Reflection On My Development

The following is a compulsory element of my Reflective Journal and Professional Practice module..

Since arriving in Cardiff for my first day on the BA Graphic Communication course I feel I have come a long way. Fresh faced from three months of traveling around Australia I felt extremely excited about the prospect of embarking on a creative course again. The three months of self dependence and travel had geared me up well for ‘uni life’ and I couldn’t wait to meet my course mates and start ’creating again’. Something I hadn’t done since finishing my foundation course in Plymouth.

I found the early projects fantastic as they introduced me to a subject I really had very little knowledge about beforehand. Previously I knew of the designers Neville Brody and David Carson, but that was the extent of my design knowledge. The introductory typography brief set by Ruth Dineen really helped to clarify what design was. Designing letterforms and learning about the fundamentals of layout, white space and ‘path for the eye’ were essential and eye opening. In hindsight without that first module my work since would certainly have suffered. It is knowledge that has always been called upon since and shall continue to be throughout my professional career I'm certain. During this first project I was told by my tutor Ruth I had a ‘natural flair for design’ This came as a real surprise but acted as huge impetus for me to kick on try to become a good graphic communicator.

Throughout other first year modules which included projects on animation, image making and typography I tried to continue working with the same passion and enthusiasm I had put into the first. I found I was really enjoying the breadth of design and creative freedom provided by the briefs. This was something I was used to from my foundation course and although constraints were tighter and had a need for communication element, I still found them open enough and enjoyable. I was finding the constraints more and more enjoyable throughout the year and I began to feel a real purpose to what I was doing. The first year ended with a nine-week ‘Narrative’ module. I decided to undertake an animation based on the concept of memory but unfortunately my time management was poor and I ended up rushing the outcome. In hindsight I think 9 weeks was too long for a first year module as focus was something that constantly wavered. However on the whole the first year was an extremely positive experience. I had found my path, and my work was only going to improve.

After working in catering all summer the second year couldn’t come fast enough, and relief and excitement were the main emotions on returning to Cardiff in September.
I found projects in the second year more professional in a sense, the Film4 Eight Greats brief and Splotlands web design project opened my eyes to the realities and sometimes banalities of commercial graphic design. Though I did not completely enjoy the restrictions placed by these briefs I knew that the knowledge I was gaining was useful and essential. Having to cost jobs and design for disabilities were things I had never had to consider before and the reality of design as a means to make a living really dawned on me. I had always thought that all that mattered to a designer was creativity but in fact there is a definite and essential business element to design too. Mid way through the year I had a slight dip in enthusiasm helped by the inconvenience of writing CCS essays but then came the ‘Portrait’ project. An open brief that allowed a lot of creative freedom.. I thoroughly enjoyed this project and created a successful animation for my portfolio.

Following this came the Easter holidays. Though this was no ordinary Easter holiday as this time myself and four course mates were heading to Kuala Lumpur for a month to study Graphic Design at the Malaysian institute of Art. An opportunity none of us could pass up.

This experience was beneficial so many ways. But perhaps most importantly it taught me how great curiosity can be greatly rewarded. Simply by having the interest and guts to place yourself in a positive and completely ‘other’ environment for a month is only going to improve you as an individual. Sitting lectures half way round the world, collaborating on design briefs and discussing design with Malaysian students over lunch were really rewarding experiences. Traveling Malaysia in our time away from the MIA Provided us with masses of new experiences and inspiration. The trip has really reiterated to me the importance of travel and that it is something I need to do in my life and career.

On returning to Wales the final project ‘Persuasion’ taught me a lot about the rewards of undertaking socially driven work. And I feel my response reflected the level of knowledge I gained about Homelessness from meetings with the manager of Huggard homeless centre Richard Edwards. A successful piece for my portfolio and a piece, which featured in my end of year show and incredibly won me a bursary placement with Brand Union in London.

After a summer of patchy research for my dissertation and two good work placements which really taught me about the design industry, The first project of the year provided a challenge in that it required us to work in teams of five. But it was a positive one that has taught me a lot about the importance of cooperation and teamwork. Completing a dissertation alongside studio work was occasionally problematic and stressful, though in large part beneficial and enlightening. The briefs following this have rolled by with increasing speed and degree of self-direction. I feel my outcomes have been largely successful, all of which can feature in a fairly high quality portfolio of work. In march I took the opportunity to present at Cardiff's first Pecha Kucha, a presentation of 20 slides with 20 seconds allotted per slide. In this I spoke about my experiences of Malaysia and fortunately it went down well with the audience. It was fantastic to talk alongside some brilliant professionals including the great Michael Johnson from Johnson Banks.

I feel my main strengths in relation to Graphic Communication lie within idea generation, versatility across design disciplines, and presentation skills. Areas I need to improve are still my time management and software knowledge. I feel I also need to address an occasional lack of assertiveness when it comes to decision making, which has sometimes slowed me down. Overall the three years have been hugely positive, They have helped me grow personally and professionally and I shall take much of what I’ve leaned in Cardiff with me throughout the entirety of my professional career.