The time is drawing near. Next week is the final week before the hand in date of the current assignment, Wailing Whales. Only next week we will be working from home. By this I feel both anxious and a little scared. The anxious feeling comes from the urge to crack on with my design work and having the freedoms to work from home. The scared feeling comes from the fear of distraction, the un-office like atmosphere I will be working in, and whether the work produced over the week will be enough to gain me a pass first time.
Through out this week I have been continuing work on the CD designs, and the pre-flight document. But before all this we had a re-cap of a past lecture on print work. Don’t get me wrong, but I feel both glad, and disappointed at the same time with this. The glad feeling draws its way up from having a second chance to look over this lecture and pick out any valuable points I may have missed the first time round. While the disappointment came from wanting to crack on with my designs and pre-flight material with no hold back.
After lunch on Monday I took the time to research in to the pre-flight task. By doing so I found out quite a lot about what it is, what it does, and the type of questions and checks it contains. Pre-flight comes from a pilot term for checks that occur before a plane is ready to take flight, clever huh?
The pre-flight document I have been creating contains mostly checks for my self and information boxes that will contain data on where to find each file, colour codes etc. I believe I will have this at a completed state further on in the week.
Through out today (Tuesday) I have been working on my CD artwork. The position of the information I need to put is pretty obvious with its location. But finding the correct place to fit in the emit logo is proving to be a tricky task. I so want to add the gradient used in the CD artwork using Photoshop but I believe that would go against me in this particular assignment. Talk of rasterizing the logo in Photoshop were advised to me by Steve, but for some reason Photoshop will not allow me to select the option to rasterize on the EPS file.
I will have to add my CD art work on to the forum for feedback ASAP to gain full advantage of the sources available to us. I feel as though I want my days of referring assignments to be over. So its show time!
Over the following week I plan to:
- Carry on with my CD artwork.
- Complete my pre-flight document.
- Stand by the weekly addition of journal comments.
- Keep in touch with my seminar groups as the pre-flight document is planned as a group activity.
- And start planning towards the evaluation of the assignment.
Tuesday 29 April 2008
Tuesday 22 April 2008
Presenting with Satisfaction!!!
During the course of the week I have been developing an idea for the CD artwork. Although not yet completed, I’m feeling very confident in the design. I must not try to get to attached though as the next intention is to produce a few more ideas bringing it down to a majority decision for the ‘Undark’ CD label.
On Monday a selected few were require to re-do the typography presentation, due to not meeting specific standards the first time round. I was among that selected few as I presented it in a mere 3 minutes and 30 seconds. This time was slightly better then before but still not good enough. The result of this was another go at it on Tuesday morning, one on one with Steve rather then in front of the whole class, like on Monday. This time I managed to present the information bang on 5 minutes and 30 seconds which I believe is the border line for error. Another thing needed to do after the presentation was to answer 10 random generated questions about typography. Not been able to answer ten out of ten, during the course of presenting on Monday, meant on Tuesday I was asked the questions I got wrong. Gladly I answered them right away, which is an achievement considering we were none the wiser about what was in store for us on Tuesday morning. This brings me to think that been on the spot make me more likely to feel a sense of nervousness causing intelligence to wither away.
The next part of Tuesday required me to re-create the CD artwork I had previously created as I made what some call a simply, common mistake. What I had done was create the artwork at 300dpcm (dots per centimetre) when I should have actually created it at 300dpi (dots per inch). So the remainder of the day was to completely recreate the work from the previous day. Not some thing I was best pleased with but I suppose its all in the process of learning.
Finally, in our seminar groups this week we talked about unfinished logo designs (if there we’re any), current CD artwork, the upcoming of the pre-flight document and the understanding of A1.
It appears that the design of my CD artwork shows creativity that is required for the learning out comes. But it’s quite possible that I may run in to a few problems when trying to change it to 4 colours for printing. For this I have been advised to do a ‘Gamut Warning’ test in Photoshop.
It is an understanding that the pre-flight document in merely a check list for both designer and printer to abide by while printing out the requested work. It has been decided that team beta will take this on as a group activity to be completed by the next seminar discussion.
To summarise, I feel that I have overcome an obstacle this week, with the mistake made at the beginning of the CD design. By making the mistake in the first place I feel that I need to be more wary towards instructions and make sure I fully understand what I am required to do before starting a task.
Having the chance to redo the presentation has made me realise that they are fairly simple and that I kind of like to present. Having this 2nd chance to perform an already performed task made me feel right at home with my nervous suddenly disappearing as soon as I stood attention at the front of the class.
To complete this entry, below are a few tasks I’m going to carry on with through out the course of the week.
- Produce more on screen CD artwork.
- Complete referral work on the web building assignment.
- Produce the standard weekly journal comments.
- And research in to the pre-flight document to gain a better understanding for the group activity on Monday.
On Monday a selected few were require to re-do the typography presentation, due to not meeting specific standards the first time round. I was among that selected few as I presented it in a mere 3 minutes and 30 seconds. This time was slightly better then before but still not good enough. The result of this was another go at it on Tuesday morning, one on one with Steve rather then in front of the whole class, like on Monday. This time I managed to present the information bang on 5 minutes and 30 seconds which I believe is the border line for error. Another thing needed to do after the presentation was to answer 10 random generated questions about typography. Not been able to answer ten out of ten, during the course of presenting on Monday, meant on Tuesday I was asked the questions I got wrong. Gladly I answered them right away, which is an achievement considering we were none the wiser about what was in store for us on Tuesday morning. This brings me to think that been on the spot make me more likely to feel a sense of nervousness causing intelligence to wither away.
The next part of Tuesday required me to re-create the CD artwork I had previously created as I made what some call a simply, common mistake. What I had done was create the artwork at 300dpcm (dots per centimetre) when I should have actually created it at 300dpi (dots per inch). So the remainder of the day was to completely recreate the work from the previous day. Not some thing I was best pleased with but I suppose its all in the process of learning.
Finally, in our seminar groups this week we talked about unfinished logo designs (if there we’re any), current CD artwork, the upcoming of the pre-flight document and the understanding of A1.
It appears that the design of my CD artwork shows creativity that is required for the learning out comes. But it’s quite possible that I may run in to a few problems when trying to change it to 4 colours for printing. For this I have been advised to do a ‘Gamut Warning’ test in Photoshop.
It is an understanding that the pre-flight document in merely a check list for both designer and printer to abide by while printing out the requested work. It has been decided that team beta will take this on as a group activity to be completed by the next seminar discussion.
To summarise, I feel that I have overcome an obstacle this week, with the mistake made at the beginning of the CD design. By making the mistake in the first place I feel that I need to be more wary towards instructions and make sure I fully understand what I am required to do before starting a task.
Having the chance to redo the presentation has made me realise that they are fairly simple and that I kind of like to present. Having this 2nd chance to perform an already performed task made me feel right at home with my nervous suddenly disappearing as soon as I stood attention at the front of the class.
To complete this entry, below are a few tasks I’m going to carry on with through out the course of the week.
- Produce more on screen CD artwork.
- Complete referral work on the web building assignment.
- Produce the standard weekly journal comments.
- And research in to the pre-flight document to gain a better understanding for the group activity on Monday.
Tuesday 15 April 2008
The Sweet Smell of Progression!!
This week was completely a crack on with it week. No lectures, no tutorials, just a week to work on the remainder elements of the logo design task and the beginning stages of the CD case design. For the logo in terms of progression this week I am very near the end stages in its existence. The only thing needed to do now is to reverse the colour fades from been light inwards and working to a bold appearance, to been bold in the centre and fading on the way out.
During Monday I received feedback from the Assignment 6 Revert to Type. As it turns out I need to re-present my presentation, change the over all design of my hand out, and revise the terminologies of type. Not a great deal to do in terms of designing, but the revision may take some time as it will need to be completely understood round for the concluding part of the presentation. As mentioned in an earlier entry it appears I yet again revved up my engines and did a flat out performance with my over rated motor mouth. The result of this meant a supposed five minute presentation was presented in only three and a half minutes. Nerves are some times a factor so all I can do is go out there and try to stay calm as the situation must appear like a regular thing.
Back on to the designs of the current assignment. In our seminar groups we were asked to rethink our production schedule as our previous tumbled attempt haunted us this week with the logo design not been fully completed by the group. When this was complete, the discussion on our current progress commenced. The work I took in to show was the very nearly completed logo designs I have completed and three on screen ideas for the CD case design. Through feedback, a chosen logo was selected with a few minor alterations suggested. Also a bright spark idea from Steve arose, which insisted that I try and implement all three designs in to one as all show a certain part of the creativeness needed for the marking criteria. This will take a lot of thought and some hard timed graft to get perfect, but I intend to complete it for next week so I can gain feedback before moving on to the insides of the design.
Self study this week will consist of:
- The revision of typographic terminologies.
- A redesign of the Stanley Morison hand out.
- A redesign of the Hokai paint tube (by choice).
- The implementation of three CD designs brought in to one.
- The finishing touch to the Emit logo.
- And the general weekly commenting.
For those of you that want to see the final design to the Emit logo I have created. I will post in a following entry a visual.
During Monday I received feedback from the Assignment 6 Revert to Type. As it turns out I need to re-present my presentation, change the over all design of my hand out, and revise the terminologies of type. Not a great deal to do in terms of designing, but the revision may take some time as it will need to be completely understood round for the concluding part of the presentation. As mentioned in an earlier entry it appears I yet again revved up my engines and did a flat out performance with my over rated motor mouth. The result of this meant a supposed five minute presentation was presented in only three and a half minutes. Nerves are some times a factor so all I can do is go out there and try to stay calm as the situation must appear like a regular thing.
Back on to the designs of the current assignment. In our seminar groups we were asked to rethink our production schedule as our previous tumbled attempt haunted us this week with the logo design not been fully completed by the group. When this was complete, the discussion on our current progress commenced. The work I took in to show was the very nearly completed logo designs I have completed and three on screen ideas for the CD case design. Through feedback, a chosen logo was selected with a few minor alterations suggested. Also a bright spark idea from Steve arose, which insisted that I try and implement all three designs in to one as all show a certain part of the creativeness needed for the marking criteria. This will take a lot of thought and some hard timed graft to get perfect, but I intend to complete it for next week so I can gain feedback before moving on to the insides of the design.
Self study this week will consist of:
- The revision of typographic terminologies.
- A redesign of the Stanley Morison hand out.
- A redesign of the Hokai paint tube (by choice).
- The implementation of three CD designs brought in to one.
- The finishing touch to the Emit logo.
- And the general weekly commenting.
For those of you that want to see the final design to the Emit logo I have created. I will post in a following entry a visual.
Wednesday 9 April 2008
Colour Testing...
Tuesday 8 April 2008
The Fun of Design...
Monday morning started with a lecture on Macromedia Freehand. This is a vector based application in which we are required to use when creating our logos in this new design assignment. The lecture covered the basics in how to use Freehand’s tool and how we can manipulate the vector image.
At around 10:30, the lecture came to a halt for a presented visit from Mark Feathers, who is a former student on this course. While here he talked about his newly found job in the design industry and how much better it is compared to his previous place of work. It appears yet again another visitor has stated a sense of freedom when working in this industry. Mark also took time in showing us some of the work he’s created over the past few months. The work shown wasn’t so major but still seemed to be way ahead of my current state.
After an hours break for dinner, it was back in to the class for a second go of lecture to teach us some more about Freehand. Over this section of the tutorial we were taught about such things as the assets tab and pantone colours included in the software application. Over all lecture learnt me a great deal, although it is fairly similar to Photoshop, containing only a few slight changes in appearance and tools provided.
After this, it was time for a talk with John. We talked about my current state and progress on the course, and if my thoughts were still the same as compared to when I started the course and posted my first journal entry. It appears that I have a slight change in where compared to previous times. Over the previous months I’ve learnt that I enjoy most aspects of the course, but am more drawn in to web design, and the new assignment of creating a new record label cover. Another thing talked about was our current progression on A7, which at the time I was gaining feedback on alterations of previous designs. Hopefully soon I will be able to get my creative jaws in to a smooth bite of the CD cover.
Tuesday morning was pretty much a get on with it day and the progression on logo design carried on with a slow and steady flow. During the course of the day I have been playing around with more logo alterations trying to get them all together for seminar groups in the afternoon.
I walked in to the seminar room with a total 76 logo ideas. The idea of this was so that I would have a lot of choice for feedback, and to keep A1 intact at the same time. It’s now official that I am on my final design as a chosen was drawn to Steve’s attention. Now all I need to do for the logo design task is to manipulate it ever so slightly and test it with a number of colours. I will post the colours I’ve tested in a following journal entry, to gain feedback on what I have done so far, and to possibly fixate myself on the colours available.
So this weeks self study will consist of:
- Gaining feedback for logo designs.
- Generating ideas for the CD cover design using a series of mind maps and mood boards created over reading week.
- Commenting on other journal entries.
- Inspirational search and annotation for A1
At around 10:30, the lecture came to a halt for a presented visit from Mark Feathers, who is a former student on this course. While here he talked about his newly found job in the design industry and how much better it is compared to his previous place of work. It appears yet again another visitor has stated a sense of freedom when working in this industry. Mark also took time in showing us some of the work he’s created over the past few months. The work shown wasn’t so major but still seemed to be way ahead of my current state.
After an hours break for dinner, it was back in to the class for a second go of lecture to teach us some more about Freehand. Over this section of the tutorial we were taught about such things as the assets tab and pantone colours included in the software application. Over all lecture learnt me a great deal, although it is fairly similar to Photoshop, containing only a few slight changes in appearance and tools provided.
After this, it was time for a talk with John. We talked about my current state and progress on the course, and if my thoughts were still the same as compared to when I started the course and posted my first journal entry. It appears that I have a slight change in where compared to previous times. Over the previous months I’ve learnt that I enjoy most aspects of the course, but am more drawn in to web design, and the new assignment of creating a new record label cover. Another thing talked about was our current progression on A7, which at the time I was gaining feedback on alterations of previous designs. Hopefully soon I will be able to get my creative jaws in to a smooth bite of the CD cover.
Tuesday morning was pretty much a get on with it day and the progression on logo design carried on with a slow and steady flow. During the course of the day I have been playing around with more logo alterations trying to get them all together for seminar groups in the afternoon.
I walked in to the seminar room with a total 76 logo ideas. The idea of this was so that I would have a lot of choice for feedback, and to keep A1 intact at the same time. It’s now official that I am on my final design as a chosen was drawn to Steve’s attention. Now all I need to do for the logo design task is to manipulate it ever so slightly and test it with a number of colours. I will post the colours I’ve tested in a following journal entry, to gain feedback on what I have done so far, and to possibly fixate myself on the colours available.
So this weeks self study will consist of:
- Gaining feedback for logo designs.
- Generating ideas for the CD cover design using a series of mind maps and mood boards created over reading week.
- Commenting on other journal entries.
- Inspirational search and annotation for A1
Friday 4 April 2008
More Logo Ideas!!!
Hey guys here are a few more pages of logos I have created. Comments will be appreciated greatly.
Tuesday 1 April 2008
Block Strikes Again!!!
Back to the HND department at Wakefield College and it’s on to new things. The break was over and a massive itch to crack on with some design work was slowly brewing. Monday’s time was nearly all used up from 2 lectures with Steve consisting of logos and a visit from Jonny Haynes. Jonny seemed like a well laid back character with some sort of passion for design, showing a certain commitment to his own work. It was a good experience meeting yet another designer from the industry, and something that will be cherished through out the progression of the course. After showing some of his work, we were able to ask huge amount of questions regarding work in the industry and towards design. Yet again a certain motor mouth (mentioning no name…. Shaun!!!) spared him self a great deal of question during the morning lecture in order to pile mass amount towards our visitor.
After the visit we were advised to crack on with some designs in our logos, using the work from reading week as inspiration. Over the last hours or so I only managed to dish out 6 logo ideas. Not a brilliant start I must add, but Tuesday was more productive.
First thing on Tuesday, we had another lecture on logos. Only this was about the Peace symbol, its founders and a reconstruction. As a timed task we were asked to get in groups and re-design the peace symbol. Equally the group provided a huge amount of effort during the reconstruction by dishing out a number of ideas. After the idea’s time had expired we put all our sketchbooks together and had a majority vote for the final creation. The final choice was very similar to the original, only it contained the company initials, the word peace, and some rounded arrows to signify world coverage. After putting all this together, the group was required to present the creation to the rest of the class, in a manner of understanding the design and the terminologies learnt in yesterdays lecture. The terminologies are Shape, Presence, Weight and contrast. Each of these terminologies play a vital role when designing a new logo and can define the difference between success and complete failure.
For the rest of the day it was back to designing more logos. Due to the production schedule plan we created yesterday, we have until next Tuesday to have a fully completed logo to a professional standard. In seminar groups Steve drew out that it may take longer then a week to complete the logo design task. So, the following week will require lots of creativity, and a huge amount of feedback. So I guess Blogger and das forum will be receiving a lot of hammer over the next week or so. Unfortunately at a certain time of today I received a blind boot from designers block. I’ve manage to create 24 logo ideas which will be posted on a journal following this one. So, over the following week I will:
- Produce pages of logo ideas for the redesign of the emit logo.
- Find more inspiration towards the assignment.
- Keep on track with the weekly journal comments.
- Gather as much feedback as possible.
After the visit we were advised to crack on with some designs in our logos, using the work from reading week as inspiration. Over the last hours or so I only managed to dish out 6 logo ideas. Not a brilliant start I must add, but Tuesday was more productive.
First thing on Tuesday, we had another lecture on logos. Only this was about the Peace symbol, its founders and a reconstruction. As a timed task we were asked to get in groups and re-design the peace symbol. Equally the group provided a huge amount of effort during the reconstruction by dishing out a number of ideas. After the idea’s time had expired we put all our sketchbooks together and had a majority vote for the final creation. The final choice was very similar to the original, only it contained the company initials, the word peace, and some rounded arrows to signify world coverage. After putting all this together, the group was required to present the creation to the rest of the class, in a manner of understanding the design and the terminologies learnt in yesterdays lecture. The terminologies are Shape, Presence, Weight and contrast. Each of these terminologies play a vital role when designing a new logo and can define the difference between success and complete failure.
For the rest of the day it was back to designing more logos. Due to the production schedule plan we created yesterday, we have until next Tuesday to have a fully completed logo to a professional standard. In seminar groups Steve drew out that it may take longer then a week to complete the logo design task. So, the following week will require lots of creativity, and a huge amount of feedback. So I guess Blogger and das forum will be receiving a lot of hammer over the next week or so. Unfortunately at a certain time of today I received a blind boot from designers block. I’ve manage to create 24 logo ideas which will be posted on a journal following this one. So, over the following week I will:
- Produce pages of logo ideas for the redesign of the emit logo.
- Find more inspiration towards the assignment.
- Keep on track with the weekly journal comments.
- Gather as much feedback as possible.
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