Mitch Weaver OUGD303 FMP – Evaluation -‐ Attendance -‐ 4 Punctuality – 4 Motivation -‐ 4 Commitment – 5 Quality of work produced -‐ 4 Quantity of work produced -‐ 3 Contribution to the group – 2 -‐ 1. What skills have you developed and how effectively have you applied them throughout the module? Throughout the entire module I have tried to incorporate illustration into every one of my briefs. This is my practice and will be for the rest of my creative career. Looking back at last module I realised that I was lacking heavily in production and processes, ultimately making a negative impact on my overall outcomes. I feel that I have effectively addressed this throughout each brief and ultimately have increased the visual capacity of each project. Alongside this my illustration skills have massively improved, as I now understand the type of work I want to produce and who I want to work. This has enabled me to fully develop both digital and hand drawn practices, combining them together to produce effective visuals. Also my type and layout skills have increased, particularly dealing with editorial design. This is something, which I felt was a massive weakness until I started to apply my own work and content that I felt suited the direction of a chosen brief. Again as ‘graphic design’ is not my main focus throughout my creative practice, I still feel that I need to utilise this skill next to my illustrations, which creates a stronger platform for them to be displayed on. 2. What approaches / methods of research have you developed and how have the informed your design development process? The main focus throughout the module in terms of research was image application and how that could be translated through different products. Most of the design / illustration I have looked at has been based around either digital, or more traditional methods of image making. This has allowed me to understand different techniques and how to reach a professional standard of image application. Particularly as digital illustration has radically changed the versatility of illustration and allowed a much broader application across a wide range of media and products. Limited colour pallets also show me how to effectively utilise one colour plus a stock choice. Changing how the overall deliverable of project looks finalised. Also focussing my research within cultural
audiences has allowed me to understand the designer I want to become. Building up on my own interests and the style of work I want to produce overall. 3. What skills have you identified in your work and how will you capitalise these? Again like the first paragraph the main strength is being a visual person, focussing on illustration as a means of communication. Throughout the module my briefs have allowed me to focus directly on different approaches to image application and how media processes can develop a project further. Working with cultural audiences, predominantly those which illustration can be related to. This has showed me how my other interests have influenced my practice constantly throughout the final major project. Alongside this I feel I have successfully shown how image application can improve and determine the overall finalised outcome of a project. Packaging and editorial layouts have allowed myself to develop a platform for my illustrations. As alone they can stand as visual products improving the overall reach of a design. This module has ultimately shown me clearly the kind of work I want produce and whom I want to produce it for. I feel a lot more confident with my illustrative practice as I am determined to become one of the many influential artists that I feel have achieved a professional standard, which is impeccable. I now have a further understanding of image application and how this can increase the reach of an illustration, as ‘nice’ as it may look on screen or on a piece of paper. It needs to be fully extended to allow a strong audience reach and meet its full potential. 4. What weaknesses have you identified and how address these in future projects? One of the main weaknesses I have noticed is choosing the right brief. A number of briefs did not reach the final stages of the design process and have been left in the background. This has not necessarily effective any my other briefs, but wasted time on a project that was doomed from the start. I now know I need to be more specific with my practice overall and the audience I want to aim my illustrations at. As this will determine the client base I could build and how other designers would view me. Throughout my career I want to build up my work for the music sector, particularly hardcore and metal. As I find that the illustrations I want to produce related directly to this audience.
5. Name five things you would do differently and why? Stick to one style – I would say most of my briefs have vector based illustrations, but my LOTR project does not. I do not feel that it fully represents my style, something that is important to perfect as an illustrator. Develop a bigger range – Some of my briefs were lacking within the range section, this is something I need to focus on in order to expand a brief’s full potential. Utilise all of facilities available – Most of my work has been digital based, without any extra finishing. Some of my briefs could have benefitted processes that were readily available, possibly increasing their visual output. Pick briefs carefully – Three of my briefs did not go according to plan due to a number of reasons mainly because I got bored too quickly. Or did not manage my time effectively. I now know the kind of work I want to produce. Manage my time – Always the main problem I face and I guess most people. This has left some of my briefs unfulfilled and lacking in potential.