Study task 1 Why am I here - What do I want to learn?

5 reasons why I chose to study on this program.

This program appealed to me in several different ways, having to pick the main 5 reasons won't be too difficult;

1) The course seems so much more intense than any other graphic design degree I have ever looked into, and I know full well these next 3 years are going to be hard work as well as fun (I hope), which I am 100% committed to putting in all of my effort to learn as much about design and the industry as well as learning about myself as a designer as i can.

2) I wanted to embark on this program to become the best possible graphic designer that I can be, I'm looking forward to taking advantage of all the facilities and teaching available on the course. I didn't want to go on a course where you spend most of your time at home twiddling your thumbs, I want to understand what it is to be a designer and want to be put under pressure and put out of my comfort zone. I believe this is the only way to truly prepare yourself for the "real world" of graphic design

3) I am a creative person, I always have been, never been happier than when I'm playing music or creating interesting pieces of art and design, I know I am not perfect at any of these areas but I want to spend my life doing something I enjoy, 

4) To make the most out of my 3 years in university, I liked the idea that this course from the beginning starts preparing you and your portfolio for the graphic design industry, whilst also helping to push you that extra step so you can be better than any other competition.

5) To Generally improve, both as a designer and also to help improve my time management and organisation so no matter what situations i get put in I will always be able to solve the problems that face me and organise my time to make life easier for myself.  

5 things I want to learn during my time on the program.

I want to learn as much as I possibly can while I am on this course but the main areas I want to learn;

 

1)  I am very intrigued to learn about all different types of print and try to understand what print style gives what result.

2) I definitely want to learn how to improve my organisation and time management as i feel this skill would help me in most aspects of my life. I don't want to have to worry or panic about any work so improving my organisation will help me dramatically.

3) My overall knowledge of Adobe creative suite and other design software, I want to be able to have an idea and be able to design it professionally and simply without struggling or having to research techniques.

4) Learn more about the design industry and keep up to date with designers and their work, as well as learning more about the history of graphic design. 

5) I would really like to improve my drawings and illustration skills, i know i would have some ability to do decent illustrations but just need time to work on it until I get my own consistent style.

5 skills I think are my strengths.

This is more difficult and hoping that I will have many more than 5 after these 3 years;

1) I think in some cases I am a good problem solver and ideas man and feel I can put myself in a clients shoes and understand what the want, which I think is a hugely important aspect of being a graphic designer, to totally understand what the client is wanting, which in turn allows you to play around with their ideas and exceed their expectations.

2) I am very self critical ( I wouldn't say a perfectionist) but i know what i do and don't like which allows me to improve on OK ideas and turn them into great ones.

3) I feel I have a good eye for image and layouts, I understand that space is just as important in design as images, I learned this from drumming and music in general, to create the correct "feel" you need to understand that you don't need to fill every gap and a lot of the time space sounds or looks better.

4) Presenting mine or other peoples ideas, I feel this is a skill in it's self to actually be able to stand up and put across or sell my idea, I have experience of speaking and performing in front of large groups of people and even though some people may not see it as a skill I think it is an important skill to have.

5) I try to be unique, I'm not sure if this is seen as a positive strength but i try not to follow trends, I enjoy learning from people but then want to use that information to develop my own personal style, I enjoy to provoke emotion from some one viewing the design and feel my individuality helps this.

5 things I want to improve.

There is a lot more than 5 things I want to improve over my time at LCA;

1) I would like to improve my skills on all software that can be used to design mostly adobe creative suite. with pieces of software like photoshop and illustrator it will just take me a few weeks to remind myself of shortcuts and tools but with other pieces of software I will have to start from scratch but I would love to be able to use them all efficiently as soon as possible.

2) I would like to improve my knowledge of design and designers as well as the graphic design industry, i want to  keep myself up to date with the latest designs and make it an every day habit to check websites and read design magazines.

3) I would like to improve my speed, both coming up with ideas and transforming those ideas into professional finished pieces.

4) My organisation and time keeping ( even though mentioned before) definitely needs improving, but already after these past couple of weeks i feel i am improving on this aspect, but once the course starts picking up pace a little more I will really have to work hard on keeping it all under control.

5) I want to improve and broaden my techniques when it comes to design, maybe improve the way i think when it comes to solving design problems, so i don't just stick with one idea but try a few and give myself a wider option range.

 5 ways I will evaluate my progress.

  

 1) I Think the main way i will evaluate my progress will be constantly reporting research and finished briefs on this blog, so I will always be able to look back on previous briefs and see where I have improved and which points I still need to work on.

2) You can always evaluate your progress by the feedback you get from crits, from both peers and teachers, you can get a good idea of what areas you are doing right and what areas you are doing wrong from this feedback.

3) I can evaluate my progress by how much work I get offered by peers for collaborations.


4) I could create a professional website with my work as well as offer my services to promoters around Leeds for gigs and see if i can get my work out there, this should give a good impression of my progress.


5) Upload work onto design websites and ask for feedback, this way I would be definitely sure I would get very constructive criticism from people who I know would not be bothered about peer feelings.

5 questions I want to find the answers to.

1) How am I going to organise my work load to enable me to confidently create the best work I can?

2) Will I work better individually or as part of a duo or collaboration?

3) Where will I end up? Will I have my own business or work for my dream company or neither? 

4) What area of graphic design will I specialise in?


5) Where will I get placements, during my time of study and how will these benefit me?