OUGD601: End of Module Evaluation

OUGD601 End of Module Evaluation

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Positives and learning curves throughout module

I feel throughout the module, my research skills in terms of reading, writing, sourcing has improved. The dissertation was a huge body of work to take on, at first it was pretty daunting and overwhelming, but as the process of research developed I also feel my own skills and competence developed too – particularly in terms of primary research and reaching out to contemporary practitioners. I have been selective with primary research carried out, and feel it has been hugely influential in my own growing awareness of global design practice and influence, it definitely helped inform the conclusion of the written piece as we could debate and compare opinions.

I managed to engage in dialogue with studios such as Experimental Jetset, and 2xElliot which are hugely inspiration personally and relevant towards research into contemporary design studios adhering to clinical concepts and execution. Their answers were directly influenced in my dissertation, and moving forward I am much more confident in carrying out primary research in the form of e-mails/phone/face to face interviews, I’ve learnt even though a designer is famous, or well known in design circles, doesn’t mean he will not have time for you.

Collaborating across the world has been successful, although limitations of collaborating and globalisation in terms of dialogue with designers have come to the surface. It has been really interesting to engage with designers from different cultures, backgrounds and discuss a common subject – the Wimbledon project. Not all collaborators had a chance to influence the design individually, as waiting for replies and messages in your inbox is a definite issue, and still does not beat a face to face conversation and instant replies. However all of us discussed concepts, ideas and visual objectives and I feel although not all of us had a go on the design piece, the finished result reflects all of our opinions and collaborative influences.

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Difficulties faced throughout the module

A definite negative throughout the early segment of the module, and especially so pre-level 6 during summer, indecisiveness was an issue. I found it difficult to narrow down my own position within the design scene and an issue I was passionate about and interested in. I changed from advertising within sci-fi movies, to analogue design vs. digital design, to the current topic. In the end, the subject I’ve chosen, I feel represents my own growing approach to design and definitely my own opinion, and an opinion I’ve discovered a growing number of people share – considered, almost meditative design in an increasingly irregular environment.

The concept for my primarily practical was informed by the closing chapters and conclusion of my critical writing piece, so when a concept came about in synchronization with the final chapters, timeframe was an issue. Designing individually in a two-week timeframe would be perfectly achievable, but we had to take into account the schedules of our collaborators and the logistics of sending and receiving work. This made the closing period of the module stressful, and as I was designing towards the opinion of 3 other designers, made me hesitant to design as freely as normal.

Not all collaborators had a chance to influence the design individually, as waiting for replies and messages in your inbox is a definite issue, and still does not beat a face to face conversation and instant replies. However all of us discussed concepts, ideas and visual objectives and I feel although not all of us had a go on the design piece, the finished result reflects all of our opinions and collaborative influences.

We feel it illustrates an alternate and effective reconsideration of a global sporting context, showing the effectiveness of communication and user experience when reducing type and image down to the necessary information, the beauty is in the simplicity.

What I would do differently next time

Next time around, I would send out primary research and e-mails to individuals and studios much sooner, sending emails out and comparing and contrasting opinions was pivotal in finding a focused research theme. Doing this sooner would have allowed me to drop into a research theme much sooner, and make the work schedule less heavy and intense.

I would allow more time for collaborating digitally around the world, I didn’t expect logistics of sending and receiving files, and waiting for e-mail replies in order to send or receive work to be such an issue, you must take into account different peoples schedules and availability, everyone has different working lives. It has been an eye opening experience to collaborate with designers outside of college, and completely digitally without a face-to-face conversation.

Ratings (Very Bad) 1 - (Very Good) 5

Quality of work _______ 4

Quantity of work ________ 4

Attendance ________4

Punctuality _________3

Motivation _________4