Module Submission Form.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

 wednesday 16th february 2011

THEME/SUBJECT RATIONALE:

For my chosen subject, I decided to create a product based around moustaches- and how they can be promoted to encourage experimentation in style, growth and grooming methods.

From extensive research, I found that the vast majority of people I asked were "anti-moustache", and I wanted to ammend this in a light-hearted, playful manner, a style and method of which I believe people will have an automatically positive response to- which, of course, were my exact intentions.

My main focus for my design, was, of course, men- and particually in the teen-twenty-five year old age bracket- an age of fashion conciousness and the self-confidence and assurance of experimentation which comes naturally with this period of growth and maturity. I hope to have created a design which was simple, bold, interactie and humourous- but most of all, a product which is sincerely fun and memorable.

ALL WORK MUST BE CLEARLY PRESENTED AND LABELLED WITH YOUR NAME, MODULE CODE, BRIEF TITLE AND ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE INFORMATION. PLEASE PRESENT ALL WORK IN AN A2 PLASTIC PORTFOLIO/SLEEVE- ANY WORK SUBMITTED IN OTHER FORMATS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH THE MODULE TUTOR IN ADVANCE OF THE SUBMISSION. ALL BLOG POSTS RELEVANT TO THIS MODULE SHOULD BE "TAGGED" WITH THE MODULE CODE 'OUGD102'.

Blogs up to date..........complete.

Work labelled as briefed..........complete.

Work submitted in apropraite format..........complete.

Self-Evaluation Completed and posted to blog(s) as briefed..........complete.

I CONFIRM THAT ALL WORK SUBMITTED IS MY OWN, AND AM AWARE OF THE COLLEGE PLAGIARISM POLICY AND THAT ALL WORK SUBMITTED HAS BEEN APPROPRIATELY LABELLED, FORMATTED AND TESTED.

signed and dated..........complete.

End of Module Self-Evaluation: ougd102

1. WHAT SKILLS HAVE YOU DEVELOPED THROUGH THIS MODULE AND HOW EFFECTIVELY DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE APPLIED THEM?

I sincerely feel that I have learnt so much throughout this project- not only software and practical skills, but important, enriching skills to use in every day life- time management, comitment, motivation.

Though it was undoubtedly frustrating and a little dis-heartening at the late stage in the Collection 100 project, in hindsight, I am really glad that I was in a situation where I had to re-design my work- this way, I could take the step back that I know I so vitally needed to assess my effectiveness of my product and develop my visual language skills. This has really encouraged me to work very hard, especially in the past two weeks, to produce a portfolio of work that I can be proud to have assessed.

2. WHAT APPROACHES TO/METHODS OF RESEARCH HAVE YOU DEVELOPED AND HOW HAVE THEY INFORMED YOUR DESIGN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS?

I have developed many areas of research- in marketing, reading, and practical work. I particularly feel that I have been far more practical and hands-on in this module that through previous ones- really experimenting to see if a design works, constructing and printing for a true visual and tactile representation- as oppossed to a conceptual one.

3. WHAT STRENGTHS CAN YOU IDENTIFY IN YOUR WORK AND HAVE/WILL YOU CAPITALISE ON THESE?

As time has passed throughout this project, I have felt increasingly more confident in applying software skills to my work (Illustrator, in particular), and have really enjoyed the various workshops that have been included in this module (moving image and book making, for example).

Whereas I have always found a home in crafting, digital arts as a practice is reasonably new to me, so I would really love to develop this further and to use all the knowledge I am gaining in future projects, and personal ones.

4. WHAT WEAKNESSES CAN YOU IDNENTIFY IN YOUR WORK AND HOW WILL YOU ADDRESS THESE MORE FULLY?

I think one of my main weaknesses is not identifying a design solution as quickly as I could-often having to start afresh to find a source of inspiration after a design idea has failed- with experimenting and developing design ideas more frequently, I know that I will be able to overcome (or, at very least, minimise) this issue- which could also be helped by brainstorming and researching more fluidly.

5. IDENTIFY FIVE THINGS THAT YOU WILL DO DEFFERENTLY NEXT TIME AND WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO GAIN FROM DOING THESE?

-generate more ideas at the start of the project- stop becoming infatuted with one idea! shop around and broaden my design horizons.

-be more organised- create a "to-do list" every other day (at least)

-never put a pen down- constanltly doodle, generate ideas.

-be more experimental when designing-mix mediums and stocks.

-research design more- reading, online sources, etc.

6. HOW WOULD YOU GRADE YOURSELF ON THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

5=EXCELLENT, 4=VERY GOOD, 3=GOOD, 2=AVERAGE, 1= POOR.

ATTEDANCE= 4

PUNCTUALITY= 4

MOTIVATION= 4

COMMITMENT= 4

QUANTITY OF WORK PRODUCED= 3

QUALITY OF WORK PRODUCED= 3

CONTRIBUTION TO THE GROUP= 3

Collection 100: Student Feedback.

Collection 100: Student Feedback.

 From this afternoon's open feedback session- in regards to the development of our work, background research and final product, feedback delivered by fellow students...

ISSUES RAISED

-why use purple, what is it for? with the moustaches, could you have your drawings of the famous people with them?

-confused

-nicely crafted

-try categorising the taches into relevant groups?

-who is it for? restricted audience

-promotion? possibly packaging?

-what is the point in it? other than being visually LOVELY

(^^ i liked that person!^^)

ACTION TO BE TAKEN

-try some categories

-maybe think about typeface- not too sure about coloured counters

**** 

I think that part of the confusion caused with my work was the way I had organised it to be viewed without labelling effectively. I had placed my original design outcome to the left, with my new (slightly lacking in work thus far!) design outcome to the right, both designs showing the progression of how I have reached the conclusion I am now at, therefore, people weren't to know which design outcome I was decided upon.

Despite this, I was very pleased with my feedback- nothing too negative, and completely constructive- all points ones I have considered and still, am considering now.

CATEGORISATION...

*much like my original final outcome idea, I am probably going to categorise my swatch books in alphabetical order, however, I may explore the possibility of categorising them by exsiting moustache types (though I believe this may cause more confusion?)

WHO IS THIS FOR...

*make that clear in my promotion- poster design.

*the product, itself will be somewhat restricted due to the moustache aspect- a limited, niche group of fans- but avid ones at that.

PROMOTION...

*again, unclear at this stage. in my original final outcome I intended to design for product and packaging, but now I aim to make a poster (though this, of course, was unclear at this stage with both products on view...)

WHAT  IS THE POINT...

*as stated on box and throughout designs.

Collection 100: Module Feedback.

Issues Raised: 

*Consider my visual language more carefully- evaluate my audience in closer detail.

*Consider styling and design, colours, etc.

Action to be taken:

*Go back to the brief and evaluate every nook and cranny!

*Potentially re-design.

*Consider mapping the information and message I am trying to portray more clearly.

****

WHAT I WILL DO NEXT...

From my feedback, I gained a lot of insight into my work and the problems with it- not really taking the time out to asess my work more carefully throughout the design process (a problem I have had with my work more than once, and know that I should really start to amend- it will not only save time, but also money in printing!).

Although my tutors said it was not entirely necessary, I feel that I need to completely re-evaluate my product, and design something almost completely new.

Therefore, in the two weeks before my project hand-in, from brainstorming several ideas, I hope to go back to my original product design ideas and create the following pieces...

*a swatch book with cut-out-and-keep moustache styles- a "know before you grow" guide.

*moustache "business cards" to take to the barbershop for styling.

*an A1 poster displaying 100 moustache styles for the barbershop.

*sticker set with "moustache club" esque stickers on (for the elite moustache-wearer's club!)

I hope through this re-design I will reflect a lot more upon my work, and notice any flaws from an early stage, to produce the best product possible within this short time.

Time Management: Feedback and Response.

In today's time mangament lesson, we discussed our week and how we had spent it- how we used time constructively, and how we wasted it.

I found the task really interesting, and was surprised by my records- especially the amount I sleep...I swear I'm not normally THAT lazy...

Topics we discussed included...

PLANNING

*set goals

*break down a job into individual tasks

*schedule tasks

*recognise time required to plan

*label priorities 'A' and others 'B'- do all the 'A's' first

*Leave the fun things until last

*REWARD YOURSELF

WHAT YOU CAN GAIN FROM MANAGING YOUR TIME WELL...

*happiness

*completion of tasks

*relief!

*more time for recreation

*wellbeing

*organisation

*more naps!

Hints and Tips:

*Be realistic- learn what your potential is. If anything will take 5 minutes- do it immediately

*Make self-imposed deadlines feel real- use others to structure your time

*Take breaks, avoid disctractionns, know the difference

*Working environment- what suits you?

*Restrict workspace to one project at a time

LONG TERM GOALS

-WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE BY THE END OF THIS COURSE?

I would like to be confident and comfortable in my own abilities- feeling that I have more of a directional style, and the ability to apply it to various medias, as well as promoting it to the very best of my ability.

-DO YOU WANT TO RUN YOUR OWN PRACTICE/BUSINESS?

I would love to work freelance- I love the possibilities it can open up, and the sense of freedom.

So many people I know around me tell me to be wary of it, or avoid it all together- "it's not a steady source of income- you might not get work for a long time"...i like a challenge.

-WHAT IS YOUR IDEAL JOB?

Right now, I want to be a children's book author and illustrator. That's what I've wanted to do for most of my life, but then again i've wanted to be a neurologist and a beekeeper too, so I'm flexible.

-DO YOU WANT TO WORK IN THIS COUNTRY OR ABROAD?

There's no place like home, but home is where the heart is. I'd love to stay in this country, but I'll go to wherever my heart and mind tell me I should be jetting off to.

-WHAT SPECIFIC INTERESTS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU?

There are so many practices, and even day-to-day activities which are hugely important and influentual on my every day life. Love, laughter, childhood reminising- they are all a huge inspiration. I want to feel content with what I'm doing each day, no matter what it is.

Right now, that's illustration and photography...but ask me again in three years or so.

Time Management: My Week in a Blog.

Saturday 15th January 2011.

* 00:00-00:30 blogging

* 00:30-01:00 excersing

* 01:00-01:40 reading

* 01:40- 10:00 sleeping (!)

* 10:00-10:30 shower

* 10:30- 11:00 dressed and make-up

* 11:00- 11:08 eating breakfast

* 11:08-12:05 curling hair

* 12:05-12:25 tidying and cleaning kitchen

* 12:25-12:48 cooking lunch

* 12:48-13:00 eating lunch

* 13:00- 13:30 playing guitar

*13:30- 15:40 graphics work and blogging

*15:40-16:15 tidying up room, getting ready to go out

*16:15-16:45 walk to the train station

*17:00 train leaves (to Burley Park)

*17:10 arrive in Burley Park to go to partner's house

*17:30 eat tea

*18:00-21:00 graphics work (researching celebrity moustaches)

*21:00-21:30 playing accordian with Alex

*21:30-22:30 watched Pete Pothleswaite tribute- iplayer

*22:30- 08:40 SLEEP!

Sunday 16th January 2011.

*08:40-09:15 get up, ready, changed, make-up

*09:15-10:10 breakfast

*10:10-10:20 walk to the train station

*10:20-10:50- train back, walk home

*10:50-11:05 catch-up on e-mails

*11:05-13:40 visual language graphics work

*13:40-13:50 eating lunch

*13:50-15:00 visual language graphics work

*15:00-15:30 hoovering and tidying

*15:30-16:00 e-mail catch-up

*16:00-17:30 blogging

*17:30-18:20 tea

*18:20-21:05 graphics visual language work

*21:05- 21:40 tea break

*21:40-23:50 graphics visual language work

*23:50-00:30 tidying room, getting ready for bed, etc

*00:30-01:50 curling hair

*01:50-07:25 SLEEP!

Monday 17th January 2011.

*07:25-08:15 getting dressed, make-up,breakfast, etc

*08:15-08:45 walk to uni 

*09:30 project briefing with fred

*10:40 morning break

*11:00 workshop with amber

*12:00 lunch

*12:30 e-mailing, blogging

*13:30 go to waterstone's- primary research, existing products

*15:30 back home

*15:40 blogging

*16:00 washing plates making tea (for break)

*17:00 tea time

*17:50-12:40 blogging

*12:40-01:50 curling hair

*01:50-07:30 SLEEP(!)

Tuesday 18th January 2011.

*07:30- wake up, get changed, etc. breakfast

*08:20- leave house for uni

*08:45- arrive at uni

*09:00- collect camera equipment from photography

*09:15 blogging and visual langauge graphics work

*10:00- talking to marketing at uni, photography commission

*10:30- visual language graphics work

*11:20- tutorial with Richard Miles

*12:00- lunch

*12:30- blogging

*13:00- visual language lesson with Amber

*15:00- end of uni day 

*16:10- collect photographic equipment

*16:15-17:30- photoshoot for LCA fashion and promotions

*18:00- walk home, tea time

*18:20- working at Nisa (part-time job)

*00:45- get home, editing photographs from fashion shoot

*04:30- SLEEP(!)

Wednesday 19th January 2011.

*08:45- wake up

*08:45-09:45- shower, get dressed, eat breakfast

*10:00- go to Merrion Centre 3 store to renew phone contract

*11:00- Morrison's food shopping, walk back home

*12:00- walk to uni

*12:30-12:45- talking to Baljeet in the graphics studio

*12:45-15:45- interviewing potential students for 2010/11 enrollment (student ambassador duties)

*16:00- walk home

*17:00- cooking and preperating tea

*18:30- alex staying over

*19:30- blogging and catching-up on graphics work for collection 100 plus other briefs.

*22:30- 08:00- SLEEP (!)

Thursday 20th January 2011.

*08:00- wake up

*08:45- leave for uni

*09:30-12:00- moving image workshop

*12:00-12:30- lunch

*12:30-13:00- collecting photography equipment

*13:30- walk back home 

*13:45-14:15- blogging

*14:15- 14:30- snack break(!)

*14:30-20:00- blogging/graphics work

*20:00-20:45- shower

*20:45-21:15- tidy bedroom

*21:15-21:30- eating tea

*21:30- 00:10- blogging

*00:15-07:15 SLEEP (!)

Friday 21st January 2011.

*07:15-08:10- blogging, get ready, dressed, etc.

*08:10-08:20- breakfast

*08:20- leave for uni

*08:40- arrive at uni, blogging

Time Management.

In today's PPD morning session, we reviewed our personal time management, and calculated how our time was spent in an average day, or week.

My time is divided, as follows...

Activities

College Activities

-Walking to-and-from uni- 40 minutes per day.

-Time working in the studio/mac suite/library (7 hours per day).

-Working on uni work at home (7 hours per day).

Domestic Activities

-Food Shopping (1 hour per week).

-Cleaning and hoovering kitchen and bedroom (2 hours per week).

-Washing and ironing (3 hours per week).

-Eating! (9 hours per week).

-Washing and drying up dishes (2 hours per week).

Social Activities

-Boyfriend time! (one eveing per week- usually at weekends).

-Ringing parents (1 hour per week).

-SLEEP! (upto 25 hours per week).

Other

-Working 12 hours per week part time at Nisa local.

-Working up to 12 hours per week at LCA (student ambassador)

-Photography shoots- up to 10/15 hours per week.

-Etsy sales- promotion and distribution, up to 2 hours per week.

Time dedicated to college activities:

1. Time with friends: 10%

2. Blogging 20%

3. CTS and tutorials 10%

4. Visual langauge 15%

5. Briefings 10%

6. Collecting camera equiptment(!) 10%

7. Eating lunch 2%

8. PPD 5%

9. Computer-aided design 17%

Time dedicated to general activities:

1. Uni Work 25%

2. Cleaning and home 10%

3. Part-Time Employment 20%

4. Eats and treats 10%

5. The weekly shop 5%

6. Time with loved ones 10%

7. 40 winks 5%

8. Online sales 5%

9. Creativity strikes 10%

My task for next week is now to go on to record my actions of every single way for the next seven days- therefore, gaining a true insight into how I spend my time, how I procrasinate, when I procrasinate, and how I can put a stop to it, and achieve the best results I possibly can in my work!

What If...Self Evaluation.

What problem did you identify?

Our group had reasonably similar statements when initially put together, circulating around the idea that Leeds is flourishing with prospects and oppurtunities for though seeking a metropolitan lifestyle, developed from the research we gathered in the "collection 100" research brief. We decided that we wanted to take this positivity and apply it further to our "problem", which was "What makes Leeds a fun and vibrant place to live?", going on to decide that we should attempt to promote these fun and vibrant aspects to people whom live outside of the city, or may move in (such as prospective students).

What evidence did you find to support your decisions?

We collected quantative and qualitative survey-based repsonses, photographic documentation and secondary source opinions on particular aspects of Leeds.

What methods did you use to gather your evidence and what form(s) did it take?

We collected various forms of research- both quantative and qualitative.

Kirsty organised an online survey to find out what people felt the most important aspect of Leeds was, to which we recieved 97 responses with mutliple-choice answers (including nightlife, shopping, entertainment, education and business).

I also posted a paper-based survey (with the same questions) among my student halls to which I gained a few responses, as well as going out to the city, documenting places photographically and experiencing the entertainment facilities (which we would go on to focus on) to give a genuine and truthful review.

What methods of research did you find useful and why?

The research we undoubtedly found most useful was the online questionnaire/survey. The vast number of responses we got in such a short space of time was really satisfying as it gave us a great springboard for analysis to develop our project further.

How did these inform your response to your problem?

They led us on to being able to discover which aspect of Leeds required most advertising and promoting. In our case, the two aspects of Leeds deemed as least important were business and entertainment, therefore, we decided upon entertainment, as we felt this would offer the most scope and oppurtunity to develop to a particular audience (we chose students).

What methods did you encounter problematic and why? How did you overcome this?

The paper-based research was perhaps the most problematic. I had originally intended to also go into the public and ask people's opinions in relation to the questionnaire, however, after a few hours I found that people were very un-recptive and un-willing to answer my questions (particularly on a snowy winters day!). The paper-based questionnaires were troublesome because of the lack of responses we recieved- of course, as it was voluntary and we didn't personally approach these people, the responses were going to purely be generated from good will and dependent on whether people had time in their lives, etc, thus, we gained very few responses.

What research could you have carried out that would have proved more useful?

I think perhaps just directing our questionnaire at a more specific audience- perhaps asking both student Loiners (natives of Leeds) and prospective student Loiners- gaining both a concieved and pre-concieved viewpoint to find out whether our entertainment promoting would have longevity and stand the test of time once the students had infact moved to the city.

List 5 things that you learnt about the design process in the past two weeks:

1. Defining different types of research to a more defined level- seperating primary and secondary source research into being either quantative or qualitative (numerical, statistical, factual or opinions-based).

2. How communication with the public through face-to-face interaction and online networking can really enrich your work as you develop a much wider overview of thoughts and opinions.

3. How to interact properly within a design group- how communication helps with branding and consitency through your designs.

4. How to create a simple stop motion video.

5. How to successfully utilise my skills, whilst complementing others in a group working environment.

List 5 things you would do differently next time:

1. Communicate even more- that way we could have perhaps developed our ideas and research further.

2. Designated roles and "responsibilities" within our group at an earlier stage.

3. Express opinions to the group at an earlier stage to ensure that everyone's opinions and thoughts are considered in the design process.

4. Constantly plan and organise myself so I can ensure I don't hold back progress of the group in any way.

5. Be even more involved in the public sector- don't be afraid to confront people (in a positive way, of course!). The worst they can do is make you turn away.