(17/02)Final Major Project Prep. Reflection.

REFLECTION POINTS:

.Drawing- For me it has taken on the role of visualising my initial concepts, and helping articulate and realise an idea. By drawing it the idea gets brought into the real world and the possibility of it existing increasing dramatically as it is proven feasible, especially if that drawing, once handed to someone else, can communicate my idea effectively. Yet I find nothing final in it, it is changeable and often I only use it to illustrate the earlier stages of the project. I should make a habit out of drawing throughout all of the stages of my project though in order for the idea to feel adaptable even into the later stages.

.3D- 3D work feels very final to me so I struggle with the development phase of a sculptural project. This also deters me from prototypes, something I wish to fix moving into the final project. Hopefully with lighter and more disposable materials it will encourage me to explore more of my options before committing to a final.

.Photography- I enjoy the process of photography, the prep, the fact that many of the strongest elements come through experimentation in the shoot, that it can be very malleable even after the photo is taken with cutting it up moving it round playing with printing it. It is a process that rewards experimentation and carrying out actions even though you don’t know how it will necessarily effect the final result. Because also it is so accessible it allows a lot of play.

.Film- I adore the narrative format of film, and all of the nuances it enables when the medium doesn’t talk down to its audience. However I find the process of film tedious as it does not allow for many changes on the fly. Those Ito does allow may take away from the original intent of the film, leaving it very rigid. It is not a medium I take to and so I deeply admire those who can manipulate it, especially when I love any storytelling format.

.Animation- Similarly to film I love it as a narrative storytelling format, but I feel greater creative control with animation through stylistic choices and tone. I find both aspects more easily manipulated in Animation and so feel more confident in my voice as an Animator then film maker. I have produced several of varying lengths and so for my ongoing portfolio I would prefer to create more diverse medium pieces and so refrain from using it as the final outcome for the upcoming project unless it is only for a short in development. But I would like to push myself more and so use a different medium for the final.

.Print- I enjoy the unpredictable nature of the process in print and the aspect that it can produce outcomes that were not planned that are often better then what was intended. As a result I find it good for development as it opens up plans that can be rigid, however it does mean it rarely ends up as a final piece. But I would like to push my use of the medium further and produce something worthy of a final piece through it.

.Typography- In spite of having done a project on the subject matter I still feel ill informed on it as it appears to be one that is heavily influenced by human psychology and things that seem subjective from a distance but actually appeal to all. It is a medium I would like to experiment with further as the format I have used it in the past often led to the typeface being unintelligible as it became apart of the image to add to the piece at large. Whereas I’d like to know how to use it for it’s intended purpose.

.Book/zines- Similarly to prints I find they aid to my creative process, diversifying my ideas and development, contributing to a better outcome. Yet I do find the outcomes are limited by whatever materials I can get my hands on, which is not always beneficial.

.Words/ language- They communicate an idea so simply and succinct however I often use them in the stead of a visual, not wishing for a point to seem over explained. I enjoy using them however I fear that my use of them comes at the price of other visual elements as my focus is not as broad. So whilst my word choice may be good, the typography may suffer, the hierarchy the scale etc.

.Campaigns- I like that they allow an exploration of many approaches to the idea, that you can produce many results through many mediums, adapting to fit the subject matter. However this broadness makes it difficult to hone in on a succinctly communicated point, rendering the project less useful. It is a format I wish to get better at hopefully through more practice, refining it.

.Interaction- -?? Assuming the prompt is referring to the interaction with the client/prompt I’d say a broadness is allowed in ideas making the prompt non constraining. Also if translated through to an actual client prompt, many ideas for the client to choose from is a good thing unless direction is given.

If the prompt is referring to the interaction of the audience with the work then I find it integral but difficult to ensure. For interaction to occur you need to provoke interest and cause engagement in order for them to take away anything from it. It’s difficult because it requires knowing your audience well. The best way to ensure it though is throughout development keep testing it on different people. I think getting the audience to ask a question upon initial viewing helps, then they are engaged as they are looking for the answer, something I have tried to do with my pieces.

.Research- As someone who took primarily research based topics at A level I thrive in this area to the point of excess. To a point that it may hinder the final outcome such as in a Campaign format. As a campaign relies on a succinct message communicated through each aspect, yet I feel a need to express so much of my research rather then boil it down to the key points that the point of it becomes indiscernible.

.Group work- I find the constant communicating of ideas in group work useful as it ensures that the point of the project is always coming across. Also it allows the most diverse opinions on a subject matter allowing the final outcome to communicate the most understanding of perspectives. The only issue I have had with it is individuals being uncompromising in their artistic vision, and so it does not allow for change and growth.

.Exploring processes- I most effectively do it through research and trying out new mediums and techniques as it lets my hold of the process be less controlling and so allows for natural outcomes that I did not expect. I also like to be informed in the subject matter and so approaching the technique with less knowledge allows for breathing room and for variations to come through the results.

.1-day projects- I do not like doing them with regularity as it requires so much attention with such a short time frame. But I do like them on occasion in order to break up my pattern of thinking, stopping me from going down the same path as I’m faced with constraints.

.2-week projects- I find this to be the most productive time constraint as it allows for me to shift through research, materials, practice, development then final outcome with not enough time to linger on any. If given too much time I will spend it in one area that encroaches on another affecting the time management of the whole project. This will be a challenge heading into the final major project. I think the most effective way to combat this will be to effectively plan out the two weeks at a time- approximately 2 weeks spent on each stage of the process.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

Q. Which projects have you enjoyed? Why?

The ‘Blind Date’ and ‘Typography’ projects are what comes to mind initially as they had very focused areas for research from which you could derive your ideas. This also helped me keep my research concentrated, and this is when it has been the most effective. This has allowed for me to be broader in my development and exploration of materials and techniques as the research was locked down very early on. I have enjoyed the ‘24/7 Book’ project also as I like the unification of print work and 3D work, especially as audience interaction is much more discernible in its very format and so I find easier to cater for.

Q. Which projects have you loathed? Why?

Honestly I found the campaign project incredibly difficult because of the broadness given to the brief. The allowance for many ideas, and extensive research that was integral meant that I spent so much time with the research phase, and as my research directly influenced my ideas, they were not pinned down until fairly late in the project making the whole thing feel uncertain and rushed. I was happy with the idea for my final outcome having spent so much time with it but I do not think I fulfilled it through to its potential.

Q. What project did you learn the most from?

I think Typography because it was an area I had not approached before and it allowed my to try out many printing techniques I had not utilised before. Whereas with other projects due to time constraints or uncertainty with the subject matter I limited myself in some way, playing it safe with how I knew the final piece would turn out.

Q. What do you wish you had done more of?

3D practical work, as I typically do more physical pieces closer to the final outcome I was often rushed when it came to this point limiting how much I did. Moving on to the final major project I need to remember that 3D does not equal finality and that it can be used for development throughout the project as a great visualisation method.

Q. Has your approach to working on a brief changed? How?

Not especially. I think the amount of time I spend with it has changed also how often I consult it has definitely increased. I still structure my approach to a brief the same but I think I associate it less with the research and conceptual phase and now consult it more frequently throughout the project in order to better answer it.

Q. When presented with a brief, how do you get started? Are there other ways to get going?

I find the research phase very interesting and so dive into that immediately after getting a brief, it allows for the most informed broad understanding of the brief and the subject matter it entails, providing me with a solid foundation to build the rest of the project upon. This does define how my project develops though, as I do not start with an artistic technique or medium form which the results inform the idea. I would like to allow more opportunities for that in the future.

Q. What are some of the best ways to develop your initial ideas?

I often find applying materials and artistic methodology to them helps bring them into the real world and inform how practical they are. It helps move them on from the conceptual phase and evaluate whether it would be possible to marry up what I can produce physically to the extent of which my idea goes. From this comes a nice middle ground. Also consulting other people and communicating it to them either vocally or visually helps determine whether the idea can actually be communicated and thus provide the basis for the project.

Q. What are your particular skills? What other skills would by useful to learn?

I am proficient with animation, photography, digital mediums in general. I am good with 2D work but I would like to be better at more advanced 3D work. I struggle with the fine line of planning and letting the art come out of the process with 3D work so hopefully being more informed will help.

Q. How much use do you make of the research you do? Which aspects of your research are most useful?

Research into artists within the subject matter’s field is always useful as you can judge what would work for you based off of their outcomes. Also a good basis of the fundamentals of the subject area are always good. I always do extensive research to the point that some of it is always going to be useless to the final outcome but add to my knowledge in the approach. It is not an effective use of time but I find interest in the details endearing me to the topic.

Q. Do you find contextual research useful? Why? Why not?

Yes, I like being well informed as it enables me to find the nuances of the topic that I can later translate into my piece. However this can make my approach to later development rigid as I do not let the artistic methods breathe as I want to convey information through every aspect.

Q. Which has been your most successful ways of visualising your ideas and developments?

I’d say my ‘Blind Date project communicated these aspects the most clearly through extensive contact sheets, artist research, visualisation and annotations. Then also cut up images playing with the composition, layout and shape. The contact sheets with my annotations were able to provide visuals to all the different paths I went down whether it concerned lighting or composition and then you can see me choose one path over another with justification coming from the artist research and analysis. Also I was very hands on with the development process allowing for mistakes and growth, the mistakes evidenced and documented extensively.

Q. Which parts of your design process would benefit from greater attention?

Development, through documentation of mistakes and more time allowed for 3D. This would enable a greater range of tested outcomes rather then just which one is conceptually better being brought through to fruition.

Q. Who do you go to for feedback during your project? What effect does this have on your work? What direction do you think you might go in?

I question my friends frequently throughout the day on their opinion on the choices between ideas I have for direction. This feedback is assuring and helps me approach different stages with more conviction because I have addressed my doubts and ensured that I am asking those important questions. I utilise group and tutor feedback after the final ideas phase and several outcomes phase. These are heavily influential as the range of perspectives helps gage a target audiences response to the final. It also helps diversify my thoughts as they see strengths and weaknesses where otherwise hadn’t.

Q. What would you like to achieve in the course of your final major project?

I have probably articulated this better at intervals in the previous questions but here we go. I would like to pin down a broad subject area, the strongest thus far is Alzheimer’s, that can be narrowed through a broad range of medium based artistic processes. New ones through which I hopefully learn new skills that I can exploit. I want to produce a 3D project that is more ambitious in scale as it will encourage me to learn more advanced 3d methods.