Professional Practice

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE REPORT

To enter the new semester of Professional Practice part 2, it was a good feeling as to bring in new ideas as well learning from the new people working around us.

With knowledge already from the previous semester and working around with the students that did the ‘NAK5D’ exhibition and how they carried out their work and how their exhibition was carried out made me get a different perspective of tings and some of these are listed below.

·         Team work

This plays quite an import role with having to present something final and of good quality. To have a peer of students around that are willing to help you with what your design life relies on is really big and to see that these students sat down and worked around with the resources they had as a team through the ups and down showed me that sometimes having more brains is better one because you work with a lot of drive and input and so they output is phenomenal.

·         Ideation

Having ideas is very simple. Anyone can have an idea just like that but to have that idea implemented with all the refining and research showed me that an idea can be really perfected with more research. That showed me the professional side of a designer that they can research and then get inspiration from another artist and relate to what they personal like and have their ideas together. Having more ideas and likes from a group of people may bring about flaws because some may not agree to all ideas but the effort you see makes you think of ideas out the box so that they are picked and stand out. Not just for you but as a team and a group as a whole.

·         Working with time

This was an exhibition that was to be presented at the end of the semester and was their final project as graphic students. This meant that they had to have things done by this date and time to show that they are actually moving hence this needed planning and that helped them even though they might have any downfall or slips ups they still managed to have their exhibition done and which was greatly received from the people out there. Planning does pay an important role in what we do and it is import to plan as an art student.

·         Quality of work

After all the ideas and designs have been done by the students to make their art exhibition. The final works is what was also going to be appreciated more excluding the other necessities. Because this is what you are going to present to someone who doesn’t know you and so for that person to have a good impression of your work, quality is key! On this I saw the students in and out designing their work maybe 2 or 3 times all over again and when asked why, because they were pleased with the outcome and this shows that appreciation of quality starts with a designer. Once a designer is pleased with his or her own work, it can be published. The designing of any visuals was key to be attractive, cool, funky but still have a meaning to stick to the theme as well as any models that were made had to have a good finishing which they did. Using recycled materials like papers, wood, plastic they come up with really good stuff just to give their exhibition that extra wow!

The election/breakdown of where I was going to be this semester was carried out in the early weeks of the semester and we were all together with the PP (Professional Practice) students Part 1 and Part 2.

The breakdown above shows the part of what is below the final graduate showcase which is the exhibition that will be done with the final year students. Having three teams below

1.       Creative Team

This team was as the name states, the creative side behind it all. The creation of the idea and the concepts that will be looked at and then seen whether they could be actually implanted and done.

2.       P.R Marketing Team

This team was the strategic bone behind the financials, the marketing and planning on how this showcase could be beneficial in ways of planning the right strategy and how it could be a win by advertising, marketing, branding, promotion and the rest shown above

3.       Art Direction Team

This team is now the group that receives all the ideas that were generated by the creative team and once they are received these were the assessors that needed to choose the idea and execute them. They were they backbone to what would help all the teams. Without choosing e.g a logo for the showcase, the marketing team couldn’t promote the brand to people out there because they would like to see what they are being shown hence this team played a big row.

With the teams listed above, previously I was chosen and placed in the Creative team because of having the talent and accuracy of ideas with reference and positive comments by my lecturer. This time I was going to take up the task and join the team of marketing so that I could see how things would be done in a marketing perspective.

                Due to us having students holding a showcase/exhibition, it was only necessary that we, the students are soon going to be in year 3 look at what these exhibitions are and also to help us get more knowledge on them.

Simply a showcase or exhibition was having something artistically designed that you want to show and have people see your design or creation. We did this research to get an idea of what our exhibition would be like when it is our time. Seeing the setup of everything by the examples shown showed us that most are hanged around if it is posters, drawings and then big models are mostly laid up in their own space. 

As we can see from the samples above, the artworks are mostly put up against the wall where people can come and see and view them. Lighting is important and key because this helps give the works a pop and also the right light sets the mood with background music that the location play. Both lighting and sound can go along with the theme of the exhibition too. Either slow and mellow or have something upbeat all in sense to follow a theme.

The above images being model type of artworks are normally given their own type of space and compartment where they can be viewed and mostly they stand alone and are far from the artworks like painting and the likes. This was something to take into consideration so that when they exhibition is running, a mix up of works should not mislead or confuse the people viewing. To have sequence and organization in the works plays a big role in an exhibition/showcase.

                Next up, we had to look at what these three words played in design and what they meant to us and how different they are with how they are used in the world out there.

·         Idea

·         Concept

·         Theme

The three words were supposed be explained and to give us students more depth and understanding of what they are and how we can use these in future works.

1.       Idea

What is an idea?

This is normally a thought that we have at a very instant of a posed question or task that we are to do. Normally ideas are many and the free flow of the mind of an art student seeing that one may have many ideas on a subject of matter. E.g ideas on reducing theft could have ideas on:

·         Tighter security

·         Make of burglar bars in house holds

·         Sirens

·         CCTV cameras that are hidden

So we can see from the above descriptions that ideas just play a major part in trying to solve or find new solutions and for most art cases, create designs. Ideas also play an important role because when ideas are brought to the table, they help keep the mind creative and over work the brain to see passed these ideas to make something not so vivid and real actually come to life and be worked on.

2.       Concept

What is a concept?

This is a process where the idea is developed into something useful and creative. More like stages to have an idea brought out and be designed and the concept being the steps.

Concept design or ideas are also seen to be of future use on designs that have never been done or released. They mostly just have an idea but they are not those that are able to be done at that moment in time hence it is more of a future design which be named a concept idea. We normally see such in buildings that are to be made, cars to be made.

3.       Theme

What is the theme?

We have seen pieces of art or exhibitions having a certain vibe to them by sticking to a certain feel or vibe and that being seen in works around. More like a theme of a party would be smart attire and that theme being set most people you will see at that party will be in smart attire because they would have to meet the theme. In that sense we can see that the theme is seeing the development of the concept and branches from other areas in conjunction with ideas of a design, ‘the theme attempts to brand each new piece as a sub-set of the original concept.’ (Linkedin.com, 2014).

Here we can see where a theme is applied from things we see in our daily live such as:

·         Weddings

·         Posters

·         Cakes

Looking at all these examples, none of them were just made from nowhere. All these at least must have an idea, concept and then a theme along the way to make the final piece. Like the poster for example could see that there was ideas of star wars that was going to be used and also the idea of using typography to suit and give it that retro feel. Concept of it all was star wars and it was clear from then one to completion of them.

                During the semester, I suffered a bad illness. I fell ill through catching the dengue fever. This was a major setback for me because I was already catching up in the semester and trying to accomplish work by the dates given so this sickness drew me back. I was admitted and was out of the school to get well and rest for two weeks and in this world of design that is quite a lot because every design can be changed every day. Even though I was sick, I was updated with work that I missed out and with this I presented what I could with ideas and sketches of a task where we were told to have sketches of the logo that the APP students were to use from either:

·         TOOTS

·         16 RAW

·         CREATIVE EXPLOSIVE

Some of the sketches that I had drawn towards some of the words above are shown below, because I had to present something there and then, I quickly placed my ideas down that I had down at that very moment to still show that I can have something done even with an illness to show work effort by any means necessary.

                With being placed in the P.R Marketing team, we had an objective of having a product and then using our own ways and analysis of marketing and how we could sale this product. Our lecturer is the one that had the product and she brought it to us. The product that we were going to produce was glue.

After being given this product, we were asked to look at key factors and ways in which this could be marketed. Some of these points to look at as a whole Marketing crew were:

·         Who is the target audience?

Because this a type of glue that has the element of fixing stuff like on cars, bicycles, stuff in the household, we could state the audience was going to be those people not below a certain age limit and most definitely not children because this is not something that would have to be played with. Age of probably 15 and above could be the target audience.

·         The name of the product?

The name of a product plays an important role in design such that if the name of a product is of top notch. Just the name could have people buying the product or wanting to know more of this product. We had to look at the target audience as well as the names that could fit that audience if they were to see this lying around in shops. The original name of this product was EXPOXY STEEL. Expoxy which has a definition of ‘an adhesive, plastic, paint, or other material made from a class of synthetic thermosetting polymers containing epoxide groups.’ (Wikipedia, 2014). Then STEEL which we all know as a hard metal and one that is also quite also difficult to break. This title was okay because it fitted the description and what the purpose was. The Steel part of it gave off the hardness that they glue has and that it plays a ‘STRONG’ factor when applied.

·         How to sell this product?

Due to this being an industrial type of adhesive. This product was to be placed in the hardware section of any store. It should mostly be placed on racks that are easily seen by customers. Other ways we could sell this product would be to have strong people out there e.g Arnold Schwarzenegger be in a commercial advert and sell off the product. The use of a ‘strong’ figure and also the product will give off to us customers the durability and strength that this glue has.

We looked at more ways as a team that were brought forward towards the end the handing in of this task. These ideas and notes were to be passed on to our group leader so she could analyze and compile them.

                Towards the end of the semester, we were told to have a few sketches that were going to be for a book where all our sketches, ideas that we drafted as professional practice students had pitched in. Whatever we had designed was going to play a major role and would be in this book that when all work is completed, it shows the different ideas and creativity of us students. So we were all required to have sketches and we had a meeting where these sketches were going to be analyzed by some PP Part 1 students and PP part 2 students.

Apart from having the book designs and the layout. We also had a section where we were supposed to give a good title and description for the book. They were lists of titles that we us students submitted and we selected from some of these:

We then chose us students by ticking whichever name and descriptions we were comfortable and felt like they could be suitable for the book. I played a big role in giving the name of the book. The initial idea title was ‘Creativity is our drug' but I felt that it was a little too long for a title so I then shortened it and called it ‘CREATIVITY DOSAGE’ which when I mentioned to the team, they also liked it and the creativity behind seeing that creativity becomes our drug and so for you to see that in us students, why not get a dosage of from us and welcome to our world. So that was widely appreciated and made me feel good about myself and to also have a very comment from our lecturer who wondered where the nice title came from gave me that boost that I contributed something good and positive not just for me but my team.

After the title was given, we then chose out of the designs the final design for the book which was going to have a front and a back cover. The book was then to be bind with all students contributing RM1.50 to our leader and have it done.

FRONT

BACK

FINAL REDESIGNED FRONT AND BACK

The final image above shows the final redesigned font cover and back that we did with the help of our lecturer who showed us some skills and shed more knowledge on such projects. Having the lines on the front cover was going to give the audience like a guidelines and show a restriction to them having free will to look and analyze designs the way they would want. So she gave out the option of removing the bars/lines and playing around with the cartoon sketches. I also pitched in the idea of the book description and also redesigned the text that was used for the book.

Finally the book was printed and binded and looked really good and it was showed to us students to see our efforts that we did and we were happy with the final look of it. From just having sketches and designs in our books to actually having the book was good.

  

             In conclusion to this report and the work that we had covered this semester. Professional Practice Part 2 really showed me another side and the work involved as students to finish and how we go about certain projects. Learning outcomes that I felt I learned through this are listed below:

• ·         Ideation mind was opened due to having to sit down around with more students with their own views and thoughts opened my mind to also think from their own perspective and how their designs can relate with mine.
• ·         Be more professional about handling work and even though a setback comes through in this case my sickness, it should not stop you from doing and completing your work. Commitment is key.
• ·         Understood the marketing side of a product and as a design student I gained some knowledge on how you would go about when you need to sell off anything to the world out there by looking at key points like who is it you are targeting, what is the name of the product, packaging and all. That opened my advertising side to my designs which in near future I hope to showcase.
• ·         Team work is key in a way that if you are to work in a company like the set we had in our class, you will have people with so many ideas and you will have to decide upon yourselves to choose what we all agree upon. This will bring about tension and dislikes but to remember we are one is important because we are out there to achieve a certain goal as a team.
• ·         The exhibition/showcase we are to apply in our year 3 will have to be of top quality and I learned working with the APP students to produce work that can be really appreciated not by yourself but by others as well and to give out a good first impression to the people out there.
• ·         Don’t restrict your thinking of ideas, concepts themes etc. As designers we have the power to create what we want with free will. Whether it is going to be done or not, to think of something like never before shows that your capacity of thinking is high and creative and can’t be chained down. I have gained more of that not restricting my creativity and knowledge since PP part 1 and it helped me in a way that I could easily tap into that side of me and ideas will have free flow just like that with no difficulty
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All in all, this has been a good module. The team of students that I worked with were really good and interaction with them was better and we could place our thoughts as a team. Lecturer influence also played a part such that she gave us encouragement to go all out in whatever we do. Not just in her course but anything we indulge in and that is a point I have taken and carried on.

References

BusinessDictionary.com, (2014). What is concept? definition and meaning. [online] Available at: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/concept.html [Accessed 16 Apr. 2014].

Life. Then strategy, (2014). How to explain an idea: a mega post. [online] Available at: http://www.markpollard.net/how-to-explain-an-idea/ [Accessed 17 Apr. 2014].

Linkedin.com, (2014). What is the difference between Idea, Concept & Theme?. [online] Available at: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/What-is-difference-between-Idea-92232.S.39445770 [Accessed 13 Apr. 2014].

Screenculture, (2014). Getting specific about Theme, Concept and Premise. [online] Available at: http://blogs.aftrs.edu.au/screenculture/?p=621 [Accessed 15 Apr. 2014].

Wikipedia, (2014). Idea. [online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idea [Accessed 14 Apr. 2014].