Week 4 – Outcome and Ambition

Lecture Comments & Reflections

How have self initiated projects helped me?

When starting my own freelance business 4 years ago, it basically started from self initiated projects. I would be working on self initiated work while I got the off client job come in. What it did for me is help me develop a way of working and explore what I enjoyed doing and what I didn’t. Not only that it was helping me develop the process I go through when executing a project.

I have a very experimental part of my process which I believe came from working on self initiated projects in the beginning, this helps me explore multiple routes for projects and at times avoid creative block. With less time now in my current set up I don’t have the time to focus on any self projects however when I do I find them motivating, exciting and triggering for new ideas. They tend to focus on areas I want to explore for example music, typography and experimental design.

I don’t think they work for everyone though. You have to be motivated to want to play, explore and produce and outcome. It might happen over a short period of time but some might go on for longer and you keep re visiting.

I would say they’re like my sketchbook. I play, experiment, sketch, think and see what happens. Another important point is that some of your self initiated work might inform client work? They might cross paths? They may even help you connect with people you didn’t think of leading to new ways of working.

It gives a great insight for clients in how you work and the way you are thinking, letting them see how you can apply that to their design challenge.

Design Development (weekly Challenge)

Where am I at… Let’s reflect to where I have go to.

The project has taken quite a few twists and turns but I am really happy about being able to make it this far. The first few weeks were quite intense trying to figure the question out and find an area to focus on but all that has made for a good learning process.

What is the project and what am I currently trying to achieve. The project has the aim to help encourage better recycling at university student halls of residence through an event called ‘The Recycling Games’
The Recycling Games is an on campus interactive event where you go against other teams to create ‘recycling models’ within your chosen recycling sport (cardboard and paper, plastics, cans and tins)

All pieces made will be exhibited via a website where other UK based universities will take place. The event aims to Reuse, Connect and Recycle. All participants will receive recycling tote bags and re usable coffee cups.

Group Crit Feedback (week 4)

Notes on visuals: Colours work, typography and overall visuals are working.

Ingrid suggested making elements on the design move? She made a good point about how the doing of recycling is a movement and how that could be incorporated into the design (maybe a moving video behind or GIF)
Andy suggested maybe a set of icons to go alongside the design to categorise the ‘sports’ like they do at the olympics.

Notes on copy: Heidi really enjoyed the textures and overall feel but she thought the wording wasn’t quite there. A more call to action was needed so the viewer knows what the event is. She suggested removing ‘plastics’ across the posters and having copy like ‘join the games’, ‘be part of the games’, ‘do you part for recycling’ – a more call to action to draw the audience in. This will also help build up a interest around the event. Another suggestion was to tease the event slowly. Andy suggested using just one ‘category’ to promote the event.

Another great point was made by Heidi saying I should actually test the games. Trial out one of the building games and the results can be used within the visual, this would become quite rich and organic content.

My takeaways from the feedback:

Really great feedback which I can implement into my project and think about for the future of the project. I want to get a visual or visuals completed which have updated copy on to reflect that it is an event, I think this will really help bring the idea and vision to life. Another point I want to action is Heidi’s point on trying out the games for myself. I think this will be a great way to produce visuals for the event, the audience being able to see what can be achieved may help draw more people in.

With time not on my side I plan to tackle these above points and reflect on the project as a whole. Being able to see other peoples projects really helped me see how others have tackled it. It’s not always about getting a to a final outcome -something I think I was trying to do, this in turn has made me miss certain elements like the copy.

Next Steps:

Following the crit I wanted to review the project before moving onto week 5. The overall feedback was the visuals and design was really captivating however the wording /copy wasn’t strong enough to draw an audience in.

Following on from this I have worked on the wording slightly to give a sense of invitation and interest.

Wording now including ‘assemble your team, Join the games’ almost teasing what the games is? I think thinking further ahead there could also be supporting copy. (see social media posts below)

Reflection:

What’s working well:

With the updated messaging I feel the invitation to join is much stronger, it also gives a sense of hype to the event?
Tweaking the messaging is also giving more freedom to play?
The application works across multiple touchpoints

What could be improved:

Could the messaging go further? could there be multiple different messages
What if the messages were moving across the designs? To enhance engagement?
What if the background was moving?
Could the ‘The Recycling Games’ type become part of the logo itself?

Reflections of creation of work:

I am excited by the potential of this project – feedback from multiple peers has made me think about the future application of the project
A topic which needs to be addressed further within students (they can pass this knowledge on)
Opportunities to apply nationally is there through partners like Unite Students (this could be an exciting rollout) Maybe even to colleges?

Am I happy with what has been produced?

For me this project has grown naturally and has pushed me in all directions – It’s playful and started to touch on experiential design and getting the public involved. (something i wanted to explore on this course)
Visually I have been able to pursue the analogue and experimentation stage before going digital, which for me is the most exciting part of the design process.
The project has also left open areas of development, places it can grow and be better?