OUGD601: Evaluation- Theory & Practice

Through this research project into ethical practice within graphic design I have been able to focus my time on a particular area of interest that I haven't been able to engage with fully before. This has meant that I have learnt a lot about ethical theory but also about designing for a charity, especially through the practical element in the form of a live brief. I have been able to expand my knowledge of contemporary graphic design through primary research into studios but also interviewing them too which has been a wonderful experience. However it has also been an incredibly challenging experience as engaging with a life brief brings its own pressures of time restraints, the influence of what someone else wants to achieve from the project but also to try and combine these with the values of COP. 

Through completing the live brief I have been able to see how the research into ethical theory is relevant within my own contemporary design practice. This was shown through the live brief I completed with Lorna for Hogs Rest branding. Through this project I found that I involved my own interests outside of design for wildlife, and this therefore meant that the brief became for me a way of expressing my duty to protecting UK wildlife. 

I found that when discussing the project with other studios and with Lorna I gained a further understanding of what her charity set out to achieve and as such it became to represent the categorical imperative. This is because the project includes what I believe and this therefore links to the design as it encompasses my social views as a designer. 

From researching for the dissertation I analysed the First Things First Manifesto and this became interesting in comparison to the social contract as they both aim to create a better community. From a design perspective, this project includes this the design has a positive effect on the wildlife but also on the design community as I uploaded the work onto behance and it has become an addition to other samples of work for wildlife. 

As mentioned previously the project has a positive effect on others, this also shows to create utility throughout the project. As Lorna stated at the beginning of the project; ‘You’re helping me and this is helping you with your university studies’. This is incredibly important to remember that the project is helping Lorna raise money for the charity which in turn helps save the hedgehog population in the UK. It also creates utility for the audience and supporters of the charity as they can buy items with the branding on them and become part of the progress to a positive effect on the environment. But lastly it also has helped me in my research project to further understand what ethical practice is within contemporary graphic design. 

I have come to the conclusion that after completing this live brief and my dissertation, any graphic design brief can be ethical- it doesn't necessarily have to be for a charitable cause. The main aim of a brief to be ethical is that it creates utility and a positive effect on the designer and the people within the design community and beyond that, the target audience and the general public. Ethics is an incredibly complex topic of study and one in which cannot be fully resolved, however this research project has allowed it to become part of my practice and something which I may continue to explore in future projects. However what I have found is that it is entirely up to the individual designer to decide what is worthwhile for themselves or as a studio to create a manifesto of their own beliefs. 

OUGD601: Live Brief

Live brief in context: 

It was incredibly ambitious of me to set myself the task of completing a live brief for my COP3 project and I am pleased I have been able to complete the work for it and on time alongside my dissertation. The artwork has been uploaded to her Facebook page now. This week Lorna has also had some large format signage printed and she is going to be selling items for a fundraising sale in February, so as a live brief and as part of my own practice it will be exciting to see my work being used for a good cause and to be able to further help the charity. 

OUGD601: Critical Journal

OUGD601

COP3 Practical:

‘What is ethical practice within contemporary graphic design?’

Critical journal

7^th November 2015

I’ve spent today deciding why I am completing this project and what I need to gain from this experience. This led to writing the practical brief for COP3. From the ethical theories and research I have conducted with studios what is most relevant is that this brief forms as an experimental piece to test my own practice as to whether it is ethical and how to conduct myself in an ethical manner within a live working project as this is something I haven’t done before. This project is also something which is personal too as it holds some of my own passions outside of graphic design which is the environment this is therefore why I feel it is my duty (KANT, 1785) as a designer to contribute positively to the UK wildlife and environment as my skills could provide a positive change for the declining numbers in several species.

8^th November 2015

Today I spent online searching for wildlife charities in the UK and made a list of possible charities which have little or no graphic design elements on their website or Facebook pages. Through the list of around 30 small charities many stated they were not interested or that they didn’t have the time, which was incredibly difficult and disheartening. I wondered whether the possibility of completing a live brief in a short space of time was at all possible and perhaps I had created more problems than necessary.  

However, I was then told about Hogs Rest when I rang another charity called Willows.

9^th November 2015

Lorna from Hogs Rest got back to my message/ email.

‘Hi Melissa, Jane (Willows) just got off the phone and was telling me you are willing to help and Yes Please, that would be marvelous if you can.

I haven't got no graphics on my boards ect, it all got thrown away but that is a different story..

lorna x’

 10^th November 2015

Today we were able to talk about what work Lorna does for hedgehogs and the environment and I was able to understand more about her personal ambitions and what a great job she does. This engagement improved my overall experience of what and why graphic design can be considered as ethical. As within the research studios such as Designed By Good People suggest that their work is with those who have similar ambitions and views, I believe this to be true within this brief too and is relevant with the categorical imperative as I am completing this brief along with my own views on the environment and animals. However as with ideas of MILL (1863) I hope in the end this brief provides utility for myself, Lorna, the environment and the audience of her charity too.

11^th November 2015

From the previous discussions we were then able to create an idea of what should be created which led me writing again a smaller brief of what Lorna would need now as a necessary element but I also added other elements of design which could be created as a pitch. From my primary research alongside the dissertation I found that some opinions portrayed that charities should be treated as seriously as any other branding project and this is something which is very important as I want the work to be of the highest quality to create the most impact.

12^th November 2015

Today I finalised the brief on what needs to be created and Lorna also said in her message;

‘You’re helping me and this is helping you with your university studies’

The above statement is really important for this project. I am finding that through engaging with research and discussions with Lorna that it is vital communication between client and designer to be able to fully understand what the charity wants to gain from this work. As I am not being paid for the work, payment is not the outcome as to why I am completing the work for her. On a personal note this is project which connects with my own outside interests with design so it as a form of duty for my own conscience that I am helping the environment and wildlife in as many ways as I can. But it is also because it is a way of further researching into ethical practice within contemporary graphic design as it is happening as a live and current brief and will help me further understand my own practice.

14^th November 2015

Today I have been working on sketches for the logo and researching ways in which other charities complete their design work in merchandise and signage. It is incredibly interesting to see that the designs for brands such as shops use similar design tools as a charity, this is because as researched previously charities use graphic design to gain an audience. The key to being able to create design, which works, understands the ethos of the company or the person/ people running it. The main focus I found within this brief is that Lorna likes things to be simple and organised, so therefore a simple vector based design would be perfect.

15^th November 2015

Since the first amount of contact and creating the brief I have been working solely on this brief since around the 10^th. I send Lorna some samples that I had been working on and here was her response:

Hi Melissa

Looks fab! thank you Melissa..

Also I like the mocked up website, hopefully one day should get website back up and running again

Thanks again for taking the time

lorna x

I am incredibly pleased that she likes the artwork as I spent a large amount of time communicating with her to fully understand her needs and this project definitely portrays utility as it creates happiness for all involved especially Lorna. The work I created is useful for her to help the environment and therefore also shows how the social contract is relevant to design; I have been able to create a positive impact on the community around me through design.

22^nd November 2015

Previously I have researched into the first things first manifesto and also discussed in the previous post the social contract and how it is relevant to my project. This is because it has a positive effect on the community and the UK environment/ wildlife. Today I asked for permission to be able to post the work onto Behance, which is a community of artists and designers, the social contract, is a way designers can improve their own community by creating artwork and sharing with others. Since it has been posted I have received various amounts of positive ‘likes’ and comments/ messages about the work. Lorna has also posted the image now to her facebook page and it has over 37 likes now. She also told me she has received messages about how professional her page looks now, and that makes me incredibly proud as a designer from a selfish perspective of duty to the environment.

OUGD601: Tutorial 5

For my final tutorial I have realised I am at a point where I am definitely on target to complete the entire project in time. This is because the practical element was completed at the same time as the dissertation, instead of afterwards. 

In terms of work that needs to be done: I am at the stage of putting together my final pieces and also printing them at digital print. This is so that I can show what I have been doing even though Lorna is going to get her prints done for the charity separately in her own time once the warmer weather arrives. 

The formatting of my dissertation also needs editing with page numbers and indentation of longer quotes including the different types of line spacing. I also learned that within this process the bibliography needs to be separated into books/ journals ect in their separate columns. 

Overall I am ahead of target and will be able to bind my dissertation earlier than I had planned to do. This means that I have the time to ensure that all my bibliography is correct and that my blogging is up to date and not missing any vital pieces of information.