OUGD301 RATIONALE

RATIONALE DESIGN PRACTICE III OUGD301 Brief: What is the problem you intend to solve?

I intend to... (inform/instruct/persuade/direct/educate/promote to) Develop a body of professional, high-quality and innovative design projects to strengthen and diversify my portfolio throughout the year as I embark on developing more industry experience and contacts as well as seeking employment upon graduation.

Specialising in brand development, I hope to explore brand identity foremost, but also to explore typographic, editorial, packaging and retail design for a well-rounded and considered finalised portfolio from my three years at University, and, ultimately, from my professional development in my final year.

Who needs to know?

A group of... (identify your specific audience or context) My portfolio will be available in both print and digital format upon completion to be reviewed not only by tutors for the marking of my degree, but also to show to industry professionals and potential clients to potentially develop a network of freelance clients and/or industry contacts as I look at potential employment upon graduation, preferably at a small, yet successful branding design studio within the United Kingdom, working as a freelance designer in my own personal time at the evenings and on the weekends, where appropriate and time permitting.

What do they need to know?

That... (state your message, idea or concept) Primarily, I intend to seek employment working in a branding design studio, working on strong, conceptual development, working and communicating with clients on a regular basis, and combining my skills in both typographic and image for purpose design. However, I also have a wide skills set and interest that I believe would fit many potential design roles including photography, photographic editor, editorial/publishing designer, marketing consultant, and so on.

As well as for both my personal development, this year is really focused on strengthening both my design portfolio and industry contacts as I seek employment and want to actively start to work in the industry upon graduation, ensuring that the passion and motivation I have today is maintained throughout the year, and, consequently, throughout the rest of my working life.

Why do they need to know?

I hope to present my portfolio and briefs throughout the year in a strongly developed, well contextualised and conceptualised way that will demonstrate to potential clients and employers that I could be a valuable part of a design team; and with the benefit of a wonderful degree education, and, as a result, a depth of knowledge and understanding of the industry that could potentially set me apart from other candidates in this competitive industry.

What will they respond to?

My portfolio, and projects within, will be available in both print and digital formats (either delivered through the post, sent through hyperlinked emails, etc), with a range of diverse and significant projects from throughout my time at University, all complete with professionalstandard, studio photography documentation of the product outcomes, along with written descriptions, links to necessary resources, etc.

Throughout my portfolio, and Level 06, I hope to specialise in branding and brand identity, but also look to create versatility and diversity in my projects to demonstrate my wide range of skills sets and capabilities, perhaps, most importantly, my meticulous, research- driven nature, my playfulness and humour, and my motivation to achieve the best results in whatever I set out to do.

In order to achieve this I will produce... (Specify at this point in time what you aim to produce, the method of delivery/distribution/the context in which it will be viewed) A range of diverse and significant projects which will cover live, collaborative, research, skill, and competition- driven briefs encompassing both my own, personal interests and more corporate work, to gain insight into a “real life� studio experience, whereupon the division of working for a client and for myself would be far more realistic than what may have been demonstrated so far in my design portfolio.

This will be produced using... (At least two processes you intend to use) Various briefs throughout the year (live, collaborative, competition, etc) in Design Practice III FMP module PPD module Personal Development Industry Experience What research is required?

Primary Contact studios/industry professionals in regards to receiving feedback, and what they look for in graduate and junior designers.

Secondary

Explore existing design portfolios in the industry of graduate and junior designers.

Look for (branding) design studios both in the UK and abroad to potentially gain industry experience and/or employment upon graduation.