I feel I have benefited from creating goals for my final year of my foundation degree, and therefore feel it is important to continue this for the future. Setting targets for myself allows me to focus on areas I feel need improvement and measure my progress. I have felt more motivated during this year due to this, and with my final year right around the corner it's crucial to be in the right mind frame.
1) Following this year I will be continuing my studies at Sunderland University. I would like to continue to keep a diary to plan my modules and be more organised as I feel this has helped me to manage my time more efficiently.
2) I recently got a new job. Although it is still a 20 hour position, it is more flexible and allows me to change my hours if necessary. I would like to continue in my position at work, and possibly advance to a higher level.
3) I would also like to experience placements in the industry. I aim to do this within the summer months. This will require more focus on my portfolio creation and creating a CV that is suitable for these positions.
4) I feel I have expanded my skills in illustrator over the year, using the program within a few of my modules. I do understand there is still a lot of room for improvement and I aim to continue to develop my skills over summer and my final year of my degree. I hope by this time next year I will feel more confident and competent with the program.
5) Within this year I have created many editorial pieces. Following on to next year, I would like to choose briefs that are more open and challenging, such as creating branding identities. I also feel it important to create work outside of university to balance my portfolio and demonstrate my skills away from my course requirements. I believe that by tackling YCN briefs and entering more competition briefs I will be able to show that I am comfortable with working alone and at home.
6) Another goal I have is to continue to reach out to industry figures. I reached out to a few within this year, such as Breanna Rose and Corina Nika, and found their support and advice helpful and uplifting. Hearing other success stories is inspiring, and I have created two great contacts out of doing so. I would like to now reach out to others in the industry but also working in Newcastle Upon Tyne, and ask for advice on my own portfolio.
7) That leads me to my last goal: sharing. I want to continue to share my work through twitter and instagram. I also want to expand the platforms with which I do share my work, and branch out to places such as Cargo Collective and Behance, allowing me to create an online portfolio. I think this will aid my confidence and the criticism I may receive will be taken on board and help me within the future.
Alternative Techniques
Sunday, 8 February 2015 • Alternative Techniques, John Lewis, Sketchbook, Targets, Work
As I mentioned within my SWOT Analysis, and also my evaluation of my last module, something I wanted to continue experimenting with was my sketchbook work. I found it difficult last year to work with paper, with one of my lecturers calling me a "paper-phobe." It wasn't that I didn't like to use paper for my ideas: I used scrap pieces and kept them in a messy organised pile on the edge of my shelf. I was just too much of a perfectionist. I wanted all of my work to look perfect.
This year, my first module was to create 5 sketchbooks. That seemed like a nightmare at the beginning, but it really worked and I soon found myself reaching for my sketchbooks to jot down ideas and notes instead of using scrap paper and never including it in my progress. Within the module following, I reverted back to InDesign as it was easier and quicker as there was no idea generation.
Within this module, I wanted to use a sketchbook again in hopes it would aid my final outcome: and also, continue to expand my annotation and paper use. And that it did.
Below I have included images of my research stage within my sketchbook. These pages were at the beginning, middle and end of my sketchbook: when using in design, I added all research to the beginning and never truly reverted back to integrate them within my idea generation. With this new way, I found myself realising there were aspects I needed to research again, and more thoroughly research to aid my ideas, such as materials, and ecologically friendly methods. It really helped my process be a smoother one.
As you can see, it was necessary for me to research into all kinds of areas: ecologically friendly packaging methods on the market, ecologically friendly materials and delivery systems, the brand itself and it's target audience, D&AD past entries and winners, competitors, other companies which had used our idea, and fashion trends.
Though I won't go too into detail right now on the idea, as I would like to save that for my final outcome blogpost, I have shared below my idea generation and process.
Though I am working as a pair, our research was conducted separately and we came together to discuss our ideas and communicate them back and forth. We also scheduled many meetings away from our college studio days, as a way to keep in touch with one another and make sure we were both on the right track. It was tricky, but it was worth it as having two heads instead of one meant we didn't get stuck on a bad idea and try to make it work: we were level headed, and told each other straight which direction we wanted to take, and both evaluated whether it was a good one.
Our idea generation was done quite separately. Keeping tabs on each other meant relaying our ideas to one another, but we went separately when it came to our sketchbooks. I think this was a good method to take as it meant we could both equally explore our own ideas before relaying them to our pair. I believe our final outcome is strong because of this.
Finally, I have really enjoyed working with a sketchbook. As this was my target for this module, I'm glad I have stuck to it as I feel my creations have been better for it: it's a lengthier process than jumping to the screen, but it's not as exhausting, and I found myself getting less bored and procrastinating less due to not having the distractions of the internet.
My other target was to work with a plan and follow it: I believe my partner and I both did this. I used the wanderlist app, a recent stumble upon, to keep a to do list that I could regularly update and check, and remember to actually write! (Thank god for smart phones and my addiction to checking it.) I also used my calendar app to keep updated on when my partner and I were meeting, what we needed to have done by a certain time, etc. It was really helpful for my time management and I even managed to schedule a weekend away from the whole project to celebrate my birthday in, right before deadline day. This is usually a time I am cramming and rushing to finish.
Overall, a big success, and I will be posting about my final outcome soon. I believe setting a target truly helped me within this module, so for my next module, my target is to continue to experiment with illustrator and use it as quite a big aspect of the project in order to gain more experience.
This year, my first module was to create 5 sketchbooks. That seemed like a nightmare at the beginning, but it really worked and I soon found myself reaching for my sketchbooks to jot down ideas and notes instead of using scrap paper and never including it in my progress. Within the module following, I reverted back to InDesign as it was easier and quicker as there was no idea generation.
Within this module, I wanted to use a sketchbook again in hopes it would aid my final outcome: and also, continue to expand my annotation and paper use. And that it did.
Below I have included images of my research stage within my sketchbook. These pages were at the beginning, middle and end of my sketchbook: when using in design, I added all research to the beginning and never truly reverted back to integrate them within my idea generation. With this new way, I found myself realising there were aspects I needed to research again, and more thoroughly research to aid my ideas, such as materials, and ecologically friendly methods. It really helped my process be a smoother one.
As you can see, it was necessary for me to research into all kinds of areas: ecologically friendly packaging methods on the market, ecologically friendly materials and delivery systems, the brand itself and it's target audience, D&AD past entries and winners, competitors, other companies which had used our idea, and fashion trends.
Though I won't go too into detail right now on the idea, as I would like to save that for my final outcome blogpost, I have shared below my idea generation and process.
Though I am working as a pair, our research was conducted separately and we came together to discuss our ideas and communicate them back and forth. We also scheduled many meetings away from our college studio days, as a way to keep in touch with one another and make sure we were both on the right track. It was tricky, but it was worth it as having two heads instead of one meant we didn't get stuck on a bad idea and try to make it work: we were level headed, and told each other straight which direction we wanted to take, and both evaluated whether it was a good one.
Our idea generation was done quite separately. Keeping tabs on each other meant relaying our ideas to one another, but we went separately when it came to our sketchbooks. I think this was a good method to take as it meant we could both equally explore our own ideas before relaying them to our pair. I believe our final outcome is strong because of this.
Finally, I have really enjoyed working with a sketchbook. As this was my target for this module, I'm glad I have stuck to it as I feel my creations have been better for it: it's a lengthier process than jumping to the screen, but it's not as exhausting, and I found myself getting less bored and procrastinating less due to not having the distractions of the internet.
My other target was to work with a plan and follow it: I believe my partner and I both did this. I used the wanderlist app, a recent stumble upon, to keep a to do list that I could regularly update and check, and remember to actually write! (Thank god for smart phones and my addiction to checking it.) I also used my calendar app to keep updated on when my partner and I were meeting, what we needed to have done by a certain time, etc. It was really helpful for my time management and I even managed to schedule a weekend away from the whole project to celebrate my birthday in, right before deadline day. This is usually a time I am cramming and rushing to finish.
Overall, a big success, and I will be posting about my final outcome soon. I believe setting a target truly helped me within this module, so for my next module, my target is to continue to experiment with illustrator and use it as quite a big aspect of the project in order to gain more experience.
goals for 14/15
Wednesday, 10 September 2014 • Goals, Targets
It’s important that I set myself
goals of what I want to achieve through this up coming year, so that I know
which areas I would like to improve and pinpoint what I feel were my weaknesses
last year, whilst working to grow them into strengths.
My main goal for this year is to grow
my confidence using the program Illustrator, as I feel last year I avoided
using the program and believe my work would benefit tremendously with more use.
I also feel it is an important skill to have when working in the industry.
I aim to plan each module proficiently and organise myself well, focusing on my time management. I have bought a diary and aim to use this to keep myself on track, and have also bought a desk so I can have an area where I can focus on my work.
I aim to plan each module proficiently and organise myself well, focusing on my time management. I have bought a diary and aim to use this to keep myself on track, and have also bought a desk so I can have an area where I can focus on my work.
Another goal of mine, which ties in
with the previous, is to not leave my modules until the last minute. As I work
20 hours a week it is difficult to find a balance between university and my
job, but my university projects need to come first. This may mean dropping my
hours or looking for another job which is more flexible: that requires updating
my CV, which will be good practice for my creative CV.
A goal I feel necessary to my progress on this course is to speak to industry professionals, and listen to their advice on how to reach the next step in my career. I feel it’s important to attend all industry talks and to also reach out to professionals beyond my course through interviews and emails.
Something I would like to work on is my sketchbook work: I would like to grow my idea generation as I feel I am currently limiting myself by not spending enough time working on my ideas and expanding them. My focus has been, up until now, on my final outcome. I believe by spending more time with my sketchbook my final outcome will benefit.
A goal I feel necessary to my progress on this course is to speak to industry professionals, and listen to their advice on how to reach the next step in my career. I feel it’s important to attend all industry talks and to also reach out to professionals beyond my course through interviews and emails.
Something I would like to work on is my sketchbook work: I would like to grow my idea generation as I feel I am currently limiting myself by not spending enough time working on my ideas and expanding them. My focus has been, up until now, on my final outcome. I believe by spending more time with my sketchbook my final outcome will benefit.
I aim to create a UCAS application
and continue my degree for the final year, graduating with a BA Hons in Graphic
Design. This will take preparation and research, and require meeting deadlines
therefore it is important to begin looking into this early. I will need to
write my personal statement and also attend interviews, which means my
portfolio will need to be created.