Application and Interactions
My Reflection
This week’s introduction was the beginning of identifying the subject of self-initiated projects. The lecture introduces new design practices with their insight into self-initiated projects that drove their passion for graphic design and helped open up opportunities. Working on a self-initiated project allows designers to express their creativity in their own topic of interest that is not implied to commercial work. Projects need to be carefully planned and best when there is a project manager is involved. This can help keep projects on track for completion and stick to a budget that keeps the project alive.
Vince Frost speaks about his project, ‘Design Your Life’ which he published a book about using design values in himself as a person and how this can be done for others. This project became something a lot bigger than a book and really turned into a brand in which he was able to produce a podcast allowing him to meet new and wonderful people in the industry. This became a bit of a movement in the wellbeing of peers in the industry to openly discuss their lives with issues that were positive and negative impact in their careers. I’ve listened to a few of his podcasts in the past and really enjoy the insight of the people he interviews that are openly discussing their success.
Self-initiated projects can become a topic of interest through engaging in conversation with others that can spark an idea. Sam Bompas from Bompas & Parr explains that the next subject of your new concept can open from a conversation with your friends that allows an opportunity to create something. I do believe consciously when in conversation speaking about a topic you could be passionate about can lead to new ideas. It’s about your action and quick thinking that leads you to start the project in timing with the trend.
All the self-initiated projects need to be treated the same value as commercial work so you can keep to a plan in completing the project. This needs to be considered as an opportunity of investing your time and value for showing a project that you truly believe in. So keep to the initial outline of a brief, consider the budget, timeline, and identify a team that can bring a project alive.
Designers shouldn’t be taxi drivers…
Reading this section in the ‘Creating the perfect design brief on how to manage design for strategic advantage’ by Peter Philips was a great example of my experience as a designer. Designers should be treated more than a service and considered to have more input and allowed ownership into a brief for consultation. Too many times I’ve gone through the fact of something needs to be done this way and this way only without considering other options to a solution. I feel like I’m at a point I want to be more creative and expressive in my outcomes I produce not for my own purpose, but trying and solving the correct solution for the client. This also considers the role of a designer is more appreciative through innovation solutions than rather creating a pretty picture.
Further Research
Creating Self-Initiated Projects by Jessica Walsh
This is such a great article on creating self-initiated as Jessica Walsh explains how creating these side projects is a great exercise towards self-development and producing creative work that’s your own. Jessica explains how this isn’t a profitable project but these can lead to getting more work in the future showing your creative discoveries.
She gives an outline of how to approach your self-initiated project and how to manage it with some useful advice, which is very simple and carefully thought about. I had trouble coming up with ideas at the start of my challenge but referred back to this article, which was of great help. It was her approach in making a ‘shit list’ and actually worked for me and was able to free my thoughts and putting them onto paper. This was fantastic as I came up with a load of shit and even shitter thoughts, but it allows me to freely think of ideas that interest me. What I learned about is using the term ‘Why?’ with thinks that either bothered me or what I agreed with. In doing this I think I’ve realised I moan a lot about many aspects of life, but now I know I’ve got a bundle of ideas to think with. I truly recommend this article and method of thinking of self-initiated projects for future portfolio work.
Workshop Challenge
This week’s workshop challenge is to identify the subject of our four-week self-initiated project. We had to review the subjects, research, and outputs we generated during the Contemporary Practice module and write a short description to outline four potential self-initiated project ideas. Then select one to post an overview of that idea and write a brief for that chosen self-initiated project for the four weeks.
The Shit List
This was my first attempt putting a topic of interest mindmap that interests me and personally was helping me to develop my ideas and focus on what I wanted to explore.
This is where I turned my method to a shit list and clearly, you can see I benefited more from this approach as ideas seemed to flow much better for me to progress.
The final four ideas I felt to progress with, which I had a sense I could have a lot of fun with in the next four weeks of this module.
First initial ideas of self-initiated projects
1 | Panic Buy Toilet Roll
It made me think of the beginning of the pandemic when people started to panic buying essential products such as stockpiling toilet rolls. Science proves there is no reason behind the infection of covid we needed to stockpile toilet roll in our household. So I wondered if I can communicate a message to remind people not to do the same again in a humorous act of kindness.
2 | Intensive Farming
I’ve really opened up a whole can of worms on this one. I find this an interest in how our agriculture is heavily involved using pesticide chemicals to help grow crops and animal welfare to help kill bad bacteria. In reality, it’s having a serious effect on the undergrowth system which is more beneficial to our food. So, does Britain need to be re-wild to sustain agriculture in the food industry? How important are worms to the ecosystem that helps the soil to grow our crops? What about the intensive farming of animal welfare and why don’t we push more on organic produce and meat?
3 | Kitbag for Kids
Child poverty is a very big issue in Britain today as well globally. Britain most of all you wouldn’t think so much. But it’s for real. I was thinking on the lines of reading about school meals that Marcus Rashford from Man Utd helped to voice his opinion and made a significant change but still needs more. So instead of just school meals, I was thinking kids’ wellbeing is just important to what they eat and like the idea of a PE kit bag that is sent to children to help with their wellbeing through exercise. It would be an Idea that is ethical and sustainable at a budget that’s regulated through funding. My first thought is the donation by sports superstars in football, rugby, tennis, athletics, etc. donating reused equipment that’s not needed to give to children.
4 | Spoke On Word
Looking back on my previous module I really enjoyed the project on Week 10: Type and Page and thought can I push this forward with creating a series of contemporary spoke on word artists through typographic visuals. Either this was an exhibition of posters or book design pieces. It’s more about the playfulness of narrative and type in furthering my understanding in spoke on words. This is a great interest of mine in using words and type as I do have dyslexia and find using these elements, I can achieve great things and better understanding.
The Brief
Project Question
Why are people panic buying toilet rolls? What is their reason for their impulsion buying? Why are we following social behavior without considering others?
Aim
I’m looking to produce an outcome that can be considered as a talking point and action to help others realise the rationale of helping the community to consider other’s needs for buying our essentials.
Objective
I’m looking to thoroughly research in the area of social behaviour and how we can prepare for this if the issue occurs again so that it can be solved through communication that has enlightened the community to respect and show empathy for others. Making an impact joyful, but showing a displeased reason to be considerate.
Critical Context
During the pandemic outbreak, a time of uncertainty and people experiencing social isolation. People are motivated to buy things they don’t need that unable to tolerate uncertainty which can trigger this behaviour of panic buying. Some people predict the behaviour of hoarding is an issue that is perceived as the inability to tolerate distress. So, does this make others to follow in pursuit and everybody needs reminding to consider others that are vulnerable to leave enough essential products for people to buy?
Audience
Generally, I’m targeting an audience that can make a contribution to their community in remaining and supporting others in an act of kindness. This would become a discussion of an issue to others to be reminded not too panic if possible and show empathy towards others.
Anticipated Final Outcome
The outcome is the tone of voice that enlightens people in a humorous and joyful way through communication, that people can make their own decision in positive action within their community.
Ideas Wall
Week Reflection
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