The very first day
Even it is almost over a year, I still keep asking myself the question which teachers gave me in the first day: What is Graphic Design, to be honest, I still do not completely know, but at least I understant more. And I remember the first exercisie we did: put the eyes on everywhere, it was a really good entertaining.
Cut and Paste
At the Beginning, I felt disappoint of the course, the first few weeks, all we did is cutting and pasting, I thought the course should teach us more about design thinking, so I was very confused at the beginning of the course. But later, I understood that teachers taught us step by step, I do learn a lot in this course.
The first project: 100 pieces of postcards
The first project of my design student life is the 100 postcards design. I was so excited about this project. To me, it is obviously like the graphic design students' project.
Screen-printing
This is my favourite technique I had leard in this first year; Screen-Printing. It takes many times to make a great image and outcome, but everytime when I successfully made one, it always gives me possitive energy to keep my works. Maybe to others, this is just a skill, but to me, this is the thing why I feel interesting about design.
Photography Development
Although the course did not expect us take any extra workshop, I still tried to take them as many as possible. The darkroom workshop is one of the best that I had taken. Because I really like taking good photographs, I almost went to darkroom to develope photos every week, and I am very happy that the material fee I paid is really worth, all the films, renting cameras and photopapers are free.
Doing some own projects
Sometimes I did some own works for fun, like this one. I found a store which i could get color cards of paint for free. I decided to decorate on my room's wall. Because of the color, it looks like a wave if audiences look at it from a distance. I also made a christmas tree and star by using these.
Cooperate with other companies
To me, the most difficult part is to cooperate with other clients and company. In these two projects: Ditto Press and Wallpaper magazine, I tried to make the outcomes which they like, but in fact, I think I failed them, I wish at the projects in next year, I can be more creative, be better. Although in these projects I have to make the outcomes for others, so it's quite hard to me, but that's graphic design, we have to satisfie our clients instead of ourselves.I am glad that I see clearly my weak part.
Ditto Prss
This project is the first project in the second wave. Because the GDF project from the first wave, I did not do a great job( because I do not like it very much), at this project, I pushed myself hardly to engage this project. I enjoyed the exercises and experiments during the lessons, using dice, make some cool outcomes. I realized that my thoughts should not limit only in graphic but many kinds of design, it woild help me learn more and be more creative.
Wallpaper magazine
Another project in second wave is Wallpaper magazine. Actually I chose the outcome which is not strong enough, not very suitable for the client want, or maybe it is because I did not extent my idea further enough.But still, I learned something in this project, it gave me lots of lessons, I beleve I will do better in the second year.
London book
On the third wave, the new project had started, design a London book. After two projects for others, we finally can design something what we really like, truely, I love this project so much even it takes me so many time and gives me so many pressures. Mono-Printing is one of the workshops I took for the book project, this is the mono print I did. At first I put too many inks on it, all I got was dark papers. Then I tried to reduce the ink, the best three shots had came out, and the outcomes totally surprised me, they look really cool.
The rules workshop
Another workshop I am working on recently is the rules workshop. Before taking this course I did not do any other kind of design, but now I know if I want to be a creative designer, I should learn many of them. For this project, I built another model of archacture, and I found an idea to look more interesting in my book, so, you will see.
Galleries and Exhibitions
The best thing I came here for study is that here are so many galleries and exhibitions to see, it is not easy to see those famous artists and designers' work in my home country, and every exhibition is so big that I feel really worth even it has to buy ticket to get in. I tried to see many exhibitions to learn some ideas and thoughts from those great designers, and it is very useful to me.
Conclusion
Although some of my works did not do a good job, I will keep pushing myself. Because my major was not related in design, I have to work twice harder than other that I can catch on their level, now the first year has almost finished, I will say I really enjoy this course. In this year I learned so much about design, I met so many good friends, I improve my English speaking, those are the most greatful things I got. For the next year, I will definitely work much harder than this year. I wish one day, I can be one of the greatest designer.
