Study Task 1: Setting a research question

CoP is a module which helps us develop and understand our practice even more using research and practical work for it.

10 words that relate to my graphic design practice:

1. organised
2. type
3. minimal
4. digital
5. handmade
6. experimental
7. indecisive
8. inconsistent
9. 9
10. 10

I will need to:

Develop a considered research question focusing on a specific Graphic Design discipline.

RESEARCH, UNDERSTAND and APPLY.

Deliverables:

• Blog - reflections, tasks, research, images, evaluations and assessments of work, developments etc.
• 2500 critical essay (500 evaluation- reflecting on the project that we've done) 2000 GOES TO RESEARCH, THEORY ETC.
• 6 Design Boards
• Design Work

DEADLINE : 04/04/2019 by 15:00   

Part 1: Critical Writing (Essay) - Intro (explain subject of study, why it's important)

           Critical Argument - developed through a discussion of triangulated academic sources (HARVARD REFERENCE)

           Case Studies (1-2 contextual examples) might be examples of illustration, objects,                  practitioners. cultural phenomenons that relate to the theme 

*Bibliography - Visit the CoP resources page on Estudio.

*Looking Closer Series 

Part 2: Visual Investigation (Practical)

Synthesis 

20% Research/ Critical Awaareness) 

20% Sythesis - reference between research nad practical work. 

20% Critical Awareness

20% Practical and Professional Skills

Key Transferrable Skills

Write down 10 Design Issues/ Themes You Are Interested in:

1. Culture
2. Pop Culture - celebrities, magazines, pop art
3. Music
4. Artist branding
5. Humour 
6. Puns - parodies, visual puns, linguistic puns
7. Cooking
8. Hobbies e.g. collecting fruit stickers
9. Language 
10. Bilingual - convergence, divergence

HOW?

READ AROUND THE SUBJECT
FIND EXAMPLES - CASE STUDIES
ASK QUESTIONS
PRACTICAL RESEARCH
ASK QUESTIONS
TEST IDEAS
ASK QUESTIONS
GET FEEDBACK
REFLECT 

  10 THINGS YOU READ ABOUT/ RESEARCHED LAST YEAR IN PPP, COP OR STUDIO 

1. Korean Music Industry - how artists/singers/groups are branded and marketed - album covers, music videos, fashion etc.
2. Research on Grids/Layouts - Josef Muller-Brockmann/ Aircher Grid
3. Advertising and Communication
4. How customers are manipulated and urged to buy in to a product
5. How and what words and images are used to creative emotive language to bring in customers.
6. 6
7. 7
8. 8
9. 9
10. 10

Use -> Theories - Theoretical Models/ Concepts

To Understand -> Phenomena - case Studies/ examples

And -> Practice - Practical Direction

1. How are artists branded and marketed towards its target audience?
2. How is humour applied in advertising a product?
3. What are the conventions to create a successful advertising using humour?

Word - choose a word from your list and break it down even more e.g. it's related words, concepts, associations

          - what does it mean? define? synonyms - antonyms 

          - theories? writers, texts

          - behaviours, how it's challenged? phenomena, examples

          - practices, practitioners, processes 

          - communication, aesthetics

Establishing a Research Question: 

1. Focus on specific graphic design discipline
2. The question must be open ended
3. Question must allow for suitable theoretical research as well as visual explorations
4. POSITION YOUR RESEARCH WITHIN CONTEMPORARY GRAPHIC DESIGN practice - 
5. Get preliminary research to gauge how much 

Thoughts& Reflection: 

As I was in the briefing for what Cop is this year, I think it is quite similar to the module from last year however this time around it's more free and open to us and what we like to do and develop more for our individual practices. I really liked this module set out as I feel like I'd be able to do what I want and which area of design I really want to focus on and want to learn more about. However at the same time, it is quite daunting because as of now I feel like I'm still thinking and choosing which area I really would like to do.  Last year, I did advertising and I did quite enjoy it however, I've also thought about Branding at the same time. Maybe I could do something in between? 

In addition, during the session we also did some tasks which helped us think about the kind of areas that we want to explore by generating 10 different words e.g. what we did last year, words that relate to my own design practice and themes and issues that I'm interested in. This helped me quite a lot as it made me think and look back at what I've learnt since last year (though I couldn't fill in all 10 for most of them). As we did this more, we also started to 'mash up' words together to create questions for our brief relating to the design areas and practice that we want to do. Whilst I was writing the questions, I've noticed that I kept making questions relating to advertising and branding which I have been interested in since last year. I'm thinking that maybe I could just develop this further but on another interest that I have.

For now, I'm still trying to decide which aspect and area of graphic design I'm gonna focus, either advertising or branding and the area of interest that I can base it on, e.g. music, culture, language. Right not I'm thinking of doing it on music, because it's something that I'm particularly fond of. However, I've also done it twice in different modules in 1st so  don't know if it's best for me to focus on other areas or continue this interest of mine of design within music.

End of Module Evaluation

Overall, this module was quite strenuous in some parts as it was a very long module only done once a week. I particularly found it difficult to write my essays as I found myself writing paragraphs about essay one in essay two and vice versa so I had to find the right balance and make the right points for each. However, after doing more reading creating some drafts I did manage to write both essays that I think answer the questions for my theme- advertising. In terms of the practical part I made some ideas which were quite far off and didn't really answer the question on the essays but after some re-evalauito and peer critiques through the development of my ideas I created a final outcome which effective reflects the research that I have done. I think next time, I'll need to not out work off as it can lead me to doing work last minute and miss out on refining my ideas and designs.

Study Task 9: Project Statement

During this module, I was able to read and research particular aspects of advertising in relation to graphic design. In particular, I researched about advertising's effect on audiences - in which to how extent can advertisements be persuasive or manipulative of the audience.

Through the research that I've made, it has also helped me with decisions in relation to my practical project. From my research Judith Williamson and Bunting stated how consumers can associate themselves with certain products, essentially also associating how they can be seen through it. In addition, looking at existing advertising such a De Beer's 1948 poster has given me some indication on how I could tackle my practical design. Using information about consumer identity, I have tackled the practical brief by associating my idea and concept towards the client's (IKEA) audience social status/class; identifying their most likely living conditions in relation to their age as well. With the target demographic being relatively young and local concuss as well as somewhat materialistic but thirty and cheap at the same time,  I have chosen a concept in which effectively introduces the products specifications to the audience in a refreshing and innovative way. I have created a design in which as Williamson said, 'sets up connection between certain types of consumers and certain products'. Using the idea of space through showcasing it on blueprints it makes the audience look at it in a bigger picture and possibly envision the product in their own living places' house blueprint, making them successfully relate with the product as well as relate it to their own lives. Furthermore, I have also used digital media as a source of advertising medium for the product. As Hendrick said consumers nowadays are mostly on their phones, therefore it's more effective to advertisement on mobile devices as opposed to traditional media.

On the other hand, I was also aware of the the opposing argument, especially from Gillian Dyer. Dyer mentioned how consumers are 'gullible dupes' and actually have their own opinions and beliefs. Consumers are not as easily persuaded or manipulated as thought. Having this in mind, I tried to create a design which is mainly aimed at a very specific consumer demographic, who possibly have some trust in the company because I thought it would be best to maximise the audiences that who are meant to see it than create a general advertisement in which audiences may not necessarily look or read it as they 'cannot be affected by the media if they do not fulfil or gratify a need'.  

I think overall, the practical project that I have produced successfully reflects the theoretical researches that I have made in relation to the area of design that I explored in much detail. The choices in the designs that I've made has reflected the points that I have made in my theoretical research, therefore answering both the practical brief and the research overall.

Final Outcomes

After thinking of how to develop my designs. I realised that maybe using the actual dimensions of the wardrobe would be appropriate as it's staying true to it's structure, much like how blueprints are meant to be illustrated.

It also illustrate the idea of the design which can appeal to the target consumers in some way. People may find it quite interesting as well as intriguing. I also added some depth to the design y using different lightweights and styles for the lines illustrating part of the design. Not only does it make it look more 3d it can also indicate different parts of the structure that make up the whole design, making it look more understandable visually of what it's suppose to illustrate. I've also added size measurement lines but used phrases instead that describe the product to give more context that just the design; as I do realise that just having the illustration may not be enough to make it interesting to consumers. Because, if consumers don't understand or identify with it, its likely that they won't bother looking at it, therefore failing the whole purpose of the design. I think added the phrases differently helps as well as the slogan, that incorporated the products name to it. Not only it may seem clever it also effectively introduces the product line, informing the consumers of the exact product they can buy, therefore if they are interest they can quickly and easily look for the product themselves. Furthermore, the minimal element I think works really well and also fit IKEA's image of prioritising functionally over being gaudy and kitch. I think, overall the design works very well as could could work well on other mediums like social media adverts as it is interesting enough Social media user may see it as a game and try to figure it out therefor successfully being interactive at the same time. It can also spread to a wider audience range, giving the design more consumer coverage.

Design Developments

From the initial idea that I did, I decided to develop it further by making the lines on the structure more detailed. As I used the PAX wardrobe as the model for this, I figured I'd make it as similar as possible. However, after doing this the design looked too simple and 2 dimensional. I also thought it didn't quite look like the blueprint idea that I had in mind.

Afterwards, I decided to break up the internal lines to give it more of a blueprint feel, though it became a bit more abstract I think it adds to the effect and look of the overall design and can be effective as a contemporary poster design for the company. I'm thinking of keeping it as minimal as this for the final design as I think it would be quite effective and interesting as it can represent the whole idea of compactness and space efficient-ness that the product advertises as well as the need of it's target consumer.

Initial Ideas for Poster

After the critical, I had another think of what else to do, as I thought my previous initial ideas that i wrote on this blog isn't really very useful or appropriate anymore. I thought of making a design based on how IKEA always emphasises the functionality of their products, as well as showing it's specs without asctually writing it down, but rather showing it through pictures.

Therefore, I wanted to show this through, applying the idea of using blueprints to show space in a house in a product. I want to create a minimal but clean illustration of the wradrobe product that I'm planning to advertise. It is also an attempt to divert from IKEA's previous way of advertising, through photographs I thought, drawing an illustration would be a different take on it and give the advert a different feel' making it look contemporary and may even attract attention from general audiences. I've also decided to use IKEA's existing layout and colour scheme as I thought it would only make sense since they re already large corporation that already cemented their public image and design style, therefore it's easier to spot this advertisement as an IKEA advertisement due to the colours, font and layout used.

I think I'll need to add more detail it, giving it a better structure buy maybe actually measuring the lengths of the lines? Maybe it would make it more detailed and give more description on the product visually and make it more under stable for the audience. I did get some peer feedback and I've been suggested to maybe just make the lines bolder and make it more detailed which I'll probably aim to do to develop it.

Crit for Initial Ideas

Today, we had a peer led criteria for our initial idea's for our practical part of the brief. In the critical we were to focus on whether or not we are answering the question that we are doing in accordance to the topic that we are aiming to do (Adverting and Public Awareness) as well as if it answers these following questions:

Is the project brief appropriate to the research?
Does the brief provide enough opportunity to explore the issues of the research question?
Does the work show development?
Does the work show ideation - a number of potential concepts and visual approaches?
Are the uses fi colour, type, images, layout etc. appropriate and effective?p;
What improvement can be made?

From the crit, I got positive feedback from the ideas that I pitched and was told to keep going with it. I was also suggested to incorporate different food or things that are incorporated with millennial or middle-class traits which I can used for my posters. I think from the criteria I will try to develop my posters by trying to incorporate different things which are associated with middle-class social classes in order to clearly state the purpose of the advertisement.