Studio Brief 1 - Evaluation

Brief 1 was a very intense brief due to the restricted timescale we had been given. It was a challenge due to it being the first brief back for our second year. This was the first module where the brief was based on production consideration and not as focused on experimentation from last year. The main thing that stood out for me with this brief is very much understanding all the design production that goes into making a leaflet and not just about the design aesthetically. I’ve never before considered the colour method, print finishes, budget, and stock before in such detail and also how these methods should be used and how that would relate and benefit my target audience. It opened my eyes and allowed me to expand my knowledge in that sense.

The time restriction of the brief was a challenge for me in both senses. It was added pressure to complete the work at a high standard but also it made me think faster and development my process while under pressure which in some cases help me come up with unique ideas. The time scale also reflected an industry standard, therefore preparing us what’s to come once we go out into the industry, as there isn’t any point in sugar coating the demand and pressure a designer will go through.  Before this brief I wasn’t a massive fan of creating leaflets as I had a bad experience with them back in college but the brief made designing a leaflet engaging and relevant to me as a designer and I appreciate that a lot. You’re always going to enjoy designing more if it’s personal and relevant to you as a designer, this may not always be the case for every brief but It’s always very exciting and allows me to love the process of designing even more when the subject is relevant to you.

There are a number of things I would change looking back on the brief. First would be more experimenting with some print finishes. It was mainly down to not having enough time to experiment but it’s also to do with me changing my mind a lot which isn’t a good idea when the time you have is limited to only a week. I wanted to test out screen printing my leaflet and using other printing methods that would allow me to see different ways that my leaflet could benefit from. Lastly, right at the end of the brief I had randomly came up with another version of my final leaflet on the spot that I loved and thought was more visually pleasing and aesthetically stronger then the current leaflet. However, I ran out of time as the deadline for the brief had already gone so I didn’t end up blogging much about that leaflet that showed a different unique and contemporary approach to the brief.