1) Visual Communication:

In what ways does the visual communication/message of the piece meet the needs of the brief?

Within the app project we got advice to create our own proposal therefore within the project, as well as the original brief that comes along side of it. With the main brief, I looked into the word appetite which led onto poverty. Within the brief given to us it allowed us to create work that would fit into our portfolio design aspects. To allow us to open interpretation within the given theme and allow flexibility within chosen pathways. Therefore, we created our own proposals. 

Within my proposal I discussed that I was going to create an advertising campaign within poverty, therefore not discuss what I would create just anything to link with an advertising campaign. Within my campaign, I created posters, and editorial pages that connected with a poverty campaign. As well as the actual finals, the main visual communication that portrays my design as an advertisement campaign is the logo that features within the design. 

In what ways does the visual communication/message of the piece fail to meet the needs of the brief?

Personally speaking, because I had the chance to write my own brief it was easier for me to meet needs of the brief. In the past sometimes it has been harder because you have to follow a certain brief which sometimes limits you. However, this time round just like FMP, I had a clear visualisation in my head what the outcome was going to be therefore I feel as in comparisons to other projects it had a higher level of achievement towards reaching visual communication because I knew exactly what I wanted to achieve.  *****

What are the strengths of the visual communication? Why?

Within the designs, and from the feedback from the crits, the strong point within the visual communication was the sensitivity that came along with the process; each design portrays a black and white photograph which portrays a sense of depression and loneliest that comes along with living in poverty. I research black and white photography and the effect it has on the eye, and it enables the audience to focus on the subject with each individual photo. I wanted to use a colour against the dull black and white to portray a sense of hope, and this in case was orange. The colours made these designs work so well and really enhance the images.

What are the weaknesses of the visual communication? Why?

explained here ****

In what ways could the piece be mis-read or mis-understood by the audience? Be specific about who the audience is.W

When I was printing my designs. There was one poster that could off been mid read and understood due to the type and this was the case in a few posters. Changing words, highlighting different words and using certain punctuation made the finals posters not be misread and make sense to the reader when looking at the posters.

In what practical ways could the piece be developed or improved?

I achieved what I wanted to within this design, and cerated an advertising campaign for a poverty charity. The only thing to mention is when I printed page 6 of the magazine, I noticed a repeated sentence on this blog and the post about the magazine pages, the updated one is now in the portfolio however in portfolio is the repeated word one. I am able to reprint it but just for examine purposes I wanted to highlight this.

2)Good Design? Evaluation

Please note you are asked to describe and make analysis of your thoughts and actions about the topics below. If you have been able to act upon your considerations of Good Design you should give reasons for your design decisions. If you have not been able to act upon your considerations, nevertheless give reasons for this and reflect upon your thoughts about the actions you would have liked to have taken further. Honest evaluations are required as this reflection is to help you move forward.

In what ways did you consider Designing Backwards or application of Systems Thinking to your project?

In what other ways have you considered the sustainability of your project process and outcomes?

Test prints was something I started doing. I noticed that printing on smaller paper allowed me to see hw the images would print. Previously I would waste so much paper and time as I did not test print them noticed how something was wrong; however this time round I did test prints and this allowed-me to develop ideas and be considered sustainable through my designs.

In what ways have you considered the ethical implications of your project process and outcomes?

With a sensitive topic like this thinking of the ethics was important and something that followed through each design aspect.

In sustainability and ethical terms in what ways was your work in this project an improvement or a backward step for you as a socially conscious designer?

As years go on I think I am becoming more aware of being a sustainable and ethical designer making it socially conscious. I am allowing myself to think more logically and if you compared this to Katie in first year its a massive difference. Graphics is not just about designing on a Mac, it is about the other elements that fall into it such as sustainability and ethics and this is what makes your design process excel more.

What targets can you make at this point for your work in the future as a socially conscious designer?

Develop more towards ethics within design as I think this would develop myself as designer for design for good.

3) Reflection of own working practices:

Be very honest with yourself in this section. Please feel free to approach a member of staff for help finding ways to develop skills.

How was my time keeping?

Considering I had a lot of work to do such as the dissertation etc, I think my time keeping was pretty good. Discussing poverty within my dissertation allowed me to actually analyse through my design. I was able to work through my dissertation then use the APP as a stress realise as I was able to design. I do think I could off achieved blogs better for time keeping as this was difficult when also writing a dissertation.

How was my analysis of the brief?

Like every design brief, we get I analyse it and highlight. This time was slightly different. We got given the brief, then had to pick a certain word/phrase and this allowed us to explore different meanings of these words which led us to a topic and a brief. I then wrote the proposal for my poverty design. Writing my own brief, allowed me to justify what To design and what to write and I found it so much easier but also allowed me to understand how to attack each and every brief given to us.

How was my research?

Through this project I did a lot more in depth research in comparison to other projects in the past. I analyse existing material related to the topic , also looked more into colour and black and white photography which had an impact on the design final. I think I could off researched a lot more at the beginning, I found it quite hard as I was researching for dissertation but sometimes the researched crossed over which helped a lot. An example of this being Dorothy langue Migrant mother design portraying poverty which I mention in dissertation but this also linked with the way poverty is displayed to the eye.

How did I draw conclusions from my research?

Researching allowed me to draw conclusions as it enabled me what a poster for poverty should entail and what information provided. Researching into poverty house hold in general, and facts about the UK was the first key set of information displayed and this then allowed me to understand what I was going to portray within designs. Knowing your topic well, and putting yourself in them persons shoes allows your designs to expand and become more personal.

How did I use research to generate and develop ideas?

researching into designs really helped generate ideas, and also looking into how posters and editorial designs in generalise portrayed. Research towards the design, allowed me To develop the way photos were portrayed, how type was portrayed and overall how the finals were portrayed. I wanted to portray a sensitive meaning through my posters, and without the general research of poverty, designs and anything else linked with the process, I would not achieved the outcome I have today.

How did I use evaluations to help with my ideas generation and development?

When we had the critiques and the class and tutors would evaluate our work it allowed me to develop a lot of my designs. When I first started the critique, the designs are so rushed and not well thought through however compare to the final presentation the development has progressed and I do not think it would have so much if we did not evaluate as a class. I have noticed when analysing my work, when writing the design process this was at the time I noticed spelling errors or design issues as I had to physically sit down and write the way the page was design and how each element formed the design. Evaluation the work when I had time left, allowed me to test print and change things accurately to make sure the design work was up to professional standards.

How did I use experimentation during the project? How can I make this more effective?

I knew I wanted to do photography in comparison to illustration as Its more my strong point. However I sketch a lot, but never to the detail, this project I sketched a lot more design aspects which helped me develop my ideas and develop my techniques even if they were not used int the final outcomes. I also experimented with all different layout forms, all different angels of photography and the black and white theme was an experiment that turned out well. To make my experiment more effective, I will test a few more ideas before concluding to the first one. Sometimes I get an idea and run with it as I get too excited but that’s when things go wrong and a lot of design elements change along the way.. my target for the rest of the projects is to start small, start sketching etc and then start creating on the Mac as this would then not only advance my techniques but also allow me to really refine designs due to the experimentation used throughout the project.

In what ways did I show that I had achieved the Learning Outcomes? How can I improve this next time?

like every project I always read the learning outcomes and make sure I have a clear understanding of them. I made sure I kept referring back to them, however with this project and whenever we have our own brief I find it hard to focus on the learning outcomes as you focus on anything else. As years have gone it I almost know the outcomes of each brief quite well but do feel as if I should pay more attention to them as time goes and projects become harder.

What parts of the project did I enjoy most? Why was this the case?

writing my own brief. I think being able to finally design things that fit into my style and the things I want to link into my portfolio is the best thing. I was able to create magazine editorial designs, and poster designs which is what I have always wanted to achieve within graphic design, and by doing this my layout skills have developed so much. Being able to test myself, and ensure I was designing to bets of my ability was down o the fact I got to choose what I was designing. I loved being able to put my own spin on my designs and over all this was one of my favourite projects ever within graphics HND and BA as it was what I wanted and what I knew best making me so confident in the designs.

What parts of the project did I enjoy least? Why was this the case?

I found blogging this time round harder as said before due to dissertation also. However there was not any part of this project I didn’t enjoy. Overall a fab project to get my teeth into.

At what times did I work best? Why might this be the case? How can I ensure that I work well at al times?

I now live with Jack, and strangely we worked better together. We would work down stairs on the table and have to focus we helped one another but also had time to do it ourselves as we are different workers. I was able to complete my work at university and at home, and felt like thistle round I have more control where ever I was working because I knew what I was going to create at the end. I personally cannot work at university all the time, hearing what other people have done or not done detract me working at home alone or with jack helps me a lot more as no distractions occur.

What areas inspired me? Why was this the case? How could I follow these up?

I knew I always enjoyed design for good, but this project it really stood out so much more. I have a compassionate heart well I like to think and finding a love for design for good and layout designing and mixing them together personally made this project stronger. I was inspired by my parents. I recently moved out of my home, and with my boyfriends family who are more well off than my family, my mum always says do not forget where you come from. And I haven’t. my parents struggle when I was younger because they had me so young, but I always had a holiday and sat visited my house, and I never knew they struggled until this year when we spoke about for the first time. I regret being that horrid teenager bugging for money when I knew they did not have it and one day I can pay it back. I was inspired how far my parents have come and the life they have built as they are so stable and happy now but they did not use to be with money. I wanted to show case to my mum I do remember where I come from and those moments in my life have shaped me who I am today. Poverty is horrible, it breaks my heart. Some people do not realise how lucky they are, I want to be the person who makes a difference through my designs and thats is what inspired me. I also looked into what is so typical with poverty and went against that so weirdly that was a form of inspiration; going against the stereotypical designs.

What areas were challenging or difficult?  Why was this the case?

The hardest areas, was making sure I was not being stero typical within the designs and photographs.There had to be a sensitivity that formed around this topic, which I hope does show now. But when taking photographs you have to be careful because you are describing some peoples lives therefore you do not want it to be a persona attack, I found the key is to act like you are in that situation and how would you feel if someone designed this about your life and then rom this you Ould alter things etc.

How can I go about developing and improving the parts I found difficult?

I think for next time with a topic like this, interview questions would be amazing. I think with any project dedicated towards a personal, sensitive topic having people experience it makes it worst. Not making the stories up, actually experiencing them first hand. This would then enable me to not worry about sensitivity and if the design is stereotypical as I would get that personas opinion.

Do I need to develop certain skills? Do I need these now? Or later?

READ EVERYTHING 500 MORE TIMES THAN YOU ALREADY DO. Check grammar and spelling more within magazine designs.

Any other points?

No:) fab project, and had help when needed it 🙂 enjoyed it a lot.