OUGD602 - PPP3 Summative Module Evaluation

Throughout this module each year, I am constantly gaining confidence not only in myself but in my work. The more I compare my work to other professionals over the years the more I am able to talk about, promote and have faith in my own work. When I started the course I didn't think my work was professional level, and I never imagined that a client would be happy with it, as I had this idea that it was home-made looking. Although my standards have gotten higher and I can achieve a more professional image, by professionalism within myself has grown with it, too. This year particularly I have developed a better eye for branding which has helped me define myself through my personal branding more professionally. Last year, my personal branding was too complicated and too illustrative to the point where only a year later it looks dated and juvenile. This year, whilst still having the mid-century style through colours and shapes, the branding has been stripped right back and now just lets the work speak for itself.

I have networked an awful lot this year, and considered many paths to take upon my departure from university. Because of this deep investigation I was able to define a structured plan for when I leave, giving me confidence to leave knowing that I know what I'm doing!

Weaknesses in my work I would say this year is not being more proactive in visiting studios I want to get involved in. I kept focussing on the USA, which of course I can't visit so easily when maybe I should have looked at a load of studios in the UK, where I could go and visit properly.

If I were to do this module all over again, I probably wouldn't do it any differently, except look out for more UK studios.

OUGD602 - PPP3 - Personal and Professional Practice - Final Design boards for Personal Branding

OUGD602 - PPP3 - Collaborative project - DBA Capital North

Here, I am posting links to my extended practice blog, where I documented a collaborative project I participated in. The reason is because this particular project fulfils both collaborative with visiting professionals, learning to work in a team, and working conceptually.

DBA Capital North - Briefing

DBA Capital North - Initial Ideas/ Brainstorming

DBA Capital North - Campaign/ poster ideas

DBA Capital North Idea Generation for animations

DBA Capital North development of my poster design

DBA Capital North - Development of environmental designs

DBA Capital North - EVALUATION

It also led me to realise that branding is not something I want to pursue as a career, it's definitely not one of my strong points. I'm not good at condensing illustrations down into icons for logos, working minimalistically, and I don't enjoy working in a commercial style. However, thinking conceptually and letting ideas drive a piece is definitely something I'd like to feed more into my work!

OUGD602 - PPP3 - Bagging a summer job at Chester Zoo & Tweeting about it loads!

It's been confirmed! I am now one of the many new members of Chester Zoo's seasonal team, starting 22nd June (1 week after our LCA Going Going Gone exhibition opens).

I have all my uniform and even a name-tag now. Last weekend I had my orientation day and took a trivia quiz far too seriously! I'm really excited to start in the summer as it will be a nice break from these past few weeks cooped up at my computer.

I have been tweeting about it rather excessively not only because I am excited for my new job but I know that there will be a spotlight on the new ISLANDS section of the park opening this summer in the Themed Entertainment community. I am currently trying my best to be placed in the new section of the park, as I am intrigued to be part of something so fresh and I want to see the UX for myself! It's a Themed Entertainment designers dream!

OUGD602 - PPP3 - Disney Pro Interns continued (2)

A few weeks ago now, I received a final email from Disney, confirming that I wasn't accepted for any of the four different internship roles I applied for. 
It's definitely disappointing that I wasn't pursued at all but I do factor in that there must have been hundreds of applicants for each position, that my portfolio wasn't very strong at the time of submission, and now - I have made other plans! I will be working all the time at Chester Zoo this summer and am taking the opportunity to further build my portfolio in my spare time. And have some time off! 
I also suspect that because I wasn't a US citizen/ student I was probably less favoured as me getting there wouldn't be convenient, which I understand logistically would be really difficult.

I will continue to pursue the career of my dreams and at some point in my life I WILL WORK FOR DISNEY (again).

OUGD602 - PPP3 - Visit to Pressission Print, Leeds

This morning, a group of us from the course visited Pressision Print on the outskirts of Leeds.

The visit was really interesting and really opened my eyes to a world of FINISHING a world that sadly, I'd never realised I'd not paid a whole lot of attention to since my incident with the gold ink in the screen printing room last year (sorry Andy).

The best part about this was, for me, you could see these sort of select, 'arty' finishes being exercised in a commercial environment, hitting home that it doesn't hurt to be extra creative if it pulls the whole design (and budget) together.

Rather ignorantly of me, I had never realised that practices such as gold foiling and ENGRAVING ON FOIL were so popular in today's tight-budget climate. It was so refreshing - we got to watch some absolutely beautiful work being crafted before our eyes.

There was also a digital printer that printed white - something I didn't even think was possible!

The business card has digitally printed white ink on it.

Although I don't really have time to apply any finishes commercially to my work for university, the trip was still fruitful because it has planted the seed for many curious design and finish opportunities long after I depart.

OUGD602 - PPP3 - 1 Week placement at Entyce Creative (2)

Yesterday, I received an email from Jane, the Director at Entyce, notifying me that the icons I created for their site were now online! : http://www.entyce-creative.com/what-we-do/

Here's how the illustrations/ icons appear on their site: 

For 'web design and build' I drew a trowel as a more tactile meaning for 'build'

Copywriting and content was simply a pile of books

A little more provoking than your standard smartphone! 

'Strategy and planning' left me a little dry for ideas, so a simple arrow was used to represent positive results.

a rather obvious decision for 'Search Engine Optimisation'

A playful symbol of an origami fortune teller for 'design for print'

Simple speech bubbles for 'social media'

A playful watering can and flower to represent support and the growth of a company after the 'seed' had been planted.

You can also read about my experience at Entyce on their blog at: http://www.entyce-creative.com/sarahs-week-with-entyce/