Design Strategies Presentation

Design Strategies Presentation (prep)

Business Card Finals

Business Card Development

Identity Final(s)

Identity Development 02

Umbrella Statement & Questions

'Conceptual, illustrative and layout driven promotional and publication design combining type with/as image for print'

...is what my umbrella statement has evolved into as present. It was mainly aimed to trim the fat and get down to the nuts and bolts of what I think my practice is about currently. There are still some aspects that need focussing, such as the type of clients I envisage engaging with in future for example.

To help with this however, the subsequent session raised some other important questions worth considering and so I may need to find myself answering these in the near future. They were as follows:

01. With design for publication being dramatically enhanced and pushed forward by digital media, how will your engagement with the discipline change and adapt?

02. Have you considered the scale of the publication and promotional design that you would like to work with. Do you want to challenge conventional formats?

03. As mentioned, have you identified clients that you WOULD like to work for?

04. In combining illustration with type and layout, will one aspect be more important than the other of governed by the conceptual aspects of the brief?

I Want & Don't Want

I WANT TO:

01. Develop a design practice heavily geared toward the print process and print based media.

I hate to sit on a Mac 24/7 and alternatively like to get my hands dirty. There's nothing more satisfying than the tactile qualities of print finish, I even love the smell. Whether it's high end expensive stuff or the imperfections of screenprinting, I believe I can produce design that I will feel passionate about.

02. Significantly engage with screenprinting, publishing, layout and branding.

As mentioned above, I prefer to get my hands dirty with print jobs rather let technology take the reigns. Industry has also given me feedback that I need to let my passion for publishing design shine through more and the same goes for branding. Admittedly I have at times been scared to let myself loose with book based design, but this is something I want to confront and be confident with.

03. Engage conceptually with each brief and ENJOY the projects I work on through selecting subject matter that appeals to me.

The latter part is simple, if I don't enjoy it then it makes me miserable. I really, really like the feeling of solving a problem in a more obscure manner though. I like to make people think 'ohh, clever!' I am aware of getting caught up in my own cleverness, but I don't want to be like every other graduate either... I know that sometimes simple is effective.

04. Collaborate with other designers on the course and professionals in the industry.

I like to learn from others and hand over certain aspects of design that I feel someone else can do far more successfully and efficiently than I can. I understand that you can't be good at absolutely everything.

05. Develop a strong relationship with an array of agencies; network and make contacts.

I guess the real desire here is to get a job that I enjoy and put myself in a situation where I can get paid for doing something that I love. The opinion of professionals who have been in the game far longer than I have should additionally be invaluable and assist me in putting together a top-notch portfolio.

06. Set myself up to work in an agency where I can develop a freelance practice alongside it.

I like the prospect of potentially working for big 'pain in the arse' clients and being on a salary, but I think it is important to have a bit of breathing space and some time dedicated toward being self centred. Also, at the end of the day who wouldn't like to be their own boss one day?

07. Encorporate an element of illustration into my design practice and resolutions.

I like to draw, I like to engage with image as well as typography. Sometimes I feel I don't it enough and to put it simply, I'd like to develop a balance of using both where appropriate.

08. Have a structured and more efficient routine.

This is solely to snap out of going to bed at silly o'clock and facing the prospect being shattered the next day unless I have an outrageous lie-in. At some point I need to accept that the world doesn't keep the same hours that I usually do. I would like to increase my productivity and make the most of the time I have left on the course. I just need to be German and efficient really...

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I DONT WANT TO:

01. Work with moving image or screen based animation.

Sitting on a Mac 24/7 gives me a headache and sequential design does the same. I don't enjoy storyboarding although I appreciate the skills and its usage. I'm just fine with my print based practice thank you.

02. Get too involved with back end web design.

I understand the basics of html and css and that's about it. It's enough to get me by and in some cases avoid seeking the help of others for simple problems, BUT... Maths, numbers, line upon line of jargon and a caffeine addiction? I'd rather pay somebody else to do it whilst I focus on the things that I like doing best.

03. Produce design based on strong ethics, envrionmental issues etc.

A lot of issues surrounding this annoy me and don't interest me in the slightest. I am aware of current trends and realise at times that I may have to bite the bullet to make ends meet but that's about as good as it gets.

04. Design for charity and 'good causes'.

Designing for free is always going to be less appealing and I don't want to produce lacklustre work as a result.

05. Work on text heavy corporate projects.

Dull, dull, dull. I like typography but not to that extent. The challenge in terms of layout could be beneficial, but I wouldn't want to make a habit of it.

Identity Development 01