Creative and Flaired Day

Aim: Create your chosen concept.

Objectives:
*All: Complete the term survey from Catherine.
*All: Complete the student quiz from Tom L.
*All: Write down the deadline for A3.
*All: Consider criteria for A3 T1 and use the SoA.
*All: Develop specialist software skills.
*Most: Research techniques needed to improve creative skills.
*Some: Use specialist software to a high standard.

Friday!

Today is officially the beginning of the first task of the last assignment on this Digital Graphics for Interactive Media unit. Coming in, the first thing I did was write a message in the thank you card for Becci, the art club host. She has been an amazing help into my art influences. Throughout the day, I have also been giving out presents and a hard drawn card to tutors around the centre.

We held another quiz on Kahoot, created by Tom L. It was about U35_A2 in general and therefore I was really familiar with this, although I had misclicked. Excuses excuses eh? :P Anyway, I came second and Jordan B came first, winning the dual monitors. I would like to come first next time by trying harder! The loser was Brandon B, and he has to make the quiz again lol.

Afterwards, Adam went through U35_A3T1 with us by doing an activity where we explore the criteria altogether. This is really helpful because it helps me understand exactly what I need to do, this has been a strength. There are no weaknesses. When we began, I started to design my digital graphics. For this, I have to choose my final concept and create a logo, a web banner, a GIF, a roll over and a navigation bar.

Throughout the designs, I have been using Adobe Illustrator to produce the correct graphics. This is because my designs are heavily influenced by flat designs and vector images, therefore Adobe AI was the best solution. I used a variety of shapes and I have once again explored the use of shapes further by looking at other references online. This helps understand the industry practice and standards even more.

After lunch, we all continued with our work. To reflect throughout the day, I believe I have achieved a suitable amount of work. Although I was a little slow, I worked at a pace that was best for me which enabled quality over quantity. I aim to work on my portfolio creation and complete the asset creations + documentation at home. My weakness would be my uncertainty on understanding the roll over and navigation bar creations.

At the end of the day, I will be having my final art club session with Becci.

Work 'n' Review!

Aim: Prepare to review peer’s work.

Objectives:
All: Rate and slate your independent study time.
All: Write your self a target on the post it note.
Most: State key parts of the brief.
Most: Use a range of vocabulary.
All: Identify the most suitable descriptive words.
Some: Consider appropriate use of fonts and their application.
All: Discuss how to feedback.
All: Appropriately analysis a peer’s work.
All: Work well together.
Some: Review feedback.
Aim: Review peer’s work.

Objectives:
All: Review peer’s work using the given worksheet.
All: Consider reviewers feedback.
All: Write about final solution.
Some: Explain in detail about final choice.
Most: Complete A2.
Some: Proof read all A2 before submitting.
All: Review how well you completed your target.

Konnichiwa!

The first thing we did today was to rate and slate our independent study time. I wrote down all the things I did over Tuesday and Wednesday as well as rating how well I managed my time and work load. I completed various assignments, resubmissions as well as my own art work. I even corrected the mistakes I had on my UCAS application. By doing this activity, I was able to reflect on how much I have achieved. The strength of good time management and overworking is that I get work done, but the weakness of this is exhaustion. Afterwards, we all have a post-it-note and wrote down a list of what we would like to achieve today; to complete A2 + submit, understand maths by making notes, attend learner forums with feedback, and start the next assignment and or continue with remaining resubmissions.

As an inspector was here today to observe Adam, he set us a variety of activities. The next one was to put different adjectives in order of importance with our opinions. I worked with Jordan B on this and we managed to even include three additional keywords. The purpose of this activity was to help us be more creative and descriptive within our assignments. We also put the words in different fonts that matches the word, e.g. bold in BOLD. This ultimately helps meet the intended purpose and has a more effective approach in design.

Next, we were tasked to review each other's concepts so far and decide whether it is to help improve their work or to help select the final concept. As Jordan B does not have his concepts yet, I decided to help him improve his work by listening three things that works well and three things that would be better if. I helped him by explaining what we have to do for the concept designs. I believed this has benefited me because it allowed me to be more confidence in my final concept choice.

With this review, I completed the last part of U35_A2 and submitted as a result. I also spent some time to quickly complete the remaining parts of U35_A1 resubmission. Throughout the rest of the time until lunch, I have been working on my resubmissions and personal work. Reflecting throughout today, I am happy that I have invested time into my independent study - this has helped reduce my workload overall in college. 

Objectives:
Use the correct vocabulary when discussing probability.
Be able to differentiate between an independent and a dependent event.
Construct a space diagram.
Use space diagrams to find the most probable outcome.
Use Venn diagrams to describe events.
Be able to calculate union and intersect.
Use set notation to describe probability.

Work Grinder!

Aim: To develop your ideas for A2.

Objectives:
*Use Pinterest.
*Visually explore key words.
*Discuss your workload with Adam.
*Set yourself a SMART target for the hour.
*Develop your three different concepts for the different parts of the brief.
*Include creative inspiration in your Blog.

Aim: To consider the impact of British Laws upon designers.

Objectives:
*Identify key Laws.
*Consider how these laws affect designers.
*Describe key terminology for A2.
*Take notes whilst Adam explains common mistakes of A1.
*Explain about could have been better about A1.

Hello!

Yesterday morning, Adam firstly recapped what we all had to do in order to make sure everyone had something they can work on. For me, I proof read my U35_A2 explanations on how I used creativity and flair. I made grammar changes and added additional information whereas needed. Soon later, I found out I missed a bit therefore I had to make amendments to my concept sketches and then re-import the images. When it was done, I improved it by using Photoshop's image adjustment tools such as contrast. 

Throughout the day, everyone also made their own Pinterest account. I already have one on my main email, therefore it was quite familiar. I followed all of my interests, which is art & design (around concept for games/manga). Furthermore, we also made another SMART target. An hour later, I had achieved this. My SMART target was to sit up straight and to get all of my work done so I can move onto the last part of A2 and for Zoe's U23_A3 resubmission.

For the last part of the day, I worked furthermore on Zoe's work. I managed to get a lot completed as well as to ask her. My strengths of today was being able to comply and work well with what was given. My weakness was my understanding on certain areas of the resubmission. An inspiration was pinterest because it holds a lot of motivation and determination to produce those artworks. To reflect, I will be working on my assignments, resbumssions, art and portfolio over the next two days. I will also attempt to work on fixing the mistakes of my UCAS application - I hope I can see Catherine ASAP.

I am leaving earlier today due to a dentist appointment, which means I will miss out Adam covering the last part of U35_A2 - Legal and Ethical Issues in design. However, a powerpoint has been sent to me.

Chilled Day + Careers Tech Day!

Aim: To develop your ideas for A2.

Objectives:
* Review and complete your SMART target.
* Complete the student quiz.
* Listen to three different talks.
* Engage with the Careers Tech day.
* Develop your different solutions to fulfil your brief.
* Include creative inspiration in your Blog.

Heyo!

The first thing we did in college today was to look at the SMART targets we set and review them by commenting how I had achieved it (if I did). For me, I have successfully maintained my heavy workload via time management and planning as well as being succinct on my assignments. As mentioned on my review document, I did this by planning an action time and by proof reading my work. Afterwards, I rechecked the questions I planned yesterday in order to prepare for the upcoming seminars (careers technology day). However, before I attended the first talk, Brandon shared with us a quiz (that he advantageously took from the Internet) and shared a Kahoot quiz with the glass in regards to our current unit. By the end, I came fourth and I am proud of this because it meant that I am paying attention. I made a few mistakes however and that was my weakness, but in return I learnt things I did not know - such as what an accordion in digital graphics is. (Where device menu's expands and closes).

The first talk was presented by Jodie Cole. She is a Graphic Designer who works for Naked Marketing and has helped various clients with projects from printing by hand to digital designing. She covered the progression of her life and it has made clear that it is difficult but aspirations can be achieved with hard work. I understood a lot of what she explained because it links heavily to the current unit, this has been a strength. My improvement is to understand furthermore of design in general, so I can apply my knowledge to pursue my future career too and hopefully use it there. When she finished, I asked her a question and that was in regards to the conditions and life at work in a studio. I have concluded that being able to work in a team would bring out each one's special talent/ability to create a unique finished product. It also boosts creativity and can help turnovers.

After the first talk, I focused on my U35_A2 once more. I began and finished my sketches of inspirational ideas about technology focus. Once I have scanned in a photo of my sketches, it was time for the second talk with Shaun Moore. He was a level 2 student who studied in Develop EBP last year that moved onto an apprenticeship with Lisa Angels. He works as a web designer and he learns his programming skills from Treehouse. In this case, himself and Jodie has been an inspiration because they are real-time proof of people being able to chase their dreams no matter the age, generation and location. 

When I came back from Lunch, I filled in a short survey about the Careers Technology Day. I have to say I have benefited a lot because I got to understand more of how things work. And although that no one from the Games Industry came, I applied the designing scenarios that Jodie had said to Games & Art Design. 

For the rest of the day, I continued with U35_A2 work. I discovered that the assignment is a lot bigger than expected, but that is fine as I am still on top of work. I have realised that I needed to create three finalised concepts with different themes in regards to the inspirational ideas I have made. After getting help from Adam, I made notes to remind myself and cracked on, getting things done. 

Reflecting for today, it has been a pleasant experience. I would like the Careers Tech Day to happen once more if possible. I'll be honest, I want to talk to someone who works from the game industry. Anyway, my aims throughout the weekend is to catch up on U35_A2 so I can be ready to move onto the final section of the assignment on Monday, which is about ethical and moral considerations of designing. I am also attending art club as usual, working intensely on my portfolios, doing personal designing and more!

Bye!

Creative and Inspirational Ideas Generation!

Aim: To begin your creative process for A2.

Objectives:
*Write three questions you could ask professionals.
*Consider the nuances of Adam’s marking.
*Review how successfully you used your independent study time by looking at data.
*Complete the Kahoot re-cap quiz.
*Explore what A2 criteria means.
*Start generating ideas that fulfil your brief.

Hey!

Over Tuesday and Wednesday, I worked on my portfolio and I am another step closer to the final completion. I would like to get everything done by the end of December and then slowly add work to it until the interview. I will also be showing this to my tutors in college as promised. Furthermore, I worked a bit on U35_A2 in other to use my independent time efficiently.

Coming into college, the first thing we did was to sign in because there wasn't a sheet - glad I mentioned it, gotta keep up my attendance. Next, Adam asked us to create a few questions we could ask the speakers tomorrow. Since I am listening to designers speak, my questions are: "Where do you get your sources of inspiration from?", "What made you start and what was the journey like?" and "What is the working environment and conditions like?" - with my own research, I have discovered that the designing industry is indeed time consuming due to perfection and experimentations of practices. I would like to know more about their work life so I can apply it to Games Design.

Next, Adam wanted to review our learning so he handed out white boards and pens for us to write a scale from 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good) about our use of independent study time. This is because some peers had trouble with U35_A1's deadline. For my own reflection, I am aware that I am able to meet deadlines and output good quality work because I aspire improvement and enjoy working. I'm also a night worker, so I definitely fit 8 hours minimum - this would be a strength but my exhaustion would be a weakness.

Next week from 2:30 - 3:00pm, learner forums will once again begin. I am happy I can once again make an impact and difference on the centre. And oh, Adam also brought us an Advent calendar where we all open one door each as time passes. Soon later, we did another popular Kahoot quiz in regards to recapping what we had learnt on Monday for U35_A2. At the end of the quiz, I came first and won a prize (Kit Kat). I learnt that the cost would be in a quote rather than specification. My strength has been listening and making notes. I also won because I read the SoA thoroughly to make sure I understand well (beforehand).

Before returning to our assignments, Adam sent us the criteria and we once again highlighted/explained the terminologies in order to ensure we know where we want to achieve. I learnt that Adam will not be measuring the guidance because it is immeasurable. When I returned to work, I cracked on with U35_A2. I used the Internet and the SoA to inspire new ideas for me to jot down on my mind map. When the mind map is done, I moved onto sketches and eventually to annotating my ideas generation.

Today has been productive and I am getting all the work I had planned done. This effective time management plan is benefiting me because I am able to work on various tasks.

Be able to multiply out brackets.
Be able to recall the difference between a arithmetic and geometric sequence.
Be able to write the rule that describes a sequence.
Use correct notation.
Be able to identify the proof for a arithmetic and geometric progression.
Be able to calculate the series of a finite sequence.

In maths, today we learnt more about arithmetic and geometric sequences. We did a quick recap on it and then advanced to learn about arithmetic and geometric progression sequences. This uses sigma notation and other hard complex stuff. I managed to understand most of it and thus its formula (strength) but I had a hard time understanding the proof (working outs), which was my weakness.

I've decided to leave today to just working on my art and so on with no college work. I am ahead in terms of deadline, therefore I will be continuing my sketches tomorrow. See you tomorrow!