Personal & Professional Practice: Study Task - Why am I here - What do I want to learn?

Why am I here - What do I want to learn?

Identify and explain 5 reasons why you chose to study on this course

1. The standard of design coming out of the course and the college as a whole is very high and is seen as one of the leading design course in the country. I wanted to be part of this as I feel that I can/will be at the level by the time I graduate, I want you like to proudly say

'I studied graphic design at Leeds College of Art'.

2. The city of Leeds has made me want too choose this course, because the first time I came too Leeds was to visit the college and I enjoyed everything in Leeds, from the large cultural quarter too the shopping and bars etc. I felt like I would fit in, and so far I have fit in with everything that is going on, specially in area that I take more interest in e.g. design, beer and fashion!

3. What made me want to be on this course more was following some of last years graduates on Instagram. It really inspired me too want to be in the places they are in now and as a developing creative the work in which they were/are producing was most inspiring for me as a young design student.

4. The resources in the college and that are available to me as a student really influenced my decisions to study on this course. When coming too look round on the open days and seeing the resources that they college has it made up my mind, being able too take out cameras (most of the time) and having access too amazing digital printing and traditional printing was a big must for me. As some of these I really enjoy already and others are new and I am keen to learn new ways of developing my design practice.

5. Coming to a specialist art college rather than a university was one of reasons I choose LCA as I felt like I would gain more experience and knowledge from being somewhere like this as they will push you to do your best and show you how you can improve. Rather than like at a normal university where its not as informed and the support isn't as strong.

Identify and explain 5 things that you want to learn during your time on the course

1. I would want too learn more about the traditional side too graphic design, for example screen printing and letter press. As I have come from a more digital background were I have learnt how to use certain design programmes so seeing the more traditional side would benefit me as I like too know many different methods of doing similar things.

2. Animated design, I have tried too teach myself how to use software like After Effect, but I just can't seem to get my head around it. So I would like to be able to use software like this to tackle a brief as I find it very interesting because it is a mix between film and design.

3. Building websites, I already have a good understanding of CSS and HTML5 etc... but i do still find it difficult so I would like too look at other ways that I could design and build a site even though the behind the scenes stuff isn't really my thing. I much prefer the visual designing of websites and they way they work on different platforms.

4. Art direction, I would like too be able to direct a photographer and designers in a way that shows my style. In someways I am unsure about what art direction is but I am very keen to learn more and the ways in which it can benefit my design.

5. I would like to learn what sort of design I want to specialise in, as of now I am very interested in editorial design but this could change so I would like too see what we have too come and how I can apply myself too that.

Identify and explain 5 things that you think are your strengths

1. As a design student, and even before that I feel that I have always been on the look out for different parts of design that inspire me or I deem to be cool. I look at the way films have been designed/filmed as this is another big interest of mine. I like too look out for design in use, on the streets, online in magazines and all sorts.

2. I feel that photography is a strength of mine, I am always looking around new and old places like I am looking though a camera. So I am always looking for things that maybe not everyone see, I look at people and they way they act I look at a cityscape and take in beauty, I try to appreciate what is around us as much as possible.

3. Time management, I feel that they was I manage my time is effective and I know when I need to up the pace or take a step back. This was one thing that my second year on my previous course taught me as we made lots of independent study and a lot to get on with. I started very slow and tended to procrastinate a lot but I have learnt from this.

4. Looking at design or art in a way that people who aren't creatives will see it, as a design student I tend to judge a lot of things in negative ways, but if you look at something from a normal point of view you can sometimes see why certain design decisions have been made.

5. I am a very neat person, when it comes too the way things are set out. Everything has too have an order of some sort, whether its text on a document or the order of my hard-drive it has too be neat otherwise I can't work properly. I need a clean working environment.

Identify and explain 5 things you would like to improve

1. Although photography is a strength of mine, there is always room for improvement. I would like too improve my knowledge more than the practical side as I do find this very interesting.

2. Photoshop, yes I understand how to use Photoshop. But I basically taught myself so I would like too improve my skills. I feel that I could know are about what it can do, as I do tend to scare away from Photoshop as I prefer to use illustrator if I can.

3. Writing, I enjoy writing but it is not my strongest point. So I would like too learn how I can improve on structuring essays and they way that I write, so that it is more informed and academic.

4. Editorial design, this is my favourite part of design at the minuet. So I would like too see where it can take me and what I can improve on, as parts of it are still very new too me.

5. I would like too improve on how much I use the recourses, although I'm sure the further I get into this course the more I will take use of the recourses around me.

Identify and explain 5 things that inspire you

1. I like to read/look at websites such as Highsnnobiety and Hypebeast both of these are about travel and style have a great sections about design related to things that I am into for example shoes or fashion.

2. Cereal Magazine and Another Escape, both are very visually inspiring as they have amazing photography and they make you wanna go out and take pictures of amazing landscapes. I also get very inspired by the articles in both magazines as the are always about interesting subject matters.

3. Filler Podcasts, these are very interested and inspiring too listen too. Each week they take too different creatives and that could be film-makers or designer and it very interesting just to hear them talk as the podcast is set in a cafe in London so it is like you are there. Some very inspiring things have been said in the series of podcasts.

4. Fashion inspires me, as I feel that I can relate my design styles too how I like to dress. enjoy clean and minimal design and I feel that this is related in what I wear or at least what I would like too wear.

5. Cinematography inspires me, specially the way Wes Anderson films are made, as well has him I love Richard Ayoade's films and I take inspiration from the design and the colours uses in the production of these style films.