This was my final outcome, having a hotdog fold booklet with a poster on the back. I created this book after looking back on the things I struggled with in the first year. The main thing was crits as I was so underprepared and at first couldn't really see the point in them. As soon as I realised how beneficial they were my work began to get better and more informed. I believe this booklet will help first years that were in the situation I was in to begin with as it covers 4 main areas:
1. What is a Crit?
Explanations to different types of crit and the differences between them.
2. Why are Crits Useful?
I feel like if I realised this earlier on my work would have been better!! So this really just underlines why they help you and how you shouldn't see them as something you need to do because its scheduled but because it will benefit you.
3. Types of Crit
...and all their pros and cons. This is quite useful as it allows you to prepare and figure out how you would need to present your work.
4. What to take
A list and explanations to what you should show at the crit to get the best possible feedback.
I decided to produce my final outcome in a hotdog fold and have been pretty set on this from the beginning as it seemed like the best way to get across a large quantity of information whilst still being bearable to read. This seemed like the most appropriate format as it allows for a different sections of information to be broken up individually and explained as well as having space for a poster which they can keep showing the main points. I felt like people would be more likely to take time to read something they can sit down and flick through in their hands rather than standing and staring at a wall (with the poster on it). Equally students can easily access the PDF which allows them to look at it on their computer or even print out their own.
I chose to work with black, white and a turquoise colour. I wanted to keep the colour scheme simple because each page was going to be A6 which is quite a compact space and too many colours would overcrowd it and make it hard to read. The turquoise is a strong colour that works well with both black and white. It is age appropriate to my target audience of first year graphic designers as it makes the information have more of a friendly tone rather than a serious one. It makes the page layout more exciting to read and breaks up heavy body copy.
Next year when presenting to first years I will hand a five(ish) copies out to go around. I feel this is a good number to show around to the first years, printing one each would be too much cost as well as the amount of stuff that freshers receive I feel like it would most likely be chucked. At the same time talk through crits so that they get a good idea through what I have said as well. It may drill in how important they are and not to miss them!! I will also make a PDF available so they could create their own but if not I will print the poster and the information (with changed layout) onto thick card. This will then be stuck on the wall and gives them something to refer back to. This gives three different ways in which they can engage with my project.
Overall I have really enjoyed this project as it has been interesting looking back on the year and realising how much I have learnt and how much better I have become at presenting and how the confidence in my work has grown. The project has also been good as I have had to figure out the best way to produce the work and the most appropriate methods and way to publicise it. I feel I have been successful in finding a way to get all the information in whilst designing it in a style which would appeal to the target audience. As after all students love sticking posters on their walls.
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