DETAILED DESIGN

A part of design which I don't particularly enjoy is detailed drawings. I have much more fun researching and creating ideas rather than getting down to the nitty-gritty details, but this kind of design is very important in the real world so it is something which I must learn to like. Detailed drawings should clearly define the requirements of your ideas, and are to be used by the people who are making your drawings real, i.e engineers, architects. The drawings often feature geometry, dimensions, tolerances, materials and finishes.

Although I said that I don't enjoy detailed design (the researching of materials, cost, fittings, techniques, etc.), I do like the drawing style as it can look very effective. On the right are my first attempts of detailed drawings, which I did as part of a retail design project at university. The first image shows a cavity wall which was one of the main features of the space I was designing in. My drawing (in scale) shows the heights and widths of the wall, and the positioning of the partitions and shelves which I wanted. The third image shows the fittings which I would like to be used, and also how they work. I used architectural books to help me decide to use these spring wallplugs, as I had never considered this when designing before. The middle image is a drawing indicting how a mirrored cube should be put together. The cubes were another main feature in my design so I thought necessary to have a drawing of them in my project. I had chosen to use angle irons to fix each piece together in this case.

I plan to use detailed drawings as part of all future projects so that I can develop a knowledge of these kind of things. I would like to increase the quality of my drawings so I have looked at the way that different line styles can represent objects. For example:

• visible – continuous lines to depict edges directly visible.
• hidden – short-dashed lines can be used for edges that are not directly visible.
• center – alternately long- and short-dashed lines to represent the axes of circular features.
• cutting plane – thin, medium-dashed lines, or thick alternately long- and double short-dashed that may be used to define sections for section views.
• section –  section lines are commonly referred to as "cross-hatching."
• phantom - alternately long- and double short-dashed thin lines used to represent a feature or component that is not part of the specified part or assembly.

REFLECTION

Looking back over this year I feel that I have developed my skills as a designer. My future dreams and aspirations have changed many times since I began my time at Bishop Burton College, but now I think that I have settled my aims with a retail based design career as it encapsulates two kinds of careers which I am interested in. This realization became apparent when I completed a retail design project on my course.

Next year, I am looking forward to embracing new projects and challenges. I know that the Final Project at the end of the year will be tough, but I am already prepared to put my all into it and ensure that I don't waste the opportunity to shine. Although I am not looking forward to making decisions about my future as I am very unsure of which routes to take in respect to furthering my education or trying to leap straight into a career.

PEOPLE

In my spare time (when I am not at work or working on a college deadline) I like to take on small commissioned art and design projects for my family and friends. In the past this has been things such as painting a large oil canvas to be displayed in someones home, designing retro inspired promotional t-shirts for a Hull DJ and designing a local football kit.

More recently I have been involved in creating some designs for Fitness Academy Hull, who are a newly established health and fitness group currently based in Hedon. I was approached by their manager and asked to come up with some ideas for a new range of clothing for their members. He was very specific with what he wanted; and the images above are my initial designs which I submitted to him... 


I think that these kind of fun little projects are really important to my development as a designer. They keep me busy and creative; they help me to learn to meet deadlines; they give me the opportunity to develop my skills on different areas of design which I wouldn't usually think about. But above all, what I find the most valuable is that these projects give me people skills! They help me to appreciate what it is like to have to deal with a real client, work on a real timescale, and how important it is to maintain a good correspondence between the client and designer throughout the process. I have also had to learn how to 'talk myself up' which I have never been comfortable in doing, but it is a necessary personality requirement in the design field.

MONOCHROME

 

I love monochrome photography. However, my photos are usually taken on my iPhone or digital camera, so I don't have the opportunity to use black-and-white film. So instead I manipulate my colour images using computer software such as Photoshop or Artweaver.


Black-and-white photography is considered more subtle and interpretive, and less realistic than colour photography which is why I like it. Monochrome images are not direct renditions of their subjects, but abstractions from reality, representing colours in shades of grey. In computer terms, this is often called greyscale.


The easiest way to get black and white from colour in Photoshop is;
 "Image > Mode > Grayscale"
This will get rid of all colour.


A better option is "Channel Mixer" which is an image adjustment tool that allows you to mix/blend the colour channel balance of an image. With this tool that we can easily replicate the effect of placing red or yellow filters over the lens. 

There are also various mobile apps which can give your images a monochromatic look with the click of a button. Although most digital cameras now come with a 'Black and White' setting.

On the right are a few examples of some monochromatic photo editing (with the original images on the left). As you can see sometimes this kind of editing can enhance a photo, or make it look worse. These images have been uploaded from my mobile phone so I have used an application called Snapseed to create my black and white/sepia toned images.

PORTFOLIO

As part of my course requirements, I need to create a portfolio. But this is not only important to my coursework, it's also a good idea to have an up-to-date portfolio to hand to show to prospective clients or take to job interviews.

In my portfolio I'd like to put my most recent work, because I feel that this is a better example of my capabilities as I have progressed so much over the years. I will pick the work which I am most proud of, so that I am easily able to talk confidently about my portfolio as I know that it is my best.

I am not sure how I would like to present my portfolio, I would like it to be individual and stand out but also represent me and my style. I understand that a more professional, well set-out collection of my work would look better but I sometimes struggle to achieve a well presented document. So I have thought about other ways in which I could present my portfolio, such as digitally on a memory stick or blog.



This is a real online webpage portfolio, I like the interesting and eye-catching design but also the professional 'Client Area' and 'Contact' tabs are something I should consider.



This page from a student portfolio looks really impressive, I like the way that the layout reads so fluently. There is a brief explanation of what this project was which is helpful in case you are not with the client while they are looking at your work.



I really like this sketchy, creative page. I'm not sure I could get away with being so messy in my portfolio but I think its very eye-catching and intriguing.

I mostly favor the blog idea, as it is very easy to update or alter and can never get 'lost' or dog-eared like a memory stick or paper document can. There is also the opportunity for people to comment on a blog, and that sort of recognition or feedback can help to sell my ideas.

SUSTAINABILITY & ETHICS

What is sustainability?
'Sustainable' and 'Sustainability' describe many different approaches toward improving our way of life such as:

• Attempting to merge ecology and economy.
• Living in harmony with nature.
• Renewing resources faster than they are consumed.
• Living within the resources of the planet without damaging the environment now or in the future.

Sustainability is creating a world where everyone can have fulfilling lives and enjoy a rich level of well-being within the limits of what nature can provide.

An example of one of the beautiful beaches I came across in Lanzarote

Recently I went to Lanzarote, where the island has been declared as a Biosphere Reserve. Thanks to the extensive work of the islanders, Lanzarote has been praised because of it's sustained economic growth, with an obvious protection and conservation of the natural environment, and their continued interest and respect of these elements. They have done this by; improving its aesthetics and economic returns, recovering degraded areas, integrating art into the territory to strengthen its culture, meanwhile generating a successful tourist centre.

Artist Cesar Manrique was the forerunner of the proposal to declare Lanzarote as a Biosphere Reserve. As part of this, some of his artwork has been integrated into the landscape, called 'Symbiosis Art - Nature / Nature - Arts' (as my photo shows, right). This has been taken into account as one of the elements that has sustained the declaration because this is an example of humans living harmoniously in the environment, as well as the high environmental qualities, the presence of sustainable ecosystems and highly protected enclaves.






Lanzarote is an example of a perfect relationship between man and nature, this is undoubtedly the main reason for its international recognition. (And why I love the beautiful island so much).

PAUL SMITH COMPETITION ENTRY

As a group, my course members entered into the Paul Smith Envelope Design competition. The brief of the competition required us to design and create an envelope, there were no other restrictions or guidelines although the best ones would be picked to be displayed in the new Paul Smith shop in London's Soho. We were asked to enclose our addresses in the envelope as the winners would be sent a pair of Paul Smith socks to say thank-you.

Beginning

What I sent

 I didn't spend very much time on my envelope as it was just a bit of fun, I used a biro pen and began a collage of small doodled characters on a plain cream envelope.

The deadline for the competition was the 27th of May, but a few weeks after we had sent off our envelopes...

 

A lovely photograph of Sir Paul Smith with our envelopes in front of him, and my new socks!

DISPLAY

These are some visuals of my display design competition entry. 

 

This competition was submitted by a company called Nimlok, and looks for a winning exhibition stand design which provides an innovative and creative solution whilst understanding perfectly the clients objectives listed in your chosen brief. The competition was only open to students, offering the winner £250 and three months work experience within Nimloks award winning design department.

 

In my designs I tried to focus on how to display the information required. I had chosen a brief where the client was a charity called The Andrew Grene foundation which supports those affected by the Haiti earthquake in 2010. I needed to convey their message in a short amount of time and space. The display was to be used at festivals, so with that in mind I designed a light and airy exhibition area which could attract a large amount of footfall, and cope with adverse weather conditions.

 My design features a TV screen to be used for audio-visual displays, two touch screen computer screens to allow visitors to sign up to volunteering opportunities, and two donation machines where a visitor can deposit a cash or card donation. The two sides provide a canvas to display the charities photographs and data.


The concept for my display was a 'shattered landscape' because of the catastrophic effects of the Haiti earthquake.

Nimlok  are based in Northamptonshire, they design and provide exhibition stands and display solutions for other companies and organizations around the world. Nimlok works to give clients creative, cutting edge exhibition stand designs that meet their marketing objectives. 

Visit the website to see examples of their own work:

www.nimlok.com