Due to the recent
completion of my 7th project studying my level 5 Animation & Illustration
foundation degree I shall be completing a self-assessed analysis to determine
my current skill set regarding this project and how I want to move forward in development. The
way in which I shall be analysing my work is using a structure called
'SWOT' Analysis. 'SWOT' is an acronym for the questions:
·
Strengths - What are the strengths of my unit, research, Pre-production,
time scaling & final result.
·
Weaknesses - What are the weaknesses of the afore mentioned.
·
Opportunity's - What are the opportunity's that I have come across during this
unit, did I take full advantage of them and what opportunities am I
looking for moving forward
·
Targets - What are my targets to consistently improve my creative works
and skill set. The aim of these targets is to set the goals to becoming more
industry standard.
SWOT Analysis – Alternative Techniques Module
The aim of my
alternative techniques project was to stimulate the expansion and growth of my
skillset regarding print making techniques for illustration. This included the
scripted exploration of the commercial application of these approaches whilst
defining in detail the how and why of each method should a commercial entity require
such techniques. I am confident in reflection to the design outcome of this
module as well as my making off sketchbook that I have successfully achieved
the intentions for my module.
Strengths
I attribute one of
this modules largest strengths is the quality of the resulting portfolio. The
range in work as well as the defined quality demonstrate in full the clear
understanding I have developed over the course of this module and I am
confident in suggesting that the resulting design outcomes are testament to the
personal growth I have embodied during my time spent dedicated to exploring alternative
techniques. A specific aspect of my resulting body of work which I am confident
in suggesting is the strongest of the design outcomes for this module is the
screen-prints from my first experiments in alternative techniques. Not only did
I spend the most amount of time covering this approach but I feel that this
process was the one I identified as having the most depth to its process. I
attribute my strengths in screen-printing due to the flexibility within the
execution process of each print which affords each designer a range of potential
avenues to explore when seeking unique design outcomes.
The second strength of
my alternative techniques module that I identify in my work upon reflection is
the empowerment I was able to self-direct due to my research. I believe if it
wasn't for the time I dedicated to fleshing out my initial research to the
amount of depth I had, that I would not have be able to lay the foundation I
did with as much impact as I demonstrated. The knowledge and insight I gained
from my extensive research equipped me with the tools to approach my module
with intent and achieve the results I sought to succeed. Much of this module
included being able to prepare illustrations in a way that was not just
appropriate for the medium but took full advantage of the methods involved the
enhance the design outcome and push its boundaries as far as I can take it. An
example of this is, due to my research into Yeaaah Studios and Paiheme Studios
I had identified methods to add depth to my illustrations by utilising
techniques such as halftone use to add depth into my design outcomes when the
mediums limitations only permitted a single tone to be used. If I had not taken
the time to perform such an analysis in as much detail then I don't believe my
design outcomes would have reached the quality that they did. I tried to apply
the ideology that by imitating industry professionals I will become one would discipline
and practice, I believe my design outcomes and ‘making of' sketchbook
demonstrate this in full.
Weaknesses
I am confident that
the work I submitted as part of this project demonstrates appropriate growth
and distance travelled, this was demonstrated in detail through the reflective evaluations
that I completed throughout my module. Although I believe that my evaluative
process to be a strength of my creative workflow I believe I spent an excessive
amount of time covering this aspect of my project. I believe I still would have
achieved a level of high technical standard in my evaluations at an appropriate
and desired degree should I have spent less time executing my scripted responses.
The time I would have saved had I held back on time spent during my evaluative
process I am confident in suggesting I would have been better able to explore
and expand upon my ideas regarding my illustrative approach.
The second weakness
that I identify within my project in response to discussions with my tutor and
in self reflection to reviewing my module, is that I believe my creative
workflow was too narrow and directed. When I was challenged with creating three
illustrations for 3 different print-making techniques I did not explore the
design, style, colour, and other elements I knew what I wanted to do and
followed my first idea to completion. I define this approach as a weakness
because in more cases than not the first idea is not the best Idea and I cold
have produced a much better design outcome had I explored a range of
exploitative contemplations. This would have included utilising methods such as
thumb nailing and style tests. I believe should I commit to this during my next
module that I will increase the standard and quality of not only my design
outcome but my workflow as well.
Opportunity’s
The time I spent
exploring, experimenting, and developing my design outcomes during this Alternative
Techniques module has provided me with the opportunity to explore new sources
of inspiration, practice approach, technique and process as well as be informed
in the guidance and teachings of industry professionals regarding the topic of
relevance. This has resulted in an improvement in my digital and traditional skillset
as an artist in all fields of creative works as well as my technical
application of such skills.
Also, during this project,
I have had the opportunity to learn from a plethora of artists and content
creators due to the research, deconstruction, and study’s I was able to do
during my time spent dedicated to this project. These specific artists
are:
·
Yeaaah Studios
·
Paiheme Studio
·
Cleon Peterson
·
Parra (Artist)
·
Mr Penfold
Working full time in the industry often leaves
little time to explore new directions and experiment with innovative new
techniques, materials and processes whilst processing client’s requests. This
project has provided me with a mental prompt challenging me to approach such
innovative techniques and make them my own through experimentation. I am
confident that this has stimulated artistic growth as a content creator due to
this opportunity.
Although all modules provided
me a degree of opportunity to develop theoretical skills regarding all subject
matters I believe that this specific module provided me scripted techniques
which I will be able to apply to a range of future projects to high impact just
like I had the opportunity to during this current module.
Every brief that I have the
opportunity to work on provides me with the grounds to better myself in every
aspect as a designer from my initial ideas through to my design result. Success
in the industry is not just about being accurate in production creation, it is
how an artist can be innovative with the techniques he has been able to acquire
to transcend the norm and stand out bringing financial success. Whilst studying
this project I have been able to take another step closer to fuelling my goals
and aspirations for the future.
Targets
To consistently grow as an
artist, it is imperative that I understand how I can improve to allow my
skillset to naturally evolve in a productive direction. Reflecting upon my SWOT
analysis and my project there are a few key areas which I would like to create
an action plan for to balance out my skill set moving forward
Target 1 – Define strict parameters
for my evaluations to minimise time spent away from production
Outlined within my Weaknesses
section of this modules SWOT analysis I defined that I believed I had
overworked my evaluative process and that had I drew a line at each aspect of
it sooner that the quality of each evaluation would not suffer but I would have
saved time better spent elsewhere. This time for example could have been better
spent exploring other design formats for each of my alternative technique
methods instead of the narrow approach I executed within my production. This
would have covered both defined weaknesses increasing the overall quality if my
resulting module. I can define this target as a success should I produce an
evaluation which meets the standard of quality I have been meeting whilst
dedicating less time on generating it.
Target 2 – Explore a minimum of
3 alternative design choices for each aspect of future modules regarding idea generation
and design.
I expressed that during my weaknesses section of this evaluation
that I had been too narrow with my idea generation. Essentially I had an idea
in mind and pursued it, this is not good design practice as more often than not
the first idea is not the best idea. I believe had I demonstrated exploration
Just like my previous target, I
discussed within the weaknesses section of this SWOT analysis that my poor
judgement in colour theory had been identified as a flaw within my design
outcome and failed to compliment as well as support my design choice in line
with my personal objectives for the characters personality. This conflicted
with my goals and lowered the likelihood that I would consider this a success.
Therefore, in response to this unsuccessful feature of my design outcome I have
created an actionable and measurable goal to utilise colour theory within my
next module should the opportunity arise. I am confident this will result in
clear growth for my creative practice and my ability to apply skill to produce
high quality design outcomes.
Conclusion
Having reviewed my ‘Character
Design Module’ project and applied my feedback into a clear action plan for me
to work on, I am satisfied that I have grown from my time analysing and
reflecting on creative process and design outcomes in this project. I hope that
everyone reading this has taken on board from my experiences and learnt a
little something for themselves. Thank you for reading, till next time.
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