Final Year Uni Survival

This January thousands of final year students will be going back to uni to complete their degrees and get the grades, my boyfriend and friends included. While thinking about them and what they would be facing in their most stressful term I began to think back to how I was feeling this time last year.

The last part of uni can be difficult with the amount of work and revision balanced between trying to have a social life and still get the results you want. These are some tips I stuck to to make my last term easier and a lot more fun.

1. Get organised.

This sounds like an obvious tip and it is, but get organised about being organised now. Get all the equipment you are going to need to revise, write your dissertation or do your coursework now so you can start as soon as possible. You can't cram two months of work into two weeks.

2. Don't rely on technology.

When I was at uni I had to submit digitally a couple of times. It's much more convenient and can be done from the comfort of your home. Unless the uploading system goes down, which I did on the day of one of my submissions. Luckily I decided to submit early so as not to risk our unpredictable uploading system crashing and I'm so glad I did.

Uni regulations don't count their intranet going down as a valid reason to submit late meaning you loose 10% of your overall grade per day your work is late. It can be the difference between a grade.

Source 

3. Whatever it is - it will get done.

The amount of work you have to before the deadlines or exams can be SUPER daunting. Don't stress;  just break it down into lots of smaller, manageable deadlines so you can chart your progress and ensure it get's sorted on time. Plus, if it's really important then it will get done, somehow you just make it happen. You'll be surprised how fast you can work when time is short.

A picture from final hand in day. 

4. Don't Stress.

This sounds simple now but don't stress. Just don't. I wasted hours worrying over small details that seem insignificant now. Stressing just wastes time and energy that can be put towards something productive. Put it to one side and move on.

Source

5. Party

Your lecturers won't advise this but I definitely do. The final term of uni is long and difficult and you need to remember that it is your last term, so make the most of it while you're there! I worked very hard but my housemates and I always made time for a few cheeky drinks to de-stress and get away from the pressures of finals. It's not all about work!

Graduation

Yesterday, four months after finishing university, I eventually graduated along with my class mates at Chester cathedral. Before the ceremony I had been nervous about being on stage because I am really clumsy and not much into being on a stage, but thankfully being on stage lasted about 8 seconds and I didn't trip.

Halloween is quite an unusual date for a graduation as most others tend to be in the summer, however, it did give us all a chance to catch up with each other and discuss what we had been doing since June. It is quite nice to finally have some closure on my uni time, although I loved it, it's definitely time to move into a career in design.

I managed to drag my boyfriend and parents to the event without them complaining too much despite it being cold and the ceremony being quite long. It's no secret that I hate having my photo taken so here are a few awkward shots I took on my phone.

Also this is my 50th post which seems pretty appropriate :)

Nic looking forward to graduation

Lorna & I before we were seated

Me looking like a tool in Starbucks

Sam & I posing in a sports hall

Tips for Student Designers

If you follow me on twitter or have read this blog before you will know that I have just finished my BA (hons) in Graphic Design. During the three years of the course I learnt a few things: graphics is expensive, time consuming, and at times frustrating.

But it doesn't have to cost a fortune, take up all your time or drive you insane when a project just. won't. work. These are some tips I picked up during the three years that can be useful and helped me to become more professional about my design career.

Books


I find books and essential part of my design process as they can give so much inspiration from simply flicking through them. As I have said before, I love adding to my expanding collection with new examples of great design that I can come back to over again. The usual staple for online book purchasing is Amazon, but I find Play.com is equally extensively stocked with  great design books, usually a few pounds cheaper than Amazon, and always with free delivery. This doesn't sound a lot, but when I come to order five or six books the difference can mount up.

Scrapbooks


I take a lot of photos when i'm out and about (see here & here). Instead of leaving them languishing in files on my desktop I get them developed and stick them into old sketchbooks. This is another inventive way of providing yourself with some inspiration from exhibitions or places you have visited. I have a number of scrapbooks with photos from 2011 and 2012 degree shows I visited to remind me of the most influential pieces.

Cameras

My DSLR is used for many things; photographing final pieces, blog posts and just taking my own photos. The quality and vibrancy of the images far our weighs that of my compact camera, which isn't quite up to taking good final piece shots. But with them both being Sony the memory card is can easily be swapped between the two without having to purchase a second, which is extremely convenient when you are a poor student.

Printer

Admittedly my printer is a beast and takes up most of my desk (annoying) but it is probably one of the most useful things I have ever bought so I can forgive it. I have a Brother MFC-5890CN which is capable of printing anything up to A3 and anything as small as a 4" x 6". This was amazing as at uni we had A3 sketchbooks so I could print my pages straight out instead of faffing around with glue/scissors/paper/trying to make it look professional. Along with this it scans, faxes, copies and can link directly to a USB or memory card. This meant that I could complete most tasks myself without having to out source more equipment and just focus on my work.

Although it is not advised by the manufacturer, I tend to use recycled ink for day to day printing. The quality is comparable and recycled ink is SO much cheaper. I get ink from INKcredible, an amazing site where you can get C, M, Y and K for £10 and the speed, service and quality is awesome. If you print as frequently as I did during the three years then this will definitely persuade you to swap to recycled ink.

Sketchbooks


My last bit of good advice would be to always carry a sketchbook with you to note down or sketch down ideas. Some of my best ideas just dropped into my head when I was on a bus or walking somewhere. It helps clarify ideas, keep records and develop concepts into a functioning solution to a brief.


These are just a few things that I find useful to inspire me when i'm stuck with a project or just save some money on things that I use all the time like printing. Either way I hope somebody finds it useful.

Postcards Printed

As I mentioned yesterday, the degree show exhibition is now underway after the opening night on Thursday. If you read this blog you might of seen me talking about my involvement in the show here.

Most degree shows have a catalogue with all the exhibiting artists in, a statement from them and an accompanying image. For our show we decided to have individual postcards, and it was my job to gather, edit, chase people up and make all 83 of these postcards, with the help of my good friends Nic and Lorna.

This was pretty stressful task on top of finishing my own degree as time was tight and there was lots to do. The whole process was a good experience in organising a large group of people and dealing with some difficult customers, which will hopefully be useful in industry.

Despite all this we did it and they came out looking really smart. I had been worrying on the drive up to the opening that they wouldn't live up to my expectations, but I was pleased with the clean style that linked in with our show branding perfectly.

Chester Degree Show Opening

 Yesterday was our degree show opening night. Something we have all been looking forward too and dreading in equal measure. I partly thought it would never happen due to the amount of work that was required for both the show and our own design work, but it did and it was a great success!

 The Graphic Design class of 2012. The picture is admittedly awkward but honestly did have a good time! This is a rundown of some of the pieces you can see at the show which will be running from the 21st to the 28th of June at Kingsway Campus.

First up is my own work which was an awareness campaign and brochure for a breast cancer charity called The Haven. You may of seen me talking about it here. The campaign will be situated in womens' dressing rooms and play upon the word "change" in terms of changing your clothes and changing and improving your health with The Haven. My exhibition space had a mirror, chair and clothes hook to make it appear like an actual changing room.

Nichola Watkiss produced a beautiful campaign to encourage people to shop less for "Buy Nothing" day with real cress typography.

Type perfectionist James Matthews came up with a great book to teach student designers the basics of typography through fun exercises.

James Mellor worked on a project to change perceptions of tattoos and promote great tattoo design through the "Orange Tattoo Forum" with real tattooed oranges.

Pattern enthusiast Laura Edwards produced a range lovely of travel themed prints with appropriate props to match.

Alex Franklin masterminded a rebrand of the extreme sport parkour. He produced a range of artefacts to promote the sport as a beneficial activity for kids and teenagers,

A really interesting brief by David Yates; to encourage men to buy flowers for other men by explaining the meaning behind each flower and what it can symbolise. 

One of my favourites of the show is by James Bingham. He undertook the YCN brief to create a picnic basket for M&S. The Japanese inspired pack included extensive examples of packaging and advertising and photography.

Adam Tomlin presented a rebrand of our campus with some exciting conceptual sculpture ideas. 

Sophie Lou hand drew a series of prints and patterns in a geometric style to create an eye catching piece.

Michael Goldsworthy created a giant map of the UK using plasticine to explore childhood nostalgia. He asked visitors to add to the map by creating a mini model of happy memory in a relevant spot on the map. I love the tactile nature of this piece which had everyone crowded around on the opening night eager to add to it.

Emma Wilson rebranded a sweetshop using real props. These were in real danger of being eaten during degree set up so luckily some have survived to see the show.

Hayley Miles produced a range of typographic posters to promote "The Wizard of Oz" to a younger audience. The whole aesthetic of her exhibition tied in really nicely which made it look professional and slick.

Of course there are lots more exciting pieces to see in Graphic Design, Fine Art and Photography so do make sure you visit or look up some of these designers.

Overall it has been great to see these concepts form to now seeing them presented in the exhibition and the show has dynamic and bold feel to it due to the diversity of the work on show. And that pretty much concludes my three year Graphic design degree, all that is left to do now is wait for the results.

Personal Development Plan

Yesterday I finally finished Uni! Completing our exhibitions was the last part of our final deadline so typically everyone was stressed but still making time to have a laugh. Getting to see everyones' exhibitions go up over the course of the two days was great because there is such variation in the work displayed. The exhibitions have now been locked up ready for marking, only to open again on June 21st for the public.

As part of the exhibition I had to include my PDP or personal development plan. This is a detailed account of my development as a designer during the course of third year, documenting everything I have done. I've been slowly adding to the document for a number of months but it's only now it has been printed that I can appreciate all the workshops, meetings, exhibitions, briefs, collaborations, competitions and events I went to/did/worked on/chaired. These are some images of the final PDP printed and bound.

Degree Show

If you follow me on twitter then you have probably seen me talking about the degree show over the past few weeks. The exhibition requires months of prior planning on top of our already busy schedules to ensure that the show is presented in the best way possible.

I have been quite heavily involved for a number of weeks collating an image and statement from each exhibiting student, editing and adjusting it and then making it into an individual postcard. Luckily I have had the help of a crack team of individuals; Nic and Lorna, to help turn the postcards around.

I really wanted to get involved with the show because I could ensure the outcomes were to a good standard and something we could be proud to present. However, dealing with such a large number of people you don't know and can't rely on can be challenging, but ultimately rewarding when you eventually organise the situation.

The process has been pretty stressful at times when trying to get required images from certain people and trying to explain what DPI is to fine artists. Hopefully within the week the postcards will be sent off to print ready for the degree show and we will end up with some great promotional items.

These are some images of the degree show in progress. This week I have been painting my wall space, getting covered in paint and building my plinth (I made it myself, from scratch and using tools like a pro)

Postcards

As usual I have been really bad at keeping my blog updated, so i'm trying to keep it updated more often. Anyway, as I have said in a previous post I have been working on my exhibition that forms part of my "Identity Design" module. The brief was to rebrand our uni campus and work on one specific area; I choose to rebrand the campus gallery which is hardly used and is such an awesome space. The main concept is using magnetic strips to allow students to put their work up or anything that inspires them, in an informal way that isn't abrasive and can be easily changed, to complement this idea I created a website, promotional post items, stickers, posted promotions, posters and a style guide.

These are some pictures of the postcards to be used as promotional items, inviting people to visit the website and generate publicity for exhibitions at Kingsway Gallery. I had them printed at moo.com which are usually great and super fast, one of the postcards was slightly smudged but generally the print quality was pretty good. Managed to get my SLR back from my brother so here are some better quality photos.