My foundation thoughts

Thank You

nld280 — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:34:25 +0000

I would like to take this space…….. to say thank you so much Liz for your time..patcience.. in making this course such an enjoyable course, from the begining to the end. You really given all your effort into the course….and we all appreciate everything you have done for this. I am sorry that I havent finished all my work to the best of my ability…I wish I had finished all my work up to date, intead of the big rush at the end again!!! (I never learn) I have learn much more than I ever thought…I know I have got so much to learn again, but I know if I had the time I would like to experiment more, especially with Photoshop. That will be my next course!!!
For now, I have decided this year for the first time I will not follow a course, being a mum to three very young children, I will for now give my time for them so that I can say, I have concentrate on one Job and try my best…..but I will be back!!!
Many thanks for being a fantastic tuitor – honestly I have never in my college life, ever had someone that have tried their best for their student…I do not know – How you did put up with us.?????

A digital Portfolio

nld280 — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:28:10 +0000

For our last Assignment we were to produce a professional portfolio web site with the following links to:
1. Introduction to myself
2. Blog
3.C.V
4. Porfolio showing examples of digital design work.

This was not a simple task as I thought it would be. There was so much to think about. The design to start off with, SUCH AS USE OF GRIDS, COLOUR, IMAGE AND TYPE FAMILIES AND WAY OF DELIVERING INFORMATION. I started off by looking through magazines and newspapers for examples of new and different grid system. The Guardian – newspaper was recomended, which obvious grid system was used all the time in their papers.
I also thought about the way I wanted to present myself as a designer by using the type of work that I have done, to present my web page nice, easy and simple but effective. I have always like the effect of transparent, and therefore I started with the thought of having my wire photos in the background…which then developed to having photos of CD’S and closeups of speakers ….objects to do with computer. Then in Adobe photoshop I developed my own style by bringing colour and some sort of a grid to the work.
I started off by making mock ups of every page in Illustrator..which then helped me to see where I was going, and how big I wanted each section of the page, and any padding.
That was the very easy part.

Then came the hard part of understanding!!! The HTML and CSS. I had no problem with understanding that part. But I can say that I did not understand much of Andy Clark talk over at Newi.Any way we started with, trying to make up a page for a receipe , in which I was feeling quite confidence about doing. But after a month off, I just didnt have a clue about anything…I really could not remember what to do, and solve the problems of simple things. I really was paniking, thinking that I could never finish the work in the three days. But Liz was brill, so calm with me and helped me through the VERY DARK TIME!! I know I cheated a little… but honest… this type of effect as backgrounds are really what I like, and I am pleased with my choice of background photos, and the palette of colours that I have chosen. Not bad to the time given.

‘Word out of a hat’

nld280 — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:21:51 +0000

The word ‘ out of a hat’ I was given to research was ……GRASS..! My first thought was..very appropriate, as my husband is obsessed with Grass!! Why?… well because he is a farmer and he is depending on grass to feed all the cows that are on our farm..therefore he looks after the grass all year round..he even measures the grass now and again to see if he has enough grass for various reasons (silage, for the winter and for the calves).

I began the project by jotting down whatever came to my mind when I thought about grass – which became my mind map. See a copy above

The next task was to use digital photography, image manipulation techniques and the idea of juxtaposition – the act of positioning close together(or side by side) for contrasting effect.. to produce a series of 3 composed digital images based on words taken from the mindmap – Grass ……. ah….

It took time for me to understand this work – and to bring images in contrast together ….. but on the ideas I was not having problems…. just hopping I was doing the work correct – bringing two words together to do with Grass.

For my first picture – two words are home/grass

second picture – memories/ground

third – patchwork/green

Wire Model – Photography

nld280 — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:29:32 +0000

Following our wire model task – the next step was to record our model via. photography. Before we undertake the task, we had an intoduction to photography by a tutor from Newi College. He taught us about the ‘rule of the thirds’ and about how you can achieve interesting photographs by just thinking where you place an object in the frame. We were then given an SLR Camera, that was set on ‘manual’ to take photographs of our models from various angles using a tripod, which was not easy at all !!! Thank you for the automatic cameras!!. But I could see some good benefits…such as the way you can focus on a part of an object or to creat depth of field to the picture…but I need loads of practise. Another aspect we experimented with was light. How much can be achieved by moving light around. I contiued with the work at home, using my own wire model..experimenting with various backgrounds, colour, zooming in, using mirror as part of the background to create refection..I really enjoyed this work…It made my wire model look so strong.. and interesting!! These are some examples of my final photographs

Wire – Models

nld280 — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:57:46 +0000

Our next task for the day, was to transfer our line drawings into a one wire model, looking from various view angles. There was wire of different gauges/ thickness and colours, which I did experiment with, but my model became so weak, and was collapsing that I took those parts off. I didnt do a good job on the making the model – my choice of wire for the structure was wrong!! Oh, well. I will Know if ever be a next time!!

David Carson – Background

nld280 — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 07:06:09 +0000

page-3.ppt page-6.pptBorn – Texas U.S
Career – Sociology professor
1984 – Experimented with Graphic Design
1988 – Violent exchange- Carson with impaired vision.
Created – unique perspective on design- establish non-mainstream photography
1989 – qualified as 4th best surfer in the world
Lauch own magazine ‘Beach Culture’
1985 – Found David Carson Design – New York
1995 – Published First Book – ‘End of Print’
– best selling graphic design book
Editorial Design –Advertising
Ray Gun – magazine
Won over 170 Awards – ‘The most famous graphic designer on the planet

Observation Drawing & Models

nld280 — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 07:05:18 +0000

This was our first meeting together, and we were asked to produce a range of drawings of objects. The objects I choose was a corkscrew, which I felt had a lot of interesting shapes to it. We prodced the drawings in Pen and ink, by dipping the end of the pen into the ink. We could not use a pencil and therefore what ever line we made, it was there to stay !!! I must admit I really enjoyed myself. I also experimented on various papers such as brown paper, wrapping paper and newspaper which made the drawings even more interesting!! The overall results were that I was very pleased with myself – as I could not remember when I made observational drawing before!! and I can still remember how to draw!!

nld280 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 07:07:29 +0000

david-carson-1.ppt

David Carson – contemporary design

nld280 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 07:03:18 +0000

The Chase

nld280 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 06:52:28 +0000

coleg-the-chase.jpg The Company was set up in Manchester I am intersted in their work personally, because I design welsh cards, and always looking for new ideas. I Like the way this company seems to design around their paper / card / product and leave the product to look quite natural with no fuss. I Love the simplicity of their work.