SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE - Crit - Take three

Again, we had a different crit, set into pairs we were to evaluate another pair of work to a high degree. Using a form used within 2nd years, we had to spend 20 minutes on each making sure we gave a thorough response. Baljeet and Niall evaluated mine.

I found this crit very useful in that it is brutally honest. The problems which were notified were:

- Not clear it is course specific, Perhaps focus on finance about printing / course and specific costs.

- Hand rendered typography would possibly be more appropriate.

- Posters were prefered to stop animation - Should have used colour and sound

- Posters would be better on a bigger scale

I think from this I may steer away from my stop motion and focus more on the poster designs, attempting to make them larger and more specific to the course.

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE - Second crit

Showing my stop motion and 3 poster designs.


Comments made:

• Make the message clearer "It's ok to have some luxury brands.."
• Make it subject related "Save on these things because graphic design course is a lot to fund."
• Less condom, it's too prude
• More intricate detail, less words
• Think about colour
• Think about dealing with three different categorises - Health, course and back home.
• Possibly create three different stop motions dealing with the different categories. 

Action to take:

1. Write some more things to say within my stop motion, thinking about making it clear that the saving hints made, are so you can afford the luxury items on the course, since it's quite an expensive course to undertake.
2. Research what luxury graphic design related items peers save money for.
3. Start illustrating these items.
4. Give more detail to typography, less writing.
5. Perhaps change the condom aspect element to be less prude.
6. Research colour - Perhaps relating to graphic design course, eg. White and Silver - Macbooks
7. Think about how I could categorise the elements of the stop motion.

A bit of a reflection...

Throughout this course I have felt a little behind in skills and knowledge, due to my lack of experience within graphic design, feeling slightly young and naive with my peers. I came straight from A-level, very few did. I was warned, when interviewed my first few months would be a little difficult, Lorenzo was too right! I didn't feel I was good enough for the course, looking over others works thinking "Jesus Christ, I could never do something like that." I trundled through the first module feeling I lacked in skill and imagination, but when I got my first module grading of a 2:1, it was a much needed uplift. Instead of envying my peers, i've gained much advice, opinion and skill. Everyone comes from a different background, in that people have come from all over Britain, a wide range of courses, and a variation of age within our course too. 


I do somewhat feel I have learned more from my peers than the tutors and course could ever give me, due to the 'closeness' you have with people within your course. The size factor of students within our course is a main contributor to this too, everyone knows everyones.


I do sometimes have my beginners lows, especially when my 2nd module grading was a 2:2, everyone around me seemed to be getting a 1st. But i feel I took the initiative in arranging a little chat with Amber dearest who helped break down my grade, showing me I didn't do too badly. She pointed out my weaknesses, which weren't so obvious to be at the time. This really helped understand what I needed to do next time, I simply wasn't writing enough, reflecting and experimenting with scale. I certainly feel I have worked on these weaknesses for the last module, wanting to learn from my mistakes!


I feel I have improved so much within this year; more than I could imagine. By asking the right questions, using facilities available within the college to your advantage, asking 'why?' to everything you do! But speaking to my peers has been the most useful tool, they give you an honest opinion on your work...no matter how harsh.


It's pretty exciting thinking i'm a 3rd through my degree and I've learnt this much, I really look forward to broadening my skills even more within my 2nd year.

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE - Crit

Overall my crit went quite well, considering my ill health and inability to speak I managed to get my point across of the direction i'm taking with the help from my boards.

 One crucial point which was made was it's relation back to the brief, I was targeting all freshers, when it needs to be specifically graphic design. But this can easily be adapted, items and subjects used within my stop motion will be more graphic design based to the course. This will be the next stage.

After listening to several students crit I did come to realise how easily distracted from the brief you can become, it is super important to keep referring back to the brief to keep things going!

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE - PROBLEM ANALYSIS - Rationale

The brief:

How does shopping around save you money?

What do you need to communicate?:

That is is worthwhile looking around a range of stores to find the cheapest product. You need to make the transition from luxury brands to basic and cheaper brands.

What will they respond to?:

A stop motion created using packaging to manipulate typography which will attempt to convince students to shop around.

Where do they go?:

Viral Advert

COMMENTS MADE:

-"It's a strong idea in terms of what it is trying to say"

- "How ever there is a risk 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"

The brief:

How do you find the quickest way to university?

What do you need to communicate?:

The route in which students (freshers) from particular halls, is the quickest way to get to university. They will need to know of any landmarks, road names and buildings.

What will they respond to?:

Following a route produced, seeing 3d crafted landmarks along the way recognisable to students.

Where do they go?:

Recieve a pack from their university to their halls to be used as directions to it.

COMMENTS MADE:

"It would be useful...think about signage on the way to uni.."

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