INTERIM EVALUATION

Problems identified during brief's:
I have encountered a variety of problems in the course of this year. Overall, I think that it has been fairly problem free but some issues have arisen. I suppose I usually finish the main design task early on because I want to manage the time I allocate to other projects, this has a minor impact on the overall outcome of the brief as I become bogged down in other work. This year has been fairly busy for me both in the studio and socially but with improved time management I was able to complete the most of the work itself to a pretty good standard. On one or two occasions I have not had time to book a print slot with James but I have not yet submitted work that has been printed at poor quality due to the drop in times.

Key considerations when investigating brief's.
The main consideration I took into account throughout the year has been the design style that I have employed. In the last module we focused heavily on research and gathering large amount of information, I collected vast amounts about Zimbabwe and Blood Diamonds. In 406 I did do research and made sure everything was correct before committing to my statements but focused much more of my time on design. My best work is produced when I start to balance a consideration for the audience with research and employ a good design style all at the same time.

Evaluate Research Technique.
My most common research technique is to base my work on something I already have some interest in, and therefore knowledge of. Usually this means that I have some material I can start with, be it in a book, magazine, internet or newspaper. After this initial base research I will always continue learning about the topic by finding resorces on the internet. Occasionally I will consult the public by means of a questionnaire but I sometimes feel that questioning the same people (college) over and over again would limit the work I do to a more narrow perspective.

Evaluate Secondary Research Undertaken.
Secondary research accounts for the backbone of my design decisions. I have always felt that Internet research is massively undervalued by older generations who perhaps did not grow up with the resource themselves and perhaps do not trust the media but I strongly believe that if you know where to look, the internet is the most valuable source of information the world has ever seen. For example there is no way I could have found 100 separate articles about blood diamonds by trawling old newspapers, but with the internet I was able to find, read and extract information from these 100 in about 3 solid days work. This meant the the content of my blood diamonds project was heavily based on slid research and good information that had been cross referenced over many different sources. Equally important is the access the internet has allowed me to the work of designers who are practicing today. Often I can gather inspirational styles from these designers and then get to work to a response with my own interpretation within minutes.

Evaluate Primary Research Undertaken.
I suppose in terms of making design decisions I make sure that the people around me are involved with my designs and that they can feed input into how I can improve and change designs. This also happens in our invaluable crits, where I can gather feedback from students and tutors and alter work appropriately. In terms of gathering primary research for information to include within the designs themselves, I find that I have not carried out as much of this research as my peers. Questionnaires for example have become a staple for finding out what the rest of the year had for breakfast but we are a unit of like minded people and I feel that gathering public opinion from them would be fairly bias.

Evaluate Initial Idea Generation.
Many of my initial Ideas I feel I can visualise in my head much better that I can draw on paper. This is usually how I come up with design solutions; I can picture a blurry final design, then draw down a basic interpretation for documentation, but also so I do not forget. This is probably not the best tactic because I have a horrible tendency to believe that the first idea I have will also be the best idea I have. In many occasions this year however I have proven to myself that this is wrong and that through healthy idea generation by drawing as many different ideas as I can before I start, I can create better design. This happened in the last brief. My first idea with the light bulbs over the queens head was the one I went for straight away. When I stepped back to think about my other ideas I ended up with a stronger one, both visually and conceptually.



CLASSIFICATION OF STAMP IT BRIEF

Systematic Approach
Every design I do has a systematic approach which is very clear to see on my design practice blog. For every brief I tend to design in illustrator on multiple art boards. Every time I make a change I start a new art board so I can clearly see when I have been and where I can go next. Also I can take old art boards that may be better and ask other designers around me which one they like for their opinions.

Stimulated Approach
My stimulated approach is fairly laid back. I like to think that I take inspiration from movements and broad styles rather than individual designers. Most of this inspiration comes from internet sources, as this is the modern way to gather inspiration and is also the most unchained and diverse resource there is. However I definitely use magazines and other print based design to help my design considerations when it comes to truth to materials and stock choices.

Intuitive Approach
I liked my intuitive approach during this brief. As I had printed the stamps by Wednesday lunch last week I was basically making decisions on how I wanted to construct my stamp book without any sibliminal direction coming from others in the studio. I also interpreted my own design of the royal mail logo so it would be more appropriate.