Evaluation

When I started this module I didn't know what to expect, all I knew was that we would have to setup some kin dof display as a group. We were initially split into small groups to try and design a theme that could be used to base the exhibition around, and immediately I wasn't enjoying the work one bit. I was elected group leader for a task that I initially had little confidence in. I found I was leading a group of people that had no belief in what they were doing and I struggled to motivate them, looking back I possibly wasn't as firm as I could have been, in past modules I have been known to have a firm stance of when I want work completed by and I was starting to feel let down. It lead to much of the research collected for the group being completed by me and this extra stress I felt really hit my quality of work.

When I found that the groups would be swapped once the initial presentations had been completed I realised that instead of losing confidence in myself and eventually losing credibility in the work being completed I decided that I would use this bad patch as a way to learn and imporve for the future. I was teamed with Ryan and Kiel with the purpose being to design the website for the Exhibition. Even though I took a firm grip on the tasks I initially set out to get the most from both of them. To do this I decided to meet with the team leaders and try to understand what they would want from the website, after relaying this back to my group I decided to produce a mock plan of how the website should be laid out.

I was making the group stick to tight deadlines, giving us half the time as the Exhibition and Graphics team (6 weeks) to get it online. This decision was made as I believed that advertising the Exhibition would require a head start if we wanted maximum coverage to get people to come.

I noticed that I wasn't getting the most out of Kiel, I asked him to initially join the group as I know that he can come up with stunning ideas but I knew I would have to try something to inspire him to do his utmost for the project. For this I decided to build their confidence by giving every one the task of producing a mock website and from their discuss whose would be ideal to put forward fro implemtnation.

I was planning to put it to a class vote, but I decided to backtrack on this idea before being made public. I believe as team leader this was the best thing to do. It is my job to get the most from a small group and get a completed product. I believe that the voting during the theme presentations was badly undertaken as many showed their immaturity, some giving people no respect when talking. Due to this I decided it would be best for me to discuss with Kiel and Ryan key aspects and I would choose the design to implement. With Kiel still struggling to find inspiration I decided that his design would be used. It wasn't too dis similar from mine or Ryans concept but I believed it would motivated Kiel and give him the conbfidence to increase his quality of work. This is exactly the result that I got. I believe the class vote would cause a strain on such a small group and it was proven when we successfully completed a website that I believe details all the key areas of the Exhibition.

Another key decision that had to be made was how to split the work within the group, I asked for honesty at all times from Ryan and Kiel and found that they had little confidence in coding the website. This is where I decided to split the tasks, I would use Kiel and Ryan to produce the information, pictures and other materials to the website while I implemented and displayed it by coding the website. This allowed us to work efficiently and as people stuck to deadlines it eventually made up for itself by allowing us to complete the website earlier than predicted.

At many points throughout the project the Team Leaders would offer feedback to each other to make sure that we were all moving in the right direction. I expressed concern over the logo, it initially displayed a camera lens, after much interaction the Graphics Group agreed to redesign it as I do not believe it expressed the Design Studio idea in the right way.
Throughout the project the website team had to take their fair share of criticism. Often finding that ideas had to be explained as they were not obvious. What people didn't realise was the fact that neither me, Ryan or Kiel are coders, we are graphic designers so to ask us to be able to produce a website was a big ask. I believe it is a challenge that we successfully confronted as other groups offered ideas of what they'd like to see but I did not seem them as relevant or even plausible.

I have learnt a lot from this project, it has made me realise that you can't always make the decision that everyone wants you to make, you do what's best for the project not for the people and I believe this is why the website is successful.
It allowed me to explore ways of displaying work and the importance of fonts and colour schemes. Realising that you can't just pick a random one because I like it. It has to be relevant and easily fit in with its surroundings. The selection has to be easy on the eye. In terms of the website we decided to use fonts, colours and graphics that were relevant to a Design Studio, so using ones that represented handwriting seemed a good idea. The only problem was that not all letters were readable so we had to explore alternatives which are highlighted within the sketchbook.

I believe that throughout this module I have managed to develop my skills to take much more into consideration when answering a brief. I have realised that what I like should no effect the project itself as their could be better alternatives. I believe that the group still need to work hard through to the Exhibition for it to be a success. To do this I will stay in contact with the team leaders and through this we can communicate it to our team members what is required.