OUGD502 - PPP2: Evaluation

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

I have developed my networking skills so much in this module. I previously hadn't really done any networking, and I get quite nervous talking to people so going to different events monthly was a big development. Listening to talks and talking to people in the industry has really informed me about web design and helped me apply them to my web designs. I have become more confident in designing them and have made more informed decisions. I believe that going to these networking events has also improved my social skills talking to creatives, and has helped me land two placements over Summer.

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

I have outsourced printing for the first time with this project, with my business cards. I had them printed at the beginning of the year from printed.com, which I had good service with, so I updated them again with them for design presence. I think this is a more professional way of having finished work, and I felt more confident handing them out at events as opposed to printing and cutting them at uni.
I have also been aware of presenting, so I have made mock-ups of my work (print and web) and booked a photography slot to take photos of my work.

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

I think my strengths lie in that I really try and get involved, as I have done a few things to be involved in the web design industry this module. I have been going to three different events (Hey!Stac, Digitaleeds and Forefront), meeting people, arranging two placements at digital agencies, collaborating with a coder, coding websites myself and taking them live. I also dedicated my COP module to it, so I have really tried to incorporate it into everything that I can. I will continue to do this, and learn as much as I can at my placements to gain as much experience and knowledge as possible.

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

I get really nervous when it comes to presenting, which can have a negative effect on my presenting because it doesn't look like I am confident about what I am talking about. I was really nervous for the group presentation which I shouldn't have been because we had done a lot of work and I was proud of what we had achieved. I am improving slowly but surely, as I felt a lot better about the second presentation this module.

I am also really bad at replying by email because I never know what to say - but this reflects badly on me as it looks like I am not bothered. This isn't true - I just over think what to say. I really need to improve on this, and feel I have done steadily throughout the year but there's still lots of improvements to be made.

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

• I will make a more thorough presentation, showing more work and showing a bigger range of things I have done. This will show people I did more than web design..
• Be more confident when emailing studios for placements and just general conversation because this will help stop procrastinating and further my professional practice.
• Be more clued up on copyright laws so I am better informed if it happens again and act more promptly. I put the situation off this year because I was worried about it but that just hinders me.
• Begin to develop my style a lot more, so I can produce a self branding project that I feel completely reflects me. Although I know what area of design I want to work in, I haven't quite figured out my style yet. This will ensure people see me how I want them to.
• Improve on my crafting, photography and finishing skills, as I don't think my design presence resolution was finished to a high standard.

OUGD502 - PP2: A Design Presence: Photography

I took some photography of my final work. I'm not that happy with them because I was on a table so I couldn't get an aerial shot of the work, and the lights were very hot and bright so it wasn't a very comfortable environment to work in. I could definitely improve my photography, and will do for next year.

In the end I decided not to use the accent colour. I did this because I wanted a more professional look, but looking back I wish I had used it now. But I can improve my branding over Summer.

OUGD502 - PPP2 Presentation

We had to make a presentation reflecting on the year. I decided to reflect on how this year has revolved around web design for me. I have been to lots of networking events, so I talked about that and what I liked about them. I also showed a website I've designed, a website I took live, and one where I am collaborating with a coder on, so that there was a range. I also spoke how I want to carry this on over Summer, learning more about web design and coding, while working at the two placements I have at digital agencies.

I thought it went quite well actually, my presenting skills seem to have improved this time round, which is probably because there wasn't as many people in the room. There are things that I missed out, but I wasn't very nervous which was an improvement.

OUGD502 - A Design Presence: Website

I decided to go to screen with the scamps that I drew to see what I could do for my own website. I want to keep it simple, image based and contemporary.

Characteristics

• Fixed navigation
• One long page
• Arrows to navigate through projects

I decided to have full sized images, that have arrows on either side for the user to swipe or click through to see more from that project. There is also a caption of the project title and area of design. The arrows have a dark square around them in the same colour as the rest of my brand to help stand out to users.

I did this for a few projects. As they are images and not text, users don't really mind scrolling through lots of content. 

For the footer I thought I would have contact details. At first I used the same layout I have on my printed collateral, but then I thought the web is different - why have text when you can buttons going to these things. It is a lot quicker for the user and they don't have to read anything. So I got som  relevant vector buttons.

I moved these to the header as I also thought, I don't really need any navigation links if I'm just having images of my work. I could have page jump navigation links, but I didn't think it was relevant with work

I shrunk down the icons to make them look better with the size of the logo.

I decided to get rid of the facebook icon as it's not very professional.

I added the footer, and put the copyright sentence on it - something I have learnt is important this module!

I thought this was the final web design, then I thought about adding a back to top button so that it's easier for the user.

Here is the final web design, with a 'back to top' option at the bottom, to make it easier for users, and so they don't have to scroll up.

Mock Ups

Over Summer I will try and get it live. I will be working amongst developers on my placements so hopefully one could help me out with making it responsive.

OUGD502 - A Design Presence: Creative CV

I decided to follow the same layout as my invoice and letterhead. It has the skills that I have, education and experience.

OUGD502 - A Design Presence: Mini Portfolio

I created a mini portfolio with some pieces of my work that could be sent to studios and shown to people. I will package it in an envelope like my letterhead and CD.

I bound it by staples as it is only a thin book, and is an appropriate binding method for it.

OUGD502 - A Design Presence: Digitising Templates

As I had drawn out the CD and envelope nets, I took them into Illustrator to digitise them. This is important because I need them for printing and lasercutting.


Envelope

Here is the envelope, using the same dimensions of a DL envelope, so that the A4 letterhead will have to be folded twice to fit in it. 

I made sure that the flap would overlap the envelope by testing them on top of each other.

I also made a smaller version for the lining with a blue background.

CD Case

I then started making the template for the CD case. The dimensions for the case are 12.5x12.5cm with 2cm flap like the envelope.

I made it ready for print. I didn't want the lines to be visible so I took them out, but I would be able to see where to fold still.

I then did the inner lining so that I could print that off in the accent colour.

I put it on a blue background ready for print.

OUGD502 - A Design Presence: Stickers

I want to create stickers that I can close the envelopes and cd case with. I want to have the light grey on a blue background - this will strengthen the accent colour across the brand.

I tried a couple of arrangements and sizes.

I put a variety onto an A4 document so I could test different sizes and colours out.

Here they are printed

OUG502 - A Design Presence: Behance

I have a Behance with a variety of my work on it. This has been really beneficial to have, because this is what I have on my business card, and it is what I have shown to designers at studios who have given me placements.

When I went to visit 26digital they asked to see my work, so I showed them my Behance, and after they went through it I was offered a placement. It was really handy because I was able to show him what I wanted and go through it with him, but then he could look at it after I left. When I went to visit Numiko I was also asked to show them some work, so I showed my Behance. I made sure I showed them different websites and illustrations style I had done.

I will be able to update this after Summer to include the other two placements, but it shows studios that I have experience.

I also made sure that links were the blue colour that I want to use in my brand, as well as show my work mocked up professionally.

OUGD502 - A Design Presence: Business Cards

I already had some business cards printed from when I started going to networking events at the beginning of the year. I decided to change them slightly so that they would fit in with my new branding.

Current Business Cards
Here are my old business cards. What I don't like about them is that one side is portrait, one side is landscape which is inconsistent, and that the logo is on both sides. I got them printed at printed.com and they turned out really well, was cheap and came fast so I know I can rely on them for my new ones.

New Business Cards
I decided to go with a grey background because I would be able to get these printed professionally and it would be a good solid colour that matches my brand.

I thought about putting the logo on the reverse side where the gap would be on the front.

I also thought about adding a line to match the letterhead/invoice but I didn't like this.

I couldn't decide if I wanted the details on the left hand side or the right. I prefer the left, but the details are on the right on the letterhead/invoice.

I did try and change the letterhead so that it looked more consistent with the cards but then it didn't look quite right with no lines/details on the left. I then thought does it really matter, its still the same font/colours etc, it still looks part of the same thing.

Although I prefer light on grey, I'm thinking whether to do dark grey on light instead. This would mean I could print them myself on the same stock as my invoices and letterheads to make them more consistent. But it would mean they wouldn't be on as thick card, I would probably have to stick a few together to make them thick enough to edge paint, but then they could be quite flimsy. 

I'm also thinking would this look more consistent with the brand - but would it look as good.