Final Evaluation for FMP

Over the seven weeks of my FMP I have been working towards creating a motion graphic. My end outcome was a motion graphic film and therefore I met my original project proposal. As well as this I have designed and created business cards, tattoo transfers and some type banners. This did differ from my original project proposal as I thought I would make an information pack. However as I developed my project I realised that I needed to excite my target audience in new and fun ways. Therefore I chose against the information pack and decided to go with more interacting things such as a tattoo transfer design which my target audience could put on.

During the course of the FMP I have been using a blog, an action plan and a sketchbook In order to show how my process. Having these three different components to document and review has been very helpful. I have been using my blog to really map out my thoughts and connect things which I have looked at and made. I also like to use my blog as sort of an image bank where in which if I see anything which I like I put it onto my blog so that I can keep looking back at it. My blog has overall been really important as it has allowed me to keep going over what I have looked at in a quick way. Another really vital thing to note about keeping a blog specifically for this project is the fact I am able to upload my video tests.

This is something which I cannot put in a sketchbook as it doesn’t allow me to show motion. By having this I can illustrate my process even further. Another method to show my method of learning is my sketchbook. My sketchbook really helps me plan out my designs and document physical things I love for instance the business cards I picked up from the Pick me up exhibition so I stuck them into my sketchbook allowing me to keep coming back to them. I think it is really important to have physical work and process. In my eyes it sparks off more ideas than just looking at a screen. Even just feeling texture gave me so many ideas. I used an action plan lastly to really manage my time. As the project stretches over seven weeks it is easy to go off the project however using the action plan I could constantly see where I am and where I needed to be. This distinction allowed me to strive to meet targets.

In my action plan I made three main targets: Use lots of different techniques and range of materials when exploring. To use Primary and Secondary researches in order to create my outcome and to create a final outcome these fits with my brief and appear in the FE Exhibition show. Overall I feel like I have met all three of these targets. I have used many different techniques and processes in the development stages. This including: Documentary style videos, illustrations, type development, mono printing, pattern development and looking at after effects. If I had more time I would have liked to have further explore the development stages as I feel I could have made an even more developed final piece. I have been able to form a huge amount of research, looking at books, the internet, visiting exhibition, talking first hand to people, watching TV documentaries and viewing films. I think if anything I went over slightly on the research time which limited the time spent on the other targets. I created a final motion graphic and other items that work very well within my exhibition space.

Throughout this FMP project I have been able to develop many ideas. At the beginning of the project I carried a lot of developed research stage which really led me to create even more informed development work. I started out my development stages which focusing on colours; this is after I looked at such artists as Morag Myerscough who uses a lot of colour. After looking at colour I moved onto pattern development which was inspired by such artists as M.C Esher and the Book of Kells. I applied the pattern and colour development onto photographs and life drawings that I carried out during the time. I also looked at film work filming myself and putting it onto YouTube and looking at the software creating little film testers. I also used different methods such as mono printing, I really loved the colour combination I did and I was able to use this in my final piece. All of these elements really did alter how my final outcome developed itself.

During the FMP one of the most important elements of my project is the crits and group discussions. Every time people were looking at my work they were proposing ideas or suggesting things which triggered loads of ideas and ultimately kept my work flowing. One of my suggestions for instance was to create loads of film testers, this was such a good idea that I tried to create lots of different shorts to go on my Blog. Other times I was told to keep creating more action plans even if it is just for one week only as this will keep time management going. We were also given the chance to have midpoint reviews allowing students to look at my work and me to there’s. There was a lot of praise, everyone pointed at making my outcome more clear which is what I went on to do. Throughout the process constantly I was having conversations with other students and there was a great amount of dialect which meant fellow students kept giving me so many different things to look at.

Within this project there are certain things which I would have tackled differently if I could redo my work. The first being would defiantly be time management. During the second week I got put back as we carried out a creative making session collaborating with other pathways. This put me back, however if I had kept looking back over my action plan I feel I could keep on track and give me more time to create my final outcome. I would have also liked to develop my work on pattern design, I feel like I began developing this concept to close to the ending of the FMP for me to take them anywhere. I have developed so many skills whilst doing this project. This being my developed skills of After effects a programme I will be using for my degree course of motion graphics next year.

I also have begun becoming stricter with my selection process something which will be very valuable for my career and course next year. Finally I feel I have been able to give constructive criticism to my other peers and giving suggestions for them to carry out. Next year I will be carrying my first year of Motion Graphics at Ravensbourne. The skills I have learnt from the FMP and foundation will really help drive my work to be as successful as possible. 

week 7 FMP Project

(All images on this post is Author's Own)

Week seven is the final week to create all my work and therefore it was vital that I pushed to complete all my work! Continuing on this week I completed my Motion Graphic. The piece did see me come to many problems. Firstly I was running out of time due to being slightly being on my time management in order to overcome this I had to push myself to meet a new action plan I made for the remaining time I had this helped a lot as it allowed me to really target what I needed to do. As well as this I found it really hard to translate some of my ideas in my book onto the software. I am not that well used to the software and I think this was one of the reasons I struggled with the time frame, it took me time to figure how to create something. However the process at the end of it was really amazing as I was really able to learn a lot of skills.

 I love the use of colour I put into the design, I was really worried that the lack of red would take away from the relevance however the colour works very well and in fact makes the designs so much more vibrant and bold. I was influenced by Morag studio and there wonderful colourful sleek typography work. I think that the  colourful reference really resignated with me. I think also that the colour relates to my target audience strongly and banishes any idea of clinical looking designs and replaces it with something fun and independent from medicine. I think my design really tailors to my target audience and gives a new perspective. My only disappointment was the fact I was not able to add more detail pattern work, I think that it was my limited knowledge of the software that didn't allow me to achieve this. 

Screen Grabs from my Final Motion Graphic ( Authors Own) 

Creating my business cards  

This FMP has been really fun and I have been able to enjoy throughout the course. As well as a motion graphic I have  begun to design other elements to my campaign. This includes a colourful set of business cards or as I like to refer to them as fact cards. The Business cards just simply says- Donate blood once, save 3 lives. Carrying from the Motion Graphic I have been able to continue with my vivid colours. The quote cards have been created completely by hand in contrast to the motion graphic. I used a lino print and sponge printing to create the design.

I really like these little cards as they begin to bring the whole identity together. Also this will allow people at the exhibition to take my card and really question whether they want to give blood or not. It was also nice because I was able to put into practice many of the hand made things that I researched and noted. Such as the handmade wallpaper in Ightham House, the hand written type by Mike Perry or even the Book of Kells. I think another factor as to why I didn't want to make the pieces digitally was because of the mono printing developments I carried out. I really loved the finished outcome of the prints as they just looked natural relevant to natural science and blood. 

Inspire cards as a set- Showing the beautiful colours

Zoomed in shot showing the intricate pattern create with lino print

The banner designs you can see here and above were again influence by the hand made artists but as well as this I was inspired by Morag Myerscough studios which use vivid colour within there work as well. I envisioned these banners to work in a similar way as a poster- meaning the signage would be around a University for instance subtly suggesting the idea in a visually lovely way. I used Mike Perry as one of my main inspirations as I really loved his handmade lettering which are quirky and work so beautifully. I really wanted to create something different from an 'ordinary' poster so I chose to create so beautiful hand made type exploring again the use of colour. 

Authors Own, 2014

Finally as well as the banners and fact cards I designed some Tattoo Transfers. I think this is such an amazing idea, specifically for young people as it is really hipster and interesting. It also gives young people a slight incentive to go and understand that Giving blood is something amazing. The image withe the full body arteries is the tattoo design I opted to go for this design and keep changing the colour for a beautiful effect. I used the same colour palette which I used for my motion graphics. This allowed the colours to create more of a brand identity. That is one think which I could have improved throughout my whole project. There is such a huge amount of different colours that perhaps it is harder to brand. However I think the colour creates a much more fresh and vibrant feel that ultimately targets young people. Another aspect of the tattoo designs that I really love is the fact I create some big enough to fit on the wrist but also some that can fit on your fingers. I think these will be really popular at the exhibition and people will think about my project when they wear it. I used the imagery of the full body arteries that I accumulated in my research stage to help me create this design. This design also appears in my motion graphic and therefore keeps relevance. 

Week 6 Creating week

Author's Own, 2014

Author's Own, 2014

Week 6 is the penultimate week and will be the week that I begin making. As I feel I am slightly behind in my process I have created a schedule which I need to follow in order to reach my final outcome in time. As I am making a motion graphic it is actually fundamental that I get my work ready in time not just to reach the Friday time but also to leave time to render, edit time, add audio and to be compiled on a graphic show reel. I think that this is so incredibly tight that I really need to buckle down and follow my schedule tightly.  This week it was vital that I scrutinize myself and push to get it all ready in time for the final week! To the left and below you can see some of the story boarding I have started to develop in my sketchbook. When designing I tried to use influence from M.C Esher and Morag to achieve a beautiful colour palette and intricate pattern.

Author's Own, 2014

Author's Own, 2014

Above are some of the story boarding concepts I tried to produce. I like the use of colour I used as I feel it allowed me to really imagine how the finish outcome could work with a colourful palette.  Morag Myerschough was one of my biggest inspiration during these stages of development. The colourful palette relevant in the studios work is something I really wanted to achieve within my work. I think adding these vibrant colours reaches my target audience. I was worried that not using the colour red will make my video clip not relevant to donating blood. I think doing this process really allowed me to place lots of  ideas the next thing I need to do is pinpoint my final chosen idea and develop an animatic.

Above is a test I did using one of my thumbnail
s as inspiration, I wanted to see if I was able to recreate some of my visuals and allow me to play around with the software especially as I haven't used the programme in a month or so. It was a nice practice and did allow me to see how my finished piece could look like. I think it also showed me how adding some detail can be effectively. It did take much longer than I initially though which makes me think about how quickly I need to start with my motion graphic in order for it to be complete in time.

Mike Perry and Jessica Hische

http://www.mikeperrystudio.com/detailed/175 Accessed on 6/05/2014

blog.leafprintdesign.com Accessed on 6/05/2014

Above are some examples of two different typographic artists. The style are both very playful something I really want to include within my work- I think playfulness would be more relevant my young target audience. The above lettering was designed by Jessica Hische I think that these developed lettering is very beautiful and adds slight decor to change the letter form completely. I do like the limit of two colours, it works so much better than I would have initially though. I also think that the letter forms like this remind me of the book of Kells and the entwined Celtic motives within the typography. 

Differently to the above Mike Perry illustrates hand drawn typography something refreshing from clean type. I think that the wobbly lines and the lack of accuracy is really nice to look at and overall contains so much more character. It also makes me feel better about imperfection. Typography is something very important to consider within my video which is why I am glad I looked at some typographers to understand what I like and what I want to use within my final outcomes.

Author's Own, 2014 

 To the left is one of the pages I created in order to really explore pattern design. I wanted to let go and just be more playful and enjoy playing around with colour and image. I think the pages really have helped me to think what I would like to include within my motion graphic and hopefully make it a lot more fun and reach my target audience. I am adamant that I Want colour within my work this is something which has been translated throughout my sketchbooks and therefore I am confident to translate it onto my final piece. I am worried about created the motion graphic however as I am not 100% sure if it will turn out the way I hoped

Week 5 Further Development progress

Monoprinting Expedition 

After looking at all these really nice anatomical bodies I knew I wanted to somehow play around with them, I felt like I could create some really nice monoprints so I chose to do several. What I didn't realise was how tricky it would be to get a clean print. However my outcomes are actually really interesting in there own right, there is a nice natural look to them linking to the really nice paintings I saw in Berlin. I think as well as this they are something you can't help but want to touch, I keep stroking the prints weirdly, this is a nice interaction like the puzzle my group designed and made in the creative making week.          (Four images below are all Author's Own)

Above shows my monoprints I created that using the anatomical blood system, it was harder than what I thought as I previously stated as the fine veins and arteries were hard to translate I was able to create the above two designs. If I had time I would continue to change colour and play around with type applied. I love these prints as imagery as themselves and think they work very well. I am hoping to add this natural quality to my motion graphic- However If I do not then I still love the imagery in themselves. 

Author's Own

Above you can see one idea i got after mono printing. I thought of perhaps somehow designing a tattoo transfer that my target audience can take after donating blood instead of the stickers you receive. I think that this idea would be really nice as it links to young people and obsession with body modification i.e tattoos or piercings. I think it also will allow for the message to be spread amongst friend circles. Above I painted on my self however I hope to use my development to create transfer tattoos alongside my motion graphic as a final outcome. 

Author's Own 2014

Above you can see the ink left on the board once I lifted the design, I like the way the ink was left behind therefore I photographed it. It was nice to see the huge block of colours smothered on the board with the white remnants illustrating the human blood system. 

Author's Own 2014 

I absolutely love the pink and the yellow, the design is not even that practical as the colours almost blur into one however there is a really nice neon feel to the them and was really nice to print with. I think these colours are something I should further consider within my project.

Life Drawing sessions

As I am adding a lot of anatomical drawings and illustrations to do with the body I felt it would be important to do some Life Drawing. Doing Life Drawing I would be able to play around with my imagery hopefully allowing for my ideas and development. 

Author's Own 2014

Here is one image I illustrated. The blue is meant to represent blood, the white shows the one pint out of 8 that they take away when you donate blood and ultimately creates a really nice visual piece. As with the patterns I enjoyed working with the colours and playing around with the idea of blood. To may this image would not have any relevance to donating blood however I think the coloring is discreet and visually impacting something I definitely want to do with my final outcome.

Author's Own 2014

Using M.C Esher as inspiration as well as Morag Myerscough's beautiful colour palette I applied some pattens to the body. I actually really like this piece and think the application of patterns does make an ordinary charcoal drawing into something more more interesting. Hopefully I can translate this further in my outcomes. 

Author's Own 2014

Above shows more development work I carried out with my life drawing, it was refreshing working into my life drawings almost as if I was applying graffiti to them with more colour and interesting patterns.

"British Library- Comics Unmasked and Beautiful Science and Pick me up at Somerset house"

Appreciate the patterns.

All images are Author's Own above 2014

Patterns everywhere! When you start to think about it patterns are everywhere and the more I think about it the more I keep seeing it. Here are some I captured on the way to the British Library. Even the colour palettes I need to consider. 

Author's Own 2014

Pick me up at Somerset house was a really amazing experience. It allowed me to see what current designers are doing and what they are selling. I think furthermore it allowed me to further my contextual research. There were so many designers that caught my attention and reinforced new ideas i could bring to motion graphics. My favourite designer that stood out to me was the PUNK collection. Above to the left you can see a temporary tattoo they designed and I won! This is really relevant to my project now. I want to design a tattoo to spread the message amongst young people. Its important to note that the design is simple and uses only black in it.

 This does beg me to question how effective a more complex design would be and if it would even work. It did make me really happy when I won a tattoo and confirmed to me that it is an amazing way to give young people something fun. The picture to the right of this is some of the business cards I picked up at the different designers stalls. I think it was really nice to see the different individual aspects of all of the design companies and how they have played around with there own name to create something very beautiful. This layout is something i want to keep developing in order to make something that works visually well.

Author's Own (Images above) 2014

Above and to the left are some notes I took from the Comics Unmasked and beautiful science. We were not allowed to photograph anything which allowed me to really mentally take in the imagery and understand why I liked something. I really loved the exhibition, i do read Manga a Japanese equivalent. I think that looking at the changing time and the way comics have varied throughout the years are really nice. More and more taboo subjects discussed and it allowed me to really take in the different types of illustrations.

The exhibition if anything allowed me to really study the different ways of  laying out my work.  A computer/TV screen is still a blank canvas and it is really vital I understand what I want to lay out and how I can make it visually exciting. I think comic books really harness this exercise and allow for the most when it comes to laying out. Another thing which I really liked looking at was Typography playfulness.  Like layout typography in comics books are actually really playful and change in order to fit with the genre or story line. I really tried to take in and understand what elements I though worked and what didn't so that I could understand what typography I would like to play around within my Motion Graphic.
Quick Recap of all the ideas I have looked at so far: Hand pattern work,  Typography spurge of fun!, A documentary type piece, mono printing stop motion and a more playful dancing piece.

Author's Own 2014
Above you can see the beginnings of  me designing my final pieces. Here is just some notes of what I want to say ( the content of my motion graphic). The right of that is some audio ideas. I wasn't sure what I audio wanted so I just noted some of my ideas. Either instrumental quirky, a catchy song or quirky instrumental with narration over the top. Furthermore I need to consider  copyright and whether I am able to use the songs. The lyrics are below: The audio is very important to think about as the motion graphic really needs audio that will not only make the motion graphic look good but also to appeal to my target audience. One song which I heard on my ipod I think relates perfectly. The song itself is really quirky and catchy and could work very well!
http://www.lyricsreg.com/lyrics/king+charles/LoveBlood/ Accessed on 1/05/2014

Well I've got love in my blood and I got you on my brain
I haven't got enough blood
I cannot love you enough
If you've got love in your blood
If it is bolder than death
Oh let it spill, let it spillOver the heart you left bear

Young blood, the old song, 
New love, let it grow
We will never fall apart
You can't tear a soul but you can tear a heart
But the summer sun is slow to fall
Our shadow stretched out over the lawn
Take a picture before we're old
We've never looked so beautiful

And I will build a towering spire
Of passion built by my desire
Oh give me time to gather the fuel 
For I know flames in time will cool
I give my flesh and all it's ambition
I give you my love and all lovers vision
If you love me just the same
We will never ever pass away

Well I got love in my love in my blood 
And I got you on my brain 
I haven't got enough blood
I cannot love you enough
If you've got love in your blood 
If it's bolder than death
Oh let it spill, let is spill
Over the heart u left bear

Well I got love in my blood 
( love blood) 
And I've got you on my brain
( you brain)
I haven't got neough blood
(Got blood) 
I cannot love you enough
( love enough) 
If you've got love in your blood 
( love blood)
If it's bolder than death
(Bold death
Oh let it spill, let is spill
( spill blood) 
Over the heart u left bear
( heartless) 

I want your love in my blood
( love blood) 
Cause I need you in my veins 
( you veins) 
I know you've got enough love
( enough love) 
Well I got love in my blood 
( love blood) 
And I've got you on my brain
( you brain)
I haven't got neough blood
(Got blood) 
I cannot love you enough
( love enough) 
If you've got love in your blood 
( love blood)
If it's bolder than death
(Bold death
Oh let it spill, let is spill
( spill blood) 
Over the heart u left bear
( heart bear)

Development week 4

As part of the the development week I have  been really trying to explore the different ideas I began to research. So above basically shows a quick colour test showing different colour variations and possibility for stop motion when creating my final piece. I knew I really liked the anatomical body from my research stages so I used this is as a basis to show the idea of changing background colour.

 I think the constant change of colour adds another element of colour and defiantly takes away from the clinical feeling of hospitals that people sometimes get from NHS campaigns. I like that there is no red involved in this stop motion, however in my last crit it was brought up that perhaps people may not realise that the video is about donating blood, this is understandable and I think that the video above lacks the connection to blood however I also really like the Dumb ways to die video that doesn't connect the campaign of train safety until the very end as well. It makes you really change your view of your initial perspective.

Author's Own 2014
Screen grabs of my YouTube Video

Above are some print screens of a YouTube video I created to inspire people to donate blood. The video is set up in a sort of video blog which differs from my vision of a final piece. However I do like the documentary feel which is defiantly something I need to consider.

I think this interaction with a major video showing website which is amazing way to get young people to look and hopefully notice what I am saying. In the film I talk about five reason why I think people should donate blood. 1, It saves lives. 2, Its free to donate 3,Blood runs out of date. 4, It doesn't hurt 5, Free tea and biscuit! Determining important reasons as to why I think young people should donate blood will mean that I can perhaps uses these points in other designs etc.

Although this isn't really something i was thinking of doing as my final piece; I like the documentary style it allowed me to see. I think this is something which I should consider doing as a final piece or a development.

As well as this I have started to think of ways that this could be turned into a final outcome, I could perhaps tie it in with the nomination ideas of nominating people to donate blood and tag them in a video asking them to express there experiences and whether it hurt or not. I am most likely quickly going to re-create this idea but make one for Facebook. This documentary feel is similar to the Professor Von Hagen documentary which I watched- unlike this video I tried to make it simple not using excessive complex and scientific vocabulary. I also think that the nomination of three people is really like the Pay it Forward Idea which is really nice. I think ultimately this has been an effective development task as it has not only allowed me to really put my thoughts out but also it has allowed me to reach out to young people of today.

Authors Own 2014

To the left you can see one of my sketchbook pages, I felt like I should really explore the idea of pattern and push at the concept. I think the page looks more directly at illustrative pattern work and less geometric patterns which M.C Esher specialises in for instance. None the less Esher inspired me with his dramatic pattern work something I still feel really passionate about. The left image was really playful and was actually quite a lot of fun, I think especially throughout this whole foundation year I have become so much more appreciative when working away from a computer. Anyway I think as well as all of this I was finally able to really understand colours I want to use. The colours should be bright, fun and anti clinical ( I don't know if thats a work-but it seems appropriate). I left this development as it is so that I can move on but it is vital I keep coming back to it in order to really address the elements I am very focused on.

(Authors Own images 2014) Above you can see some more development that's does actually use my pattern exploration. I really wanted to think about how I could  harness my exploration so far. Furthermore I am still not really sure if I want my motion graphic to only contain graphics or if it will use footage combined. Its good to think about my target audience in this case will an animation work better will combining both look too clumsy? I painted some illustrations over some photographs I took. I think that this works really well and could really translate nicely. However this is still the start of my development and therefore I do not want to limit myself to just my first idea so I am going to carry on designing(baring the work I have look at so far in mind). 

Above is a quick storyboard I did which shows how perhaps this story could work in a video clip. I think it is nice  to see the work will look like and allows me to apply colour and really think why it may work or why it won't.
Authors Own 2014

(Authors Own image 2014) Above is the Adobe after effects test I did using some footage I quickly filmed. I do not like the second video in fact it looks like some cheesy effect you get on movie maker- I put it on here to show what I will not be doing. The first video is actually quite effective- It reminded me of a white blood cell which you can see below which is very relevant to the topic. I think it lacks colour however if I was to colour the footage or other elements it could work as white. I do not like how fast the blocks flare however something which I struggled getting over. Its important to really pin down any problems I need to solve now. 

Mid point Reviews 
(Images to the right are author's own 2014)
The mid point review was actually such an amazing experience, not only did it allow for feedback but it would allow fellow students to look through my work and give me there perspective. It was also nice to see what other crit groups thought of my work and see what they are doing. I filled out three or four sheets myself and I really liked giving constructive criticism and praise. I feel like I articulate slightly better when I put it into words so hopefully my advice was very useful.

Three people marked my work ( names and what grade they marked me overall)
Katie Edmunson: Distinction
Olivia Robinson: Distinction
Charlotte Joseph: Merit

The first thing students had to talk about research, all my feedback was very positive all stating how they think my work was very well research and a wide range of research. One person was very enthusiastic about my sketchbooks, this does make me feel more happy that my research is extensive enough to move onto my development.

The next section discusses experiments, when I presented my work there was some of my development however there was not as much as I would like as i am slightly behind on my schedule. Again everyone was very positive- all explaining how I have started well and the work I have started is really beautiful. One person emphasised there appreciation of the colours i used.  I am really glad because the colour is one of the main things i am trying to harness in order to appeal to my target audience this has confirmed it is successful to one participant. My comments of problem solving was again really nice and noted the fact I stated I am slightly behind however they all thought my development thus far was very well thought out and encouraged me to keep developing more work.

For contextual referencing section all students found my referencing very interesting and enjoyed reading my analysis. The next question asks about my Blog and how it is coming along- however everyone thought my blog was very reflective and is relevant to my project. Olivia write " I feel you are doing this perfectly- giving lots of visual references to different things you have explored".  These comments do encourage me to continue on with my progress and further my pace of working. The last section and in my eyes the most valuable section of the whole review was the Overall comments/ target/ advice. 

 Olivia said to keep experimenting and perhaps to create a logo for my campaign- I am defiantly going to keep developing as I feel I am no where near designing the final piece yet how ever my campaign is for the NHS so I am not going to design a logo. I could compensate this however with perhaps adding some sort of slogan.  Katie and Elizabeth both said they were not sure what my final outcome is which is completely fair as I have not started to design my motion graphic perhaps this could be corrected by looking at more motion graphic artists and this in turn will help me when creating my final piece. The final thing Charlotte said was: "Really imaginative and fun". This is very amazing feedback as it is confirmed that my initial vibe of anti-clinical has been achieved and people have realised that donating blood isn't something scary its something magical and actually makes a difference.