Week 7: Sustainability in Graphic Design

Homework: What does sustainbility mean in the context of Graphic Design? Review the site 'Design Can Change - AIGA' and answer the following questions: 

What is 'cradle to cradle' design and how can you see this applied in the Graphic Design industry?
'Cradle to cradle' design is where the product is able to work in harmony with nature, meaning the production of the work is waste free and the materials used can be recycled or reused with no quality loss("Cradle-to-Cradle : Dictionary of Sustainable Management", 2016).
In terms of Graphics Design, the use of recycled paper for example could improve the environmental impact of printing.


In the 'Creative Gallery on Sustainable Communications '- what ad has the most impact for you and why?

("UNEP DTIE SCP Branch: Communications", 2016)

This ad for pollution was one of the ads that caught my attention as it is more subtle than majority of the ads. By invoking the curiosity of the viewer to take a closer look to confirm that the plastic bag might be a jellyfish, the ad attracts attention to the issue it is highlighting. "Help them go extinct" is also a smart tagline to follow up on a made up scientific name for the plastic bag, giving the ad a comedic side as well.

List five things that a Graphic Designer can do in their practice to decrease their impact on the environment. 

1. Lean towards showcasing designs digitally rather than printing them out
2. Use more recyclable materials when creating product packaging for example
3. Reuse paper or posters by printing on the unused side
4. Print only the amount that you need
5. Do not throw away old work as it can be re purposed

Bibliography:

Cradle-to-Cradle : Dictionary of Sustainable Management. (2016). Sustainabilitydictionary.com. Retrieved 4 April 2016, from http://www.sustainabilitydictionary.com/cradle-to-cradle/

UNEP DTIE SCP Branch: Communications. (2016). Unep.fr. Retrieved 4 April 2016, from http://www.unep.fr/scp/communications/ad/details.asp?id=6685129&cat=all

Week 6: Ethics

Homework: Design and Ethics - what does "ethics" mean to you? Read the following "AGDA code of Ethics," "Starving for ethics - Ethics for Graphic Designers" and "Protect your Creative" and respond to the following questions on your blog:


What is "free pitching" and how does it effect the industry as a whole?
Free pitching is where the designer pitches their idea to the client without any confirmation that the ideas within the pitch will stay confidential, or the designer was not paid for the pitch itself. Both can lead to the "unfair manipulation of designers with the aim of garnering unpaid work" ("AGDA - Code of Ethics", 2016), as the client can then take the ideas and give them to another designer without acknowledging the original designer's work through money or confidentiality contract.

The effect of free pitching destroys the trust between the client and the designer. This slows down the work of the designer as they have to go through a confidentiality contract to confirm they will not be manipulated into working for free. As the commissioner's acceptance of the work should decide whether the designer is paid or not.


Why is it important to have a code of ethics in the Graphic Design industry?
The importance of a code of ethics is to confirm fair treatment for graphic designers and their clients. The code of ethics allows graphic designers and their clients to work together without the fear of unethical business practices.


What is the difference between a copyright and trademark or patent?
Copyright provides protection for the work of a designer, however the concept or the idea in the work is not protected, only the expression.

A trademark is used to indicate that a word, logo, phrase or aspect of packaging is under not allowed to be replicated. Trademarks are important as they help protect the reputation of the company through protecting their signature elements.

A patent protects how the product functions, works or the material. An example being the way a particular medicine works, protecting it from others to keep it exclusive to one producer.

Copyright protects the expression of the work, trademarks protect the unique aspect of the work and patents protect the functionality or feel of the work.

What measures do you need to take as a freelance designer to protect your creative output?
It is important to first copyright your work as it is free and will protect the visual aspect of your work, and then to copyright your ideas, which is done through helping a client understand the ideas are confidential or must be paid for, and further confirmation through a confidentiality contract if needed.

Next is to register a trademark for the unique element of your design, to allow your reputation of good and services to be distinguishable from other designers. Depending on the work, a patent may be needed to help safeguard the unique functionality or feel of your work.

To further ensure protection of your creative output, a thorough understanding on the code of ethics for graphic designers, as unethical business practices may be more subtle and harder to notice when first entering the industry.

Bibliography:
AGDA - Code of Ethics. (2016). Agda.com.au. Retrieved 3 April 2016, from http://www.agda.com.au/about/code-of-ethics/

Week 5: What Is Your Worth?

Homework: What is your worth? Work out how much you should be paid (based on your skill and experience) per hour as a freelance designer using online resources (http://www.agda.com.au/, http://www.getartisan.com.au/, http://www.dia.org.au/ and http://www.seek.com.au). Using the "forms for graphic designers" as a guide create a self-branded timesheet and post as a jpg. image on your blog.

Based on my current experience I set the rates fairly low in order to reflect it. As I consider myself not experienced enough as I only specialise in some areas of the field. I am also categorised as a student designer as I have not finished my degree which lowers my hourly rate. I decided to do a landscape version to suit the orientation of my current presentation of boxing glove designs, however I prefer a portrait version.

Week 4: Managing Yourself and Managing Others

Homework: Managing yourself and Managing Others - dealing with clients, colleagues,your boss and yourself! In any design practice you will have to deal with a boss, colleagues clients and manage their expectations. Using the Johari Window tool (http://kevan.org/johari) work out how you see yourself and how others see you. Write down the attributes (the similarities and differences if any) on your blog and read the "AIGA clients guide to Graphic Design" and answer the following: What attributes described in Johari Window exercise do you see as key to dealing with clients? What attributes are key to dealing with your colleagues? What attributes are key to dealing with yourself? What attributes are key to dealing with your boss? How does your version of the Johari Window differ from your friends/close contacts? How does this exercise make you think about your position in the workplace (ie. do you think you would be a good co-worker or boss or are there things you think you need to work on/develop?)

What attributes described in Johari Window exercise do you see as key to dealing with clients?
The most important attributes needed when dealing with clients would have to be patience, observant, knowledgeable, adaptable. Patience being important as the design must be able to understand the aims of the client before creating anything, this may take time in order to obtain the full idea from the client. Patience is further emphasised through how "It is the client’s responsibility to lead a project and the designer’s to design and manage the design process" from the AIGA client guide, as this situation could be potentially frustrating for a designer. Being observant helps a designer understand who they are working for, as with this trait you pick up details that the client may want without knowing, being knowledgeable also relates to this too. Adaptability is needed as a client may change their idea multiple times throughout a project which is where being adaptable is important.


What attributes are key to dealing with your colleagues?
In order to deal with colleagues it is important to be friendly, adaptable, helpful, dignified and dependable. Friendliness is important as it makes it much easier for a colleague to approach you. Being adaptable helps when talking to a variety of colleagues as their personalities can differ and it might change the way you act around certain colleagues to befriend them. Helpfulness is tied in with being dependable, as being a helpful reliable team mate will gain you the respect of your colleagues giving you a dignified persona.


 What attributes are key to dealing with yourself?
Dealing with oneself requires being accepting, logical, reflective and self-conscious. Being accepting allows you to move on with problems that you cannot fix which is in turn, being logical. Reflectiveness and self-conscious are closely related since being able to reflect upon yourself helps you improve, whereas being self-conscious further improves yourself through perceiving yourself as an individual and where you can fix things.

What attributes are key to dealing with your boss?
The attributes needed to deal with your boss are being dependable, trustworthy, confident and mature. Dependability and trustworthy are similar, as a boss should see you as someone who can be relied upon when needed. Confidence is needed to be able to translate a designers problems to the boss, since a boss may not understand your side of issues. Maturity is important as a boss's criticism may bring a designer down, however being mature allows you to understand why which will motivate you to continue.

How does your version of the Johari Window differ from your friends/close contacts?

I tend to be a more independent person and I keep to myself which translates to people seeing me as shy. However with people I am close with I am the opposite which makes it hard to define me which is why I selected "complex".

How does this exercise make you think about your position in the workplace (ie. do you think you would be a good co-worker or boss or are there things you think you need to work on/develop?)
I would make a strong co-worker over a boss. The reason for this is I am too kind when I criticise others work which means I am not able to lead people as a boss. I am reliable when a friend is in need and my work ethic is fairly high which translates well when in the workplace as a co-worker. In order to improve myself, I would work on my communication with peers as I am usually the one being talked to rather than the one approaching others.

Week 3: Logo and Resume Template

Homework: Pretend that you are a media "brand" and follow the steps 1-3 in the LogoTournament "Create a Logo Design Contest" set-up sheet (http://logotournament.com/). Write down all of your responses on your blog (you can take screen shots if you like or otherwise document your answers to the questions posed by LogoTournament). DO NOT set up a Logo Contest (so stop after completeing step 3). Based on your results create a logo that suits your style and professional objectives for upload on your blog. Once you have created your logo - make a Template for a CV (using the 'Designing a Resume - with Steve Harris' Lynda.com resource below) and place a jpg image of your template (one page) on your blog.

Organization or business name:

Jason N

Slogan:

By design

Please describe what your organization or business does in one sentence:

General graphic design

Industry:

Internet

Target Audience:

•  Adolescent to adults
• Age 14 – 30
•  Male and female
•  Graphic design industry
• Middle class and above
• Mix of flamboyance and professional

Purpose (What top three things should the logo communicate?):
Professionalism, skilled and creative.

Style:

• Wordmark (Google, Coke, Disney)
• Abstract Mark (Olympics rings)
• Character (Starbucks, Pringles)

Style Sliders:

Colour:

Blue, white, black, grey, orange and yellow. As long as one of these colours is in the logo, they don’t all have to be used.

Reflection:

The logo I have created is somewhat fitting for myself, as I prefer it to be clean and simple. I decided not to include the slogan as it was awkward when placed next to the design. The colour orange could be altered, however I feel that orange is fresh at the moment and I have decided to use that colour. I feel the logo does communicate what I have written in the Logo Tournament in terms of professionalism, skilled, and creative. The use of clean shapes translates into professionalism, the skill comes from how it is put together with enough white space and creativity comes from the combining of letters.

The resume template could use improvement in terms originality as the template is still similar to the one on Lynda. Although the use of colour is appealing and the typefaces used are clean and easy legible. Overall it is simple and the contrasting between the orange and the light blue highlights the key aspects of the template. 

Week 2: Personality and the Professional Environment

Homework: Take the following online test (http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp) to see what personality type you are. Discuss your personality type on your blog answering the following questions: What personality type are you? Who else (famous people) share this personality type with you? Did the results of this test suprise you? Do you agree with your personality assessment (why/why not)? How do you think your personality would fit into the workplace - (you would work better in a small studio or a large global agency, you are a manager or a team member?).

After taking the test from Human Metrics (http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp), my personality type is as follows:

My personality type is Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging (ISTJ) or commonly named, inspectors. “ISTJ’s tend to have a keen sense of right and wrong in terms of area of interest and/or responsibility”(Humanmetrics.com, 2016) which I feel represents my personality quite well, as my feelings guided myself to undertake a graphic design study. “ISTJs often give the initial impression of being aloof and perhaps somewhat cold” (Humanmetrics.com, 2016) This line reflects my persona, as I often get told I look as if I do not want to be bothered although I try to be the opposite in most cases. “the ISTJ can be depended upon to carry it through, even at the expense of their own health.”(Humanmetrics.com, 2016). I always try to make myself a reliable teammate when it comes to group work. “ISTJs are easily frustrated by the inconsistencies of others”(Humanmetrics.com, 2016). I am always observant of others in hopes to learn from their technique or style, however it does cause myself some frustration when I notice that things could be done better or more efficiently. Madonna was the only recognisable celebrity to me that shared a similar personality. It is understandable that she would, as ITSJ are passion driven and her being a solo artist reflects the introverted side of this personality type. I agree with the results of the personality quiz due to almost every paragraph of the summary has an element I can directly relate to. In terms of the workplace, my personality would be more suited towards a small studio with myself as a team member. The reason for this being someone who can be seen as cold or not friendly is not someone you would want as a manager, as well as me being a team member is more suitable as I tend to be too sincere with my criticism and cannot discipline people well. I always find it hard to approach others without any prior connection to them, which is done on a daily basis as a manager. Also the smaller studio being the preference is due to my frustration over inconsistencies of others as shown by the results, now since the studio is smaller I am able to contribute to fixing them. Bibliography: Humanmetrics.com,. (2016). ISTJ Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging. Retrieved 23 February 2016, from http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality/istj Humanmetrics.com,. (2016). Leverage Your Personality Type. Retrieved 23 February 2016, from http://www.humanmetrics.com/hr/jtypesresult.aspx?EI=-9&SN=9&TF=1&JP=16

Week 1: Introduction to Professional Practice for Graphic Design

Homework: Find one object (can be anything - a photo, poster, toy, piece of clothing, tea cup, designed object, etc) that defines or inspires you as a designer and prepare a 5 min speech to the class about this object.What is special about this object and how have you incorporated elements of this into your design work/creative practice? What does this object say about your personality and personal style?

I do not have a constant source of inspiration as I tend to draw my ideas from what is new at the time.

The item I chose is my headphones I use occasionally as they reflect my design personality quite well.

To start, the headphones aren't overly flashy and the branding is kept fairly subtle, however all the little things are all done well which gives them a premium look and identity. With a closer look on the headphones, the stitching for the leather is almost perfect, the size of the earmuffs cover the whole ear comfortably, the leather itself has a nice soft touch texture, the metal parts have a chamfered edge and all this is topped off with a dark blue to compliment the grey.

Although it is arguably not the best for sound quality when compared to others in the same price range. The sleek design makes up for it.

Basically I consider the aesthetic of the items as I feel it is important before considering the quality of the product itself. This is similar to how I look at designs as I prefer them to be balanced overall in terms of art and technique, as the headphones sit in the middle of good sound quality and design.

Now there isn't any unique features or neat additions on these headphones and they only offer the bare minimum experience, however the design of it focuses on perfecting core aspects of headphones.This reflects my style of design as I consider myself not good enough with a pencil or Photoshop to create something super creative or artistic, so I focus on perfecting the core aspects of the design in order to get my design to stand out rather than attempting to create an art piece, similar to the design concept of the headphones.

This translates to spending too much time focusing on the smaller things in a design such as choosing the right typeface. With every design I usually spend an excessive amount of time just browsing through different fonts to find ones that complement each other. Another example is I would question if the design would look better if I added in a something small like a line or dot in this area. Choosing colours also takes up a fair amount of my time, although I assume it does for everyone else as well.

My design concept is to keep things simple, and then continue to add subtle details until the design feels whole. I much prefer a sharp clean design over a messy one.

The headphones are a reflection of this as the design of them is not complex at all. It does not have any unnecessary elements and the headphones are kept as simple as possible. Although this does come with some negatives, such as the headphone band cannot fold into itself for compact packaging or the ear cups cannot pivot to give extra comfort.

However this suits my design style as it’s not based around creating amazing art, or in terms of the headphones the addition of unique features. Which reflects upon my style of keeping things simple and precise.

Overall the headphones are a reflection of my pickiness when it comes to the small things in a design and I tend to spend too much time perfecting them, as I understand that my art side is not my strong point so I focus on the core aspects of the design itself.