10 Successes

This morning we were asked as a group to think about 10 successes from first year. I quite liked this exercise as it made me realise just how much information and knowledge we have gained as a year group, and it gives me a strong incentive to start forward thinking for the year ahead and ensure that I achieve everything I hope to achieve.

As a group we came up with the following:

1. Learnt about type
2. Guest lecturers
3. Independent learning
4. More comfortable presenting work
5. Improved on group projects
6. New skills
7. Essay writing
8. More understanding of briefs
9. Blogging
10. Time management

We then came up with a second list as a year group:

1. Presentation skills
2. Feedback
3. Workshops
4. Independent
5. Research/Development
6. Understand time management
7. Working in/with groups
8. Confidence
9. Theoretical writing
10. Understand personal style

We have also been asked to choose our own 10 successful traits to explore this year:
(Consider new targets, aspirations etc)

I had put a lot of thought into this over the Summer already so compiling this list was fairly easy for me to do as I have a lot of targets in mind already...

1. Over the forthcoming year I would love to become confident with the basics of web design. Having already had some experience over the Summer break I feel as though I have a vague idea of the initial processes of web design, but I know that once I become more able in this area I will then be able to start off applying my skills to a self promoting website.

2. I need to find out which programs are used at industry standards to create packaging. As at the moment I have been designing in 2D, whereas if I could apply my designs to 3D templates I will be able to create a much more professional outcome.

3. Branding is something I have always been interested in, and it can obviously be applied to web design as well as packaging, I would however love to become a bit more confident in designing logos without them looking rushed or of a low standard.

4. Although I have some experience with screen printing since my foundation degree, I didn't really get the chance to explore it to the full. I therefore feel as though it may benefit me doing this, as I have always loved organic and rustic finishes to packaging design in particular.

5. Throughout the year I also want to ensure that I stay in contact with the company I worked for over Summer, as well as contacting more studios in preparation for Summer 2014.

6. I feel it is necessary for me to understand the ethics behind graphic design a bit more, in terms of copyright laws, registering as self-employed, the legalities behind font usage and so on. I have already done some research over the Summer so I have a basic understanding, but now that I have some consistent free lance work alongside my university work I feel as though this is something I need to be clued up on.

7. Embossing is a skill I would certainly love to master. If I could become confident with embossing then I'd be able to apply it to my work and produce the kind of work I now look at online and wish I could design myself.

8. I want to try and get involved with as many competitions outside of university as possible, as this will help me to get known in the industry.

9. I would also like some advice and some pointers with working abroad. As this is something I am strongly considering once I graduate, for at least a year.

10. I also want to become confident with creating videos, as this is something I have never had any experience with and having having had a conversation with a well established graphic designer recently, I realised that it is important to be as capable in every area within graphic design, rather than concentrating on one specialism, as this opens more options up and increases the probability of getting a successful job at the end of my degree.