Evaluation

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

Through out this module i have developed my illustration skills in a way that i find appealing, by cutting paper to illustrate, instead of using the traditional pencil and paper. This is something i would like to develop more in my work as i find the process really interesting and rewarding once an illustration is completed. I have also developed my layout skills which i something i wanted to do since the last module. I think my grasp of typography has improved and i want to continue developing my layout and typography skills.

2. What approaches to generating work and solutions to problems have you developed and how have they helped?
I have generated work by choosing my idea and developing it pretty quickly, which in a way i think has helped as i set myself three briefs, all to last two weeks so i needed to get ideas down fast and developed, but on the other hand i think this has hindered my work as i haven't explored each idea fully and moved onto others quick enough, therefore i have missed out on some ideas that could have been more appropriate to the brief. This is something i hope to rectify in the next module.

3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?
I think the strengths in my work are my illustrations and ideas/concepts. I think these skills are developing as i would like them to, and i feel that they are my strongest assets at the moment. I will capitalise on these by utilising them in future briefs. As i have found a way/style that i like illustrating, i would like to explore this further.

4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how could you exploit these more fully?
I think the weaknesses in my work are still my layout and typography skills. This is something i am trying to improve more and more with each brief. I am also using my work experience placement over summer to highlight and develop these weaknesses by working at The Leeds Guide magazine.

5. Identify five things that you would do different and what do you expect to gain from doing these?

1. I would book my printing times earlier to make sure i get to print things the size i want and on the stock i want.
2. If i had multiple briefs, i would start them all at once instead of doing one, then moving on to the next one, so i progress more with each brief.
3. I would explore my initial ideas more to have more ideas to choose from.
4. I would choose ideas quicker, so i could test them out to see if they were a good viable option to carry on with.
5. I would organise my folder of back up work as i go along instead of doing it last, this way i would have a more clear idea of whats needs doing and by when.

6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas:

Attendance = 4
Punctuality = 4
Motivation = 4
Commitment = 4
Quantity of work produced = 3
Quality of work produced = 4
Contribution to the group = 3

Final Boards

These images are of my final boards and i have got one board per brief for development and one board per brief for photos in context.

Leaflet

This is my final layout for my leaflet. I have developmental designs in my folder of back up work.

Context photography - Product Shot

Context photography

Context photography

I decided to place my leaflet and flyer with other leaflets in an information point. I thought this was quite an appropriate place to put them, and as they are all laid flat, i think my leaflet works better to be seen while passing or when glancing through for something interesting to do or a place to go....

Promotional Banners

These designs would be for a banner that you would see displayed on lamp posts, they are usually tied at the top and bottom of the banner and are quite simple for a dramatic impact. I have chosen the single design at the bottom as a final design. This would be place around Leeds city centre to promote the Type Factory and would be produced in all the logo colours.

Packaging of all christmas designs

These designs are what i will use to put on the top of the cellophane packages that will hold all my Xmas gift designs (Xmas Card & envelope, gift tag and wrapping paper)

Flyer

This is the design for the front and back of the promotional flyer for the Type Factory. I used the repeat pattern to tie it to the rest of my designs and have used the cyan again (as i have done with my leaflet, bookmark and banner) to use as an example of what a whole promotional pack would look like.

Crit - ICA Xmas Icon

People mentioned that the concept of using a pixelated image was a good way to create an icon for this brief as the ICA wanted something creative and contemporary. I thought using a pixelated image would be interesting as it is something technological yet has a slightly vintage feel as it is reminiscent of old low resolution games and pixel art that is popular at the moment. The only other thing that was mentioned was that i should create more than just a card. This is something that i am in the process of doing. I am wanting to create a xmas card, wrapping paper and gift tags that are all 'sold' together in a cellophane package as an all in one product to buy at xmas.

Card Cover Designs

From looking at greeting card designs for christmas, the majority of them all use central text and a single image/icon or a small illustrated scene. I think with my wrapping paper repeat patterns, which are quite busy, this simple way of placing image and text would work very well. Below are my designs for the front of my cards:

Crit - Postcard from the Edge

People really admired my cards but said that i needed to do something to the back of the postcards and design something for them. They mentioned that i would need to design something that would emphasize the paper cut aspect of them so they don't look so flat and all my efforts of creating something unique don't go to waste! I will experiment with imagery and the design of the placement area for text.

Typography repeat pattern

This repeat pattern was created from the logo shape (which you can see more about here) and i have decided to use all the colours for my branding, so used them to form the pattern. I have also done a pure single colour from one of my logo colours to show how the range would work from a one colour perspective.

Promotional bag

The designs below are for an eco bag (re-usable canvas bag) that would be for sale in the Type Factory gift shop. The top images are my original designs, but in a crit it was mentioned that they were a bit difficult to read so i toned down the opacity/vibrancy of them in the image below and i think they look more appealing and are more legible. I think this is also helped by the change in font, as the new font isn't so thin in relation to the serifs of it, which makes it more legible when using it in this context and with these colours.

Gift Tags

The top images are of my original designs that i tought would be good as tags. Below are designs that i think we be good as card/tags and would fold in half to have a space to write a little note/greeting.

Wrapping Paper Patterns