Workshop - Methodology Workshop

'A system of methods used in a particular area of study or activity' 

In terms of graphic design, methodology refers to design process and the way you solve a problem. It is an overarching process for research.
More targeted approach and efficient research, methodology keeps you concentrated as to why are you asking these questions. 

Methodology is important in developing effective graphic design practise because it adds a lot more value to the work. There is a proper understanding of the job and should be used when needed.
Using methodology makes work future proof, so it will last a long time.

Who you are designing for needs to considered and remembered in order to make it appropriated and wanted. 

My methodology -  

Within in briefs I always struggle to do decent research because I get stuck at the word research. I think I over think the word which makes me get confused and worry about if the research is correct, in depth or has a purpose. Rather than worrying a lot and doing a lot of all kinds of research, I do what looks enough and hope that's alright. This isn't helpful for me as I'm trying to develop my ideas and practise overall. 
    
    I know I have to change that way of thinking in order to do better with briefs and get a better understanding of why I am doing something. Remembering why I'm doing something is actually very helpful and often forget this. I start with an idea and then do some research around that, sometimes it will lead to something else and I probably don't want to move far from my original idea. I need to change this way of work and research, it isn't effective and doesn't produce interesting work.

    Normally I am a visual learner, but this year I've not used maps or spider diagrams to gather possibly ideas. That way of working allows for many different ideas and possibly avenues for research, which I am not taking up. That way of working is a lot more effective, I need to take the time to quickly write down ideas rather than just putting one on my blog and leading with that. 
  
    Overall I think my methodology is lacking completely, I panic about research and pretend to do some, rather than talking to someone about it and trying to work it out. Because of this workshop is has highlighted the problems I face, so definitely want to try and think about this a lot more.


Feedback

You’re still a way off from locating any one style but that’s fine; just keep on experimenting and learning.

I understand this comment a lot when looking through the whole module, I covered a lot of different areas. I know I am most interested in hand rendered typography but for some of the briefs that wasn't appropriate. Hopefully, for the last two hand ins I can be more consistent. 

But you should be mindful that the success of the project at this stage is not always what you submit and how amazing it looks.

This was a good comment to read because I stressed over the way the J20 box looked when finished, a lot of the time the finish of my work does reflect the effort i've put it in, which is so frustrating. However, I realise at this point evaluating and being aware of the problems and successes are as important as how it looks overall. I am not a packaging factory obviously can't produce the same level of professionalism and standard they do.   

Your opinions, reflections and solutions are communicated clearly and effectively through a range of appropriate methods.

I am really glad this has been noticed because I do feel I can evaluate my work well and it helps me along the way. This is especially important for my CoP because I'm not planning on producing a final piece. The project is an series of experiments and I am evaluating my findings and seeing how things go. 

Product, Range and Distribution - Crit

The crit was very helpful to understand what people thought of the idea. The idea was well received however it was suggested to use the contrast of 3rd world and 1st world to demonstrate the difference further.
Although originally, the idea was to be funny and tongue in cheek, the use of 'food porn' imagery didn't communicate the contrast of the quote with the image well enough. 

New Idea 

Use images of 3rd world food in conjunction with the quote on the opposite page. 
This idea works a lot better than using food porn, although now the tone of voice has totally changed, the message is stronger. The message of '1st world people taking things for granted', is even more poignant.

Typically when people think of 3rd world people it will be what they see on TV, with the charity adverts and kids in Africa.

For this to work well and be relevant the concentration will be on Leeds, highlighting the real poverty the city is dealing with and the sort of 3rd world element to a 1st world area. 

TO DO 

Research into Leeds poverty
Find out about food banks in the area
Get in contact with leaders 

Product Range and Distribution - Food Porn Research - WARNING - Amazing looking food on page, may cause hunger

The new trend of 'food porn' has most likely come from the world of Instagram. It began with people taking photos of their meals, which was very popular and all over the web. This new odd way of showing people how good you are at cooking, or buying amazing food is a massive First World thing. Only in the first world could you have whole websites dedicated to over indulgent, amazing looking food. With the research already undertaken, food was the main thing people would complain about, so the book will just be concentrating on food. The dishes should look really good so that in contradict what the quote is saying, as demonstrate the 'first world problem'.


Food Porn Daily

Is a website purely dedicated to amazing looking dishes. They use subtle small sentences to describe the food very provocatively to seduce the reader and want them want the food.
This is a very good technique to make the reader salivate over a picture of food.

This may well be a technique to use for the publication, as well as stupid quotes it could use over the top language to engage the reader and make them want the food in the background.

M&S 

M&S changed the face of food advertising with this sexy advert in 2006. The slow motion shows the richness, colours, and quality of the food as well as making you want to eat it. The voiceover is of course provocative and enchanting, to go with the food. The imagery of these adverts is similar to what will be in the book. High quality, richness - like the first world.

Lurpak

Lurpak also began filming their food in very dramatic, high quality adverts. They use a lot of different interesting camera angles, highlighting each step to the cooking, but purely through filming. It's a really good advert, with the different angles used this has prompted the book to use different techniques to highlight the food.

 

There is a massive online presence for food porn, from twitter to Facebook and Tumblr to reddit. There is a feed for food everywhere. It is definitely a popular thing at the minute and very relatable if the audience is first world people.

Product Range and Distribution - Statement of Intent

Problem to solve - To show the problem of taking things for granted and complaining about something when it isn't a problem. 

Research Undertaken - Taken a questionnaire to understand what a first world audience would think of first world problems. 
Research into where the term came from, where it is now and how its changed. I looked at the threat of communism in the 40's but decided that is too old a subject, people could not relate as well. Real life quotes from people saying stupid things.

Time Scale - Deadline 22nd May, there is 4 weeks left to fully plan the publication, decide on design aspects and get it printed.

Avenue for practical develop - There will be a publication made, condensing all the quotes that have been gathered over the weeks. Using imagery and concentrating on food, with research into food advertisement such as M&S, the book will be tongue in cheek, highlighting the non problems of the first world.

Plan of action - I need to research further into food advertising, although already planning to make this similar to M&S, concentrate on the idea of 'food porn'. Reseaerch into that topic as well, to see if there is another angle to take this. Decide on style and amount of photos, take them, compose the book.

Week 1 - Research into food advertisements
Week 2 - Decide on how many quotes, pages, sizing of book, amount of photos
Week 3 - Take photos, compose into a publication, add type and colour etc
Week 4 - Get it printed 

Study Task 02 - Presenting Research

My chosen subject is First World Problems

The problem can be discussed whether it is a real problem or not. From a first world point of view, a first world problem is just something you say, without thinking normally. From a third world point of view, it may not be understandable, or something very insensitive to say and take things for granted.

First world term came about in the World War 1, it was a general classification of sectors of the world. It was based on political power, the economy of the country and social progression. First world normally refers to Western countries like America and UK, with money and power. 

This brief is a collection of the First world problems that people have said. It is a recording of the stupid things people take for granted and the things they say without realising. The collection will mainly focus on food because that is where I personally have found people to complain and take for granted the most. This will be satirical publication, with food imagery and quotes of stupidity. 

First world problems range from food, to drink to money in peoples pockets. It's a new phrase from the last couple of years, since a lot of first world problems have been put up on the internet. With people tweeting about the lack of asparagus in Waitrose it rose to popularity as a funny thing to read. There has been different twitter feeds created, Facebook pages created and websites. These platforms don't really have a reason, they are there for people to relate to and maybe form an opinion. The publication i'm planning on making is to highlight the stupidity of what people say. I would like people to think, 'god that is a ridiculous thing to say'. 

This topic is from the mouths of first world people, for first world people so the audience will understand what is going on. There isn't much that is needed to know before looking at this topic. 

The publication is an exhibition of good imagery of food, highlighting the new trend of 'food porn' and using quotes of 'first world problems'

Responsive - Module Evaluation

This module has been a really interesting module and probably my favourite so far in the course. It has been a really good experience to work on a lot of live briefs. The competitions are particularly exciting because there is a chance to be involved in the professional world. However, the YCN and D and AD briefs were a bit hit and miss. Starting with J2O was at first exciting and really good fun, but leaving it for so long meant I was really bogged down when getting back into it. I built it up in my head far too much and made the problems I was facing a lot bigger than they were. The reality was that the brief was a bit corporate but it wasn't as restricting as I made myself think. Now looking back five months later, there was a lot more I could of done. I think things like that you only learn during or after the event. Doing briefs for people I know wasn't as hard as I thought. I think this is because I was keen to design for them. I saw that Perfect Poetry needed a new look in order to get more custom; so being asked to do it was good. I am really disappointed that my hand rendered type still isn’t any good or that I’m not fast enough to use on a design. I think with this problem it still takes time and a lot of practise. It would of been a lot better in terms of the design and concept if I was able to create something decent. Since I used a digital font I felt like I was contradicting myself. FEATHR and Secret 7 were fun little briefs that didn't take up too much time. It's really refreshing to work on something a little more light-hearted in-between these bigger briefs. The briefing for FEATHR was really good and encouraging, which made me get an idea quick and work on it solid for a while. I prefer working on things with a strong concept, although these briefs have shown me I still don’t research enough. I still struggle with the idea of research and what good useful research is.  Working with someone on one brief was actually quite good, I think this because me and Katie are similar in work ethic. However, that can be bad because we were very slow to start PANTONE. If we work together again we both have to be very keen to star the work. I think possibly it would better if there were someone else to keep us both on track. Working for client was a new experience because there was always someone to talk back to and talk about your work with. Making sure they are happy is the most important thing.  I think for next time working with clients I would try to be more professional about it so that it felt a lot more real. Overall with this module I have learned to really read the brief and understand what I am supposed to be doing. Working with others, there should be a proper timeline of work and meetings. I should not wait till last minute to start a brief. Although time management was a problem for this module I think a lot of it was because there is so much other work to be doing outside the module. I found it difficult to keep up with doing Responsive briefs, as well as other modules’ work. This is obvious to see in the time I have spent on some of my briefs. Finally to understand what research is and how to do useful research that would inform my designs.

Responsive - Evaluation - J2O

The J2O brief was a lot longer and more difficult then I could ever imagined. The only reason it was so hard is because I left it for so long. Rather than developing and finishing the design when I still caught up in the process. Now I see this brief with some hatred. At the beginning I really enjoyed working with the colour scheme and totally changing what J2O looked like. Although this wasn't really in the brief. I definitely strayed away from the brief because I thought it wasn't that good. The fact you had to keep the logo and that green really annoyed me, I think I let this get to me too much. I should have jut read that, then see what else there was to do. There was still the whole background and colour scheme of that i could work with. Having said that, I think I have given J2O an appropriate redesign, the logo is still obviously J2O, the colour green is still there but just more subtle. I like what I have designed but think I should of thought about it more, such as the audience. The whole point to this brief was to get more 20-30 year olds drinking J2O and I'm not sure the new design answers that. It may encourage more female drinkers because the colours are similar to summer drinks. Doing this brief has taught me to be very careful when reading and choosing a brief. If I had realised how restricted it was I probably wouldn't have chosen it.  I’m also disappointed in the way the box has come out, I wanted to laminate it so that the card wouldn’t fray when being cut, but the laminator wasn’t working. Now there is a lowering the quality of the finish. That normally is the case with my work. Overall with this brief I am glad it is over and I am slightly happy with the outcome.