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Final Reflective Post

Looking back through the process of recording this blog I have found it an extremely effective way to tangibly articulate my thought processes and analyse my progress. Commenting on activities and practices has enabled me to gauge their validity and plan my future approaches more productively. Assessing my strengths and weaknesses as recorded in the blog has successfully led me to be a much more reflective learner. Whilst posting I was acutely aware of the need to go beyond mere description but ask myself questions such as “Why?, Is this successful? and What next?”.

Within the blog I strived to create a balance between documenting academic research and work from leading practitioners at the forefront of my specialism. I was extremely mindful not just to document this but add informed opinion of the work.

The blog has also been a useful way to document resources and organise my research and I have often found myself revisiting it to access sources I have referred to.  

In approaching the blog I was aware that I should only add carefully constructed, relevant posts and favoured quality over quantity. I researched numerous academic blogs and found that many employing the approach to blog much and often were seldom that successful in evidencing their process effectively. In completing two modules simultaneously time management was critical, therefore I had to restrict the time I spent on each activity in order to not only complete all unit work, but to do so at a level I felt was demonstrative that my practice is of Master’s level. I did feel I wanted to devote more time to the blog as I was enjoying the process and the results it was yielding but had to prioritise my time efficiently.

Varying the content of my blog was highly important to me and I posted a mixture of examples of my work and that of others, video content and academic models. I also found documenting my development work a constructive task that aided my development in the Practice 1: Art and Design module.  

One area I struggled to grasp initially was how to make sure this was an academic blog with correct Harvard referencing. Many of my sources were web based and the referencing convention for this was unknown to me. After some careful research I resolved the issue and feel more confident with the structure.

In reflecting further on my methodologies, I have found the use of case studies extremely useful in the Research and Practice module, I was hoping to add further methodologies to this such as surveys but as time was limited I opted to use it to dedicate to the coursework in hand. It is certainly a task to be explored in future modules.

In summary I have found the whole process to be extremely valuable in informing my practice, improving my reflective writing skills and leading me to investigate alternative sources. If I was to redo the activity I would perhaps set myself more rigid time slots to blog in, but feel my approach of creating posts at what I found were relevant junctures to reflect upon an extremely effective approach.

(525 words)

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Research Poster

As the Research and Practice module draws to a close we were asked to complete a poster or spoken presentation to present our research findings so far.

As this is my first attempt at creating an academic poster I was careful to adhere to guidelines suggested in the given materials and research some examples to provide guidance.

Language plays a key role in the poster and carefully identifying your chosen audience should be implemented at an early stage to set the tone and content of the piece.

I divided the poster into three initial clear sections - an introduction, the context and my aims and methodology before presenting the research in the main section with a conclusion below.

Looking back now at what I have produced I can see it is too wordy - I think the text needs cut down by about a third and more visual stimulus added. 

I really struggled with what to visually present and opted to show two of my research sheets. On reflection these would have been better with the annotation text removed as I never meant for this to be read. It took me a long time to get clear in my mind with what the content was and after studying the material presented and finding my own suitable examples to draw inspiration from I believe I have the basis of a good poster. Hopefully the next time I complete a similar task I can balance image and text more effectively.

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Development Pecha Kucha

I recently completed a Pecha Kucha presentation to document my idea generation and creative catalyst brief.

This was my second Pecha Kucha for the course so far and I knew this would be a challenge given the technical difficulties and time it took for my first. During this module I have had to constantly re-evaluate my schedule and assign a time limit for each activity to ensure I can complete all the work to a satisfactory level. I was much more efficient in the organisation of this presentation and the process ran very smoothly.

Presenting my work so far has allowed me to contextualise it effectively and has guided my plan for the development stage.

One activity during the idea generation phase I found extremely worthwhile was creating sketches of possible layouts. In my practice as a designer I often skip this stage in favour of digital development. Taking my time to sketch my ideas was much faster than I thought and certainly faster than creating digital mockups.

“The process of drawing is a powerful tool on many levels. It is an activity of invention, rather than appropriation, and so encourages originality. The gestural quality of sketched concepts, even if destined to become layouts only of type and photographs, imparts a vitality that a designer can look to as a goal to achieve in the final work.” (Samara, 2012, p9).

This quote sums up my feelings of the sketching process perfectly. There is an originality in sketches which can make a designer's work unique and fresh. I will endeavor to try and sketch wherever possible and will do some background reading as to how to improve my skills in this.

Bibliography:

Samara, T, 2012. Drawing for Graphic Design: Understanding Conceptual Principles and Practical Techniques to Create Unique, Effective Design Solutions. 1st ed. New York: Rockport publishers.

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What is my Methodology?

In my practice I have so far adopted a 'practice as research' approach with more of an emphasis on 'practice led' research.  

The research I have carried has very much been an integral part of the design process and by completing the research process it has led to new insights. At the moment I am completing research which will advance my knowledge of practice in order to learn new skills or processes which will contribute to my project. I am still in the early stages of research and it is very possible the nature of my research will change as I progress through the design process and once I feel I have gathered enough research to inform my practice the nature of my research will evolve. 

One area of my work so far which has adopted a practice led approach is that of my initial sketches which are informed by initial research. These sketches are analysed which then leads to further investigation of ideas, this process will continue in a cyclical manner until a suitable result is reached.  

I agree with the notion that artistic research processes are iterative or cyclic. In the design process research begins widely and far reaching from a wide number of sources, this research is recorded and analysed for validity and suitability and the process begins again, narrowing down sources and informing the next stage. Research re-occurs in the cyclical manner all throughout the design process.

http://angusforbes.com/teaching/mat200c/docs/integratingresearch.pdf

The iterative cyclic web model as shown above combines academic research, practice-led research, research-led practice and the stages of the creative process. There are numerous 'web' connections within the model to show that movement between the different stages can occur at any point. Creative research can begin at any stage in the model and clockwise or counter clockwise. Fundamental to the model's purpose is the idea of iteration and that the process can be repeated as a loop, keeping useful and valid research and disregarding the unnecessary. The sub-sections are also iterative and should be repeated as often as needed.

The methodology I have used most frequently in my research are case studies. These provide an excellent platform to organise and analyse research data. As creative research is mostly visual and subjective there is no need to employ the more scientific methods unless the field being researched has links to science, technology or psychology. I aim to also employ survey methodology within my practice and am working on a questionnaire I hope to distribute soon. I am hoping to generate some valid research in relation to human interaction with my project and collate information on the existing knowledge within my specific field.

I believe it is impossible to complete valid and informed research without employing multiple research methodologies. Relying on one method may not result in gaining accurate results and the sources that research is obtained from should be as varied as possible. It is also possible for methodologies to obtain inaccurate or irrelevant results.

Bibliography:

Forbes, A 2012. Integrating Research. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.angusforbes.com/. [Accessed 22 August 2017].

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Project Idea Generation - collage

I decided to move away from digital work to keep my body of idea generation work as varied as possible. Last weekend I went on a study field trip to Dundee to take photos to use in this phase and focused on collating images in the themes of shape, texture and colour.

As I explored the topic of collage I looked to the Constructivist design movement for inspiration and in particular the work of Russian designer Alexander Rodchenko. The bold use of image, shape and colour makes strong political statements and I find the mix of media in his work gives it depth.

http://analogue76.com/blog/entry/the_russian_constructivists

My own work looks at recognisable landmarks from Dundee along with colours taken from the city’s landscape. I wanted to play with scale and angles to help people see the city’s landmarks in a new way.

I used mixed media with patterns, type and textures I also found on my trip to Dundee. I like the energy in this piece and love the way the bold shapes clash and contend with the man made structures depicted. I think the inclusion of both black and white and colour images really works.

I also experimented with negative space, again seeing the landmarks of the city in a new way. I chose two very recognisable landmarks for this - Magdellan Green bandstand and the Law monument which towers over Dundee. I think this technique also has potential and could work interactively in some way.

Bibliography

Analogue76. 2013. The Russian Constructivists. [ONLINE] Available at: http://analogue76.com. [Accessed 21 August 2017].

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Project Idea Generation - double exposure

With the work of Olly Moss in mind I began to research techniques and tutorials to experiment with the double exposure technique. After much experimentation in photoshop I had not only learned some more advanced techniques I went from poor to satisfying results.

My initial two trial results are underwhelming to say the least. I tried 5 tutorials and took bits and pieces from them to manipulate the dual image effect. As each photograph is unique in composition, colour etc. it is impossible to take a formulaic approach to the method.

The first attempt was a lighthouse in Dundee combined with a photo I had taken of the surrounding countryside. All images are my own.

The next image combines the Dundee Science Centre with the same landscape image. I wasn’t pleased with these images - they lack sophistication, contrast and any real impact. Revisiting some research on the subject I found it works for better with portraits so decided to combine a stock image side on portrait with on image I took of the Tay road bridge. Below are 4 steps I took in developing the image. The grain I have added to the image adds texture and depth and the balance of the two images took some time to perfect but has been successful in making the viewer look twice whilst not being overwhelmed by one dominant image.

I’m very pleased with the final image and believe the mix of human and geographical elements create a balance which reproduces what I am trying to achieve in my Dundee corporate identity project. In reflecting on the use of the technique it is perhaps too commonly seen and I am looking to make my work as unique as possible. In experimenting with the process, I found the end result rewarding after such frustration in the initial stages.

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Project Idea Generation - Inspiration

Whilst I complete my initial phase of idea generation for my major study I am trying to be as experimental as possible and explore new techniques inspired by theory and practice at the forefront of graphic design. 

A designer’s work I have admired for a while is Olly Moss. His use of negative space and clever image manipulation techniques are unique and timeless. He is hugely influenced by popular culture with films being the main focus of his work. What I admire most about his work is the simplicity and ability to evoke a sense of narrative with clever use of shape and colour. 

http://ollymoss.com

The ‘double exposure’ effect of placing an image within another is the next experimental technique I will experiment with.

Bibliography:

Moss, O. 2017. Olly Moss. [ONLINE] Available at: http://ollymoss.com. [Accessed 15 August 2017].

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Susan Kare - Pioneer of Computer Icons

In researching varied methodologies, I have been further investigating the feminist perspectives method. This has initially led me to analyse work from some leading female graphic designers. 

I was lucky enough to see some of Susan Kare’s original sketches at an exhibition and have been exploring how her iconic designs have permeated modern culture.

This illustration is an original apple icon for which Kare had the responsibility of developing. During the 1980′s she was creative director for Apple and oversaw the interface and typeface development. She designed the iconic Chicago font which was used by Apple from 1984 - 1997 and created icons such as the lasso, grabber and paint bucket which are still in use today. She also designed the command and the ‘happy mac’ icon that has greeted millions on the startup screen.

http://www.macworld.co.uk/opinion/mac/yosemites-happy-crappy-mac-3531545/

I have always held a keen interest in sign semiology and this will play a part in my major project as I will be designing environmental graphics as part of the project. Reading further about Kare’s research process I found the story of designing the Apple command symbol particularly interesting.

As the command feature is exclusive to Apple a new symbol had to be designed to represent this on the keyboard and in the menu sets. The design had to be unique, simple and able to be reproduced at very small sizes.

At a conference Kare revealed how she had found the symbol in a symbol directory and how it represents a feature of a Swedish campsite. The obscurity of the symbol meant that not many would recognise it.

http://uk.businessinsider.com/how-apple-designed-its-command-key-2015-4?r=US&IR=T

The symbol’s origins are based on the ariel view of Borgholm Castle in Sweden.

http://uk.businessinsider.com/how-apple-designed-its-command-key-2015-4?r=US&IR=T

Susan went on to work at NeXT, Microsoft and IBM and has more recently been converting her work to fine art prints.

When asked to reflect on what inspires her Kare stated:

“I find inspiration from so many visuals in so many places: kites at the beach, neon signs, vintage cars, toys, crafts, and stickers on telephone poles. I studied art history, so often take time to look at fine art”. (Orin, 2014)

Kare’s simple, clean and no-nonsense approach to design inspires me. She was able to design icons which have transcended platforms and technologies and reading further into her techniques and practice methods will certainly inform the development of my major project.

Bibliography:

Jarry, S. 2014. Yosemite’s happy crappy Mac icons. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.macworld.co.uk/opinion/mac/yosemites-happy-crappy-mac-3531545/. [Accessed 10 August 2017].

Carson, B. 2015. The surprising inspiration behind the design of Apple's command key. [ONLINE] Available at: http://uk.businessinsider.com/how-apple-designed-its-command-key-2015-4?r=US&IR=T. [Accessed 10 August 2017].

Jarry, S. 2011. Apple's serial special Ks. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.macworld.co.uk/opinion/apple/simon-jary-apples-serial-special-ks-3486150/. [Accessed 10 August 2017].

Williams. L. 2016. Susan Kare – Pioneer of Computer Icons. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.graphicdesignwomen.com/susan-kare/. [Accessed 10 August 2017].

Orin. A. 2014. Susan Kare – Pioneer of Computer Icons. [ONLINE] Available at: https://lifehacker.com/im-susan-kare-graphic-designer-and-this-is-how-i-work-1646211826. [Accessed 10 August 2017].

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Scholarly Research

As I have spent most of this week researching, reading and analysing scholarly articles it may be a good point to reflect on my findings and processes so far.

I have found I take a large amount of time to read texts and articles and find the references extremely useful in suggesting related articles and supporting material. My main concern at this point is finding enough time to read as extensively as required on my chosen subject of city branding. I will have to continue to reevaluate my time plan accordingly. I have found it useful to print articles and texts off so I can carry them with me and read them over at any point I get a chance - on the bus, over a coffee etc. It’s also a good way to make notes directly in passages which is harder to do when reading online.

I have found a few names have emerged as leaders in theory of city branding and as I feel it is important to evaluate the author’s reliability so investigated them further. Perhaps the author which stands out most is Dr Mihalis Kavaratzis from the University of Leicester who has written prolifically on the subject. In an interview when he was asked what fascinates him about city branding he replied:

“What I find fascinating is the myriads of new understandings of place management and place development that open up when we think of places as brands and place management as an exercise of attempting to influence peoples’ perceptions of places. What place branding helps us with is the appreciation that these perceptions are results of complex processes of interactions between the physical and the mental, between the functional and the emotional, between the real and the imaginary, and between the individual and the collective.” (Place Brand Observer, 2014).

I have read several journals he has written and co-written and find his theories and analysis very enlightening. His city branding model states that image communication takes place through the choice and appropriate treatment of variables as can be seen in the diagram below.

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.455.3119&rep=rep1&type=pdf

I look forward to reading more of his work and integrating it into my research and development. Though his journal I have also investigated professionals who hold opposing views so as to make sure I have a well rounded view of the subject and can make informed decisions of how I apply any theory to my practice.

Bibliography:

Place Brand Observer. 2014. Interview with Mihalis Kavaratzis. [ONLINE] Available at: http://placebrandobserver.com/interview-mihalis-kavaratzis-senior-lecturer-and-adviser-on-place-marketing/. [Accessed 21 July 2017].

Kavaratzis, M, 2017. 58 Place Branding Vol.  1, 1, 58–73 Henry Stewart Publications 1744–070X (2004) From city marketing to city branding: Towards a theoretical framework for developing city brands. Place Branding,  [Online]. 1, 10. Available at: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.455.3119&rep=rep1&type=pdf [Accessed 21 July 2017].

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Ethnographic Research

http://bygone.dundeecity.gov.uk/dundee-areas/downfield

The above image was taken in Dundee city centre in the 1950′s.

Reflecting on my methods of research so far, I recognise the need to integrate the human aspect into my work. I have collated mood boards and generated case studies on existing projects but reading further into academic literature I recognise the need for in-depth ethnographic research before I go any further.

"​Ethnography literally means 'a portrait of a people.' An ethnography is a written description of a particular culture ­ the customs, beliefs, and behavior ­ based on information collected through fieldwork​." ­ (Marvin Harris and Orna Johnson, 2000)

In my case it is about understanding more of the user’s perception of their environment, this would initially target local residents of Dundee.

Thinking about past market research I have executed I will have to be careful not to fall into the trap of treating the city as I would a consumer product. My plan is to formulate questions as a result of further research into place branding literature and find a way to distribute this that will give wide and accurate responses. My initial thoughts are to target various forms of social media (based on the average age of users to generate varied age responses) and possibly some printed questionnaires. These could also be sent to local businesses and organisations to broaden the data.

It may be to fully assess the cultural anthropology of the city’s natives the research should be done in the field and I will consider this but I also have to be aware of time restraints and ascertain whether this is a viable option for me.

Bibliography:

Harris, M, Johnson, O, 2000. Cultural Anthrapology. 5th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Bygone Dundee. 2017. Downfield. [ONLINE] Available at: http://bygone.dundeecity.gov.uk/dundee-areas/downfield. [Accessed 20 July 2017].

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Critical Analysis

As I continue through the current module I am beginning to make clear definitions between critical thinking and critical analysis. 

In critical analysis it is essential to question what you are being told at every stage. Formulating informed arguments with reliable evidence for and against ideas forms the essence of critical analysis. 

Comparing and contrasting several author’s ideas on the same theme is essential and the backgrounds of their arguments must be researched.

I am looking forward to applying this furthered knowledge to my work and using the critical thinking model and techniques learned in the source materials will be an interesting new experience.

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California - Designing Freedom

I have just returned from a trip to London which had the main purpose of visiting some relevant exhibitions to my studies. The first was situated at the Design Museum in Kensington. California - Designing Freedom was a diverse collection of artefacts, print, video and digital work which charts California’s pursuit of freedom since the 1960′s. The exhibition gave a clear picture of how technology from Silicone Valley has shaped communication as we know it today and also showed several aspects of communication design which I found particularly relevant.

I was extremely pleased to see the work of Sister Corita Kent featured, otherwise known as ‘the screen printing nun’. She produced textual collages which draw upon religious texts and pop culture references to raise social and political questions. The seems particularly apt after considering social and ethical contexts for my major study and also the fact I would like to incorporate screen printing into my work.

The poster above was created in 1965 yet looks contemporary and combines the slogan from a petrol advert with a religious sermon to raise questions.

Corita was influenced by pop artists such as Andy Warhol and used the medium to create messages of love, peace and tolerance. Her work was aimed at highlighting concerns about poverty, racism, war and social injustice.

I love the use of colour in these prints and would like to experiment with different inks including fluorescent, metallic and glow in the dark. I also will consider adding a mixed media approach to my prints and giving them a dominant typographic message.

Bibliography:

Corita Kent. 2017. Corita Kent. [ONLINE] Available at: http://corita.org/. [Accessed 18 July 2017].

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Whitney Museum of American Art Branding

Work from a case study I have been compiling researching the dynamic identity system of the Whitney Museum in New York.

I chose this project as it shares a lot of key themes with my Major Project Proposal. I aim to create a dynamic identity that is high interactive and will evolve along with the city.

The open nature of the line used in this identity makes it flexible enough to use in an infinite number of ways. The Dutch design team Experimental Jetset created the system which was then passed to designers to implement.

It has been criticised for it’s apparent simplicity but when you delve deeper into the applications of the design you can appreciate it’s complexities, nuances and highly flexible nature. 

Reading many reviews of the project many critics seems to be angling towards accusing the design agency of using an ‘Emperors New Clothes’ approach and giving countless possible meanings to what could possibly be just a very simple mark. I love how the identity splits opinion but reflecting on it’s use since the first implementation in 2013 you can see it’s success, but then don’t the simpler identity systems avoid possible problems by not daring to be bolder? ​

Bibliography:

Experimental Jetset. 2013. Whitney Graphic Identity. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.experimentaljetset.nl. [Accessed 7 July 2017].

Whitney Museum of American Art. 2017. Whitney Graphic Identity. [ONLINE] Available at: http://whitney.org. [Accessed 7 July 2017].

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What Critical Thinking Means To Me

After initial investigations into the subject I am eagerly anticipating how using critical thinking more proactively in my studies will inform my practice. In order to do this I will have to employ more innovative research practices and techniques and investigate alternative sources.

One way my practice will change significantly is by questioning the validity of what I have learned and forming carefully measured conclusions from my findings through analysis. I aim to push forward my stance in critical debate on contemporary practice and raise my awareness of alternative opinions and remain objective in my evaluations.

Whilst reflecting on my own experience I will aim to rely on reason over emotion and retain an open-minded stance when approaching new research.