SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE - Rationale

My to chosen problems:

My peer feedback:

Written response to 'How do you find the quickest way to university?'


'This idea would be useful...think about signage...on the way to uni for example.'


This proved useful, I was wanting to produce large scale 3d object representing landmarks along the way to university, but attaching such objects to existing signs which are relevant would be a great idea. The pieces could be made 2d or if 3d, made to be really quite flat.


Written response to 'How does shopping around save you money?'


'Its a strong idea in what it is trying to say, however there is a risk that it could become quite heavy and dull - find a way of making it as interesting as possible. For example products that are unusual...but necessary (toilet paper, condoms) etc.'


This is very useful feedback, I did want to make the stop motion humorous but wasn't sure how to approach it. Here Sam subjects using the actual objects in which my typography will be made of, as the humorous element.

WHAT IF? EVALUATION

DESIGN IS ABOUT DOING - EVALUATION

I am really proud of my outcome of this brief, I do feel my final pieces could work a lot better if the opacity was lowered so I could overlap the images to create a montage. I feel my idea was strong, I tried to make it dramatic in colour choice and by adjusting the levels in my photos to have a contrast of dark and light. I really enjoyed working with photography, it gave a whole new look and real element to my designs. My body part were positioned on the body, so the messages within them could be related to a body itself.


My chosen colour palette for the body parts were simple, legible and effective. I really seemed to enjoy and be motivated within this brief, there was so many options I could take with it and felt the need to explore each thoroughly. 


I tried a range of media, working with hand crafting, illustrator, photography and hand drawn to be edited on the computer. I am pretty gutted I didn't hear back from the book producer which set up the competition !

COMMUNICATION IS A VIRUS - Evaluation

I found this brief quite difficult to get a grasp of. Particularly by working within a group, I felt it took a lot to actually be able to be working along side with the same idea's, we found ourselves working independently for the majority of our work, which I feel let us down in answering the brief. 


I was most surprised with how the designs came along with my group, I did begin to think some of the idea's and designs were not working, and in any sense being motivational but we really came together at the end.


I really experimented with media within this brief, beginning with just pen, to move onto the computer, to then screen print both hand drawn and computer designs. Again exploring the use of materials, creating doilies, magnets and 2:1 scale posters, which were drawn and printed onto coloured card. I really enjoyed doing something different, avoiding the digital dungeon, it certainly gave a range to my work.


I'm gutted I wasn't able to attend the presentation given my the rest of my group, but I looked at some of the feedback and felt I should have pushed with a comment I made. I mentioned that we need to get our products out into the environment, but was overheard due to everyone being ever so busy so I tried myself, put up poster with detachable information. 


I have learnt that time management is KEY when working within a group, we should have worked together more to create consistency within designs. Creating designs which you have all had an input in doing I feel is a better way to go about things. 

MODULE SUBMISSION FORM - Visual language

MODULE SUBMISSION FORM

Steohanie Lawson

OUGD104

VISUAL LANGUAGE

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: TUESDAY 26^TH APRIL 2011- 1PM

THEMES/SUBJECT & RATIONALE

For my 'What is a line?' project I began by exploring the theme of lines within nature, focusing of how lines depict age within tree's. I felt the ideas of producing line drawings of trees to be a good focus but soon began to district myself in subject matter focusing on plants in general rather than just tree's. I began collecting trimmings of plants and shrubs from a relatives garden of which I started producing many observational studies, finding much inspiration for my style and approach to these through my research; the illustration artist of 'Winnie the Pooh' and 'Wind and the Willows' was a main resource for me. I became comfortable using watercolour paints and pen, using a series of lines to create shape, texture and shadow within my studies.

After doing a series of observational studies I found my direction to be relating to gardens and gardening. I had noted down the species and information about the characterises of plants and shrubs I had drawn, dividing the plants into two area's, shrubs and border plants. I soon decided to create some kind of gardening kit, which would hold a plant identity pack. Feeling this wasn't quite enough to be considered a 'pack' I drew some gardening tools, taking on a different drawing style; simpler line drawings. I also noted down what the equipment was to be used for and how.

From this I had 3 sets of observational drawings, that of common border shrubs, common garden shrubs, and gardening equipment, each with useful information. I decided on creating informative cards to be placed inside a packaging sleeve to create a 'your garden' pack. A basic kit on getting to know and identify elements within your garden.

Blogs up to date: COMPLETE

Work labelled as briefed: COMPLETE

Work submitted in appropriate format: COMPLETE 

Self-Evaluation Completed and posted to blogs as briefed: COMPLETE

I confirm that all work submitted is my own and am aware of the colleges Plagiarism Policy and that all work submitted has been appropriately labelled, formatted and tested.

STUDENT SIGNATURE

Stephanie Lawson 

DATE

25/04/11

Evaluation for 'What is a line?'

Evaluation for 'What is a line?'

From starting this project I had an idea for my direction but found my focus changing and growing throughout. Starting with trees, and how age is determined by lines within the trunk, I began looking at E.H Shepard and her approach to illustrative designs and producing my own studies in her style first my drawing one of her illustrations from a 'Winnie the Pooh' novel, then by finding an image of a tree and doing the same. I soon felt at a loose end, my line drawings were just that, I didn't particularly relate to my initial idea of lines determining age, but I did enjoy producing the line drawings I did. I felt this could be a new direction, but keeping a main focus on nature and plants within it.

I began taking trimmings from a relatives garden, to set my self up on a table with pencil, pen and paint and producing a range of studies in the style of E.H Shepard, which had my own distinctive style within. I had a vast majority of observation and began to categorise them into shrubs and border plants.

After speaking to a few relative, my grandparents soon enough gave me much information about each of the plants I was drawings, noting these down I soon felt it would be appropriate to really use this information to my advantage, my making my final outcome some kind of educational, informative item.

I drew up a few idea's. initially mocking up a poster, but found the information needed to be individualised to be made useful. I soon came up with the idea of creating playing card designs, and from that simple informative cards. With two sets of cards I felt another gardening element would make my final product that bit more useful. I started drawing gardening equipment, in a different format, giving a range to my designs. I produced very simple line drawings, paired with information about the equipment and how to use it.

With three sets of cards, I felt packaging would benefit the presentation and use of my product; I created a simple, yet sophisticated packaging to hold my cards.

Overall I am quite please with my outcome, although I felt I could have pushed forward and explored the idea of creating playing cards further. My research was most helpful and relevant to what I wanted to achieve. I feel there is defiantly an audience and use for my product. To take this forward, I could produce more species to add to my collection, and perhaps more area's within gardening, perhaps a hide on how to plant and maintain your garden. 

END OF MODULE SELF EVALUATION - OUGD104 - Visual language

End of Module Self-Evaluation

Stephanie Lawson

OUGD104

VISUAL LANGUAGE

BLOG ADDRESS: www.sl-lawson1013.blogspot.com

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

I believe I have really experimented within scale and size within this module, being shown how to produce a hot dog fold book I did find most useful, I was able to develop the design into my own when creating designs for the book fair. Research skills was also a main contributor to my work, I learnt the importance and usefulness of this during this module.

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

Throughout this module I have found myself doing more and more primary research, as It has been the most useful resource to me when producing designs. By going out and actually doing something in direct relation to work really gives me more motivation and drive and a variation to my work. 

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

I feel my work has a strong personal and useful element; each of my products has had a precise and direct audience. I use a range of materials throughout my work, sometimes combining many, using a mixed array. It gives a real mix and range to my work.

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

I tend to use a lot of hand drawn elements throughout all of my designs, I feel I need to experiment more with media and materials in order to find other approaches in which I enjoy.  Sometimes motivation can be an issue for me, thus I tend to approach briefs by hand rendering a lot of my work. This can be an issue because I feel I am restricting myself, I really need to branch out and find other forms of media and materials which I enjoy or can learn to enjoy, I don’t feel a want to do work unless I have a passion for it.

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

1.   Experiment more with media and materials

2.    Be more abstract and unexpecting in my deliverables

3.    To write and analyze more along the way

4.    Try to stick with my idea, don't step away from it right at the end

5.    Work more digitally

   How would you grade yourself on the following areas?

5 - excellent     4- very good    3- good            2 - average       1 - poor

Attendance                                                      5

Punctuality                                                      5

Motivation                                                       3

Commitment                                                   4

Quantity of work produced                             4

Quality of work produced                               4

Contribution to the group                                4