I’ve found this module really beneficial to my own practice as it’s helped me develop my own style and encouraged me to carry on self initiated projects. It’s given me more confidence in approaching designers and industry which I initially found quite daunting.
For my creative report I contacted various hand-made practitioners that I admire and went to some of their studios. Asking them questions about how they run their businesses and the perks / downsides helped me gain a more rounded understanding of this potential career path.
When working for a week in a carpenters workshop, it encouraged me to have a job where I can make / use my hands. Although carpentry is not the particular route I want to go down, seeing how this self employed, hand-made business was ran gave me a much better insight to this type of profession.
When doing my presentation this year it made me realise how much I have changed and evolved as a designer. I have grown from being initially very interested in minimal editorial and publication design, to now more analogue and experimental processes.
Engaging in live briefs this year has helped me develop as a designer greatly. It has taught me to have to sometimes detach myself from my work and focus purely on what the client wants. So far I have had good experiences with doing live briefs as the clients feedback has been very rewarding, doing work for a client has also kept me motivated and thinking in a professional manner.
I have changed my personal branding from last year but it still runs on the same concept - using the back as one of my analogue printed designs. I haven't restricted myself by putting 'graphic designer' on it as I feel that through this year I have learnt other skills which broaden my skill set to more of a designer / maker, I aim for my business cards to communicate this. I am a lot happier with my personal branding this year as I feel like it reflects me more accurately as a designer.
