At the end of year 1 I was still unsure about the kind of visual communicator I see myself. there were a lot of things that interested but I didn't feel confident in any of those field to say I am a typographer or that I never want to design for screen.
During the summer we were given a research task of 'what is good' and I decided that 'sustainable graphic design' was good. I became very interested in the issue of sustainability and how Graphic designers play a massive role in this culture of over consumption and unnecessary wastage. So, I ended up doing quite a lot of research on the subject matter
This interest was supported by what I witnessed during my internship at a packaging print company in the summer. For a month I observed the printing processes of what I assume to be a typical industrial size printers and there was a ridiculous amount of paper and energy being wasted. This internship really encouraged me to explore this idea of 'green design' even more and at the same time really taught me about the printing process.
As for being in Level 5 , the things I want to achieve this year are:
- to really define what kind of visual communicator I am but at the same time not narrow it doen completely so that I am just one thing but rather confident in a particular field.
-gain some new skills both technical and practical in order to better myself as a designer especially in typography
-really explore the idea of sustainability and design
Slide 4- What happened this year ?
SUSTAINABILITY
As mentioned , I became really interested in the idea of sustainability and design. I see it not as a field within design like typography, packaging and etc. but really a basis of what my design practice should be based on whether it would be print, type or image.
Obviously I want to voice my concerns and interest but at the same time I'm a Graphic Designer and unless I work only for non profit and choose all my I am still going be be hired to communicate to my audience whatever my clients want me to but I can still do my bit to be 'less' bad to the environment.
Images of plan A and hand made paper?
SLIDE 5 - PRINT
In this module we were taught the basics of the printing processes in the real world ( there are other ways of printing other than James' dungeon) and to apply that knowledge to our own self initiated project led on from the summer project
(images of shade of green)
learnt to really consider how the piece of design is going to be printed and which would be the most appropriate way to print at the beginning of the project. communicate with printers, consider colour matching and etc. all the things that needed to be considered.
I found that I did end up spending too much time researching for this project and then started design when I should have done them both coherently and when its a design for print...have test pieces!. the reusable packing where you can turn it into a pencil holder...turns out to be very small. but i guess the idea was there!
first brief about sustainability....I proposed using recycled paper and reusable packaging.
SLIDE 6- Screen
Second module was all about designing for screen and learning to use after effects and we got introduced to the concept of 'time'! the way i worked had to change quite drastically, the design rules still apply but now you have to think about time, preparing assets, story boarding and a new pet hate 'rendering' time
should have balanced the time I took to prepare the assets and to actually create the title sequence better. i took so long drawing my assets that I felt I didn't have enough time to perfect the animation.
we also touched upon web design towards the end etc
SLIDE 7- Typography
I chose type as my optional module I think this was one of the most useful things I've learnt this year. I found that I didn't have as much design work to show as those who took on the image module but I felt that the knowledge that I gained is something that will benefit me so much for the rest of my career. Its something that is rarely taught at other colleges and its something that I could really apply to my everyday practice.
show images
SLIDE- 8- Rediscovering illustration
The past couple of years I've done the odd bits of illustration but I don't think I've taken advantage of my drawing as much as I could have in terms of using it in my design work. This year for first module and in general I've really focused on becoming familiar with typography and not really thought about illustration. However, I feel like I want to get back into illustration a but more and actually use it side by side with my typography.
I dont want to do illustration but use illustration to support and strengten my typogrpahy
some drawings I did this year.
SLIDE 9- Combining all that for my self directed brief
images
I combined everything that 'happened' this year into this project. At the beginning of this brief, I decided what I wanted to design, and what were the things I was interested in ...and used them to write I brief.
NHM project,
print
type
illustration
a bit of screen
sustainability. NHM> celebrating nature ( didnt want to do a project ABOUT sustainability)
but incorporate that into project ei. prints on back of tickets instead of flyers etc.
SLIDE 10- NEXT YEAR
I want to -
contacting more studios both here and thailand
more projects to suit what I want to show in my portfolio
further my skills eg.
knowledge on sustainability and the recent development on that within the design industry
more web design.... screen vs. print
typography
explore illustration
from student to professional
SLIDE 11- This summer
possible internship...not yet confirmed
sustainability ( also dissertation )
develop myself as a designer,
competition briefs
self initiated briefs
live briefs
develop my website and blog ready for next year and my professional development.
SLIDE 12- and hopefully, this is where I will be working straight after i've graduated
thank you for listening. :)
