OUGD404 Design Principles - Evaluation

OUGD404 Design Principles - Evaluation

Design Principles is something I have found usually and really come to enjoy on this course. I found our sessions for Studio Brief One really interesting, particularly by the fun manner of the tasks we were set. It certainly taught me more about typeography which went hand in hand with Design Skills and the typograhy side of this course. The most usefu session I found was with John - the logo, signs and icon session. This taught me valuable knowledge to think outside the box, and also that some things do not need redesigning. This realisation came out when we were asked to redesign the Fire Exit sign, for this our group decided that it was infact perfect the way it was, the only adjustment we made was to give it a sound alarm so it can apply to deaf people as well. This was interesting as John made us really think about who our audience were, and at the debriefing, John really made us think outside the box with his ideas of using guided lighting rather than an actaul sign. I think this way of thinking can really be applied to anything, especially while thinking of concepts for design ideas.
Coming onto Studio Brief two really made me enjoy Design Principles as we were given the chance to create our own book. This is something I've fundementally enjoyed as I never thought I could say that I've created my own book. As my book was influenced by Context of Practise I have really seen all of the modules relate and inform one another, particularly now as I look back on all of our sessions. The workshops for me are also something I have come to really enjoy, particularly the book binding workshop. It has given me valuable knowledge for my future and I now feel confident binding methods and what are the most appropiate binding methods.
Along with this, I feel I have developed a deepened understanding of what a book is. Our sessions have certainly been conceptual and I have loved looking at really creative books. It has made me realise just how creative and unique you really can be while designing a book - usually I just think of typical novels when I think of books, but now I have completely broadened my knowledge.  I think through previous years, concepts has been something that I've really struggled with and left me feeling stuck, but through sessions like these and really expanding my mind, I have certainly improved and concepts is something now I always take into consideration.
Text setting is something that I had no prior knowledge of but has been extremely helpful to me. Although this is something I have found I've struggled with, it has certainly helped me a lot for page and text layouts, something key to book design. I  think keeping a good rag has been the think I have struggled the most with, as it is time consuming it is however definately worth it to create an aesthetically pleasing block of text.  These are all key and what I now and do take into consideration while thinking about type and layout. Certainly key for me as this course, and certainly this module has made me interested in editorial design. I really hope that page layout and type setting is something I will only get better and better at, and I believe it will as I have come so far now from having no knowledge what so ever on this subject at the begining of the course.

I believe good time managment is something I have achieved on this module, although I think there was room for improvement. I managed to have my book completed and printed before the easter holidays as I stuck to my time managment plan which is something I am proud of. Altohugh due to overlooking a piece of information, I had not set my book out right for the type of bind I wanted to do, and as it was already printed there was nothing I could do about it. In addition I think if I had completed the final draft for my book earlier, I could of had more critiques on it and perhaps could of found something that needed changing. Although I did have really good feedback in a critique I held, perhaps with more I could of gone further. Nevertheless I am happy with what I have produced and proud that I have come this far on this module and learnt so much.