BA (Hons.) GRAPHIC DESIGN
LEVEL
05
Module Code
OUGD202!
Module Title
DESIGN PRODUCTION - DIGITAL
END OF MODULE SELF-EVALUATION NAME
Joe Warburton
1. What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them? Although I have never used After Effects prior to this module, I have always wanted to use motion graphic software, particularly AE. Throughout this module, I have discovered the extent of how much work is required to create just a few seconds of video. I have developed skills primarily in storyboarding and ‘getting my ideas onto paper’ as previously, I rarely experimented with hand-rendered design ideas. The workshops, however, allowed me to explore these lacking capabilities and I evenutally produced a body of work I was pleased with, particularly the silent movie storyboards. Using After Effects was initially challenging but through the software workshops, I soon developed an understanding of how the software ‘worked’. I believe my knowledge has progressed significantly from the silent movie outcomes to my final title sequence and will hopefully use AE again in future projects.
2. What approaches to/methods of design production have you developed and how have they informed your design development process? Aforementioned, pre-production storyboards have been an influencial factor in my design direction as I was able to experiment with a range of ideas and compositions prior to using After Effects. I realised that once I began a sequence within AE, it was difficult to alter a specific segment without changing the whole sequence. I therefore needed to ensure I had all the elements / assets I intended to incorporate within my animation prior to starting my AE project. There were some icons, however, that I designed as I progressed due to the alterations I made to some of the transitions. As I was designing the imagery that I intended to feature within my title sequence, I was continously thinking how I could translate these into a motion graphic. These icons subsequently formed the primary basis of my title and idents. The frequent progress crits ensured I was heading in the right direction and pointed out certain aspects which I need to improve upon. For example, after I devised an initial test animation and showed this in the first progress crit, it was noted that the ambiguous nature of the imagery was difficult to distinguish and apply to a film. Although my original intention was to keep a sense of mystery and not reveal the films featured in the top 10 list, I decided to incorporate text in order to reinforce the graphic.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these? Prior to starting the Top Ten brief, I ensured I completed a lot of research to gather extensive source material which would ultimately aid and influence my design direction. Although not necessarily part of the digital module, I was pleased with how I translated the imagery from my title sequence to the packaging that held the CD. I believe the concept works well with a perforated film reel that reveals the content - this references the almost cryptic / ambigous nature of the icons themselves. I am also pleased with the general aesthetic of my title sequence and subsequent idents due to the minimal and simplistic nature of the imagery.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in the future? As I was designing the icons / imagery which I intended to feature within my title sequence, I thought of what transitions I could use as opposed to getting these onto paper and experimenting with alternatives. I tend to settle with a pre-existing idea/s and therefore limit myself with my design decisions. Although my storyboards encouraged me to try out new conceptual ideas, I need to change the way I approach the pre-production aspect. Although After Effects was a new starting point and formed the basis of the whole module, I need to manage my time more effectively, though I believe I have improved since the first year. I need to prioritise the stages of development more effectively, however, as I spent the majority of my time experimenting with transitions within after effects as opposed to finalising the transitions through pre-production storyboards.
5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these? If I ever decide to use After Effects again, I will develop more hand-rendered storyboards and experiment more with the pre-production development in order to create a diverse range of conceptual design ideas. Manage my time more effectively and blog as I work, simply to keep up to date. Prioritise work more efficiently so I don’t spend too long on a certain aspect of a project which is not necessarily as ‘important’ or requires more time as another - for example, the packaging. Define my target market and my statement of intent in advance to ultimately focus my design direction and provide me with a clear starting point. Experiment with different media - I thought about incorporating quotes from the top 10 films within my title sequence or idents, much like the LoveFilm adverts, but never experimented with these in the initial stages of the development process.
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 Attendance x Punctuality x Motivation x Commitment x Quantity of work produced x Quality of work produced x Contribution to the group x 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.