The Holy Grail (Sort of...)

With less than 2 weeks to go before the final deadline of the year, the class has had a serious feel to it this week. The usual banter had subsided and all faces were fixed at the screens, with the work load slowly reducing, and the the time quickly running out.

Perhaps this is just me, but the room was definitely a lot quieter this week.

This time last week I was nervous about failing my sketchblog assignment, and the amount of work I had still to complete was massive. Today however, I sit here a lot more relaxed about both assignments.

First of all, the thought of failing my sketchbook assignment spurred me on to spend a good few hours looking for images for my sketchbook. I may have only come up with a few, but in this time I found not only individual images, but groups of images that are closely linked with ideas, but to look at them separately are wide apart. These images also included ideas for my portfolio website, which I am hoping to pursue designing and completing once again in the summer.

The main amount of work came from the Fax assignment however. A few days ago I had no finished CD cover, no designed inlay or pages 2/3 of my booklet, I had no CD label created, no preflight checklist written and hadn't even thought about creating my CO-ID (though at least the majority of this was already designed). I decided that this would be the week to get it done, whether it meant crossing the 32 hour study time or not, it was required.

In one week alone I have managed to create the whole of my CD content (including the preflight docs) as well as create my business cards and both letterhead and continuation sheet (though admittedly there is not much difference between them). Not only this but it I personally don't think that the work looks like it has been rushed (it hasn't), in fact I think the complete opposite and think that it is perhaps some of my best work to date. My thoughts go back to the Picture This assignments mini deadlines, and the amount of work we got done in such little time. This was also confirmed with Steve saying on two occasions, 'It doesn't look too bad', a sort of holy grail in Steve comments.

Another comment of sorts, which I am pleased to hear from Steve just a few minutes ago is that if I keep up the work I am doing with my sketchbook assignment that I can actually pass it. This is a much welcomed relief, but is not an excuse to let my workload slip, and I plan to do as much, if not more sketchbook work this week.

I have just a few minor tweaks to make to my CD designs, before I will upload them (along with my CO-ID content) for your viewing pleasure.

Watch this space.

One small step to failure, One giant leap to fix it.

The first week back from the holidays and once again back into the reality of the ever approaching deadline.

Steve wanted to pre-assess sketchbooks this week, and with the knowledge I was already failing my sketchbook assignment, I decided to leave it until almost last to go see him about it. I have actually got more evidence for the assignment than I first thought, and perhaps I'm not failing as badly as I first thought, but the reality is I am failing it at present and I do still have a lot of work to do to fix it.

The main lesson of which I learnt from this is that I must take screenshots to evidence my work. This is a point of which I keep forgetting to do and will need to keep reminding myself of more in the future.

My other main tasks for the week has been mainly trying to come up with ideas for my CD cover artwork. The title of my CD is Hearts of Space and so the obvious heart theme comes into a lot of my ideas. I also took the approach of a sort of plasma electric ball to start with as I thought this reflected the techno/electro music on the CD.

However, I was thwarted when I applied the gamut warning mask to my design as it shaded nearly almost my whole design into grey.

Back to the drawing board.

Another idea I had created was to take a character card from a deck of playing cards (such as the king) and apply my own abstract twist to it. This was once again a play on the hearts theme which I can't seem to get away from.

Firstly I came up with the idea of an astronaut card facing up surrounded by other cards. These was shunned in our feedback groups as the background was too busy. Instead I kept the astronaut idea and changed it around a little. I came up with 3 versions of pretty much the same design of which can be seen below. Any feedback on the designs would be welcomed.





The first images font is not the font I would be using (unless there is massive appraisal of it) it was just to show the image in relation to the text.

Now my CD cover ideas are almost completed, I feel like I can concentrate further on my sketchbook assignment, and try and improve it so that I do not have to retake the whole unit again next year. I think this is one of my biggest fears of the moment and am now regretting my decision to sort of ease off on the sketchbook assignment to concentrate on other projects.

Another large topic which was discussed today was about next years team assignment and the various roles within the groups. Steve said that in most cases the project manager of the group is forced into the role as no one wishes to do it. This was then followed by a brief description of the roles of the PM. As this was been said I looked around the room and saw quite a few faces of worry, obviously hoping that they wouldn't be chosen as project manager.

Personally for me, if I was in a group and was nominated as PM I would agree to doing it. Not because I would be being forced into it, but from my previous course and experiences of team projects on that, I found myself quite enjoying taking on the role of being PM.

That is quite a while away now though, and my immediate plans over the weekend is to bump up my sketchbook work with examples of inspirational art work and idea generating techniques for further designs of CD artwork (as the inside and back of the CD still need to be designed for). I have also found myself behind in my time planning for this week already too, and may put in a few extra hours this week to get further ahead both in the project and to catch up with what I have failed to do so far.

After all, the deadline is slowly approaching all the time.

Travellers Tales

After spending the last 2 weeks away on holiday, the past few days have taken on some serious work.

Although I had planned to do some work over the holidays, I just didn't get the chance to. I managed to do an odd hour here and there but nowhere near as much as I had hoped to. However, the past few days have allowed me to catch up with some of this work, and I pretty much have all my designs done and dusted. I've yet to scan them in so I can't host them onto my blog, but I will ASAP along with my new site structure (as requested by Steve).

With only 3 weeks left until the end of the year, and therefore the end of the assignment, tensions are bound to be running high this week. Where as in previous weeks the atmosphere seems to have being quite relaxed, there is no doubt what every ones minds will be on come Wednesday.

Another bombshell was also dropped this week by Steve, when he announced that he would be pre-assessing sketchbooks. My sketchbook is still lacking (although I do have quite a few images that need printing off and sticking in when we return this week). Although my sketchbook work has improved over the past month or so, the thought is still in my mind of 'is it good enough?'.

Once more, I need to 'step-up' my sketchbook work this week and make sure that I pass the sketchblog assignment. Not only will this include finding more inspirational artwork, it will also include further use of my sketchbook for idea generation (if there is any left to do) and also concentrate once again on commenting others blogs.

This is something that I feel I need to remember at present. That the sketchblog assignment isn't JUST about the sketchbook and the blog is just something we are doing for evaluation purposes, but in fact that the blog is ALSO as much a part of the assignment as the sketchbook, and that by putting all my time and effort into the sketchbook, perhaps over the past few weeks I have let the blog slide a little too.

Finding the right balance is the key.

1.4 - That's Numberwang!

Never before in almost a year of the course have numbers ever being so prominent. Although the learning outcomes have always been majorly important, this week Steve really pushed them home.

The main reason for this is, as has been said in quite a few of my blog entries as of late, the sketchblog assignment is somewhat lacking, and learning outcomes are being 'ignored'. Although I may have disagreed with some of Steve's views (or should that be punishments) this past week regarding the learning outcomes, I have come to realise just how important they really are.

Where as before I used to look at the learning outcomes for the assignments on a weekly basis, I have now started looking at them on a daily basis, and I think it is beginning to help. I am more aware of what I have to do to gain a pass in the assignments, as well as the higher grades, and am already thinking of different ways to evidence this.

Time planning was another point at the forefront of the work this week. Again linked to the learning outcomes, proposed time plans must now be submitted a week ahead, and changes shown in the following weeks finished time plans. This is not anything I am particularly worried about, as I tried to keep on top of my time plans as much as possible throughout the year as it is..

With learning out comes out of the way, it was time to focus on the assignments work. The week started with a session for us to show off our chosen logo designs, and to get mass feedback from both the group and Steve. Although I had a few major mishaps (forgetting my font wouldn't be accessible on the college computers) my 'presentation' went rather well, and I got a lot of useful feedback on my logo, of which I have now chosen a favourite, and now have just a few minor changes to make to it before it is finished.

With this in mind, it was then time for me to crack on with the rest of my work. With my site structure completed, I polished off my screen designs and started work on my website. My reasons for creating the website at this stage was to get the technical side of things out of the way this week. With Easter fast approaching and a holiday looming, accessing a computer (never mind one with Dreamweaver on) could be quite a difficult task. Therefore sketchbook work seemed a much easier option over the Easter break.

I started making my website using CSS, which didn't go too bad, but decided that tables and cells would be a more efficient use of my time at present. Although I have used some CSS for my navigation bar, the majority of my website will be created using tables and cells.

Over Easter, designing the Co-ID is priority number one, as well as trying to collect images/ideas for the CD booklet/label itself so that I can crack on (no Easter egg pun intended) with it as soon as we return back from the Easter break.

To finish off the week, the good news that I have passed both the Builder assignment and Revert To Type assignment was greatly received, and although I was hoping for at least one merit this time, it has not knocked my confidence. It just means I shall have to try harder next time.

Have a good Easter everyone. And for anyone who wants to see my 'Ambient World' website in it's current state, it can be found at: www.craig-allington.co.uk/fax

Too Far Gone?

What a week. Just where to start? I suppose the logical answer would be Wednesday, the start of the new assignment, but it all began much sooner than that.

With a 'week off' from work I decided to use the time to reflect on the year as a whole so far. I came up with many thoughts and feelings that I have associated with the year but will save them for a later blog. The main thought that did occur in my head happened to be on Sunday night when I found my sketch book had fallen out of my bag.

The sketch book.

I picked it up and put it back in my bag not thinking anything of it. But something kept going round and round in my head.

The sketch book.

Just what exactly was nagging me so much that I couldn't just have a relaxing week preparing for the new assignment? It soon dawned on me that the sketch book IS still an ongoing assignment and has been that way for the past 20 odd weeks. Sketchblog.

I am quite proud of my blogging skills, I am sure this is primarily down to my love of writing that I enjoy sitting down on a Thursday afternoon and evaluating the week gone by, and reading others experiences at the same time I feel is a good insight into my place within the group at the current time. My sketchbook on the other hand has being....somewhat neglected.

This is not to say I have thrown it to the side and not used it, no way. Despite my earlier feelings, I have accepted the sketchbook as a valuable piece of equipment that without I don't think I would have managed to get this far on the course. I have just, as was said today despite my obvious attempts to convince myself not, ignored the collection of images for the A1 assignment.

I have collected a few, primarily Muse, a few Banksy, and the odd page from a clothing catalogue, but without reading the assignment sheet, these are all useless. So far I have simply collected half a dozen images I like, explained why, and left it at that. Not only am I a good 14 images short (at least) but also I have not really gone into much detail about the cultural aspects of the images. Why did they choose such and such a colour? Why did they decide to use such and such a font?

It is not simply about liking an image; it is about explaining the reasoning behind the image itself.

With only 7 working weeks left of the course, I find myself asking - "Am I too far gone?" Hopefully the answer will be a no, and I can pull it back on target with the new assignment, but I really need to get my head down and get collecting some images over the next few weeks.

Wednesday was completely different to how I imagined. Marc Bowers came in to talk to us about working at Real Radio, and I was surprised to hear that his work was a lot more similar to The Design Mechanics in the 'Stack em high' or 'In and out' sort of working. I can't say I was overly impressed with how the company worked, though by the sounds of it, it does sound like the company is shifting it's views a lot more in the right direction, starting with expanding the web design studio from a mere 2 people.

Wednesday was also the day we were given the new assignment. With an initial presentation about logo design and corporate identities it was obvious what the assignment was going to be about. But the sheer volume of work we were to be given came as a complete shock to me, and I am sure many others.

Even until this morning, I don't think that the amount of work had hit home, and it was only when Steve showed us some style guides for various companies that I realised just how much had to be done just to pass the assignment.

Saying this, there is now 9 weeks until the deadline hand in date, although 3 of those weeks are holidays. I really need to get my head down over the next few weeks and make a big start on the assignment. I already have nearly 40 logo designs created, and I still have more to do. To top it off choosing the best one will be hard, not because of the sheer volume of designs, but because it will be the way in which people recognise the company, it needs to be right.

For my CD I chose Hearts in Space (or hearts of space, not entirely sure at this moment in time) and already have many ideas of ways to do this. As was discussed in feedback groups, I don't really want to go for the obvious 'some hearts....in space' approach, and would rather make something a little more different (to reflect the music). I thought perhaps of using a deck of cards (the hearts obviously) and using them someway connected with space, but I have yet to decide. And finally, dare I say it? I am 'eagerly' awaiting my CD to listen to so that I can gain further ideas about my CD cover. Though my logo is still my number one task at the moment in time.

Lessons Learnt

This week has been a bit of a disaster week for me. To start the week off, my USB we were given at the start of the year malfunctioned, and therefore I lost all my work, and then on Thursday, after re-doing some of the work, I manged to leave my USB at home. Typical. Despite all this however, I have quite enjoyed myself this week.

As I said in my last blog, I ordered a new book called 'Adobe Photoshop CS2 for Photographers'. I avoided linking to the book at first as I didn't want to advertise a book for people to buy and it turn out to be completely rubbish. However, since receiving the book I have discovered that it is in fact a really good book to use. It is not a tutorial book as such, but more of a reference book that explains how you can do certain tasks within Photoshop if and when you come across them. The book may not be for everyone, as some things in the book may be too simple for the more advanced users of the software, but for anyone who has never used Photoshop, or would like a book to keep at hand in case they get stuck on the assignments then I would definitely recommend it.

Also this week I received my copies of Macromedia (Now Adobe) Studio 8, and Photoshop CS2. These are two software packages that we will be using over the course and thought that having the most up to date applications was probably for the best. I filled in my serial number applications and sent them off so I will hopefully get chance to get used to the new software before we have to use it for assignments.

A large proportion of this week has been spent finding inspirational artwork. All of the artwork that I have found so far is taken from CD covers from my favourite band - Muse. Because the A4 assignment involves discussing vector and bitmap graphics, I decided that it would be best to look into vector and bitmap graphics for my artwork this week. Funnily enough, I found a really good piece of vector art and once again, from Muse.

The image on the right shows the image that I found. It is the DVD cover of one of the bands latest singles called 'Supermassive Black Hole'. As part of my self study for the following week, I am going to try and find out what companies (or company) designs Muse's CD artwork as I would be interested in seeing other pieces of their design work, as apposed to Muse, as it may be a different style but still could be quite interesting and inspirational to me.

If I get time, I may also try and recreate a piece of my inspirational artwork to get me used to the new version of Photoshop and also as a way of getting used to bitmap and vector graphics (whichever piece I choose to recreate).

All in all it has been quite a busy week, we've learnt alot of new things of which I will need to go back over and read my notes again (although for some I have already done this) and just make sure that the information has stuck as it is all things that I am sure we will need for a very long time.

Hopefully by next week I will have my goals, target audience, delivery requirements, and competitive analysis done for the A3 assignemnent, and willl have started (or at least done research into) the compression report for the A4 assignment. I think if I can those things done then I will be on schedule for completing the assignment on time, and will probably start to enjoy the A3 assignment more too, as I can begin to start designing my pages once again. Also hopefully next week will bring better luck with USB's, although I have definately learnt my lesson now about backing up my work.

Week 2 - Assignments 1 and 2

We’re only the second week into the course and already 2 assignments. I'm starting to realise just what the definition of hard work is. The scary thing is it's probably going to get even harder.

The ‘Great Briton’ assignment is actually quite fun, in the fact it’s giving us a chance to research and plan a website based around our ‘Great Briton’. I was a bit sceptical about the idea at first, thinking ‘How am I supposed to design a website, with no images or text, about a ‘Great Briton’?’, but now it’s quite clear.

It’s quite an arty assignment, as apposed to an ICT assignment, which isn’t a bad thing. It’s going to be a good start to get our creative juices flowing before we have to combine them with the ICT part of the course as well.

Photoshop is the only software that we’ll really have to use for the assignment, which is a plus, as I've got quite a lot of experience using it so I'm hoping I can use that to my advantage with the assignment.

The worst thing about the assignment will be learning the new ‘Harvard reference’ system. Gone are the days where a bibliography at the back of the assignment will suffice. Saying that, gone are the days where assignments were spoon fed to you with a ‘check list’ of thing’s you had to do. Yes, there may be ‘check lists’ in the new assignments, but to get them we’ve got to make them ourselves.

The ‘Sketchblog’ assignment sounds relatively easy. Keep a weekly blog, and do work in our sketch book. Right, now if it were only that simple. The blog part of the assignment seems relatively easy, as long as I remember to update this weekly. I'm sure eventually I’ll get into the habit soon enough though. It’s the sketch book part that’s troubling me the most. For a whole year, every thing that goes into my sketch book will be marked. Notes, pictures, sketches, designs, even things I just liked the look of and decided to stick in. I guess again it’s all down to habit, getting into the routine of taking notes, and making my sketch book my first point of call for anything we do. That way I guess I can’t really go wrong.

Only time will tell.

First Deadline: 5 weeks.