Friday, 13 February 2009

100 Evaluation

What practical skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them? 

I have developed new skills in Illustrator and photoshop and even managed to work out how to basically use InDesign.  My time management at the start of this module was very weak, however towards the last week of the module I managed my time a lot better, and even produced more work in 4 days then I had done for the whole project!

What approaches to/methods of problem solving have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?

In this module I came across a lot of problems which I was not able to get myself to overcome until the closing stages of the project.  I had problems with time management and motivation and only got it in the last week.  I came across the obvious problems in my work along the way which resulted in me using different software or media etc. I eventually found design sheets was a very useful technique to write and draw exactly what was happening in your head at a certain time.

What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalize on these?

A strength of mine that I found in the later stages of the project was how I used design sheets to keep a constant evaluation and update on what I was doing.  I also found I was getting ideas down on a page a lot quicker this way rather than using a logbook which I traditionally used to do.  
I found the blogs very useful, I find this is the best way for me to place my research and get feedback from fellow classmates on work I was producing and ideas I had come up with.

What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?

I found with this module motivation and inspiration was a big let down for myself.  I came into it fresh headed with nothing to worry about and became lazy with development and research.  What i found useful was if i was in a lazy mood i would simply put this project away and start on another one which I could be motivated to do.  
I found myself in the last week with not much work to my name (which is not good for a 5 weeks brief) so I got motivated to shift my ass into gear and do it! I changed my subject completely, started with a fresh slate and produced more work in the final 3 days than I had done in the 5 weeks! Time management and general self management is a big let down during this project! I was staying up late doing what I thought to be work, not eating or drinking properly which i feel may have had a big affect on my motivation.  
To address these problems last night i made myself a timetable.  This is includes time at university, time in which i will work, eat, socialize and have 'Marc time' ... but in all seriousness I have already found after a day that I am a lot more motivated from eating and drinking properly and managing myself correctly.  

Identify 5 things that you will do differently next time and what you expect to gain from doing these? 

1. Use design sheets a lot more in my design process. 
2. Document my work as it is produced (mainly through my blog with research) 
3. Time management - stay at university after hours, there are great facilities, i need to use them!
4. Manage my work correctly, categorize it into sections (Cheers Lorenzo) 
5. Self management ... eat and drink properly, stop starving myself and getting thirsty (lacks my motivation) 

Are there anythings we could have done differently that would have benefitted your progress? 

I feel as though I had the rite support behind me, I just chose not to take notice or full use of it which I now regret.  The course team did a fantastic job in all of our critisism and to check that our blogs were up to date etc. Thank you!

No comments: