COP3//END OF MODULE EVALUATION//OUGD601

END OF MODULE EVALUATION

What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them? 
I think the most valuable skill set I have learnt throughout this module is my researching techniques.  This is something that has been hugely improved throughout and as the project progressed it became easier to understand what particular areas of research I needed to undertake in order to get the best results.  I found this module valuable in enabling me to gain an appropriate amount of primary and secondary research in order to feed into my arguments within my essay, this was something I would of found quite intimidating at first, the idea of conducting an interview or carrying out a survey, yet I found it engaging and invaluable to supporting my points.  I also found this module helped to improve the regular activity of blogging and documentation, this was something I felt was improved and I recorded my research in an effective way, reflecting on the work and developing my ideas through evaluative blog posts.  I feel the development stages of my practical were successful and allowed me to progress and form new ideas and concepts which helped to further the final outcomes.  Another skill I feel has been improved is the planning and organising throughout this project.  There was a lot to consider in terms of planning research, considering theory and trying to synthesis the two elements and I felt down to planning and organising this helped to approach the task.

What approaches to/methods of design production have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?
I feel I have developed my design skills in terms of designing something that will be put into practice in terms of being used to promote the exhibition that will be displayed during the summer.  This is something I had to consider when designing and needed to apply the relevant information in order to inform my audience.  I also thought my research into modernist design really helped to inform my designs for my own work and I paid more attention to detail whilst designing in order to apply the modernist theory into my practice.  I have also improved on my mock up skills and visually displaying my digital work in a more professional style. 

What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these? 

I felt elements of the practical work were strong in terms of type and visuals and using my own photography for the designs.  Another strength I capitalised on was the understanding of theory into practice, I thought the concept of proposing an exhibition was a suitable format that synthesised successfully with my essay as I was looking at the success of the London Undergrounds design and an exhibition is the perfect way to showcase these successes.  In terms of actually applying theory to my design I took a modernist approach to the visual elements as this was a theory applied in my essay.  I also tried to display, in the best possible way, the design principles and theories that I investigated whilst researching for my essay.  I thought my final presentation boards were displayed well and concisely explained the general outline of the project and how I intend to push it further.  I feel the ongoing reflection of the project and the development were the most successful parts of this module for me.

What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these in the future?

There were periods of this module, especially at the start, where I felt quite lost and was unsure of certain directions to take within both the written and practical element.  This is something that would of benefitted my final results hugely and feel I should of been more clinical and decisive when being faced with problems to avoid time limitations and to get the best final results out of my work.  I feel the product range should of been developed further but struggled with generating ideas and how I could push it further as it was a proposed exhibition which I will be putting together in the summer, so found the preparation work to be harder than anticipated.  I feel although my essay was written quite eloquently and I had a wide range of both primary and secondary research, post feedback I realised I should of been more analytical but due to the time scale, when considering printing and binding for the essay, I could not amend it as much as I would of liked to.

Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these? 

• Time management - I feel this is something I am constantly trying to improve, however I feel there were considerable improvements from the previous module.  I felt as the module progressed my time management skills started to decline and towards the end felt myself running out of time to get the most out of my practical elements
• Writing skills - Although I felt my essay was structured well and I explored my subject matter in depth I felt there were areas of it that needed to be improved.
• Range of products/outcome - This should of been pushed further, to give the final design outcomes more depth
• On reflection, I needed to have a clearer understanding of what I was trying to achieve from the very start, this was something I was slightly unclear with at first and so some time was squandered, this would of been useful towards the end of the module when I felt slightly pressed for time.
• I would of liked to explored more design processes when creating my final products, this is something I will look to heavily improve in extended practice.
• photographing my final work - this does not do the final designs justice if I have not taken out the time to photograph my work in a professional manner
• mock ups in context - this would put my final designs in context and show the designs working in an environment that could communicate my design successfully 

Attendance = 5
Punctuality = 5
Motivation = 4
Commitment = 4
Quantity of work produced = 3
Quality of work produced = 3

COP3//PRACTICAL: FINAL BOARDS//OUGD601

FINAL PRESENTATION BOARDS FOR COP PRACTICAL

COP3//FINAL PRINTS OF POSTERS//OUGD601

FINAL PRINTS, PROMO POSTERS, MANIFESTO

COP3//WEB ELEMENT FOR EXHIBITION//OUGD601

WEB ELEMENT

COP3//FINAL DIGITAL VERSIONS//MOCKED UP//OUGD601

COP3//SYNTHESISING PROJECT//OUGD601

SYNTHESISING
The brief was to propose an exhibition that will eventually be put on at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Building in Kings Cross.  Due to my essay question I thought an exhibition showcasing London Undergrounds classic designs would be a fitting format and could also be linked to the 150 year anniversary the tube celebrated in 2013.

Design principles of Frank Pick, the pioneer of the London Underground design movement, as these theories and design concepts are visibly linked when the design of the Underground was taking shape.  It will also focus on the design principles of the DIA (Design and Industries Association) and Pick being a leading member championed these ideas of 'form follows function' which is displayed most successfully through his design work on the Underground.

Putting theory into practice I have tried to keep the theme of the work mainly focused on these aspects.  Throughout my essay the theory that was applied was 'medieval modernism' a concept by Michael T. Saler, who believes due to Picks traditionalist beliefs inspired by William Morris, combined with the contradicting progressive ideas (accepting the machine) was an appropriate title for the man behind the modernist styling of the city through the Underground.

Bearing this in mind I have designed the work in a modernist style incorporating the design philosophies of Pick and the DIA.

In order to successfully display the theory behind the design of the Underground I looked at the DIA's principles and Picks personal design philosophies.  I also looked at examples of modernist work in order to apply Picks beliefs to my own designs.

I visited the London Transport museum as I thought this would be a good source of inspiration in terms of exhibiting work, and also attended an exhibition showcasing the London Undergrounds collection of posters to get ideas for my own proposed exhibition.

For potential visuals for my designs I visited various Underground stations to capture signage, station tiling, architecture etc.

I contacted various venues to enquire about putting the exhibition on in the summer, resulting in success with a space in Kings Cross:

After exchanging emails I made an appointment and a room has been booked during the summer for me to put on the proposed exhibition.

This is a design manifesto compiled of theories relating to modernism and William Morris, which also directly relates to the constructing and design of the tube and the impact it can have on society.  The three images are Pick and two members of the DIA, as these principles were compiled by the Design and Industries Association.

COP3//MANIFESTO DESIGN DEVELOPMENT//TICKETS AND POSTCARDS//OUGD601

DIA MANIFESTO
I thought for the exhibition it would be appropriate to design a manifesto of the DIAs design beliefs and values, Medieval Modernism and the London Underground helped to compile a list of quotes that were very specific to design and the making of the underground and shaping the city and the community.

In terms of layout, I tried to look at a very simple, modernist style of design.  I titled it the design for everyday life because that makes reference to William Morris and also because when Pick talks about his design philosophies he feels it should be applied in other aspects and not solely for design as he wanted to impact on the community.

I thought in terms of modernist style I wanted to incorporate the bold numbers for each point of the manifesto

KEY POINTS FOR MANIFESTO
that the city which we build must be fit for trade, for government, for traffic, for social intercourse; 

second that soundness in workmanship and materials will compel beauty out of a craftsmen, that a city of good bricks or good stone well laid and well dressed will be a shell which will attract the graces of ornament; 

third, that ornament shall cost effort and money, and so shall be of value; that a city shall not be covered in cheap ornament, anymore than a person with cheap jewellery; that the ornament shall be employed sparingly to emphasise that which is worth emphasis, and not to set up a competition of building with building which eventually destroys all emphasis and with it all meaning; 

fourth, that the material should be respected and should be rightly treated, that the city should choose an architecture of brick or stone or steel and concrete which will announce itself, which will allow of the right handling of the material; 

fifth, thats there shall be orderliness and proportion in all things, that the parts of the city shall fit together, that one part shall not conflict with another part.  It is useless to seek for beauty, but if you seek after these principles, we believe beauty will be added onto you, the beauty that is truly yours, and not the beauty that is borrowed or copied from another.

In terms of images I wanted to use Pick as he obviously is the key figure and is not recognised as he should be when people think of the London underground and its design, in fact smaller figures in the design of the London Underground are noted more such as Charles Holden.

I thought it worked better when selecting a range of images from various members of the DIA or people that agreed and championed the same rules as Pick.  These three figures are Pick, central, Charles Holden and Nikolaus Pevsner.

TICKETS & POSTCARDS

I thought it would be appropriate for the ticket design to show Pick as the leading figure of the Underground design, keeping consistent with the exhibition style the same text is applied and colour scheme.

Things that need to be included on the ticket:

• price
• date
• ticket number
• quote
• exhibition logo