Image... End of Module Evaluation

1. What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?

Through this module I have developed my image skills, by learning that there is more to image that just creating an appealing picture, as it must be communicative and work in context. Applying this skill has allowed my work to have meaning behind it.

I have had the chance to experiment with new processes, such as laser cutting, printing on to unusual stocks and to larger sizes. To do this, I have had to plan ahead, to book slots and gather materials, so this has improved my time management skills. I have learnt to go outside of my comfort zone with my designs, and this new skill means that I have been able to create more unique, interesting pieces.  

The short deadlines have pushed me to not waste time, therefore improving my decision making skills to ensure I don't get behind. 

I have also starting to think about dealing with a budget, from planning the books for the book fair. All of these skills have made me work more realistically as an image creator, and I think this will help me if this is my job in the industry.

2. What approaches to/methods of design production have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?

I have tried to be as varied as possible with my methods of design production to produce a really mixed portfolio of work, to show of my different skills. I have hand drawn, digitally created, painted and 2d and 3d hand crafted my pieces. My research of designers, has been influential in the methods I have used, inspiring me to try new things I wouldn't have thought of before.

I have enjoyed all of these areas, but think I need to work more on improving my digital design production, as this is one of my greatest areas of interest.

3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalize on these?

My main strength in this module has been to really think through the concept before starting to design. With some of the briefs, it would have been really easy to create an obvious response, so I have thought of different ideas to try to think of something which will be different to what everyone else has done, making my work unique.

I have used different materials to what I usually would, and I have took the chance to create things by hand, meaning that I have challenged myself and created things different to what I have made before. I will capitalise on this strength by continuing to try using different materials, and not just sticking with what I know works, but taking chances to improve my skills.

I have put more consideration in to presentation choices like colour schemes, stock choices, printing finishes, and this means that my final pieces are of a higher quality than other work I have produced, so I will continue to put this thought into presentation in future modules.

4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?

I think while it is good to set myself a challenge, some of my ideas were more time consuming that I had allowed myself time to create them. While I do think my decision making and time management skills have improved, I think I need to make sure my ideas are possible in the time given, especially when trying out something I have never done before, such as with the 3d paper craft. This will save lots of panic in future!

I have realised that while I have covered many areas of image, photography is an area that I haven't touched on. This is something I really need to work on, and would also enjoy to do, so in future, I would like to experiment and learn more about photography to give me another skill to use.

5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?

-1- I will put more effort in to presentation from the start of the module. I spent a lot of time on the presentation of my book works book, and as a result, I was really happy with the outcome, but I should have used different processes, such as screen printing, and I should have tried these things out from the first brief.

-2- I was working to short deadlines with these briefs, as well as having other things to do as well, so I didn't have as much time as I would have liked on some of the briefs, but even still, I think on some of the ideas I should have spent longer experimenting with them before jumping straight in to designing. 

-3- I had said that I would continue to ask for feedback with my final project over the Easter break, but I got very little feedback as I just had to get on with it, and felt like it was too late to change my ideas. I continued to evaluate my work myself, but next time, by continuing to ask others for their feedback, I can make well needed improvements to my work.

-4- After I have received feedback on a piece of work, I have gone back to that piece of work and made the changes to improve my work and make sure it is communicating what it is supposed to, however, I think I should have gone back and asked for feedback again, to see if what I am trying to do has worked. This would ensure a final piece that I am happy with, and that is understandable.

-5- Next time, I will make sure that what I am proposing to do is actually achievable in the time given, this will ensure that my work does not look rushed, and I don't have to panic to try and finish it.

6. How would you grade yourself on the following areas

(5= excellent 4=very good 3=good 2=average 1=poor)
Attendance = 4
Punctuality = 4
Motivation = 4
Commitment = 4
Quantity of work produced = 3
Quality of work produced = 3
Contribution to the group = 4

OUGD205... Ongoing Evaluation

Week One... [Thursday 12th Jan]

I have been looking forward to the image module as I thought it might be the first module where I create work that I actually like and can be used in my portfolio. I was really excited to start my first brief and had lots of initial ideas. I like how the briefs are just one week long, this is something I miss from last year. I think I have the potential to do well on this module, I just need to make sure I do enough work outside of the sessions, and make sure my design context blog does not drag me down as it has done on other briefs.

I've done lots of work for this brief this week, and I need to be careful I don't spend too much time on this module and ignore my other ones. I've really enjoyed creating my editorial images, and have made sure to find research and evaluate what I have done. I can see this as something I would like to do in the future.

I am really happy with the editorial images I have produced for this brief, especially the image for the 'this column will change your life' article. I have spent a long time producing these images and doing research, so I probably can't afford to do this every week or I will get behind with my other work. I am glad that I have tried different medias instead of sticking with my original hand drawn style, and in future weeks I would like to get even more creative, maybe creating 3d work. I think experimenting with my ideas at the beginning stage instead of just rushing in with my first idea was also a wise choice.

Week Two... [Thursday 19th Jan]

I have found the brief this week quite difficult as it seemed like such a big task, with so much to do as well as the other things I needed to do for other modules. My initial ideas didn't go to plan, so I had to try out other things, which was very time consuming. I'm still not completely happy with all of my final outcomes, despite spending a lot of time on this brief designing and researching. I want to create lots of work for this module that I am happy with that can be used in my portfolio, so I don't want to leave pieces unfinished. I need to find the time to go back and edit my posters until I am happy with them, and to even think about how I can print them, as screen printing, or trying out new things such as laser cutting may be a good idea to help improve the visual quality of my final pieces. I found the feedback I got in the crit honest and very useful for making improvements to my work, because, as I had been staring at it for so longs there were things that I didn't notice that others did.

Week Three... [Thursday 26th Jan]

I have found this brief really interesting as it is quite an unusual task, but the results do look good. At first I thought the restrictions in scale, frame and format would limit my outcome, but in actual fact they made it so much easier to complete this task, instead of spending ages thinking about ideas as I would usually do. As I spent so much time on last weeks brief but in the end was not totally happy with my outcome, I didn't want to feel like I was wasting time this week. When I was drawing, I just went straight to drawing with pen, which is unusual for me as I usually plan out my drawings with pencil. It felt good to feel confident with my drawing instead of worrying as I normally do. I really enjoyed this task and wish I could spend more time in other briefs just drawing. If I can, I want to screen print this design when I have time to make it look as good as possible.

Week Four.. [Thursday 2nd Feb]

When this brief was set I thought it seemed like a lot of work, but maybe that is because I have a tendency to over complicate things, and was aiming a bit high with my aspirations for this brief. When planning things, I need to remember what my priorities are and how much time I have available to create my ideas. With it being the OUGD202 module deadline, I haven't got much done for this brief, so I will need to go back and re-visit it, and make sure I do this soon so that it doesn't get forgotten about.

Week Five... [Thursday 9th Feb]

As I had so much to do with the OUGD202 module deadline, I didn't get my final piece made for this brief in time. I aimed to do it afterwards, but was just feeling so tired after many all nighters that sleep came first! I know once I get a little behind it would be easier to keep getting further behind, so as soon as I can, I need to get this work done so I don't get annoyed with myself. I know exactly what I want to do it is just finding the time to make it, and as I can be a perfectionist sometimes, this may take a while!

Week Six... [Thursday 16th Feb]... Reading Week

I haven't really done much at all for image this week. I have just been thinking of some more ideas for my book. I have loads of different ideas, and I think most of them are quite good, so now I just need to get on with choosing which one is best. I am aware that I am getting a bit behind with image, and I am worried about this, but at the same time, just really needed this week to actually sleep and do things I haven't been able to in a long while.

Week Seven... [Thursday 23rd Feb]

This week has been quite a mixed week, as I started off feeling totally at a dead end with my idea and not knowing where to go next. Then, when I got some inspiration, I felt really happy with my idea. I'm a little worried I am aiming a bit too high, but at the same time, this was supposed to be a three week brief, so it is my fault I have left it to the last week. I feel like I am starting to get a bit behind with image, because in the first few weeks I did loads of work, but now, with all the other things that need to be done I am finding it hard to manage my time. I think next week when enterprise is over I will have a lot more time to concentrate on image, and also, over easter, I am going to make sure I am totally up to date and that all of my pieces are to a quality of which I am happy with them, which may mean re-doing some.

Week Eight... [Thursday 1st March]

I have finally finished my book and am very happy with the turn around as I spent so long unhappy with my idea, but then quickly made the final piece. I have spent a lot of time on this book, and have managed to try out new things, such as making stickers, printing on to unusual stocks, and laser cutting. If I had have had the time, I would have liked to have spent longer developing my ideas rather than jumping straight in with the final piece. However, I have enjoyed this task and I have learnt a lot from it. I hope my books sell at the book fair although I still don't feel confident about my work. I feel I am a bit behind with other things as I have spent so long on this book so from now on I need to make sure my OUGD203 work will be my priority. I've thought of ideas for the new brief but haven't yet started anything due to a lack of time, so that is something I will have to do at the start of next week. 

Week Nine... [Thursday 8th March]

I'm surprised at how quick I managed to make the poster for this D&AD competition brief, and yet I am really happy with it. I found the comments in the crit really useful and used the time in the session to make those changes so I could finish it, and now I've printed it and just need to send it off to enter the competition. I didn't spend much time thinking of ideas, and just got started with design ideas. I'm not sure which is the best way to work, but this way definitely saved me a lot of time! I'm so excited to start the self-initiated brief now that we have been told about it. I've already started thinking of ideas and started research and will hopefully get some more useful feedback in the crit next week.

Week Ten... [Thursday 15th March]

I've done lots of research for my self-initiated brief as I'm so excited to get started on it. With everything else that is going on, such as the YCN and critical studies deadlines coming up, I don't think I'm going to have a lot of time before Easter to actually get started on it, so for now I have just been doing research and deciding what my idea will be. However, as soon as it is Easter, I can focus on image and start creating my designs.

Week Eleven... [Thursday 22nd March]

As mentioned last week, with the deadlines coming up, I haven't spent a long time on image. However, now its clear that three weeks isn't a lot of time to get done all I want to do to a high quality, as well as catch up on previous tasks, and the new work we will be set. I'm going to have to work really hard over easter to get everything done, but I don't mind this. I really enjoy creating the work I make for image, it is just often very time consuming! After hearing everyone else's presentations about their ideas in our last image session, I've been thinking about how I can take my book further than just being a book of photographs of my 3d scenes. I want to make my book useful as well as attractive. Now I have so many ideas, I am looking forward to getting all of my deadlines out of the way so I can focus my attention on this.

Week Twelve... [Thursday 29th March]

Now that my deadlines for CTS and YCN are over, I've been able to spend time doing a lot of research and have found lots of inspiring artists. I've been planning what I need to do, and preparing so now I just need to get started. I also need to go back and improve the pieces that need finishing. I've already started to print these pieces for submission, as the deadline is getting closer!

Week Thirteen... [Thursday 5th April]... Easter

Week Fourteen... [Thursday 12th April]... Easter

During the first two weeks of Easter I didn't do much at all for this module as I was working full time. When I had chance, I was making choices about which scenes to create, and doing a bit of research on the imagery, and the seed packets I will create alongside the book. I've done a bit of experimentation with drawing, but this is taking longer than I expected. I wish I could have spent a lot longer on my image work but unfortunately I had to earn some money! I feel a bit worried about the outcome of this project now, but I know that if I work really hard next week I can create something I hope I am happy with. Looking back, I am thinking that I set myself quite a hard task, as 3d paper craft isn't something I know a lot about, but at the same time, it is always better to set a challenge that just go with the easy option!

Week Fifteen... [Thursday 19th April]... Easter


I feel like I spent far too much time researching and thinking about my ideas for this project, where I should have decided on that earlier on so I could get started with it. Despite the time for this project, it isn't my favourite of the module, as I think I prefer the books I made for the book fair.

Module Deadline... [Monday 23rd April]

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