Module Evaluation

Module Evaluation

This PPP Module has allowed me to reflect on previous experiences to establish my individuality

In the two years previous, I had a problem with clients. I struggled to put a boundary in place so that the clients saw this as my job, not a hobby. The led to problems with payment and overall mis-communication.
 Over this past year, I have become more aware, through these negative experiences, of when, where and how this boundary has to be put in place, establishing myself as a professional in the design industry. I have had no other negative experiences since this.

 This year has been a difficult, yet the most enjoyable year. I have been able to plan and write my own briefs, creating the work that I want to, bar a few client based briefs. As for action plans, time management and communication, these have all been the most professional and well organised as ever. I tend to get rather stressed, yet I have enjoyed this year with little stress, allowing me to create some work that I am proud to show.
 When it comes to group work, I have always had a tendency to be a leader, the one who takes control of the project, in a professional and appropriate manner of course. This past year, I have worked with other designers, internally and externally to the college. I have experienced being the leader and also how to take the back seat a little, yet still being just as enthusiastic and involved with the project.
 Reflecting on past experiences, I always worried about knowing what it was that I wanted to go into once I finish university. After looking back through my blog and portfolio, it was obvious that I enjoy type the most. Each year, I have created some kind of typeface and managed to extend the brief into something much more. Through this, I have managed to establish individuality and gained a strong, progressive understanding of this specific practice.

Through working in the industry on placements, I have a stronger understanding of what companies are looking for. It has affected the way in which I would approach future opportunities as I am much more confident about myself and my work now. As for a strategy for employment, after working at a web/e-commerce based studio in the centre of Leeds, I realised that this is something in which I am interested in. The placement confirmed this. I have been offered a paid internship with them for 2-6 months with the promise of a job at the end of it. Whilst working here, I was able to apply professional skills and communication across all of the work, proving to myself that I can do this and most importantly, I would be happy to. This boosted my self-confidence again.

When I finish university in May/June I intend to travel and visit many places before I settle into a career. I was inspired to do this after watching a Ted Talks by Sagmeister in which he explains that every few years, he closes his business for a year and travels to gain experience. This is a place that I would love to work for. I have spoken to the company who has offered me the internship and they said that they would be more than happy to have me when I return.

As for my personal branding, it is simple, minimal and sophisticated using a sleek black stock paired with white type. The uppercase typeface connotes strength and professionalism whilst its rounded edges provide a more friendly aesthetic. The use of ‘Graphic Designer & Creative Thinker’ tag line underneath shows makes me stand out from the crowd whilst also being a little humorous and light hearted. These combine to portray my personality and way of working in one design.
 I will be sending off for them to be professionally printed ready for the exhibition. It is essential to have a professional finish as to show potential clients that you are a true professional and that your work too, is completed to a high standard.

Overall, these past three years, this last one especially, has prepared me for the professional world. I have gained more confidence in myself than I ever have and have proved to myself that I am capable of some great things. I never thought I would say it, but I am ready to leave. I am confident enough to leave. I am happy to leave. I am ready to start something new.

Plans For The Future

After speaking to a tutor and watching 'Sagmeister's Taking A Year Out' Ted Talk, I have decided that I am doing just that.

Croatia
June 14th - 28th

Thailand
June 30th - August 17th

Then I am to make plans to go to Sweden, London, Paris and finally Australia.

From the Ted talk, Sagmeister inspired me to do as he did
- Plan a few projects
- Make a list of things you are interested in
- Photograph everything
- Be calm and content
- Enjoy yourself
- Try new things
- Keep a diary
- Have an 'idea book'
- Talk to new people

Once I get back from my trips, I will work on my projects/ideas from my trips, then go on to look for a career with this new outlook on life.

To take inspiration from my Father, he never works in the same place for longer than 5 years. I would too love to do this. Learn everything I can about a job and a company and move on to new and exciting things. Hopefully living abroad at the end of things. These are my aims and dreams. I know to do this I need to contact more people in the places that I too want to be.

Skill Evaluation

Throughout my third year, I have developed my skills in a range of areas.

Illustrator

I learnt about new tools and short cuts such as alignment and pathfinders. These are things that I should have known about from the beginning yet, I did not. It makes designing so much easier now.

Indesign/Publication
How to set up of pages/publications for printing (Single pages/Doubles pages), after designing my own and the Fine Arts publication

Presentation / Speaking
The 10 minute presentation for PPP, although I was still a little nervous, allowed me to realise how far I have come when presenting. I completed this task in a very professional manner, making myself feel clam, confident and comfortable. I focussed on being straight to the point and speaking slowly as not to stumble or repeat myself.

Communication/Professionals
This year I have been contacting more professionals/studio's this year and even managed to get some industry experience through email, phone and even visiting the actual studio's
- Speaking to professional printers about documents and communicating effectively to ensure that the end product is correct

Planning/Time Management

I have been much more calm as I have learnt, over these three years how to manage my time

Interviews

After speaking to professionals and getting feedback on my portfolio, I have realised that there are projects that I have completed which I am very proud of. These make me speak more confidently and passionately about them. This meant that I seemed like a strong, confident person in my interviews. This is something which I will keep in mind when adding any further work into my portfolio

Blogging

I have always written too much, as you can see, yet this year I have really tried to condense everything

Websites

I bought my own domain and website this year to give myself a more professional platform. I am using it as a landing page at the moment as I already have lots of followers on my other design social media (behance and instagram). Over time I will transition over to use my website as my main 'online portfolio'. Yet, as mentioned by a visiting professional, I will not put everything up on there as I wouldn't ever have anything new to show in an interview.

Stress

This is still one of my downfalls. I am very much an all or nothing kind of person. I can be rather self critical which makes my job much harder, yet also makes me a strong willed, determined, motivated employee.

This year has been difficult, I have tried hard each year to get the best work and grade that I could, yet there was always a feeling that I could do more. This year I have pushed myself even harder in hope to see that number one when I get my results back in June. This would prove to me that I can make it.
 Through my work and the things that I have learnt over these years at Leeds College of Art, I know now that I can make it and I do deserve it. I just need to learn to deal with the stress and with time, I will. Yet I understand that it is something that no doubt I will always have to deal with (in the real world).

Self Branding: Online Presence

Existing Online Presence

Personal Instagram Account
Whilst this Instagram account is for personal and design work. I realise that this is not seen as professional, I just like to show my friends and family what I am doing. This was not for the promotion of my work or myself.

Professional Online Presence

Professional Design Instagram Account
Instagram and general social media is a very effective platform for us designers as it reaches all around the world in a click. As I already had over 300 followers on Instagram, I was able to redirect them to my professional design account. This is a fairly new account which will grow over time.

Professional Behance AccountWhen it comes to an online presence, I already have accounts which are doing rather well. The Behance account above is for professional work only.

Professional Linkedin Account

Professional Online Presence (Website/Landing Page)

As all of my work is already seen on Instagram and Behance I did not feel that it was necessary to do it all again on a website. Yet, I bought a website domain (Squarespace) to set up a landing page. This holds all of the links to my social media sites in addition to contact details. Having all of my work on one easy to access page is much more professional.

 By purchasing a website, yet using it as a landing page means that if I should ever want to develop website, I would not have to start again and use a different domain, I could simply extend this one.

CSS Codes

By editing CSS codes, I could ensure that my branding is continuous, using the same typeface (Moon) throughout (web and print).


Homepage

taylor-pycroft.com

I chose taylor-pycroft.com as it uses the same DNS (domain name system) as my email, design@taylorpycroft.com which makes it easier to remember and looks much more professional when displayed together such as on a business card.

The simple, minimal black and white design also provides continuity through all of the branding. I re-used the profile information from my creative CV and placed it on this landing page as it is relevant and appropriate to do so.

Contact Page
This page is rather straight to the point, although it my seem abrupt, I have had trouble in the past with people getting to touch with me to discuss things other than work. This is not appropriate and so I wanted to make it clear from the get go.

Homepage

Behance

Instagram

Contact

Evaluation

Through having so many various social media platforms, it would be easy for a potential client to get in touch with me. My work is also shown in various ways and is advertised to a range of people. Instagram is seen to be for a younger audience whilst Behance is a mixture of everyone and LinkedIn is more for professionals.
 My online design portfolio is forever changing and adapting. As I work digitally for most of my projects this is more than justified and appropriate, yet I also understand that having a physical portfolio is essential too.

I will not be submitting a physical portfolio for the hand in, but will have a finished, more developed one for the final exhibition as I would like to have my final work presented within it.

Robot Food: Portfolio Review

Initial PortfolioI haven't been focussing on creating a portfolio and so this is one that I put together simply for the review

Feedback

- Do not put anything in there that you do not like, you need to be proud, confident and passionate about your work- Re-take some photographs and show them in context eg; the Christmas card ones. Show them stood on a fireplace.
- Use the digital files/images for the type projects so we can see the actual work in detail- Don't be afraid to make your images larger. Go over a few pages for each brief if needs be
- Explain your work and show 'the story'- for example, the ProperCorn images do not look any different to the original packaging, yet once I started to explain that we used recyclable materials (cardboard box and paper bag inside, it became much more interesting). It would have been nice to also show the bag inside.

I also mentioned about not having any type on the pages. They actually said that it was fine as long as I was there to explain the work. From this, I am going to design 2 portfolio's.
1. With type and image (Digital and print)
2. Just image (Digital and print)

Food Packaging Feedback

I also asked their opinion on the food packaging brief (Vegibites) as this is what their company focusses on
- The illustrations are too much/too busy and overcrowded
- Use the pattern on the inside of the wrapping
- The logo is very interesting and reflects the food well. Be brand proud and use this as the main focus for the design.

  
Designs Taken to Review

After this feedback, I went back and changed the designs, shown below). I am much more pleased with their outcome and am going to send them the newly designed products to gather more feedback and also just to build a relationship with them.

 
Outside Design              Inside Design

  

Outside Design              Inside Design

 

Outside Design              Inside Design

More detail about these changes can be found through the link below

http://t-pycroft1316-dp.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/brief-5-self-initiated-brief-vegan.html

Overall Experience

 I realised that I would speak more passionately about the briefs that I enjoyed the most, mostly the type and publication. This is the work that I need to include in my portfolio as this came across to the Robot Food staff too.
 The experience itself, overall, was rather pleasant and yet I still felt a little under pressure. At the end of the day, this is what I would have to do when going for a design interview. It was a great insight into how harsh professionals in the industry can be, after all, they only want the best.
 I will revisit my work and my portfolio to make the suggested adjustments.

Internship Fair

I attended the Internship fair as to gain contacts and gather more information on the businesses out there that like to hire graduates.
 Although it was a good atmosphere and I did actually speak to a few companies and had them take my details;
- Next (Home)
- ASOS
- Mars
They did not have positions for graphic designers as such.
 In fact the fair was more for law business and fashion students. I was a little disappointed.

 The closest I got was with Next. They are expanding to Leeds in the next year or two and would need a whole new team. Yet they are looking more for interior designers and fashion students.

Client Work : PTEC LOGO

Brief

I was approached by a client who asked me to simply update and alter their logo slightly as it was rather low quality and did not look professional.

Original Logo

Because of it's low quality potential customers would also subconsciously assume that the company therefore provides a low standard of job too. It is essential for a logo to be strong and of a good quality to reflect the ethos of the company itself.

 The orange/gold and black gradients on the cogs look a little old fashioned and could simply be altered to update the logo.

Amended Logo

Using Illustrator, it was possible to simply trace around the logo. Using this software also ensures that the design can be increased or decreased in scale/size but never in quality.
 This amended design is slightly more flat, giving it a little update into the 21st century of design as 3D logo's aren't seen as much any more. Colour-wise, the black has been lightened to a grey whilst the orange is more of a bronze now, providing a clean and fresh appearance.

Overall Experience

I was reluctant to take this job as I had a lot of other work on and so I took some advice from a tutor and charged them a lot more than I usually would. They agreed with my terms and so I took the job. It was actually more enjoyable than I thought it would be in addition to taking up little of my time. The client loved the design and paid my right away.
 This is most definitely a learning experience. I guess everyone has a price!