PRODUCT.RANGE.DISTRIBUTION.
For this evaluation, I have looked back at the list I made at the start about what I wanted to achieve, to consider if I have done the things I wanted to.
1. What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?
Through this brief I have developed the skills mentioned in the title of the brief, especially considering the range of products. After a workshop early on in this brief, I learnt that covering a range of products was important for many matters, such as making more money in the real world. Covering a range of outcomes is something that I said I wanted to do at the beginning, and I have applied this, by creating a set of packaging for about ten products.
As I had to write the brief myself, this is a skill I have developed, as normally, the brief has already been written for me. I had to make sure my brief was defined so I didn’t get stuck at a dead end because I had too many options, so I gave myself restrictions, such as limited colour palette. I think I have applied this skill well, as it is the first long brief that I haven’t felt I have got stuck with.
2. What approaches to/methods of design production have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?
I have developed my packaging skills, as its something I’ve barely touched on while I’ve been on this course. This has informed my design development process as I have focused on an area which I haven’t spend much time on before, which is something that I said I wanted to do initially. As a result, my presentation skills have improved, as this is so important with packaging, to get things perfect. I’ve also had to be more organised, as I had to consider in advance what I needed printing, to book print slots, and make sure there was enough time in case something went wrong. So by doing what I wanted to, I have ended up improving over skills as well.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalize on these?
I think with every evaluation that goes by I feel more confident with myself as a designer, and so find more strengths in my work as I am actually working hard on the things that I say I will do differently next time. I think feeling confident in my work is the greatest strength, as it was something I was really lacking. I am happy with my work and have enjoyed creating it. I can capitalise on this by promoting my work to help my PPD.
I have planned everything so that I have covered every aspect that I needed to, to really create the ‘Perfect Picnic’ as stated in the title of the YCN competition brief that my brief was adapted from. This has meant that I have covered a wide range of materials, and that the perfect picnic could actually be a realistic product.
I have set myself restrictions which I have stuck to, such as a limited colour palette and following the Marks and Spencer Plan A policy, and this has made an open brief in to a brief I could control. In the past, I have got stuck with open briefs, but I now know that having a defined direction is a good thing.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?
A weakness is not taking risks with my work, which is something I am very aware of. I stick to what I know a lot of the time, and while my outcome for this brief isn’t similar to what I have done before, I don’t want to get stuck with a ‘style’ yet, so I need to continue to take risks and experiment more, to learn new things. Finding inspiration on blogs, asking others for their advice and trying tutorials will help me to create work that stands out from the rest of my work.
I have spent a lot of time on making sure my concept was how I wanted it to be, and this has meant that the design side was a bit rushed. I might have wanted to create more products, or just spend more time experimenting before deciding everything was ready to print. I think in future I need to decided what I am doing earlier on, so as not to waste any time. I can do this by continuously asking for feedback on my ideas, and not just waiting for crits.
5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
-1- I will make sure I consider book binding. My leaflet ended up turning out just fine, and I am happy with it, but I didn’t consider how it would be bound when designing, which could have meant that the leaflet wouldn’t fit together. This is something I have struggled with throughout the modules this year so definitely need to revisit book binding as I will probably be creating more publications next year.
-2- I need to experiment with creating type only pieces. I am happy with my final piece, but the focus isn’t as much on the type as I wanted it to be. As an image person, I wanted to experiment with type to help improve my skills, but I ended up turning the focus back to illustration. I need to be brave in the future and try a different direction, even if its not what I end up going with, as this will improve my overall design skills.
-3- I would arrange more print slots to print mock ups and print a few extras when making nets. Printing is always a stressful experience, and I was worried the colours wouldn’t work how I wanted to when I came to print, so having done a test run beforehand would have ensured I was happy with my prints.
-4- Continue to work on my photography skills so I can have the confidence to photograph my final pieces in context rather than just by themselves, as I think this will look better on my design boards.
-5- Print things more than 2 days before the hand in, so I have time to reprint if something goes wrong, and so I don’t have to rush creating my boards and doing my photo shoots.
6. How would you grade yourself on the following areas
(5= excellent 4=very good 3=good 2=average 1=poor)
Attendance = 4
Punctuality = 4
Motivation = 4
Commitment = 4
Quantity of work produced = 3
Quality of work produced = 3
Contribution to the group = 4
Attendance = 4
Punctuality = 4
Motivation = 4
Commitment = 4
Quantity of work produced = 3
Quality of work produced = 3
Contribution to the group = 4
