OUGD403 - Final evaluation

OUGD403 - Message and Delivery - final presentation and self evaluation

Final Designs:

Today we presented our final designs to our peers. We swapped our designs with other tables, and judged each others work. We had to pick what we considered the best design. Our group chose to pick the design that not only looked professional, was relevant in aesthetics, but also communicated the message really well. 

My piece was picked by the other group as the best one. They said that it was because my posters had a comical, lighthearted mood and that my mail piece had an interesting concept with a clear message. They said they liked how it had an action for the reader to take, by directing the reader to a website, which made it stand out from other designs.

I really enjoyed creating these posters and direct mail piece because it gave me a chance to communicate my own opinions. I really enjoyed researching into something I am passionate about and at the same time, using lighthearted themes to portray this. 

If I were to do this task again, I would work harder in getting all of my pieces to coodinate and thus making them more of a set. I would also listen and respond to constructive feedback from my peers suggestions (written feedback in this case).

Overall I personally think that my designs are successful in communicating a message but maybe not so much in aesthetics because of the lack of consistent style.

OUGD403 - Alphabet Soup - Illustrator Typeface - finished product and evaluation

In this project, I was asked to digitise one of my ten designs visually portraying the word layer.

In terms of using the software to create my letterforms, I found it relatively easy because I would consider myself to be very familiar with basic tools in Adobe Illustrator. And, although I didn't find the creation to be too difficult, I still came across some problems, which I overcame or compromised depending on how seriously it impacted the design.
Looking at my final design now, I am really happy with the way that it turned out as it looks very contemporary, apart from the letters Z and Q because I feel that the shape of the letterforms could have been emphasized more.

Other than that I have thoroughly enjoyed creating this typeface and think that the outcome has helped me explore Adobe Illustrator and helped me learn things I didn't know before about the program.

OUGD403 - Message and Delivery - final crit

 

There are mixed reviews from my critical feedback. The first sheet describes my work as 'unclear as a campaign', unclear in message and inconsistent in style. However the other is very complimentary and says it is clear, 'gets the point across' and 'gets the audience involved'. 

Because of my confusion surrounding this I have decided to ask them about their opinions further. The people who wrote the first sheet said that they didn't understand what my message was because they weren't aware of political correctness in modern times. The people who wrote the second sheet said that it was perfectly suitable and that they agree with the message that was being portrayed. 

Because of these conformations I have decided not to change my design, because my message is not to teach people about political correctness, but to simply comment on its use and recruit others who feel the same way.

OUGD403 - Message and Delivery - Final Poster designs and feedback

Final Pieces :

Peer Feedback sheets:

Overall, I found that my feedback was mostly positive, with most people saying that the message was clear and effective, the only implication being that they do not think that it works as a set or series and that it is hard to distinguish the different between type and image and just type.  This is because of the red background on the Snow White poster makes it look different to the others, and could be considered an image. Another issue was raised about the difference between the scribbling out effect and the censor bar effect.

My response to this would be that I agree to some degree, because (as shown in my development) I did have difficulty in trying to resolve the differences between the censor bar and the scribbled out effect, but found no resolution because no matter which way round, there was not one style that I found suited all 3. So I am unsure as to how, if possible this could be resolved.

But I do understand and agree that the red background makes the Snow White poster more prominent the other ones, and I will adjust this so it fits better.

OUGD403 - Alphabet Soup - Typeface - Self Evaluation

In this project i was asked to create a typeface, using the personality of another person as a starting point. I was partnered with Tristan Currie.

I initially found it quite difficult to get started on ideas because Tristan's style is pole opposite to mine. But through exploring all of the material that he gave me i was able to come up with a design that i not only enjoyed creating but am happy with the finished product.

The few technical errors i had with my typeface were quickly resolved through group crits and constant feedback from Tristan himself. Other than that i had no problems with meeting the deadline or time management, all seemed to run smoothly! 

My typeface scales down quite well to the namebadge size (without drop shadow), but I do not think that it would suit going any smaller, as it is mainly a display typeface. 

If i were to do it again, I'd look at it another way and pursue my original ideas further rather than abandoning them for something else. 

Other than that i have thoroughly enjoyed creating this typeface and feel that the outcome was more than suitable.

Question 5

5. What can I improve about my blog? 

Question 4

4. What are my strengths of my blog? Is there anything that i do on my blog that makes it easier for the reader/ clearer/ better?

Question 3

3. Are my blogs well written? IE, do you understand what i mean in my evaluation and written work. Is my grammar and punctuation of degree standard?

Question 2

2. Is my blog complete/ up to date? (please state date of review in your comment)

Question 1

1. Is my blog organised? IE, are things in the right place, and is it easy to navigate around?

OUGD403 - Alphabet Soup: Visual Thinking Self evaluation

'Alphabet Soup: Visual Thinking' - Self Evaluation.

In this project we were asked to create ten letterforms based on one word. My word was 'layer'...

Through research and idea development i created all ten on time and 

after taking quite literal meanings of the word i felt i had to progress into more deeper/abstract meanings. This meant that some of my final images weren't necessarily visually relevant/ obvious to an onlooker who wasn't aware of my task. I don't see this as a bad thing if it were an external project as it may provoke the viewer to question the design or want to know more but i realised in our group critical analysis that that wasn't the case. We put up our 5 strongest letterforms on the wall and switched tables within our groups:

 We then had to take down letters that we didn't think fulfilled the brief until we were left with the 5 most effective designs. I didn't find this very hard because it was practically anonymous and we quickly came to a decision within our group. But I feel that it was because of my miscommunication skills that all of my letters were all taken down off of the wall by the other group.

Next time i will enquire about the nature of the presentation and whether there will be a chance to explain my work to the audience. I now realise that this was a communication-aimed, and not necessarily visually decoratively aimed project.

But overall I feel that my work meets the brief criteria and I have really enjoyed creating and presenting this project. I just wish i could've asked my assessors what they thought of my work, if i were given the chance to explain it.

Final pieces: