1. What skills have you developed through this brief and how effectively do you think you have applied them?
Through this brief, i feel as though i have developed my ability to evaluate. - throughout the designing process i think i have become more critical, and confident making decisions of how to move forward. Evaluating through drawing has become more frequent. - visually able to see whats working, what needs to be improved. - generally been more exhaustive with my ideas.
I have become more focused. Ive started working in a quieter environment, away from any distractions, and setting daily targets. (although time management is still an issue) it has helped me to speed up, - working with more of an urgency, so I feel like I'm producing more quantity. i think the briefs have benefited from this.
Becoming more comfortable employing new skills and methods of working. Being put under the pressure of learning these new skills - the Gif making, and illustrator, forced me to adapt quickly and get stuck in. I was quite nervous about using illustrator, but actually really enjoyed it! I think this module has definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone, but opened me up to trying more new things in the future, - not be as worried about getting it wrong, just take risks.
2. What approaches to/methods of image making have you developed and how have they informed your concept development process?
I feel that my digital skills have improved a lot through this brief through using illustrator and creating gifs mainly. But also photoshop. towards the end of the module, learnt more about how i can incorporate both digital and analogue media. - previous to this - i.e. gifs, i dimly scanned in my images. In persons of note, i learnt more about layering textures, and how effective manipulating images on screen can be. the result was an effect that could not have been created by hand, so I'm really pleased i employed this into my work. - although had knowledge before putting it into practice has made it much easier to remember for future.
Becoming more familiar with digital software has effected my designing process. - when creating roughs - considering how they could be adapted to digital - this sometimes affects the simplicity of a design - use of shapes. - or how ambitious i can be.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?
I think i have become better at communicating through this module - tone of voice/intent is clearer. - i am being more considerate of how mark making, colour composition as well as other image making, can be used to inform the ….of a piece of illustration. i.e., in persons of note, i developed my painting skills to create expressive mark making. - feel that this painting technique really helped to communicate the intended emotion.
I think I have been better at exhausting ideas perhaps - not just going with an initial thing - mainly through gifs. I found myself wrestling more with compositions, and media, which was much more beneficial - reaching a conclusion that i feel generally more happy with - less rushed better considered.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in the future?
Timing. - something that i am trying to work improve with each module, and feel that i am beginning to find a balance. - being ill a lot doesn't help to keep up and i still find myself falling behind at times. I have realised that i need to then be better at balancing my time between tasks so one doesn't suffer badly.
i.e. - in greetings from i failed to complete the final postcard which i am really disappointed with. I would have loved to see a completed set, - although i feel that I might have achieved this if not being ill, i did overcomplicate the task. if simplified the designs of the postcards - because i think i had a strong concept, - then i would have defiantly finished. - need to really consider this more in future - the length of time each task will take me.
Blogging. i haven't been consistent with the blogging - need to do some everyday!! or at least be on top of this each week. Its definitely hot me the last few days, when i have had trouble uploading images and things going wrong - resulting in this late submission. it is something that is essential for me to improve.
- Felt towards the end of brief - playing it a bit safe, although not initially intentional. - tried to change this around by employing more digital skills at the very end but wish i had done this earlier.
Consistency. There are some valuable skills i learn at one stage- but then don't always follow it through. i.e. - greetings from - i leant to and really benefitted from creating quicker roughs, producing more. - persons of not - little bit, but seemed to take a step back. need to try and employ things that have worked successfully otherwise will not grow./improve my practice.
5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
- Blog every day - be caught up by the end of the week, in order to not have a break down at the end of the module.
- Be more decisive. - although found it good to exhaust ideas - i think that this defiantly effects my time management. This could be improved by making quicker decisions.
- Be continuously reflective - write down thoughts more onto blog - find I question things a lot but write on pieces of paper that disappear. making sure I document my though process better will make my blogging easier and more successful.
- Take more risks continue to try new things. To push my abilities - broader understanding/skill set.
- Plan time - timetable weekly and really strive to stick to it! - if i meet set targets, hopefully i will be less stressed and complete all briefs fully.
