End of Module Evaluation

(in addition to each individual brief evaluation)

What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?

Throughout this module I have developed a significant range of different skills, ranging from conceptualisation to practical skills. Working with Alex Goddard on different briefs has allowed me to see from outside of the way in which graphic designers look at ideas and to push things a bit further than I normally would have done. I think I have started to really understand how to implement a brand identity across the necessary and suitable products and I have pushed myself with regards to making sure the brand identity is what the client wants and needs.

The physical skills I have developed range from constructing packaging within the Sipi Coffee brief, to teaching myself to use After Effects in two days to produce the app walk through video for the City of Copenhagen brief. These were both challenges in very different ways but I think I effectively strengthened both skills. My skills with editorial layouts, photographing finished work and mocking up work in Photoshop have all improved drastically as well as how I learnt to produce 3D mock up images in Illustrator during the Purdey's brief. 

Overall, in terms of developing skills, I think this has been my most successful module to date as I have worked the briefs I have done not only around the skills I already have but also the skills I wanted to learn and develop. 

What approaches to/methods of design production have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?

While during this module I have had a strong focus on branding and identity as this is what interests me the most, I have also approached all of the briefs in terms of how the brand identities can be spread across the necessary products and applications. I have also for this module realised how important it is to know the subject before beginning designing. For the Play brief, I looked at contextual research of how other charities are branded but once I began designing I still found it difficult as I had gaps in my knowledge of how a charity has to function. 

I also have found myself doing a lot more experimentation within the beginnings of different briefs, even when I have known what I want the out come to be or look like, than I had been doing during second year. 

This module has tested me with digital design, particularly in the City of Copenhagen brief as I knew I was going to produce digital outcomes but how I went about that was initially a challenge. I think I have now developed quite a good working pattern to be able to produce work similar to that brief again in the future.


What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?

My biggest strength is definitely within branding and identity, but I also consider it a strength to have a varied portfolio. I have found that the variety of briefs I have done throughout this module has actually helped me to produce each of the outcomes as I haven't been stuck in just one particular style or way of working. 

I think that having a variety of work and different approaches, but all within the umbrella term of 'branding and identity' will help me progress into the industry and be adaptable to the briefs that I get to work on. I have also developed how I work with clients after having more than one experience of a difficult client relationship throughout this module and I do think that one of my skills is having patience in these situations.


What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in the future?

One thing I have struggled with and still struggle with is actually crafting packaging, although this is something that I enjoy designing. The Sipi Coffee brief helped me with this as I produced a range of different tests until the finals were right. I imagine that in the industry there will be less importance placed on how well I can craft things such as packaging but I know that having an understanding of how this works will definitely help me to design for packaging in the future. 

Overall, this has definitely been my strongest module to date and I am really happy with the portfolio of work I have produced throughout this year. I feel like I have finally started to let my skills and ideas show and I have learnt a huge amount from this module that I will take with me on into the industry.