OUGD505 - Evaluation

This module overall has been the most challenging for me, mainly because of the amount of research needed to inform the response. Doing extensive research that goes into a body of work isn't the easiest, as there has to be a variety of resources involved as well as different types of primary & secondary research in order to create something accurate. Time management throughout the last module was not the best, I did tend to leave some of the work to last minute and because of this it jeopardised my work to an extent and I didn't get to finish it the way I wanted to. However I will go out in my own time and complete my projects to the way that I intended them to be done. With regards to research I felt that not enough was done to help create a solid understanding in all areas. More background research and contextualisation was needed to help further my knowledge and understanding. Primary resources also would of been more ideal for what I was aiming to do with the project, talking to experts on the equipment and musicians who use hardware would of be very helpful for primary research, which I could of incorporated into my final piece.

From my experience designing for the final outcome, I have adapted new design skills. Being able to stylise and vectorise my own hand drawn illustrations was enlightening. The process I used also made sure that the work was original in a sense that the designs couldn't be recreated, as a lot of the work I research were basic tracings of instruments done on illustrator. Although the final outcome and compositions of my designs were not really visually what I wanted to accomplish, I also wanted to be able to do more of each piece of hardware.

If I were able to do further work and make changes to what I have produced, I would make more space for the text and images because I was going to do a perfect bound book there needed to be space leading to the centre of the book as pages don't bend all the way back when not placed in signatures. Not being able to fully finish the book was disappointing. I had aimed at using bookrum and book board for the cover of the perfect bound book. I did not have to time to achieve this and because I was trying to accomplish this in the last minutes of the module I wasn't able to complete any design boards for the brief. This is my biggest downfall and was what made me dis-satisfied with the over all project. I am still going to make amendments and fully finish off my perfect bound book, as I really want to be able to take photographs of it and have it presented on my online portfolio.

The book cover brief was a refreshing task to do in that I gave myself the direction of doing whatever I wanted. Similar to how I tackled secret 7 this year. Using texture and imagery was something I aimed at doing and I was able to do so. Overlaying images and using duotones worked effectively and I felt that it was a solid piece of design work. The white type was bold and stood out from the green & black background, it also stood out in the 4/5 exhibition at Leeds Library.

My plan for next module is to push myself to use other resources and to get out of my comfort zone. Embossing, laser cutting, ceramics, wood work, etching and vinyl cutting are among some of the processes and resources that I have not made the most of at college. There's a lot of equipment that I would like to use and incorporate into design work and this is something that will happen within 3rd year. Time management is a never ending battle, but with a serious mindset on for next year I'm going to geek out and make sure I don't spend to little or too much on certain projects for next year. This is going to be key as a majority of next years work will be self initiated.