'A' Breakthrough

I originally began experimenting with the use of colour with the rockwell typeface to give my font a little more depth, however this didnt seem successful. By chance, I layered two different colours of 'organic' movement type in different colours to create a much better effect. After choosing the correct layer mode this is what I came up with. Combining a range of colours. Isn't it lovely?

Lighabet

Lighabet
Originally uploaded by Luke Hallam Photography

First final idea for a typeface overlaying a rockwell font. I chose it because of strong serifs and clear define of each edge to trace. Im happy with how it came out although the exploration of colour and a more organic movement was prefered in the crit, so I will continue with that and experiment.

Shine a light

I invested in a few different light sources and combined with some filter samples I have to create some coloured lights. I especially like the letterforms in this sample and probably what I will continue in the line brief.

Pro Flickr

My account has been upgraded, now expect many more photographs on there. I hope this'll encourage me to take more photos.. especially because I'm paying for it. :)

Glow sticks.

Little bit more experimentation with light and line, here with glow sticks. Again click to see a few more images, but strangely coming to the end of my monthly flickr limit.. yet only uploading 25 or so images.. rubbish!

Traffic.

Photos experimenting with traffic lines and trails. Just as a starting point and another possible direction. Click the image for more photos.. hopefully.

BOOOOOOOM light drawings

Light drawings created by Cenci Goepel and Jens Warnecke from booooooom.com Just more examples of experimenting with line.

OUGD102 Self Evaluation

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

I think my skills with Illustrator and Indesign have moved on much more, the work has almost forced me to use the software and experiment and develop ideas with the tools such as the pen tool, and adjusting the weights of stroke and fill. It was a breath of fresh air to actually be shown Indesign properly and be able to create a book with ease, ordering pages as appose to attempting to teach yourself in your ND course for an FMP, mentioning no useless tutors names (Chris Coldbeck) 

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

The blog on this particular module has been really useful, a great place to get feedback from work, put down your ideas and show a clear path of where you need to take your ideas and processes. The what if? brief was my favourite of this module and problem solving in a group was not only useful but really enjoyable to do, to be able to devise a solution from a problem has been useful.

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

The strengths have been through the use of a computer from the research, development through software and documenting on my blog from crits and progress. It doesn't feel like a chore anymore to update the blog, I'm now quite happy to ramble on individual posts about my work.

What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?

Time management has again been an issue, working on weekly briefs was intense in the first module, but I eventually got used to it and I worked alright, but with the book brief spanning 5 weeks, I had a tendency (and I think a few people did) to relax for the beginning of the brief a little then have to work much harder towards the end of the brief. If I had worked at the same pace throughout, I would of definitely produced more work. 

Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?

1. More primary research

2. Be consistant with work amounts

3. Timetable days more, have a fixed list of things to do that day, organised from the start!

4. Use the studio more, i did in the first module, but slipped a little with going home earlier.. I do work better at Uni.

5. Don't be so focused with ideas in development, I keep doing it!

Are there any things we could have done differently that would have benefitted your progress?

The same as the list of 5 really, and get organised. Use time for effectively.

How would you grade yourself on the following areas:

(5=excellent, 1=poor)

Attendance: 4

Punctuality: 4

Motivation: 3

Commitment: 3

Quantity of work produced: 3 (I'm not happy)

Quality of work produced: 3

Contribution to the group: 4

Ps + Ai + Id = A6

The book from the Ps brief we had to show the design process, If Im honest I didn't really know what to do for this, what to include so I basically showed the design process for a previous brief. Working from the initial 100 photographs collected onto the what if? brief finals.. showing the process and design decisions on how it lead to a smile campaign. Even though it is stupidly simple, I do really like it. I haven't really got used to simple in my work, I always think it needs more. For this Im relying on the images to explain the process. I think it does.

100 brief, final crit.

You can take feedback in loads of different ways, wherethe its just opinions or if its actually constructive. Had my feedback earlier today for the carton book contraption and i got some really useful feedback. David Gasi and Boysie Sands gave me my feedback which I'm really happy with, feedback I can use and work from. Anyway! what they said..

'large quantity of focused secondary research, extensive collection of exciting bottles/cans/branding. Good collection of health affect related material. Fair amount of primary research, could use some more.'

'Good evidence of development process, focused but maybe more variations could be helpful. i.e. more visual exploration of book in container concept'

I agree with what's been said here, I think when creating the container, and the short brain storm, one on level I thought that a carton (because of its shape and capacity) was the only way to go under the time frame. Maybe research more into different concepts, even if it was a few pages to atleast show the experimentation. I think I'm going to add some drawings towards the back or my book to show I have now considered this.

'Understand the design process, shows progression, develop container box, show contextual understanding, but maybe fruit juice is under represented for resolution, but with soft-drink content.'

Again highlighting the previous point with the relation of the softdrink content and the fruit juice carton, although some facts do relate, its not as strong so ill look into other packaging as ideas.

Good exploration, physical, but very direct to resolution. More conceptual work required, but is evident in design sheet. More design sheets?'

True, for my final net I did only trace the net dimensions and recreate it, wherethe I could of changed the dimensions so it was more of a book shape? more page layouts?

'Good effort! Expand variations, concepts, its very focused again.'

This point covers my views of the project. Its become too focused again which I have a tendency of doing with my work, as soon as I get an idea, just jump onto it, which is wrong! I need to experiment more. I really want to do well next module.