OUGD503 - Self Evaluation

BA (Hons.) GRAPHIC DESIGN Module Code

OUGD503

Module Title

Design Process

LEVEL

05

END OF MODULE SELF-EVALUATION NAME Joe Leadbeater

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

Interacting with clients – I’ve learnt about ways to present my work to clients in a way which they would like, how to organise meetings with clients, etc.

Organising payment – I have learnt of the best way to charge clients (after designing an invoice), and also how they can pay me.

How to manage my time with live briefs – Obviously the clients dictate deadlines, so I have learnt how to work on different projects and different times. I found one way of working is to charge more for work when I’m busier than normal, this way the benefit of working hard is a better payment, and if they find the bill too high, it doesn’t matter if I’m already busy.

Scaring off people who don’t take my business seriously – I have found this has happened within the module, but immediately stopped after I asked for people to sign contracts.

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

The 36 Days of Type brief allowed me to learn much more about software. I hadn’t ever touched Cinema 4D before this module, and now I have much more confidence in 3D rendering, something I aim to experiment with more within my work.

This brief also allowed me to work on Adobe Illustrator, my weakest of software programmes. I have much more confidence working with it, making me a more rounded designer. I have also strengthened my knowledge of Photoshop with this brief.

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

I feel I’ve learnt much more about branding, and think I have a good eye to construct a brand. Most of the branding I have done for this module was just business stationary, but in the future I would like to brand as many things as possible, and at as many formats as possible. \ I can work well with clients – Clients seemed to enjoy working and meeting up with me, something crucial when it comes to working closely with them.

Layout / Grid – Something I feel has really improved during the module, and is also something I really enjoy. This is made most obvious for the work with Scott Nash, where an original grid system was used to work seamlessly over the entire identity.

Illustration – I am starting to build up more illustrative and image based work, something I hadn’t ever really tried before this module. I like the idea of working with simple shapes and gradients, and think this has improved during the module.

Creativity – 36 Days of Type challenged my daily creativity, which initially was very difficult.

However, as my knowledge of software progressed a long with the project, I managed to come up with plenty of unique ideas. I still feel I have a lot to learn software wise, but I have made tremendous progress.

Collaborating – Working with Alex worked out really well. We had a few issues now and then, but it was due to me working in the studio and Alex working at home, meaning very little communication. I have learnt that for a collaboration to work, regular meetings are crucial.

Submission boards – For both of my major competition briefs, I think I managed to come up with really effective and eye catching boards.

Photography – I have learnt that with the right set up, I can take good photos (this can be seen by ‘Organic’. In the future I shall utilise this fully when it comes to final boards and portfolio images.

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

I have very little experience in web – base design in this module. This is because websites are still fairly new to me, and very time consuming. I intend on learning much more about coding and web based design before working with actual clients.

Being too nice to clients – I have had issues with payment, but it was also because at the time I was too scared to ask them to sign contracts. No matter who I work with, friends or strangers, my business should still be kept at the same level of professionalism.

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

Ask for deposits / signed contracts up front – To stop people getting my work for free.

Blog on time – Despite having a lot of work on at once, it’s best to blog at the time as it will catch up on you.

Be more professional – Even when working with people you know, Facebook should not be used instead of a meeting. I will treat friends the same as strangers in the future, to make my practice seem more like a business than a hobby.

- Work closer when it comes to collaboration. Alex and I both argued that neither of us were punching each others weight, but we both realised it was because neither of us were seeing each others work. When it comes to collaboration in the future, I will meet up more and show exactly all the work I have produced.

- Turn down some projects – I am getting to a stage of my career where I shall be designing more than leaflets. Although I designed two leaflets for this module, they were more about working with as many clients as possible. I now want to focus on more serious work, so leaflet briefs will be turned away in the future.

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 1

2

3

4

5 x x x x x x x

Attendance Punctuality Motivation Commitment Quantity of work produced Quality of work produced Contribution to the group 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.