lolamonaghanportfolio

[lolamonaghanportfolio]

Proposal

Across the course, my perception of graphic design has changed multiple times until I decided graphic design is what I want it to be. My graphic design works most successfully when I physically make as soon as possible in a project. This is because I have a tendency to create ideas too grand to fulfil in my mind and am left disappointed when I don’t achieve them, however by making immediately, I physicalise my initial ideas which has helped me in one of my most successful projects for ‘we the planet’. I have also gained new key inspirations; Terry Jones and Zuzanna Licko. Both designers remind me its ok to make mistakes and risk ideas as going against the conventional and outside the comfort zone; as this is where one can produce the best work.

Growing up, Ive always had a severe peanut allergy. It became normalised to me, but the range of other people's depth of understanding can range from knowing some to barely anything about allergies of even how to respond to someone having an allergy attack; despite the fact there are an estimated 2 million food allergy suffers in the UK. In light of this, my project is themed around food allergies, but I will be specifically exploring my own peanut allergy in an attempt to find a visual way for people to see peanuts the way I see them, to educate and give perspective on living with allergies. Despite the serious context of this topic (recognising allergies can be fatal) I want to take on a light hearted tone and explore ways to make the issue fun and therefore to engage with people better. As this project is centred around my life, I will begin my research with primary research; looking at my outlook on having a peanut allergy as my perspective should be the key driver behind the project. Despite knowing a lot about nuts allergies, I will also need to conduct further research into allergies as a whole to help give more depth to the project so it isn't just founded on my experience. An initial key influence is graphic designer Tony Futura, whose work consists of simple but clever visuals which are comical at times, which is what I want to echo in my project. Futura also works a lot with food, but uses it in clever ways to deliver commentary mainly on consumerism and pop culture, which is a method of design that I want to incorporate into my work for this project.

For materials and processes, I want to explore print because I feel I could learn more in that area. I also want to venture into 3D, as I haven't yet within graphics and I think creating something about peanuts without being able to use actual peanuts could be interesting to explore.

I will record and evaluate my project mainly in a sketchbook, but also adding pages from it combined with other research to my workflow in order to be able to add videos and links, making it more accessible. I plan on using feedback from tutors in tutorials and crates with classmates, because I’ve learned my ideas develop best when I am free to bounce them off of others.

[lolamonaghanportfolio]

How have I got here

Feelings about:

Drawing:

Really missed drawing over the initial projects I was doing, but on the campaign project and the book project I incorporated more illustrated elements which made me feel better and more involved in the projects.

Animation:

I only ventured into animation during the 'change it now' project but I really liked it and found the whole process really rewarding from creating the story to the physical set and figure, down to the editing.

Words/Language:

I don't really enjoy working with words in my work, I prefer visuals unless the words are extremely necessary I find them usually not needed.

Group Work:

The first time I did group work was in the 'blind date' project and that was one of my favourite projects. However the second time I did group work was during the 'we the planet' project and I disliked our outcome. This shows me I work better in smaller groups than bigger ones - being in a duo was much better to establish a connection and bounce ideas of off each other.

3D:

Im not that into large scale 3D but I liked making the houses and figures for my animation.

Print:

I have a strong interest in print, I have only really explored using the screen print facilities in Camberwell but I really liked the process of it and the possibilities of it - I feel it really allowed me to experiment because whatever I wanted to try - I could always go back to the print. In my recent campaign project I made a lenticular print for the outcome and that was really interesting too.

Campaigns:

I found the campaign project challenging because I chose a topic that I was really interested in but it was a hard idea to actually get a grips on myself (digital fashion) and therefore thinking of a concept was tough - so in this project I'm going to explore something closer to home.

Exploring processes:

When exploring processes, I tend to gravitate to materials and processes I have used before because I know what works well for me. In the FMP I want to push myself of of this creative comfort zone.

Photography:

I find photography fun in a recreational aspect as I've never focused on it in college apart form the blind date project. Its not one of my strengths but in that project it worked well for me because I added colour and collage on top of the photos to add a little more substance.

Typography:

I love finding typography from other designs or on the street but I'm not that passionate in applying it to my own practice. The typography project was one of the most challenging for me as I felt that I didn't get as much out of the typeface as I could have. so in the FMP I will make sure I research my topic enough that I can create the best responses.

Interaction:

Talking to other people really helps me to grow my ideas - definitely essential to FMP.

1-day projects:

I like one day projects because the time frame means there's no time to procrastinate - as I'm quite bad at time management. One day projects also remove a lot of pressure because of how short they are, and are therefore generally more fun to work on.

Film:

I like film and have only really explored it when creating my animation. I like it but think I prefer the editing side to film than the filming ideas part.

Book/ zines:

One of my favourite things I made in part 1 (diagnostic) was the zine I made. I like the idea of book and zine making and think its much more applicable to this period of time in the FMP to create something visually stunning and complicated - which I quite like.

Research:

I personally always see this as the 'boring part', but I am aware its essential to a successful project, so for the FMP I will try to research in a way that keeps me engaged like watching documentaries or going to exhibitions - because I'm much more of a visual learner.

2 - week projects:

I like 2 week projects because what is daunting to me about the FMP is that such a long time period makes me nervous about what I need to produce, whereas in 2 week projects there isn't as much pressure and I feel I work better when creating something fun and light.

Reflection:

Across my time in graphics, my favourite project was the 'we the planet' project. I liked the whole process of creating my animation; making the set, figures, filming and editing. It was a really rewarding process to see all sections come together in the final film. On the other hand, I didn't enjoy the typography project because its an area I felt disconnected from and couldn't really get into.

I have realised I have a bad approach to briefs as I get hung up on what I want to create so it becomes an unachievable idea to manifest outside of my head. For the FMP I need to get rid of this mindset and just get on with the project and this will allow more time for the initial stages of the project where I test out ideas. Some of the best ways I've developed my initial ideas are by going through and developing a few at first and then developing my favourite one.

I definitely want to go in a direction of exploring something I experience and is personal to me as I feel this will ensure I'm engaged in the project. I also know I want to go in a more fun fun route because that's what I've enjoyed most in previous projects - like during the 'we the planet' project, despite it being a serious brief about climate change I wanted to make it more lighthearted.