End of module self evaluation

1) What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?

·      My Photoshop skills have improved significantly since the start of this module due to the inductions and Photoshop brief but mainly because I was working with pantone and color matching was a large part of my project so I relied heavily on the pantone libraries in Photoshop.

·      Producing info graphs, I learnt how to research on a subject of my choice, collect, research and categorize information and then structure the masses of information in a interactive and interesting way.

·      Book binding, the introduction session helped me to get to know the resources and to bind my swatch book, without this session I would not of had any idea how to bind my book.

2) What approaches to/methods of research have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?

After browsing for secondary research I would be able to establish what research is relevant and from there I would be able to focus my research and get as much primary research as possible.

3) What strengths can you identify in your work and how have you/will you capitalize on these?

My layout has gotten much better and for me it was strength in this project, being able to layout a lot of information in type and image in a simple format. In future I will look forward to playing round with layouts much more confidently. The ability to translate a lot of data into info graphics, initially I had problems producing info graphics but as the project went along I became much more confident and I would like to do more info graphics in future projects. My photography has improved especially after having to document a lot of graffiti.

4) What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?

Some of the posters I produced were a bit too complicated for the general public and I needed to do simpler more engaging forms of them. Some of the work doesn’t fully promote the hair salon, instead it informs the public about its products and benefits, this made a lot of my work not very clear, in future I would try to promote more straight to the point. After I printed I found some type errors and slight layout problems in future I would do a full spell check and compare the grids on the software I am using before I spend money to print my work.

5) Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?

·      Take step-by-step images of my work as I’m working on illustrator/Photoshop, the work I start off with is usually much different by the time I save the document.

·      Refer back to the brief more often, sometimes I found myself a bit lost and confused and referring back makes sure you aren’t trailing off the project.

·      Experiment with different types of stock more, plain white stock isn’t always the right answer.

·      Draw more in sketchbook, I find that I write descriptively in my sketchbook for my ideas more then to visually communicate them.

·      Decide on which idea’s to produce and then focus on them instead of doing loads of resolutions.

6)

Attendance – 5

Punctuality – 4

Motivation – 4

Commitment – 4

Quantity of work  - 4

Quality of work – 3

Contribution to the group – 4