Progress Evaluation January 2010.

Following the last module I have evaluated my strengths and weaknesses which will
help my future design practice.

Weaknesses
No matter how hard i try i am just useless at photographing my work.

Presentation is key, so it is an area i need improve

possibly better to find some one who is good at photography and ask them if they could take
them for me.

good photos for presentation purposes will help my portfolio which i will be showing to design studios.

I need to make key decisions faster to move briefs along

In the last module i could have produced more ideas had i tested previous ideas out more quickly.

I think i need to take more risks with ideas and not be scared to get out of my comfort zone.

e.g push formats further.

Strengths
Now the weaknesses are out of the way i can move on to my strengths

most confident in research.

aids me when working through a design problem

Helps build a strong design concept which i think is another of my strengths

i am confident with type and layout and my dissertation is focusing on the grid system
which is really helping feed through in my design practice.


What do i want to produce?

Firstly, publications. when looking at contextual research i have always been drawn to
publication design with nice type and layout.

I like being able to choose different stocks and being in control of how the finished piece
feels to the reader as well as its looks.

I want to produce posters, but with strong conceptual meaning that can really relate to an audience. I want to research audience interaction more and i think this will help
develop how i go about designing posters.

I have found briefs that relate to awareness and education for poster designs which
i think will help me design for specific audiences.


I also enjoyed producing a brand, an identity in the last module, which was for an exhibition.

I want to push this further because it still focuses on what i'm interested in with type and layout.

Also a good way to push myself to design concisely and simply to get the design message
across.

Creating brands will also help me work with type more closely and technically.

Her is my promotion pack, which is and envelope with examples of my work on a fold up mini
poster along with a business card.

I will be sending my promo pack to design studios i am interested in getting experience from.

I have also re-designed my portfolio with my new up to date branding on.

I have this in PDF version to send through email to studios

I need to print the paper based version though.

I have contacted more design studios based in yorkshire to try organise another placement for easter.

I have been able to be more specific this time in the type of work i want to be doing while there which has affected my decision of studios to consider.

I have focused more on print design studios that produce posters, publications, mail shots and branding. That way when i show them my portfolio i will get more focused advice on my interests.


For primary research i went to London to visit a typography exhibition. Typographica.

This has contributed to my dissertation research and was very useful for primary visuals

I signed up for the mailing list so now i get information sent about future exhibitions and i'm frequently invited along to previews and private views. I think this might be useful in the future to make networking contacts.


Future plans

Where will i be

I will have a better understanding of my design practice and what areas of print design i want to work in..

I will have a portfolio to take to studios i am interested in.

Self promotion i can send to studios i am interested in.

Get some more placements.



What do i need to do to get there

Good quality work from new briefs showing my interests in layout and type.

Presented well in portfolio

Make sure my promotion is always up to date.

Establish contacts with studios.