Workshop Challenge Initial thoughts – 31st May 2021
WHO
James Shaw (He/Him) , BA in Graphic Communication, Founder of Volley Design (Freelance design practice) I’m a 28 yr old overspilling with creative ideas. Inspired by the the intrigue and exploration of applying design to various touchpoints (exhibition, music, large scale, public, the unknown)
Motivated also by the creative education sector and the support needed to raise awareness of The Arts, creative practice.
WHAT
I explore and experiment. (free form shape, line, type and image)
Pivotal moment – The founding of my Freelance Business – Volley Design (Huge learning curve in working for myself and how everything runs as a business) I have since become a more confident designer willing to learn and explore beyond my comfort zone.
WHERE
Work from my home office (the lounge we call that) in Trowbridge, Wiltshire (people call it Trowvegas?) A wannabe Frome, Somerset town. Minimal creative output from the town where everyone seems to keep quiet. More inspiration creatively from Bath, Somerset where I try to spend more time.Clients based in Bath, Bristol and further afield (London, Australia)
WHY
The love of working on ideas and communicating these. Whether that’s through brand, images, text, print.
The unknown of a creative journey and it’s potential.
Fuels my creative brain where I can explore with images. I’m not into writing / reading so my output comes from sketching and creating. The beauty of tactile and visual elements. (publications)
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WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY – Response from Tom, My partner
[ James Robert Basil Shaw, 28 year old Graphic designer. Own a freelance design business called Volley Design. Grew upin Hampshire and moved to Bath for University. Now live in Trowbridge – the armpit of Wiltshire… however the south west is beautiful and has lots of inspiration. Like to keep busy and always like a challenge. Never stationary and always moving forward. Like shapes and forms and the way in which they interact with one another. Most of my work is shape based and takes people on the journey from start to finish. Can sometimes lack the confidence in my ability – so feel like a masters may help to explore and show me what I can do.]
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Initial 5 second sketch of ideas for Quadriptych ( Dev Stage 1)
Briefly thinking of simplistic forms which represent who, what, where, why. Thinking of shape and placement. Next steps will be to explore some inspiration, further sketches and start to develop with different mediums (keep to analogue for now) I feel the hands on approach will be more powerful for this
outcome.
Development Stage 2 – Expanding on initial sketches, starting to think how all 4 could potentially link, a common centre pin point became present as I started to develop. I like there abstract nature but need to continue to explore with other mediums. Think about colour, depth, could typography help explain my Quadriptych?
1. Next step is to explore with cutting paper and creating the compositions.
2. Elements could become digital?
Development Stage 1 
Development Stage 2
Development Stage 3 – Starting to develop my ideas into real ‘objects’ Exploring the use of simple shapes, found paper and imagery. Using the simple shapes to depict location, journey, presence and next steps.
Try to avoid using obvious references? I like to work quite abstract and then take things digital. I feel these forms and compositions are starting to come together to tell a story.
Development Stage 4 – Developing in digital. Scanning in my workings on paper and developing them further in Illustrator. I like how both of these (Why & Where) are coming together and showing off my creative side. I think I should look further into what the colours may represent and if further elements are needed on each. Next stage is to work on Who and Why to see how all 4 images work together.
Feedback from Wes, Rosie and Christina – Interesting points made which I am going to take away and experiment with. Agree with Wes that on the ‘WHY’ image it’s too harsh and needs softening up to show less ‘pressure’ on that pivotal point. Make it a celebration and happy point? Softer lines maybe radiating outwards rather than inwards?
Workshop Challenge – 1st June 2021
Development Stage 5 – It’s another sunny day here in Wiltshire… We go again with experimenting with the Quadriptych images. I want to really push myself to be curious and not be afraid to continue exploring, when I think the images could be complete.
10AM – Below is my current draft of my Quadriptych (taking into account peer comments on Where and What) As a collective of images I think they are working well together. Not sure the letters ‘James’ are too much or to literal? Could these be removed or will it be to ‘abstract’
– They show my explorative and creative side.
– Could they work better as a 4? Could something visually/physically connect them all?
Workshop Challenge – Wednesday 2nd June 2021
Today I am going to be exploring further into my Quadriptych and how I can push it further with different elements. The 4 images are quite static at the moment and I wonder if they might work with some movement, for example GIF elements. Is there a disconnect from ‘WHO’ to the rest of the images?
Feedback from friend on initial viewing of WHO, WHAT, WHY :
1: Have lots of threads going on in your head at once shows the creativeness that you have.
2: You like the process of joining different things together (image with all of the different aspects on it) coming up with a solution to the situation.
3: You like a direction and you want a sharp focus on where you want to go`
Further exploration & reflection
From further feedback I have started to play around with more typographic elements. Wes mentioned about trying to incorporate the ‘wires’ of my brain on ‘WHO’ with the letters that read JAMES. Visually works and connects my brain with myself rather than keeping them separate. I kept them apart initially as I am quite a chaotic, always on the go person but I think this at times reflects in how I visually create.
Joseph shared the work of designer Lawrence Weiner which inspired me to look at how I was displaying certain ‘words’ in WHY. Before I had smaller illegible lines of type but have now started to explore larger legible text. It adds real impact and a sense of importance. On the other hand does it become too dominant and take away from the simplicity and delicate shapes? Something to consider going forward.
WHAT 
WHO 
WHY
Working with just lettering to find ways of creating process and journey, inspired by Lawrence Weiner. Really happy with how the second process went in having ‘journey’ come off twice. Can see this being applied to different applications (large format, digital, installation)
Question – Are the words to obvious? Could they be more personal / location inspired?
Thursday 3rd June 2021
Thoughts on Quadriptych now it’s all together – After experimenting with just ‘type’ yesterday I came back to my original drafts. I felt the type on it’s own lacked my personality and creative exploration. It didn’t capture what I wanted to show and who I am.
Posted latest Quadriptych on the ideas wall for feedback.
Feedback from ideas wall:
Research and Inspiration for Workshop challenge:
“Obsessively interested in everything”
Michael Wolff
Initial Research (below) before continuing to explore on this Tuesday morning. Looking at the Russian Born artist Kazimir Malevich. Simplistic forms and angles creating detailed and intriguing compositions. A sense of personal belonging and messaging.
Lawrence Weiner
“Presenting art as language”
Lawrence Weiner
Since discovering Lawrence’s work I feel there is a real connection in the way he works and how I do. The placement of words, iconography and images is almost ‘random’ and sporadic works due to the language used. His work isn’t over the top in the design but can be seen at scale.
I am inspired by his use of analogue materials to get that tactile and emotional feel but also love the contrast of his larger scale installations. I want to take inspiration from his works to see how i can further develop my quadriptych, not being afraid to keep elements simple.
Practitioner Case Studies
Reflections:
– Location can inform the type of clients you work with. The surroundings of your location create intrigue and areas of exploration.
– Not restraining projects from expanding into different applications (exhibition design, digital)
– To continue experimenting and exploring.
– What gets us excited as designers? ( Regular practice thrived off the process of brief – output) Something which I can relate to.
I found the practitioner case studies particularly interesting in reference to difference studios cultures. From Intro Design’s structure of partners working on their own projects to Regular practice taking a more collaborative approach. I take from these studies the diverse range of working ways and creative output there is. Everyone designer has their own way of working however key points always emerge such as collaboration, intrigue into application, exploration and communication.
Sam Winston:
“Know when to ask for help” – For me this has been a learning curve over the past year within my freelance practice. There isn’t the capacity within us to be able to do everything especially as designers. I’m guilty of in the past taking on work which I know I am not ‘committed’ too and can’t complete to the highest standard for the client. I was selfish and didn’t want to collaborate / bring in other creatives to support the project. more recently I have gained confidence in ‘asking for help’ and understanding that it’s ok to. It’s allowed me to complete projects which a richer output.
“Design is asking questions”
Sam Winston
Further Reading:
Resources – 30th May 2021
Reflections:
Perseverance to keep going, Explore new avenues which you might have discarded, Collaborate, Design which has impact and creates a change, Stories which come from projects.
Inspired by Paula Scher and how she takes in the visual language of New York. Sketching and capturing New York from her view. Informs her work, especially The Public Theatre Rebrand. (letterforms showcasing the ‘weights’ of New York)
“The Power of a good Idea”
“Design exists beyond screens”
Paula Scher
Studio Culture – Adrian Shaughnessy & Brook (2009)
Reflections:
As someone who has experienced a negative studio culture in a previous role but also has a few years experience working alone (freelancer) I feel I can see the benefits of both and how different situations and setups work differently for everyone. As quoted “No one-size-fits all template”
However over the past year and half due to the global pandemic I feel there has been a shift from ‘the studio’ in what we might know it as. More practices and individuals are becoming flexible, meaning studios are looking at how they can adapt to working in this new way. In my opinion I think there is space for a new flexible model in how studios work, but also room for more ‘traditional’ working studios. Creatives work in many different ways, in different formats, environments & locations.
“more than seven people and you don’t increase efficiency or effectiveness, you just have more meetings
Erik Spiekermann
Pentagram Studios 
Final Outcome
Week 1 Reflection
“I was able to knock down the wall and let my creative ideas flow”
How it went – Wow week 1 is already over, when has the time gone? It was an anxious and nervous start getting back into education after 6 years however for me it’s been a refresh and re start. I have found it hard getting back into reading and reflecting however towards the end of the week it was flowing a little better. It’s opened up conversations with myself and how determined I am to create a practice which explores different applications. It’s also raised questions on the work I am currently doing and where I am doing it (my location in Wiltshire) is this a chance to create something here which doesn’t exist?
Quadriptych – I have alway’s been an explorative designer but over the past few years my work (freelance) has become less and less ‘creative’ and more commercial. This week allowed me to almost knock down that wall and have freedom to let loose and explore ideas which sprung into my mind. Sketching, cutting, layering, developing from analogue to screen, it’s been allot of fun (something I have missed about graphic design)
Develop into next week: Moving forward into next week I think I need to organise my time better to get a good balance with my client work. Looking more into resources for my own for inspiration & reflection on the week’s task.
Go easy on myself and enjoy the process… let’s go week 2!
James Shaw 