Extended Practice

I have found this module to be the best that BAGD have had to offer. As a digital designer the course does not write briefs that 100% cater for digital outcomes. I have enjoyed writing my own briefs and being able to focus purely on digital outcomes. Saying that, I have also completed many briefs with non-digital outcomes such as Holbeck Urban Village, FE Taster Day and Design Something More. The skills I have developed over the past few months have improved my design practice massively and also given me new insights into the job I want to do and career path I plan to follow.

I have been able to complete placements in non-design roles such as User Testing at Media City UK for rentalcars.com. I have also been able to go to events and meet new people during term time which was really helpful as not many designers or studios can meet out of office hours. Some of the weaknesses within this year have been time management. I planned to carry out a lot of briefs and due to live briefs I was unable to do so. I do not think that any of the live briefs I have completed have made my submission less consistent though some of the briefs I have completed did not represent me as a designer. Perhaps my favourite brief was the BBC D&AD brief, I was disappointed that I could not submit this design or complete it as a collaboration but due to personal issues I was unable to do so. I do however, plan to apply for the BBC job and also invite some members of the BBC to the end of year show.

Overall, this module has been brilliant! I have been able to express myself in many ways that do not fall under 'typical graphic design'.

At the start of the year I wrote 12 briefs. At the end of the year I only completed 1 of these briefs. This happened as many live briefs were introduced and I saw it more important to work on these instead of made up briefs that would never go any where.

I planned to extend the Holbeck Urban Village brief (Brief 6) with Laura. We planned to design a mobile library for children. We really wanted to do this brief but due to time we were unable to do so. In preparation for this brief we went to woodwork to ask them to build the model. Unfortunately they were unable to do so as other courses has booked out their time. Roger told us that he designed for Eureka The National Children's museum in Halifax. As Halifax is close to my home Laura and I went along for primary research.

We took many photos on the day an observed the children interacting with the exhibits. It was a vert eye-opening day. As part of the BBC job I would be placed for 3 months within Ceebeebies so I thought this research could also form some primary research if I was to get on the course.