EVALUATION

Robyn Russell  OUGD202

BA Graphic Design

Evaluation

TOP 10 FICTIONAL PIRATES. 

I have throughly enjoyed this module. There have been so many things that I have learnt and will be taking with me to future projects, and hopefully beyond. Firstly one of the things that has improved dramatically within this project is my organisation and time management skills. From day one my main aim was to keep on-top of my work and blogging. This is because I knew not only did I have this module but other modules running too. I have learnt that by keeping on top of my blog and keeping it focused meant that I knew what I was doing and where I needed to be going. I am very happy with this because I feel I’ve finally realised how to utalise my blog in the most efficient manner. 

As I began with the research, my main aim with it was to have a broad range of specific research relating to all things pirate, as that was my chosen topic. I wanted to be as informed as I could be. My intention was to get as much done before I started designing so that my ideas and inspiration could just spring broad on from there. This is exactly what I achieved, throughout the project I was able to just dip back into my research wherever needs be and I could find the soloution/inspiration I was looking for. By sorting this out early, meant I had a lot more time to spend on understanding the software I was working in and coming up with design ideas.

I have developed a new range of practical and conceptual skills with this module. Apart from my new found and hugely improved time management and organisation skills, I have also become quite confident in the ways of mastering After Effects. I made sure that I was constantly testing, incorporating and developing my skills in the software, either checking through workshops I had done or pushing the skills I had already picked up. By going through this process of reevaluating what I could do and how I could inform myself more, really helped me become more comfortable and confident working with the software. This module, for me, was all about learning and understanding the fundamentals we had been taught and experimenting with them, to find an appropriate solution. This helped me throughout the project, taking this methodical approach, because when problems did arise within my animations it was a lot easier to go back and fix it because I knew what I had done and I understood how to change it without damaging the rest of my animations. 

This project has also helped me push my hand drawn skills and then combining them with my illustrator skills. I haven’t given myself an opportunity to work like this in previous modules/ briefs and it felt good to be able to go back to basics and create something, by me from scratch. It was very satisfying. Another skills that went alongside this was storyboarding. I enjoyed the process of creating the storyboards for my project, the process made me learn to appreciate planning things out before you go to a computer or start designing. This process really helped prevent prevent problems that could have arisen in the future.

Another aspect that I had to utalise throughout this project was the help that was on hand. From either tutors or students. This, I believe, was an important part of the design process. Without being able to ask for help I really don’t think I would have been able to do what I have achieved. The software was complicated, and I don’t think I could have got as far as I did without someone being able to help me out here and there, along the way. 

One thing I have learnt while working in After Effects, is that you need to be completely versatile and flexible, this is because there are some things at the level I am, you need to realise that there were some things that I wouldn’t be able to do. Due to the time period we had, and the lack of skills we had. This then lead me to work out the next best thing I could do creating the most appropriate solution to the problem. 

There is a very specific design process that I feel I had to stick to, to create my animations. That was truly understanding the concept before animating (storyboarding process), getting to grips with the animated components (creating assets) and then working through the animation in a methodical manor. I know this worked well for me, because not once did I lose or misplace a file. Nor did I become stressed about the animation itself. Again being organised and methodical I think was one of my biggest strengths throughout the whole of this project. There is nothing I left to that last minute. I know that throughout this project I have really put the hours in to keep on top of the work and keep it focused. By taking my time and staying in control, has meant my project has run smoothly. 

I think the only weakness within my project was possibly the professionalism of the videos, but that isn’t from the lack of trying on my behalf. I think this is just sue to the lack of expertise in the software. However, I do intent to use this software again in the future and hopefully that will improve the quality of the videos. I am very happy with my outcomes though because I know I have thrown my best work at them. 

There are a lot of things that I intend to take from this project. Firstly I know I have come out of this module with a new and improved working ethic that fully suits me and I know now benefits my work. Secondly, I intend to work more on planning my projects in the future, so that they are thought out and therefore, just as with this project, I can utalise my time more efficiently. Another aspect of this project I intend to take on in the future is working in after Effects itself. This will not be the last time I use the software, I have seen the capabilities of the software and I intend to use it in future projects for promotion etc. 

If I were to re-do this project, I don’t think there is anything I would change. I believe there are more things I can do in the future, because of improving my skills on a week by week basis. 

I only hope in future projects I can get as much enjoyment and satisfaction out of it, as I have done with the project.