OUGD 504 Evaluation

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

This module has introduced a lot of new design practices that I have been unfamiliar with prior to this. Firstly, design for print has allowed me to really get to grips with inDesign and produce some editorial work, planning everything out by using thumbnails and design sheets made this process easier, working out the order in which the book will run saved time needing to change the structure digitally. Design for web has introduced me to a lot of new skills, including Dreamweaver

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

Like with every project design sheets have been an integral part to all design production, planning out the best options before diving in saves time in the long run. With the addition of web design I have had to design within my capabilities of actually creating the website, this prompted me to keep it simple which is often the most effective design solution. I have experimented with multiple processes such as embossing, foiling and screen printing which has widened my knowledge of what is possible rather than just relying on digital print.

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

The range of products I have explored within ISTD was quite broad which contributed well to a strong identity and made it easier to visualise the actual museum, I will continue to explore all possible applications when doing future briefs. 

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

The photography of my final products needs to be improved for future briefs. For the next time I will book a slot in the studio so that I can lay all my products out and get a set of high quality images.
I need to spend longer designing presentation boards so that it is clear to anybody that is unfamiliar with my brief. I would also like to get better at processes such as embossing and screen printing so that I can use these for future briefs without it taking as much time. The quality of the final physical product could be improved, in the future I will test more with stock and colour before simply going for the cheapest or easiest option.

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

Photographing my finished products in a more professional manner will give me more content to put towards my portfolio. Continue to use alternative processes and finishes to create more professional and well executed work. Test more with stock and format before deciding on a final solution, this will also contribute to a more refined design and unique product.

5= excellent

4=very good

3=good

2=average

1=poor

Attendance:    5

Punctuality:    5

Motivation:      5

Commitment:   5

Quantity of work produced:    4

Quality of work produced:     3

Contribution to the group:     4

Presentation Boards

Open publication - Free publishing - More boards


These are the final presentation boards for Type Factory covering all printed products, digital material, wayfinding and accompanying products.

Printed Products

Leaflet, mail shot & Complimentary post card:

All promotional items have type treatments applied, the mail shot and leaflet  have a black spot varnish which I have achieved by using black vinyl

Spot varnish finish on cover logo

Inside leaflet:

The leaflet will be printed full colour CMYK with no added spot colours

The floor plans could be developed into larger fold out inserts so that the user can pull one out when they are on that floor and remove the need for keep flicking through the book to find the relevant map.

Mail Shot:

The mail shot will be sent out to design studios and local schools and colleges

The mail shot opens up to reveal a large keyboard and also offers the recipient 30% off. The mail shot delivers minimal information and directs to the website.

I have experimented with a range of finishes for complimentary post cards that visitors can take as souvenirs:

Black Vinyl on white card:

This postcard would have worked a lot better if the vinyl sticker was subtly tucked into the bottom left corner, however the restrictions of the vinyl cutter made it that it had to be a certain size.

Foiling:

I tried foiling the logo onto a postcard size piece of white paper, I then backed this onto two pieces of card to give it more rigidity:

I am happy with the result of the foiling but the low quality paper that was used for the top layer shows too much.

If I use this process again in the future I will print onto higher quality paper that doesn't need any extra support.

Screen Printed Poster:

These are my first batch of posters:

The textures that were achieved on this poster were successful and linked in with the 'factory' theme however it hasn't photographed very well

The bright green wasn't as effective as I'd hoped and wasn't very legible from a distance.

I attempted to introduce a subtle gradient but this confused the design too much and made it unclear to what the purpose of it was.

The most successful and functional poster I managed to print was this which was simply black on watercolour paper, the type is legible and the half tone picture is clear.

Secret 7" Competition

This brief is to design artwork for a 7" single for one of the available artists, I have chosen to design for Laura Marling and Nick Drake simply because I am more familiar with them than any of the other artists.

Whilst listening to the songs that I was designing for I sketched some initial ideas that I thought would complement the feel and message of the song

I decided that a good design solution for 'The Beast' would be a bed that has two opposing bedsteads that represent the two characters marling sings about.

Laura Marling

The addition of a scruffy quilt illustrates the distance and separation between the two characters

After looking at this the next day I decided that 'The Beast' half of the bed needed some more suggestion towards it being a beast:

After returning to this design I thought that it was a little bare and would get flicked past when compared with other submissions, I have decided to add another element to it to give it more mystery and interest.

I looked into alchemic symbols that are relevant to the nature of the song which is about these two characters that are, essentially, good and evil.

To represent an unbalanced and abuseful relationship:

Trying to combine the two designs was getting quite crowded

I decided to cut the bed design in half to make it more cryptic and also the lower half of the bed looked a bit like a cat which wasn't fitting to the song.

This is the final submission for the competition:

Nick Drake - Rider on the Wheel

The Nick Drake song makes a very lonely and solemn atmosphere which seems to be about some character who's on his own, presumably on a Ferris wheel which emphasises his loneliness.

I want to create a simple design that focusses on the solitude of the character

I like the idea of a high contrast between the character and his surroundings, like he doesn't really fit in.

These colours work perfectly but fall outside the CMYK gamut

After revisiting this design I think it would be better to simplify it even more:

I think this is more effective as it is a bit unbalanced and has a light vs. heavy feel to it which is represented by Nick Drakes light music and often downbeat subject matter.