PPP | COP3 | EP | Module summary so far

PPP

After doing studio visits to Google and doing a two week placement at Brandfuel I realised that I love the idea of working a for a big company, a place which enables opportunity to move around in areas of design. In terms of where I want to work I know it is fashion related, Ive always had a huge interest in fashion and this year I have tried to incorporate elements of it in to my graphic design practice. 

COP3

The COP3 module was a massive realisation period for me. My essay question was "Does the significance of flowers lie in artistic nature or commercial value" and although initially this doesn't sound very graphic design or fashion related - this question helped me learn a lot about language, culture, semiotics, meaning, concepts, fashion, textiles and even graphics. I was investigating and writing about subjects which genuinely interested me from logo design to haute couture embellishment to poetry, gaining an understanding of a lot of different things which all steamed back to flowers really inspired me in terms of my practice. And the realisation was that all my graphic design interests are fashion related, whether it be branding, print for fashion and textiles, retail design or visual merchandising. I know I am a designer who wants to work for the fashion sector. 

EXTENDED PRACTICE

At the beginning of the year I was struggling a little to initiate briefs which signified what I wanted to be designing as I was trying to figure out who i should be designing for. The placement I did earlier on in the year was a rest learning cute from my practice as it made me realise where I wanted to work, and the COP 3 module was influential for my practice in terms of who I wanted to be working at. So my extended practice module will be based on my experience, learning and creative ambitions to work and design in the fashion sector. 

COP 3 | Evaluation

COP 3 - Evaluation

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

I believe my critical and analytical writing skills have improved a lot from this Context of practice module, in the previous years I haven't ever got fully absorbed into the idea of writing, or the subject I have been writing about. This year I chose to write my dissertation on the subject flowers, to me they're visually intriguing so I wanted to write about something I was interested in. I believe the skills I have gained from writing about flowers is the ability to research, observe and have an opinion on a subject to inform my practical element.

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

I chose to look at the relationship between flowers and communication, by doing so I developed floral prints and created a typeface modification. I was interested in semiotics and the language element to my dissertation which inspired me to refashion a typeface. I left myself little time meaning I couldn't design my own from scratch therefore I selected a typeface with resembled quality and aspects of high fashion. SF new republic is the font very similar to the Chanel typeface, this fit perfectly with the concept of my designs. The designs which I had completed I wanted to embellish and embroider to add texture to materials by adding a hint of haute couture to them. My aims for further printing were to digitally print my designs onto cotton or silk ready to be decorated, however due to so many deadlines I couldn't get a slot. I attempted a back up plan which was to screen print followed by the same process as well as foiling and flocking the designs to add surface pattern and texture to give a rich quality to the typeface, but unfortunately the development process fell through. 

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

I believe I have showed clear understudying of the significance of flowers and the connotations which are assigned to them, and I hope I have clearly showed the notion of this in my practical brief. I believe the ideas I had for the practical element would have full filled my over all idea of what I wanted to gain from this module by using theory and a system of ideas to create flowers within language, embellished with the concept of luxury. 

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

I'm disappointed that the ideas for design production I had didn't go to plan as I feel the the development process would have been a key part of the typeface alteration as well as full filling that element of haute couture through out my work. Due to bad time management my practical element has massively lacked in innovation and exploration, because of this I am planning to use the knowledge I have gained through out this module, and transform this outcome into a positive thing by continuing to work on these ideas by composing a second addition to the practical brief. 

5. Identify 5 things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
- Manage my time more effectively and be a more organised designer so that my work doesn't lack in quality or quantity.
- Begin designing sooner to show a stronger development in ideas and to gain a more satisfied outcome when the products are finished.
- Experiment a lot more with processes and finishes to show a better collection of work.
- Keep on top of blogging as apposed to leaving it for last minute.
- Have a better working ethic given that i'm in my last year at uni. 

6. How would you grade yourself on the following areas:

Attendance: 4
Punctuality: 4
Motivation: 3
Commitment: 5
Quantity of work produced: 3
Quality of work produced: 3
Contribution to the group: 5