Evaluation of module

What practical skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?

A main practical skill I learnt this module is how to use more of a logical and effective way of researching my work. I reached methods that I enjoyed and this definitely worked to my benefit. Although Photoshop and the In Design have helped me develop my skills, I feel this module, these workshops have been the only aspect of learning that have given me genuine input into how to create professional work. Although I had learnt from book binding and the research workshops, the computer workshops helped me develop skills that at this point, are a lot more visible and easier to use in other aspects of the course.
Although I regret not managing enough time for the final product in this module, I do however feel my time management has improved as I am working constantly throughout and uploading work on the blogger as I go along which makes it easier.

What approaches to/methods of problem solving have you developed and how have they informed your design development process?

This module has helped me to see how to find and create research using much more interesting and in a scene random forms and styles of communication too.

3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?

My work is definitely full of more ideas this module and I have tried developing these with trial and error exercises which I have mainly photographically documented.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully?

Through this module my weakness has defiantly lied with all my final outcomes. I felt with every project this module that I didn’t have a good looking final outcome that I could be proud of. They all consisted of a lot of ideas backed up by research which although the module was about, I still feel a better outcome would have been more appropriate. The research in this module may have also needed to be more statistical as I have research and information but not compared any of them and put them into graphs and databases etc.

5. Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
1. Plan time more effectively, especially with a 5 week project
2. When being given small one week projects, try and think about it more in the big picture, as part of the final outcome, and not as a side project. Focus on the theme.
3. Identify purpose and content at an earlier stage
4. Find new ways of researching.
5.Document work as I go along more. Use blogger to its full advantage. `

I would grade myself in the following areas as:

attendance . 5
punctuality. 5
Motivation. 4
Commitment. 2
Quantity of work produced. 5
Quality of work produced. 1
Contribution to the group. 5

Book project evaluation

My problem was directed specifically at students and recycling. The fact that not many students in fact recycle or even have the facilities I found quite alarming. I tried to use many ways of investigating my research. Some were simply surveys to my target audience via face book, some were video documentation and some were photographs I had posed which included information i had got from my original research. It was all sufficient in the end because I used the format that I originally had investigated with and then through other means of research I had used this same format, with all the other information in the final piece. Saying this I didn't include typography which i did briefly look at. The other books as well, were all pretty bold in what statement and how they were going to compromise the audience and the content, but i found in the end to make it more simple and try not to complicate my decisions. I think there is an appropriate amount of work. I made a decision that because this module was mainly based on research, trial and investigation, that I should go with the flow in a scene and not keep my eyes fixed on the final goal. The research was the main focus and I wanted to find new and more engaging ways for me to do this in the future, which looking back, i feel i have definitely found. My bad decision in this module, without a doubt lied in the fact that I made all my decisions for the final design too late. Although I wanted to keep it simple and not worry about the final piece too much, I felt with even a little more consideration into the final quality and layout of the book, I could have made it a lot more effective and neat. To evaluate my own process I was using a trial and error method. I wanted to find out specifically what points of my book were strong and what weren't and how visually interesting they became.
The gutter idea may be a idea to generally have developed further on this project but because I had only recently began using an working with InDesign and Illustrator, i was completly reluctant and terrified of trying to create effective writing through the middle fold. Thats why eventually took a step back, kept all my information normally laid out of the page and used literal rubbish and plastic bags in the gutter.
My direct audience was students in Leeds although some of the information i had originally looked at and compared my work to was from Family homes back in Pinner were I live and from students in other cities. A big problem of mine in this project was the actual binding. I found it didn't matter how many attempts I tried, I never seemed to get it right. i had never need to craft something before and been given an intense introduction into how to make and create it so I think through this year i may try continuing my attempts of being successful in this. First hand research into leeds and the council may have been more vital. Although I had tried to contact the council in order to receive information, their response was too delayed for me to make use of it and interpret it more in my work.

I think my work has definitely moved on from the first ideas and concept but also keeping the theme of in the gutter. I had used, developed, and re used research that eventually went into the final format or content for the book. The final piece used skills I had gained format he bookbinding work shop although If able to create the piece again, I would use different methods of binding for a more scrap book like quality. I brought 100 things into my book in as a mixture of the images and quotes given, and the names and data of each individual. If I did this process again I would keep all the facts or the objects given as one item. I also divided my book up into how GREEN the student was so I literally categorized in colors which had the most environmentally friendly being green. This categorizing was based on the statements and the three categories were all effectively the colors of recycling bins.

The gutter Idea that finally went in the "gutter"

A few weeks ago we were given the 7 day brief to create a simple version of the book we were intending to create, and we were given specific guidelines. although we were given these boundaries, I was still confident in creating this "into the gutter" approach which I later, after many trial and error testing, found was a difficult concept for someone who wasn't particularly confident on illustrator. Here are some of the images from the book in which was the information I collected from the christmas holiday, literally written in the gutter of the book. As the date of the hand in of the book drew closer i began to think how relevant this idea was actually was compared to all my research. Although it was a sensible option, it didn't really liek the gutter idea with students not recycling.














From this I had a quick look at similar graphic designers who use their work along the centre fold of the work. This image is from the 1000 type treatments.

ALL my attempts of book making

So through the last few weeks I have made many attempts of book making and book binding. The first of these was the book binding session we did a couple of weeks after we got the project given to us.










Although I did play full attention in the work shop and tried this new type of crafting, It can safely be said that this did not turn out how I wanted and we very unsuccessful. The most obvious and critical error I made was that the books edges were completely visible and to be honest it just looked a bit shoddy.

So I decided to do something about the fact that this clearly wasn't me fort-ay, and gave it an other go one miserable Saturday night:




















I would be the first in saying this was possibly a lot more horrific than the first attempt. The sizing was all wrong for the outside and uneven. The glue was used a little too much and may be a main factor to why it went all wrong. Although I was obviously hopeless in this area, I didn't let it dishearten me. I carried on with my research and contents of the book and decided that I would just have to cross the bookmaking bridge when I came to it.

Heres one of the first books I made, when we were put in a group and asked to develop a book over that day with other people. WE used a combination of our research and attempted the folding from an a3 sheet to get this small book.







Similar to that I used the paper from a recycling and environmental magazine to create a book.... just seeing how effective the paper would be.




I wanted to have a quick look in how I could potentially create a book that was a little different but still on the same line. My thought process then went on from book making to book making inside other books. I began to strip the centre section out of this environmental book to look at an ironic perspective in that it would literally look like a student had cut up or "ruined"the environment, which more ironically, I had.......



Heres some of the other books i had bought... but before I begane cutting them all out, I changed my mind. He He.




An other of my ideas was to litrally create and make my own gutter, so me being me, went to buy a huge brown silinder tube and then reolised that as origional this idea would be, there was literally no way I would be able to bind the thing!

Final research to book of 100

So with only a few days left I wanted to create a strong set of images like I had done over the christmas holidays, In that I documented peoples rubbish just simply using post-et notes. I then decided to take all the research I had got written on the face book wall when I asked a bunch of students to make tell me their excuses into why they don't recycle. I wanted the images to be mainly ironic.. So give an exuce for not recycling, and then have something contridicting in the background, that would be typical of a student.






I then found a relevant book one of my flat mates had called I lick my cheese, which was effectively witty and blunt notes people had given each other. Some of my favorites were "I pay the rent, what do you do?" and Ehatever you do NEVER let the bailiffs in". Just being written on scraps of paper, they all looked genuine and effective.... In a scence i wanted to steal some of these original straight thinking quotes.

video resurch- why do u recycle?

So after doing my face book questionnaire I found that students in general aren't only lazy at recycling, but in fact they are still lazy enough to not even fill in a simple one question survey on one of the biggest public networking site. The survey was literally called "help Im an art student...... one question thats all", So I thought my apparently lazy friends would help me a bit more. 86 members joined the group and I got 52 answers on the wall. So effectively I did get quite a bit result, but still it had more potential. So I then began to think of other effective ways of getting some sort of answer out of my colleges and friends, then I came up with the video documentation. The video was quite effective and being there I was able to yell at people if they gave me a un helpful answer without explaining themselves.... .SCORE! ...... new effective way of documenting and researching.

By the way... everyone check out jonny's well explained answer around the middle of the clip!

Development of Rubbish

So after recognising that I needed to choose a more appropriate and understandable project theme which would be realatable to the format of my book. Although I new it would be tricky, I still was very keen to include the Rubbish in the gutter theme, as it was origional and lets face it, quite whitty for me!

I then began to re think how I would go about the book in terms of being direct with the intended audience and still appropriate to the brief. 

Although we were realistacly meant to do all our reaserch for this project in the christmas holidays, I still wanted to improve it and also make it more specific, so In doing so I began to identify rubbish issues in leeds specificly.

Heres a little from leeds city council:

Our aim is to collect as much recyclable waste as possible. The materials collected from the green recycling bins are passed onto a contractor. The contractor separates all the materials using mechanical and manual sorting. The materials can then be sold on to be used to make new products. Here is a virtual tour of the materials recycling facility (MRF). The council has implemented various schemes to help reduce and reuse your waste.
We collect any excess recyclable waste at the same time as your green wheeled bin as long as it is loose in transparent bags. Please make sure any excess recyclable waste is placed in a plastic bag, do not use a black bag because this will not be collected.
All drinks cans, plastic bottles and food cans must be washed out before placing in green bins/bags to avoid contamination. Squashing them will give you additional space in your bin.


I also then created a way of finding out and collection information from my target audience of the book which was students in the area. In specifying this I thought it would be wise to create a facebook group in which I could potensially get a collection of answers. The outcome was actualy quite helpful, and most were quite humerous. Heres a few answers:



- seems pretty insignificant compared to other problems we should be thinking about, so i just dont bother. ANDY JONES

- I do put them in the right coloured bins! Just that sometime we get them muddled up when taking them down and forget which ones were in which bins! TIM WAN

- main reason being the recycling bins given especially in certain areas are not collected on a regular basis or sometimes not at all. other than that we don't have enough information on where and how to recycle. MARTYN WOOLLEY

- I'm lazy :) CHARLOTTE MINDEL

I then began to just do a little resurch into the general bid to improve the environment. The news was obviously an important one:

After a crit where I decided to reconcider the idea of helping students to almost have a handbook to litter correctly, I began looking at other age groups I could aim at. Children became my first option as they are easily influenced and persuadable. A lot of imagery came off the internet into getting the idea into a childs head about recycling. But do I want to really go down this route? Why not tackle students?

So I began to scan the net for a more appropriate age group.

Influence from youtube

After a lot of thinking and brief explosion of ideas of what to create for my final book for this project, I then decided it was time to take a step back.....

Although I liked a lot of the ideas I had such as making the small books inside an already made big hardback book, it was just not practical to what I effectively wanted to achieve. So I took a step back..... again...... the stress of having to have a final thought to the project and create a mock up was getting to me a bit and I decided to begin searching for effective book making skills that would interest me instead.

I then came across this you tube oragami technique that looked fun and a little more me. It helped me to strat thinking outside the box once again......

Rubbish in the gutter of just rubbish idea??

After a good think when getting the brief of 100 and our new task to develop a book, I began to think harder how I could approche it in also being creative.



On these lines I began testing ideas using the theme of creating an actual rubbish bin out of books and still combining this thought with my origional imagery of "rubbish in the gutter". Heres some of the results....

Book of 100... statement of intent

My title will be called ....... "Rubbish in the gutter"


It came from the work I was investigating about peoples rubbish and my own responce of how people generally find it easier to recycal when you are organised and effitiant . In that sence I began to think of the concept of throughing rubbish away and not caring about where it was going. Leaving rubbish in places where they arent supposed to be was my later train of thought..........

During our Monday lecture about the anatomy of a book, I picked up on the section of the book called the GUTTER. Still playing compelete attension to the talk, I then had a train of thought about what I could do with a gutter concept... In terms of leaving the rubbish out on the streets in the gutter....

Over the next few days i will start playing around with the way a book can be made and develop work which shows my origional 100 pictures coming out the centre fold. I will follow the book style we developed on Monday in Which I will make on a1 paper and then fold up into the 16 leaves and 32 pages that we are asked to in the brief.

I have my book making workshop on friday so I can try to experiment as much as I can then and work out how my book can be binded and properly and appropriately made and developed.

100 things

Given the project of 100 things......... and what came to the top of my thought pile... Rubbish................. LITERALLY
So many things to choose from and i pick the smellyest most mundane topic I could....

Well I got over the stupid decision I made and actually started to do something about it..... I wanted to document something oppose to take pictures of 100 bins....

I then had the idea of slightly splitting my resurch up into using maybe 10 people or places and 10 bins around that persons enviroment... I used postet notes to write and document some points about that persons rubbish. More than anything I actually used it to help me to remember what It looks like so I then could begin to try catogoriseing certain things.

To create the desired effect I had to go around in the holidays to many of my friends houses to document back home in London. The thing that I learnt was that people, especially familys that for example may be fairly conserned about where my project was actually going, were a little questionable to what my intensions were. From more than two houses I had very awkward conversations with adults that live in the house whilst sitting next to their bins with a camera and pen. I shall not be returning back to London for a while!

Heres some of the glamerous resalts:









This one above was definetly the funnyest and most orgional of the 100 pictures. It was defiently a pickal to take as not to be rude, but bloody stunk..........

The work ended up forfilling my wish to document what I wanted but I found one of the main downfalls and problems that surrounded all the photography was that although I had my hands on good camera at the time, I still couldn't get a sucessfull view of the writing on the postet and also include the contents of the top of the bin. Not the kind of sentence you hear every day! As a result some are sucessful in that the postet is very readable and visable whilst the background could simplay be anything. On the other hand some look distorted but show a good image of the surroundings and the bin in general.

This project reminded me of previous work I have done when I created writing on an old tyre, questioning the impact of cars on the environment. The irony was infact that the bin men refused to take away the tyre...... as it was not the right kind of rubbish and it had to be taken elsewere to help the environment. Three weeks later my dad drove to the rubbish tip a mile away to get rid of it.
IF THAT ISN'T IRONY I DONT NO WHAT IS!

What is a book.........

For me a book is an excuse to go into the mad world that is MY HEAD. As unlikely as it sounds, in judgement of my awful spelling and poor use of the English language, I do actually really enjoy ready, when I have time to get round to it. I feel the words on a page seem to tell a story that people can interpret how exactly they want.

For example.......... My favorate nursery rhyme was one I found written in a childrens book at a young age....... It was insy weensy spider. Last year in foundation I did a project that made me think about this poem alot, as it was based on fears and phobias. I searched the house and eventually found my old book to use as inspiration for my project as a lot of my arrasional fears of the animals, I felt had come from that book.



Incy Wincy spider climbing up the spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
Now Incy Wincy spider went up the spout again!


Heres my images from last year:






Although Its not quite along the lines of spiders, Tim Burtons Vincent came to mind when I thought of things that scare me. I pretty much feel terrified whenever I see his work now. Any of it!!!!

Here are some of the anisial images from the project in which I reasured the Idea of Barriers.
One of my favorate and strongest images was that of which I created my enterpritation of an emosional barrier....



Others just were strong because the strong link to the project title. The images instantly showed the theme. Also the use of a good camera helped!







After a while I began to get a consistansy of the type of angles i was created which showed a repetative theme which for potential projects could be used as some sort of measuring line.






After this resurch developed and themes clearly surfaced for me, we were put in new groups to combine our themes and create a new clear body of resurch. The idea of mapping came up a lot so we first thought of mapping using odd and different objects or places.
My odd and "createive" mind led me to just go all out and put objects in different surroundings like a banana in a microwave.........WHICH COME TO THINK OF IT I NEVER TOOK OUT!







Once moving into our new groups and finding an idea to combine our bodies of resurch and work, we then had to think of an appropriate theme or idea to complete the project of finding a problem and sucessfully resolving it useing our ansioal ideas.
After a problem that came instantly that day in which our class was getting in trouble for not coming in on time, or not even at all, we decided to look into how this theme could develop. It turned out to be very full of potential resurch in which we were able to borrow the lists and registars and highlight were the problems were. As we had such a clear problem title of "how do we tempt the class into coming in on time?, we straight away began creating tallys and charts and questionaires about why people in out class are late and what are their reasons for it. It then progressed to "what could we give you to motivate you" and also bought in a more negative aspect of "how could we embaras you if your late" Ideas of publicly humiliating certain latecomers was an idea but then came the problem of what about if they don't actually care?

Problems that came up were mainly how to show the resurch side of it. We knew we wanted to create some sort of advertisement to get the class come in earlyer..... so we then created a simple survey asking what would do that. Bringing in food seemed to be a popular solution so we went with it and kindly out of our own back pocket we dicided to create a breakfast for people in before a certain time and tally who and when it was to further prove our results. The whole project was well planned out and we actually managed to suceed in what resurch we wanted to use and for the right reasons. More than anything I actually found this project really fun and enjoyed working in a group again. The free breakfast helped too, even though we did arrive at 8.30 to uni just to organise it all!


Heres an image I took of the first person to get to the classroom, running through the door. It was a very heroic moment and Dave was thriller to have won...... especialy after he got his winner hat! Below is a picture of some of the first to arrive who were all numbered one two eleven. Although they were happy with the free breakfast and also happy they were in before 9.20, I felt there was still tension they didnt have winning hats.





Here are some photographic evidence of the final product, the poster in the appropriate environment and to the target audience (students at lcad) that it was meant to.








With a wide range of documents supporting our themes and general belief that having breakfast at uni as an insentive will help people to come in on time, our problem and solution thoughroughly worked. Everyone in the class appresiated what did and becasue of the foor were mayb more possitive and energetic throughout the day. In my opinion TOTAL SUCESS!