OUPD301 Sept - Dec & OUGD301 Weekly Evaluation

Week Beginning: 24/09/12

This first week back at college has had a focus on getting ready for the upcoming year, with briefings and PPD presentations. I am pleased about how my presentation went and found it interesting to hear what others have done. Now I know my timetable I have organised a placement (at Holden&Sons again) during reading week. I want to organise visits to other studios and printers throughout the year and over Christmas to get an even better insight in to the industry. I also feel like I need to make a plan for the dissertation, like how long I will spend on it per week as I am aware how busy I am going to be for the rest of the year, especially if I have placements too.

Week Beginning: 1/10/12

This week has been a good and busy first week back, and I have been working as I mean to go on, meaning long days at college but then giving myself a bit of a break in the evenings so that I don't get too stressed. I think this is a much better way of working than I did last year. My four briefs have changed a bit during this week but now I know what I definitely want to do I can finally get started properly. The progress tutorials next week will be useful to help me see if I am going in the right direction. I know that I have set myself a lot of work to do in not a lot of time, so its important I get the most out of everyday. I've been doing a bit of a time plan to ensure I don't waste my time.

Week Beginning: 8/10/12

I've been changing my briefs around again this week after the feedback I got from the group tutorial got me thinking about why I was actually choosing to do things. I found this so useful and now have re-written my brief, meaning that I've set myself a task I actually feel like I'm looking forward to doing and can get started with. I thought I would have done more by now as its the third week in, but I think not being totally sure about what my briefs were was what was stopping me. Now I know what I'm doing, I'm ready to get going and have set myself a week by week plan, so lets see if I stick to this.

Week Beginning: 15/10/12

So at the start of this week, I was beginning to lose motivation a bit and not really know which design direction to go in. I've been focusing on just two of the briefs, and got to the point where I didn't really know what to do next. I've been continually asking for feedback from others in the group and I have found this really useful, as they sometimes point out things I wouldn't have thought about myself. Also, my individual progress tutorial was really useful and motivational, especially for thinking about the structure of this module. I now know which briefs I should spend longer on, and where to start, so now I've got a bit of order I think it will be easier to stay motivated and hopefully not get too stressed.

Week Beginning: 22/10/12

This week I feel like I have done lots for this module and I think having the crit to think about has been massively motivational in helping me get everything up to date. I've been getting through the things I talked about in my individual tutorial, as well. Some of the feedback I received was a bit confusing, so I need to have a talk about this as soon as possible, but most of it was useful, pointing out things I hadn't noticed.

I've set up a facebook group for me and a few other students, so that we can upload our work to it and get feedback, which is especially useful if I create something late at night and can't wait til the next day to get others advice. Because graphic design at LCA never ends.

My concern this week is that while I've spent a lot of time on this module, I haven't done much at all PPD wise or for my dissertation. So next week, while I do have my placement, I'm going to work on both of these areas so that after the reading week I will be able to concentrate back on this module.

Week Beginning: 29/10/12 (Reading Week)

This week I have been on placement which has been a really fun and useful experience and I would love to go back over christmas. Its got me excited for life after uni rather than scared about leaving the course. However, due to the time I've spent at this placement and the commute, I've done very little work, and am a bit worried I will be really behind everyone else. I don't regret my decision to do my placement in reading week, but know that I'm going to have work twice as hard and be even more organised to get everything done on time. The deadline is getting closer and closer and while I've done a lot of the initial work, I need to make sure I'm sticking to my time plan and start designing the actual final pieces, so I can produce some good quality work which can be used in my portfolio.

Week Beginning: 5/11/12

At the start of the week, I discussed where I was up to with Andy, which was really useful as I thought more about things having more meaning and a context to them, rather than just designing for the sake of it. With the deadline fast approaching though, I don't have time to keep changing ideas, so need to make important decisions soon, as I already need to prepare for print.

Then I had the crit, where after this I felt like I was at a dead end, and felt disheartened, as people are continually giving me totally mixed feedback on my work, so I keep changing directions to suit what people have said, for people to tell me to go back to what I have done in the first place! It was making me feel very stressed, so I've taken a break from the briefs that were causing me problems and started to focus on the new competition brief I want to enter. I think I need to continue doing what I did this week and discuss where I am up to with a tutor as well, as crits have been really confusing me and making me feel unmotivated with the mixed feedback.

Week Beginning: 12/11/12

This week I have got all my stationery brief finished and ready for print, as well as starting on ideas for the hand drawn typography brief. I found my individual progress tutorial with Andy very useful, and this week there hasn't been a crit to confuse me about my progress, but at the same time, I think I do actually need crits mainly just to motivate me to get more work done. This week I've felt less motivated than ever and unbelievably stressed. I hope when I get a brief out of the way this will be a bit easier.

Week Beginning: 19/11/12

This week I have got my motivation back by having a break from the two briefs that were stressing me out a bit and focusing on the ycn hand drawn typography brief, which I have found and a good change from the type of work I have been producing. It has allowed me to play around a bit with type and print finishes, and I'm now almost finished with this brief. I am still more worried than ever though as the deadline gets closer and I also realise I have so much dissertation work to catch up on. As always, there will be things I look back on and decide I will have to work differently next time.

Submission Deadline: 12/12/12

More Print Samples

I had made it a bit of a PPD task for myself to collect lots of print samples, for a variety of reasons, and had already collected quite a few packs. [see samples]

The reasons are: to help me to find a printer to potentially create a range of business stationery for myself to come across as a more professional designer at the end of the year; to have something to show to clients when discussing what stock to use and how things should be printed during a project and also just because of my interest in design for print. Some of the packs are really well designed and give you some ideas of things you could print.

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Printed.com

All the prints from printed.com feel really good quality stock and the quality of the printing is impressive too, and as you can see they print most things, so would cover what I would need to print.

The sample pack was delivered quickly and came in a folder to keep things organised which gives a good impression.
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Genie Design and Print

 

Genie sent absolutely loads of print examples, of different products printed on to different weights of stocks. Really fast delivery. A particular selling point that makes them stand out from other printers is how they can print stickers of different weights and sizes and they can also die cut them to size. As well as sending me examples of business cards and paper weights with their logo on, they sent me real examples of how this had worked. I think seeing both is a good idea to help you decide what would be most suitable.

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Benwells

This is definitely the most amazing print samples pack I've ever had. Benwells are specialists in print finishes as you can see from these beautiful examples. The pack was really well presented, and the delivery was quick. I was impressed with the box which even had a bit of foiling on it. I think it would be quite expensive to use Benwells, but it could be more relevant in my FMP, when I am working in collaboration with a fashion designer.

The examples include embossing, textured surfaces, flocking and foiling, spot varnish, duplexing and die cutting. Often a few of these finishes are combined, but the simplicity of the designs means that they still look sophisticated. The stocks are luxurious and great quality and I would really love to find something to print with these.

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I think now I need to get some samples of different types of paper, as while I have lots of examples of different weights and colours, I'd like to get some examples of different textures of paper, as I haven't printed like this before and would like to try it.

Self Promotional Material Update

After rushing to print my self promotional material, I decided to spend a bit more time correcting it and getting it ready to print in digital print. The results are so much better, and the choice of an off white thick stock worked really well the images. I've also printed stickers with my logo on, but they were printed on to very white sticker paper which doesn't quite go so they will probably be used for something else. I want to create an envelope for this piece of self promo work to go in but I'll do this at a later date when I've got a bit more time.

Graphic Design Exhibition

After the PPD module briefing, we have been thinking as a group (me, lisa, kirsty's a + h, sarah, baljeet,  beth and sophie) that we need to organise more things ourself, to make networking and promotional opportunities and show that we have the initiative to start these things.

Things we need to consider:

- Where would it be?
- When would it be?
(To not interfere with deadlines etc.)
- How long would it last?
- How much would this cost?
- Who would display work?
- How would we promote it?
- Who would come?
- Would we sell work?
- Would there be a theme?
- Which work would we choose?
- How can we attract more visitors?

Possible venues in Leeds:

http://www.dockstreetmarket.co.uk
http://www.whiteclothgallery.com
Leeds College of Art canteen

Group Meeting...

Graphic Design Weekend

This weekend I'll be thinking PPD with these visits...

The Pink Milkfloat Printing Press  

Saturday 6th October — Leeds Wharf Chambers

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A little research as I am considering making working to sell at a craft fair for one of my OUGD301 briefs. I want to see how other people do it.

Places / Exhibitions I want to visit

Here are some exhibitions and places I intend to visit as they are relevant to my practice as a designer. Recording them here so I don't forget about them!
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LONDON.

I think a visit to London will be order to visit a few studios and see some exhibitions, and I might try and link this in with going to new blood and new designers next year.

Fedrigoni London Showroom - Pick up paper samples, browse through their collection of paper...

YCN Shop - See the work of their illustrators, and maybe buy some nice inspiring pieces...

72 Rivington Street,London, EC2A 3AY

possibly: arrange a visit?

New Designers 2013

I have been for the past two years to Part 1, which has been relevant, because of the large amount of illustration displayed, and also because of my interest in graphic design for fashion. I would like to go to Part 2 as well next year to see the graphic design side.

New Blood 2013

London Design Festival 2013

OUPD301 Module Briefing

Notes from PPD module briefing:

- Sign up tutorials to follow, prepare for these with questions to ask

- Design strategy presentations will be held the week after easter ...50% final grade...

- Design presence portfolio comes in with the FMP

- Include research towards your future on the PPD blog, such as PGCE research etc.

- More visits needed

- Create more products for design presence - Promo materials

- Planning / Strategy / Evaluation

- Look at competitions available to you, sell work, do freelance work, go to events, organise things

- What are you doing to take things to the next step? Do things for yourself

- Design presence: who are you? This needs to be obvious through your portfolio (submit PDF version)

- Portfolio review week 21st Jan - professionals come in

- Get your work out there - start now

- Carry around mini portfolio incase professionals come in to show them

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The Briefs:

PPD Group Tutorial

This group tutorial got me thinking about freelance work. After my placement I know that I want to work in a small studio ideally, but I want to do some freelance work with small businesses to gain experience in this area, such as creating branding for upcoming artists. I haven't done much freelance work and know that I need to be more professional with this to be able to command a higher rate.

Advice from John & Andy:

- Add past students to Linked In to gain contacts
- Add linked in to business card instead of behance
- Read the contract when you get a job
- Write terms and conditions when dealing with a client
- Send out the invoice before you send the files
- Could ask for 50% deposit before you send the work
- Agree how and when they will pay you in the official order / business contract
- Say in contract how much you will charge for changes as clients don't always know that they have to pay for this
- Record number of hours spent, take screenshots to prove how things have been amended and track changes
- Estimate up when quoting a price, show you have experience and can be trusted and also because it is easier to do this now than to change it later
- Get client to sign proofs before prints and consider insurance if freelance
- Include a charge for setting up the print
- Build up relationships with people in the industry

PPD Task 

- Things you know now that you didn't before:

1. Ideally I want to work in a small studio - before I thought I wanted to be freelance
2. I am good enough - before I wasn't confident in myself as a designer
3. Simple is the most effective in terms of branding - getting more positive feedback than before
4. Need to set price before I do work, send invoices and set terms and conditions - I wasn't very professional in dealing with a client and ended up not charging as much as I should have done
5. Work placements really are useful - before I was quite skeptical after hearing some negative stories

- Things you would address differently than you did this summer:

1. More placements - unfortunately only did one due to having to work
2. More freelance work - didn't think this was a priority but need to do it just for the experience
3. More studio visits - need to see how different studios work, such as a large vs. small studio
4. Develop my personal website - I set myself this as a target and didn't finish it, but I need it complete to show studios my work
5. Attend more networking events and be confident - I have missed out on chances because I didn't feel confident enough about talking to others and handing out my business cards etc.

- Specific things you will address this term that should be useful:

1. I have a placement during reading week to gain more industrial experience
2. I will attend the web workshops to help me work on my web presence
3. I will contact studios with the hope of gaining a visit to their studio
4. I have been collecting print samples and aim to visit printers to start establishing relationships within the industry
5. I will be working on my promotional material in the hope of gaining more freelance work

- Things you feel we could address as a group:

1. How to set up invoices / examples of what they should look like.
2. How much do people charge as an hourly rate for freelance work?
3. How many placements have people had; is quantity or quality important?
4. When in life do people see themselves setting up their own studios?
5. How and where people have been networking.

- Things you feel we have not looked at in PPD you personally would like to know more about with reference to professionalism:

1. Invoices / dealing with money
2. How to professionally communicate with clients
3. How to get a job...
4. What to do if you don't get a job...
5. Tax / legal issues

(I can't think of anything we haven't covered in PPD in regards to professionalism - So all these things have actually been covered in PPD or enterprise before but are important so I want to go over them in more detail this year!)

This tutorial has been really helpful because I have some freelance work coming up in terms of business cards, and I want people to know that my time is valued and that I am a professional, so that they will have to pay for my time, and doing this tutorial has pushed me to think about writing contracts, so people think of me less as a student and more as a graphic designer.

PPD Task: Promotional Material Display

Task:

For Wednesday 3rd Oct, bring in a business card and a piece of promotional material to represent your practice to display on the wall for when visiting professionals come in.

Ideas for promotional material:

- Mini CV - with examples of work

- Mini portfolio / look book of work

- Type poster showcasing skills with examples of work on the back

- Piece of packaging - 'The perfect package' that opens up to display qualities

- Stickers with logo on

- Mail shot - entice people to open it

- Something people can take one of like postcards

- Booklet that opens up to be a poster

Again I need to think about what I am trying to represent about myself with this promotional material? What am I trying to achieve? These are things I thought about when designing my brand identity, and I need to keep them in mind when designing this promotional material as well so that I don't end up just creating something that looks good for the sake of it.

Outcome:

As this was a quick task, I haven't had time to play about with lots of different ideas. I've gone for a hot dog fold A3 book, that opens out to be a poster. The design is based on the mini portfolio I have already created. [see blog post]

Poster - A3 poster containing a few key word skills, my contact details, and a few images of my favourite work

Content - 8 A6 pages including: front cover, back cover, intro page, mini cv, and two examples of projects including M&S and Peacocks.

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I didn't have time to print this in digital print so I have made do with mac suite printing. I'm pretty happy with the design, and think it matches in well with the rest of my brand identity. It shows that I am interested in editorial design. 

My main problem with it is that I don't really like the examples of work I have done, as this transition to type and editorial has only been since summer. In a few months time I'm sure I will have lots of examples to include that show off what my design practice is about, as I don't want to say I am in to one thing, then include examples of work that suggest the total opposite!

I think the booklet will look a lot better when printed in digital print (and when all image files are sorted as some looked pixelated) but I still think it is a bit plain. It needs something extra to show what I am capable of and to make it stand out. I am thinking about print finishes, or if I can create some kind of packaging for it? Maybe stickers to seal? Maybe a black envelope with laser cut logo?

I need to have a good think and work on this self promotional material. I'm sure it will keep changing as I do more work, but I want to have something to send out to studios in the hope of getting some more studio visits.

THE WALL.

General group feedback from Fred:

- Consider where you are putting it as this will effect whether or not your piece gets noticed, the hierarchy is the top left corner as we read left to right

- Bright colours stand out and get attention although may not be the best designs

- Do not just use standard size conventions unless for a good reason - boring!

- Have a good reason for using a white background

- Look at it from a distance, see if it is noticeable, see if it is understandable

- You need to stand out not just amongst this group, but all the other graduates

- Show your skills, people may come in looking for screen printing etc and if your promo material contains this they know you can do it

- Consider print finishes and ways of making your work stand out

- Send your promotional material out to studios