1) Visual Communication:

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

The aim for this project was focusing on the NHS – the entire purpose was to create a design to displayed in public. The aim of the design is to act as a prototype for something which engages the community about the NHS. I think this design does engage the audience due to colours but I don’t think my group thought about the audience that much. It does portray a link to the NHS but I personally felt like it needed a bit more indication to the NHS as if I walked pass it I wouldn’t even know it’s part of the NHS. I understand the purpose and it is displayed in the corner but personally speaking I defiantly think more boldness and titles needed to happen. I do also think it meets the needs of the brief due to the fact that it’s aimed for the NHS and we created prototype of a game – that could potentially work.

What are the strengths of the visual communication?

The logo is really well designed and links to the message of the prototype. I think the bold colours within the hospital layout make it stand out and interesting towards the audience. At first the colours were so boring but after making it bolder and more interesting allowed it come to life. – if your trying to attract the public which in this case was west Kent younger people associate with colours and think ok what is that- also a lot of board games are very colourful. Also the tokens i created were unique and shaped interesting.

What are the weaknesses of the visual communication ? Why?

There was a lot wrong with this design and a lot of things I wouldn’t of done. I think that there needed to be more of an indication of NHS – when this was placed in the canteen there was no big sign and people were not interested. For me when your creating something for someone’s attention you need to have a call to action and I felt like our design lacked that – therefore a downsides to visual communication. I don’t think the design is very powerful and I would just walk pass it.

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

I personally think there needed to be more informative I did make the information cards and they worked because if we did not have they would not of been an aim. I think there could of been a lot of ways this could of been developed. We could of made a banner – a big title – a focal point and USP I think a lot could of been developed and some younger years felt like it would just be a pretty design and there’s a lot more to that.

In what ways did you consider design for backwards or application of systems thinking in your project?

I think in project x you have to consider all the good design elements due to the factors that are considered with the brief and the project. I think during this project I could of added backwards applications a little bit more. However this project was always about the end result and creating things for presentation so thinking of he end result allowed us to know how to design and the best way – and in that sense that’s how we used design for backwards.

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

Whenever we do project X I always considering sustainability. I feel like as the years have gone on and this is my final ever project X I have developed in the sense of understanding sustainability. When I first did project x I never thought about the sustainability outcome , but as the years have gone on and I have been taught more it’s the first thing I think of as well as design for good and ethics etc. I think the design needed to be considered through printing and this would be because there was a group of us we couldn’t print one piece per person so this had to be considered throughout.

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

I think as I am developing within graphics my view and outcome on life has really developed. Whenever I design now I think of the ethics I and I remember saying that my group this was involving other people’s perspectives and this also allowed us to come up with a final. – you have to think about a lot of ethics when designing for good and this is what this project aimed towards.

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

I think as the years have gone on since project X 217 I felt developed and understood the purpose within being a conscious designer and I personally think without project X I wouldn’t of achieved that even if the outcomes weren’t great I learnt a lot. I think it’s important to always design for good and understand why your designing. I will make sure to always continue this skills as a future graphic designer as I want to be a conscious designer and I feel like I’ve achieve that and to continue it u will always try and design for good and make a difference not add the the problems already!

REFLECTION OF OWN WORKING PRACTICE !

How was my time Keeping?

I feel like it could of been so much better I had a lot going on in my life so I was struggling to keep up with it all. I wish I set our goals for myself so I could of finished and be proud of our final but I don’t think that’s the case. I did always try to make it as best timing I could but sometimes life got in the way but I wish I kept up with blogs a bit more.

How was my analysis of the brief?

I believe my analysis of the brief was really good considering it was my third year I didn’t really need to refer to it as much as I knew the outcomes and the sorts of aspects to consider within project x group work.

How was my research?

I wish I did more – I think when working in a group you all try and do something and show of your skills and our group lacked trying to bin point allocated research task and I felt like we needed to communicate more therefore I could of researched more. However I did research on my own a lot and that has proven though me being a design for good designer.

How did I draw conclusions from my research?

Like any design project without any research the design wouldn’t work. I think we could of researched a little more like I would on my own project. I think that research allowed us to have. USP and also understand what we was going to create.

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

I always analyse my own work and use evaluations to make the work better. I think when we had to group first feedback tutors allowed us to conclude evaluations and come up with next step for us and without that our work would not of developed at all.

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

I think when your working in a group a lot of people have opinions and the idea of experimenting sort of goes away as you start to think of outcome which isn’t always great. We experimented when we did the game and that sort of started as a key point for us and then we developed from there. I think we should of experimented a lot more as this would of made us realise people’s strengths were and I think we could of made a better outcome. Therefore taught me to always experiment never go for the first idea.

What parts of the project did I enjoy the most?

I enjoy learning about design for good and helping people out. I think that even learning about the NHS was interesting. Project x taught me a lot and I wish I could tell first years to pay attention more to it and give it more credit as it’s taught me to much on my 3 years and if I could tell first year katie to speak up more and do it and participate I would.

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

I find working with younger years quite hard this year they just wanted to make it pretty and not really think of the design for good or the USP or anything and I then kind of stood back because my voice wasn’t get heard even thought my points were valid. I think being a girl in graphics sometimes is quite hard and project x has shown that because I always try and speak up and finally I felt like people actually a thought ok she know what she is taking about but they didn’t really listen. I do wish more people were also in the canteen and we did it slightly different to attract people’s attention more.

What areas Inspired me ? Why was this the case ? How can I follow these up?

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

I personally always get inspired my project X and I wish I could tell HND1 Katie to listen and pay more attention to it. Without project X I do not believe I would have to knowledge of design for good, it’s a great way practically to undertake design for good cases and allow designers to understand why they are designing and benefitting towards the world. I will follow this up and always aim to design for good and use my knowledge from Project X in upcoming careers and jobs. 

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

I am ok working in a team; but some people in our group felt like they had a bigger opinion to others when in actual fact their design skills didn’t make sense. I do think some people find it hard to take criticism and understand working in a graphic design team and sometimes with project X this shows through people therefore I found this quite challenging dealing with the younger years this year.  `

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

I think always discussing with the group enabled me to conclude parts we all found difficult and without group discussions I don’t feel as if we would of even completed a final.

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

I personally think I need to speak up more, I did a lot but I got to the point of not trying as I had other work to do and sometimes felt like my opinion wasn’t listened too. I have learnt over project X that being a girl can be difficult when in a group of boys who have loud voices and I have learnt to speak my mind a lot through the years.

Any other points?I encourage every younger year to pay attention to project X without it I would not be the conscious designer I believe I have become and walking away with.

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