Personal and Professional Development

Which of these words describe you as an individual?

Confident, Considerate, Determined, Passive, Vocal, Open, Objective, Ethical, Informed, Tolerant, Critical, Decisive.

Considerate, Informed, Tolerant.

Which of these words best describes your approach to life?

Organised, Passive, Reflective, Flexible, Laid Back, Decisive, Impulsive, Direct, Objective, Confident, Punctual, Critical.

Organised, Flexible, Critical.

What do you want to be?

Organised, Passive, Reflective, Flexible, Decisive, Direct, Honest, Committed, Punctual, Critical, Entertaining, Informed.

Informed, Ambitious, Committed.

Which of the following qualities do you look for in others?

Honesty, Tolerance, Ambition, Confidence, Commitment, Creativity, Responsibility, Focus, Humour, Objectivity, Flexibility, Punctuality.

Confidence, Focus, Tolerance.

List ten things you have learnt:

1. Concept Building

2. Idea Generation

3. Crit and Feedback Skills

4. Book Binding and Letterpress

5. New Photography Skills

6. Illustrator

7. Understanding of Indesign

8. Colour Theory and Visual Language

9. Developed Research Skills

10. Explored different Methods of Delivery

List ten things you want to learn:

1. Composition and Layout

2. Improve Illustrator Skills Further

3. Improve Indesign Skills Further

4. Develop Colour Theory Further

5. Information Graphics

6. Develop Illustrative Work

6. Typography

7. Print Skills

8. Develop Screen Printing Skills Further

9. Advertising

10. Ethical Design

Which of these words describe your ambitions as a designer?

Expressive, Creative, Perceptive, Subversive, Clinical, Commercial, Ethical, Effective, Ambitious.

Creative, Perceptive, Effective.

What do you want your work to do?

Persuade, Educate, Seduce, Shock, Promote, Instruct, Attract, Change, Inform, Entertain, Package, Document.

Attract, Inform, Document.

Which of the following words do you associate with your work?

Message, Research, Product, Image, Clarity, Idea, Media, Audience, Process, Concept, Type, Context.

Concept, Clarity, Image.

Which of the following areas have you developed your skills in?

Type, Video, Colour, Concept Building, Photography, Image, Composition, Idea Generation, Print, Drawing, Research, Problem Solving.

Idea Generation, Concept Building, Type.

Which of the following areas do you need to develop your skills in?

Type, Video, Colour, Concept Building, Photography, Image, Composition, Idea Generation, Print, Drawing, Research, Problem Solving.

Composition, Print, Research.

Which of the following are you interested in developing your skills in?

Typography, Video, Interactive Design, Book Design, Photography, Illustration, Advertising, Character, Print, Motion Graphics, Information Graphics, Narrative.

Information Graphics, Print, Illustration.

Brief: Speaking From Experience

Rationale 1

Brief: (What is the problem you intend to solve?)

'Everything you need to become a Graphic Designer in Leeds'

Who needs to know?

First year students on the BA Graphic Design course at Leeds College of Art.

What do they need to know?

I feel that they need to know what and where design related places are located in the city. For example; where to source materials, places to get inspiration such as galleries and museums and where to find books, magazines and journals.

Why do they need to know?

So that they know where to source materials, books, magazines and journals. Also so that they know where to find relevant galleries, exhibitions, museums and events.

What will they respond to?

I think they will respond to a physical product, perhaps a printed booklet of some kind, that they could receive at the beginning of the course as I remember appreciating welcome packs for example when I first started.

What research is required?

Primary: Going out into Leeds and sourcing all relevant locations to inform the target audience of, photographing and documenting them. Asking classmates for their tips on places to source materials, books and magazines also where the best and most appropriate galleries and museums are.

Secondary: Internet research to find out a comprehensive list of what design related places are located in Leeds. Collect existing guides and maps.

Rationale 2

Brief: (What is the problem you intend to solve?)

'To prevent new students and visitors from getting lost around college'

Who needs to know?

First year students on the BA Graphic Design course and visitors to Leeds College of Art.

What do they need to know?

They need a new, clearer set of directional signage to replace the current system that is used.

Why do they need to know?

To help people that are new to the college navigate their way around whilst they get to know their new surroundings.

What will they respond to?

They will respond to something modern and contemporary that remains in keeping with the 'identity' of the college but something that most importantly is visually clear and

What research is required?

Primary: Documenting and photographing the current directional signage used around the collage. Also look into what signage is used in museums, galleries and other public places around Leeds.

Secondary: Look at relevant books on information graphics and signage/mapping.

Brief: Communication is a virus- How does it spread?

Comments that were recieved on the final piece for 'Communication is a Virus'...

"The final design looks really professional and well crafted. Nice idea, but could have used harder phrases."

"Looks really good and like how the cards fit inside the packaging along with more information!! =) Really like the colours too!"

"Good interaction with mailshot."

"I think its a simple idea that works really well. Easy to carry around, fun and lots of information... Will people read all the text, is there a way of breaking it up?"

"Lovely colour choices and I really like the way the booklet folds out, nicely sized too."

"Good resolution. nice use of colour. Well crafted."

"Good colours and interactive final."

"Yeah I like it, the idea of the individual cards is appealing."

"Really nice idea, nice final product."

"Nice packaging, clearly alot of thought has gone into this."

"I like this alot. Such a great idea and done with class and simplicity. maybe font inside needs to be a bit bigger. the cards are very effective, they contain the right interpretation and don't loose impact. Nice design aswell."

"Wow to the packaging! =)"

"When you guys first told me about your idea I thought it would be difficult to pull off effectively although you've done a great job. Works as a nice unified package. Check the Polish words spellings though!"

"Really exciting and innovative packaging."

"Nice use of watercolour in development, well crafted package, not sure on the font for the front cover. Think of other nationalities that struggle to interpret basic text. Other than that, great work."

"Well thought out idea, nice packaging and use of colour. Easy to read and understand."

"Cool stuff!"

Brief: Communication is a virus- How does it spread?

Chosen partner: Hazel Gage

Why have you chosen to work with your creative partner? What are your aims?

Me: I have chosen to collaborate with Hazel because I feel we have differing creative strengths, but we also think in a similar way and are both very committed towards our work. I think having this similar attitude will help us absorb new skills from each other over the course of the brief.

Hazel: We have similar ways of approaching work and we are both very dedicated. Jonny has an illustrative side to his work which I would really like to use in some projects.

What are your specific areas of creative interest in this brief?

Me: My specific areas of creative interest lie within hand drawn illustration and type, or producing any original artwork which can then be scanned in and digitally manipulated. Other interests are digital typography and photography.

Hazel: I like illustration but am not fond of my own drawings. I think my area of expertise would be more on the computer based side of things - digitalising artwork and possibly creating a website.

What design skills do you have to offer in relation to your chosen brief? How do you intend to use them?

Me: Hand drawn illustration and type, digital type and layout, Photoshop.

Hazel: Layout, Type, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign.

What specific non-design skills do you have to offer in relation to your chosen brief? How do you intend to use them?

Me: Idea generation and development, research.

Hazel: Research, blogging and documentation, evaluation.

What will your specific roles be in the collaboration in relation to your brief?

Me: Illustration/hand drawn imagery, Photoshop.

Hazel: Digitalising artwork, Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign.

What will your individual responsibilities be in relation to the brief?

Me: Producing original artwork, researching, idea generation, aiding production of finished pieces, good communication, compromising with my partner.

Hazel: Researching paper manipulation for the mail shot, sourcing locations to place the finished product, digitalising artwork.

Joint responsibilities?

Developing product, idea generation, researching, questionnaire, testing different practices and techniques.

Brief: Communication is a virus- How does it spread?

Presentation

How professional was the verbal element of the presentation? Was it delivered with clarity? What might have improved it?

1. Well presented, a few points were unclear but the initial point well chosen.

2. Well prepared. Notes organised. a bit of confusion with the target audience being holiday makers.

How professional was the visual element of the presentation?ow well were the boards designed? What might have improved them?

1. Boards were clear, mixture of image and facts. Well balanced, clear representation of research.

2. Too much on the boards. Presentation boards could have been done on the computer to ensure clarity.

Proposal

What is the message?

1. Learn a new language.

2. To get people who travel to foreign countries to learn the language of the country they are travelling to.

Is there a clear sense of audience? Who is the project targeting?

1. Yes, people going abroad, to learn more about the language.

2. 35-55, more cultured travellers.

What context will the message exist in? How does the proposed solution answer the 'virus' element of this brief?

1. It answers the brief well, trying something new, learning a new language, I think creatively exploring this will do this effectively with input.

2. Flyers and mail shots. Targeting appropriate places where the message can spread.

Overall, what do you think of the proposal?

1. Very interesting, I think the fun aspect should be kept, really like the idea of the figures.

2. Good idea, could be made fun to make it more appealing.

Brief: Communication is a virus- How does it spread?

Brief:

A graphic response to the issue of 'Getting people to talk more/communicate more'.

Considerations:

Nationalities, languages, bringing people together, integrating people into communities, body language, greetings.

Target Audience:

Integrating nationalities, and people from different backgrounds.

Tone of Voice:

Friendly, curious, welcoming, persuasive, interesting, comfortable, personal.

Background:

Data, population and nationality statistics, interaction, communication, questionnaires, emails, language centres, council information, organised existing events.

Mandatory Requirements:

Two colours plus stock, easy to reproduce, visible to a large audience.

Deliverables:

3 x A2 presentation boards for the pitch on the concept, content and method of delivery.

Visual Language: What Is Line?

The Brief:

Produce a body of work based around the statement, 'A formation of people, objects or things, on, beside or behind each other'.

Considerations:

Tree trunks, branches, roots, bark and texture, tree rings, growth, decay.

Target Audience:

People interested in nature and trees. 30-50. Purpose? - to direct, inform.

Tone of Voice:

Playful, curious, interesting and lighthearted.

Background:

Nature guides, maps, walking routes, photography, maybe hand drawn illustration, different types of mark marking.

Mandatory Requirements:

Body of work including imagery, research, photographs, sketchbook work, documentation.

Deliverables:

Body of work and a final piece (book?)