Peer Review

Peer Review Sheet

Response to Feedback 

I agree that my projects so far have not been research based and therefore I am not hitting the requirements for ILO 6A3. I need to spend time researching before I start drawing, this could be researching the topic I am working on, subject matter, context, audience, client, etc... 

I think the reason that research is not evident in the two small projects I have completed so far is that they were both 'decorative' briefs and very open. As well, because I was working to a tight deadline, I prioritised the practical side of the work. I don't think this has been a massive downfall but I understand that as I start working on more involved briefs that I will need to take the research process more seriously. 

This peer review has also helped me to realise that the focus of my weekly brief has slipped onto composition from originally wanting to explore ink processes. Within the coming weeks I am going to make sure the development of my ink work is the main thing I am focussing on. Composition is still important so I do intend to make more roughs than I have been doing as well. 

Chat with Patrick 
Little Art Collection brief - challenge it, subvert it, do something unusual, it is a really open brief. 
Move away from traditional ideas, they are overdone. 
List the imagery/themes I want to work with and make them fit the brief. Don't just work from my list of conventional hobbies and interests. 
Look at junior and junior vogue.

Talking to Patrick about this brief made me realise I had been quite narrow-minded with my approach. The audience for the brief is 'affluent parents' which I interpreted as traditionally middle class. I didn't really think about the 'hipster' community who have more obscure and quirky interests but would still fit inside the category of 'affluent'. I watched a documentary for my cop module about hipster culture (Peter York's Hipster Handbook) and it is clear that there is an element of luxury to this lifestyle. I am going to use the list I have already made as a starting point but think about more obscure themes to work with that might appeal to this alternative market. The brief itself sounds like it has been written by a non-creative, it is vague and some comments contradict each other. The visual examples given are not to my taste either. I am going to use this brief to explore what and how I like drawing within the restraints of this audience - hopefully the outcomes will be something refreshing for this brand. 

Chat with Ben 
I'm picking the right briefs for my practice and interests. 
Little Art Collection brief - I need to set myself aside from pattern designers and show why my knowledge of illustration sets me apart from them. Could there be an element of narrative in my work? Make it more than just an image repeated on a surface.
Penguin brief (To Kill a Mockingbird) - my style would fit well with the book. It would be interesting to see how my work would adapt to children's fiction (Adrian Mole). Think about hand drawn type for the book covers, look at some books in the library about this. 
Using Adobe Kuler is not cheating! It would be a good route to take for a colour palette for book design. 
Weekly illustrated facts brief - don't worry that I have fallen behind, maybe cut down the total number of weeks. Keep experimenting with tools - line quality is key for me. 

Talking to Ben about what makes me different from pattern designers was a bit of a moment for me when I realised that I am actually an illustrator. I'm not trying to be a surface pattern designer, I just like that my images can be applied to products through repeating them into a pattern. I think it is important for me to do briefs like the Penguin book brief because it will show how my practice is adaptable and my illustrations work across numerous platforms. I am keen to get to grips with type because I have not had good experiences with it in the past. I had planned to speak to a graphic designer about the type for my book covers but if I take the hand drawn route this might not be necessary. I will have to see how the project goes when I eventually get started on it.