Evaluation and Presentation Boards

Evaluation:

Initially, I wanted to spend the module focusing on poster briefs. I enjoyed the first one but I didn't do any more because I wanted my portfolio to show diversity. I think I was successful in applying my work to different contexts and reaching different audiences. However, I am worried that it is too social issue based. I need some more branding work, especially if I am going to send it to advertising agencies. I also set myself the goals of using bright colours and only information essential to concept communication. Using limited colour was an initial limitation to help me apply colour but it ended up being how I liked to work. I also discovered that only using essential information to concept communication doesn't work in every context. Sometimes more information is required to add narrative or mood i.e. in my polar bear series.

My favourite pieces from this module were my animated images because I enjoyed making them the most. I think moving image works so well alongside my simple illustrations because it allows me to add mood just through the way things move and sound. I also like the element of surprise that it brings.

I had a few recurring struggles throughout this module but the biggest one was time management. A big turning point was in a tutorial with Ben in March, when I suddenly realized just how little work I had. I had spent too long prioritizing my t-shirt brand and tweaking images rather than moving on. It was after this point that I got fully engrossed in making images, creating my most successful and refined portfolio pieces. It was a good point to have this reflection because I was able to look back at my portfolio and see what was missing. In this case it was an ability to developed compositions, to work with narrative and to target a specific audience.

Another recurring struggle was that I kept thinking I had run out of ideas while creating series work (ie. fake news series), when I hadn't. I was getting too engrossed in the topics and not reflecting enough. This is also why I struggled with simplifying my ideas and kept finding that people didn't understand them. Discussing my ideas with people who had no knowledge of the topics I was illustrating was my most useful tool for refinement.

I have spent the last month thinking about how I can use illustration to educate young people about fast fashion and encourage them to change their consumer behaviours. I have thought a lot about how best to grab their attention on Instagram with colour/ bold imagery;  how I can draw them in and make it relatable through character and comedy and how I can keep their focus with moving image. But people still aren't listening. We have made every effort to make our t-shirts ethical/ sustainable but people still aren't buying them for this reason. I want to create an illustration that transcends image making and uses a real space to capture people's attention. Through my explorations of the Value Action Gap I’ve found that the only way to get people to act is by giving them a personal incentive. At the moment when people share our brand it feels like they are doing us a favour.  I want people to empower themselves and others through involving them rather than telling them things through image (this is why Extinction Rebellion worked so well). One ridiculous idea that we had was to just roll out a red carpet on Briggate and host a fashions show.

For the final show I would like to present my t-shirts from COP alongside a video of this event (if I've done it before then). I am also going to create two posters:1. will describe the current state of the fast fashion industry (with visual metaphor) and 2. what we are doing about it (like an info-graphic). I think having the two together will help people to understand what we are doing through comparison.

Last year the thought of leaving Uni terrified me but I finally feel ready. I am excited to start applying for jobs and focusing on my brand. I am feeling inspired by our brand launch and all of the amazing artists I've worked with through it. My only concern is that when I am no longer in this hub, my inspiration might fade. I think the key is to not take time off but to put all my energy into my work.