OUGD603 - Brief 03 - Evaluation

For this brief I initiated a brand new platform, which was to add to the Union’s image rebrand. I was confident to get student’s work involved creating a new style of networking where people came to me, as well as this platform bringing opportunity to new students. I took this opportunity to work alongside the artist who submitted their work and use their design to influence my own.

A heavy amount of research into the rules of editorial design had great influence on the work. For this brief, I ensured that I dealt with printers 1 on 1. I had to source my own printers and manage working with an almost non-existent budget. This brought about a new level of professionality and it was a much more positive experience than working on the Freshers identity.

The concept is successful in terms of being a frequently published print media and being easy to get into production. I created a platform that is successful to run smoothly when in demand. It effectively entices the audience, being a free poster-zine, that students are always keen to get a copy of. It creates a platform for students to get involved and exhibit their own work, another technique to entice the audience. The style of the publication can be catered to each artwork that is submitted.

The finished product is a high quality, professional print, that has been folded down to A4, making it tactile and versatile. It was a successful project, however, bringing together all of the relevant information was a struggle.

To improve the publication, it would be more attractive if it folded down to A5 instead and including a more obvious cover, so people are more enticed to pick one up. We printed too many and were over ambitious with how successful this project would be first issue. This product is difficult to keep up and didn’t become regular as hoped, however it is a setting stone for a new platform the Union can continue once I have left my position.

I did gain new experience in this project, outsourcing information and obtaining submitted work from students, an experience that I can take forward into future projects of this nature. It benefitted me to work with a student from another discipline and let them have more creative control, their work informing my design.