This module has been an enlightening experience for me as it has introduced me to an aspect of design that up to now I didn’t have much experience of. Having completed this assignment, I feel like I have come full circle but at the same time moved to a much higher level in my work. I have learned a great deal, both about new aspects of design and how I am changing as a designer. In the process of design, I feel as if I have to fight as much with myself as I do with my work. For example, after looking at an amazing piece of work that someone else has designed I begin to question my skills as a designer. I usually find this a long hard slog to be personally satisfied with my work and reach the standard that I can be happy with, to get what I want designed and overcome what doubts I have in my head.
I also feel that this module didn’t really have any boundaries in the sense that I could have been designing anything for anyone and it would have still been relevant. I’ve reached a stage in my work where I question where I fit into the industry which is a good and a bad thing. It’s bad in the sense that I question everything comparing it to what I believe a professional in the industry would do and at this stage feel inadequate to meet that level. It’s a good thing because I constantly strive to reach the best possible standard. I’ve got this check list in my brain of everything I want to achieve in the design world and I am slowly going through it checking things off, but this module has allowed me to add to the list dramatically!
My research is far more precise and focused, than before as I know more of what I want at an earlier stage in the brief and then can find existing examples without downloading a lot of obvious and repetitive resources. I think that ‘send and receive’ and the ‘visual language – collections’ are very much linked, as I haven’t really stopped doing either since the modules ended. For example ‘send and receive’ was about finding a place for my work in the industry and looking at what is possible to do as a designer and learning skills to achieve this. With visual language (collections) I haven’t stopped collecting - be it resources, designs that I like and illustrations that I’ve produced. This in turn builds a ‘back catalogue’ of my work. I find this a positive experience as it developing a way of working which is now becoming some sort of personal routine, which is a good basis for design.
For the initial stages of this module I thought about mostly doing sample booklets for example pattern books or books on ‘created’ type. This soon became clear that I probably wouldn’t have the time to design all of the type to go in a reasonably sized book. As the module is about collecting and creatorship I thought about collecting other peoples work as well and incorporating it with my work, as a sort of homage to a particular aspect of design or a subject that particularly appealed to me. I looked at various items such as stickers for airfix to celebrity wigs.
During this time I had been doing illustration for my own enjoyment and to build a bit more of a style for myself. It eventually became clear to me that I already had a collection of my own. The illustrations would be the main basis for my books, but I also wanted to make a ‘type’ dedicated booklet, as ‘type’ is a huge interest of mine and something that I don’t really know enough about. I used the library in a useful way and found loads of interesting books on ‘type and also type terminology. As there wasn’t enough original work to make a complete book out of my findings, I decided to make a four poster sleeve on typography. This covers ‘type’ in points of size from small to large and defines some of the typographical terms. I thought this would be very useful as I could use it later on in life. I played around with type and created four foldable posters which looked relatively professional, but I wasn’t completely happy with them so I continued to work on them for far too long until I resented them as designs and pushed them aside.
All through this module I saw many examples of previous books made by past students or other students and decided that I wasn’t going to make a ‘traditional’ book. I wanted to combine the idea of a collection with an interesting and enjoyable way of presenting and packaging the finished article. The idea behind the process of unwrapping something is rather like the example of presents at Christmas, a very enjoyable but short-lived experience. Also, what interested me was the transition from the process of turning a page in the way you do in a book, as opposed to unwrapping or unpacking something from a cardboard box. I researched new and interesting packaging from ‘Apple branded’ items to courier packaging. I had seen this kind of idea implemented in the industrial world by a very influential designer Michael C Place from the studio ‘Build’ who’s work I really enjoy.
‘Exhibition’ is a subject I have been able to find plenty of aspects to learn about, but I think the most useful part of the brief has been is ‘communication’ and ‘time management’ as these are two crucial skills necessary in making an exhibition a success. As for my actual work, I know what looks good at an exhibition from seeing and visiting galleries. So hopefully when I put on an exhibition on my own, I will have learnt and implemented these skills fully.
From having my illustrations hanging in my room to getting them printed on good quality paper and packaged into my final design was really rewarding. I find myself feeling enthused by design again. Also, I have learned that sometimes where a design or idea maybe from something quite ordinary or is of a standard that I’m not always comfortable with, is worth something when it can be presented, enhanced and is aimed and ‘packaged’ correctly. I sometimes feel that I should have stuck with my original idea of the ‘type’ posters as I think they were good and not far from being what I would have been satisfied with but I learned a skill of ‘if its not right try something else’. Also I have a resource I can use for the future as I will probably try again with them as a personal project.
I have seen collections in a new and interesting way, something with a rich and visual message. I would like to try and keep collecting as you never know when they could make a really fascinating project.