:: YEAR TWO

During this last year I feel that I have learnt a lot about myself. My work has progressed quite considerably, I can respond to answering a brief quicker, generating ideas at a quicker pace, but to the same standard. My technical skills have progressed loads, although I am not master at all the programmes we have worked with, I now feel I have the confidence to go back and experiment with more technical ways of working. But, I do regret that I’ve not gone back to working with, or at least looking at these new programmes in more recent briefs and how I could incorporate my ideas into working in this way.
I still feel that my confidence as a person and how I work needs improving, especially before I go on into the big wide world of the Graphic Design industry. I maybe think that my confidence has deteriorated slightly since the first year, for what reason, I don’t know. But this is something I know needs the most improvement, starting as soon as possible!

My design practice has also gone one step further, although I still have a lot to learn and improve. I have learnt to work under the pressure of time, I managed to do it successfully, but it still needs a lot of work. But by working with shorter briefs, I have had to develop ideas quicker and get on with an idea, experiment with it until I make it right and get it done.
By having to work in a way where I have to manage my time effectively, I have had to learn how to make decisions quicker. And producing time planning sheets, for each day by the hour and doing to-do lists during this last module has really made a difference to how I work. So this way or working is something I am going to continue to do.

During the second year I have learn numerous practical skills, in particular After effects and Flash. The digital side of things, especially in this kind of way (animation) isn’t the way I would usually choose to work, but I now know the potential and how to go about it, it’s something I enjoyed, but can only learn more about it by choosing to work with it again and experiment with the new programmes we have looked at. I have also learnt that the best way to generate ideas is to get on with it. Experiment with it, whether it is in Photoshop or whatever is suitable, but then it gave me chance to make changes, see what was working and where it can go at a quicker pace. Instead of sitting with a sketchbook, planning ideas and wondering whether it will work or not. Not saying that that’s a bad way for me to work, as it’s how I normally work, but at a quicker pace, so I not sat with a sketch book until the final week of the brief and then expect to get it all done and see what’s going to work.

I feel that my mains strengths are organising myself. I like to keep all work in order which I think, although it doesn’t seem like much, helps me get through briefs and from getting myself stressed! I also benefit form critical feedback, especially from crits. I always take into account what has been said, and ways I can improve my work and do it. Whether it works or not, I appreciate what is said and use it effectively.

The main areas which I need to improve on is mainly confidence. Having the confidence to try out new ideas, having the confidence to experiment with new media and techniques and not worry about going wrong, having the confidence in talking about my own work, especially when it comes to presenting it to a group of people and being able to explain it effectively without and as though I know what I’m talking about and the reasons behind what I’ve done!

Unfortunately, I still an unsure of what my focus is as a designer. I am hoping this will be resolved when I gain more confidence in myself and the way I work. I have chosen as my optional module to work with type and layout, so this is something I enjoy working with. Also, advertising and brand identity is something of interest to me, but I’m hoping this will become clearer to me over the course of the third year and maybe this coming summer, when I have more time to think and not spend my whole time focusing on the ongoing briefs! Find out who I actually am and what it is I want to do. Knowing what direction I go in might become apparent after spending time at my work placement, Colourbox, in York during the summer. It is a design and print consultancy, which I’m looking forward to learning more about and how a small business works and the way it works and the roles people have. So hopefully that will give me an understanding of what I want to do!!

Overall I think that I have had a successful second year. Learning a lot about myself and the way I work. But I still have one hell of a lot to learn about myself and the direction I want to go in. But I’m looking forward to the challenge during an enjoyable learning process and what will come during the third year.