1.    Reflection on overall feedback

The first part of the course focuses on getting started by introducing the student to the subject and exploring the brief history of graphic design.  My tutor’s feedback said that it is overall a very good start; I have a range of ideas and visuals and explore these to develop a successful series of images that present my interests and introduce me effectively.

She further noted that research is fed into the process and informs the final designs.  She mentioned that I have a good eye for the way the images are presented and referred specifically to the sparser pages that work well to balance the busier ones.  The watercolours are sensitive and organic.

Moving forward, she reminded me to reflect on my work throughout the process and at the end.  I am happy my tutor reminded me because I tend to get absorbed while working and forget to take photos and make notes.  Next time I will keep a notebook next to me and make notes.  I will also reflect on my work at the end to give insight into my decision-making and ask questions to critique my own work, e.g., does it communicate intentions and what I have learned and could develop in the next section of the course?

2.    Learning outcomes reflections

LO1 Develop your creative and visual abilities in your practice as a graphic designer.

I will apply different approaches to my mood boards to initiate additional ideas.  This can include collage, pieces of paper, sketches, swatches, little clay sculptures and textures.  I have already thought about how I can improve my mood boards and am looking forward to executing my ideas.

LO2 Use creative problem solving and research to generate visual ideas

I did this well throughout the assignment and will continue with this methodical approach.

LO3 Demonstrate your use of design and technical skills for graphic design

My tutor mentioned that I presented four very tasteful and illustrative designs and that I have a good eye for placement and use this to balance all of the images as a set.

LO4 Articulate an understanding of the contexts of graphic design practices and reflect on your learning

Next time I will include more design-led research, e.g., more designers that adopt a similar style in their work or are strongly influenced by the arts and crafts movement.  I will be more detailed and specific to reflect on my work and explain my creative decisions.  

Examples:

• Reflect on your work throughout the process and at the end.
• Explain your decision-making.
• In the end, consider the final designs.  Are you happy with the final designs?  Do they communicate your intentions?
• What areas of your creative practice could you develop in the next section of the course, e.g., mood boards etc.?

3.    Project: Sending and receiving

My tutor’s feedback was that I have some effective methods to help convey information quickly and effectively (comments on the animals’ ears and names).  She was happy with the images and said they have to be quick, clear and direct.

4.    Assignment One: Introducing myself

4.1. Mood boards

Mood boards are more of a hands-on process in that you collect and create by hand things like colours, papers, different textures and marks, as well as images and drawings.  Often these can be abstracted by zooming in.  Using a viewfinder over a mood board is also a nice way to look at different selections.

4.2. Visual research

Visual research uses artistic mediums like film, photography, drawings, paintings and sculptures to provide information.  In addition to changing how I approach my mood boards, I will elaborate on a few specific images in my visual research, e.g., what caught your eye and why you want to include them?  

4.3. Additional research

Block-printed textiles by Enid Marx and Peggy Angus are good to look at if I want to explore printing with my collected leaves.

4.4. Typefaces

I had visual references to type when planning my design but did not explain why I did not include it in the final design.  The reason is that the typeface I wanted to use was too intricate, and the details got lost in a smaller format.  My tutor suggested considering incorporating typefaces into the design, and perhaps the sparser designs could be accentuated with some type, maybe alluding to some of the things I would like to communicate. 

4.5. The message my design communicates

Next time I will elaborate more on what my design communicates.  My tutor mentioned that the design does more than convey that I am a “conventional” person.  I agree with this.  It shows my interest and evident enthusiasm for the arts and crafts movement, a love for nature and an interest in natural things (leaf collecting) and the place I live (the national flower).  The colour palette is rich and vibrant and not necessarily conventional, perhaps slightly traditional.  Still, it works well and creates four eye-catching and illustrative designs that feel delicate and considered.  The layout of the images too is very successful.  

I think this ties in with how important it is for me to reflect on my own work, and I now understand why this is so essential and how I should develop this skill.  I noticed a section in Part 2, “Critiquing your own work”.  Self-critiquing and analysing your own work is an important part of being a designer and is not about being negative but about evaluating what you are trying to achieve.  In this case, I need to communicate this better in my learning logs. 

5.    Sketchbooks

I appreciate my tutor’s guidance regarding the sketchbooks.  They constitute 20% of my marks and are an excellent way to document and reflect on development, as she mentioned.  I use sketchbooks well to explore visual ideas and different materials, and I should keep this up in the next section.  I should consider creating more traditional mood boards with created and collected images.  I agree and will do this going forward.

6.    Action Points for the next part

• I will continue with the visual research from the start but will be mindful of elaborating on my decision-making from the beginning to the end.   
• I will include more traditional mood boards consisting of sketches, colours, textures, mark making, collage making etc. and keep up with my sketchbooks.  
• I will remember to reflect on the work as I go and write a summary at the end.  How did it all go?
• I will include more design-led research, e.g., more designers adopting a similar style in their work.