BA (Hons.

) GRAPHIC DESIGN
Module Code Module Title OUGD303!

LEVEL

FINAL MAJOR PROJECT

SUMMATIVE SELF-EVALUATION
NAME KIRSTY FRUIN

As a result of the briefs I have chosen to work on, this module has enabled me to develop my typography and layout skills which I have applied to editorial design. My awareness of print production has improved as a result of visiting printers; consequently, I am able to manufacture products to a small scale but also have knowledge of how designs can then be produced to a larger scale. Working on live briefs has allowed me work with clients, which has at times been challenging but has taught me how a client-designer relationship can work; something which will be benecial for me take through to industry. From working on all of my briefs, I feel my design skills have developed and I am now able to produce work to a professional level. My nal major project has taught me to approach each brief with an open mind, the deliverables and outcomes will be determined by the problem that is identied. I have also realised that is advantageous to push the deliverables of each brief to their maximum potential; budget and other inuencing factors will rein them in to an appropriate level. I feel that working on live and collaborative briefs has taught me to approach each brief with a professional attitude; things may not go smoothly but it is imperative that a level of professionalism is sustained throughout. Within each of my briefs I have attempted to push the designs through to digital as I have identied that this is an area of design which is constantly growing. Although I prefer to work predominantly with print, I think it is extremely important to consider digital deliverables with every brief as this is what clients are beginning to requiring alongside printed deliverables. From reviewing my nal major project work, I think I have gained strengths in print, branding, identity, typography and layout design. As I chose the briefs that I wanted to work on throughout my nal major projects, they are clearly areas of design that I enjoy working on and would therefore like to continue to work in these disciplines in the future. I want to continue to learn more about these areas of design within a professional environment. I also feel that I have been able to project and time manage my work considerably well this module. Having learnt the importance of time management from working through all the other modules on this course, I made a conscious effort to manage my

time effectively from the offset. I planned my briefs over the duration of nal major project and then made weekly to-do lists and time plans for each brief, which I stuck by religiously. My organisation meant that I was able work consistently on each brief to produce the necessary deliverables before the given deadline. I also set myself interim deadlines by booking myself print slots with James in the run up to the nal major project deadline; this meant that I had to have my work nished and ready by these dates. A weakness in my work could be that although I have proposed digital deliverables for my briefs, I think I could learn more about digital media so that I can then push the boundaries of digital, rather than producing standard digital designs. This will then take my work to the next level of excitement. Despite the majority of my briefs going considerably well, I was extremely disappointed with the outcome of Brief 1: Leeds College of Art BA (Hons) Fashion Yearbook. As a group we worked hard on developing a concept and producing designs for the fashion staff team. Having spent a considerable amount my precious FMP time organising and attending many meetings with the fashion staff, it was then very disheartening when, rstly, the yearbook was dropped to a poster and, secondly, when the poster then did not even go to print due to issues out of our control. Nevertheless, from this brief not going smoothly I have denitely learnt more than if it had gone ne. I have learnt how to deal with awkward clients, learnt how to deal with printers and most importantly, I have learnt how a brief can unexpectedly change due to circumstances out of my control and you just have to then deal with the situation in the most professional manner possible. All in all, I feel I have worked extremely hard on my nal major project to produce a body of work and a portfolio that I am happy with. I feel that I have learnt from my successes and mistakes made during my time on BA (Hons) Graphic Design and put this into place within my FMP which has then enabled me to work well and produce a high level of design that I am proud of. I am now looking forward to the next step in my design career.