1ST SEMESTER REVIEW//THINGS I HAVE LEARNT ABOUT MYSELF PERSONALLY & PROFESSIONALLY OUGD402

10 things that you have learned about yourself as an individual and as a learner. These should reflect your personal development and individual journey since the start of the programme:
ONE.
Time management, I can't decide if I've become better or worse at it!  In terms of punctuality, I've definitely become better, I'm on time for college usually, whereas before I was always late to things.  I don't think I've become any better at actually managing my time effectively, I have more things to do and more responsibilities than I've ever had which I think makes it a lot harder to successfully balance an academic, social and domestic student lifestyle.
TWO.
Responsibilities, since moving to Leeds I've definitely learnt to grow up a bit more.  Things like laundry, cooking, paying rent etc. aren't going to get done if I don't do it.  Its definitely something thats made me more independent and I feel like I've progressed over the last six months in terms of growing up.

THREE.
Moving out, Im really glad I moved out of London and to Leeds to experience a new city, to meet new people and to become more independent.  I think Leeds is a great city to be a student in and I'm enjoying myself.  Its also made me appreciate going home and back to London, its always good to go back there and see my family and friends, I've also realised how much i miss my dads cooking.

FOUR.

Meeting people, since moving here I've met a lot of great people, I like the social element of living in Leeds, its got a good atmosphere and a good mix of people.

FIVE.

Sleep!  It never really bothered me before, but since starting the course I've learnt to appreciate a good sleep.  When doing a-levels and a foundation I never had a full timetable where you had to be in for 9:30 everyday, I've learnt I can't really go to bed at three in the morning every night and carry on getting up that early, it just doesn't work.
SIX.
Financial situation, Ive learnt that I'm not actually that bad with money, the occasional slip up here and there but generally i can budget,  I haven't had to ask my parents for too much, which is good considering I have no loan left after rent.  I have learnt though, that if I want to pay for things through summer, I'm going to have to get a job fairly soon, its just finding the time to fit that in with a full time course, domestic responsibilities and a social life!

SEVEN.
Looking after yourself, i've learnt I have a pretty rubbish immune system, its real easy to get run down when your not looking after yourself properly, I've been ill a few times and its all down to things like not getting enough sleep, skipping meals, dehydrating yourself and just generally not being as healthy as I should.
EIGHT.
Graphic Design, I never knew one thing could consume so much of my time...
NINE. 
Photography, since starting the course i haven't been using my camera as much as I use to, I really like taking photographs and using them for design work, because of heavy work load its hard to get to do it sometimes, but I want to start using my camera again.

TEN.
Coming to uni's made me think about the future, and all the things I want to do in life, life is short and theres so many things to do, I want to make the most of my time here because it goes so quickly.


10 things that you have learned about yourself as a designer. These should reflect your growing awareness of your own interests within graphic design as a subject, discipline and profession...
ONE.
Adobe, I think in terms of being a graphic design student, the biggest progress I've made is working with Adobe, in particular, Illustrator and Photoshop.  Before starting the course i'd never even opened the programmes, I had absolutely no concept of how to work with them but after practicing and being forced into using them to create different projects I've found its not as hard as I first thought.  I really like the style and final outcome of creating work on Adobe, however I sometimes miss doing more hand rendered type things.

TWO.

Organising, I've learnt writing lists is a good way for me to keep organised, I like being able to see everything I have written down in front of me, it seems to make it more manageable, even if it is slightly overwhelming sometimes...I like writing things down rather than sketching, notes, lists, reminders, all help me to manage the work load better.

THREE.

Graphic Designers, before doing my foundation I didn't even know I wanted to do graphic design, I hardly knew any graphic designers, just fine artists, since starting the course, and especially doing all the context of practice tasks, I've learnt so much about famous graphic designers and contemporary graphic designers.  Ive discovered some of my favourite designers through some jo's workshops and through research on my d.c log.

FOUR.
Working professionally, being in the studio from 9:30 till 4:00/5:00 everyday as definitely helped me to get into a routine of working better, the studio is set out like a professional workplace, with a creative atmosphere and like minded people.  I appreciate the studio because not all institutes supply the students with practical equipment as good as ours.

FIVE:

Crits, Since the start of the course we've pretty much had a crit every week or every other week, I didn't like them at first but I think its a great learning tool as it helps to get feedback on your work, generate new ideas, and be inspired by other peoples work.  When reading a disappointing bit of feedback on your work its easy to take it personally, however, its got to be taken constructively, no one will ever say it can't be improved.

 SIX.
Blogging, I'd never blogged before I came to LCA, at first I found it hard to keep on top of it and do it daily but now I think its an effective way of recording progress, showing work more professionally and monitoring the work load.  Now its something thats a daily occurrence, that happens as a habit rather than a chore.

SEVEN.

Money, being a graphic design student can be quite pricey, I didn't have a mac until january, but I don't think i could do the course as well without having one, it constantly relays on you blogging, using adobe, and researching, all things that you need a laptop, and personally I feel a mac, for the most professional graphic design work.  Printing also adds up a fair bit...

EIGHT.

Learning, group work, since starting the course I feel I know so much more about Graphic Design as a subject, things that I never even knew about before such as colour theory, type and grid and aspects of typography that id never looked at.  The lectures have given me information on a broad range of topics such as film, visual communication, modernism etc.  Whilst I've been here I've also worked on group briefs several times, this has been a great experience, and we've had successful outcomes, its good to be able to put peoples ideas together and create designs.

NINE.

Screen printing, this is something thats interested me for a while but I've never been able to try it, since coming here and getting a broader understanding of techniques and designers I've liked the look of screen printing even more and its definitely something I want to try with some projects in the future.

TEN.

Progress, I feel like I've made a lot of progress being on the course, I've never had so much work or worked so hard before, I think my skills have improved and I've learnt so much about the subject since september, Ive also become more interested and engaged in the subject.

MANIFESTO TASK//OUGD401

MANIFESTO TASK:

-First I decided to get an idea of what a manifesto actually is, and look at some examples so that I could take influence when making my own personal one.

A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifesto

SOME EXAMPLES OF MANIFESTO'S:

We are essential to success in this increasingly complex, technology-fueled age.

We are evangelists for the combined power of technology, creativity and communication.

We know that good design is not a luxury. It is a necessity.

We are the stewards of a new economy driven by the consumer, hungry for ideas.

We create simplicity out of complexity. We use our talent to serve, define, inspire, plan and create.

We are driven to see the entire landscape, identify patterns and create sustainable solutions.

We believe in the nobility of creating solutions that are elegant, effective, measurable and beautiful.

We are the conduit for the information people need, the things they seek and the human connections they crave.

Manifesto of “The New Designer”
– by Ken Hanson

VISUAL MANIFESTOS:

FAVOURITES: -Friends are more important than money

-Drink fresh water and as much water as you can.  Water flushes unwanted toxins from your body and keeps your brain sharp.

I like these two points on the second manifesto, the first one because I think its important to not lose site of what matters, to be financially stable/successful is important but people you care about (friends/family) are the most important thing.  The second point because I think its something i should consider a lot more, I always forget to drink and end up dehydrated and with a headache.

I really like the whole message of this manifesto, a positive outlook on life, points I like in particular are:

-This is your life, do what you want and do it often

I think thats a good attitude, lives short, you should spend your time doing things you love/enjoy.

-If you don't like something, change it

-If you don't have enough time stop watching t.v

I think this applies to me, I don't watch that much t.v but I feel like I never have enough time and when I stop and think about what I'm actually doing, its not as much as I should be, I just feel like I'm wasting time achieving nothing.

-STOP OVER ANALYSING, LIFE IS SIMPLE.

-Open your mind, arms and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences 

I like this because I think life is about trying and experiencing new things

-TRAVEL OFTEN 

This is one of the things I want to do most in life, I think its important to travel the world, experience new cultures and see different things.

-Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them so go out and start creating.

I think life is about creating memories with people and doing what you enjoy, its important to be happy.

http://www.visualnews.com/2012/02/21/manifesto-fever/

http://benpittdesign.wordpress.com/2011/11/

FAVOURITES: -Put down the remote get off the couch and do something

-Create to learn a bit more about yourself

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/04/08/five-manifestos-for-life/

The Writer: Leo Tolstoy
While they betray a bit of the self-hating introvert, Tolstoy’s “rules for life,” originally written when he was 18 years old, do contain some useful gems. In particular, the notion of managing your energy and prioritizing based on goals (no. 5), and of managing your finances wisely by always keeping a low overhead (no. 9 & 10)

1. Get up early (five o'clock).
2. Go to bed early (nine to ten o'clock).
3. Eat little and avoid sweets.
4. Try to do everything by yourself.
5. Have a goal for your whole life, a goal for one section of your life, a goal for a shorter period and a goal for the year; a goal for every month, a goal for every week, a goal for every day, a goal for every hour and for every minute, and sacrifice the lesser goal to the greater.
6. Keep away from women.
7. Kill desire by work.
8. Be good, but try to let no one know it.
9. Always live less expensively than you might.
10. Change nothing in your style of living even if you become ten times richer.

FAVOURITES:

-Have a goal for your whole life, a goal for one section of your life, a goal for a shorter period and a goal for the year; a goal for every month, a goal for every week, a goal for every day, a goal for every hour and for every minute, and sacrifice the lesser goal to the greater.

The Marketer: Seth Godin
The always insightful Seth Godin shared his “Unforgivable Manifesto” with artistHugh MacLeod a few years ago. His observation about the short-run vs the long-run in point 5 is particularly incisive, as is the notion that we’re all marketers in point 7 – it's just that some of us don’t own it.
1. The greatest innovations appear to come from those that are self-reliant. Individuals who go right to the edge and do something worth talking about. Not solo, of course, but as instigators of a team. In two words: don’t settle.
2. The greatest marketers do two things: they treat customers with respect and they measure.
3. The greatest salespeople understand that people resist change and that ‘no’ is the single easiest way to do that.
4. The greatest bloggers blog for their readers, not for themselves.
5. There really isn’t much a of ‘short run’. It quickly becomes yesterday. The long run, on the other hand, sticks around for quite a while.
6. The internet doesn’t forget. And sooner or later, the internet finds out.
7. Everyone is a marketer, even people and organizations that don’t market. They’re just marketers who are doing it poorly.
8. Amazing organizations and people receive rewards that more than make up for the effort required to be that good.
9. There is no number 9.
10. Mass taste is rarely good taste.

google images

FAVOURITES:

-We want to inspire you to do more, to be more, to feel good lost and explore always.

-In order to be, you must do.

FAVOURITES: - Travel to explore the planet

-Get off the hamster wheel occasionally

-Do something fun everyday 

After looking at various Manifestos, I've put together a personal manifesto:

   ______________________________________________

MY PERSONAL MANIFESTO

+PLANNING: Use time wisely, get things done, don't waste time doing pointless unproductive things..

+TRAVEL: Try new things, go to different places, experience other cultures!

+SMILE:Be positive, life is short.

+Take photographs, make a visual diary, create memories, have something to look back at and remember!

+ORGANISE: Don't leave things till the last minute, get them done without rushing, the outcome will be better.

+Make lists and keep track of what needs doing

+DON'T WORRY: No matter what it is, worrying only makes you feel worse...life should be stress free

+ A good deed goes a long way, help people out, be kind, be generous, be helpful, the favour will be returned

________________________________________________________

COMMUNICATION IS A VIRUS//TRY SOMETHING NEW//DIET GROUP EVALUATION OUGD406

D - Describing - What is It?
I - Interpreting - What is it about?
E - Evaluating - How good is it?
T - Theorising - Does it solve the problem?


D-Describing - What is it?
Our group decided to create a campaign that encouraged students, new to Leeds or living in Leeds to try something new.  Our 'try something new' was to get students to listen to and experience a new genre of music different to their usual preference.  We felt Leeds had a diverse music scene perfect for allowing students to branch out and experience a whole new genre, atmosphere and night out.  We researched into nights out/gigs in Leeds to see what nights were on and who would be playing in the recent months, using that information we made 5 c.d's, each one based on one genre.  Our genres were Reggae, Hip Hop, Indie, Jazz and Motown, we made five of each c.d and then distributed them around college.  The idea is someone would select a c.d of a genre they wouldn't usually listen to and listen to the five tracks we selected for the c.d, they would then give feedback on our 'Fresh Music' twitter/facebook page about the c.d and tracks.  They can also ask for further information about the genre and when the gigs/nights out will be held in Leeds, we give them information on the venue, where to get tickets, dates etc.


I - Interpreting - What is it about?

It was about getting people to try something new, in our case try a new genre of music.  By giving people the easy option of the c.d being made and the track list selected all they have to do is play it and they've already tried something new.  I think the way we distributed the c.d's made it easy for our target audience to try something new because most of it was done without them having to go to too much trouble.


E-Evaluating - How good is it?
The concept worked well, initially we found it hard to come up with the concept and tried various different ideas. If we had more time, the idea would have had more time to be developed and we would have had more time for feedback. The idea of introducing new music to students in Leeds was effective; university is a time to try something new and Leeds is a great city for diversity in music. We initially agreed to set up a Twitter page in order to gather feedback, but the responses on feedback were slow. We set up a Facebook account in addition and over the weekend the responses we quick and helpful. We each put one of our playlists on the Facebook enabling the people who hadn’t picked up a CD to listen to each different genre; Reggae, Jazz, Motown, Indie and Hip Hop.

T- Theorising - does it solve the problem?

in many ways, we did manage to solve the problem and get people listening to new music through the cd handout but we didn't receive sufficient responses and feedback online which was how we measured the outcome of the brief. by transferring our information and music online using twitter and facebook pages, we were able to give our users an easier way of responding and commenting. we still did not receive as much feedback as we originally wanted but the cd's made a good impression and created some interest in the studio, and all 20 cd's handed out were gone within a few hours.