OUGD101 - End of Module Self-Evaluation

Module Code: OUGD101 

Module Title: Design Principles

Name: Joe Warburton

Blog Address: http://www.j-warburton1013.blogspot.com

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

Previous to starting this course, I was far more comfortable using computer based programs and software as opposed to hand-rendered media. However, I have experimented using paper crafting and a combination of hand-rendered and computer generated design to create the most effective outcomes in the briefs. For example, the first part of the Alphabet Soup brief required us to create 10 letterforms, at A6 scale, based on the word 'Flatten'. Rather than immediately using the computer to devise the outcome, I used hand-crafting to create the letterforms. This was received well in the crit and I was surprised how pleased I was with the final outcome along with how much I enjoyed using different techniques and processes.

2) What approached to/methods of research have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?

I constantly search for inspiring works which influence my own work in some way - both directly and indirectly. I have referenced some designs as part of the 'What is Graphic Design?' brief as inspiration for my other projects throughout the development process of each outcome but the majority of my research was for the 'No News is Good News' brief as we were required to collect primary research including opinions, facts, words, images and statistics as opposed to design research. This gave me a wider insight into the topic (in this case, Facebook) and rather than following my immediate response to the two briefs, I used the research as reference and a basis for the development phases.

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

Aforementioned, although I have experimented with hand-rendered processes in these first few projects, I will begin to capitalise and expand my knowledge on computer based software. I am most comfortable with Adobe Photoshop but I believe I have adequate skills when it comes to Adobe Illustrator also, especially after using it for the later briefs. 

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

I usually seem to stick with one idea which I think would be the most effective and ignore all other possibilities. However, I need to make sure I explore as many routes as possible in order to devise a wide range of design ideas which I could then choose to develop and explore in more depth. I am not completely happy with my final resolutions as there is always something which I can improve.

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

1 - Explore many possible routes so I am able to develop some in more depth, thus creating a more thorough body of work.

2 - Plan more ideas on paper rather than developing ideas in my head. I will note down and explore ideas on design sheets so I am able to visualise my thought processes.

3 - Carry a notebook at all times to write/draw ideas, words, things that interest me etc which will all ultimately aid the design process.

4) Blog work/research as soon as possible so posts do not back-date. Although for the majority, I am organised and structured with my work, there are incidents where I realise I should have posted something a while ago. This will make sure I am not wondering whether there is something I need to update.

5) (Will update) 

Attendance = 4

Punctuality = 5

Motivation = 4

Commitment = 5

Quantity of work produced = 3

Quality of work produced = 3/4

Contribution to the group = 2

Alphabet Soup - Final Illustrator Design

I chose 26 of my initial designs to display on an A1 poster:

No News is Good News - Mail Shot

My final mail shot which I sent to Leeds College of Art returned in one piece.. though it was slightly worn down.

No News is Good News - Mailing List

As part of the brief, we were asked to think of 10 ideal recipients to deliver this mail shot to. At first, I found it hard to think of suitable people/families/companies who would appreciate or benefit from this as there are millions of Facebook users across the UK. In my opinion, Facebook's demographic are young adults who wish to communicate with their friends. As the design focused on potential burglaries as a result of posting personal information online, I would need to target home owners who have a Facebook account and possibly those with children who are more naive and susceptible. Also, I think sending this mailshot to the residents of student accomodation would encourage students to take more care into what they post as they are new home owners.

I created a mailing list with the "every day" family with children who are users on Facebook along with the residents of student accomodation and Facebook themselves on a sheet using the same aesthetics as my mail shot.

No News is Good News - Outcomes

Here are the replica mail shots I created to show that my design can be reproduced multiple times. Although I used a lower quality stock and a reduced size than the one I sent through the mail, I believe it is far more effective than the original. This is because the weight is reduced, the insert fits much easily into the envelope - thus making the 'revealing' concept on the front easier to distinguish; and the design was clear and concise.

No News is Good News - Final Design

In the progress crit, I needed a more focused concept behind my mailshot rather than simply stating the fact that this new places feature advertises your whereabouts. I therefore (as shown in previous posts) added text which told the recipient to make sure their privacy settings were up to date and to make sure they were fully aware on the places feature. The insert of the envelope also contained their address to show it can be easily viewed on Google Maps.

This is my final design which I sent to Leeds College of Art to see whether it would withstand the mailing process. I reproduced this 9 other times for my list of 10 recipients (mailing list).

(posted further on by mistake)

Alphabet Soup - Illustrator ideas

 

Here I have experimented with colour, warps, effects, shapes and path manipulation. I will then choose 26 of these which I believe, aesthetically, look the best for my final A1 landscape poster.

 

These two are two of my favourite letterforms. Although the editing is minimalist, they seem the most effective.

Alphabet Soup - Illustrator

The Illustrator brief - in relation to the Alphabet Soup work we produced - required us to create 26 variations of a particular letterform using Illustrator as our tool. We are restricted to using one colour but can also experiment with halftones.

Throughout the Illustrator workshops, we learned (or revisited) several basic Illustrator techniques which we could use to adapt and modify a particular letter. We were also introduced to industry print standards, filetypes, the comparison of web and print aswell as CMYK and RGB and vector/bitmap imagery.

PRINT: CMYK, lossless, uncompressed. File types include AI, PSD and IND (software specific) aswell as TIFF, PDF, EPS and PS.

WEB: RGB, lossy, compressed. File types include JPEG, PNG and GIF

The final resolution of 26 letterforms should be presented on a landscape, A1 document (841 x 594mm) in two rows of 13.

No News is Good News - Finalising Ideas

In the crit, it was stated that the following idea was the most prominent due to the 'revealing' process of 'Places' logo to a lock (as reference to the security issues and how you need to update your privacy settings to overcome these issues).

However, the insert didn't seem to capture my attention and ultimately lacked any creativity - it was simply a double sided piece of paper (although it was just a mock up). I therefore wanted to enhance my concept using a larger poster design displaying a full map which highlighted the users address. However, as we were only allowed 2 colours plus stock, I couldn't use a screen capture of the users address therefore I made a mock up design using white (main roads) and light blue (side roads). Although this will not "pin-point" the same streets as the recipients whereabouts, it does higlight that burglars are able to target specific addresses over a vast amount of space as they can simply pick and choose (anyone who posts personal identifiable information on Facebook are vulnerable).

Large scale Google map design with a specific area highlighted using the same aesthetics as the places feature. The bubble shows the recipients address and the same text which is featured in Google Maps.

More text informing the user where they can find out more information and where they can update their privacy setttings.

The area towards the top left is what is taken out from the envelope. It then folds out forming the large scale Google Map design.

No News is Good News - Protoypes

These are several design ideas which I built in order to see how effective the outcome was. I took these to the progress crit on Friday in order to get some feedback and ways in which I can improve.

Black and white prototype (due to cost) using the same process and technique as the one I created using Illustrator. I formed the net and cut out the bottom part of the lock and the mechanism. I noticed however, that when pulling the insert out, the bottom part of the lock was still white. To overcome this, I stuck a small piece of paper, the same colour as the net, to the inside of the envelope and positioned it exactly behind where this cut out was.

This is another idea I had. As posting your whereabouts/address on Facebook was a security risk, I wanted to portray this through the envelope's design. I created a 3D net with 2 drawers either side. The use of acetate allowed the user to see inside and view the contents - showing it is not secure. However, I later realised that we were only allowed to use one stock therefore I may not be able to go ahead with this same concept.

This is a colour version of the first prototype using the same corporate blue which Facebook uses. When flat, you can see it forms the 'Places' logo. I also added the address in white text - Lucida Grande - the same typeface Facebook uses for its main body text.

On the back of the Google Maps design, I added some statistics which I collected in the research phase of the project. The text reads 'Burglars can exploit what you post on Facebook', meaning that any information someone posts on Facebook can be used to their benefit.

I replicated the black and white prototype using the same blue I have used throughout. On the left draw, I had the address and on the second, I had the text, 'Is your private information secure?'. When you pull out the drawers, it reveals some more information below, showing that the information you post needs to be concealed.

When experimenting using text, I remembered a post card I saw quite a while ago where they stretched the text so the words can only be seen from a certain vantage point (much like the anamorphic text we produced in the visual language lesson). I therefore chose a phrase, stretched the text vertically and printed it out in order to see if you were able to read it from a certain angle.

Fortunately, when tilting the paper 90 degrees away from yourself at eyeline, you are able to read the text quite clearly - although this is not exactly evident in the photographs. It was noted that I needed to increase the spacing between the words so it is more legible.