PPD and Enterprise

Wednesday, 5 January 2011

Task One

Write a list of all the possible client groups that use graphic design in the development, production, distribution, promotion and/or communication of their services.

Music industry
Publishing
Advertising
Education
Government
Charities
Homeware
Fashion
Gaming
T.V
Businesses
Retail
Sports companies
Journalism
Films
Cosmetic companies
transport

Identify one client group that reflects your current ambitions within the graphic design area

My skills and how they relate to the needs of my client group

Packaging
Promotion
Design for screen

Design for print

Branding
Publications
Typography
Layout

Layouts using InDesign to create page spreads
Readability of certain types for certain pieces of work, what works and what doesn't. Hierarchy of a piece on type on a page, weight of a font and spacing in between each letter.
Understanding of colour. Colour for print and for screen.

Skills i need to develop

I have basic knowledge in software such as Illustrator but would like to further skills, the same with Photoshop as this is software i constantly use. I have basic skills in Adobe after effects also which we are using at the moment. I would like to become a lot better with this software as i am enjoying it.

After christmas we will be doing the typo module which is going to help with my work a lot. We have touched on some of the basics already.

Developing ideas by hand drawings, sketches which can then be further developed on the computer.

My professional/creative aims

Professional looking packaging. In the past module i enjoyed making packaging a lot. I love work that has clearly had a lot of thought and work put into it. Different clever packaging that you will remember when you see it.

Creating and developing ideas so they are original and different.

Create a professional portfolio

Develope a varied list of contacts

Price, product, place, promotion

Product being my work- Graphic design
Place, Currently Leeds. I am from a small town so i think i will want and need to stay in a big city. I am not really too fussed where.
Promotion- My blog, soon a portfolio with my best work, a website, business cards, contacts
Price- After paying bills everyday living cost hopefully still be earning a good wage

Monday, 22 November 2010

Good- Alton Towers

End of module evaluation

My initial research was mainly secondary, I tried to get a broad knowledge of my 'Good'. I found videos, maps and information about the rides, and my primary research consisted of photographs I took when I visited Alton Towers and a questionnaire I made. I probably spent to much time on unnecessary research and would have benefitted from furthering my knowledge on packaging and print process. I was doing a lot of research before I came up with a concept, this took a while which let me down slightly. I wanted to do something fun and exciting but struggled at first because my research was quite dull and boring. I also wanted it to be different which I also found quite hard as there is already so much out there. It wasn't until towards the end of the brief that I had more ideas I would have liked to of pursued but didn't have the time. I think I have taken this brief a bit too seriously so I know next time to try and have more fun with it.

I wanted to use type and image and eventually I used fabric pattern as a background for my nets. After trying out a few variations of layouts I decided to reduce the amount of imagery I used and focused more on the layout and packaging. As I was using a patterned background you couldn't see the stock so the only thing I really needed to consider with stock was how it would look when folded into packaging. I therefore went for a matte card.

I learnt a lot on this module about print and how important it is in the industry. I found it hard at first to remember which print processes were used for different things but after looking over my notes a lot and further research it started to sink in. I had a go at laser cutting and embossing but quite a few mistakes happened and I didn't have enough time to correct them. I would of loved to have tried foil blocking but didn't feel it was relevant for the work I was doing. I would of also liked to have tried spot varnish as I think it makes a piece of work look really neat and professional but again this wouldn't have been necessary for the work I was doing but perhaps will try it in the future. I also found that the Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop workshops helped me to develop my skills a lot and made me more confident in using such software.

I struggled at first with design development as I hadn't quite grasped what my concept or message was until I'd had a few crits. I started to develop some designs using layout pads, drawing designs and different variations, but still wasn't sure what they were going to be used for. Eventually I decided I was going to package products for the elderly and promote Alton Towers to them, and this is when I found it a lot easier to design.

The short 'wrap it up' brief helped me to find different nets which could work for the products I wanted to package. After spending a lot of time adjusting the measurements of the nets I was using, and testing them out, I eventually got the right nets I wanted to use. I then just added my designs an tested the nets out again.

I tried to document and blog all my ideas and development as I went along as well as evaluating everything that worked and didn't work. Some of the mistakes I did make were not giving myself enough time to laser cut my work as it ended up taking longer than I thought and also went wrong a few times, which meant I had to re print my designs. I know now for the future to give myself more time.

I was fairly happy with most of my final products but some didn't work as well as I hoped. For example the packaging I made for a pair of slippers were a lot bigger than needed and as they were printed on A1 I couldn't make any test pieces before printing which meant I wasted money on a net that was too big. I had to reprint a few other nets also as some were printed in the wrong size. The packaging for the cards, the tags and the lunchbox all worked as I hoped though which I am happy with.

5 things I would re- do

1- Be more prepared for when mistakes happen

2- Start designing earlier on

3- Make my research more relevant to what I have focused on

4- Have more fun with my work

5- Experiment with more print processes