Evaluating 2nd Year...

LAST YEARS targets for THIS YEAR //


SEPT 11 evaluation & targets //


DEC  11 evaluation & targets //

This Year

Now its come to the end of the year, and I am getting ready for my PPD presentation, I have looked back on the previous targets I made for things I wanted to achieve this year and to see how well I have done. I’m really happy with what I have learnt, but as always, there are things that I need to focus more attention on as well as new targets to ensure I am continually developing. I have improved so much since this time last year so hopefully this time next year I will be amazing! 

Favourite modules - CTS & Image Elective

• CTS is always really interesting for me and felt quite passionate about the subject of my essay
• Image was the first module where I’ve created work I’ve been proud of and would be happy to put in my portfolio so this module has really helped my confidence in my work

Least favourite - After Effects 

• Didn’t really feel that relevant to my design practice
• Spend a lot of time on it that wasn’t reflected in my grades

Things I have achieved this year

• Learnt how to design properly for print
• Improved Indesign and Illustrator, learnt Dreamweaver and After Effects
• How to design a website
• Better concept building skills
• Improved teamwork skills through enterprise and collaboration
• Greater knowledge of CTS
• Experimented with new processes such as laser cutting, letter pressing and printing on to different stocks / sizes than what I usually stick with
• A lot more organised and make realistic choices based on time and money available
• Linking design context and practice a lot more
• Learnt business studies skills
• Learnt how to promote myself 
• Feel more confident in my work
• Better quality and quantity of work than last year
• Continuous weekly evaluations of each module
• More care with presentation of work

Things I need to improve on

• Continuous improvement of software skills needed
• More relevant research to have an impact on my designs
• Not be afraid to take risks, be more experimental with my designs
• Keep up to date with self promotion, networking!
• Attend workshops to refresh skills like book binding and screen printing
• Continue to work on photography skills
• Professional practice work - my own projects
• Greater knowledge of type

Old Targets - How Have I done?

1. To take advantage of the printing facilities, such as screen printing

I still haven’t screen printed as I haven’t really found a time when it will be relevant to do so, but i aim to screen print for fun over Summer so that with a revised knowledge of how to do this, I may feel more like printing this way next year.


2. To not be lazy and use the resources at Vernon street

Since last evaluating, I haven’t actually been back to Vernon Street, and am really aware that I need to recap on my book binding skills. I did letter press at Vernon street earlier in the year and taking it upon myself to learn a new skill was rewarding.


3. To be able to ask for help when I need it

I’m regularly asking for help outside crits and have made use of the tutors support so I feel I have achieved this target, but need to continue to ask for help to make sure I’m not just keeping my designs to myself without feedback.


4. To create a moving image and learn how to use the required software

This is what I did for the OUGD202 module so I have completed this target, and would like to create another moving image at some point so I don’t lose this new skill.


5. To put in to use the new skills I have learnt in inductions

I haven’t had an induction in a long time, but I would like to recap on first year ones such as book binding.


6. To use initiative and take it upon myself to learn and try new things that what we have been told to

Over summer will be my perfect opportunity to work on this target, by completing online tutorials and using books I have bought to teach me new skills, as well as asking friends to share their knowledge with me. 


7. To feel more confident and proud about my work, and enter competitions or try to get some freelance work

I have entered two YCN competitions as part of the OUGD203 module and will be entering more over Summer when I have time to concentrate on them. I do feel more confident in my work, which can be seen through me setting up a tumblr so people can look at my work. I feel as if I have achieved this target but it is a continuos one that I need to keep on top of.

8. To get the most out of every day at college by arriving early and staying late

I definitely do a lot more work inside and out of college than I did last year, so I feel as if I have done as much as I can for each module.


9. To update my design context blog more regularly and make sure there is a link between the work I am putting on there and my design practice work 

Again this seems to be my biggest weakness as I don’t want to just copy off what exists, I want to create original work. However, I understand how my work can improve by linking my design context and practice work, and think spending time daily looking for inspiration in books, magazines and design websites will help me to find work I aspire to create work like.


10. To make my briefs 'live' and actually usable and useful

I think I have achieved this as I’ve been making realistic choices to do with time and money constraints.


11. Celebrate my favourite work - create a website for others to see

I have created a tumblr which is my main source of promotion, however, I am in the progress of creating my own website, so at the end of Summer this should be done. This is another continuos target as the website and social media outcomes need to be updated all the time to keep my audience interested.


12. To get my work 'out there' -  promote myself

This links to the above target.


13. To sell some work

I really haven’t had time to do this yet, but it is one of the first things I want to consider over Summer as I think it would be beneficial to put my enterprise skills in place and fun to create designs that aren’t for college work. I would like to set up an etsy store and maybe take part in a craft fair.

14. Discover other websites and forms of social media that could be useful to promote work

Again I have started this and need to keep this up throughout the rest of the course.

New Targets for 3rd Year

1. To recap on and put in use skills that I have learnt, such as book binding, laser cutting, screen printing, letter pressing etc, to create more interesting and unique work.
2. To enter competitions and to start my own projects outside of the course, including collaborations, to improve my professional practice.
3. To sell some work online and to sell at a craft fair.
4. To daily look for design inspiration and update my design context blog more regularly, making sure there is a link between the work I am putting on there and my design practice work 
5. To gain a greater knowledge of type and experiment with type only pieces as I didn’t do the type module I feel as if I am behind others.
6. To do a tutorial a day, to improve software skills, and ask others for help when necessary.
7. To not be afraid to take risks, and be more experimental with my designs.
8. To keep up with self promotion, regularly updating my social media sites and networking with other designers.
9. To continue to work on photography skills to improve the presentation of final pieces.
10. To do collaboration work, either with other graphic designers or with artists from other courses.

At the end of Summer I'll have a recap and see if I've improved on any of these skills yet!