Summer Presentation

I started of my summer re doing my digital portfolio and sending it out to a list of people recommended to me by John, designers I like and print houses. Unfortunately I was extremely unsuccessful which was really disappointing to me especially as I really wanted to get some professional feedback. I didn't give up hope, when I realised I must be doing something wrong, weather it be the approach i was taking or the pieces of work I had used, I decided to look at peoples blogs that had been more successful than me and see the approaches they had taken. I really liked Adam's potfoliozines and Chloe's postcards, I am going to look at individualizing my work to each company or designer.

When i realised i wouldn't be getting any placements over the summer i wanted to do something productive so i began with creating an identity for myself. I began with looking at my business card as i decided everything else would evolve after this has been designed. I started with small patterns and shapes that i could use as logos or symbols to represent a small part of myself and my work.

I moved on to looking at type and how I could combine the pattern work and type to establish a logo that could be used across different pieces of work, that would be recogniseable as my mark. At the same time I used this hand drawn type to add a new look to my blog, this again tying my work together more establishing a style.

These are a few of the identity pieces I have designed so far, there are a few more pieces and development work on my blog. I began designing my website as I feel it makes your mark online and I would really like one, however I have no idea how to make one and feel this would be a great collaborative task for me. Since designing these i have had feedback and changes do need to be made still.

One of the things I want to get out of year 3 is experimentation, at the end of year 2 i began working with collage establishing a style which i really enjoyed. I want to continue with this and broaden my knowledge at the same time. Kate Slater is a new Illustrator to me and i find her work really inspiring to me and has made me realise i can can use complete paper crafting to make something really successful.

Carolyn Gavin is another illustrator I have found inspirational to my work, when speaking to the group about what i do and dont want from my 3rd year I was reminded of my pattern work and what a strong aspect to my work it has been and i should continue with this.

The 10 briefs we were asked to write over the summer have all been my own ideas, I choose each brief through what I wanted to be producing in my 3rd year the things I enjoy and want to carry on with but I also decided I wanted to have fun this year, so each brief is something I have a personal interested in. I have narrowed down my 10 briefs to 4 they all include different things I want to re look at as i mentioned before, the christmas brief gives me a chance to have fun and play whilst still working with illustration, pattern and packaging.

The tropical brief mainly looks at illustration, collage and pattern it also gives me chance to work on my photography through research which is an area that lets me down on my work, so each opportunity I have I want to work on it.

I love cooking so I really wanted to do a brief that I could incorporate this into, I also discovered at the end of last year I really enjoyed my last brief focused on children. This brief I have written incorporates the audience of children and packaging, a chance to experiment with which again was a strength in my work last year, this was a comment put forward by my group task.

The fourth brief involves children again and i think this brief would give me the chance to work collaboratively as there are so many directions it could take and I think the use of someone with type and layout skills could make this brief really successful.

I have chosen to write my dissertation outside of the Graphic Design area as I struggle art and design, so I thought my best bet and to get the best mark would be to write about something I have an interest in. My dissertation title is 'What role does the media have on eating disorders?' So far i have look at 6 books and some newspaper articles, I am waiting for my first tutorial before I move any further forward.

I have looked back at the skills assessment sheets, these are the areas I really need to work on for my 3rd year to be as successful as I want. I have left a few things off like Video and Animation, but I dont indent to approach these areas unless needs be.

What i want from 3rd year.

What do i want and why?

1. Experiment with different collage styles. To get a deeper understanding of each and be able to establish my best working method and style.
2. To create an identity. So i can have presence in the industry, people can find me online and i have professional documentation to give them.
3. Get placements. To experience the professional industry and see which types on environment i like working in, whilst experiencing fast moving briefs.
4. Feed back from professionals. So i can positively improve my work and create a really good portfolio.
5. Photography. A sill i have wanted to work on for a while, its a weakness in my work even just photographing finished briefs. however i expect it to take its place more in 3rd year with the different collage techniques i am experimenting with.

What i dont want to do and why?

1. Type and Layout. It is not an area in my design path i am choosing to follow it isn't really an interest in mine and i find it too fiddly and precise to concentrate on. I am however open to type as image.
2. Moving image. I feel very uncomfortable in this area, i thinks there is just too much for me to do and remember and i cant get my head around the simplest of things. I am however open to making the images of someone to be used.
3. Character Design. I find it hard to draw a character and put personality into it, i cant visualise this in my head to then draw it on paper.
4. Branding. Im not driven to do this, iv found it hard to create a brand or identity for myself never mind an area i dont know about. I also find it quite restrictive which i dont like.

Ciara Phelan

As i have mentioned the main think i want to concentrate on in my 3rd year is developing my collage techniques and looking and different ways i can do this whilst creating my own style. I posted earlier an illustrator working over the top of a photograph with pattern work, another illustration and collage method i want to explore is the use of existing shapes patterns and photographs put together to make my own illustrations. Ciara uses vintage images and cuttings out of paper to create her illustrations. This is something i have worked with in the past but never on such a large scale. Until i saw Ciaras work i never quite realised i could do it on such a large scale and fully with existing work. I really like that she has mixed this with her own cut outs indiviuallising the illustration and making it her own. I definitely no now i want to explore all areas of collage and not just stick to what i know.

Statement of Intent

Design Strategies 2

Brief

Brief

Afro Cafe

WOOW! this is a cafe in saltzburg its amazing its an african based cafe with everything in it african. I love the designs in it, the picture isn't very large but it looks so bright and modern with a very african funky feel to it. I love the pattern work on the ceiling brought down onto the table cloths, id love to be involved with something like this, its so interesting and different.

Seydou Keita & Carolyn Gavin

I was looking through Carolyn Gavins blog and found these pieces she has developed, i thing their really fun but bring the image to like in a new and modern way and you still get the deep feelings from the photograph. The photographer is Seydou Keita, a self taught photographer from Africa, iv posted the images below, i think the contrast in the bright colored background and the powerful photograph clashes but works so well together.

Brief

Sarajo Frieden

I love these designs by Sarajo placed on the different mugs, there really different and look like individual special pieces created for you. The designs are based around inspirational quotes which has given me an idea for one of my briefs. I really like the quirkiness of the mug and teapot on the second image it works really well with the individual design created by Sarajo. This is also such a different way to work, iv never created something 3d either which would be used on an everyday product id really like to start looking further into these design paths.

Brief

Rhino Mania

When i went to Chester Zoo today they have a 'rhinomania' exhibition on from july 5th till september 12th placed all around the park were rhinos designed by the people and businesses of Chester. Rhinos are one of the most endangered animals and money raised will go to support conservation projects. I really liked this idea of putting art onto the rhino to create awareness and getting chester involved not just on raising money and awareness but to also get people out of their houses and doing things together as a family. Iv posted below the link to the website, there are some really quirky designs posted along with some terrible ones but still! My favourite is number 43. Precious Commodity.

http://www.rhinomania.co.uk/rhino-gallery