MODULE EVALUATION

The final design practice module has gone very well. What I particular note in this module, is the quality of work I have produced coupled with a more focussed direction. While I have had a few setbacks, with cancelled briefs and the inability to complete some briefs, I feel that I have stayed true to my personal statement that I am a designer driven by concept with an focus on the culture sector. This sector includes events promotion and brands. I have perhaps deviated slightly with a few of the briefs that were done more as exercises. The Staaay brief was very successful, the brief start as a collaboration which I later developed independently. The work I achieved, the clarity of the concept, and the level of the execution has surpassed anything that I had done prior to the course. Similarly the Leeds College of Music brief is another brief that has been stand out for me. The production of the brief was of a quality I have never attained and the visuals and documentation have definitely been one of the most successful of my college career.

In addition to the quality of work improving, I have liaised with Leeds College of Music officials in the Marketing Department, I have held meetings for the yearbook and concept presentations, and I have helped to orchestrate a professional print brief in the form of the Yearbook. These experiences will be capitalised on in my interviews for placements or jobs. I will be able to discuss about these experiences that come from a focus to do Live briefs, which was a decision I made earlier in the year. I will be able to draw upon these experiences as experiences of project, time and people management and I will be to discuss how I worked with a marketing department, as well as presenting concepts at a design studio. 

DRIP was a brief that I am not proud of at all. The quality of the design is poor and the visuals are not to my taste, and I am not proud to say they are mine. The design took a turn due to me not being able to assert my own decisions, plus I am not cut out to create visuals for that particular style of film. It was a shame to get the year off to such a bad start however I feel that I pulled through well, and produced some great work prior to this period. To ensure nothing like this happens again, I will be far more particular about the briefs I take on in a professional capacity. I will now be able to identify when I will be able to compliment and answer a brief, rather than taking something in the hope they I will be able to do it well. 

Briefs such as Suilven and Rudimental Drums were not briefs that I can see being a source of income in future. Designing for bands is a tough industry to crack and I feel that this type of work will be limited to my spare time, especially if I have vested interests in the band. Rudimental Drums is not something I will take on again. The result was good, but the industry placement and it's context in my overall design practice was difficult to justify.

Moving through the year I found that my practice was not particularly specialised to print or digital and that this is something that needs addressing. I thing I would prefer to be orientated around the digital, but it is perhaps because I do not fully understand my context well enough yet to say that I am one or the other. I think that this is something that is becoming less relevant. I like to think that I am capable of creating concepts and ideas that can be applied in a multitude of different ways whether it be print, digital, or experiential. I think that in order to fully realise my context, I need more experience in the industry to figure the full extent of my practice.

My personal statement has not particularly changed, however I feel my ability to manifest my personal statement in my portfolio of work this year has perhaps made my personal statement look untrue. I am still very driven toward the culture sector, and I like the idea of working across print and digital with a special affinity to branding, and advertising. I have found that I am extremely focussed on Copywriting, which is something that I have realised this year. While, I do not see myself as a copywriter I am happy to have this skill as a string to my bow as I think it broadens my capabilities as a designer. 

As I come to the end of my degree, I will look to take on briefs that are with my interests highlighted in my design context publication. I will look at the precedents I have identified, and have a more calculated approach to design. From my progression the three years it is clear to see that I have developed a vast majority of skills that prepare me for professional practice, however I certainly need to ensure that I improve my consistency and my ability to choose briefs that are suitable to my context.