This module has certainly, in my eyes, been a slight improvement on the last. When I received my grades back for last module and reflected upon them, I started to see where I had gone wrong. (or at least let things go astray without pulling them back in) My rationale wasn’t partially clear and it was clear from the offset that I’m not very good at writing and setting briefs for myself. Everything felt half finished and rushed towards the end. This time round I tried to plan my time better as I have done every year. (And every year my time keeping skills somewhat improve even if it’s only noticeable to me.)
The module did not get off to a great start due a client brief that would not get off the ground due to other people in the groups pushing back the starting date. By the time we did get around to working on the project it felt both strained and forced. It was at that point that I realised I was not enjoying the brief, nor did I have the freedom to design and I felt much more like someone simply dictated to. Of course working with a client is always valuable experience and I am now more aware of what to do in such a situation.
The briefs I chose at the beginning of the module and stated in my proposal where focused on narrative design as well as character design. These where my dream briefs, based around sequential art and telling a story but that’s where the problem started for this module. I was told to stop focusing on story telling and try to work towards what I did at the end of 2nd year (In which I investigated and researched into a concept that helped bore one of my most successful but least favoured-by me-project) So I looked back over my briefs, tried to work out a system in which I could achieve both narrative and character design without necessarily relying on a pre made story.
I believe that this has been someone achieved, especially with my Stereotypes brief. I striped an assumption of a person back to basic form. That stereotype became caricatured in a sense and is able to tell the story of itself without relying to heavily on a background.
Looking at the work I have produced for this module, I can see at least three decent bodies of work that will be able to go straight into my portfolio. In terms of my rationale, I think it’s always going to be changing because right now I’m not at the stage I want to be in terms of sequential art (Which was/is my ultimate goal).
Over the course of this module, I have had more of a focus and certainly more a reign in on my attention span. This time round I was able to pose questions and tackle problems in much the same way I had at the end of 2nd year. This can be seen in my Harry Potter brief, which evolved and expanded from what was essentially a small poster brief. I had originally 8 briefs that where starting to get out of hand and I regret trying to take on so much. I was so determined to better the grade I received last module and stopped thinking about the quality of work and focused on quantity. This was wrong, and something I only realised with 6 weeks to go. When I did finally realise what had happened I paused to take stock. I figured out what briefs to put a side (strip a day, modern fairy tales) and worked with what I already had. It was then that the Harry Potter brief was really able to take shape. I focused on the concept of, ironically, not using concepts from the stories but focused in on the characters and what they meant to the story. This in turn shaped the way the brief was designed using limited colour, selected stock and focus on character rather than narrative, for once.
Another brief that I felt was able to grow in the last few weeks was my context book and the way in which I approached it. I knew straight away that, like my dissertation, I wanted to focus it upon comic books but more specifically on creators and how they shape characters and comic books into existent. I was more that please with the information I received from professionals, as well as over coming a previous unwillingness to contact people. I don’t know if it was through fear or intimidation but once I bit the bullet and emailed my top heroes then everything seemed a little clearer.
I am very aware that my documenting skills are not up to par, nor are my organization skills. I am under the impression that it was both my boards and my blog which let me down last time (And one of my boards this time round in not up to the standard that I think it should have been at.)
My finished work has improved despite not being the world’s greatest crafter or the neatest person when it comes to layout and format. Where as my presentation skills have left much to the imagination, my ability to approach people and actually ask for the help this time has allowed me to produce more professional looking work. Last year when I couldn’t make a box or struggled with type I would do it in silence and simply not do it at all. This time round I asked people and it has yielded greater results.
Despite some positives for this module, some things certainly could have gone better and briefs could have been pushed further. (Or actually gotten to a stage where they could be pushed forward) My emphasis on character design has led me to neglect other areas such as production and range, which is important in industry.
So that’s my thoughts on the last few months. These last three years I have managed to produce bodies of work that I would not have thought possible only five years ago. My aspirations and strive to better myself has driven me to keep going. I approached the end of the module with the clarity that this would realistically be my last chance to play when it came to graphic design.
It’s been a good few years. Wouldn’t change it for the world-even the anxiety attacks.
Thank you
I’m off to make a comic book. ~
