OUGD402: Module Evaluation.

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

I think the most important skill I have developed is the skill of understanding, not only understanding other designers work, and their design process, but also understand my own personal and professional practice. I have learnt to understand what design I lean towards, what design I can and cannot do, what design processes to use, and what materials I work best with as well as understanding what I want to move on to doing in the future and how I will apply this. I have also learnt a great deal about myself, about my strengths and weaknesses, both personal and professional, as well as picking up skills such as confidence, and an ability to talk about myself which has been very useful in presenting my work, and will be useful in the future whenever speaking to clients.

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

I have constantly grown in terms of following blogs, at first I would go onto blogs because I was told to, I would do the set tasks, and that would be all. However now It seems as though sometimes I can never switch off and constantly find myself looking at blogs, not even so for projects, but just to catch up on what is happening in the graphic design world. Thanks to looking at these blogs, I have started to find a group of designers whom I aspire to create work at the same level, for example illustrating for books, or finding traditional screen print designers. This module has also helped me to realise what design processes I would like to take forward, It has helped me expose my love for book design and custom illustration and typography, as well as my love for print. I screen printed for this particular module and it has made me want to try even more traditional processes. Although these seemingly take a long time to set up, the outcomes of them out way the time taken by an enormous amount.

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

I think a strength in my development through PPP is the honesty I have kept within the work I like and the work I create. Especially during the last project which was the information pack. I didn't try to create a visual identity that I thought could vaguely or slightly represent the work that I do, I didn't want to create a pattern that 'sort of represented what I was about'. Instead I created something that was honest, that reflected the integrity that I don't quite know who I am yet, I wasn't afraid to put my hands up and say im not sure who I am right now. I think I will continue to be honest with work, and not push myself to design in a certain way because I feel I must have a visual identity, but rather, I must 'let the coins fall where they may.'

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

I wouldn't particularly say there are many weaknesses within my ppp module, as its really been about learning, and there is no right and wrong when learning. When we first got the 'Its up to you!' Brief I struggled to create something that I thought was entirely me, I took the brief and thought that I had to create a promotion pack that represented my exact practice. However not really knowing who I am right now within Graphic design, with it being my first year studying the subject, I convinced myself that I had to come up with a solid identity to show who I was. After a week of trying to get on with something, I had gotten nowhere, and I had to remind myself, that I was trying to create something that represented who I am right now, and if I didn't know who I was, then that Is what I should communicate in whatever I produce.

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

Not try to push myself into trying to become a certain designer, because I think I should have realised exactly what I am/ am going to do, to let the chips fall where they may. To gain confidence in making contacts outside of college, although with it being my first year studying on the subject I didn't feel confident enough to do it this summer, a placement or visits is something I would like to do next year. Go to exhibitions such as the print festival to educate me on my new love for print and traditional processes. To keep up to date with designers throughout the year, not just in short bursts, so I am totally up to date with the design world at all times. Try new sectors of design, and working in different sized collaborations to further help me discover the direction in which my design practice is going.

6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas: (please indicate using an ‘x’) 5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor

Attendance         4

Punctuality          5

Motivation           4

Commitment       4

Quantity of work produced   3

Quality of work produced     4

Contribution to the group      4

The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.