Final Major Project Evaluation

At the being of this module I was worried I would make the same mistakes as last time I rushed in to a brief not thinking about the outcome, and not expanding briefs to make them have more deliverables and outcomes.
I thought long and hard about some of my briefs, how I could expand them and what I was trying to show and why I wanted to do them. I chose a range of briefs which I could set my own tone of voice for whether it being light hearted and fun to a more serious brief. This has paid off as I have throughly enjoyed and been excited about all my briefs (apart from one), meaning I have strengthened my projects as I have been able to enjoy exploring ways to improve them.
Improving from last term I really think I have understood what I am expected to show, a range of deliverables for one, which I think I have accomplished this term and a lot of development saying how I came to my conclusion why I have done what I've done an the process of getting there. I have enjoyed other parts of briefs which I normally settle for “that will do”, like picking the right typeface for my projects and creating logos which aren't hand drawn for a change has really opened my thought about what I am capable off.

My statement of intent was “a hand drawn investigation in to image and type with a focus on publication and merchandise for popular culture” which hasn't changed throughout the module, I think I could expand on “hand drawn” or even change the word to just “illustrated” and be more clear when using the words "popular culture". Other than that I have unintentionally stuck to my 1^st draft for my statement of intent. In all briefs I have created publication or merchandise and they have all been illustrated. I have been able o research well in to my projects and other influences to.
In my Statement of Intent I mention using a wider range of materials and processes which has not been kept, I have managed to print on to fabric and I have drawn on to coconuts but thats only one brief, every other brief I have used digital print.
I would have really liked to have screen printed my owl t-shirts, which I would blame on my time management and that I found it quick and easier to iron on my designs without thinking about the quality. When really my work would have looked a lot better and my skills would have been broaden if I had screen printed.
I think my strongest project is brief 3- cocoaroma, my starting point was just the coconuts which I thought would be fun to decorate but I think the patterns I drew were my strong point, leaving me to want to do more and make anything I could out of them. I didn't rush anything in this brief, the packaging I created isn't up the the highest standard but only because the stock used wasn't correct, which I did experiment with, but I have developed my skills in designing packaging in this brief. In the real industry I think the packaging would have worked better. I have taken a new pleasure in designing logos which I used in Cocoaroma and Brief 1- Parliament. I spend a long time trying out typeface's and realise there is a typeface out there for everything you just need to find it and then adding to the typeface, whether it be my own illustrations or a pattern on photoshop, creating this properly an not hand drawing them has made my work more professional when applying it to other products. Although I should have been using indesign from 1st year I have only just really started this last term which isn't good as I have found I need to use it al the time, but this is a new skill I have to offer now.
I defiantly see an improvement to the way I work from last term. I have been making sure what I am doing is important and that I am not wasting time making something that isn't necessary, making a list of things to do has helped as after writing what you need to do down you never forget. A timetable has been used more than it ever has been which I can see is really beneficially now and has kept me on track by knowing how long I have left to do thing. I find setting myself tasks and not stopping until it is done has instead of coming back to it and then only half doing it properly, this is something I need to do in the future.
I believe my weakest brief was brief 4- fashion cards, I chose this after I had just found out I had a placement at hallmark cards, but they would like me to send them some work which "isn't so scary, and more suitable for Hallmark". However I rushed in to this brief and started aimlessly drawing some girls which I ended up hating and would be only be able to expand in one way which didn't interest me. After delaying it I finally had to get going, and after a lot of trial an error I ended up liking my work a lot better, it is defiantly not me and not what I want to be doing, but if in the future I get handed a brief that I dont like I will be able to manage or make myself like it. I guess this brief was valuable as I may need to expect this when going to Hallmark.
I have covered a range of subject in my briefs and used different styles in each one which is beneficial for my portfolio. I am pleased with all the outcomes and deliverables of each project even brief 4, I think a main part in this has to be thinking about each brief in depth before I start and making sure it is something I am interested in.

Brief 5- Frankly you're a bore boards

Open publication - Free publishing - More brief

I had the most fun doing brief 5 than the other briefs, I expanded it a lot more than I had planned because of the fact I was enjoying it so much. The used a different style of illustration than I normally do which was childlike and fun. I thought well about the song choice as I have illustrated a song before which I didn't think about enough before hand. I took these illustration which I 1st had planned to just make a notebook and mock a few other deliverable  but found I wanted to create loads, I can see these notebooks working in the real world, but would have to be updated as time goes on and stationary could be made out of a lot of the songs to keep the idea fresh.
I think the quality of my notebooks are to a high standard as I had them sent off to be printed at doxdirect although this was a more expensive option. The intention of this stationary set was for it to look childish but be for adults/ 16+ which I think I have pulled off.
I could see the sets being sold in the shops that I have researched in depth, urban outfitter, joy and magma so research really helped me with this brief.

Brief 4- Fashion Cards boards

Open publication - Free publishing - More boards

Fashion cards was my least favourite brief and I have had a lot of problems with it. It was mainly the fact that I didnt like the brief or my illustrations and seem like a rushed in to calling it a brief before I gave it some thought. However things did brighten up when I realised I had to get it finished. I'm glad I chose to use a pattern under the dresses and it make them more attractive instantly.

The background add a lot to an image, I created backgrounds which didnt work and eventually found ones that did which made me start to get in to my work and create the cards as best I could.

Another reason I didnt like the brief is that I new where it was going, there was only really one way to expand it and that was by making gift wrap, envelopes, tags etc. I normally would use the illustrations on all of my designs but I took an aspect of the cards and made that in to the main feature of everything else I made.

I have leant that I need to not rush in to picking brief but I also know that when given a brief I dont like you can find away to enjoy it which is a good point for the future.

An other improvement for this brief would be to think about stock. I thought I would go for lovely shinny glossy cards but when I made them i realised that cards and envelopes are notmall plain paper.

Brief 3- Cocoaroma boards

Open publication - Free publishing - More boards

Cocoaroma ended up being one my larger briefs and the one I enjoyed the most. I didn't expect to expand it as much as it was going to be a small brief.

I developed my drawing skills as I designed 3 patterns on to a coconut and a 2D images. I also improved on designing a logo and I am really pleased with the results as I spent time looking for fonts and using indesign to get it perfect.

I used my patten to create a tapestry which is 100cm by 140cm and got taught how to use the fabric printer where you have to upload a tiff file. The fabric came out bright red, which is not how I designed it. This looks great and I now think it works better than the darker red but it means my packaging does not match. However I did find using different types of paper did change the colours of my paper work so maybe it is bright red as it is on thin cotton.

I spent a lot of time on this brief and found things extremely hard, getting a coconut cut in half and then having to hollow it out with a spoon. I think this project show a different size to my style, it is bright and fun and a bit random.

Brief 2- Vogue illustrated boards

Open publication - Free publishing - More brief

I really enjoyed brief 2, I spent a lot of time and effort making sure I was very precise with my illustration and with the background images as I wanted it to look amazing. I found the whole of the brief interesting, I normally only really enjoy the drawing part but I really enjoyed taking photos and editing the colours and placing my illustrations in. 

I have made quite a few mistakes and trial and errors but I think this has helped me to create the best I could do.

However I wanted this magazine to be massive, with a different illustration on each page and have it the actually size of Vogue. I didn't realise just how long that would take, so I chose 3 designers and used the illustration I drew more that once in the magazine, making it 20 pages long. 

I think an area for improvement in my magazine is the front cover. I am happy with the colours, they did not come back different than what I expected. I am unhappy that I dont think the cover and the back page match the rest of the magazine. I think maybe a photograph would have worked better as that is how the rest of the magazine looks.

I hand drew my type which I think works as it matches the illustrated girls. However there is no other type throughout the magazine. I did say it was not about type and how I wanted it all to be illustrations and photos, I should have tried and see what i would have looked like, but I didn't know what information to put in as it wasnt about the designers, it was about me as an illustrator. 

Aswel as the magazine I created proposal for the next few issues and also mocked up advertisement and products you can buy. I would have liked to make something else which you could physically pick up. 

Brief 1- Parliament boards

Open publication - Free publishing - More brief

Parliament was a brief to get me to transfer images on to t-shirts. I succeeded in this by designing a range of illustration for a Clothes company I named Parliament. I wanted to expand the bief so I had to design a logo and a range of packaging and labels.

Through designing the logo I think I have developed skills in that area. I concentrated on the type, finding the right one to match the style and added my own tweak to it. I have improved my illustration skills as  I had to be aware of how the images would work on a t-shirt or garment and design accordingly.

I still think the main strength in this brief is the illustrations and logo, I could have experiment more with colours of in and colours of t-shirts. I think the type in this project is a strong point, I prefer how I havn't hand drawn the logo which I think in the past I would normally do. This makes the work look more believable and professional. If i had more time I would have liked to design more packaging. I have mocked things up, but I would have like to of picked my own stocks and see the real thing.

Final crit.

I wasnt expecting to find this crit useful but I think it has been one of the most useful crits, I printed out all my boards to the best I could make them, I received so much feedback on them, about what i need, what ive repeated when it isn't necessary and even feedback on my layout which isnt my strong point. I have never felt confident about my boards but i feel I have been given so much feedback that I will be able to do a better job than i normally do. I spent a long time taking photographs of my work which has made my boards look instantly better.
My blog is now labels correctly making it easier for people to understand and navigate it. 

Crits

todays crit went really well, I need to re-label a lot of my post as i have not separated my DC from my DP  making my blog harder to understand.

I need to expand a lot of brief, adding things like a website to a few briefs would be useful. My vogue magazine need to be more recognisable and make obvious in my post that it is a insert for the real vogue. Making a mock up for the next few issues needs to be done aswel.
The card girls illustration is a brief that i have been struggling with, but after talking to people they have suggest that I mock up a lot of other thing to make sure i have a wide range of products.

fashion cards progress

At the moment I am really not enjoying this brief. I feel like it isn't my style and I think my illustrations are awful. I have just had a tutorial where we discussed how I just have to get it done and do it to the best that I can as there is not enough time left to start over. I have all the images drawn but I need to make all the deliverables and more. I will start by making the cards and envelopes and by doing this I will get in to the swing of the brief and hopefully be able go from there and create wrapping paper, ribbons, gift tags and more.

tutorial

issues raised

- Vogue cover needs to be more credible, I need to look at a lot of vogues and copy the layout
- some consideration needs to be given to the range. how to show the progression on boards.
-also consider the possibility of an ISSUU development on my blog to show how I started to how I end.

Blog

Reasonably thorough but could deal in more depth with context for your work.

Current progress

I need to finish the projects that are dragging (brief 4)


I mentioned in my tutorial that I am enjoying some briefs so much and not liking others at all meaning that I am just not doing them. With the time left I have to just do the briefs to the best I can, I am going to really get started with brief 4 as it is the furthest behind.

cocaroma so far

I am really enjoying this project, i feel I can expand it really far and i think i am up to date with the work.
I have been wanting to create an aroma atmosphere and so far only have a product. With the pattern designs I have made I can am wanting to create a fabric which can be used as many things, eg tapestry, pillows, rugs, bean bags.
I need to print out my package design and make sure it fits and is in the right stock, I am planning on making other packaging as well as tags. I will make a mock up of a website so that people can buy the products online and in sets.

Vogue so far

I think the trip to whitby was a very good idea, I have all my photographs and images drawn. A few things have been a trial and error, I was really hoping my Vogue girls would look good cut out and made self standing with me taking photographs of them, however it didn't go as planned, the images lost detail and i found it really hard to make them self standing without the stand looking bad, I tried to cover the stand with a scarf.
I'm happy I tried this out but I do prefer the images photoshoped as i can make them different sizes and play around with the colours of the background.
I now need to make my magazine by looking at how the real vogue layout is. This needs to be really good or it will not look like it is part of vogue.
 I have ben looking at afew and have noticed how there are a lot of double page spread which I will need to make. The magazine if full of adverts and then pages of imges where to buy clothes from and interviews with people. However Vogue illustrated wont be a magazine with information in it so there will be no writing, it is all about the months illustrator interpretation of the designers collects.
I need to make advertisement for my magazine, and maybe a launch party. I will also need to show how the next few issues could look.

Frankly you're a bore

So far I am enjoying this brief, I really like the song I have chosen to illustrate. I have found the drawing fun as I am trying to make them look child like. The drawings didn't take long to do, the writing actually took longer as I kept getting it wrong. However the time taken was less that expected. I first want to start by creating a notebook for people to write in with the illustrations on every other page. These illustration can be crossed across a range of products an i am planing on making a notebooks, calenders, book marks, mock ups of bags, tops etc

parliament evaluation

So far I have drawn quite a few owls. Some that I think work and others that can be used but not on t-shirts. I have tried to show how the illustrations will work on t-shirts but i need to start making them in to real t-shirts. I have decided on the logo, which I kept simple by using a font as from feedback people thought an illustration as the logo would be too much. This logo would be on jackets, coats, shoes and bags which i will mock up. I will need to suggest what the shop will look like and packaging for items to go in to.
I am happy with my drawings, I feel they are leaning towards males rather than unisex like i intended, but I will make sure I put at least one of my drawings on to a girls top.

Tutorial

Feedback from tutorial.

Brief one.

Decide on a logo, keep it simple as detail is lost when it is small.
Think about colour and not just black and white.
Who is it aimed at and who would see it. campers, youths etc
packaging, look books.

Brief two

Too many designers which aren't necessary. Originally I was going to use 10 but 3 to 5 is enough.
Think about 3d not just a flat image.
Need to make sure layout and type is very well done, need to ask for help and opinions from people.
use colour.

Brief three

I am thinking about the range. Need to plan the project better. where will it be sold? photograph well.

I need to find at least two more briefs that need to get started straight away. One needs to be a composition brief.

Statement of intent.

Rationale

-A hand crafted investigation in to image and type with a focus on publication and merchandise. -An investigation into bookbinding as I would like to create high quality books and magazines. - I am interested in producing organic work but I would like to use software to enhance my handcrafted designs. I will also investigate in to illustrated vectors. -I am interested in popular culture and want to produce work that would be sold in design shops. - I will be using type in my project with a consideration of illustrated type as I think illustrated type would create a more personal touch. I want my work to be personal and not for mass production, one of a kinds, or limited edition. -I am mainly going to produce work that can be sold, merchandise, books, zines. I am not interested in branding and promoting products. -I would like my work to inform people of certain areas of interest. -An investigation in to a wide range of media used to make type and images and thought about what stock to print final publication. -Concept driven briefs that involve illustration with a wide range of products produced for popular culture. - I would like to make my own merchandise or decorate a product to enhance it. -Creating a range of posters and merchandise that follow a theme. - I want to focus and practice my illustration skills by producing detailed illustrations - Develop my understanding of print process by using appropriate stock and applying my designs to a range of different product which are necessary for the briefs that I have chosen

Subjects / Themes

Zine Culture, popular culture, Story telling, animals-birds, quotes, 7 deadly sins, fashion magazines, “how to” books, novelties, aesthetically driven, Vogue, fashion photography, fantasy’s, fashion designers, fashion styles, info graphics, poetry, creative packaging, beauty products, materials, animals, paint, mix media, Fruit, buildings, Leeds.

Design Disciplines / Creative Development

Editorial, Publication, Illustration, software, stock, print, book binding.

Practical Skills / Workshops – what, why and when?

Screen print, to get a nice quality to my work. Hand crafted, I like the organic look work has when it is hand made Software’s such as Photoshop to create vectors, and in design to produce books Book binding

Brief 1: Remembering Leeds	Deadline	30/5/12
Rationale: A hand drawn investigation in t-shirt designs, with a focus animals and products
Brief 2: Vogue	Deadline	30/5/12
Rationale: A mix media investigation in to fashion publication with a focus on the designers published in vogue and their inspiration for their collection.
Brief 3:	Deadline	30/5/12
Rationale: A hand drawn investigation in to creative packaging, with an interest in beauty products, with a focus on novelties and merchandise.
Brief 4:	Deadline	30/5/12
Rationale: A mixed media investigation in to fashion illustration cards
Brief 5:	Deadline	30/5/12
Rationale: An illustrated investigation in to publication with a focus on designing a book cover and illustration for a poetry book.
Brief 6
Contextual references / Designers / Studios / Companies (specific)
Design shops Urban Outfitter MAGMA Harvey Nichols Studios I Love Dust Nous/Vous Jelly Rubber Band Breed Plum A3 sudio Fried banana

RESEARCH ACTIVITY:	Deadline	30/5/12
Details Visiting novelty shops that sell merchandise, cards, poster and books
RESEARCH ACTIVITY:	Deadline	2/3/12
Details Late at the library, illuminate. An event where illustrators such as Jon Burgerman, James Jarvis, Alice Melin, Martin Rowson and Mr. Scruff will showcase and talk about their work.
RESEARCH ACTIVITY	Deadline	30/5/12
Details Harvey Nichols design department, asking about the window display and what is influences it.
RESEARCH ACTIVITY	Deadline	30/5/12
Details Sending mail outs to designers and questionnaires about their work.
RESEARCH ACTIVITY	Deadline	30/5/12
Details Visit studios, galleries and exhibitions. Leeds book fair.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS / TEXTS - (Harvard Referenced)

R.Walton & J. Cogliantry, The Big Book of Illustration ideas 2, 2008, Collin Designs M.Wigam, Text and Image, 2008, AVA Publishing SA Moonshire- Dream works artist…after dark, 2010, Design Studio Press E.J Wiedemann, Illustration now, 2008 ,Taschen L.King, The Picture Book, 2006, Penguin Designs M.Perry, Hand Job, 2007, Priceton Architectural Press P.Baines Puffin By Design, 2010, Penguin Group P.Harlt & Y. Winkler, Beyond Illustration, 2009, Publikat

MAGAZINES / JOURNALS / ARTICLES – (include publication date and details)

IMAGINE FX Fantasy & Sci-Fi- digital art 079 February 2012 JUXTAPOZ art and culture January 2012 IDN humours design 2011-12 Vogue- the gold issue December 2000

ON LINE REFERENCES / WEBSITES / ARTICLES (include specific urls)

www.2expertdesigns.com www.visualcomplexity.com www.visual.ly www.magmabooks.com www.lovelypackaging.com www.thecoolhunter.com www.pixelelement.com www.montreedesign.com www.heaveyred.com www.ilovedust.com www.breed.com www.nousvous.com www.mikeperry.com www.kidrobot.com www.forbiddenplant.com

OTHER REFERENCE MATERIAL (Films, events, exhibitions, conferences)

Urban Outfitters MAGMA Harvey Nichols

Action Plan – use this section to identify specific tasks that you need to complete in order to resolve the brief.
Brief	What do you need to do?	Deadline
1	From the research I have found about fashion illustration I am going to decided what aspect I am mainly interested in. From this I am going to start experimenting will styles and media creating my own version of vogue, concentrating on the information I have found out about the designers
2	I am hoping to have produced a large quantity of my illustration by the middle of this week. After I am going to start with my 3rd brief, coconut, this will involve starting creating merchandise with a flowing theme.
3	This week I will be designing all the illustration that I need for brief one. If there is extra time I will investigate the type I need for the projects I have started. I will also plan out brief four and mind map thoughts and ideas for a starting point.
4	Brief four should be done by the beginning of the week. I will finish designing material needed for brief 2 and find out about stock I will need and information to go in the publication. I will also need to find out information about printing my publication (how to make it double sided and page folds)
5	I want to make sure all brief are started this week and I will started illustrating the poetry book. Depending on the amount of poems and the style I draw the designs should be done by the end of the week.
6	Start designing the packaging for brief 3, coconut; there should be 3+ types of packaging that I need to create, all with different illustration.
7	Producing posters, website, shop, labels and merchandise for brief one, this should take the whole week, making sure I have covered all areas
8	Brief 2, I will be making all the type and layout, publication and promotion for my magazine, considering price, where it will be sold and making sure the quality is to a high standard.
9	Printing everything I need for all the briefs, nets , books, posters labels, etc
10	Finalising everything online, making websites and final thoughts

Brief 5

Brief/Session/Document Title Frankly you're a bore
Brief By picking a song of my choice, illustrate the words or interpreter the song in my own way to create a range of stationary for popular culture.
Background / Considerations The stationary will be for adults with a child like twist on the drawings Consider a range of songs Consider a range of products
Mandatory Requirements	Deliverables notebooks wrapping paper tote bags T-shirts bookmarks calender

Brief 4

Brief/Session/Document Title Fashion cards
Brief The aim of this brief is to incorporate fashion and illustration together to come up with a card design that brings together fantastic colours, beautiful drawing styles and fashion images. Expand this by creating a range of products by using the same illustrations
Background / Considerations Think about catwalk images, fluid lines of fabric and interesting patterns. Don't necessarily focus on the whole image, you might take a pair of shoes and focus solely on them, or cut the design from the waist of a model down. You might choose to consider the accessories alone rather than the model who wears them or alternatively it could be the fabulous packaging or bags that the outfits come in that you base the designs around. Think about all kinds of media including watercolour, graphic images, collage, stitched fabric, pencil sketches
Mandatory Requirements	Deliverables 5 illustrated cards envelopes gift tags ribbon wrapping paper

Brief 3

Brief/Session/Document Title Cocoaroma
Brief Coconuts and incense. Create an incense product out of coconuts by decorating them. Create packaging and other products with the same design to make a set.
Background / Considerations research in to coconut products and incense products. Think about the target audience and how to sell to them. Think about aromatherapy. Research in to relaxation
Mandatory Requirements	Deliverables 3 decorated Coconuts matching set of packaging a products website

Brief 2- Vogue

Brief/Session/Document Title VOGUE ILLUSTRATED
Brief Create and illustrated insert for Vogue magazine, by picking 3 designers and interpreting their collections by finding out what has inspired the designer and then exaggerate it through illustration and photography.
Background / Considerations Consider the audience of Vogue- people who are interested in high fashion. Research in depth to 3 designers of that months magazine. Why they have made their collection. Consider how long Vogue illustrated will last, will it be a one off issue or be the 1st of many. Consider how it must look like a real vogue in the way of layout. Consider stock and size of the magazine
Mandatory Requirements	Deliverables 1 illustrated Vogue promotion and advertisement