This module has been one huge learning curve for me. Research was the weakest part of my work last term and I felt as though there was a gap in my ability as a designer, as the research stage is just as important, if not more important that the development of ideas for final outcomes. This is probably the most useful tool I have learned or at least got better at over this module. I have used a much wider range of research methods including approaches to research. I used to find myself thinking about one idea, and then suddenly jumping to another, with no real connection between the two. But this term I have been able to try a more linear way of researching, which is based around having an idea, then trying, testing and experimenting with materials and different techniques to take me to the next idea, then so on and so on until I have an idea that is strong enough to take to a final design stage. I think with my 100 book project I was starting to get the hang of this; however it took too long for me to reach the stage where I was rapidly generating new ideas. This is probably the most important lesson I have learned so far; to generate a number if ideas rapidly with decent experiments which lead onto new ideas.
Book binding has been a large part of this module also. I was really happy to be making my own books. There is something very satisfying about creating books, because up until now in my life, I have bought a book then drawn or written into it, but now I can dictate exactly what I want a book to look like. It would have been nice if I had given myself more time to learn new styles of book binding as I only had a go at two methods. I will certainly come back to it again though as I think it is something I am really interested in. For my final outcome I made two books with a pamphlet bind, which is very simple, but it was the most suitable; and if there is one thing I have learned from crits and looking at others work suitable and simple is usually better than complex and unsuitable.
I had a moment in the middle of the book brief when I decided to make a radical decision to go and buy a load of random things, like light-bulbs and springs and small mechanical objects. I then took this to the studio and played with them for a day to see what kind of ideas I could generate from them. This was probably the most productive day of the course so far for me, as it not only enlightened me to a great new way of researching and experimenting, but it also gave me a really good direction for my book to go in.
I also found that I could help other people in the class very effectively with their ideas just by talking to them. I realized it is hard to have ideas for yourself concerning your own project because you are so involved in it, it takes someone else to look at it who is completely open minded about where your project could go. So I regularly asked my friends around the studio what they thought of my work and asked if they could sit with me for a few minutes and analyse it with me. I found this very effective, as they can think of ten times the number of ideas I can in the same time.
I think my work is strongest when I have been able to think about it for a while and test different possibilities. However this is also a weakness because I find it quite hard to have several strong ideas and play around with them in a short amount of time. This is something which I have got a lot better at over the last module however, and I will have to really try to focus next module to keep up with the pace of the design stage. I am confident though, that after the progress I have made over this module I can do the same again next time. I think I also have strength when it comes to recognizing a good idea from a bad idea, for example I can have three or four basic ideas in a day, and after a short time experimenting them each in turn I can single out the top one or two. However I need to get better at applying this to my own work in a more convictional way. Sometimes I look at my work and inside I know it is not a strong enough idea, but I run with it anyway. It is at this point I should say, stop, look at what you have, where could you go from here instead? It is a tough thing to do as it feels like you are taking a huge step back in the design process and also like you have wasted your time; but in reality, you had to make the mistake in the first place to get yourself onto a better idea.
Overall this module has been incredibly useful for me. I came back after Christmas with a different attitude to work, not intentionally but it just felt as though I had turned a corner and was now ready to knuckle down. I think having the opportunity to make my own book completely from scratch has given me the inspiration to create more testing pieces of work, and to really push myself out of the comfort zone; which is always good.
Five things which i think i could have done better...
/ I needed to have more or a structured time management plan in the first 3 weeks of the course, however towards the end of the module after our PPD sessions my time management plan helped me put my work ad time in perspective.
/ I could have began my focused generation of ideas sooner and produced more of them, instead of having 2 or 3 towards the second half of the book brief.
/ I need to stop working until half 2 in the morning, this only makes tired for the next day and then puts my body clock into a bad routine.
/ I take notes during crits in my notebook, but i need to get these up on my blog, where i can see them and where i won't lose them.
/ I don't look at enough existing design. This would definitely help inspire me to create more work. I get so caught up in my own work i forget that there is a whole world of design out there which can fill in some of the gaps in my own ideas.
HOW WOULD YOU GRADE YOURSELF ON THE FOLLOWING AREAS (5= excellent, 4= v.good, 3= good, 2= average, 1= poor)
Attendance: 5
Punctuality: 4
Motivation: 5
Commitment: 5
Quantity of work produced: 4
Quality of work produce: 3
Contribution to the group: 5
Despite my attendance being virtualy 100% my punctuality is a little low as i missed sign in by a matter of seconds on a few occasions. Need to remember to sign in as soon as i walk in the door!!
