Having completed the want/need and want/don't want sessions yesterday whilst also developing my umbrella statement this morning, I have given some significant consideration to the four briefs that I would like to take forward for this module. Each one has specific reasons as to why I wish to continue with it. They are as follows (primary reasons underlined):
Iconic Publication
Points here
Linguistics Theory
Points here
What Are The Odds
Points here
Book Cover Collaboration
Points here
In addition to these four, it is also important to note that I have selected to maintain the development of the Robin Moore Carpentry brief. This is due to the fact that it provides the perfect opportunity to liase with a professional, practicing client whilst exploring brand identity links that tie into the subject of my dissertation.
Friday, 24 September 2010
Umbrella Statement & Questions
'Conceptual, illustrative and layout driven promotional and publication design combining type with/as image for print'
...is what my umbrella statement has evolved into as present. It was mainly aimed to trim the fat and get down to the nuts and bolts of what I think my practice is about currently. There are still some aspects that need focussing, such as the type of clients I envisage engaging with in future for example.
To help with this however, the subsequent session raised some other important questions worth considering and so I may need to find myself answering these in the near future. They were as follows:
01. With design for publication being dramatically enhanced and pushed forward by digital media, how will your engagement with the discipline change and adapt?
02. Have you considered the scale of the publication and promotional design that you would like to work with. Do you want to challenge conventional formats?
03. As mentioned, have you identified clients that you WOULD like to work for?
04. In combining illustration with type and layout, will one aspect be more important than the other or governed by the conceptual aspects of the brief?
Thursday, 23 September 2010
I Want & Don't Want
I WANT TO:
01. Develop a design practice heavily geared toward the print process and print based media.
I hate to sit on a Mac 24/7 and alternatively like to get my hands dirty. There's nothing more satisfying than the tactile qualities of print finish, I even love the smell. Whether it's high end expensive stuff or the imperfections of screenprinting, I believe I can produce design that I will feel passionate about.
02. Significantly engage with screenprinting, publishing, layout and branding.
As mentioned above, I prefer to get my hands dirty with print jobs rather let technology take the reigns. Industry has also given me feedback that I need to let my passion for publishing design shine through more and the same goes for branding. Admittedly I have at times been scared to let myself loose with book based design, but this is something I want to confront and be confident with.
03. Engage conceptually with each brief and ENJOY the projects I work on through selecting subject matter that appeals to me.
The latter part is simple, if I don't enjoy it then it makes me miserable. I really, really like the feeling of solving a problem in a more obscure manner though. I like to make people think 'ohh, clever!' I am aware of getting caught up in my own cleverness, but I don't want to be like every other graduate either... I know that sometimes simple is effective.
04. Collaborate with other designers on the course and professionals in the industry.
I like to learn from others and hand over certain aspects of design that I feel someone else can do far more successfully and efficiently than I can. I understand that you can't be good at absolutely everything.
05. Develop a strong relationship with an array of agencies; network and make contacts.
I guess the real desire here is to get a job that I enjoy and put myself in a situation where I can get paid for doing something that I love. The opinion of professionals who have been in the game far longer than I have should additionally be invaluable and assist me in putting together a top-notch portfolio.
06. Set myself up to work in an agency where I can develop a freelance practice alongside it.
I like the prospect of potentially working for big 'pain in the arse' clients and being on a salary, but I think it is important to have a bit of breathing space and some time dedicated toward being self centred. Also, at the end of the day who wouldn't like to be their own boss one day?
07. Encorporate an element of illustration into my design practice and resolutions.
I like to draw, I like to engage with image as well as typography. Sometimes I feel I don't it enough and to put it simply, I'd like to develop a balance of using both where appropriate.
08. Have a structured and more efficient routine.
This is solely to snap out of going to bed at silly o'clock and facing the prospect being shattered the next day unless I have an outrageous lie-in. At some point I need to accept that the world doesn't keep the same hours that I usually do. I would like to increase my productivity and make the most of the time I have left on the course. I just need to be German and efficient really...
-
I DONT WANT TO:
01. Work with moving image or screen based animation.
Sitting on a Mac 24/7 gives me a headache and sequential design does the same. I don't enjoy storyboarding although I appreciate the skills and its usage. I'm just fine with my print based practice thank you.
02. Get too involved with back end web design.
I understand the basics of html and css and that's about it. It's enough to get me by and in some cases avoid seeking the help of others for simple problems, BUT... Maths, numbers, line upon line of jargon and a caffeine addiction? I'd rather pay somebody else to do it whilst I focus on the things that I like doing best.
03. Produce design based on strong ethics, envrionmental issues etc.
A lot of issues surrounding this annoy me and don't interest me in the slightest. I am aware of current trends and realise at times that I may have to bite the bullet to make ends meet but that's about as good as it gets.
04. Design for charity and 'good causes'.
Designing for free is always going to be less appealing and I don't want to produce lacklustre work as a result.
05. Work on text heavy corporate projects.
Dull, dull, dull. I like typography but not to that extent. The challenge in terms of layout could be beneficial, but I wouldn't want to make a habit of it.
01. Develop a design practice heavily geared toward the print process and print based media.
I hate to sit on a Mac 24/7 and alternatively like to get my hands dirty. There's nothing more satisfying than the tactile qualities of print finish, I even love the smell. Whether it's high end expensive stuff or the imperfections of screenprinting, I believe I can produce design that I will feel passionate about.
02. Significantly engage with screenprinting, publishing, layout and branding.
As mentioned above, I prefer to get my hands dirty with print jobs rather let technology take the reigns. Industry has also given me feedback that I need to let my passion for publishing design shine through more and the same goes for branding. Admittedly I have at times been scared to let myself loose with book based design, but this is something I want to confront and be confident with.
03. Engage conceptually with each brief and ENJOY the projects I work on through selecting subject matter that appeals to me.
The latter part is simple, if I don't enjoy it then it makes me miserable. I really, really like the feeling of solving a problem in a more obscure manner though. I like to make people think 'ohh, clever!' I am aware of getting caught up in my own cleverness, but I don't want to be like every other graduate either... I know that sometimes simple is effective.
04. Collaborate with other designers on the course and professionals in the industry.
I like to learn from others and hand over certain aspects of design that I feel someone else can do far more successfully and efficiently than I can. I understand that you can't be good at absolutely everything.
05. Develop a strong relationship with an array of agencies; network and make contacts.
I guess the real desire here is to get a job that I enjoy and put myself in a situation where I can get paid for doing something that I love. The opinion of professionals who have been in the game far longer than I have should additionally be invaluable and assist me in putting together a top-notch portfolio.
06. Set myself up to work in an agency where I can develop a freelance practice alongside it.
I like the prospect of potentially working for big 'pain in the arse' clients and being on a salary, but I think it is important to have a bit of breathing space and some time dedicated toward being self centred. Also, at the end of the day who wouldn't like to be their own boss one day?
07. Encorporate an element of illustration into my design practice and resolutions.
I like to draw, I like to engage with image as well as typography. Sometimes I feel I don't it enough and to put it simply, I'd like to develop a balance of using both where appropriate.
08. Have a structured and more efficient routine.
This is solely to snap out of going to bed at silly o'clock and facing the prospect being shattered the next day unless I have an outrageous lie-in. At some point I need to accept that the world doesn't keep the same hours that I usually do. I would like to increase my productivity and make the most of the time I have left on the course. I just need to be German and efficient really...
-
I DONT WANT TO:
01. Work with moving image or screen based animation.
Sitting on a Mac 24/7 gives me a headache and sequential design does the same. I don't enjoy storyboarding although I appreciate the skills and its usage. I'm just fine with my print based practice thank you.
02. Get too involved with back end web design.
I understand the basics of html and css and that's about it. It's enough to get me by and in some cases avoid seeking the help of others for simple problems, BUT... Maths, numbers, line upon line of jargon and a caffeine addiction? I'd rather pay somebody else to do it whilst I focus on the things that I like doing best.
03. Produce design based on strong ethics, envrionmental issues etc.
A lot of issues surrounding this annoy me and don't interest me in the slightest. I am aware of current trends and realise at times that I may have to bite the bullet to make ends meet but that's about as good as it gets.
04. Design for charity and 'good causes'.
Designing for free is always going to be less appealing and I don't want to produce lacklustre work as a result.
05. Work on text heavy corporate projects.
Dull, dull, dull. I like typography but not to that extent. The challenge in terms of layout could be beneficial, but I wouldn't want to make a habit of it.
Want / Need
I WANT TO:
screen print, work predominantly with print, letterpress/woodblock type, publication and layout design, explore manual book binding techniques, collaborate with people on the course, work on briefs that interest me - ENJOY, get a routine and be efficient, use illustration within my practice, to produce design of a professional quality, gain industry experience over Christmas and Easter, build a high quality portfolio, brand and promote myself.
I NEED TO:
consider digital delivery, improve on InDesign and Illustrator, visit studios, make myself known, research and write dissertation, document my design process thoroughly, brush up on my web design skills (but know when to hand it over), speed up my decision making process, sacrifice time spent doing leisurely activities.
screen print, work predominantly with print, letterpress/woodblock type, publication and layout design, explore manual book binding techniques, collaborate with people on the course, work on briefs that interest me - ENJOY, get a routine and be efficient, use illustration within my practice, to produce design of a professional quality, gain industry experience over Christmas and Easter, build a high quality portfolio, brand and promote myself.
I NEED TO:
consider digital delivery, improve on InDesign and Illustrator, visit studios, make myself known, research and write dissertation, document my design process thoroughly, brush up on my web design skills (but know when to hand it over), speed up my decision making process, sacrifice time spent doing leisurely activities.
Quick Crit Session with Ian and Vickie
This afternoon I was beginning to get myself into a bit of a rut whilst trying to narrow my ten briefs down to four. Seeing Vickie and Ian have the same problem we decided to have a mini-crit session to see if we could speed up the process.
The main feedback received from them both was the fact that I should apply my briefs to real life contexts in order to give them a commercial feel and enhance my 'employability' (as previously suggested by Sam at Morgan Agency over summer). I'm not sure why I hadn't done this already, but it was a very valid and useful point.
Crucially I am down to four briefs as we speak:
What Are The Odds?
Robin Moore Carpentry Re-Brand
Penguin Book Cover Collection (Collaboration with Adam Townend)
Iconic Publication
I think the chosen four (at the moment) accurately reflect portfolio feedback received over summer from both Morgan Agency and Bivouac, and focus on content that interests me as a designer.
Obviously things may well change again.
The main feedback received from them both was the fact that I should apply my briefs to real life contexts in order to give them a commercial feel and enhance my 'employability' (as previously suggested by Sam at Morgan Agency over summer). I'm not sure why I hadn't done this already, but it was a very valid and useful point.
Crucially I am down to four briefs as we speak:
What Are The Odds?
Robin Moore Carpentry Re-Brand
Penguin Book Cover Collection (Collaboration with Adam Townend)
Iconic Publication
I think the chosen four (at the moment) accurately reflect portfolio feedback received over summer from both Morgan Agency and Bivouac, and focus on content that interests me as a designer.
Obviously things may well change again.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
OUGD301: 10x Proposed Briefs
Note:
For my 9th brief I aim to re-write the '3 minute' brief by ISTD, 2009.
My 10th brief will be a live competition brief set this year, 2010.
OUGD301: Rationale (initial)
What do you want to do and why? An overarching statement of the direction of your own design practice, areas of interest and what this will allow you to explore……. AND WHY?
My enthusiasm and strength surrounds print based design and I aim to utilise this module as a means to develop an increased awareness centred upon the use of hands-on processes such as silkscreen printing, letter-press, woodblock type and hand-stitched binding methods.
As a summative statement, I would suggest that my overarching aims are to produce informed pieces of conceptually aware type driven design with intent to develop a professional print based portfolio acknowledging screen based design on occasion.
Given industry feedback acquired thus far it has emerged as advisable that I focus on developing my other key interests in layout and publishing. I aim to address this through working on publication based projects that may have a more commercial edge as to make myself more employable to design agencies and studios.
One discipline that I feel is lacking at present is that of branding and corporate identity. Given that this is the focus of my dissertation I aim to engage with one or two hard-nosed branding briefs this module (and year) to give my design portfolio a rounded depth and greater sense of direction.
Lastly, to elaborate on my desire for the handmade I have also always had the intention to illustrate more; all-be-it through a simple use of pen and ink and/or vector based graphics. As my practice has developed over the duration of this course (and throughout the typography module in particular) my interest in this has more specifically been guided toward illustrating typefaces outright, as well as ‘type as image’. Needless to say, this is a final element that I intend to weave amongst my other design based interests through the conceptual development to each given brief.
My enthusiasm and strength surrounds print based design and I aim to utilise this module as a means to develop an increased awareness centred upon the use of hands-on processes such as silkscreen printing, letter-press, woodblock type and hand-stitched binding methods.
As a summative statement, I would suggest that my overarching aims are to produce informed pieces of conceptually aware type driven design with intent to develop a professional print based portfolio acknowledging screen based design on occasion.
Given industry feedback acquired thus far it has emerged as advisable that I focus on developing my other key interests in layout and publishing. I aim to address this through working on publication based projects that may have a more commercial edge as to make myself more employable to design agencies and studios.
One discipline that I feel is lacking at present is that of branding and corporate identity. Given that this is the focus of my dissertation I aim to engage with one or two hard-nosed branding briefs this module (and year) to give my design portfolio a rounded depth and greater sense of direction.
Lastly, to elaborate on my desire for the handmade I have also always had the intention to illustrate more; all-be-it through a simple use of pen and ink and/or vector based graphics. As my practice has developed over the duration of this course (and throughout the typography module in particular) my interest in this has more specifically been guided toward illustrating typefaces outright, as well as ‘type as image’. Needless to say, this is a final element that I intend to weave amongst my other design based interests through the conceptual development to each given brief.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
