How To Make a 1st Year Graphic Design Student Chun-Jung Chang FdA Design for Graphic Communication Blog: itsmylittlebigplanet.blogspot.com
Step by Step Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6
Collages GDF VCT Essay OKIDO Project VCT Timeline Airside Project
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STEP 2: GDF GDF is probably the most confusing project for me in the first year. I’ve never done so many research things before and I totally had no idea about how to start with this project at the beginning. Research and Process have never been so important in our education in Taiwan. But within the first year, I gradually realize that research is such an important thing in graphic design. It helps bring more ideas from different angles. In this project, it was always helpful for me to have tutorials and critics with tutors and classmates. We learn from each other and share different ideas and opinions on the research, ideas and also the layout of PDF. Those helpful feedbacks are so important to let me know how and where to improve myself. Although this is the most confusing project for me, it is indeed the one I’ve learned so many things from.
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STEP 3: VCT Essay Writing essays is always not easy for me even in my own language. Frankly to say, I don't like it at all. The VCT essay in the first term is quite theoretical. We have to do much research on the relationship between image and text and analyze an example of contemporary work that combines image and text. For me, it’s really not fun to keep reading and writing essay in English, and I struggled again. However, I won’t say this assessment is pointless. This is my first time to carefully think about the relationship between image and text. When we do layout, why we don't use sans serif but serif, and why we don't choose bold but thin fonts on title, there’re indeed some tricky rules for us to follow. It's actually quite interesting to discover these hidden rules which I didn’t know before I did this essay.
STEP 4: OKIDO Project Illustration is my favourite thing in graphic design, so I had lots of fun in OKIDO project. In this project, the greatest thing was I’ve improved my illustration skill to another level during the group tutorial with Darren. He gave us some useful materials such as panels, story writing theory and using different angles in illustration. He also personally introduced Dave Cooper’s book that inspired me a lot on the colours. I realized that illustration is not just drawing and having fun. working with these theories and technical skills can help the illustration be more unique and outstanding from others. Again, tutorials are always helpful to me that I can discover different styles of illustration from others and also get useful feedbacks to improve myself.
STEP 5: VCT Timeline The second term of VCT assessment is more interesting than the first one. Basically, we have to design a timeline. The process was quite fun but I was struggled for a few days trying to do a creative layout. Although I shouldn’t have focused too much on the layout but on the research and the essay part, since I’m a graphic design student, doing good layout is also what I want to focus on. Before the final outcome, I came up with many ideas, but neither of them could satisfy me. Finally, after I discussed my timeline ideas with classmates and my friends, they did help. So when being stuck, talk and share with others, then ideas always jump out suddenly. This is probably the best benefit we have in workshops and tutorials during the time when we are still in uni that so many ideas can be shared and learned!
STEP 6: Airside Project Airside project is similar to OKIDO one. It’s also about story telling and illustration. The difference was the process. I did more experiments in this project. Based on the technical skills I’ve learned in OKIDO project, I tried more angles and views when I illustrated my characters. Also I tried more different possible stories with same characters. As to formats, in order not to limit my work in only illustration book, I learned so many things for this project. I did a pop-up book and learned how to bind the book by myself to make my book look more professional; I learned how to use Flash to create animation. This is probably the biggest new thing for me in the first year. Because I’m always afraid of learning new softwares, and Flash was so far away from my world before. I thought it would be so hard, but when I finished my first animation, I was glad I decided to learn. Everything can be overcome as you’re willing to learn. Now I can use Flash to make my characters move. This is really exciting for me.
Now The 1st Year Graphic Design Student Is Done! During the first year I’ve developed myself a lot through those projects. The tutorials and critics that come with the projects did help my works so much. Those feedbacks were very useful and helpful as well. It made me think in other different ways to do the graphic design when we’re sharing our opinions and ideas with each other through the projects. I did learn a lot in this year even though there’re still lots of things and skills for me to learn next. Since I’m a student here, I shouldn’t be afraid to try new things as much as possible before going to the industry.