OUGD503 - Module Evaluation

As a result of the module, there have been several opportunities to understand new and innovative ways to respond to set tasks. This includes working individually and collaboratively, which both provide different results in terms of the experimentation and end productions. When working on Studio Brief 1, it was important to make sure that each of the briefs were given enough time management so that there would be enough time to come to conclusions at the end. Switching between briefs in this way also helped to transfer ideas from one to another and by using inspiration from a brief, it would then be possible to develop another.

Working on a number of individual briefs for Studio Brief 1, meant that further insight into these tasks proved rewarding, in that they would require a level of contextual understanding and first hand experimentation. From these briefs, an understanding of how professionals may work individually was then established. Throughout each brief there were several similarities, including the need to explore appropriate typeface and colour schemes. As a result, the finding and applying of these rules became an important factor of the design process.

With studio brief 2, working with a project partner proved that idea generation was a lot broader and provided more initial planning that could later be pursued thoroughly. We also found that by working on certain elements on our own, then sharing them later on would provide new and alternative ways to solve the brief. When working in this way, it was easier to receive feedback from other peers during critiques, as there would then be several approaches to present and propose.

When working collaboratively on a brief, it was important that we assigned roles of the project early on. This way we could avoid confusion and make sure that there were ideas being generated on different stages of the project. The roles for this include, managing time effectively in preparation for critiques, researching Bumble’s app features, researching past campaigns and implementing a design plan for developing the project. By organizing the brief into singular roles, it was easier to manage time more effectively and leave time for improvements to be made.

In addition to time planning, it was also important to make sure that we would follow the same aesthetic to start with. This was done during the early stages of the project and from there we could then find our own direction in which to take the development. When this was done, we could compare and contrast the outcomes of our exploration and decide on which elements would be appropriate to pursue for the final outcome. As we had both agreed on a photographic primary focus, the designs were in fact more common than anticipated, which allowed the outcome to be more refined when deciding on what to do.

Overall, the module has provided several ways in which to approach briefs and how communication and time planning were important factors to consider throughout. In future, independent and collaborative briefs will be made easier by the skills learnt and the understanding of how to resolve them, using a graphic design format.