottle of water, you are paying for the water, the bottle, the cap, the label, and the tray and wrapping that the bottles came in. You are also paying for all the indirect costs, such as labour, delivery, the rent of the factory, the designer of the bottle... So you end up paying 85p for a bottle of water, that is worth less than 5p.

- Tangible assets (things you can touch) would include your vehicle, your computer, your high tech equipment
- Intangible assets (things you can't touch) include reputation, company name, intellectual property and list of customer, trade secrets, recipes

- A cost is what you spend and the price is what you charge
- Capital is the wealth within the business, tends to be tangible assets (money, property and other valuables)
- When you are calculating how much you are making you work with: receipts (money that is coming in to the business from a client); payments (how much money you have spent running the business on overheads and direct costs)
- The difference between your receipts and your payments is called your cash flow. If you receive less from your clients than you have spent in your bills then you will have a negative cash flow, if it is the other way round, and you are making more money than you are spending, then you will have a positive cash flow
- Your balance is the amount of money you have at that moment (not the same as profit, as some of this money may still be needed to pay your bills)
- Profit is the money thats left after you have paid all of your bills
- Loss is when you haven't got enough money left to pay the bills
- Different types of taxes: council tax; income tax, corporation tax, VAT, and business rates

What to do
1. Open up a separate bank account for your business, do not run a business through your personal account
2. Find yourself a certified accountant
3. Find a solicitor at the start
4. Register your business with the inland revenue

Websites
Business Link
Startups
HM Revenue & Customs
Creative Choices - David Parrish 

Interim Evaluation

Design Direction

Strengths

I think although my idea may not be as clever as ideas I've had for other modules, I've done a lot of research so that my concept is clear. I think my design direction boards were the strongest I've done so far, as they made my decisions clear, and even showed the style of graphic design I aimed to create on them. The 1950's theme I have chosen suits my top ten well and looks visually pleasing.

Weaknesses

I think the term 'vintage housewives' which I chose as a theme may be a bit vague, and with the limit on time, it means that I would only be able to use stock imagery or my own illustrations to show these, which might not look as good as it could have done.

Design Development

Strengths

I did a lot of initial development, such as with illustrating and photographing cupcakes to find the style that I would use in my video. My extensive research of tv and film intros has made it easier for me to design for my storyboards, however, I don't believe that I have done as much. I also need to develop the design ideas for my packaging. 

Weaknesses

Since I have been back over christmas I have been so busy with all the different things that I have had to juggle that I haven't had as much time to develop, so I have tended to only think of a few different design ideas before choosing which one to go with. I need to find a way to get the right balance of doing enough development, as doing little is not enough but otherwise there is a possibility to go on forever.

Visual Quality

Strengths

I think my vector illustrations and patterns are looking good, and I have received compliments on these which encourages me that this is the right visual direction. 

Weaknesses

While my assets for my video may look good, I need to be careful that my video still looks good when I apply the movement effects to it, to stop it from looking like I am just using every single effect I have learnt.

Technical Competence

Strengths

I have learnt a lot of new skills for a program I knew nothing about beforehand, and have made extensive notes so that I can go back over things that I have learnt whenever I want.

Weaknesses

I am finding it hard to put what I have learnt into practice without it looking childish - like a powerpoint presentation with too many effects. I need to take the initiative to learn things that have not been taught in the software workshops, by following online tutorials, to make sure that I can do the things I have proposed in my storyboards.

Additional Comments

[See progress evaluation]

Group Business... Branding Re-design

As we are a branding business, then it is important that our branding is spot on. After comments we received in our tutorial with Jane, we all made some decisions about how the new logo should look. For example, we thought that a fresh aqua colour would suit what we are trying to represent well.

Then Charlie continued to develop the logo ideas. Here are the logos he has come up with, complete with possible colour schemes.

Now we need to decide which one our favourite is so we can start using it on the promotional material we need to create.

Group Business... Promotion Research

[How we can promote ourselves...]

For my next task for the group business, I need to research ways of how we can promote ourselves. As a graphic design company specialising in branding and identity, it is important our branding and identity are really amazing. There are different ways we can promote ourselves so I have researched these.

Business Cards

One of the most obvious ways to promote yourself is to hand out business cards. We will need them for networking events and other opportunities to hand to potential clients. I have been recommended to look at [toxel] website, as there are lots of collections of business cards. Here are a few of the clever ones I have found. I think these are a lot more interesting than your standard business card, but at the same time, when we create our business card, we need to set a standard of sophistication rather than appearing gimmicky.

Here are business cards I collected from the degree shows I have been to, and also from D&AD. As someone who is interested in illustration I find the image based ones suit what I like, however, this style wouldn't necessarily be fitting towards our group business. I think the business cards with a clear logo on the front and contact information on the back would be most like what we should aim to create, as they look good, clean and professional, and would represent our branding skills to create a card like this.

 

Websites

Here are some screenshots of branding and identity graphic design agencies websites to show us what our competition do to promote themselves.

 

Press ads 

These are the press ads from the latest issue of creative review, giving examples of how other companies advertise themselves.

Networking events

Although we haven't yet decided on a location, here are some networking events for creatives and business people in Leeds that we could attend to meet other creatives.

Catch Up Leeds

Creative Networks Yorkshire

Business Breakfasts Leeds

Group Business... Promotion

These are the questions I have tried to answer to help us figure out how we will promote ourselves. I have also done a bit of research into how other companies promote themselves. [blog post]

Where would we advertise?

- Magazines: if it was aimed at creative business, could advertise in creative review and computer arts
- If we are trying to brand local businesses, we could put adverts in local newspapers and magazines
- We would want to be advertised by word of mouth, through recommendations from others after providing good business for them

Would we use social media?

- It would be wise to try and cover different forms of social media to get as much attention as possible
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Linkedin

How would we network?

- Attend business breakfasts and other such events to meet other people who have set up their own businesses, as they may need branding
- Attend networking events designed for people in the industry such as creative networks in yorkshire, and the new catch up event in Leeds
- Advertise throughout college for our remaining time, to build up a portfolio of work as we could create the branding for the new businesses students will set up
- We could meet people in small business hubs and other creative areas such as these

What visual promotional material would we have?

- Business cards
- Stationary
- Press ads
- Website
- Leaflet

- We need to think creatively to get our business card to stand out and be memorable, as well as allowing it showcase our skills

How can we use the internet to advertise?

- Our own website
- We could make sure to get our link placed quite highly on google, so when people to a search we are the first to come up and therefore we won't lose out on business

Other Ideas

- Offer free consultations to lure customers in
- Get our company in the yellow pages
- Get our work displayed in galleries or magazines such as creative review/comptuer arts
- Get in touch with people with badly designed websites and show them what we can do in a tactful way
- Search engine optimisation - make sure we come up first on google
- Partnership opportunities
- Create online portfolios such as on behance
- Sponsorship - work with other companies

Here I have written about promotion and advertising:

- We will create an online portfolio of our work, so customers can easily see what our work is like, and then may be persuaded to hire us

- We  will have our own website, and get google search optimisation, so that we are one of the first choices that come up on a search. Our website address will be on our business cards as well, so potential customers can look at it to see what our work is like, to find out more about us, and find contact details

- We will promote ourselves through social media, creating our own pages on websites such as Facebook, twitter, behance, flickr, Linkedin, tumblr, blogger

- We will try and get some examples of our work in an exhibition, such as ones held around Leeds like test space, or try to hold our own, or get work featured in a magazine article that potential customers may look at, such as in computer arts

- We could try and sell some of our work on websites like etsy or in craft shops, and then if a customer likes our work and buys it they can they contact us about creating commissioned work

- We will attend networking events, to meet people with their own businesses who may need the help of a graphic designer, such as business breakfasts or some of the events listed below

- We could try to get sponsorship by potentially forming some sort of partnership with another company, and then we can help them with their graphic design needs, and they can promote us to their customers

- We can send out direct mail to our client list if we need some work, and also if we can find the addresses of companies who we think may need our help

- We will advertise in magazines such as creative review, as well as putting our information in directories like the yellow pages, and advertising in local newspapers and magazines

- We will make sure that we are good designers for customers to work with so that they spread our details through word of mouth, one of the best ways to gain new clients

- We will reinforce ourselves, by continuing to keep contact with clients after a sale so that they come back when they need more business

- We can suit our advertising to target customers, such as with Facebook adverts that are based upon the information the user puts in to Facebook, to ensure that the adverts are reaching the right people

Group Business... 2nd Tutorial

Today we had our second group tutorial with Jane; this time it was just us and Jane for a 45 minute chat about our progress. I think this is the first group I have been in where we have all contributed equally and been involved, so I am happy with what we have done, and I feel confident that we have made good progress, but this tutorial made me think about just how much more needs to be done for the presentation, which is not actually as far away as we might have thought! 


Here are some points from the tutorial:
- Logo: with the arrow pointing down, it makes it look like your business is in the south, when it is in the north. Also, pointing down is quite negative so it would look better pointing up. Be careful that it doesn't end up looking too much like a recycling logo.
- You need to continue to set small tasks to each week, as well as a list for over reading week, as after this there isn't long until the presentation
- Deciding on a location is the first thing that needs to be done asap!
- Write a tagline that says what you do as a business
- Think about creating stationary for business cards and invoices
- Include examples of the sort of work you would do - a collective portfolio
- Look at funky business books


After the tutorial, we got together as a group to discuss what to do next. We decided that location and promotion were two areas that needed to be covered first. To make it easier, we have decided that Charlie and Lisa will continue to look at locations, to decide on the city/town we will be situated, as well as finding a flexible working place or other suitable hub to be based. Me and Marty will look into the promotion of our business. 


Here is my blog post to show how I have looked in to this in more detail. 


We have covered a lot already, but here are some points that I made in my initial action plan that I think we still need to cover:


- Think about the competition - SWOT analysis [Lisa and Charlie will be doing this as they research who else is out there for considering location]
- Market research [Could do a survey to get some primary research about our idea for a business]
- How much will we charge? [This need to be worked out from our overhead costs]
- Create a business plan
-  Decide on a mission statement - what are our aims and values?
-  What type of business would we be?
-  Decide on objectives and create strategies to achieve these
- How would we deal with legal responsibilities?
- Think about out presentation, and visual aids we can create. Extra touches to prove we are the best business!

Group Business... My Tasks (+ SWOT for Location)

Task

Here is what I have done for the task we have set ourselves with the action plan, to research two cities, and to find our who our competition would be (using SWOT analysis), and to find out the transport links for the area and other aspects to help determine whether or not it would be a good place to start a business.

Also:

Who could we collaborate with? 

- We could collaborate with other students from Leeds College of Art, as we may have skills that they need, while they could have skills we would find useful in our work, such as photography. Collaborating with other students gives us the chance to do their branding to add to our portfolio.
- We could collaborate with individual freelance graphic designers, or other small businesses that we trust to share ideas. Other businesses do this when they get a job that is to big for them to handle, but they don't want to lose.

Networking opportunities?

- Here are some of the networking events that I have heard of in the local area that as a business we could attend
-  Catch up - Leeds
- Creative Networks Events - Yorkshire
- Leeds College of Art Events

Flexible working places?


Although these flexible working places for small businesses seem like a great idea, I found it quite hard to actually find any. Those that do exist do seem to be successful and I think this would be a great place to work, especially to be close to other creative people as well. Here are a few examples of the type of place we would be looking at.

heartcentre

berniegrantcentre

cockpitarts

What are our personal assets we could bring to the company?

- Computer, cameras, printer, scanner, graphics tablet, range of resource books, magazine subscriptions, basic drawing equipment, own collection of stocks

WHO ARE OUR COMPETITORS?

Most of the graphic design agencies I could find for the places I had chosen to research were very commercial, and not our style at all. They were not creative and all of their work looked very similar. I have included some of them, as they will count as competition, as to someone who needs branding but doesn't know much about the industry may turn to them. However, as a lot of the websites for design agencies were awful, I do not believe they would be competition, so I haven't included everything I have looked at. I was surprised about how difficult it was to find decent websites in these areas, so I think this means there could be a gap in the market for us.

LIVERPOOL

As a big city does, Liverpool has good transport links from areas such as manchester, wigan, blackpool and chester. There is lots to do in terms of museums, shops, bars, restaurants and hotels, so it would be a convenient place for clients to come to, as well as there being lots of potential work from local businesses.

creative liverpool

- Corporate communications

- Design and marketing

- Lots of experience

online48

- Specialise in branding and identity
- Small, highly experienced team working with big name brands
- Had work exhibited and nominated for awards
- Offer guest placements for people to come and work with them

happycry

- Web design and branding
- Website looks quite commercial
- Lots of business advice on their blog

splinter design communications

- No specialism
- Award winning multi disciplinary design studio
- Worked for big name companies

liquid solution

- Very creative

- Mix of creative and technical staff

- Worked for big name companies

- Seem very successful

WARRINGTON

Warrington may not be particularly well know but it does have good transport links, making it accessible from manchester and liverpool easily, as well as being connected through the train line to many other major cities. In the town centre, there are quite a lot of businesses, however, the town does not seem to have many creatives in it, which may mean that there is a place for a new business, or that it is not as good an idea to set up a creative business in a town as compared to setting up in a city.

ubercreativedesign

- Multi skilled, but not specialising

- Probably best design agency in Warrington

- Not worked for big names but professional designs, slightly corporate

spring creative

- Very basic creative skills

- Web design much stronger than print

- Commercial

- Have worked on branding

lemonzest

- Specialising in design for print

- Small creative team focusing on client time and good customer service

OUGD205... Final Pieces

Here I am keeping a portfolio of my final pieces from the image module. Crit feedback can be read [here].

Brief 1: Editorial Images

 

Brief 2 : Type as Image

Brief 3 : Scale / Frame / Format

Brief 4 : 2d to 3d to 2d

Brief 5 : Book Works

[view all images]

Brief 6 :  D&AD Poster

Brief 7 :  Self-initiated Brief