16 17 ouil502 ppp end of module evaluation

End of Module Student Evaluation BA (Hons) Illustration Module Code: OUIL502 PPP Name: James Moore Student ID: JM260353 Learning Outcome

Evidenced where?

Blog, Visual Journal, Roughs, Final Illustrations, Storyboards, Development Sheets etc. (No more than 75 words)

Your grade Using words: > poor, satisfactory, good, very good, excellent

5A3: Demonstrate an informed understanding of professional context of their practice within the creative industries and cultural environment. (Knowledge & Understanding - Research and Critical Awareness)

This was achieved through meeting new people within and outside the practice of illustration, going to multiple talks to gain a better understanding of the creative industry as a whole. The study tasks also caused me to consider who I am as an illustrator, where my practice sits, and where it could be. This is most prominent with my rising interest in the use of VR, thanks to trying it out.

Very good

5B2: Identify and analyse the challenges and opportunities offered by future developments within individually appropriate areas of creative practice.

(Cognitive Skills - Problem Analysis, Problem Solving)

I’ve really considered where my practice sits as an Very good Illustrator. I knew I wanted to use my craft as a storyteller starting the year, but thanks to 502, I now have a better understanding of what methods I can use, the new and exciting methods to my disposal.

The process of researching a publisher also gave me the information necessary to submit a strong collection of work, towards my goal of publishing a story.

5C2: Develop a body of work in response to a defined brief that effectively demonstrates professional working practices in research, planning and communications. (Practical Skills - Visual Quality and Conceptual Development)

Working to curate and create work for the comic event is my primary showcase of this skill, setting up for an entirely new, alien situation. From this I gained the knowledge that a market should be researched and somewhat tailored to, through the tough lesson of not having a great deal of success for the event.

good

5D2:Employ a range of appropriate professional communication methods to record and present their own creative practice, concerns and ambitions. (Key Transferable Skills, Organisation, Communication and Evaluation)

Networking at events, speaking to professionals through those events has benefitted me greatly, coming to the understanding that these people are only human, and willing to talk about their work. Be it Wijngaard within comics, or Yescombe within gaming and VR, both contributed to some great breakthroughs in my practice and goals as an illustrator.

good

Summative Evaluation (See Evaluation Guidance on next page for more information)

You are required to write a 750 word Summative Evaluation of this module.

Please type up your Summative Evaluation in the box below. Make a PDF of the document and post the PDF as your final post on your OUIL503 blog. Also, please cut and paste the text from this box into the final page(s) of your OUIL502 Project Report.

Starting the year, I had a vague understanding of what path I wanted to take as an illustrator, feeling a need to pursue storytelling and sequential Illustration. At that point, I only saw comics as the means to achieve this. Because of this module, I now know otherwise, with a better understanding of the creative industry as a whole. It is apparent to me that methods of creation and presentation of work are always advancing, I just need to be open to new things and try them out, just like I did with VR. Coming back to comics, not only is application something that I’ve had breakthroughs with, but also an understanding of how to get work out there, through researching the submission process of Image comics and their personal standards, as well as having the comic stall with visits to comic stores to ask questions, I understand the comic industry itself far more, It isn’t just as simple as making a comic and selling it, you have to be savvy of demographic and audience to achieve success.

Gaining a better understanding of VR as a medium has put me in an interesting position. I haven’t been this excited to create work in a long time. I understand that I should ride this wave of inspiration for as long as it lasts, where this unique opportunity to mix inspiration and work is colliding. I need to find what I can achieve to this end though. Its fine and well having an Interest in the medium, but I really need to find a direction to take it. Hopefully the upcoming gallery 24 show with my team sensorama will be the start of something new and promising.

Although I didn’t get a response from my chosen practitioner, the research carried out in Its place was also a rewarding experience. Thanks to this process, I found answers to most of the questions I would have asked, resulting in a stronger body of work when the time comes to submit work to a publisher such as Image. I not only found info about the publisher, but still found valuable information given by Eric Stephenson during interviews, meaning that when I do grab his attention, I won’t have him repeating himself. I will be reaching out again during the summer break, only this time I will take a more creative approach, applying the tips given during the association of illustrator’s presentation.

I put a deal of effort in to the presentation, creating some brand new animations for the slideshow. This has me anticipating showcasing it. This was my primary means of putting in the effort I did, having something I can be proud of showing, incentivizes the ordeal. I still am somewhat nervous, but that just shows that I care about the success of the presentation. I feel this showcases improvement in the area, finding ways of easing what would primarily be a stressful situation. Also the experience of both doing and viewing presentations given by others gives me a better understanding of what I feel works when talking to a large group.

Alongside this, I may not agree with the methods and advice given by the actor, but I’ve certainly started to think what I could do in a presentation to portray my personality, hence again the inclusion of the animations.

I do understand the importance of such practices, thanks to the valuable information gained from talks, and workshops. I know that they are a key skill to inspire a following and attract an audience, and for this it is important that I hone the ability to speak publicly and network.

In future modules, lessons gained from this module will without a doubt be applied. I will continue to think about the professionalization of my practice, and how it fits in to the world around me. I have more exciting options and paths to take my practice down thanks to this unit, and am left somewhat regretting that I didn’t put more effort and time in to the module. This is something that without a doubt needs improvement next year. The practitioners researched, alongside advances in understanding of new mediums has completely changed how I see the world of illustration, and affected the approach and look of my work.