Gen Z; Outcome Analysis

This post analyses the success of my project outcome with reference to: the project brief, quality of research and how this has contributed to application of knowledge in outcome, peer and audience feedback and personal analysis.

Brief and Assessment Evidence

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Brief:

Make a body of work in response to these questions: What does your generation have to offer? What do they want? What is available to them? What should they receive? What should they give?

This project explores the environmental impacts of our consumption, in the aims to encourage my audience to reduce their environmental footprint. The idea is based on a self-critique; I have been veggie for five years because of the environment but still engage in fast fashion, still use excess plastic etc. I think we all need to work harder to save our planet, and this magazine studies how we can do so.

Consider:

Examine the current value and significance of your illustration skills.

My technical skills have significantly improved throughout this project, and my audience of awareness shows clear development from the SLSL project. I feel I need to put more focus on the significance of materials and distribution, for example my outcome was not recycled paper, this simple design decision contradicts the concept of waste reduction.

Explore ways of making work visible to potential audiences.

Through this project I have explored the significance of social media presence, which has been integral while identifying and building my audience. I have shared work via Instagram, and used the platform to also collect feedback and ideas from my audience. Work has been distributed through an Instagram competition which has aided the project in gaining online traction.

Assessment Evidence:

• An editioned final outcome. My outcome was a limited edition: I created a 20 page magazine which combines text and digital collage, five of these were printed via print service Blurb and then distributed via Instagram using a competition and raffle draw.

• A platform to promote, share, sell your edition, hosted individually or collectively. I created an Instagram page - @memekendrickart - which allowed me to share work, collect feedback and distribute outcome.

• Development and research material. I completed three research posts via this blog exploring environmental context, artist research and composition research. All work developed through feedback, personal analysis and further research.

• Reflection on your process and development in a personal online archive. This blog.

Outcome

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The final piece was printed as a magazine and distributed as five prints as a limited edition via an Instagram competition.

Positives:

• The comparison between the SLSL outcome and this outcome shows strong technical development, with improved digital skills, clearer visual communication and a stronger, more professional printed outcome.

• Sharing the edition via Instagram allowed me to reach a wider audience, encouraging my audience to share my images, and in turn share the messages they represent. This also allowed me to collect constructive feedback of what format my audience would be interested in.

Constructive Criticism:

• Printing with Blurb took away an element of experimentation with format, due to COVID restrictions this was necessary. However, in future projects I would like to experiment further with different paper and sizing, which could strengthen my realisation.

• Furthermore COVID restrictions meant I had to solely rely on an online audience when distributing my design. In future projects it would be interesting to think about the overall concept when considering distribution. For example, if I wanted to strengthen ideas of over-consumption I could have left the magazine in places such as shopping carts, magazine holders at shop entrances etc.

• Printing online caused an issue with media consideration. If I had been able to print at university I could have used recycled paper (which the outcome isn't) This would reduce the environmental footprint of my magazine and correlate with the concepts and ideas within.

• I feel I can push my discipline further my beginning to incorporate my hand-drawn illustrative style with my digital style. There is still a large contrast between outcomes such as the Big Family Press piece and my work creating magazines. Moving into third year I plan to begin to combine these two styles, which will improve my overall identity as a designer.

Audience Feedback

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After my outcome was distributed to the competition winners, I asked them for feedback. Most of the winners shared their copy via Instagram, which I think was really positive as it generated further interest in the piece. Here's what they said:

• "The quality is really nice! But yeah not recycled."

• "Really well put together."

• "i'm so impressed I just read through it, also it's something I'll use again for references in my uni work"

• "the harsh realities that need to be told."

• "There was a graininess that gave the impression of being under the sea."

• "I think this piece was structured and told a story, one with a stark message."

The feedback from my audience was really positive, they spoke about the powerful messages within the subject of the magazine, which was my intention for the work. Furthermore, there were positive comments on how the magazine was put together and the print quality, this supports my own conclusions of self progression in terms of print. Audience did note that the paper was not recycled, which is something I concluded in my own analysis, and is something I would have liked to explore further to improve the message of the piece. Finally, although only one of the audience members noticed, there were two spelling mistakes in the final print. This indicates to me that when creating future work I need to create a prototype before releasing the final design, especially if I am to charge for the pieces, this lowered the level of professionalism of my outcome. More research needs to be done about publishing magazines, and how this process works, for example what is the process of releasing a print at professional standard?

Conclusion

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Enquiry: Throughout this project I completed an extensive range of research from a range of sources. Social, political and environmental context was analysed through film, scientific research and publications. Artist research was used to investigate composition and format, while further artists research explored visual trends within anti-consumerist art. Furthermore I completed audience research via an Instagram page, directly questioning my audience.

Knowledge: My knowledge this project has been strongly supported through extensive research. I have applied contextual knowledge of environmental issues into the subject of my work, strengthening the messages I am conveying. Artist research has helped me develop my work through composition exploration, and identification of key visual trends when creating anti-consumerist art. My discipline within illustration has been developed through a range of applied knowledge in terms of concept, content, audience and practical improvement.

Process: This project has seen a clear development of digital skill, when comparing the SLSL outcome with this outcome there is evidence of clear improvement. This also shows a clear developed understanding of visual media, the connotations my imagery can have on my audience. Due to COVID-19 I feel I was unable to be as experimental as I would have liked due to lack of equipment. I would have liked to explore different printing methods, exploration into screen printing my designs, and have been more experimental with printing media and distribution.

Communication: My visual communication has been aided this project through a clear understanding of my subject matter, with extensive research into the environmental issues I have discussed. Audience communication has been improved with research into the needs and wants of my audience through online polls and survey. Visual communication has been further developed with application of key styles and trends which I have analysed in artist research of anti-consumerist artwork.

Realisation: Throughout this project I have collected peer and tutor feedback through tutorials and peer reviews. This has aided my realisation as I have experimented with feedback ideas. Furthermore personal analysis through my blog has helped me develop a clear understanding of how I wish to develop as a designer, enabling me to push my illustrative abilities further. Finally, audience research has been vital when examining the success of designs; this has aided design choices when composing the magazine and has contributed to a more realised outcome.