Mitch Weaver
Evaluation – OUGD301
1.What skills have you developed through this
module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?
Throughout this module my main skill set
that I have developed, is thinking visually. Working heavily on illustration
and image-based design has allowed myself to start putting together a thorough
strategy for the future. Working within different techniques, and challenging
my existing ability has shown me that there is always a lot more to learn.
Overall my weakness in this has to be the production side to creating pieces of
design that exists physically. Generating work on screen can be easily
achieved, but in reality it still needs to be three-dimensional. I feel that
however, my type skills have massively improved, alongside my editorial design
work. This is something I aim to continue to practice further, as eventually it
shows my illustrative work in a more defined body of work.
2. What approaches to/methods of design
production have you developed and how have they informed your design
development process?
Starting out with the hand drawn approach
is something I always try to improve, although at times can be time consuming.
There is a raw overall feel to each design/illustration that has allowed myself
as a designer to start thinking about this within my practice. Overall
production is something that I feel I am massively lacking in, as it seems to
show towards the end of every brief. This is down to a few reasons, my
financial situation, and personal life. Something, which I constantly try to
improve. With that it has allowed me to understand how low-fi DIY can be
successful and not expensive at the same time. This is what I want to
capitalise on throughout the remainder of the year. Hopefully developing into a
successful practice, keeping everything relevant to myself and design
direction.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work
and how have/will you capitalise on these?
The main strengths throughout my work are
image based designs & illustrations. This is what I feel I am the most
effective at utilising within each brief. As my rational states that I want to
push this more throughout all of my design work, ultimately creating an almost
double skill set. Using design with illustration and not apart.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your
work and how will you address these in the future?
The most obvious weakness is my production
process. Automatically I feel that each brief di not reach it’s fullest
potential due to the lack of organization, and as already stated financial
situation. At times I felt stuck, especially as I did not collaborate with any
of my peers, making my work load a lot more difficult to handle at times. Not
looking for excuses here, just how I see my weaknesses.
5. Identify five things that you will do differently
next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
-
Production: Using this throughout my briefs, to test my design work
in the physical world and not leaving it all to the last minute.
-
Editorial: This is something I
feel slightly more confident with in terms of designing work that can be seen
through a book., magazine or publication.
-
Digital Illustration:
Realistically this is the most efficient method to creating designs to be
applied across a number of different platforms. Utilising this to it’s full
advantage will allow myself to be more efficient and consistent on briefs.
-
Illustrative Type: This is was
something I aimed to practice on, to aid my image based illustrations but I did
not. This seems to be the most effective
method of incorporating type with image, within illustration.
-
Questions: Actually ask for
advice, direction and help. I did not use the support effectively around the
studio. Instead I worried about everything on my own. This is something I
definitely need to take advantage of in order to successfully become a better
designer within the course structure.
