Contrast

This week has been one of completely opposing values and the foundation of this has been formed from our two current units. Already I am feeling despondent due to differences in the amount of creativity needed to be employed in A5 and A6. Unfortunately, Builder [A5] is the less favoured unit because of this and although my motivation to succeed is high, my enjoyment level somewhat differs. However, my progression in A5 is according to plan and I found the form building input straight forward and more simplistic than anticipated. Although I’m sure I will be eating my words when it comes to testing the form. In terms of the basic layout of the template it just needs a few tweeks and all my images need to be optimised. I am feeling more comfortable and confident using Dreamweaver and hopefully as I get more involved I start to enjoy it more. Oh just one thing; can you put a border around a single cell and if so how?

Revert to Type [A6] has been the redeeming feature of the week. I find the lectures interesting and collecting inspirational examples of type is really expanding my thinking for the presentation. I’m fortunate that my given typographer Morris Fuller Benton created a diverse range of typefaces, so it’s given me plenty of scope for experimentation. Today I created a mood board of some of his most interesting typefaces to help inspire the design of my slides [see image above].











Tuesday also encompassed the first of our timed assignments and created yet another diverse experience. Overall I really enjoyed the task I feel I created a good range of ideas and the quality of my final outcome was satisfactory considering the time limitations [see image above]. However, there was just one problem, I missed the deadline. The annoying thing was it wasn’t because of my time management but because InDesign kept shifting my design off of the page every-time I tried to print with crop marks. So, the deadline passed and even though I had all of my work complete I failed. In hindsight I should of just handed in the normal printout with my other sheets instead of persevering with the print setting menu, but what’s done is done. Strangely I wasn’t angry or frustrated about this because I felt satisfied I’d responded well to the task regardless of the mark or lack of mark I would receive.


The seminar group this week was also an eye-opener and bought to light the level of detail and commitment required to pass Sketch Blog [A1]. I’m looking forward to the new seminar groups as I feel the group dynamic will greatly assist my personal development. So I plan to use and abuse the talents of all in my new group, so be warned!

Targets for this week

• Polish template design for feedback next week
• Prepare rough draft of presentation
• Undertake self-generated inspirational work
• Prepare questions for feedback of presentation in seminar group
• Consider a piece of work to present at Design Mechanics

Finally apologies for the late entry.

Evolution

Once again the familiar clicking of keys fills the room as I sit here wishing the words were flowing so easily to my fingers. Already I have fallen into old habits and deleted this second sentence three times, hopefully now I’ve admitted my sins it will remain! So, the start of a new semester and I have to say it hasn’t been as painful as I’d anticipated. I think the three weeks off over Christmas were essential in allowing me to regain my drive after the arduous and challenging last semester.

I have to admit i felt completely drained leading up to the holiday and when it arrived it didn’t feel like Christmas at all. I was no longer a human being but had evolved into a highly tuned machine, spouting out page after page of assessment material. It took a good few days to switch this machine off and return back to planet Earth. Similarly when yesterday arrived I still felt a week behind, but rather than being a finally tuned design machine, I was a letter posting one! Now, a day on, I feel my head’s finally in the right place and I’m feeling really enthusiastic about the new semester for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the new projects seem to offer the right level of challenge combined with the opportunity to be creative. Obviously I favour A6, the Typography unit, as I feel it has more freedom and I enjoy the challenge of producing work under pressure. I’m apprehensive about A5 as I’m sure the building of the website will present equal, if not more, challenges. The problem is that they may be challenges I’m inexperienced to cope with and inevitably this will lead to considerable frustrations. However, I’m trying to approach the task with an open mind and I did enjoy experimenting with Dreamweaver yesterday, so fingers crossed!

Along with the prospect of interesting new projects I’m also in high spirits after receiving the feedback on A3 and A4. I’m ashamed to admit that, briefly, in the holiday I seriously considered my motives for continuing with the course. This was mainly due to the severe financial concerns bought on by the festive season. Self doubt is never a good thing and just for a moment I questioned if I would ever become the designer I hoped to be. Receiving the positive feedback from Steve and John yesterday really meant a lot to me and eliminated any doubts still residing in my mind.

So, to conclude, the going is good. I'm committed to achieving my full potential and now feel certain the investment I've made to achieve this will pay off. The first two days of the new semester have been very productive and I feel I've made a solid, considered, approach to both units. This week I hope to spend more time familiarising myself with Dreamweaver. This will hopefully allow me to analyse how to build my proposed screen designs. In terms of A6 I need to process the research I've gathered and gather some paper based sources. I also intend to complete some InDesign tutorials to enable me to work more effectively on the imminent timed tasks!

A Time for Reflection

As I commenced the Interactive media course in September I was excited to be presented with a fresh new challenge . I will admit that I was apprehensive of what was to come but more than anything I was hopeful that the course would be a channel for my creativity, which had been seriously neglected during my teaching career. Now, reflecting back, I know all of my hopes have been more than adequately met and I feel greatly fulfilled and proud of my achievements so far.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the projects we have completed so far. With each one presenting a fresh challenge and requiring a varied approach in order to achieve success. Overall I feel the course has enabled me to communicate on a whole new level to which I had previously experienced. It has taught me to be more considered and refined during the design process because of the requirement to meet the needs of the target audience. This has installed a realistic element to the web plans we have authored and increased my awareness of the attention to detail which will be required in industry. Equally the time scales we have been working to has added intensity to the projects and hugely increased my time management skills. In summary the first semester has been intense, the work load was far greater than I could of ever anticipated but I am certain the development I have made is immeasurable.

Next semester my main objective is to become proficient in Adobe Dream weaver. This will present an entirely new challenge to me as I have absolutely no experience of using the software. Therefore, it will be essential that I use a sufficient amount of self study time to undertake tutorials. Hopefully this will enable me to build my original website designs without having to compromise on details because of my limited technical knowledge. Of course I am aware that this is an idealised view, and frustrations are inevitable in the transfer of concept to creation. However, I am determined to achieve my full potential as a ‘creator’ and I believe my focus and passion will be the key to success.

In terms of my premonitions for the second year of the course my main focus will be to compile a strong body of work for my portfolio. I intend my portfolio to reflect my combined talents as photographer, artist and designer. I feel this will enable me to offer a more versatile skill-set to future employers. To do so I must continue to explore and expand my creative skills. I aim to combine a range of media and techniques in the developmental stages of future projects, this will add an element of originality into my work. I feel that this will be essential when seeking employment in the highly competitive market of Interactive media.

In terms of my future career I feel it is too early to define the exact path I wish to pursue. Particularly as I have no experience of the technicalities of building a web site. However, I am certain that I wish to utilise a range of creative skills in any position I apply for. Of course, I am aware that this may not be possible in the primary appointments I undertake. Nevertheless in the distant future I perceive that my photography and conceptual skills will play an important role.

¼ Full or ¼ Empty?

So what’s yours? My response is currently under construction after pondering the question throughout the day. The question arose after Steve informed us that this time next week a quarter of the course would be complete. It didn’t shock me to be confronted with this realisation; in fact it was quite a relief to be that step further to being employable. However, it did make me conscious, of the importance, to push through the pain barrier this week with A3 and A4.

I’m apprehensive about the work ahead of me, I feel confident I am clear of the requirements. Yet, there is always that nagging feeling that those simple tasks will turn into arduous epics, the stuff of nightmares that we’re all aware of. I guess my biggest concern is getting everything correctly formatted in the template. This is mainly due to my dislike for formality and standardisation. I fully understand the necessity for these requirements but it doesn’t improve my motivation for conforming to them. I guess it stems from the importance of freedom in my life and to a lesser degree conflicts with this value quite harshly. But, as I don’t live up a tree on a desert island I should be used to such things by now!

My progress so far this week has been fairly consistent. I managed to complete most tasks I had planned for over the two days. However, it has been hampered some what my inability to full concentrate on some written tasks in class. This is something I have greatly improved on since the beginning of term but still causes the occasional problem.

Feedback over this week, in our designated groups and in people in general, has been particularly beneficial. So I’d like to thank everyone who has made an input so far in my work.

Once again, I’m finding it difficult to focus on reflecting so rather then faff I’ll close on my targets this week;

• Finish gathering assets
• Complete all screen designs
• Place A3 and A4 in template
• Check suitable references have been used
• Proof read
• Upload banners
• Burn CDs
  

Oh and here's a link if you need to check the contrast on your screen designs;

http://juicystudio.com/

Developed Screen Design

I'd really appreciate some feedback on my developed screen design. This is the template for the home page. I'm aware some alignments need re-adjusting and spacing etc.

Thanks!

Blinding Design

I’m not really sure what has happened this week and my now throbbing head is completely disengaged so this entry could be interesting to say the least.

Yesterday is gone, of that I’m certain. Content is done, of that I’m not so certain, but hopeful none the less. Screen designs are floating somewhere in time, along with my head, most probably. Other Doojimme flips and what’sitsnames are in progress and A3 is coming along well, as far as I know, this may change in the bright light of a new day.

Today has been painful, I feel as if I’ve had a near death experience. Not that I’ve come anywhere close to death but I’m certain I have known what its like to relive your life in a matter of seconds. Churning out 40 ideas in 30 minutes definitely equates to this, both in the horror and the glory of the moment. Personally I’ll take my chances with fate if I have the option again. However, all in all it has been productive and if I regain my eyesight sufficiently no damage will have been done.

So, at the end of what seems like a week, but in fact is only a matter of days productivity may have reached an all time high. My developed banner ads are flowing relatively well and by tomorrow I’m sure I will be able to regain focus and finish the whole of A3 by Monday night (standards mustn’t slip).

I’d be grateful for any feedback on my current designs, posted with this blog and please check back in the next couple of days for my new screen designs.

Targets for this week (joking aside)

• Gain sufficient feed back to finish screen designs
• Create asset imagery
• Finish Banner ads
• Place A3 in template
• Repeat my FAFF mantra every morning and night

Logo Feedback Please!

I'd appreciate some feedback on these logo designs for the 'Back to Basics' project. The intention of the website is to create a fresh and simplistic approach to accessing the information. The name derives from the phrase 'Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezey' (I'm aware the spelling is slightly altered). Equally the logo's are intended to be viewed on a yellow or green background, possibly with a gradient fade.