Enterprise task 1

Based on the principles that have been introduced so far in the Enterprise module, investigate who you are as a creative in relation to who is out there looking for creative talent. Write a list of all the possible client groups that use graphic design in the development, production, distribution, promotion and/or communication of their products or services. Identify one client group that reflects your current ambitions within the graphic design area (music industry, retail, publishing, education etc.) and focus on identifying:- What skills / interests you have and how they relate to the needs of your client group? What skills are needed and what skills do you want to develop? What are your professional/creative aims and how do they relate to the needs of the client group? It is essential that you make references to the ʻ4 Psʼ which formed the core learning of your first Enterprise Lecture. This is an exercise in applying that theory – it is not appropriate to write about the theory itself. Demonstrate your understanding of it by actually using it.

Research Sources / Further Information

See the Enterprise online resources for support material.

Mandatory Requirements / Deliverables

The results of your research should be posted to your PPD blog. and summarised by a 250 word statement/evaluation. You should aim to illustrate your opinions with relevant examples of contemporary design practice. All posts relating to this task should be labelled OUCE255 Task 1 Response to task Client groups: - Retail - Web - Advertising - Travel - Education - Charities - Television - Fashion - Food - Health - Art / Design What skills / interests you have and how they relate to the needs of your client group? I have always felt my interests lie within advertising, but with the growth of my skills since the beginning of the course, has meant my strengths lie within type and illustration which can transcend across many a criteria. I now have a huge interest in publishing and editorial, I feel its the most appropriate field for my style and approach to design.  What skills are needed and what skills do you want to develop? Publishing and Editorial has only recently been something I have gained an insight into, to debate it as a main focus and interest of mine. Luckily books, newspapers and publishings are everywhere, which just goes to show, there is a huge audience out there. Having the ability to direct your work at a particular target audience is a skill in itself. With this you must know the appropriate layout to use, type and typeface and image, to be visually and aesthetically engaging. My skills within illustration and hand rendered type I feel do just that, I am creative in my approach to design, using a variety art and design methods, this includes drawing, collage, montage, alongside using a variety of materials and substrates.  The idea of working within a publishing and editorial company appeals to me in that every project will vary from day to day, most of all keeping me engaged and interested. I feel this line of work has slightly more freedom and more sense of achievement, in that you aren't restrained from putting your own 'style' on work. Skills I will most definatly need to improve is layout, books have pages of writing after all, as does newspapers, journals, the list goes on. Although I'm capable of arranging text on a page, its not always the best approach and most appropriate for what I'm dealing with. Also as stated earlier, after being considered something new and interesting to me, I lack the knowledge of Publishing and editorial, and all the aspects which go alongside it. What are your professional/creative aims and how do they relate to the needs of the client group? I'm not too sure yet, in all honesty. I am some what interested within working for charities, creating work which has to have beautiful and strong aesthetics, but working to many restrictions, such as cost, due to the companies aims. Working for an independent company, beginning as an office junior after graduation I feel is my main aim though, working within a studio means I have others to communicate, give me feedback and bounce ideas from one another. I love this method of critical communication and the idea of a creative 'family'.  Another option is within the public media, perhaps organising events to sell my own work as well as that of an independent company.

End of module evaluation

BA (Hons.) GRAPHIC DESIGN	LEVEL	05
Module Code	OUGD201
Module Title	DESIGN PRODUCTION - PRINT

END OF MODULE SELF-EVALUATION

NAME

Stephanie Lawson

BLOG. ADDRESS

sl-lawson1013.blogspot.com

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

With doing the 'What is design for print' brief, I've had a huge insight into print and the industry, I have a much better understanding of how printers can effect your final outcome, whether that be print quality and finishing, or the way in which you set up your document for print. This can most certainly work to my advantage with my own work, its quality, and if I work for others, I know the correct way to save and document a file for print.

My final outcome for 'Good is...?' Is printed to a higher standard than I had achieved with other products and briefs within the first year, I am genuinely quite proud of how professional my work is beginning to look.

My time management skills I feel have massively improved, I have found methods which suit and work for me best. To do list have their place, but I managed to, throughout this module, create huge A3 hour by hour, day by day lists. Although time consuming, I found I really stuck to them, I was able to outline my week, and see it in one go.

Layout skills is also something I feel I have improved on, just slightly. I've never really approached catalog / book design before. My first drafts, in regard to laying out the content was quite simply, abysmal. I wouldn't have identified my lack of skills in this, if I hadn't created an initial drafting to begin with. After doing the print tasks, and my own initial research I gained much inspiration. I was able to create something which looked 'ok', not brilliant, but far better than I had began with.

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

When having a tutorial with Lorenzo, he introduced the concept of creating a 'story' in approach to the given brief. Although this didn't quite work for me, as I was using an existing company to brand and design for, its certainly something I can think about in future briefs. Something else I did which really impacted my design production and development was the mass amount of design sheets I produced, It felt most appropriate considering the range of ideas I had. Producing them in pencil was also a different approach, although not very visible on blogs via photographs, I most the vast amount of detail I can achieve to really help me in the design process. I was quite literally designing straight from my design sheets, in every amount of detail. Another paper approach to design development was the mass series of 3d mock ups in regard to packaging, books, business cards and leaflets. Having a hand held structure made designing that bit less confusing! Designing for 3d pieces is particularly difficult, I find. So such visual aids were a necessity. Another advantage of having these, is to see whether the product will actually work, and in some cases, things which worked on paper, simply couldn't be constructed.

The print visit to Duffield was also very helpful and informative in regard to print. I'm very much a visual person, in that being taught the ins and outs about print through slideshows, books and the internet isn't particularly ideal for me. The print visit enabled me to visualise the taught information from the sessions, to apply them to my own designs. It also gave me a better and clearer understanding of the limitations of print within the industry in regard to time, stock and quality. To know how I could produce the work I wanted printing.

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

I really wanted to push my ideas and imagination, deciding to produce a pop up catalog did just this. I was able to put my crafting skills into play. Having gone to crafting sessions when I was younger, and producing and selling hand crafted cards for a few years (having access to embossing and metallic heated embossing) I had some knowledge and skill with a pen knife. I believe this can be seen in the delicate crafting needed within a lot of my final products.

Because of my crafting history I knew about embossings and metallic heated embossing, I have found this knowledge has come into play when attempting to mimic printing processes, to prove my concepts in relation to printing for my final outcomes.

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

Using a range of printers, to print my final outcome was a huge mistake. All in all I had used 3 different printers, in a range of environments, each having their own colour settings, thus resulting in my iconic brand colour green, becoming, some what, a range of greens. Unfortunately I didn't have the time, nor funds to correct this mistake. So when approaching the next brief, It will be most certainly something I think of before designing. Another mistake I made was stock. Again because I printed onto a range of stock, colours were different, also I feel I used the wrong stock for the pop up catalog. I found cutting out windows and fine detailing extremely difficult, the stock used simply wasn't durable enough; window panes snapped. The way in which I attempted to fix the mistakes wasn't too brilliant either, so the quality of the product diminished.

Layout, although something I feel I improved on slightly, towards the end of the brief, I was able to identify the many way I could improve it further. Program usage for instance, I used illustrator to arrange my content, I really should have create a grid, opened my designed into InDesign and arranged content accordingly using columns, bleed and crop marks. The way I approach layout thus affecting my print preparation.

Not being able to see the obvious was a huge misfortune I had! After spending hours developing my logo, I failed to notice it was hugely inappropriate in its shape, luckily enough I happened to place the designs on a site to gain feedback, in which fellow students pointed this out to me, I changed it soon after to say the least.

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

- When printing, I will most definitely use the same printer to be sure colour palettes are consistent throughout designs (if more than one product)

- Produce many, many mock up sheets. My imagination and creativity is much easier to draw first, then design to screen, rather than going straight in at the deep end. I think the designing process will be a lot more affective to myself, less time consuming and easier for me if I approach each brief I get in the future with lots of paper and a pencil.

- Consider using InDesign is producing something with a sum of content. My work will look more professional, aligned and overall a better outcome.

- Read more. Its only until after the brief submission I realised the vast amount of information in regard to layout I've missed out on, which really could have aided me.

- Get first hand experience. Whether that be a print visit, contacting a professional or doing it yourself. Not just in regard to print, but anything you may learn for the first time, now I know I'm a visual and doing learner, take this idea on board.

6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas: 

(please indicate using an ‘x’)  

5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor

Attendance - 5

Punctuality - 5

Motivation - 4

Commitment - 4

Quantity of work produced - 4

Quality of work produced - 3

Contribution to group - 3

Generation press visit

Studios I've looked at

Good is ...? - Progress Crit

 Peer feedback


- Lots of initial trial and error. Practical element put across well. - Want to see logo onto / in context as it may not work on different media / products.


- A lot of research. nice logo development; considerations to colour and style is nice. We like the houses.


- A lot of different methods put across in relation to print. Think about materials used, i.e recycled paper to keep the theme/concept of cheap going, truth to materials.


- A lot of work proposed - understand your good really well.


- Is the amount of work achieveable by hand in?


- A big amount of work, perhaps too much for the time needs? -----Laser cutter?


- Keep stocks in mind 'environmentally friendly'


- Create a thorough action plan


ACTION PLAN


Create an action plan of your own - to do lists AM / PM - There is a lot of work to do here and if your not organised it may fall apart - you could end up leaving something.


Book in digital print - TODAY! - Usually gets stacked around this time.


Get a plan - So much to do...so plan it and dont get stressed, you've done all the hard work.

Response to crit:

As soon as the crit was finished, I went and booked two slots within the digital dungeon!

Also came up with several to do lists, action plans etc.

I intend on looking at stock / substrate appropriate for my products (environmentally friendly)

My extensive action plan, outlining everything from hour to hour I need to do. I feel its the only way I'll actually get things done!!

Enterprise lecture - 5 - 10 Steps to a future you.

10 Steps to a future you - Notes takes within Lecture


Carl Hopkins - Investor in young businesses - Leeds college of Art






1) Proactivity:
- Stimulus > Response (animal)
- Stimulus > Choice > Response (humans)


We develop strategies to protect ourselves, make things more convenient etc


Circle of influence
Outer circle of concern 
Proactivity > INcrease in growth of influence - Job placements / experience etc


Internal Environment:
- Your skills
- Your resources
- Your lifestyle


Micron environment
- Network of friends and associates
- Your competitors and other practionaers
- Your suppliers
- Your local community
- take holders


Macro environment - Things which can't be changed / affected
- World markey conditions
- Economics
- Technology
- Social trends
- Politics


2)Project - 
- Develop a vision of your future
- Creste a principle - centred personal mission statement
- Extend the mission into long term goals


Priority management -
Business vision - You in the future in mind
Business plan
Life Plan




John Lennon 'Life is what happens while your busy making other plans'


Karl Hopkins 'Begin the the end in mind'


3)Provide:
- Clear explanations to people
- Speak in their language, not yours
- Talk about benefits; no processes


Speak about how you can benefit a client, the skills you have and the level you are at with particular software.


4) Prioritise
- Put first things first
- keep a proper balance
- Stick to your personal mission


Study - social life - rest - money - time = results, what are my priorities?


5) Presence 
- Think - win/win
- Seek outcomes and relationships that are mutually beneficial
- Do a favour to gain a favour


Dont work with people who aren't going to benefit you in the long run


Kohlbergs Theory:


Pre-conventional
- I want
- Why should i?
- Nobody listens
- Short terms
Dependant


Conventional:
- I would be happy to
- Your needs
- I understand
- Medium term
Independant


Post-conventional
- We can
- Together
- Mutual benefit
- Long term
Inter-dependant


6)Pause
- Pause to listen - give all our attention. Give yourself to the moment.
- Empathises , walk in someones shoes
- Don't re-iterate or interrupt - just listen
- Do you really know how they feel or are you just saying how you feel?
- Seek first to understand; then be understood
- Learn from your differences


7) Proven
- Consistency
- Integrity
- Reliability


Successful now because they are completely consistent and deliver a high level of performance every time. Its reliable and proven. Consumers trust such brands.
In my practise, what i must seek to achieve is constancy, not just in quality of work, the the integrity in which i hold my subject and the reliability of the service I offer.


8) Partner
- Synergy multiplies your talents
- Work with other experts outside your field to achieve greatness


Jmaes Dyson
Antony Gormley
Michelangelo
Everest expeditions


Avatar
-Hollywood model
- 600 - 800 credits for Avatar
- All free-lance or small businesses - all came together form film creation


9) Pit stop
- Sharpen up - bolt on, get new stuff
-Rest - renew, re-vitalise
- Explore -- challenge and excite


Challenge yourself
visit somewhere new - stimuli
Never stop doing it


10) Propel
- Extinguish your fears
- Exude confidence
- Instil faith

Duffields - Professional print visit

Duffield - Litho and digital print

So we took a visit to Duffields, situated off Kirkstall road. What looked liked rather a small business ended up being a rather large and impressive print company. We were given a tour around the building, through the formal admin side of things, and the practical printing workshops too. It was quite something, certainly the scale of the machines used within printing. I didn't expect it would take so many machines to process a job, but each do a particular bit. Whether that be printing, folding or laminating. Duffield produce litho and digital print so unfortunately we couldn't look at things like spot glosses etc.

The names of each of the machines escape me, as it was rather loud and the tour guide rather quiet! So I took a load of pictures instead..

Notes taken during presentation given by printers:

Printers prefer to be sent a high resolution PDF formatted document, as this embeds any used fonts and images.

This goes through the pre press work floor for checks

Jobs get a unique number so clients can get the same overbite to allow colours

Create all colours to process before converting to PDF

PDF's need to be saved in the same way - they can be saved in many ways - 3mm bleed and crops marks 

When designing, leave a margin, items not too close to edge, think in regard to printer.

They have programs for impositioning 

Every 8 pages you can print onto one page B2 print - 8 A4's

More economic to make a bach of mulitples of 8 or 16

They get upto 20 jobs a day

24 / 7

£100 - £25,000

When designing consider bind, you need to leave space for bind and consider overlay

Offset page design