OUGD301 Module Evaluation

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

During this module I have focused heavily on improving my typography and layout skills. I have learnt about grids and baseline grids and now use them regularly in my work (this can be seen in my LCC:Public Art Strategy, Strangeways and Yeahmate briefs). I also feel I have improved the standard of my work across this module, raising it to a more professional standard and finish. There isn’t a brief I’ve done that I look at and cringe at the final resolutions.

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

This term I have been looking more at books and other designers’ work that relates directly to what I am doing. Previously, it could be said that I would ‘design in a bubble’ and didn’t spend too much time looking at other work, however for this module I have focused research on every brief I have done, wether it’s looking at websites for Yeahmate or posters for Bollocks To Poverty. This has definitely helped me draw influences and improve my work.

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

I definitely feel that type and layout are my biggest strengths. I am confident with using grids and I understand them now. This has enabled me to take on bigger jobs such as designing brochures and lengthy documents (LCC: Public Art Strategy), something that would of needed an incredible amount of skill before, but it has also improved my design skills when working on simpler jobs such as poster design (Yeahmate) allowing me to structure and order information to create a specified feel.

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

While I have tried to improve my confidence with colour (see Bollocks To Poverty Brief) I am still stumped by colour choices when designing. I am far too comfortable designing in black and white and breaking out of that can be strange for me. I will continue to research into colour and look at other designers’ work who I feel deal with colour well.

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

I would spend more time documenting my work for my blog as well as using the blog in general more. This would make me evaluate my work more, becoming more critical of what I do and improving my design.

While I am happy with my work this module, I didn't explore enough ideas to a brief at the start of one. Next time I will designate time at the start of each brief to do this so I have a range of ideas to work from.

I have been more organised than ever for this brief but still have some way to go. When I resolved a brief and had a final piece during this module, I would then leave a brief and move on and come back to it to tie it up with the rest of the briefs at the end of the module. I should do this when I have finished it, before moving on.

Towards the end of this module I was using the studio more, coming into college more, staying later and I even came in on a Saturday once. I noticed the benefits of this and is something I want to carry on into my FMP. Besides, it's better to be surrounded by my peers for feedback, to get help and to help them out.

When I had time to plan my briefs and and make todo lists (something I only did towards the end of the module when the pressure was on) I was able to work through what I had to do fairly quickly because I was focused. This is something I'm going to carry on doing, in fact will need to do for my FMP.

6. How would you grade yourself on the following areas:
(5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor)

Attendance: 3
Punctuality: 3
Motivation: 4
Commitment: 4
Quantity of work produced: 3
Quality of work produced: 4
Contribution to the group: 3