End of Module Student Evaluation BA (Hons) Illustration Module Code: OUIL501 Context of Practice Name: Polly Student ID: 259578 Please identify where the evidence for each of the learning outcomes is within your submission and how well you feel you have met the learning outcomes. Please also grade yourself in relation to the learning outcomes using terms: poor, satisfactory, good, very good, excellent (Note - This is so that the team have an understanding of how well you feel you have done. It is not an indication of the actual grade you may receive.) Learning Outcome
Evidenced where? Blog, Visual Journal, Roughs, Final Illustrations, Storyboards, Development Sheets etc. (No more than 75 words)
5A1 Demonstrate a critical understanding of the aesthetic, cultural, historical, technological, social, political or other contexts relevant to individual subject disciplines. (Knowledge and understanding) (Research / critical awareness)
Journal, exploring how lettering is used in different Good contexts. Essay explores this, too.
5A2 Demonstrate an awareness of the relationship between the theoretical and practical contexts of their own creative concerns. (Knowledge and understanding) (problem analysis/definition)
Essay - exploring why the research question is useful to industry. My own practice is concerned with hand lettering, so to understand its context is important.
5B1 Evidence the ability to use logic, reasoning and critical judgement to analyse ideas from a range of primary and secondary sources. (Cognitive skills) (Critical awareness)
Essay and blog. My research question was my Very good + own observation, and I took facts from a range of sources to develop an argument for my case. The essay was not based on previous studies, but evidence and social awareness/judgement. I used a range of primary research (visual observations, questionnaire) and secondary sources.
Your grade Using words: > poor, satisfactory, good, very good, excellent
Good
5C1 Evidence the capacity for undertaking practical and theoretical research that demonstrates an informed application of critical, effective and testable processes. (Practical and professional skills) (research)
Journal. Practical experiments were derived from hand lettering research/observation. Materials used aimed to mimic those in the industry [print texture, ink, paper cutting, digital brushes..]
Good
5D1 Blog - Questionnaire. Journal - annotations should Very good Organise and carry out selfdescribe my process and evaluations. Essay directed projects and reflective practice section. communicate outcomes through written and other appropriate forms. (Key transferable skills) (professionalism / technical competence / visual quality)
Summative Evaluation (See Evaluation Guidance on next page for more information) You are required to write a 750 word Summative Evaluation of this module. Please type up your Summative Evaluation in the box below. Make a PDF of the document and post the PDF as your final post on your OUIL501 blog. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Context of Practice had a slow start this year, however once I settled on a research project that I has a personal interest in, I was able to maintain a motivated approach to both the essay and the practical exploration. After moving courses over the summer, picking a research question was very confusing, as I was still trying to find my grounding on the Illustration course. I know topics within Graphic Design, and although practically I am more interested in Illustration, I simply wasn’t aware of where the dividing line was when it came to theory. I did reevaluate last year’s topic, lifestyle branding, however knew that I wanted to take a different approach this year. Deciding on my initial research question stretched through until late November, and I began looking into both “authorship within illustration” and “Is there social responsibility behind being a commercial designer/illustrator?”. However, during the December holidays, after finding sources and initial planning, I realised that I wasn’t passionate enough about either topic. I then looked inward, listing topics I was passionate about. Children books was one option, but then I thought of hand lettering and it’s recent explosion into all corners of the industry. I also thought the journal would be an ideal way to practice the skill, and improve my understanding. For the draft submission, I only outlined my proposal, analysing a selection of visual research as an example. This was disappointing, as I couldn’t get feedback on my writing style or essay structure, however I now had the research question and the drive to take on the project. I believe the journal and essay are well synthesised, as I explore different methods of producing hand lettering, suited to specific contexts. For example, in my essay I discuss how organic/health brands often utilise the connotations of rough textures and hand rendered type within their branding, to appear authentic, rustic and earthy. This was then practically explored as I experimented with monoprint texture, ink and paper cutting. In the refined experimentation section of the journal, I began experimenting with a range of
different font styles, combining them in a fun, engaging and informal way, to reflect small business. The content of the lettering pieces is inspired by the essay, for example “Why pay taxes when we can get bonuses” references the section of the essay where I explore why public opinion is so negative towards big business and CEOs. Another strength of the project is the range of source material I used to explore a self initiated essay question, based on my own observations of the industry. I was able to form an argument to explain why there has been such a rise in the use of hand lettering within big business, referencing business statistics, typography knowledge, the history of sign painting and my own primary research into small businesses. After January, my time management for the project was fairly steady. I did prioritise other modules over COP throughout the year, however this was a decision based on a thorough plan for the months of March and April. I kept up source reading and essay planning steadily until the Easter holidays, where I then dedicated two weeks to sources and essay structure, two weeks to writing, and one week to polishing the essay. The journal was also completed steadily through this period. A new technique I will take forward to next year is how I noted down and structured my source material as I found it. Within the “Facts and Planning” blog post, I had headings in a chronological order that mirrored the structure of the essay. Through this method I built an argument in my head which helped when it came to writing and linking paragraphs. After the slow start, I am glad that we had the task of beginning initial research into COP3 so early. I have decided to explore a new topic, but one I did consider earlier this year; how children learn, and how visual stimuli can improve memory, understanding and attitude towards learning. This module showed how important an early start and an inspiring project are to next year’s dissertation. I am eager to investigate another project that directly influences my future practice as an illustrator.