What to Submit for Week 6 Presentations:
You should give some evidence of your research process (this can be in the form of a rationale and/or you could show some mood boards with an overview of what you gleaned from the mood boards to use in your final design solution) and then show your initial design solutions for the two items:
- Logo/symbol concept
- Silver Series glove patterns
Logo/Symbol Concept
My approach to creating the symbol for Red Corner is to take their already existing logo which is rich with visual graphics and shapes and using this as a guide. This de-constructive approach has led me to break down the logo into 5 main sections. I have played with several concepts arranging and rearranging these shapes.I have also researched the logos of the major brands Adidas and Nike as they were specifically mentioned in the brief. They both offer a sense of movement, are versatile in application and visible on many surfaces or textures.
My goals with the Red Corner symbol is to not only create something that communicates the Red Corner brand but also creates this sense of movement while being versatile and flexible in application.
Silver Series Glove Patterns
I have conducted extensive research into current and future fashion trends within the active-wear market, also future trends outside of this market. I have also read up on what colours are in trend.At this stage I have not finalised a pattern. The direction I am taking is towards "psychotropical" and manipulation of royalty free photos to create a pattern of palm fronds.
Another approach I had which I have now side-lined was purely geometrical using a colour enhanced sunset photo, however upon looking at the range already available within Red Corner I feel that this approach would render very similar results to what the brand is already producing.
Homework
Managing yourself and Managing Others - dealing with clients, colleagues,your boss and yourself! In any design practice you will have to deal with a boss, colleagues clients and manage their expectations. Using the Johari Window tool (http://kevan.org/johari) work out how you see yourself and how others see you.
What attributes described in Johari Window exercise do you see as key to dealing with clients?
When dealing with clients there are a few traits that are an absolute must:- Adaptable - being able to adapt to the clients needs and wants, whether that be from unfamiliar markets, or a change in the client brief
- Confident - confidence in your past work and current works, to ensure that your skills and ability to achieve outcomes is being communicated to the client
- Dependable - the client needs to be able to depend on you to achieve goals
- Organised - presenting an organised structure so that goals are met on time and there is transparency with the design process for the client
- Responsive - in terms of communication, so that the design process is completely transparent for the client. This is also important for if any issues arise in the design process being able to respond quickly to these and communicate with the client is very important
What attributes are key to dealing with your colleagues?
Dealing with colleagues requires a unique understanding of that specific workplace due to differing personalities, strengths and position in the company. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to traits that will enable strong communication with each individual. However I have picked a few traits that would aid immensely and broadly within many work structures.- Accepting - able to accept people for who they are, strengths, weaknesses, ecperience and expertise
- Adaptable - able to adapt to a changing workforce, adapt designs based on critique
- Dependable - in any work environment you must be reliable, your colleagues and team-mates depend on output from each member
- Energetic - be energetic to ensure team-work will move forward and be driven
- Logical - have a logical process so if a colleague was to pick up your work they would understand where you are in a project and how you have achieved your design
What attributes are key to dealing with yourself?
For colleagues having to deal with me I would ideally ask for them to be:- Able - being capable is a big indication to me whether I could easily work with you
- Dependable - able to depend and rely on you, knowing that you will achieve goals on time
- Energetic - able to drive teamwork and encourage others
- Logical - to combine the creative with problem solving skill and logically undertake the design process, creating an effective design with a solid foundation
- Mature - I hold great value in a mature and professional relationship in the workforce
What attributes are key to dealing with your boss?
Again this depends on the type of boss that you have. There are many differing styles of leadership so I have tried to select traits that would be valuable for a broad range of situations.- Able - able to achieve goals and able to complete work to an effective and professional standard
- Adaptable - adapt to changes in expectations, shifting goals and critique
- Confident - in own work and the work of the team as a whole
- Dependable - should be able to rely on you to achieve goals
- Knowledgeable - to be qualified in education, experience and practice
- Logical - to combine the creative with problem solving skill and logically undertake the design process, creating an effective design with a solid foundation
How does your version of the Johari Window differ from your friends/close contacts?
Of the 5 traits I chose to describe myself only 3 corresponded with how others view me. This was surprising, because I have always described myself as introverted or self-conscious yet these traits were not prominent at all in the way people view me. I also noticed that the context of interaction with each of these people affected their response. For example, close friends responses differed greatly from those who I maintain a more professional relationship with.
How does this exercise make you think about your position in the workplace (ie. do you think you would be a good co-worker or boss or are there things you think you need to work on/develop?
The most prominent traits used to describe me are:Intelligent, In-dependant, Dependable, Helpful, Mature, Modest, Trustworthy
There is always room to develop for anyone in the workforce, due to the differing natures of those around you and those that you report to. An important distinction to make here is that these people that were answering the Johari Window are people who I do not share a strictly professional relationship with, in the sense that I am free to act in a more relaxed manner. So the answers would be skewed to how I behave outside of the workplace and not really relevant to answer whether I would be a good co-worker or boss. However they are indicative of how I am naturally and 2 traits that I believe I need to work on are confidence and organisation. These are traits that I have repeated in the above questions and that didn’t even register in my Johari Window. Confidence to promote and present my work in a manner that is appealing to a client rather than shying away from opportunities due to being self-conscious, and a sense of organisation that is both outwardly visible and internally structured.