Final Evaluation

This project focused around the developmental pros of using process as the basis of a brief. Both the wayfinding and object brief encouraged a vast scale of experimentation, which broadened the scale of research and practicality, which thus supported my design decisions with greater legitimacy. For instance, the tasks set on producing subjective and objective signs gave me a greater understanding of these areas of design, through undergoing various approaches to each, evaluating and finding out for myself what one I enjoy more as a designer. 

Furthermore, despite finding the wayfinding task tricky to understand fully at first, with the help of researching existing systems that vary in approach from more literal and objective, to more ambiguous in nature, I was able to grasp the necessity and variation of wayfinding systems. This allowed me to develop my designs with greater contextual understanding, something that is integral to the success of a design. 

I found printing to be my biggest limitation of the projects, and affordability of this as well. Studio brief 1 was tricky to tackle literally, as sticking the posters or stickers to private property can case issues with locals, and could be considered vandalism. As such, superimposing on Photoshop was a healthy medium that allows a forum for the contextual understanding of the designs, however lacks authenticity and integrity. With Studio brief 2, the final album productions encountered issues with trimmings. I cut the flaps on the wrong side, causing problems with the formation of the enclosed product. Furthermore, I also mis-sized the inside sleeve and having to cut off part of the imagery, affecting the composition. As such, this limited me to only being able to add the gloss to one out of the three covers, hindering the final aesthetic. 

Nonetheless, the overall projects were successful in selecting relevant and good quality sources of research and information. Particularly the wayfinding project merited good primary research which heavily aided the progression of the entire project. Being able to indulge in the exploration of Leeds City was refreshing, and getting out of the studio and seeing designs first hand, provides the most reliable sort of data, and a greater understanding of the sites and routes needed to be addressed in solving design problems. 

Both projects explored pressing and current issues, which is something that motivates me in design. The idea of loss of live music culture, and independent companies as a whole, at the expense of corporate and TNC companies is changing the structure of industry and thus a necessary ethical issue to put light on. Additionally, with the growing concerns over the dismantling and undemocratic nature of modern day politics, focused on subjects like war, racism and segregation, is building barriers internationally and is therefore a viable area to explore within getting a message out through design.