I did weekly evaluations all throughout last year and found in really useful in reflecting on what I had learnt and what I needed to improve on for that week. I want to keep this up over summer, also to show that I am not just giving up on graphic design! Then at the end of the summer, I can do a full evaluation and see where I am up to, ready for my design strategies presentation.
Monday 11th June
This week I have been thinking about ideas for the ten briefs, as well as starting research for my dissertation. I am feeling really interested about what I am doing at the moment and can't wait to get stuck in to new things. Things are looking more positive as I have been offered live work, been asked to submit work for a book about book design, and I won a YCN award so I am feeling a lot more confident about myself finally in time for third year! I am looking forward to visiting the degree show at the weekend, to see the standard of work we will be expected to produce next year and hopefully for some inspiration. While I have made sure to think of some design ideas every day, I haven't actually done any designing, so I think next week, I need to do a tutorial a day or just something so that I don't lose my software skills, as I think this can be one of the hardest things to have to pick up on again.
Monday 18th June
This week I have been working at college as a student ambassador for the degree shows. I've spent a lot of time handing out maps and directing people places, so it has made me think that I want to do the signage next year! I've started thinking of some ideas, I know it will be tough competition to get to design it, but it would be a great opportunity if I got to. I've looked around our degree show, the Leeds Met and the Leeds Uni one, and so have been thinking a lot about my degree show. Its made me think that I want to re-do my branding, and spend more time on my business cards, as these are such an important part of self-promotion.
Monday 25th June
This week I've been to London, and have visited D&AD New Blood, New Designers and London College of Communication's degree show. I've been told about some new competitions to enter, as well as finding lots of inspiring graduates work to look at. Its been enjoyable, and I hope to see myself exhibiting my work at New Blood in the future. Seeing the standard of work available is motivating to get me started on the freelance work I have to do, and to enter some competitions, if I want to be in with a chance of being as successful as these graduates. This week has given me lots of ideas for things I can do for OUGD301 briefs, so I want to get writing them and starting designing, so that I don't get out of touch with my skills.
Monday 2nd July
I've used this week as a bit of a catch up week, as while I had still been thinking of lots of new ideas, I hadn't been blogging them. I need to stay organised over summer, otherwise it will take me a while to get back in to things in September. While I think I'm making good progress on my OUGD301 briefs, and starting research for my dissertation, I am aware that other people seem to be getting multiple number of placements and studio visits while I still don't have any. This is something that I don't want to let me down in terms of my progress over summer. I've been re-branding myself, to help me feel more confident about my business cards and CV, and so next week aim to get everything finished and sent out, and hopefully this time, with an updated CV, people will actually reply to me rather than ignoring me!
Monday 9th July
I've basically done nothing this week graphic design wise and feel very guilty however I think I did deserve a rest! Its going to be hard keeping motivated with getting work done as well as working at my job over summer, so I need to be really careful not to slip too far, or it will take ages to get back in to everything in September! I'm determined to do lots next week to make up for it!
Monday 16th July
This week was a slow start, despite saying how much I wanted to get done last week. I've been thinking more and more about my branding, as its something that I think its stopping my progress, and until I get it right I won't be happy with other designs. Luckily, after lots of research and thinking, I've had an idea that I think will work well and help me to stand out from everyone else. Its going to take a bit of time to get sorted, but once I get this perfected I think it will be a lot easier to get on with everything else, as if I don't do something soon, I'm going to get too far behind.
Monday 23rd July
This week I've been working on my personal branding, which didn't turn out exactly as I had planned, but I am happy with what I've got, and am almost ready to update everything with the new branding. I really need to work on my website as this is something I wanted to have done for the end of summer, and I am aware that time is passing quickly so I need to get a move on with this. I've had a few very slow weeks and need to work with the same determination I do during college time to make progress.
Monday 30th July
I have received my feedback for my dissertation proposal this week which has been a huge motivation, as I was so happy that my idea has been improved and I have been given a lot of things to think about and research. I had such good intentions for doing lots of research over summer for my dissertation but unfortunately haven't done much, but now I need to start! I have done some of the work for Little Beauties now, and am so excited about seeing something I have designed getting printed. I have really enjoyed doing freelance work, and hope that in the future all of my clients can be so easy to work with and grateful, however, I know I probably won't be so lucky. I think this week has gone a lot better design wise than the past few, but as always theres still a lot more to be getting on with.
Monday 6th August
I have finished updating my branding now to a standard I am happy with, and have updated all my social media. I just need to get my business cards sorted out. I am starting to get nervous about the YCN awards ceremony. This is going to be a great chance to meet people in the industry so I just hope I feel confident enough about myself to get some good opportunities out of it. It took a lot longer to get my branding sorted than I thought it would, so I've not made any progress with my dissertation. As always, I think I can get done more than I have time for. Its just over a month now until third year starts, and so much to do. The pressure of an upcoming deadline is definitely how I work best, although I wish this wasn't so.
On another note, as I have experimented with my branding, I have realised how much I do enjoy type and layout based work, and I am starting to wish that I had done the type module rather than the image one as I might have got more out of it. I will have to do what I can to learn more about type this year, so I don't feel behind compared to the people that took the type module.
Monday 13th August
This week I have been concentrating on getting some research for some of my ten briefs I will be proposing in September. I've visited exhibitions at the Bradford Media museum and also talked with others about working cross-collaboratively next year. I feel really excited about the projects that are coming up, but again, as I seem to write every week, I still have lots to do, and need to work hard to get it done!
Monday 20th August
My new business cards have arrived and I am getting excited for the YCN ceremony, but also nervous as this will be the first time I have talked to industry professionals. I've been completing my freelance work for Little Beauties, and have also done more work on the ten briefs for September. While I am feeling it has been a productive week, I am regretting that I didn't get a placement or studio visit organised for the summer. Due to having to work over summer I haven't had the luxury of lots of time off to sort these things out for, but I know I need to organise something so that I am not behind others. I feel nervous when I think about professional experience and this is something important I need to work on but really need some motivation to get this sorted. Its nearly the end of summer and I am looking forward to starting my third year but I'm also a bit worried about the amount of work that needs doing before then.
Monday 27th August
I've been trying to keep all social media updated over Summer, as I want to keep people interested, and you never know what opportunities you could get from this. This is all very new to me though and I feel really weird about giving personal details out online! I haven't done much at all this week and I am just really excited to get back to uni, so that I can feel motivated, and because I miss how we all bounce ideas off each other.
... I've finally finished work now though so the next three weeks will be purely graphic design!
Monday 3rd September
Well this week has been an amazing week for me! I started off by working on my website, which may not look very developed, but considering I am designing it all from scratch (where I'd say like 80% of students just use a cargocollective template) I think I am doing alright. I just need time to finish it!
Despite the massive preparation I did before YCN in case I got to speak to an industry professional or someone from Peacocks there wasn't really anyone there with any relevance to what I was doing, so I didn't end up giving out any business cards despite taking a mountain of them just in case. I had a really good night though and it was a great boost for my confidence, and so inspiring and rewarding.
Also this week I managed to get a placement! Finally! I feel a bit worried as some people seem to be collecting them and I've only had one, but it was an amazing experience and I have been invited back, so hopefully reading week in October I can go back. I think over the year I still need to try organise some studio visits to other places as well but I've been told I can go back here whenever I want, so I will.
Monday 10th September
This week I really did have to crack on with my set work and I thought now would be a good time to think about the upcoming PPD presentations. I have totally changed as a designer over summer and I FINALLY know who I am, and where I want to be! And I think that is the most useful thing I have achieved!
Monday 17th September
THE LAST WEEK. I am really happy with the amount of work I have done this week, completing my PPD presentation, and practising it so I don't feel as nervous about it, and writing my ten briefs. As well as this I have been researching design inspiration for each brief, and done a good deal of research for my dissertation. I've had a very productive week and hope this motivation continues throughout the year. I am looking forward to starting back as I feel now like I just want to get on with things.
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