Module Evaluation

This year had bit of a bumpy start, with all the freedom in the world; it was difficult to really know where I should begin with my briefs. This was tough to balance alongside the dissertation early in the year. However, this improved dramatically once I had handed that in alongside my practical. I felt like I was able to properly focus on my briefs without having to be taken away from them to write my critical writing on top of the workshop briefs too. I felt I was really a lot more productive throughout the entire of the second semester, I don’t know if this was a combination of not longer having to write constantly and as well having a confidence boost from being on placement which really gave me a big motivation to do more because I realised how productive I can be within a week.

I’m really proud of the work I created however, with the extra freedom I was able to explore ideas I wouldn’t have previously had the time for. I’m happy to say I’ve made some of my favourite work in the past three months and I couldn’t be happier with it. 

What this year did allow me to do was to develop skills in particular areas I normally wouldn’t have had the chance in, or had thought to explore. For example, making silicone moulds and bread stamps. I wish I had done things similar to this earlier in the year because I would have liked to expand on this given the chances however I don’t have the time any longer.  The same could be said for briefs that didn’t make it off the cutting room floor, such as the brand guidelines that I wanted to create for both Anona and Slab. However I was never able to fit them in or justify creating them when it would take away time spent elsewhere.

I really left my self down throughout the year by not keeping up on blogging which bit me back, however this didn’t really matter in the end since I was able to focus on my work and leave time for my self at the end to finish everything off to a standard I’m happy with, there could be improvements but I’m more focused on creating work I’m happy with. This is something I defiantly achieved.

Collaborations this year became a much bigger part of my practice, I’ve found the pressure of having to put out work for someone else other than me, really makes me push my self to go the extra mile because I’m not just letting my self down but someone else. The briefs where I’ve worked collaboratively are probably the briefs where I’ve pushed my self the most and I think this shows.

As well, I’ve had a lot of success this year in getting placements at two excellent studios in Leeds: Analogue and Thompson Brand Partners. As well as that, winning and been part of a few live briefs such as having illustration work I’ve created put into a program guide for the Leeds Indie Food Festival.

This year really did make me feel like a real graphic designer, I’m a lot more confident in my work and I want to share it with whoever I can, I’ve produce some of my best work and currently I’m excited to create something for the end of year show.

Brief 1_ Anona Bakery Final Boards

Brief 2_ Final Boards

Brief 3_ Final Boards

Brief 6_ Final Boards

Brief 4_ Final Boards

Brief 5_ Final Boards

Brief 7_ Final Boards

Brief 11_ Final Boards

Brief 10_ Final Boards

10

Brief 8_ Final Boards

Brief 9 _ Boards

Brief 12 _Final boards

Design Publication_Final Boards

Statement of intent

Brief 1 - Anona Evaluation

Evaluation
Brief 1 – Anona Bakery

Create a brand and identity that would clearly show the influences of ancient Rome. Whilst remaining relevant to a contemporary audience. 

Although not necessarily graphic design related, I learned how to bake bread during the course of this brief, which seemed like at first it was going to amount to a lot but in the end it proved completely unsuccessful. To make up for this fact I decided to buy bread from the supermarket when it came to photography. Because of this I put a lot more effort into creating the ‘look’ rather than the actual design of the work. This wasn’t something that was intentionally, it just happened naturally as the brief progressed and I realised something weren’t going to be possible such as this and putting vinyl on the bottles which was going to be thin and creating purple bottle caps (to a high standard) for olive oil which was going to be the correct colour. So to make up for this, I invested in directing the photography to be more of an art direction piece. This wouldn’t have happened however if it wasn’t for the bread and various other things just not working out.

The benefit of this came from problem solving how I was going to resolve the brief, I needed it to look substantial, and I wanted it to be after all the research I had put into it.  So I bought and made props to cover the fact, which led to creating some of the best photographs I’ve taken in the past years are university.

If it doesn’t work, work around it.

Because of this, I’ve developed bit of a curiosity for wanting to pursue some more art direction because I really enjoyed it. It’s not something that really occurred to me before hand but it’s just a happy accident that came out of this brief. I made the most of what I could and it came out better than perhaps if I had just stuck to my original idea.

Brief 7_ Final boards

Brief 12 - Hungry Sandwich Evaluation

Adam Garbutt

Evaluation
Brief 12 – Hungry Sandwich Club: Illustrated Map

Design a illustrated map for the Leeds Indie Food festival’s Dessert trail to be included within the festival’s programme guide.

Due to my recent work published online (Behance) I got quite a bit of attention surrounding my illustration style. Hungry Sandwich club found my work and contacted me to do a piece of work for the upcoming Leeds Indie Food Festival.

This was one of the first times I’d been asked to do a piece of illustrated work, which really made me happy because I’ve been wanting to get back to illustrating for a long time because It’s something I’ve enjoyed the most while on the degree programme.

Been able to work freely and do what I want concerning illustration style was a great liberating feeling, especially because people where going to have to use my map and navigate using it! This was a really quick turn around brief but it has been one of my favourites so far, I think this is how I like to work the best and is only reinforced the more short briefs I do.

Brief 11 - Profile Evaluation

Adam Garbutt

Evaluation
Brief 11 – Profile

A personal endeavor; create a series of cartoon character illustrations.

I was disappointed with the progress I made with this brief, although I didn’t cut it short and not make content, I’ve included it because I did create work. Just not to the extent that I was hoping to. Which was to have a few series characters featured, and due to the set backs of having other briefs and been frustrated because of lack of development.

This will be something I do spend time on outside of university, but not until I find a way to problem solve how to make other characters fit in with the style of the others.