5.2 Specialist Graphic Design Technologies
During the module, we were introduced to new technologies, challenges and ways of thinking. Through participation in sessions and seminars, we were enabled to explore and experiment with new and emerging technologies that can enhance and support our design processes. During this module, I reflected on advancing technologies and discovered tools to help improve efficiency and create a more streamlined workflow. I also gained further knowledge on how augmented reality can elevate projects and ensure they stay aligned with current trends.
Week 1: Visual Frameworks
The first task of the module required us to select two principles from John Maeda's '10 Laws of Simplicity' and create visual frameworks that included visuals, materials and references. my selected laws were Law 1: Reduce and Law 2: Organise. I felt these two laws best reflected my thinking around technology. I gathered a variety of visuals that I felt best represented my chosen laws.
For the initial brief within the module, we collaborated in groups to develop a campaign aimed at raising awareness about neurodiversity in public spaces. To collaboratively put together ideas and thoughts we used Figma which allows documents to be shared. The use of collaborative features is something I haven't used before, it allowed for a simple streamlined process to be created. It was a useful tool which allowed ideas to be in one place. From this, we could then filter through ideas, solidify a plan and produce a presentation. With no required outcome, we were free to experiment with emerging technologies and push the boundaries of practicality. My group proposed the idea of creating digital billboards or animations that incorporate humour to improve the understanding of dyslexia.
Week 2: Innovations and Exploration of Emerging Technologies
This week's task focused on augmented reality. It had us revisit a past project and consider and reflect on how technology could be integrated into the design to develop it further. I looked at how the use of augmented reality could enhance wayfinding and navigating tools such as maps or signage. Upon reflection, I considered the idea of turning a physical object into an interactive experience. This seminar and task allowed me to further my thinking on a project and push past my comfort zone to consider other avenues the project could have taken. See my blog post here.
Week 3: Optimizing Workflow
For the third week of this module, we were encouraged to critically examine our current workflows and reflect on how tools and technologies could improve and support this process. When completing a project or design task, I follow a specific, clear design process that I have created for myself over the past four years; this ensures I follow every step and deliver polished outcomes. Granted, I come across issues along the way. I thought this was just part of being a designer. I was unaware of the technologies available that enable you to simplify and enhance your workflow. I found being exposed to these technologies very helpful and believe they have the potential to significantly improve my future performance. Here is my blog, where I explore tools to optimize my workflow.
By adding technologies to my workflow, I have created a more streamlined process that stops me from wasting time and losing files. Tools like Eagle can be utilised to keep images organised, an essential tool for me as I am prone to misplacing images. Another tool I came across was Hazel, this keeps your Mac organised, this was a needed addition to my workflow as I work across desktop and USB so end up with duplicate files. Having the opportuinity to explore the possible tools to improve workflow has enabled me to create a more efficient process which will help me thrive in future projects.
The task for this week was to use code to design 100 experimental covers. Coding is an area of design I haven't encountered and is something I find overwhelming. Taking part in a session where Graham talked through coding using 'Processing', I was open to the idea, as I am fond of the way it changes words into an image by itself. Using coding to complete tasks like creating 100 random designs cuts a lot of unnecessary steps and therefore saves time.
Week 4: Production
In week four's task, we were given a '6x6' brief. Which consisted of 6 briefs and 6 outcomes, from each list we had to select one and then generate ideas from this. I decided that my brief would be to generate something new.
Using the newly gained knowledge from previous weeks. I wanted to explore Processing further and see how I could experiment with coding. I used this brief as a way of developing newly emerging skills in an area that sparked interest. I decided I would create a range of randomly generated posters that would display a time, and every half an hour, it would change, alongside this, the colour of the poster would change too. I talked my process and struggles with this task in this blog.
Week 5: Brutalist Websites
The final weeks task consisted of choosing three websites from https://brutalistwebsites.com/. Each website had to be critically analysed, taking the website's overall design and functionality and creating an opinion on whether the website's assets and aesthetics worked well or didn't work well together. See blog here.
3D Graphics Workshop Sessions
Alongside the seminars and small tasks, we took part in sessions on cinema 4D. Over each session, we discovered and explored areas of the software and followed step by step to create a functional outcome. Although daunting, these sessions provide a place to gain and improve skills in an area of design that I wouldn't usually venture into.
The workshops provided hands-on experience with the software with help provided by Jon along the way. This was helpful as this was a software I wasn't aware of. These sessions opened my eyes to another software that can be used to create animations. Getting into the workshops and gaining a further understanding of the software, I became more interested and enjoyed the process of seeing a 3D animation come to life.
In thee last of the animation sessions with Jon, we looked at animating in Photoshop with Wacom Graphics Tablets. This is a way of using Photoshop that I have never experienced before, however, using the tablets it had some similarities to animating on Procreate which is something I've experimented with before. This way of animating was fun and an area I was more comfortable with. Using the graphics tablets is something I would want to explore further and learn how to achieve cleaner outcomes.
Although stressful, by the end of the sessions, I felt I had gained a new skill that could be used in possible projects in the future. The experience has made me feel more inclined to explore the world of 3D animation and cinema 4D further, as I think this could be something that could enhance my outcomes and projects. I documented my thoughts on the process here.
Overall
Throughout this brief, I feel I have expanded my opinions, enhanced my workflow and design process, and developed new skills. These have all helped me develop as a designer. Exploring emerging technologies has made me more aware of the way they can enhance projects and push concepts further.
During the process of this module, we were required to write up and post blogs about the tasks set during the seamers. The blogs were something I struggled with as I found it difficult to know what to write and ensure that it made sense. Having to write more, I feel this has slightly improved but is still an area I struggle with. To overcome the struggle, I used AI tools such as Grammerly and ChatGPT. Grammerly helped add punctuation and suggest better words throughout my writing, this was extremely helpful as this is something I forget. Although ChatGPT is seen as a tool used for cheating. It was really helpful during written work as I used it to ensure my points were clear. It was used more as something to talk my points through.
