BA (Hons.) GRAPHIC DESIGN
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LEVEL
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05
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Module Code
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OUGD202
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Module Title
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DESIGN PRODUCTION - DIGITAL
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END OF MODULE SELF-EVALUATION
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NAME
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KIRSTY FRUIN
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BLOG. ADDRESS
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1. What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?
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I have learnt an awful lot in this
module, mainly how to use a brand new piece of software. After having
never used the AfterEffects software before, I now have a basic
understanding of how to use it and have been able to produce some motion
graphics which would not have been possible before this module. I have
been able to confidently apply the techniques I have learnt in the
sessions with Mike. Documenting the sessions has proved extremely useful
in this process as it acts as a log which I can then refer back to at
any point. Admitedly, I am always likely to be faced with problems
arising at some point but I have learnt to ask for help from either
Lorraine or Mike when this does happen. Looking back from where I am
now, having just produced a 60 second title sequence, back to studio
brief 1 where I produced the five 5 second silent movies, it is evident
that my skills have progressed considerably and demonstrates the
application of my newly acquired skills throughout this module. This
progression is also evdient throughout my idents, the first ident does
not use techniques as advanced as the latter. Now I have learnt some of
the basic skills, it is now the creative application of these skills
which will enable me to produce work of intrigue. Aside from the
technical aspect, I have also learnt the sheer importance of
organisation. This was a key factor within this project and something
which I tried to keep on top of through the use of folders and prodcing a
written log of where all my files were kept (should I not remember). If
I had not taken these preliminary precausions it may have resulted in
documents being lost and my final resolutions not working correctly.
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2. What approaches to/methods of
design production have you developed and how have they informed your
design development process?
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Learning to think about motion
graphics in terms of time based graphics raher than animation has proved
very interesting. I have learnt that you can take inspiration from
non-digital work and produce motion graphics from this, it is not just
about taking inspiration from what is out there already in motion. I
feel this is a key aspect in creating some fresh motion graphics which
haven’t been done before. Another aspect which has to be taken into
consideration when designing is your skill ability; there is no point
designing a piece of elaborate motion graphics when you do not have the
skill set to produce what you are desiging. This is not to say that you
cannot come up with ingeneous ideas for motion sequences but you
definitely need to take into consideration what can realistically be
achieved. The time available to me was another aspect that I had to take
into consideration; I could easily design a sequence which was
technically driven, however, if I only have a week to work on producing
the design it may not be possible. I have learnt that AfterEffects eats
your time away without you realising it; you soon get sucked into
perfecting every detail of your design and excited to the extent that
you want to continue working on the piece of production, it is therefore
important to produce regular timeplans to ensure that you are using
your time wisely. I have learnt the sheer importance of storybaording
your work before you even get onto screen; AfterEffects is just a tool
for production is does not provide you with idea generation. There
really is no point sitting down to begin working on your motion graphics
without having considered what you are going to include in your
sequence first; you will simply be ‘filling time’ rather than producing
the well thought-out design you have storyboarded. Timelining your
storybaorded sequences is also an important part of the design process,
as this allows you to view the artwork as being time based before it
even reaches the screen. It also allows you to consdier pace within your
design, something which becomes more important when you begin to design
on screen as you then have an incline of where and when different
transitions should occur.
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3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?
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I begun working on the briefs at an
early stage of the module as I didn’t want to have it all left until the
end and be in a paniced state getting myself stressed. The early start
was beneficial to me, although the progression of my skills is evident
within my work due to this. I do, however, feel I have planned my time
well through the use of regular to-do lists and weekly/daily time plans.
This has ensured that I have used the time availble to me wisely and
not wasted a moment. I feel the work I have produced is once again
informed and conceptualised due to the extensive reseach I conducted
into the Ministry of Sound identity, artwork and itself as a brand. I
have taken a few trips to CD stores in order to gain primary reseach
into the Ministry of Sound album artworks so that I can see them for
myself and not rely entirely on secondary sources. As well as providing
me with inspiration for design ideas for my sequence, this also provded
me fresh inspiration for my DVD sleeve design. I have also researched
into the identity MTV Dance to ensure that my idents fit in with their
brand image and work realistically being aired on the channel. I have
produced storyboards of possible ideas before choosing one and focusing
in on it and producing further storyboards with more detail. On a
technical level, I have used the techniques I learnt in my AfterEffects
sessions with both Mike and Lorraine. At one point I got quite into my
work which resulted in me producing an extra ident due to feeling that
my original 4th ident did not fit in with the other idents I had
produced. I tried to focus on the celebration of 20 years (as it was
suggested to me in my crit) however, this did not seem to work amougst
the other idents I had already produced so I disregarded this and set
about producing a fifth one. This fifth one, I must say, was the best
and most technical ident I feel I have produced. This was most probably
due to me producing it later than the others and my skills having
developed by that time. I think it was logical to have worked on my
idents first; they seem basic now as I look back on them, nonetheless it
is a demonstration of how my skills have progressed throughout this
module and resulted in me being able to produce a more technically
driven title sequence.
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4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in the future?
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Some of my idents appear very simple
and do not have an awful lot going on in them, although there is more
detail in the finer transitions (fades, entering and departing
transitions). Nevertheless, this simplisitc appearance fits in with the
brand identity of MTV. All my idents differ slightly in some way; some
contain the Ministry of Sound logo and others don’t, the binding assets
are that they all contain a coloured gradient and the MTV logo present
within them. I could have made them all follow the same structure, this
is not necessarily a weakness of my work but I feel it may have made all
my idents more coherent if this were the case. Since finishing my work,
it has been pointed out to me that 1991-2012 does not represent 20
years if taken literally. It is a correct fact as they have not had
there birthday yet this year but it has made me consdier in more depth
the information which I present to the audience nd how they recieve it.
The way in which I chose to work on this brief meant that I produced my
four idents first and then used these to inform my design decisions for
my title sequence. This made sense to me as it was easier to tackle 10
seconds at a time whilst I was getting used to the software and then
progress onto producing the 60 second title sequence. However, after
having produced my four 10 second idents I then found it a struggle to
work on 60 seconds as it felt it was such long duration of time and
consequently daunting. I began to think as if I were simply ‘filling
time.’ In realising I was taking this approach, I took a step back and
storyboarded my sequence in-depth on a timeline to give me something to
work from and stop my ‘time filling’ attitude. I am not sure but it may
have been benficial to me to have produced my title sequence first and
then taken my idents from this.
In addition to this, I could have
attempted to go beyond what was taught to us in our AfterEffects
sessions and self-teach myself techniques which will enhance my motion
graphics (such as the use of cameras and lights). Despite this I am
happy with what I have produced in the time given to me and the
techniques taught to me.
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5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
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1// Go beyond what is taught to me
and explore other areas if it is going to be beneficial to my work. This
will help me to create new and exciting pieces of work that push the
boundaries of my capabilities.
2// When working on motion graphics I
will ensure that I choose my audio early enough to be able to change it
if it is required.
3// Storyboard a broader range of
ideas, derived from my research, then narrow it down a worker closer on
one sequence. Although I feel I did do this to an extent, I think if I
had done more of this my final outcome may have been more advanced.
4// Produce more time lined
storyboards, as this visual representation of motion and pace ensures a
systematic approach to the production of work when in AfterEffects and
allows me make an more informed decision as to which sequence I choose
to animate.
5// Source more contextual research
into both motion and non-motion graphics as they both inform my design
decisions. You can never have enough contextual research to aid the
development of contextualised design decisions.
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6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas:
(please indicate using an ‘x’)
5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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Attendance
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x
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Punctuality
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x
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Motivation
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x
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Commitment
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x
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Quantity of work produced
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x
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Quality of work produced
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x
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Contribution to the group
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