The Concept

I wanted something simple for my front cover but something that instantly represented the past year of education. I came up with the idea of vectorising the route I took to college every week. At the start, it was a big commitment which I stuck to, therefore decided to incorporate it onto the biggest part of the publication.

So when I was thinking about how I would design and lay this book out, I wanted to focus on imagery, therefore less text, more photography. I felt this way I could follow what I love to do and create minimalistic designs and concepts.

In terms of aesthetic design, I wanted to combine my interests with the fact that this is my last project. I therefore came up with the idea of 'breaking off and finding new career paths', and a 'chequered flag' style. This design combines the future with my passion of Motorsport. I feel as though this worked well with the minimalistic style and the placement of the image within the little squares breaking off.

I didn't want to just carry that style all the way through the book and as I carried the colour palette from my Unit 11 Freelance work, I decided to bring in the lines which were included on my stationary. I think including features from my strongest project reinforces the fact that I think Unit 11 was my strongest project.

Publication photographs

Project Evaluation

Even though I lost work close to the deadline, I think the project went ok. The layout I chose was consistent in terms of the typeface positioning, colour, size and style although the design itself did change. I know the whole idea of the book was to show off things that I have done over the last year and I tried to show that off within my design (Read concept above), but I like consistency throughout a publication. 

I think if the audience read this blog and understood the 'journey & finishing' concept behind it, it would make more sense.

In terms of my initial plans of focusing on imagery was a success. My tutor gave me a question to ask myself, how do I want people to read and see my work? I answered this question, focus on the work I have produced.

My peers have gone with a more informative approach to their books while I have focused more on the imagery and visual side of things and think the combination of a slightly small typeface size and smart positioning worked well with the large, overlapping imagery.

I personally think that the photographs I took of my designs were good and really aided in the design of the publication. I have learnt from this that good photography in design is key to make the design stand out. 

Looking back at my first couple of pages where I incorporated the lines from Unit 11, I realise now that there is a thin line between simple, clean, minimalistic design and boring. I think what would've been good to do with these pages is put imagery where the lines crossed and made a shape. This would've taken design from another Unit and developed that even more. This method may have been good to carry on throughout the book, making the shape bigger for he project pages?

Taking one final look at the publication I can see a lot of things that I've missed out such as grids, brands, business plans & research and even though I have explained and displayed these in other projects, it would've been good to include these in one final 'summary' of the college qualification.

Now the project is finished I will continue develop, like all of the my units, to improve and create a solid design to show future employers and friends.

I think I will develop this book in four ways, continue to develop the book how it is, with the same design but including more of the things that I studies at college, keeping the same design styles, with further development going in to create 3 more publications focusing primarily on a publication for 1 of the 3 styles within the publication.

Qualification Evaluation

As I have been saying in all of my project evaluations, this qualification has given me a lot more confidence in terms of design and as a person. I have met some great young designers who I'm sure I will keep in touch with and work on projects further down the line.

I have gained more motivation to get up in the morning and focus on work aswell as being able to commit myself to things more.

The main things I will take away from this, apart from the qualification will be the work I have produced. I think all of my work is a great thing to show future employers and explain and show the progress I have made in myself across a short period of time. 

Another great thing I have for future employers is my work, electronically, I have blogs containing research, business plans, developed work. I believe not only having online portfolios of my work but will be more efficient for employers during interview processes etc.

I have made a promise to myself I will continue to develop my projects, taking them and adapting them in different ways. I'm proud of some of the work I've done and the ones that I'm not I will make myself proud.

This qualification, coinciding with my work placement, has been vital to my career, something I didn't know or have when I was at School and previous Colleges. I have narrowed down the career paths I want to take in the future. Due to my technology and design led mind, I believe going down the route of web/app design will be a brilliant choice for me. Over the last year I have designed Websites, Dashboards and apps for my self, college and work and have enjoyed every second of it. My knowledge and experience with the Adobe Creative Suite has improved through the last year and have the confidence to take my knowledge into a full time work placement in the areas I enjoy.

I feel as though a Junior position would be my first step in my career, while gaining experience and confidence to gain promotion or hunt for a more senior role later in my career. In terms of the type of roles in a job, I think a job as a Junior in-house designer would fit me well, as I could focus on the same styles and adapting the style to suit different media. I think following brand guidelines would be not only easier but more suited to me.