OUGD603 - Module Evaluation

Within this module, my aims were to produce work that encompassed my practice and build a portfolio of work that showed my interests and skills. I also wanted to challenge myself to look at new subjects and challenge myself in ways I have not within previous modules. The briefs I have worked on this year have varied in production, style, and research, with a large focus on music based design. I have been approached with client work on two occasions, whilst also entering live briefs and producing my own research lead briefs. 

The projects I have undertaken have helped my progression and understanding of my own practice as well as improving my knowledge of professional standard design. One of my desires for this year was to work in collaboration with other designers, illustrators, and artists - whilst collaborating in a number of briefs I had attempted 4 collaborative briefs with illustrators and artists from outside the university non came to fruition due to lack of communication and a number of letdowns. Not dwelling on these unsuccessful aspects the collaborative projects I undertook were very positive experiences in which I learned a great deal of insight into the ups and downs of collaborative work. For example within my Project with musician Charlie Gray, I was able to work on the recording of his music video, the photo shoot for his single cover and the design of the cover, getting an experience of how the professional process works. 

Aswell another collaborative music based project was my work with James Green on the band New Luna’s promotion and single cover artwork. Together James and I collaborated on a traditional print and collage based project, this collaboration taught me valuable skills such as communication with the client creates a well balanced and structured project. 

Another learning curve this year was working on a number of cultural sector projects, firstly through designing the new visual branding for this year's Left Bank Opera festival in Leeds, challenging myself to look at new topics and styles of design. Secondly, through undertaking research briefs such as the Olga Rozanova project, this project saw me undertake research into the artist's life, produce work centered around my interests and skills and saw me consult with professional printers to produce High quality work. The latter helped improve my understanding of industry standard print requirements and solutions. 

The projects I undertook were ones in which I felt I could produce the most creative outcome for and where I could apply traditional print and collage to, this is something I have achieved in a number of briefs, whilst also producing work which steps out of my usual comfort zones but as a result has benefitted my practice greatly. There has been many shortfalls through this year due to poor timing and poor collaboration organization, an over ambition to make it work only for an unsuccessful outcome. Poor time management on my part has taught me a great deal, highlighting the importance of time plans and digitally documenting work from notebook written research. 

This module has been the most challenging, insightful and rewarding of the degree, of the briefs I achieved I got a lot from and widely grew my portfolio in both size and variation.

OUGD603 - Artist Statement

This Year I have identified three aspects of my design that make up my skills and practice. Firstly traditional print, methods such as Screen Print and Monoprint are applied in various ways throughout the majority of work not only in this module but in a large number of my previous modules, these methods are a part of my visual identity as a designer. Secondly, Collage, what started as side projects from academic studies has been integrated and applied to professional and conceptual projects across my studies. Thirdly, one of my interests which I have previously applied to briefs is photography, having the belief that by using photographs I have taken in my work I am advancing my independence and uniqueness as a designer, this year I have undertaken briefs which have seen me require photography skills to take professional shots for the use on a single cover, learning professional techniques and advancing my digital photography knowledge. 

The work I produce is varying and visually interesting and encompasses my interests as a designer and as a person, my portfolio includes single/album artwork both professional and conceptual, opera festival branding material, political protest posters and leaflets, Musician promotional materials, publications on subjects such as Avante Garde artist Olga Rozanova to A conceptual Modern day Dada Manifesto. These varying topics showcase my wide and varying practice and personality. 

The style of my work varies from project to project, trying to keep a varied and diverse skill set by undertaking projects that require me to challenge myself. This being said I have realized a developing style within my work which has been heavily influenced by the books I have read alongside my studies, looking at typography through Emil Ruder and Wolfgang Weingart I have seen my experimentation with typography and communication grow. Aswell my research into Music design such as Punk and other related post-modern design like The Face magazine has influenced my passion for collage and photomontage. 

With Traditional print being a large part of my practice, this year I have had to adapt and integrate it into digital design to enhance the images, combining basic traditional print methods such as monoprint with digitally added type to enhance the look of designs, retaining my passion for traditional methods but showing how I can apply these skills to digital methods, showcasing my diverse skill set. 

Through traditional print I have seen myself work with a multitude of coloured paints and stocks this year, moving away from the monochromatic palette I have stuck to in previous modules. This desire to work with colour is apparent in a number of other briefs, for example my business cards for the PPP module this year are printed in a variation of sick different colours and my brief focussed on Olga Rozanova saw me look extensively at a range of colour theories from Avante Garde artists. 

My portfolio is a diverse range of design work which not only highlights my, practice as a designer but also my personal interests. My work is a reflection of the inspirations I take from reading into design and design history, as well as the art, history, music, and photography I regularly engage with. 

OUGD603 - Anniversaries - Evaluation

The aim of the project was to produce indepth research into a subject, produce typography based design outcomes and explore conceptual ideas. As the brief progressed a final aim was desired in that I wanted this to feel like a final project that encapsulates my practice and that has a professional look to it. 

The brief began as a competition brief set by ISTD, after starting it and starting research into different subject matters, I was made aware that I would not beable to submit to the competition as of restrictions in registering for submission. This changed my outlook of the brief, though keeping aspects of the given ISTD brief to keep the project structured, I was also able to extend the time frame which was restricted in the brief. This extra time allowed me too deeper explore the chosen Subject, Olga Rozanova, in better depth, explore a different range of outcomes and produce professional, industry standard work. 

To find the target audience for the project I linked it to the Strelka Institute of Russia, an educational foundation which promotes Russian culture and ideas. This lead the publication to be mainly designed in Russian Cyrillic text, with the artist being from there this choice was informed and well convicted. 

The final products produced for the brief were a publication outlining the art and life of Russian Artist Rozanova, and accompanying promotional posters. The production of both was entrusted with professional printing company Hobs, through using a professional company I was sure of the highest quality of print that if left to me would not be attainable. By using Hobs I was able to get my publication perfectly bound, with a spine, this gave the project the highest degree of professionalism and helped achieve the aim of high quality work to be produced.

The finals were placed in book shops and gallery gift stores to get an idea of how the book would sit in its targetted locations. The outcome was that the publications white cover with bold visuals helps it stand out from the nose of the other books, the design is clear, exciting and enticing. The final publication is also unique and is not like other publications on avant-garde artists, especially those for Olga Rozanoza already in existance. 

The project could have been improved perhaps by the involvement of a fine artist, perhaps adding more mediums and someone who is more better skilled to paint and produce the artistic compositions better than I, that being said I feel the work produced for the project is well informed by research, shows a range of relevant conceptual ideas and a polished high quality finished final in both design and production. 

The project will form the exhibition peice for the final year show.

OUG603- 27 club - Evaluation

The aims from the outset of this brief was to explore different visual responses for different musicians, exploring how genres and time periods have different styles and cultural relevance. Furthermore letting the design choices be influenced by different personal aspects of each musicians life. Finally to push the boundaries of my own practice and understanding of music based design. 

With the brief being a live brief it was an opportunity to produce work which would be measured against the work of my peers. The outcomes would be used in an exhibition so the work had to be worthy of this and it was an opportunity to showcase my skills in front of the professional judges Liv Siddall and Connor Campbell. 

Firstly producing artwork for Grunge artist Mia Zapata. I was able to draw on my personal knowledge of grunge and punk music to understand the visual culture of Mias music. The piece took inspiration from punk styles aswell as details from Zapatas life, forming a scrap book style collage of images which represent different aspects of her work and life. The outcome was not as strong as my other collage work as it felt too informed to be inkeeping with the anarchic collage styles synonymous with Punk music. The piece was selected for submission and recieved positive feedback from peers at the exhibition.

The second piece was a tribute to Reggae musician, Jamaican born Jacob Miller. This peice was an incredibly different peice to the Zapata composition produced. The visuals and content of the artwork are completely research based and every detail is informed by Jacob Millers music and culture. The design choices and colours that make up the artwork are intentionally designed to give the audience the feeling they are looking at a throw back record, an aged peice of design that was from the 1970’s/80’s. This artwork was given more focus because of the enjoyment of the project, Immersing myself in every aspect to produce a bold colourful and aesthitically relevant design. This piece gained success through the brief and placed third out of all the submissions, recieving high praise from judge Liv Siddall.

Measuring the success of this project one only has to look at the success of the Miller artwork which won 3rd place, personally I think the work produced helped me step out of my comfort zone to explore new ideas, mediums and styles. My research informed my design in numerous ways and by undertaking two different artists I got a wide ranging understanding of multiple genres of music and there visual styles. 

OUGD603 - 27 Club Finals and Submissions

Rationale of each piece-

The piece is a collage artwork which each piece refers to the lyrics and style of both Mia Zapata and The Gits. The piece takes inspiration from the Seattle grunge scene in the 1990s, of which Zapata was hugely influential within. The piece is a chaotic explosion of artistic creation celebrating one of the most under rated female leads of modern music.

-Mia Zapata

The focus of this submission is on Reggae artist Jacob ‘Killer’ Miller, one of the most influential reggae artists of the 70’s and moving into the 1980’s. This piece celebrates Millers performance at the One Love Peace Concert in 1978, iconic for its highly politicised nature and the return of Bob Marley to Jamaica, Millers performance was powerful, electric and inspired. The style influence is taken from Reggae and funk album art of the time, creating a throwback piece which represents simply some of ‘Killer’ Millers best live work and arguably most iconic.

-Jacob Miller 

Following the submission it was announced that not only both designs had been chosen but that the Jacob Miller submission had come in third place in the competition. Both designs were featured in the 27 Club exhibition held at the Brunswick exhibition space in Leeds. 

Liv Siddall on why she chose my Jacob Miller peice - “This one I chose because it is clearly well researched - I like how they have said it is a mix between the 70’s and 80’s. It’s well designed, clear and very interesting as I learned something. It looks like something you would dig out of a crate in an old record store.”

This review is just the reaction I aimed for when producing the Jacob Miller piece, it is well researched, bold and bright. Mia was not as succesful with the judges but gained much popularity from visitors to the exhibition and from my social media followers.

OUGD603 - 27 Club Final Designs

Mia Zapata - The build up of images works as a bold visual and invites the audience to have there own ideas on each of the visuals and the collage as a whole. The addition of the artists second name in the top corner was a design choice made through peer feedback of the artwork, this adds more clarity and accompanies the bold visuals subtly and effectively. 

Jacob Miller - The styles used are relevant and reflective of the musicians work and life. The design is heavily influenced by record sleeve design of late 1970’s and 1980’s reggae music. The colours represent Millers culture and religous beliefs. The concert which the cover highlights is a highpoint in Millers career and the focus of the cover. The bold colours have been aged digitally and then aged further following printing to give a retro throwback feel to the design.

OUGD603 - 27 Club - Mia Zapata Collage

The collage elements are inspired by a number of different aspects of Mias life, for example whilst on way to her funeral, her father got lost, but saw many people carrying roses to the church location - these were the admission to her funeral, which saw hundreds show up. The collage also looks at different songs and lyrics Zapata wrote, referencing Cigarettes in her hit song Absynthe. 

Another aspect the collage looks at is the singers strong feminist views and persona, Zapata was highly regarded and those who knew her spoke of her personality, Valerie Agnew from 7 Year Bitch describes Zapata as “Commanding respect and interest immediately”. Following Zapatas death a self defence organisation, called Home Alive was started by other Seatle grunge artists in her own, to help females in safety. 

Another inspiration was the cathartic historic paintings which are on the cover of The Gits First album ‘Frenching The Bully’ using religious/medeval paintings in a new context, these elements of the collage represents her time with the band. 

The collage is finished off with the title ‘Mia’ pasted in the centre, together the build up of images is like a chaotic yet poignant mix of the subjects life, representing the person she was through obscure images that relate to different times and points of her career and life.